OBJECTIVE: To investigate an appropriate depth of needle insertion during trigger point injection into the rhomboid major muscle. METHODS: Sixty-two patients who visited our department with shoulder or upper back pain participated in this study. The distance between the skin and the rhomboid major muscle (SM) and the distance between the skin and rib (SB) were measured using ultrasonography. The subjects were divided into 3 groups according to BMI: BMI less than 23 kg/m2 (underweight or normal group); 23 kg/m2 or more to less than 25 kg/m2 (overweight group); and 25 kg/m2 or more (obese group). The mean+/-standard deviation (SD) of SM and SB of each group were calculated. A range between mean+1 SD of SM and the mean-1 SD of SB was defined as a safe margin. RESULTS: The underweight or normal group's SM, SB, and the safe margin were 1.2+/-0.2, 2.1+/-0.4, and 1.4 to 1.7 cm, respectively. The overweight group's SM and SB were 1.4+/-0.2 and 2.4+/-0.9 cm, respectively. The safe margin could not be calculated for this group. The obese group's SM, SB, and the safe margin were 1.8+/-0.3, 2.7+/-0.5, and 2.1 to 2.2 cm, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study will help us to set the standard depth of safe needle insertion into the rhomboid major muscle in an effective manner without causing any complications.
Back Pain ; Humans ; Muscles ; Needles* ; Overweight ; Pneumothorax ; Ribs ; Shoulder ; Skin ; Superficial Back Muscles* ; Thinness ; Trigger Points* ; Ultrasonography

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a common condition that produces pain in the orofacial area. However, the exact cause of TN is still unknown. Various etiologies such as tumor, multiple sclerosis and other compressive lesions have been implicated as possible causes. A 35-year-old woman was admitted due to right facial pain which was diagnosed as TN. A brain MRI revealed sphenoidal sinusitis with epidural empyema. We report a case of complicated sinusitis with epidural empyema presenting as TN.
Adult ; Brain ; Empyema* ; Facial Pain ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Multiple Sclerosis ; Sinusitis ; Sphenoid Sinusitis* ; Trigeminal Neuralgia*

Hypercalcemia is one of the most common paraneoplastic syndromes and believed to occur through two general mechanisms, one humoral and the other local. The former mechanism has been termed humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy (HHM) and has been associated with the secretion of various cytokines, including parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP). PTHrP beats sttuctural and functional similarities to PTH and seems to play a key role in the pathogenesis of HHM. We experienced the case of HHM associated with hepatoma, a rare cause of HHM, in 48 year-old male. We found no evidence of bone metastasis. In this case, contrary to our general acknowledgment, serum 1,25 (OH)D concentration was elevated. We report this case with a brief review of related literatures.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Cytokines ; Humans ; Hypercalcemia* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Paraneoplastic Syndromes ; Parathyroid Hormone-Related Protein*

The syndrome of aortoiliac occlusive disease, also known as Leriche syndrome, is characterized by claudication, pain, and diminished femoral pulse. We highlight an unusual case of right sciatic neuropathy caused by Leriche syndrome, which was initially misdiagnosed. A 52-year-old male, with a past medical history of hypertension and bony fusion of the thoracolumbar spine, visited our hospital complaining of right leg pain and claudication, and was initially diagnosed with spinal stenosis. The following electrophysiologic findings showed right sciatic neuropathy; but his symptom was not relieved, despite medications for neuropathy. A computed tomography angiography of the lower extremities revealed the occlusion of the infrarenal abdominal aorta, and bilateral common iliac and right external iliac arteries. All these findings suggested omitted sciatic neuropathy associated with Leriche syndrome, and the patient underwent a bilateral axillo-femoral and femoro-femoral bypass graft.
Angiography ; Aorta, Abdominal ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Iliac Artery ; Leg ; Leriche Syndrome* ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sciatic Neuropathy* ; Spinal Stenosis ; Spine ; Transplants

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the image acquisition ability of intraoral scanners by analyzing the comprehensiveness of scanned images from standardized model, and to identify problems of the model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cast models and 3D-printed models were prepared according to international standards set by ISO12836 and ANSI/ADA no. 132, which were then scanned by model scanner and two different intraoral scanners (TRIOS3 and CS3500). The image acquisition performance of the scanners was classified into three grades, and the study was repeated with varying surface conditions of the models. RESULTS: Model scanner produced the most accurate images in all models. Meanwhile, CS3500 showed good image reproducibility for angled structures and TRIOS3 showed good image reproducibility for rounded structures. As for model ingredients, improved plaster model best reproduced scan images regardless of the type of scanner used. When limited to 3D-printed model, powdered surface condition resulted in higher image quality. CONCLUSION: When scanning structures beyond FOV (field of view) in standardized models (following ISO12836 and ANSI/ADA 132), lack of reference points to help distinguish different faces confuses the scanning and matching process, resulting in inaccurate display of images. These results imply the need to develop a new standard model not confined to simple pattern repetition and symmetric structure.

No abstract available.

Duodenal varices are a serious complication of portal hypertension. Bleeding from duodenal varices is rare, but when bleeding does occur, it is massive and can be fatal. Unfortunately, the optimal therapeutic modality for duodenal variceal bleeding is unclear. This paper presents a patient with duodenal variceal bleeding that was managed successfully using percutaneous trans-splenic variceal obliteration (PTVO). A 56-year-old man with a history of alcoholic cirrhosis presented with a 6-day history of melena. Emergency esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed a large, bluish mass with a nipple sign in the second portion of the duodenum. Coil embolization of the duodenal varix was performed via a trans-splenic approach (i.e., PTVO). The patient no longer complained of melena after treatment. The duodenal varix was no longer visible at the follow-up esophagogastroduodenoscopy performed three months after PTVO. The use of PTVO might be a viable option for the treatment of duodenal variceal bleeding.

Duodenal varices are a serious complication of portal hypertension. Bleeding from duodenal varices is rare, but when bleeding does occur, it is massive and can be fatal. Unfortunately, the optimal therapeutic modality for duodenal variceal bleeding is unclear. This paper presents a patient with duodenal variceal bleeding that was managed successfully using percutaneous trans-splenic variceal obliteration (PTVO). A 56-year-old man with a history of alcoholic cirrhosis presented with a 6-day history of melena. Emergency esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed a large, bluish mass with a nipple sign in the second portion of the duodenum. Coil embolization of the duodenal varix was performed via a trans-splenic approach (i.e., PTVO). The patient no longer complained of melena after treatment. The duodenal varix was no longer visible at the follow-up esophagogastroduodenoscopy performed three months after PTVO. The use of PTVO might be a viable option for the treatment of duodenal variceal bleeding.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a topical spray containing 0.0584% hydrocortisone aceponate (HCA) on canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) and to evaluate the skin barrier function during the treatment of CAD. Twenty-one dogs that fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for CAD were included in this study. The HCA spray was applied once a day to the lesions of all dogs for 7 or 14 days. Clinical assessment was performed before (day 0) and after treatment (day 14), and clinical responses were correlated with changes in skin barrier function. CAD severity significantly decreased after 14 days of HCA treatment based on the lesion scores (p < 0.0001), which were determined using the CAD extent and severity index (CADESI-03) and pruritus scores (p < 0.0001) calculated using a pruritus visual analog scale. Transepidermal water loss, a biomarker of skin barrier function, was significantly reduced compared to baseline (day 0) measurements (p = 0.0011). HCA spray was shown to be effective for significantly improving the condition of dogs suffering from CAD. This treatment also significantly improved cutaneous hydration and skin barrier function in the animals.
Administration, Topical ; Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/administration & dosage/*therapeutic use ; Dermatitis, Atopic/drug therapy/pathology/*veterinary ; Dog Diseases/*drug therapy/pathology ; Dogs ; Female ; Hydrocortisone/administration & dosage/*analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use ; Male

OBJECTIVE: To investigate disparities in the fear of falling between urban and rural communities in relation to socio-demographics, health status, and functional level. METHODS: A total of 974 subjects aged 40 years or older participated in this study (335 urban residents and 639 rural). They completed a questionnaire about socio-demographics, health-related variables, and experience with falls. We employed both direct questioning and the Korean version of Falls Efficacy Scale-International (KFES-I) to investigate fear of falling in terms of perceptive fear and higher level of concern over falling during daily activities. The Korean version of Instrumental Activities of Daily Living was used to assess functional independency. RESULTS: Aging, female gender, fall history, and the presence of chronic medical problems were independently associated with higher prevalence for the fear of falling. Both perceptive fear of falling and a higher level of concern over falling were more prevalent in the rural senior population compared with those in the urban population when they had the following characteristics: lower income or educational background, physical laborer or unemployed, no chronic medical morbidity, or functional independency in daily activities. CONCLUSION: The disparity in the fear of falling between the two areas is thought to be related to age structure, and it may also exist in healthy or functionally independent senior populations under the influence of socio-environmental factors. A senior population with lower socio-economic status residing in a rural area might be related with a greater vulnerability to the fear of falling. We should consider regional characteristics when we design fall-related studies or develop fall-prevention programs at the community level.
Accidental Falls ; Activities of Daily Living ; Aging ; Female ; Geriatric Assessment ; Humans ; Prevalence ; Rural Population ; Urban Population ; Surveys and Questionnaires