OBJECTIVE: Authors report the usefulness and limitation of shunt function test. METHODS: Of 457 who underwent shunt placement from 1993 to 2001, 33 patients with suspected shunt malfunction underwent the shunt function test using radioisotope and intracranial pressure(ICP) monitoring to evaluate shunt patency and to determine the site of obstruction. We analyzed retrospectively results of 36 shunt function test with operative finding in shunt revision. RESULTS: Of 36 results, 21 cases(58.3%) had patent shunt on the shunt function test and one of those underwent shunt revision regardless of the result. Five cases(13.8%) had proximal malfunction on test and three cases of those had obstruction in the shunt revision. Ten cases(27.2%) had distal malfunction on test and eight cases of those had obstruction. The sensitivity of shunt function test was 91.6%, the specificity 90.9%, and the accuracy 81.6%. CONCLUSION: The shunt function test using radioisotope and ICP monitoring is a reliable method to evaluate shunt patency. However, interpretation of the result should be based on the clinical and radiological findings of the patient, particularly in case of partial obstruction and functional malfunction due to valve system.
Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity

The regional distributions and frequencies of argyrophil endocrine cells in gastrointestinal (GI) tract of Balb/c-nu/ nu mouse were studied using Grimelius silver stain after abdominal subcutaneous implantation of COLO205. The experimental animals were divided into two groups, one is non-implanted group (Sham) and the other is COLO205-implanted group. Samples were collected from GI tract (fundus, pylorus, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, cecum, colon and rectum) at 21 days after implantation of COLO205 cells (1x10(6) cell/mouse). In this study, argyrophil cells were detected throughout the entire GI tract with various frequencies regardless of implantation. Most of these argyrophil cells in the mucosa of GI tract were generally spherical or spindle in shape (open type cell) while cells showing round in shape (close type cell) were found occasionally in gastric and/or intestinal gland regions. The regional distributions of argyrophil cells in COLO205 were similar to those of Sham. However, significant decreases of argyrophil cells were detected in COLO205 compared to those of Sham except for the jejunum and ileum. In the jejunum and ileum, argyrophil cells in COLO205 showed similar frequencies compared to those of Sham. In the pylorus, the most dramatically decreasement of argyrophil cells were detected in COLO205 compared to that of Sham. Implantation of COLO205 tumor cell line induced severe quantitative changes of argyrophil cell density, and the abnormality in density of GI endocrine cells may contribute to the development of gastrointestinal symptoms such as anorexia and indigestion, frequently encountered in patients with cancer.
Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Colonic Neoplasms/*ultrastructure ; Enteroendocrine Cells/*ultrastructure ; Female ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Silver Staining

With the rapid development of MS technologiesy, the demands for a more sophisticated MS interpretation algorithm haves grown as well. We have developed a new protein fingerprinting method using a binomial distribution, (fBIND). With the fBIND, we improved the performance accuracy of protein fingerprinting up to the maximum 49% (more than MOWSE) and 2% than(at a previous binomial distribution approach studied by of Wool et al.) as compared to the established algorithms. Moreover, we also suggest a the statistical approach to define the significance of transcription factors and motifs in the identified proteins based on the Gene Ontology (GO).
Binomial Distribution ; Fungal Proteins* ; Gene Ontology ; Peptide Mapping ; Transcription Factors* ; Wool ; Yeasts*

BACKGROUND: Priming significantly shortened the onset of neuromuscular blockade(NMB), but also results in a high incidence of side effects. This study was designed to determine the effect of infusion priming method on the side effects, intubation condition, and onset of NMB compared with divided priming method. METHOD: The effects of different priming method of vecuronium on onset time and endotracheal intubation condition were investigated. 40 patients were studied in two parts. In control part, 20 patients were allocated into two groups(n=10 in each group) receving 10, 20 g/kg vecuronium as a priming dose, followed by a intubating dose(0.1 mg/kg-priming dose) 3 min later; the other part, 20 patients were allocated into two groups(n=10 in each group) receving 0.2 mg/kg/hr vecuronium continuous intravenous infusion, followed by a intubating dose(0.1 mg/kg-total infusion dose) 3, 5 min later. Onset time is calculated by single twitch stimulation test from injection of the intubating dose to maximum depression of the single twitch. Intubatin condition was appreciated based on vocal cord reflex, coughing, and jaw relaxation and scored. RESULTS: The times to fade out on the single twitch of the intravenous infusion priming group were shorter than control priming group. There was no difference between control priming group and infusion priming group to evaluate the intubation conditions. Side effects in the continuous infusion group were lesser than control priming group. CONCLUSION: This results suggest that the use of continuous infusion method is one of the promising methods to shorten the neuromuscular blockade and to provide more comfort to the patients.
Cough ; Depression ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infusions, Intravenous* ; Intubation ; Intubation, Intratracheal* ; Jaw ; Neuromuscular Blockade ; Reflex ; Relaxation ; Vecuronium Bromide* ; Vocal Cords

26 pediatric patients of spinal injury, below the age of 15 were admitted to KyungPook National University Hospital from Jan. 1972 to Jun. 1987, which accounted for 5.2% of the entire cases of spinal injury during the same period. Most number of cases fell in the age brackets of 2-8 and 12-24. Causes of the cases were in the order of traffic accident(48%), falling, direct blow. sports. and stab injury. The sites ran in such order as cervical( 30.8%), thoracic, lumbar and thoracolumbar spine. The breakdown of clinical findings was: Grade I-8, Grade II-5, Grade III-4, and Grade IV-8. Forty percent of the cases were found with no radiological abnormalities, still keeping the neurological deficits. Fracture was classified as: simple-6, dislocation-7, and subluxation-2. Methods of treatment were: conservative-l4, traction-5, laminectomy-5, and fusion-1. All patients in the categories from Grade I to III recovered to a good state. In Grade N, one each for good and fair recovery was achieved, five were poor and one expired from complication of head injury.
Child* ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; Spinal Injuries* ; Spine ; Sports

A vein of Galen malformation(VGM) is a rare vascular malformation, often resulting in high morbidity or mortality. In the newborn, cardiac failure is the most common presenting, sign and the outcome is particularly poor. As the technique of neurointervention develops, embolizaton is known to be the choice of treatment reducing the mortality rate tremendously. The authors report a case of VGM, diagnosed in uterus and successfully managed by neuro-interventive treatment.
Cerebral Veins* ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Mortality ; Uterus ; Vascular Malformations ; Veins*

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Transitional Cell* ; Tuberculosis, Renal* ; Ureter*

Correction of a calcified patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a difficult surgical procedure. Simple ligation or division of PDA is not possible if diffuse circumferential calcification is present. Several techniques using cardiopulmonary bypass and closure of PDA from within the aorta or pulmonary artery have been introduced. And the surgical procedure is performed under profound hypothermia and circulatory arrest. Total ischemia time should be less than 30 minutes, which is free from the organ damage by the circulatory arrest. Barbiturates, calcium channel blockers and steroids are used for brain protection. We experienced successful use of these techniques for adult female patch closure of PDA and reviewed the anesthetic considerations of the profound hypothermia and circulatory arrest for cardiac surgery.
Adult* ; Aorta ; Barbiturates ; Brain ; Calcium Channel Blockers ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; Female ; Humans ; Hypothermia* ; Ischemia ; Ligation ; Pulmonary Artery ; Steroids ; Thoracic Surgery

OBJECTIVE: Posttraumatic embitterment disorder (PTED) is characterized by states of “embitterment”, characteristically similar to “Hwa-byung”, which is a Korean culture-bound syndrome. The present study aimed to assess diagnostic relationships between PTED and Hwa-byung. METHODS: A total of 290 participants completed our survey. PTED and Hwa-byung were diagnosed using a diagnostic interview and scale. Scales for depression, suicide ideation, and anger were used for evaluation. Fisher's exact tests and Mann-Whitney U tests were performed to evaluate diagnostic overlap between PTED and Hwa-byung, and associations of scale scores for depression, suicide ideation, and anger between the PTED, Hwa-byung, and non-diagnosed groups. Associations of these scales between the depressive and non-depressive groups, and suicidal and non-suicidal groups were also evaluated. RESULTS: Among the participants, 1.7% of the sample fit the diagnostic criteria for PTED and 2.1% fit the criteria for Hwa-byung. No individual fit the criteria for both. Anger scores were significantly higher in the Hwa-byung group than in the non-diagnostic group. There were not any significant differences in anger scores between the PTED and non-diagnostic groups. Depression scores were significantly higher in the PTED than in the non-diagnostic groups. In contrast, no significant differences were observed between depression scores in the Hwa-byung and non-diagnostic groups. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that PTED may be a disorder category that is distinct from Hwa-byung.
Anger ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Depression ; Ethnopsychology ; Humans ; Suicide ; Weights and Measures

Quadriceps tendon rupture is an uncommon injury. This disabling condition is the result of direct or indirect trauma. It requires surgical repair to avoid poor outcomes in cases of neglected or chronic rupture. In most acute cases, simple tendon suture or reinsertion is suitable for an extensor mechanism reconstruction of the knee joint. However, chronic lesions often require a tendon graft or flap reconstruction. We report a case of a 15-year-old male who was diagnosed with a chronic quadriceps rupture with a patellar superior pole fracture. We performed quadriceps reconstruction using tibialis anterior allograft tendon and additional screw fixation to reconstruct the extensor mechanism and recover knee joint range of motion to prevent a high-level functional restriction. The treatment was difficult and limited due to neglect for 9-months that led to ankylosis accompanied with nonunion of tibial fracture. Our surgical treatment using allograft tendon resulted in a very good outcome after 30 months of follow-up.
Adolescent ; Allografts ; Ankylosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; Knee ; Male ; Quadriceps Muscle ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Rupture ; Sutures ; Tendons ; Tibial Fractures ; Transplants