No abstract available.
Sinus of Valsalva*

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal*

The HUMACTBP2 locus was investigated to collect population genetic data in the Korean population and to evaluate the applicability for the forensic field. An Automatic fluorescent-based sequencer (377 automatic DNA sequencer, ABI) was used to detect amplified fragments of the HUMACTBP2 locus electrophoresed on 4% denaturing polyacrylamide sequencing gels. ACTBP2 allelic ladder consisting of different sizes of 18 alleles was constructed and employed as an internal size standard in combination with a GS-350 size standard for precision of allele-band sizing. By utilizing different fluorescent dyes, both the allelic ladders and samples were able to be analyzed in the same lane by 99% orecision of allele-band sizing. Among the Korean population (n=224), 26 alleles in the range of 239-313 bp are determined. allele No. 6 is found 45 times (0.100) which is mostly frequent, and the rest of allele is distributed with their relative frequency of 0.002-0.100. The comparison between observed and expected numbers of homozygous and heterozygous individuals confirms that ACTBP2 locus is in the state of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium among the Korean population. The heterozygosity is 0.9389+/-0.0034(93.89%), and the power of discrimination(PD) and power of exclusion(PEX) are calculated to be 0.991(99.1%)and 0.890(89.0%), respectively, showing the high informativeness for individual identification. Thus, these results mean that the HUMACTBP2 locus can effectively be used for the forensic application.
Alleles ; DNA ; Fluorescent Dyes ; Gels ; Genetic Variation*

No abstract available.
Heart Arrest, Induced*

No abstract available.
Head* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Osteonecrosis*

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. OBJECTIVES: We retrospectively evaluated the clinical efficacy of postganglionic nerve block in symptomatic Schmorl nodules (SNs). SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: SNs are common lesions that are often asymptomatic. In certain cases, SNs have been reported to cause severe axial back pain, thereby considerably impacting patients' quality of life. No consensus currently exists on the treatment of symptomatic SNs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From October 2015 to October 2017, a total of 21 patients with symptomatic SNs diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that did not respond to conservative treatment after 4 weeks were included in the study. All patients received postganglionic nerve block. We evaluated effective pain relief (improvement of back pain of more than 50% compared with before the intervention) and functional improvements, assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index scores obtained at 4 hours, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months after the procedure. RESULTS: Symptomatic SNs were more common at the L2-3 level, and the lower end plate was more commonly involved than the upper end plate. Eighteen of the 21 patients (85.7%) showed effective pain relief, and no deterioration was observed within the follow-up period. Throughout the follow-up period, the VAS remained significantly improved compared to before the procedure (p < 0.05). Complications were not reported in any cases. CONCLUSIONS: Postganglionic nerve block for symptomatic SNs that do not respond to conservative treatment is a non-invasive modality for pain relief.
Back Pain ; Consensus ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Nerve Block ; Quality of Life ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVES: We retrospectively evaluated the clinical efficacy of postganglionic nerve block in symptomatic Schmorl nodules (SNs).SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: SNs are common lesions that are often asymptomatic. In certain cases, SNs have been reported to cause severe axial back pain, thereby considerably impacting patients' quality of life. No consensus currently exists on the treatment of symptomatic SNs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From October 2015 to October 2017, a total of 21 patients with symptomatic SNs diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that did not respond to conservative treatment after 4 weeks were included in the study. All patients received postganglionic nerve block. We evaluated effective pain relief (improvement of back pain of more than 50% compared with before the intervention) and functional improvements, assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index scores obtained at 4 hours, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months after the procedure. RESULTS: Symptomatic SNs were more common at the L2-3 level, and the lower end plate was more commonly involved than the upper end plate. Eighteen of the 21 patients (85.7%) showed effective pain relief, and no deterioration was observed within the follow-up period. Throughout the follow-up period, the VAS remained significantly improved compared to before the procedure (p < 0.05). Complications were not reported in any cases. CONCLUSIONS Postganglionic nerve block for symptomatic SNs that do not respond to conservative treatment is a non-invasive modality for pain relief.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to analyze the characteristics of work-related musculoskeletal diseases (MSD) and the factors for approving MSD by the parts of the body. METHODS: The analysis was done using the data which were drawn from the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance that is operated by the Korea Worker's Compensation & Welfare Service. The data were composed of total cases related to the work-related diseases from 2006 to 2009. In addition, MSD data input by an investigator were collected. The factors associated with MSD were analyzed using x2 and multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: MSD approved cases have increased since 2006 and the proportion of the approved work-related MSD cases in the workers with work-related diseases in 2009 were 33.4%. Spinal approved cases were the highest percentage and upper and lower extremities cases gradually increased. The factors for approving upper extremity were found to be age, company size, type of industry, working duration, and in the case of spine to be company size and heavy lifting. CONCLUSION: Work-related MSD have increased and the factors that affected MSD by the parts of the body varied. Management strategy must be established to prevent MSD by the parts of the body.
Accidents, Occupational ; Compensation and Redress ; Humans ; Insurance ; Korea ; Lower Extremity ; Musculoskeletal Diseases ; Research Personnel ; Spine ; Upper Extremity ; Workers' Compensation

After surgical operation in patients with arteriovenous malformation (AVM), normal pressure perfusion breakthrough (NPPB) is one of the major complications. Brain perfusion SPECT with acetazolamide stress was known to be useful to evaluate the vascular reserve in several neurological and neurosurgical conditions. The authors performed acetazolamide brain perfusion SPECT in patients with AVM and compared the brain perfusion in the post-operative clinical courses. The acetazolamide brain perfusion SPECT was helpful in defining the prognosis of the patients with AVM. We describe 4 patients with AVM who had acetazolamide brain perfusion SPECT to examine the prognosis.
Acetazolamide* ; Arteriovenous Malformations* ; Brain* ; Humans ; Perfusion* ; Prognosis* ; Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*