PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the role of CT and MR imagings in the diagnosis aortic dissection and differentiation between the true and false lumen. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively studied forty patients with aortic dissection(AD) diagnosed imagings or surgery. Of the forty patients, 19 were examined with only CT, 14 with CT and MR, and 7 with MI~: Our points of view were(1) the classification of AD according to configuration of intimal flap by cross-sectional imaging, (2) differentiation between the true and false lumens, (3) the course of the false lumen, and (4)! detectability of the origin of major branch vessels of the abdominal aorta. RESULTS: The classification by corss-sectional imaging were crescentic(65%), circumferential(15%), flat(12%), and irregular(8%) type, in which false negative diagnosis was made in 1 case of crescentic and circumferential type, respectively. In 2 case of flat type and 1 case of irregular type, the differentiation between the true and false lumen was impossible with CT. The course of the false lumen in descending thoracic aorta revealed countrclock wise rotation(66%), clockwise rotation(5%) or fixed(29%) apperance. MR imaging was superior to CT in the detection of the origin of major branch vessels of the abdominal aorta. The determination of the origin of major branches of abdominal aorta arising from the true and false lumen were impossible in 2 cases in which only CT was done. CONCLUSION: Diagnosis of crescentic and circumferential types of AD with narrow and thrombosed false lumen was problematic in both CT and MR with no difference of diagnostic accuracy between the two modalities. The differentiation between the true and false lumen was difficult in flat and irregular types with only CT. Therefore, when surgical treatment is considered as in type B aortic dissection, MR imaging is recommended in order to determine the origin of major branch vessels.
Aorta, Abdominal ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Classification ; Diagnosis* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: To clarify the chracteristic sonographic features of benign soft tissue tumors and to evaluate the usefulness of sonographic imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed ultrasonographic images of 70 cases in 68 patients with histologically proved benign soft tissue tumors. RESULTS: The tumors included 33 lipomas, 11 hemangiomas. 11 lymphangiomas, 7 neurilemmomas, 4 epidermold cysts, 2 fibromas, 1 mesenchymoma, and 1 myxoma. The SOhographic appearances of the lesions were mainly solid in 53 cases(33 lipomas, 8 hemangiomas, 2 lymphangiomas, 7 neurilemmomas, 2 fibromas and 1 mesenchymoma), mainly cystic in 14 cases(1 hemangioma, 8 lymphangiomas, 4 epidermoid cysts, and 1 myxoma), and mixed in 3 cases(2 hemangiomas and 1 lymphangioma). Although an accurate histologic prediction could not be made in most cases, certain patterns appeared to be characteristic of specific tumor types. 26 cases(78%) of lipoma were seen as lentiform, iso- or hyperechoic, solid mass. Hemangioma had variable appearance and chacteristic calcifications were seen in 3 cases. Unicameral or multiseptated cystic mass with variable thickness of echogenic septa and solid portion was the characteristic finding of lymphangioma. Neurilemmoma showed Iobulated, oval to round, relatively hypoechoic mass with or without internal cystic portion. CONCLUSION: Sonographic evaluation of benign soft tissue tumros is useful in demonstrating the location, size, extent, and internal characteristics of the mass. A relatively confident diagnosis can be made when the characteristic features of the benign soft tissue tumor are present on sonographic imaging.
Diagnosis ; Epidermal Cyst ; Fibroma ; Hemangioma ; Humans ; Lipoma ; Lymphangioma ; Mesenchymoma ; Myxoma ; Neurilemmoma ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: We evaluated the abdominal uttrasonographic findings of Salmonellosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 64 patients who were confirmed as salmonellosis by blood culture. We retrospectively analyzed the abdominal ultrasonographic findings with particular attention to enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes(mesenteric lymphadenitis), thickening of bowel wall, especially terminal ileum and cecum(ileocecitis), hepatosplenomegaly, ascites, gallbladder wall thickening, and enlarged lymph nodes in porta hepatis. RESULTS: The 64 cases were observed as mesenteric lymph node enlargement(44 cases), wall thickening of the terminal ileum and cecum(36 cases), hepatomegaly and/or splenomegaly(42 cases), minimal ascites(8 cases), gallbladder wall thickening(6 cases), and enlarged lymph nodes in porta hepatis(4 cases). No abnormal finding was seen in 10 patients. CONCLUSION: The mesenteric lymph node enlargement, wall thickening of the terminal ileum and cecum, hepatomegaly and/or splenomegaly, minimal ascites, gallbladder wall thickening, and enlarged lymph nodes in porta hepatis are suggestive findings of salmonellosis on abdominal ultrasonography in patients with fever and acute abdomen.
Abdomen, Acute ; Ascites ; Cecum ; Fever ; Gallbladder ; Hepatomegaly ; Humans ; Ileum ; Lymph Nodes ; Retrospective Studies ; Salmonella Infections* ; Splenomegaly ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between gross motor function and daily functional skill in children with cerebral palsy (CP) and to explore how this relationship is moderated by the Gross Motor Function Classification System, Bimanual Fine Motor Function (BFMF), neuromotor types, and limb distribution of CP. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 112 children with CP (range, 4 years to 7 years and 7 months) was performed. Gross motor function was assessed with the Gross Motor Function Measure-66 (GMFM-66) and functional skill was assessed with the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory-Functional Skills Scale (PEDI-FSS). RESULTS: GMFM-66 scores explained 49.7%, 67.4%, and 26.1% of variance in the PEDI-FSS scores in the self-care, mobility, and social function domains, respectively. Significant moderation by the distribution of palsy and BFMF classification levels II, III, and IV was found in the relationship between GMFM-66 and PEDI-FSS self-care. Further significant moderation by the distribution of palsy was also observable in the relationship between GMFM-66 and PEDI-FSS mobility. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that limb distribution and hand function must be considered when evaluating gross motor function and functional skills in children with CP, especially in unilateral CP.
Cerebral Palsy ; Child ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Disability Evaluation ; Extremities ; Hand ; Humans ; Paralysis ; Self Care ; Severity of Illness Index

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Clinical suggestion for the limitation of application time of NaOCl solution is needed to avoid large reductions in resin-dentin bond strength. The aim of this study was to measure the change of micro-tensile bond strength after the various application time of 5.25% NaOCl solution to pulp chamber dentin in endodontic access cavity, and to evaluate the effect of 10% sodium ascorbate application for 10 min on bond strength after the treatment of 5.25% NaOCl solution. In this experiment, there were no statistical differences(p>0.05) in bond strengths between upper chamber dentin and lower chamber dentin. NaOCl-treated group for 20 min did not show any significant decrease(p>0.05) in bond strength than non-treated control group. In contrast to that, bond strengths of NaOCl-treated groups for 40 & 80 min were significantly lower(p<0.05) than that of non-treated control group. 10% sodium ascorbate retreated group for 10 min after 5.25% NaOCl application for 40 min to chamber dentin showed the recovery of bond strength significantly. However, the bond strength of sodium ascorbate retreated group after 5.25% NaOCl application for 80 min was still significantly lower(p<0.05) compared to the non-treated control group, which means the reductions in resin-dentin bond strength were not fully reversed. On the contrary, sodium ascorbate retreated group after 5.25% NaOCl application for 5 min showed significantly higher(p<0.05) bond strength compared to the control group, which demonstrates its superior recovery effect. In SEM exminations of specimens retreated with 10% sodium ascorbate after NaOCl application for 40 & 80 min showed that resin tags were formed clearly and densely, but weakly in density and homogeneity of individual resin tag compared to the control specimen.
Ascorbic Acid ; Dental Pulp Cavity ; Dentin ; Sodium

BACKGROUND: The advantages of addition of epinephrine to local anesthetics during caudal epidural anesthesia are core intense block, prolonged duration of anesthesia and reduction of systemic toxic effect of local anesthetics. The currently recommended concentration of epinephrine is 1 : 200,000, but absorbed epinephrines cause unwanted hemodynamic changes, so we attempted to ascertain the minimum effective concentrations of epinephrine during caudal epidural anesthesia. METHODS: Ninty patients classified ASA physical status I or II scheduled for perianal surgery were studied. These patients were divided into four groups who received 20 ml of 2% lidocaine with epinephrine concentrations of 1 : 100,000, 1 : 200,000, 1 : 400,000 or 1 : 800,000 respectively. Before and during anesthesia, patients' mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were measured. Caudal anesthesia was performed with patients in the jack-knife position. A 3 ml test dose was administered initially and then the remaining local anesthetics were injected slowly. The onset of analgesia, duration of analgesia, and other complications were observed. RESULTS: The onset of analgesia was slowest in the 1 : 800,000 group. The duration of analgesia was longest in the 1 : 100,000 group. There were no significant difference in MAP changes, but HR increased significantly in the 1 : 100,000 group compared to the 1 : 200,00 group. There were no systemic toxic symptoms for local anesthetics except that 1 patient, who was in the 1 : 100,000 group, had symptoms of palpitation and headache, considered to be the unwanted pharmacologic effects of epinephrine. CONCLUSION: We concluded that the 1 : 400,000 epinephrine concentration can be used during caudal epidural anesthesia.
Analgesia ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, Caudal ; Anesthesia, Epidural* ; Anesthetics, Local ; Arterial Pressure ; Epinephrine* ; Headache ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Lidocaine

The aim of this study was to identify a new gene of Haemophilus parasuis that could be used to develop a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for this porcine pathogen. H. parasuis genomic DNA was cloned into a set of expression vectors, and transformants expressing His-tagged polypeptides were identified by colony blotting. An ABC transporter-like gene was isolated. The cloned DNA fragment is 1,105 base pair and shows 78% similarity at the nucleotide level with an ABC transporter gene of H. ducreyi. Based on this sequence, two PCR primers were designed to amplify the entire 1,105-bp fragment in the proposed diagnostic PCR test. PCR amplification was able to detect a minimum of 1 x 10(4) CFU/ml of H. parasuis organisms. Fifteen different H. parasuis serovars were positive using the PCR test. No amplification was observed when the test was done using DNA from 16 other bacterial species commonly isolated from swine.
Base Pairing ; Clone Cells ; Cloning, Organism ; DNA ; Haemophilus ; Haemophilus parasuis ; Peptides ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Swine

Inflammatory pseudotumor is a rare, benign lesion of various organ and tissue that usually occurs in children and young adults. We report on a 35-year-old male patient with retroperitoneal inflammatory pseudotumor who was completely cured by surgical resection and steroid therapy.
Adult ; Child ; Granuloma, Plasma Cell* ; Humans ; Male ; Young Adult

No abstract available.
Edema* ; Humans ; Hydrops Fetalis* ; Infant, Newborn*