In order to observe the arrhythmia which occured in early convalescent phase of acute myocardial infarction, a 24 hour ambulartory ECG monitiring was performed in 15 patients who is admitted at dept of Int Medicine, Ewha Womans University hospital from Aug. 1985 to Sept. 1986. during 7.5+/-3.4 days after admission. In all cases one or more of the following arrhythmias were observed;atrial premature beat, ventricular premature beat(VPB), transient paroxysmal ventricular thchycardia, atrial fibrillation, sinus arrest and junctional beat. Of 15 cases, 11(77.3%) had VPB's:Simple VPB's in 4 cases(26.7%) and complex VPB's(6.52+/-2.52)(P<0.05). But there were no difference of premature and abberancy index between complex VPB's and simple VPB's(P>0.1). In addition, we compaired the arrhythmias in CCU with those of early convalescent phase of acute myocardial infarction. But there was no correlation between them.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac* ; Atrial Fibrillation ; Cardiac Complexes, Premature ; Electrocardiography* ; Female ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction*

No abstract available.
Posterior Cruciate Ligament*

Necessity of more biocompatible bone graft material had brought due to the problems of autologous bone graft & synthetic bone substitute materials. Bonesource(R) is a new biomaterial which can be replaced by natural bone when it is implanted. We reviewed our experience with Bonesource(in various reconstruction of bone defect for wide application. From March 2000 to March 2002 at Seoul National University Hospital, we performed various 7 cases of operation with Bonesource(R). These cases were bony depression after mass excision, alveolar cleft, frontal and supraorbital rim fracture, orbital deformity, facial asymmetry, bone defect after cranioplasty, depressive scar. In all cases, results were satisfactory without migration, extrusion, resorption during the follow up period (average 14 months). In 1 case, wound healing was delayed due to redissolution of Bonesource(R) by seroma. This was resolved by drainage without significant loss of volume. Its biocompatibility, excellent bony adhesion(osseointegration) and tendency to be replaced by natural bone(osteoconduction) may make it widely used in plastic surgery. The result of long term follow up and practical technique handling this material effectively are needed to evaluate it further.
Bone Substitutes ; Cicatrix ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Depression ; Drainage ; Durapatite* ; Facial Asymmetry ; Follow-Up Studies ; Orbital Fractures ; Seoul ; Seroma ; Surgery, Plastic ; Transplants ; Wound Healing

Antihypertensive effect and side effect of Tripamide(Normonal(R)) was studied in 22 cases of essential hypertension using 15mg once daily regimen for average period of 9 weeks. 1) Antihypertensive effect Average reduction of 25mmHg in systolic and 19mmHg in systolic and 19 mmHg in diastolic pressure was observed and reduction rate was 15.7% and 17.6% respectively. The overall effect rate was 86%. The blood pressure lowered significantly in 1 week of treatment both in systolic and diastolic pressure and the extent of fall in systolic pressure approached near the level of maximum reduction in 2 weeks of administration and that of diastolic after 5 weeks of treatment. 2) Laboratory tests and side effect There was no significant changes in individual and mean value of Na, K, Cl, BUN, creatinine, uric acid, fasting blood sugar, cholesterol, GOT, GPT studied before and after treatment except one case showing elevation of uric acid. No significant side effect was observed during trial except of 2 cases of transient diuretic effect.
Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Cholesterol ; Creatinine ; Diuretics ; Fasting ; Hypertension ; Uric Acid

Recent studies of immune responses to pathogens have identified pathogen-associated molecular patterns recognized by the innate immune system through specialized receptors called toll-like receptors (TLRs). Signaling through these receptors initiates robust immune responses. By exploiting TLR signaling pathways, immunity to tumor-associated antigens may be generated. Many tumor-associated antigens are involved in the regulation of tumor phenotype or carcinogenesis. Immune targeting of these antigens may either alter the tumor phenotype, yielding a more treatable tumor, or eradicate early tumor stem cells preventing tumor formation. The oncoprotein HER2/neu, which is often overexpressed in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), may provide such a target. Immune responses directed against HER2/neu may eliminate the disease, make tumors more amenable to anti-estrogen therapy, or prevent escape of hormone-resistant tumor phenotypes. Effective breast cancer prevention in preclinical studies utilizing murine HER2/neu transgenic models has stimulated interest in, and optimism regarding, protective breast cancer vaccines in humans. Induction of anti-HER2 neu T cell (CD4+ and CD8+) and B cell responses has been demonstrated in an ongoing clinical study targeting HER2/neu using a TLR agonist-primed dendritic cell vaccine. Moreover, these vaccinations lead to reductions in both HER2/neu expression and extent of DCIS. HER2/neu expression and aromatase activity have recently been linked through the intermediary cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2). This convergence between growth factor and hormone mediated pathways provides additional support for the notion that a significant number of breast cancers may be prevented through effective immune targeting of HER2/neu. As progress is made towards the development of vaccines for breast cancer prevention, the contributions of immune-mediated effecter and inhibitory mechanisms to the pathogenesis of HER2/neu overexpressing breast cancer will need to be better understood.
Aromatase ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Cancer Vaccines ; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; Dendritic Cells ; Humans ; Immune System ; Neoplastic Stem Cells ; Phenotype ; Toll-Like Receptors ; United Nations ; Vaccination ; Vaccines

Pena-Shokeir I syndrome is a multiple malformation syndrome displaying characteristics of camptodactyly, multiple ankylosis, severe muscle weakness, facial anomalies (low set ears, hypertelorism, depressed tip of nose), polyhydramnios, fetal growth retardation & pulmonary hypoplasia which are inherited by autosomal recessive trait. We experienced 1 case of Pena-Shokeir I syndrome in a neonate (41 weeks, 2.08Kg). This patient suffered from dyspnea. Respiratory destress was not relieved after ventilatory care. He died aged 10 days. We report this case with brief review of literature.
Ankylosis ; Dyspnea ; Ear ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; Humans ; Hypertelorism ; Infant* ; Infant, Newborn ; Muscle Weakness ; Polyhydramnios

OBJECTIVE: Although there is no consensus on the ideal treatment of the craniocervical instability, biomechanical stabilization and bone fusion can be induced through occipito-cervical fusion (OCF). The authors conducted this study to evaluate efficacy of OCF, as well as to explore methods in reducing complications. METHODS: A total of 16 cases with craniocervical instability underwent OCF since the year 2002. The mean age of the patients was 51.5 years with a mean follow-up period of 34.9 months. The subjects were compared using lateral X-ray taken before the operation, after the operation, and during last follow-up. The Nurick score was used to assess neurological function pre and postoperatively. RESULTS: All patients showed improvements in myelopathic symptoms after the operation. The mean preoperative Nurick score was 3.1. At the end of follow-up after surgery, the mean Nurick score was 2.0. After surgery, most patients' posterior occipito-cervical angle entered the normal range as the pre operation angle decresed from 121 to 114 degree. There were three cases with complications, such as, vertebral artery injury, occipital screw failure and wound infection. In two cases with cerebral palsy, occipital screw failures occurred. But, reoperation was performed in one case. CONCLUSION: OCF is an effective method in treating craniocervical instability. However, the complication rate can be quite high when performing OCF in patients with cerebral palsy, rheumatoid arthritis. Much precaution should be taken when performing this procedure on high risk patients.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Atlanto-Occipital Joint ; Cerebral Palsy ; Consensus ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Postoperative Complications ; Reference Values ; Reoperation ; Vertebral Artery ; Wound Infection

OBJECTIVE: Discectomy and/or spinal fusion have been the standard treatment options with proven effectiveness to treat degenerative spinal disease. To treat patients with more physiologic effective methods, there have been many efforts to develop various kinds of devices such as posterior dynamic stabilization and disc replacement. We reviewed our early experiences with the combined use of a partial disc replacement device, PDN-Solo(R) (Raymedica, Minneapolis, MN, USA) and an interspinous device, Coflex(R) (Fixanos, Pefonnas, France) in two.level lumbar degenerative disease. METHODS: A total of 13 patients with two.level lumbar degenerative disease underwent an operation from June 2003 to September 2004. A retrospective review of the clinical and radiological data was conducted for all the cases. The intervertebral disc height, the segmental lordotic angle and the total lumbar lordosis were measured. The clinical outcomes were evaluated by using the visual analogue scale (VAS), the Oswestry disability index (ODI) and MacNab's criteria. RESULTS: There were nine men and four women (mean age 34.4 years, range 21-64 years). The mean follow up period was 36.6 months (range 36-43 months). The average segmental lordotic angle of the PDN level was changed from 8.96degrees to 8.41degrees and that of the Coflex level was changed from 5.49degrees to 2.95degrees. The total lumbar lordotic angle was decreased from 33.74degrees to 32.40degrees. The intervertebral disc height of the PDN level was changed from 7.56 mm to 8.41 mm and that of the Coflex level was changed from 9.33 mm to 9.89 mm. The average degree of recovery from back pain was 5.6 points (from 8.9 to 3.3) and the average degree of recovery from leg pain was 4.4 points (from 7.5 to 3.1). The average degree of ODI recovery was 41.7 points (from 67.1 to 25.4). According to MacNab's criteria, the results were excellent in 4 patients (30.8%) and good in 7 patients (53.8%). CONCLUSION: Using the PDN with the Coflex may avoid rigid fixation in specially selected cases with two.level disease, i.e., those patients with spinal stenosis and a herniated lumbar disc. But further biomechanical tests and more longterm follow.up are needed.
Animals ; Back Pain ; Diskectomy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; Leg ; Lordosis ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Diseases ; Spinal Fusion ; Spinal Stenosis

OBJECTIVE: Anterior cervical corpectomy with fusion (ACF) or laminoplasty may be associated with substantial number of complications for treating multilevel cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) with significant cord compression. For more safe decompression and stabilization in multilevel cervical OPLL with prominent cord compression, we propose circumferential cervical surgery (selective ACF and laminoplasty) based on our favorable experience. METHODS: Twelve patients with cervical myelopathy underwent circumferential cervical surgery and all patients showed multilevel OPLL with signal change of the spinal cord on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A retrospective review of clinical, radiological, and surgical data was conducted. RESULTS: There were 9 men and 3 women with mean age of 56.7 years and a mean follow up period of 15.6 months. The average corpectomy level was 1.16 and laminoplasty level was 4.58. The average Japanese Orthopedic Association score for recovery was 5.1 points and good clinical results were obtained in 11 patients (92%) (p < 0.05). The average space available for the cord improved from 58.2% to 87.9% and the average Cobb's angle changed from 7.63 to 12.27 at 6 months after operation without failure of fusion (p < 0.05). Average operation time was 8.36 hours, with an estimated blood loss of 760 mL and duration of bed rest of 2.0 days. There were no incidences of significant surgical complications, including wound infection. CONCLUSION: Although the current study examined a small sample with relatively short-term follow-up periods, our study results demonstrate that circumferential cervical surgery is considered favorable for safety and effectiveness in multilevel OPLL with prominent cord compression.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Bed Rest ; Decompression ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Longitudinal Ligaments ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Orthopedics ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Cord Diseases ; Spinal Cord Ischemia ; Wound Infection

OBJECTIVE: We compared the results of two surgical techniques by retrospective study of 60 elderly patients (65 years or older) who underwent either decompression alone or fusion for the treatment of two-level or more lumbar spinal stenosis. METHODS: During the period of 2003 and 2008, two-level or more decompression alone or fusion was performed for lumbar spinal stenosis by three surgeons at our institution. Patients were allocated to two groups by surgical modality, namely, to a decompression group (31 patients) or a fusion group (29 patients). Overall mean age was 71.1 years (range, 65-84) and mean follow-up was 5.5 years (range, 3-9). A retrospective review of clinical, radiological, and surgical data was conducted. RESULTS: No significant difference between the two groups was found with respect to age, follow-up period, surgical levels, or preoperative condition. At the last follow-up, correction of lumbar lordotic angle (determined radiologically) was better in the fusion group. However, clinical outcomes including visual analogue scale, Oswestry Disability Index, and the Odom's criteria were not significantly different in the two groups. On the other hand, surgical outcomes, such as, operation time, estimated blood loss, and surgical complications were significantly better in the decompression alone group. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that decompressive laminectomy alone achieves good outcomes in patients with two-level or more lumbar spinal stenosis, associated with an advanced age, poor general condition, or osteoporosis.
Aged ; Decompression ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hand ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; Osteoporosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fusion ; Spinal Stenosis