We studied 54 normal volunteers and 30 patients with Bell's palsy by magnetically and electrically evoked direct stimulations of facial nerve. A magnetic coil was placed tangentially to the parieto-occipital area and the stylomastoid foramen. Magnetic stimulation (MS) was less painful and able to excite deeper tying neural structures. Magnetically and electrically evoked direct stimulations of facial nerve showed the same characteristics in excitability and nerve conduction, but they could not be evaluated on the basis of the same normative data. We identified a locus of the impulse generation that might be closer to the exit of facial nerve from the brainstem. Compared with normal controls, MS-evoked CMAPS of patients with Bell's palsy had no responses, longer latencies, lower amplitudes, or disperses pattern. This study shown that MS at the stylomastoid foramen can not be used for the evaluation of the facial nerve conduction study in place of electrical stimulation(ES). As the transcranial MS can stimulate intracranial proximal portion of facial nerve directly and noninvasively, it can give additional information on the evaluation of facial nerve. Transcranial MS combined with ES may provide the means for assessing the entire facial nerve.
Bell Palsy ; Brain Stem ; Electric Stimulation* ; Facial Nerve* ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Neural Conduction

Coloboma is a lacking of a portion of structure of the eye. Congenital colobomas are due to some interference with the normal closure of the emoryonic cleft, the aberration lying primarily in the epiblast of the cup and occur between the time of invagination of the vesicle and closure of the cleft. The authors have experienced 3 cases of the typical colobomas of iris, ciliary body, choroid, retina and optic nerve. Two of the cases had familial history. Extracapsular cataract extraction was performed in one eye of the case and resulted in slight improvement in vision.
Cataract Extraction ; Choroid ; Ciliary Body ; Coloboma* ; Deception ; Germ Layers ; Iris ; Optic Nerve ; Retina

No abstract available.
Holoprosencephaly*

As the use computed tomographic (CT) scanning spread, the diagnosis of blowout fractures of the medial orbital wall increased. Now, the diagnosis of blowout fracture in the medial wall are not uncommon. Conventionally, the surgery of blowout fractures in medial orbital wall was performed by the various approach with external incision. The conventional method had seveal possible disadvantages, including an external scar, incomplete reduction, increased mobidity rate and general anesthesia. Recently, endoscopic reconstruction of the medial orbital wall has provided good functional and cosmetic results. We performed endoscopic transnasal reduction surgery without external incision in 12 cases of medial blowout fracture under local anesthesia. The fractured bony fragments were removed after the intranasal ethmoidectomy and the entrapped medial rectus was released. And then a sheet of silicone late or uncinate process were placed on the fracture site. For the maintain of the position of fractured wall, Merocel packing or urinary ballon catheter were used in orbital fracture site for 1-3 weeks. There were no specific complications related to this procedure. Result of the surgery in all cases were satisfactory. In this article, we discussed the surgical procedure, the benifit of the transnasal endoscopic approach, the indications for surgery, and possible comlications.
Anesthesia, General ; Anesthesia, Local ; Catheters ; Cicatrix ; Diagnosis ; Orbit* ; Orbital Fractures ; Silicones

PURPOSE: The insulin like growth factors (IGFs) circulate complexed to IGF-binding proteins(IGFBPs). IGFBP-3 is the major circulating IGFBP and is found primarily as a 150 kDa complex which contains an acid labile subunit(ALS), IGFBP-3, and IGF-I or IGF-II and is considered to be growth hormone(GH) dependent. In this study, we measured serum IGF-I, IGFBP-3 and 150 kDa levels in sera of growth hormone deficient children(GHD) before and after GH treatment respectively to clarify the utility of these factors as a diagnostic marker for GHD and to observe the alterations of these factors according to GH treatment. METHODS: Measurement of serum IGF-I, IGFBP-3 and 150 kDa complex were performed in 10 children with complete growth hormonr deficiency(cGHD), in 6 children with partial growth hormone deficiency(pGHD) and in 10 normal healthy subjects. Serum IGF-I was measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA). IGF-I was seperated from IGFBPs by Sephadex G-50 acid chromatography. Serum IGFBP-3 was assessed by Western ligand blot(WLB) analysis as described by Hossenlopp with minor modifications. To evaluate alterations of different molecular size classes of IGF-BP complexes according to GH treatment, WLB was done after neutral size-exclusion chromatography using Sephacryl S-200. RESULTS: 1) The serum IGF-I level in children with GHD was significantly lower than that of control subjects(96.2+/-40.1 ng/ml vs 147.5+/-37.9 ng/ml)(p<0.01). 2) The serum IGF-I level in children with cGHD was significantly lower than that of normal subjects (p<0.01). But four of the 10 children with cGHD the IGF-I levels were distributed within the range of -2 S.D.. The serum IGF-I level in children with pGHD was also lower than that of normal subjects but there was no statistical significance between two groups(P>0.05). 3) The serum IGFBP-3 level is markedly decreased in 9 of 10 children with cGHD, but only in 2 of 6 children with pGHD which was measured by WLB method. 4) The serum IGF-I level after GH treatment was increased significantly in children with GHD(138.7+/-49.2 ng/ml vs 78.7+/-23.4 ng/ml)(p<0.01). The serum IGFBP-3 level was also increased after GH treatment as similar pattern. 5) The marked decrement of serum IGFBP-3 level in children with cGHD was explained as the result of decline in the 150 kDa IGFBP complex, and after GH treatment 150 kDa complex was increased; in the 150 kDa IGFBP complex, free IGF-I binding sites were increased. CONCLUSIONS: The serum levels of IGF-I, IGFBP-3 and 150 kDa complex in children with cGHD were decreased significantly, but in children with pGHD these changes were not observed as prominant as cGHD. These findings suggest that the measurments of serum IGF-I, IGFBP-3 level may be useful not only in the diagnosis of GHD but also differentiate cGHD from pGHD and the serum IGFBP-3 level may be more sensitive for diagnosing GHD even though each test by itself has a limited diagnostic accuracy as a single test.
Binding Sites ; Child* ; Chromatography ; Diagnosis ; Growth Hormone* ; Humans ; Insulin* ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor II ; Radioimmunoassay ; Somatomedins

Purpose: To evaluate the timing of the improvement in surgical skills of the direct anterior approach for hip arthroplasty through an analysis of the clinical features and learning curve in 58 cases. Materials and Methods: From November 2016 to November 2018, 58 patients, who were divided into an early half and late half, and underwent hip arthroplasty by the direct anterior approach, were enrolled in this retrospective study. The operation time and complications (fracture, lateral femoral cutaneous nerve injury, heterotopic ossification, infection, and dislocation) were assessed using a chi-square test, paired t-test, and cumulative sum (CUSUM) test. Results: The mean operation times in total hip arthroplasty (26 cases) and bipolar hemi-arthroplasty were 132.1 minutes and 79.7 minutes, respectively, demonstrating a significant difference between the two groups. CUSUM analysis based on the results revealed breakthrough points of the operation time, decreasing to less than the mean operation time because of the 16th case in total hip arthroplasty and 14th case in bipolar hemiarthroplasty. Complications were encountered in the early phase and late phase: five cases of fractures in the early phase, no case in the late phase; eight and two cases of lateral femoral cutaneous nerve injury, respectively; three and two cases of heterotopic ossification, respectively; and one case of dislocation, one case of infection and three cases of others in the early phase. The CUSUM chart for the fracture rate during operation in the early phase revealed the following: five cases fracture (17.2%) in the early phase and no case in the late phase (0%). This highlights the learning curve and the need for monitoring the inadequacy of operation based on the complications. Conclusion Hip arthroplasty performed by the direct anterior approach based on an anatomical understanding makes it difficult to observe the surgical field and requires a learning curve of at least 30 cases.

Purpose: The clinical outcomes were investigated to determine if arthroscopic management is a useful method for 19 hips with iliopsoas tendon impingement (IPI) after total hip arthroplasty (THA). Materials and Methods: Eighteen patients (19 hips), who complained of groin pain and flexion pain that persisted after THA from September 2013 to December 2019, were the subjects of this investigation. The mean time to manifestation after THA was four months (range, 1–9 months) in patients of an average age of 60 years (range, 50–69 years). Thirteen out of 18 patients underwent THA using the direct anterior approach and five by the lateral approach. IPI was diagnosed by the medical history, physical examination, blood test, radiographic examination using X-ray and computed tomography, and topical injection therapy. All patients underwent arthroscopic treatment and a dynamic arthroscopic physical examination after exposure to the iliopsoas tendon revealed impingement. Tenotomy was then performed on the muscle portion through the total tendon portion. Symptoms and pain levels of preoperative, postoperative and follow-up period were investigated and compared. Results: The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index score decreased from an average of 58.4 (range, 40–88) before surgery to an average of 35.0 (range, 15–76) after surgery. Similarly, the visual analogue scale decreased from an average of 4.0 (range, 2–6) before surgery to an average of 1.4 (range, 0–4) after surgery. Sixteen patients (88.9%) showed pain relief and improvement in the straight leg raise test, and two patients showed postoperative muscle weakness and sustained pain. In the follow-up period, muscle weakness improved. One patient underwent arthroscopic iliopsoas tenotomy at the lesser trochanteric level but the symptoms persisted.The clinical symptoms were improved after one more tenotomy at the joint level. Conclusion Arthroscopic iliopsoas tenotomy performed in patients with IPI after THA showed good clinical results.

PURPOSE: The effects of leptin on female sexual behaviors are controversial, and studies on this topic are limited. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the direct effects of leptin on clitoral vasoreactivity in vitro and to determine the mechanism of action. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Isometric tension studies were conducted to determine the effects of pretreatment with leptin (10(-8) M) on the contractile responses of rabbit clitoral corpus cavernosal smooth muscle strips. The effects of leptin were assessed on precontraction induced by phenylephrine (PE; 10(-9)-10(-4) M) and KCl (35-140 mM). We also examined the effect of leptin on relaxation induced by acetylcholine (ACh; 10(-9)-10(-4) M), verapamil (10(-10)-10(-6) M), and sodium nitroprusside (10(-9)-10(-4) M) in PE-precontracted (10(-5) M) strips. RESULTS: Leptin enhanced ACh-induced relaxation in PE-precontracted strips. L-NAME pretreatment significantly reduced the effect of leptin on ACh-induced relaxation, whereas L-arginine potentiated the effect of leptin. Leptin decreased the KCl-induced contractile responses. Leptin increased verapamil-induced relaxation responses. The relaxation effects of leptin on KCl-induced contraction were inhibited by 10(-5) M methylene blue and L-NAME pretreatment. CONCLUSIONS: A high concentration of leptin enhances ACh-dependent relaxation in clitoral cavernosal smooth muscles. These relaxation effects of leptin may occur through an NO-dependent mechanism and voltage-dependent calcium channel blockade.
Acetylcholine ; Arginine ; Calcium Channels ; Clitoris ; Contracts ; Female ; Humans ; Leptin ; Methylene Blue ; Muscle, Smooth ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitroprusside ; Phenylephrine ; Relaxation ; Sexual Behavior ; Verapamil

BACKGROUND: Confirm the stability of intervertebral disc sustaining each fused lumbar spine cases, comparing vertical compression, A-P shear force and rotational moment on intervertebral disc of instrumented lumbar spine with simple vertical compression load and follower load using finite element analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyze the stability of intervertebral disc L4-5 supporting fused lumbar spine segments. After performing finite element modelling about L1-L5 lumbar vertebral column and L1-L4 each fusion level pedicle screw system for fused lumbar spine fine element model. Intervertebral discs with complex structure and mechanical properties was modeled using spring element that compensate stiffness and tube-to-tube contact element was employed to give follower load. Performing geometrical non-linear analysis. RESULTS: The differences of intervertebral disc L4-5 behavior under the follower compression load in comparision with vertical compression load are as follows. CONCLUSION: As a result of finite element interpretation of instrumented lumbar spine, the stability of L4-5 sustaining fused lumbar segment, the long level fused lumbar spine observed hing stability under follower load. This research method can be the basis tool of effects prediction for instrumentation, a invention of a more precious finite element interpretation model which consider the role of muscle around the spine is loaded.
Finite Element Analysis ; Intervertebral Disc* ; Inventions ; Spine*

BACKGROUND: Confirm the stability of intervertebral disc sustaining each fused lumbar spine cases, comparing vertical compression, A-P shear force and rotational moment on intervertebral disc of instrumented lumbar spine with simple vertical compression load and follower load using finite element analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyze the stability of intervertebral disc L4-5 supporting fused lumbar spine segments. After performing finite element modelling about L1-L5 lumbar vertebral column and L1-L4 each fusion level pedicle screw system for fused lumbar spine fine element model. Intervertebral discs with complex structure and mechanical properties was modeled using spring element that compensate stiffness and tube-to-tube contact element was employed to give follower load. Performing geometrical non-linear analysis. RESULTS: The differences of intervertebral disc L4-5 behavior under the follower compression load in comparision with vertical compression load are as follows. CONCLUSION: As a result of finite element interpretation of instrumented lumbar spine, the stability of L4-5 sustaining fused lumbar segment, the long level fused lumbar spine observed hing stability under follower load. This research method can be the basis tool of effects prediction for instrumentation, a invention of a more precious finite element interpretation model which consider the role of muscle around the spine is loaded.
Finite Element Analysis ; Intervertebral Disc* ; Inventions ; Spine*