BACKGROUND: Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is usually managed pharmacologically. It is not uncommon for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) to suffer from PHN. It is difficult to prescribe a sufficient dose of anticonvulsants for intractable pain because of the decreased glomerular filtration rate. If the neural blockade and pulsed radiofrequency ablation provide only short-term amelioration of pain, spinal cord stimulation (SCS) with a low level of evidence may be used only as a last resort. This study was done to evaluate the efficacy of spinal cord stimulation in the treatment of PHN in patients with CKD. METHODS: PHN patients with CKD who needed hemo-dialysis who received insufficient relief of pain over a VAS of 8 regardless of the neuropathic medications were eligible for SCS trial. The follow-up period was at least 2 years after permanent implantation. RESULTS: Eleven patients received percutaneous SCS test trial from Jan 2003 to Dec 2007. Four patients had successfully received a permanent SCS implant with their pain being tolerable at a VAS score of less than 3 along with small doses of neuropathic medications. CONCLUSIONS: SCS was helpful in managing tolerable pain levels in some PHN patients with CKD along with tolerable neuropathic medications for over 2 years.
Anticonvulsants ; Electric Stimulation Therapy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Health Resorts ; Humans ; Kidney ; Kidney Diseases ; Neuralgia, Postherpetic ; Pain, Intractable ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Cord Stimulation

PURPOSE: This correlation study was performed to examine Korean adults' perceptions and attitudes towards death with dignity and the withdrawal of life sustaining treatment and to identify factors that predict their attitude towards death with dignity. METHODS: The study was conducted using convenience sampling of 291 adults from three towns of a metropolitan city in Korea. Data were collected using structured questionnaires which surveyed people's perception about and attitudes towards withdrawal of life sustaining treatment and scaled their attitude towards death with dignity. Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficients and multiple regression. RESULTS: The attitude towards the withdrawal of life sustaining treatment and death with dignity showed a significant positive correlation (r=0.49, P<0.001). For attitudes towards death with dignity, significant predictors were attitudes towards the withdrawal of life sustaining treatment, age, religion, a proper withdrawal process and advanced medical directives, which explained 49.3% of total variance. CONCLUSION: The results of this study may contribute to development of a new medical decision-making system including nurses' appropriate roles in the process of withdrawing life sustaining treatment and advanced medical directives.
Adult ; Humanism ; Humans ; Korea ; Life Support Care ; Right to Die ; Statistics as Topic

No abstract available.
Carcinogenesis* ; Colorectal Neoplasms*

We report a case of adamantinoma of the tibia resembling fibrous dysplasia. The patient was a 55-year-old male, and complained of pain in the right lower leg. Roentgenographs showed a well demarcated osteolytic lesion with small foci of calcification and septation within the diaphysis of the distal tibia. The cortex was partially disrupted. Histologically, initial biopsy specimen showed fibrous connective tissue and trabeculae of immature woven bone, strongly suggestive of fibrous dysplasia. The lesion recurred and the second biopsy revealed nests of spindle cells and tubular epithelial structures embedded in granulation type-fibrous tissue. Immunohistochemically, both the nests of spindle cells and the tubular structures gave a positive reaction for cytokeratin. The present case emphasizes once again that histological diagnosis of fibrous dysplasia of the tibia should be made carefully with exclusion of the possibility of adamantinoma.
Ameloblastoma/*pathology/radiography ; Bone Neoplasms/*pathology/radiography ; Case Report ; Fibrous Dysplasia of Bone/*pathology/radiography ; Human ; Male ; Middle Age ; Tibia/*pathology/radiography

OBJECTIVE: The sinus floor elevation procedures have been used to facilitate implant placement in the severely atrophic posterior maxilla. Many variables may have an influence on the outcomes of the sinus floor elevation in combination with implant treatment. The aim of this study was to analyze survival rate of implants placed in the edentulous maxillae of patients in whom sinus floor elevation was undertaken according to variables. MATERIALS AND METHODS: It consisted of 96 patients(50 male and 46 female), ranging in age from 31 to 70 years(mean 49 years), who underwent sinus floor elevation procedure(94 implants in left side and 106 implants in right side) from 2001 to 2002. A total of 200 implants were placed in the grafted sinus(73 implants in lateral approach and 127 implants in crestal approach). All implants were restored by fixed prosthesis. All patients were healthy. Follow-up periods for implants were between 48 to 60 months. RESULTS: The cumulative survival rate of implants was 91.5%. Gender, age and operation site did not have an influence on the survival rate. There was statistically significant differences for the implants which placed in less than 4 or 5 mm residual bone height, the survival rate was 60%, 81.4% respectively (p<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference of implants survival rate according to approach technique. The survival rate for 100% autogenous bone grafts was lower with respect to composite grafts containing autogenous bone and 100% substitutes. The survival rate for hydroxyapatite-coated implants was statistically significant lower than other textured group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Residual bone height, surface texture and graft materials have an influence on the survival rate. To use autogenous bone as a part of a composite bone replacement, implant texture which leads to more favorable implant-bone interface were necessary. To determine residual bone height for initial implant stability was important.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Maxilla* ; Prostheses and Implants ; Survival Analysis* ; Survival Rate ; Transplants

Unlike classic pyoderma gangrenosum (PG), the bullous variant of PG is typically represented by a painful erythematous papule, plaque, and superficial bulla that progress into the ulceration with bullous margin. Generally, bullous PG is most commonly associated with myeloproliferative disorders, such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Bullous PG in AML patients rarely occurs, but once it does, it suggests a poor clinical prognosis. Although many cases of classic PG in AML patients have been reported, bullous PG is relatively rare. Therefore, we present a case of bullous PG that developed in a patient with AML and was successfully treated with high-dose systemic steroids.

For the success of complete denture, three essential requirements such as retention, stability and support are needed. Moreover, due to the absorption of residual ridge and scarring due to the surgery, when making a complete denture, which is difficult to form the mandibular lingual margins, various considerations such as the arrangement of the Non-anatomical dl non-anatomical teeth, the polished surface impression, the internally weighted metal framework and the use of the denture adhesive cream are necessary. In this case report, the patient has a severely resorbed edentulous ridge from severe periodontitis and has some soft tissue problems after the glossectomy due to tongue cancer. To obtain additional retention and stability, some trials such as polished surface impression taking, internally weighted metal insertion and minimal pressure impression were done for the better result. Moreover To make a metal framework that precisely shapes the desired three-dimensional shape and reduces the complicated process, minimal pressure impression method and direct metal laser sintering technique were used.
Absorption ; Adhesives ; Cicatrix ; Denture, Complete ; Dentures ; Glossectomy ; Humans ; Methods ; Periodontitis ; Tongue Neoplasms ; Tooth

OBJECTIVES: Clinical studies have shown cognitive dysfunctions and soft neurological signs in schizophrenic patients and these findings have been suggested as evidence of organic bases in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. This study was intended to investigate the characteristics of cognitive deficits and soft neurological signs in schizophrenia and, to determine whether any abnormality in these functions can be regarded as a trait marker of the illness which is independent of antipsychotic treatment and clinical improvement. We also investigated the correlation between cognitive deficits and soft neurological signs reflecting cognitive dysmetria, respectively. METHODS: Twenty schizophrenic patients were assessed for the soft neurological signs and cognitive functions before and after neuroleptic treatment. The patients had been medicated for at least 3 weeks with one of the atypical neuroleptics. Cognitive functions were evaluated by Trail making A, B, Stroop test and Word fluency test. Soft neurological signs were assessed by Cambridge Neurological Inventory(Part 2). Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS) and Clinical Global Impression(CGI) were used to assess the clinical severity and Extrapyramidal Symtoms Rating Scale was used to estimate the extrapyramidal symptoms. Cognitive functions and soft neurological signs of twenty normal controls were assessed with the same scale. RESULTS: Before treatment, schizophrenic patients showed significant impairments on cognitive function tests(Trail Making A, B, Stroop Test) and soft neurological sign tests(8 items:Grasp reflex, Go/no-go, Finger thumb opposition, Rhythm tapping, Finger agnosia, Fist-edge-palm, Left-right orientation, Extinction). Although significant clinical improvements were observed after the treatment, there were no significant changes in cognitive functions and soft neurological signs(except for Go/no-go test and Finger agnosia). Among the soft neurological signs of the patients, abnormality in Rhythm tapping was significantly correlated with cognitive deficits. CONCLUSION: Schizophrenic patients showed characteristic cognitive deficits and soft neurological signs which were independent of medication and clinical symptoms. And these two characteristics were partly correlated with each other.
Agnosia ; Antipsychotic Agents ; Cerebellar Ataxia ; Fingers ; Humans ; Reflex ; Schizophrenia ; Stroop Test ; Thumb

Lethal neonatal rigidity and multifocal seizure syndrome (RMFSL) is a severe autosomal recessive epileptic encephalopathy characterized by rigidity, intractable multifocal seizures, microcephaly, apnea, and bradycardia immediately after birth. RMFSL is related to a mutation in breast cancer 1-associated ataxia telangiectasia mutated activation-1 protein (BRAT1). We report a case of a female infant born to non-consanguineous Korean parents who developed hypertonia, dysmorphic features, progressive encephalopathy with refractory seizures at birth, and worsening intermittent apnea, leading to intubation and death at 137 days of age. The initial repeated electroencephalographic findings were normal; however, a pattern of focal seizures emerged at 35 days of life. Rapid trio whole-exome sequencing revealed heterozygous mutations c.1313_1314delAG p.(Gln438Argfs*51) and c.1276C>T p. (Gln426*) in BRAT1. After genetic counseling for pregnancy planning, a preimplantation genetic diagnosis for targeted BRAT1 mutations was successfully performed, and a healthy baby was born. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a Korean patient with compound heterozygous mutations in BRAT1. An early and accurate genetic diagnosis can help provide timely treatment to patients and indicate the need for reproductive counseling for parents for family planning.