This study was performed to evaluate the usefulness of dermatomal somatosensory evoked potentials(D-SSEP) and segrnental somatosensory evoked potentials(S-SSEP) for the diagnosis of lurnbosacral radiculopathy. D-SSEP and S-SSEP were recorded from 30 healthy controls and 16 patients with lumbosacral radiculopathy(LA radiculopathy: 10 cases, L5: 13 cases, SI: 4 cases) who was diagnosed by clinical findings CT and/or MRI. D-SSEP were abnormal in 40%, 30.7% and 25% of the patients with IA, L5 and Sl radiculopathy respectively and S-SSEP were abnormal in 20%, 38% and 50% of the patients with IA, L5 and Sl radiculopathy respectively. The proportion of abnormal findings in the' patients with L4, L5 and Sl radiculopathy was increased to 50%, 46. 1% and 50% respectively by administering both of D-SSEP and S-SSEP. In conclusion, D-SSEP and S-SSEP are simple and noninvasive test but insensitive studies for diagnosis of lumbosacral radiculopathy. The diagnostic sensitivity could be increased by usmg both of these two studies.
Diagnosis ; Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Radiculopathy*

Familial isolated primary hyperparathyroidism(FIPH) is associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) syndrome, primary hyperparathyroidism accompanied by jaw-tumor syndrome, and familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia. FIPH may be an early stage of MEN1 or an allelic variant of MEN1. Thymic carcinoid tumor is a rare tumor in MEN1 syndrome. Here, the authors report the case of a 40-year-old man diagnosed with recurrent thymic carcinoid tumor and FIPH. Both the patient and his elder sister had been previously diagnosed to have FIPH with a novel frameshift mutation in the MEN1 gene. Initially, the patient underwent thymectomy because of an incidental finding of a mediastinal mass in his chest X-ray, and had remained asymptomatic over the following 4 years. Pancreas computed tomography conducted to evaluate MEN1 syndrome revealed anterior and middle mediastinal masses, and resultantly, massive mass excision was performed. Histological findings disclosed atypical carcinoids with infiltrative margins. In view of the thymic carcinoid tumor relapse that occurred in this patient, the authors recommend that regular pancreas and pituitary imaging studies be conducted for FIPH associated with a MEN1 gene mutation.
Adult ; Carcinoid Tumor* ; Frameshift Mutation ; Humans ; Hypercalcemia ; Hyperparathyroidism ; Hyperparathyroidism, Primary* ; Incidental Findings ; Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1 ; Pancreas ; Recurrence ; Siblings ; Thorax ; Thymectomy

Median sternotomy incision is world-widely used for open heart surgery, especially in valvular heart disease. But recently, minimally invasive approach by the right parasternal incision for valvular heart disease was introduced with the many merits by small incision. We experienced 1 case of mitral valve repalcement by right parasternal incision and extended transseptal approach. This technique has no specific complications or problems compared with the median sternotomy and was proven by the excellent exposure. Cosmetically, the patient was satisfied with the incision.
Heart Valve Diseases ; Humans ; Mitral Valve* ; Sternotomy ; Surgical Procedures, Minimally Invasive ; Thoracic Surgery

OBJECTIVE: To investigate cortical reorganization of the brain during voluntary activities of the hand in patients with subcortical cerebral infarction. METHOD: Twelve patients with first-ever subcortical brain lesion causing hemiparesis had been evaluated with functional MRI. Bilateral hand clenching was done to test voluntary hand activities. Recovery period ranged from 2 to 36 months. RESULTS: During the unaffected hand movement, activation of contralateral primary sensorimotor cortex (SMC) were recorded in all cases and supplmentary motor area (SMA) in 1 case. The affected hand movement showed activation of the cotralateral SMC in all cases, ipsilateral SMC in 4 cases, SMA in 4 cases and contralateral prefrontal area in 2 cases. As for the contralateral SMC, affected hand movement showed more increased activation than the unaffected. For the bilateral SMC activation during movement of the affected hand, contralateral SMC activation was greater than the ipsilateral. CONCLUSION: Ipsilateral activation of the SMC, SMA, prefrontal area and increased activation of the contralateral SMC during affected hand movement suggest that these may play an important role in the reorganization of sensory and motor system in stroke patients with subcortical lesion. Functional MRI studies of patients who recovered from subcortical stroke provide evidence for several process that may be related to restoration of neurologic function.
Brain ; Cerebral Infarction ; Hand* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Paresis ; Stroke*

BACKGROUND: In patients with severe chronic lung diseases even a small pneumothorax can result in life-threatening respiratory distress. It is important to treat the attack by chest tube drainage until the lung expands. Pneumothorax with a persistent air leak that does not resolve under prolonged tube thoracostomy suction is usually treated by open operation to excise or oversew a bulla or cluster of blebs to stop the air leak. Pleurodesis by the instillation of chemical agents is used for the patient who has persistent air leak and is not good candidate for surgical treatment. When the primary trial of pleurodesis with common agent fails, it is uncertain which agent should be used f or stopping the air leak by pleurodesis. It is well known tbat inappropriate drainage of hemothorax results in severe pleural adhesion and thickening. Based on this idea, some reports described a successful treatment with autologous blood instillation for pneumothorax patients with or without residual pleural space. We tried pleurodesis with autologous blood for pneumothorax with persistent air leak and then we evaluated the efficacy and safety. METHODS: Fifteen patients who had persistent air leak in the pneumothorax complicated from the severe chronic lung disease were enrolled. They were not good candidates for surgical treatment and doxycycline pleurodesis failed to stop up their air leaks. We used a mixture of autologous blood and 50% dextrose for pleurodesis. Effect and complications were assessed by clinical outcome, chest radiography and pulmonary function tests. RESULTS: The mean duration of air leak was 18.4 :1:6.16 days before ABP (autologous blood and dextrose pleurodesis) and 5.2 ± 1.68 days after ABP, The mean severity of pain was 2.3 ± 0.70 for DP(doxycycline pleurodesis) and 1.7 ± 0.59 for ABDP (p<0.05). There was no other complication except mild fever. Pleural adhesion grade was a mean of 0.6 ± 0.63. The mean dyspnea scale was 1.7 ± 0.46 before pneumothrax and 2.0 ± 0.59 after ABDP (p>0.05). The mean FEV1 was 1.47 ± 1.01 before pneumothorax and 1.44 ± 1.00 after ABDP (p>0.05). Exɡpt in 1 patient, 14 patients had no recurrent pneumothorax. CONCLUSION: Autologous blood pleurodesis (ABP) was successful for treatment of persistent air leak in the pneumothorax. It was easy and inexpensive and involved less pain than doxycycline pleurodesis. It did not cause complications and severe pleural adhesion. We report that ABP can be considered as a useful treatment for persistent air leak in the pneumothorax complicated from the severe chronic lung disease.
Blister ; Chest Tubes ; Doxycycline ; Drainage ; Dyspnea ; Fever ; Glucose ; Hemothorax ; Humans ; Lung ; Lung Diseases ; Pleurodesis* ; Pneumothorax* ; Radiography ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Suction ; Thoracostomy ; Thorax

PURPOSE: We performed this study to investigate the outcome of surfactant replacement therapy (SRT) in above nearterm neonates who were required mechanical ventilatory care due to meconium aspiration pneumonia (MAP), respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) or other severe pneumonia (PN). METHODS: 48 patients, gestational period 36 weeks, who were admitted in NICU of Dongsan Medical Center, Keimyung University between July 1999 and June 2004 were enrolled. They were divided into three groups, MAP group (15 cases), RDS group (27 cases) and PN group (6 cases). All patients were received SRT and evaluated several clinical data (gestational age, oxygen index, duration of ventilator care) and outcome (complications and mortality rate) between pre-SRT and post-SRT. The mean dose of surfactant (modified bovine surfactant, Newfacten, Yuhan Co., Seoul, Korea) was 120 mg/kg. RESULTS: Among each groups, mean pre-SRT OI was higher in MAP group (213.2) than other groups, mean duration (days) of ventilatory care and oxygen therapy were similar distributions. Compared with pre-SRT values, significant improvements (P<0.05) in mean values for FiO2 and oxygenation index were documented at 12 hours after SRT. Early complications (persistent pulmonary hypertension of newborm, pneumothorax) and survival rate were lower in MAP group. Within RDS group, earlier SRT (given before 12 hours of life) revealed significantly lower early complication rate than later SRT (given after 12 hours of life) (13.3% vs 58.3%, P<0.05) CONCLUSION: Our study suggested that SRT seems to be an effective therapy in above nearterm neonates with severe pulmonary disease, and earlier SRT tends to reduce complications in RDS group than later therapy.
Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; Infant, Newborn* ; Lung Diseases* ; Meconium Aspiration Syndrome ; Mortality ; Oxygen ; Pneumonia ; Seoul ; Survival Rate ; Ventilators, Mechanical

No abstract available.
Seizures*

Beau's line is a grooved transverse line on the fingernail or toenail, and is considered as a kind of nail disorder, It is known to occur with temporary arrest of nail matrix proliferation. The causes of Beau's line comprise severe systemic illness as well as drug ingestion. A 51-year-old male patient had developed Beau's line on all his fingers after about three months of oxcarbazepine administration. These nail changes disappeared spontaneously with nail growth two months later. The authors report a case of oxcarbazepine induced Beau's line.
Carbamazepine ; Eating ; Fingers ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nails

Relapse and exacerbation of Graves' disease during pregnancy is rare, and thionamide induced agranulocytosis is an uncommon side effect. We report a case of a pregnant woman in her 24th week of gestation that experienced a relapse of Graves' disease that was complicated by propylthiouracil induced agranulocytosis. Following the discontinuation of propylthiouracil and administration of a broad-spectrum of antibiotics, agranulocytosis subsided within 10 days. A total thyroidectomy to avoid any future relapse was planned and a short course of a beta-adrenergic blocker and Lugol solution were prescribed before the operation. At the 28th week of gestation, a total thyroidectomy was performed without complications and thyroxine replacement therapy was commenced. At the 40th week of gestation, labor was induced and a 3, 370 g healthy male infant was born without clinical features of thyrotoxicosis. We report herein on the patient and the treatment options for this rare and complicated case.
Thyroidectomy ; Recurrence ; Propylthiouracil/administration & dosage/*adverse effects ; Pregnancy Complications/*therapy ; Pregnancy ; Humans ; Graves Disease/*complications/*therapy ; Female ; Antithyroid Agents/administration & dosage/*adverse effects ; Agranulocytosis/chemically induced/*complications ; Adult

In this research, the author investigated antitumor effects of green tea catechin on cancer cell lines in various concentrations and durations. Additionally, antitumor mechanism of catechin associated with apoptosis and necrosis, especially their onset and duration were invesigated. Cancer cell lines, L1210 (lymphocytic leukemia), L929 (fibrosarcoma), HepG2 (hepatoblastoma) were used. In each group, intensity of morphological changes and cell damage was observed under inverted, light, confocal and electron microscopes, and MTT and flowcytometric analysis, gel electrophoresis were used to elucidate the effects of catechin after exposure to 1, 10, 100 and 500 microgram/ml catechin until 72 hours. In all cancer cell lines, catechin induced cellular injury and inhibition of proliferation in concentration- and duration-dependent manner. The effects of catechin were the strongestt in L1210 cells and L929 and HepG2 cells in order. Dual phenomena, of apoptosis and necrosis, were shown after catechin treatment. In necrotic cells, cellular swelling, cell organelles destruction, nuclear disintegration and random DNA fragmentation were observed. In apoptotic cells, apoptotic bodies, nuclear and cytoplasmic condensations, periodic DNA fragmentation were seen. In L1210 cells, necrotic and apoptotic cells were co-existed earlier, after exposure to catechin 100 microgram/ml and then apoptosis predom-inated later. In the same concentration, catechin induced apoptosis of L929 cells. but after exposure to 500 microgram/ml catechin, They were involved with apoptosis and necrosis simultaneously. On the other hand, HepG2 cells were damaged less than other cell lines but were involved with necrosis and inhibition of G2/M phase after treatment with 500 microgram/ml catechin. These results suggested that anti-tumor mechanism of catechin, associated with apoptosis, necrosis and cell cycle arrest, were quite different according to cancer type, concentration and duration of catechin treatment. Therefore, much more research would be essential for clinical application of catechin and this study would be the basic source for further study of green tea.
Apoptosis ; Catechin* ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Cell Line* ; Cytoplasm ; DNA Fragmentation ; Electrophoresis ; Hand ; Hep G2 Cells ; Necrosis ; Organelles ; Tea*