Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging provides a safe and cost-efficient method for immediate data acquisition and visualization of tissues, with technical advantages including minimal autofluorescence, reduced photon absorption, and low scattering in tissue. In this review, we introduce recent advances in NIR fluorescence imaging systems for thoracic surgery that improve the identification of vital tissues and facilitate the resection of tumorous tissues. When coupled with appropriate NIR fluorophores, NIR fluorescence imaging may transform current intraoperative thoracic surgery methods by enhancing the precision of surgical procedures and augmenting postoperative outcomes through improvements in diagnostic accuracy and reductions in the remission rate.

Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging provides a safe and cost-efficient method for immediate data acquisition and visualization of tissues, with technical advantages including minimal autofluorescence, reduced photon absorption, and low scattering in tissue. In this review, we introduce recent advances in NIR fluorescence imaging systems for thoracic surgery that improve the identification of vital tissues and facilitate the resection of tumorous tissues. When coupled with appropriate NIR fluorophores, NIR fluorescence imaging may transform current intraoperative thoracic surgery methods by enhancing the precision of surgical procedures and augmenting postoperative outcomes through improvements in diagnostic accuracy and reductions in the remission rate.
Absorption ; Fluorescence ; Lymph Nodes ; Methods ; Optical Imaging ; Thoracic Surgery

BACKGROUND: The surgical treatment of secondary spontaneous pneumothorax (SSP) can be complicated by fragile lung parenchyma. The preoperative prediction of air leakage could help prevent intraoperative lung injury during manipulation of the lung. Common sites of bulla development and ruptured bullae were investigated based on computed tomography (CT) and intraoperative findings. METHODS: The study enrolled 208 patients with SSP who underwent air leak control through video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). We retrospectively reviewed the sites of bulla development on preoperative CT and the rupture sites during VATS. RESULTS: Of the 135 cases of right-sided SSP, the most common rupture site was the apical segment (31.9%), followed by the azygoesophageal recess (27.4%). Of the 75 cases on the left side, the most common rupture site was the apical segment (24.0%), followed by the anterior basal segment (17.3%). CONCLUSION: The azygoesophageal recess and parenchyma along the cardiac border were common sites of bulla development and rupture. Studies of respiratory lung motion to measure the pleural pressure at the lung surface could help to determine the relationship between cardiogenic and diaphragmatic movement and bulla formation or rupture.
Humans ; Lung ; Lung Injury ; Pneumothorax* ; Retrospective Studies ; Rupture ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted

A brain-computer interface (BCI) can be used to restore some communication as an alternative interface for patients suffering from locked-in syndrome. However, most BCI systems are based on SSVEP, P300, or motor imagery, and a diversity of BCI protocols would be needed for various types of patients. In this paper, we trained the choice saccade (CS) task in 2 non-human primate monkeys and recorded the brain signal using an epidural electrocorticogram (eECoG) to predict eye movement direction. We successfully predicted the direction of the upcoming eye movement using a support vector machine (SVM) with the brain signals after the directional cue onset and before the saccade execution. The mean accuracies were 80% for 2 directions and 43% for 4 directions. We also quantified the spatial-spectro-temporal contribution ratio using SVM recursive feature elimination (RFE). The channels over the frontal eye field (FEF), supplementary eye field (SEF), and superior parietal lobule (SPL) area were dominantly used for classification. The α-band in the spectral domain and the time bins just after the directional cue onset and just before the saccadic execution were mainly useful for prediction. A saccade based BCI paradigm can be projected in the 2D space, and will hopefully provide an intuitive and convenient communication platform for users.
Brain ; Brain-Computer Interfaces ; Classification ; Cues ; Eye Movements ; Frontal Lobe ; Haplorhini ; Humans ; Parietal Lobe ; Primates* ; Quadriplegia ; Saccades ; Support Vector Machine

Early esophageal cancer is defined as a tumor invading the mucosa with or without lymph node or distant organ metastasis. In the current guidelines for early esophageal cancer, absolute indication for endoscopic resection include lesions limited to the epithelium or lamina propria mucosa not exceeding two-thirds of the circumference, and relative indications include lesions limited to the muscularis mucosa or the upper third of the submucosal layer and not accompanied by clinical evidence of lymph node metastasis. After endoscopic submucosal dissection for early esophageal cancer, locally recurrent cancer can occur, especially in the case of incomplete resection. Here, we report a rare case of a submucosal tumor-like recurrence after endoscopic resection of early esophageal cancer.
Endosonography ; Epithelium ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; Lymph Nodes ; Mucous Membrane ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Recurrence

Traumatic pseudoaneurysms in the head and neck region are very rare. Particularyly, pseudoaneurysms of the internal maxillary artery are known to be very rare. The authors report a 20-year old male who was diagnosed as having a pseudoaneurysm of the internal maxillary artery. The cause was assumed to be a mandible ramus fracture. When he visited our emergency room, we did not consider a pseudoaneurysm because of his other life-threatening conditions. Fortunately, he re-visited our hosipital before the aneurysm ruptured. He was diagnosed with angiography and was treated by using embolization with glue. The rupture of the pseudoaneurysm could have caused a life-threatening hemorrhage.
Adhesives ; Aneurysm ; Aneurysm, False ; Angiography ; Emergencies ; Head ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Male ; Mandible ; Maxillary Artery ; Neck ; Rupture

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: After bilateral mastoidectomy, taste change is common because of injury to chorda tympani nerve. We aimed to understand about the appropriate interval of sequential bilateral mastoidectomy. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Retrospective review was carried out for 25 patients who underwent sequential bilateral mastoidectomy from March 2004 to November 2011. RESULTS: Among the 25 patients, there were 19 patients whose chorda tympani nerve was injured after bilateral mastoidectomy, and eight of those 19 patients complained of taste disturbance. The rates of dysfunction according to operation interval were within 6 month (55%, 5/9), between 6 and 12 months (33%, 2/6), and above 12 months (10%, 1/10). Compared to canal wall up mastoidectomy, for canal wall down mastoidectomy, taste disturbance was more common (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: The result supports that at least 6 months interoperative period for bilateral chronic otitis media may be needed to avoid taste disturbance. A further large study may validate this result.
Chorda Tympani Nerve ; Dysgeusia ; Humans ; Otitis Media ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Ocular torsion may be a result of vestibulopathy. The funduscopy is the most reliable method of measuring an ocular torsion. However, the reference value of ocular torsion in Korean is available at only limited ages. Therefore, we analyzed the angle of ocular torsion more age-specific than previous study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used the fundus photograph of health check-up visitor. And age and sex specific average angle of ocular torsion was measured. RESULTS: The right and left average angle of ocular torsion were 7.7+/-3.6degrees, 5.3+/-3.0degrees, respectively. In addition, there was no significant difference in age or sex specific angle of ocular torsion. CONCLUSION: This result might give an aid to evaluating the function of otolithic organ by measurement of ocular torsion.
Ophthalmoscopes ; Otolithic Membrane ; Reference Values ; Reflex, Vestibulo-Ocular

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Rotation test is a widely used method to evaluate the function of the vestibular system. Generally, the head position to be tilted forwards 30degrees during rotation is preferred in order to bring the horizontal semicircular canals into the plane of rotation, thus ensuring maximum response. However literatures do not provide a clear reference concerning head position during the rotation test. So, we evaluated the vestibuloocular reflex (VOR) induced by sinusoidal rotation in the horizontal plane in the two different head positions: the head tilted forward 30degrees and with the head upright. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 20 men with no known neuro-otological disorders and 9 guinea pigs were studied. The rotations of slow harmonic acceleration on various frequencies were performed with the subject's head in the upright position and in the 30 pitched down position. Computerized electronystagmography in human and magnetic coil in guinea pigs were used to measure the maximum velocity of slow component of horizontal nystagmus and to calculate gain, phase and symmetry of VOR responses. RESULTS: In both groups, results showed no significant differences in gain, phase and symmetry. CONCLUSION: In the two different head positions, there were no significant differences in gain, phase and symmetry. The posture of head upright is more comfortable for the patient and gives enough response for the evaluation of vestibular function.
Acceleration ; Animals ; Electronystagmography ; Guinea Pigs ; Head ; Humans ; Magnetics ; Magnets ; Male ; Nystagmus, Pathologic ; Posture ; Reflex, Vestibulo-Ocular ; Semicircular Canals

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Pediatric dizziness is difficult to diagnose because of the nonspecific nature of symptom, and difficulty in history taking, physical examination or diagnostic tests. The authors tried to analyze the proportion of diseases in children suffering from dizziness, and introduce cases with atypical clinical characteristics and uncommon diagnosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical records of 53 pediatric patients suffering from dizziness were analyzed retrospectively. We analyzed the findings of history taking, physical examination for nystagmus and cerebellar function, pure tone audiogram and caloric tests in all patients. RESULTS: Diagnosis of migrainous vertigo was most common (32.7%), followed by psychological cause (11.5%) and labyrinthitis due to the otitis media (7.7%). Cases of cerebellar hemangioblastoma, neurofibromatosis and drug intoxication were also found. CONCLUSION: The clinical characteristics and causative diseases of pediatric dizziness are different from those of adults. Appropriate history taking and diagnostic tests are improtant for differential diagnosis.
Adult ; Caloric Tests ; Child ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Dizziness ; Ear, Inner ; Hemangioblastoma ; Humans ; Labyrinthitis ; Medical Records ; Migraine Disorders ; Neurofibromatoses ; Otitis Media ; Physical Examination ; Retrospective Studies ; Stress, Psychological ; Vertigo