Recently, percutaneous epidural neuroplasty has become widely used to treat radicular pain caused by spinal stenosis or a herniated intervertebral disc. A 19-year-old female patient suffering from left radicular pain caused by an L4-L5 intervertebral disc herniation underwent percutaneous epidural neuroplasty of the left L5 nerve root using a Racz catheter. After the procedure, the patient complained of acute motor weakness in the right lower leg, on the opposite site to where the neuroplasty was conducted. Emergency surgery was performed, and swelling of the right L5 nerve root was discovered. The patient recovered her motor and sensory functions immediately after the surgery. Theoretically, the injection of a large volume of fluid in a patient with severe spinal stenosis during epidural neuroplasty can increase the pressure on the opposite side of the epidural space, which may cause injury of the opposite nerve by barotrauma from a closed compartment. Practitioners should be aware of this potential complication.
Barotrauma ; Catheters ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Emergencies ; Epidural Space ; Female ; Hemiplegia ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; Leg ; Lower Extremity* ; Sensation ; Spinal Stenosis ; Young Adult

Recently, various studies evaluating percutaneous cervical nucleoplasty have reported good results. Percutaneous cervical nucleoplasty has been commonly used for treating contained herniated disc or protrusion, but a posterolateral extruded disc has not been considered to be an indication. The tip of the L'DISQ(R) wand can be curved to the desired angles by the rotation of the control wheel. Therefore, L'DISQ(R) can directly access the extruded disc. We report the application of percutaneous cervical nucleoplasty by using the L'DISQ(R) in three patients with an extruded disc. Decompression was successfully performed, and the symptoms improved immediately. In one patient, a 6-month follow-up magnetic resonance imaging study showed disappearance of the extruded cervical disc. Percutaneous cervical nucleoplasty using the L'DISQ(R) can be an effective, low complication, minimally invasive procedure for treating cervical disc herniation.
Decompression ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cardiac troponins are associated with increased mortality, even among patients with no coronary artery disease. Elevated cardiac troponin levels are frequently observed in patients without significant coronary lesions, although the mechanism underlying this finding is unclear. The aim of our study was to evaluate the association between the levels of cardiac troponin and coronary flow reserve (CFR). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We evaluated serum cardiac troponin-I in 19 patients (9 female; age 61.9+/-10.9 year-old). All patients had an ejection fraction >40% and angiographically normal coronary arteries. Simultaneous measurements of fractional flow reserve (FFR), the index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR), and CFR measurements using an intracoronary temperature- and pressure-sensing guidewire under basal conditions and during maximal hyperemia were performed in three vessels: the left anterior descending artery (LAD), left circumflex artery (LCX) and right coronary artery (RCA). RESULTS: All patients were followed for a median of 13 months. FFR, IMR, and CFR measurements were performed successfully in all subjects. Mean CFRs of LAD, LCX, and RCA were 1.98+/-1.20, 2.75+/-2.11, and 4.44+/-2.51, respectively. Mean IMRs of LAD, LCX and RCA were 33.28+/-18.78, 29.11+/-26.70, and 30.55+/-23.65, respectively. There was a poor correlation between CFR and troponin-I values in each vessel. In selecting the lowest value of CFR in each patient as the corresponding value, the lowest CFR was not associated with troponin-I levels (r=-0.219, p=0.367). CONCLUSION: In patients without significant coronary lesions, the correlation between CFR and troponin-I level was not significant using a thermodilution technique. Further study of a larger population with longer-term follow-up may be needed to more fully understand microvascular dysfunction.
Arteries ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Vessels ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hyperemia ; Microvessels ; Mortality ; Thermodilution* ; Troponin I ; Troponin* ; Vascular Resistance

PURPOSE: The option of selecting isotonic rather than hypotonic fluids for maintenance fluid in children has been advocated by some authors. Pneumonia and CNS infections are frequent clinical settings for acute hyponatremia because of nonosmotic anti-diuretic hormone stimuli in children. We conducted the present study to identify the incidence of hyponatremia in pneumonia and CNS infection of children and to determine the importance of maintenance intravenous fluid therapy regimen and other related factors. METHODS: The study included 1,992 patients admitted to the Department of Pediatrics at Pusan National University Children's Hospital between November 2008 and August 2011, who were diagnosed with pneumonia or CNS infections and checked for serum sodium concentration. Their clinical data including laboratory findings were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: During the study period, 218 patients were identified to have acute hyponatremia among 1,992 patients. The overall incidence of hyponatremia was 10.9%. The incidence of hyponatremia in encephalitis (37.3%) was highest and the incidence in bacterial meningitis (27.4%), viral meningitis (20.0%), bacterial pneumonia (11.1%), mycoplasma pneumonia (9.2%), and viral pneumonia (6.8%) were in descending order. The mean age was higher in hyponatremic patients than in isonatremic patients. The incidence of hyponatremia was higher in who had 0.18% NaCl in 5% dextrose (D5 0.18% NS) than 0.45% NaCl in 5% dextrose infusion (D5 1/2NS) (9.0% vs. 2.2%). SIADH was identified in 20.5% among hospital acquired hyponatremic patients after adequate evaluation for SIADH. CONCLUSION: We recommend D5 1/2NS rather than D5 0.18% NS as the maintenance fluid given to children with pneumonia or infectious CNS diseases.
Central Nervous System Diseases ; Child ; Encephalitis ; Fluid Therapy ; Glucose ; Humans ; Hyponatremia ; Inappropriate ADH Syndrome ; Incidence ; Meningitis ; Meningitis, Bacterial ; Meningitis, Viral ; Pediatrics ; Pneumonia ; Pneumonia, Bacterial ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma ; Pneumonia, Viral ; Sodium

0.05). Amnesia during local injection was observed in eight patients (34.8%). Compared with the preoperative anxiety score, the intraoperative anxiety score was decreased.CONCLUSION: In this study, we found cardiovascular and respiratory stability in intravenous sedation using dexmedetomidine with pethidine, in plate and screw removal, after orthognathic surgery. Furthemore, intravenous sedation using dexmedetomidine with pethidine shows adequate analgesic and sedative effects.]]>
Amnesia ; Anxiety ; Arterial Pressure ; Blood Pressure ; Dexmedetomidine ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; Meperidine ; Orthognathic Surgery ; Oxygen

Since oxidative stresses are involved in gastroenteritis and diarrhea, we investigated antioxidative and antidiarrheal activities of persimmon flesh extract (PFE) and persimmon calyx extract (PCE) in vitro and in vivo, respectively. PCE significantly scavenged 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl hydrate and 2,2'-azinobis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) from 500 microg/mL, although PFE was ineffective. In addition, PFE and PCE exhibited strong nitric oxide-scavenging effects from 1 microg/mL, in which PCE was superior to ascorbic acid (50 microM). Furthermore, PFE and PCE significantly inhibited FeCl3-induced lipid peroxidation as well as Cu2+/H2O2-induced protein oxidation from 10 microg/mL. In vivo charcoal-propulsion assay, in contrast to a negligible effect of PFE, treatment with PCE (160-500 mg/kg) markedly inhibited intestinal motility. The results indicate that extracts of persimmon, especially PCE, possess antioxidative, antiinflammatory and antidiarrheal activities. Therefore, it is suggested that persimmon extracts could be used for the relief of gastroenteritis and diarrhea.
Ascorbic Acid ; Biphenyl Compounds ; Diarrhea ; Diospyros ; Gastroenteritis ; Gastrointestinal Motility ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Oxidative Stress ; Picrates

Amyloidosis is not a single entity but rather a group of diseases characterized by the presence of extracelluar deposition of insoluble, fibrillar, proteinaceous material with a well-defined, beta-pleated sheet ultrastructure, mainly in tissues derived from the mesoderm. Approximately 9% to 15% of amyloid tumors are localized. The larynx is the most usually involved site in the head and neck. It is estimated that less than 1% of the benign tumors is found in the larynx. We report a case of laryngeal amyloidosis with a review of its clinical patterns, diagnostic tools, pathologic findings and treatments.
Amyloid ; Amyloidosis ; Head ; Larynx ; Mesoderm ; Neck

Aneurysmal ruptures associated with middle cerebral artery(MCA) anomalies, such as a duplicated MCA and an accessory MCA, are quite rare. The authors reviewed the clinical relevance and possible etiology of these anomalies.
Aneurysm ; Aneurysm, Ruptured ; Intracranial Aneurysm* ; Middle Cerebral Artery* ; Rupture*

Paraovarian cysts arise in the mesosalpinx, between the ovarian hilum and the fallopian tube. Clinical significance of paraovarian tumors is considerably less frequent than ovarian tumors, and malignant paraovarian lesions are exceedingly rare. Paraovarian carcinomas or borderline malignancy mostly occur in young women. Abdominal enlargement and pelvic pain are the usual complaints. Usually they have a capsule, are unilateral and are connected to the broad ligament. Little is known about the biological behavior of the paraovarian borderline malignancies, since these lesions are so rare. The appropriate therapy for this unusual lesion have not been fully defined. We had experienced a case of papillary serous adenocarcinoma of borderline malignancy and report this case with a brief review of literature.
Adenocarcinoma ; Broad Ligament ; Fallopian Tubes ; Female ; Humans ; Pelvic Pain

OBJECTIVE: This article was to review 10 years experience of cesarean hysterectomy at our hospital. To review risk factors, management & outcome of emergency peripartum hysterectomy performed in last 10 years at our hospital. MATERIAL & METHODS: The outcome of 33 cases of cesarean hysterectomy performed at St. Benedict hospital during 10 years from Jan. 1990 to Dec. 1999 was discussed & evaluated. RESULTS: During this time, there was 16014 deliveries, of which 5640 were cesarean section and 25 were cesarean hysterectomies, an incidence of 0.44%, and of which 10374 were vaginal deliveries 8 were. Cesarian hysterectomies are incidence of 0.08%. The age of patients varies from 18 to 42. The higher the age and the parity of patients, the higher incidence of cesarean hysterectomy was noted. The most common indication of cesarean hysterectomy was placental abnormal presentation [placenta accreta (30.3%), placenta previa (27.2%)], uterine atony (33.3%), uterine myoma with pregnancy (6.0%) and Uterine ruture (3.0%). The complication were febrile morbidity, disseminated intravascular coagulopathy and urinary tract injury. There was one maternal death. CONCLUSION: Postoperative complication still remain the causes of maternal morbidity. There careful prenatal care momentary judgement of right operation time, fresh whole blood transfusion and reduction of operation time must be conjunction with maternal life saving. Cesarean delivery, prior cesarean delivery placenta accreta and uterine atony were identified as risk factors for emergency peripartum hysterectomy and abnormal presentation was the primary cause of cesarean hysterectomy. Still, cesarean hysterectomy remains a potentially life saving procedure with which every obstetrician must be familiar.
Blood Transfusion ; Cesarean Section ; Emergencies ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy* ; Incidence ; Leiomyoma ; Maternal Death ; Parity ; Peripartum Period ; Placenta Accreta ; Placenta Previa ; Postoperative Complications ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Care ; Risk Factors ; Urinary Tract ; Uterine Inertia