• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.69-76
• /
• 2020

Recurrent bacterial meningitis is the reappearance of two or more episodes of meningitis caused by a different or same organism after an intervening period of full convalescence. Predisposing factors for recurrent bacterial meningitis include immunodeficiency and developmental and traumatic anatomical defects. Therefore, careful evaluation of children with recurrent meningitis is essential. We report the case of a patient with a skull base abnormality who had suffered from four events of bacterial meningitis between 8 and 17 years of age. He experienced another event of bacterial meningitis at the age of 21, without undergoing correction for the anatomical defect. Streptococcus agalactiae was identified in the patient's blood and cerebrospinal fluid culture. Afterwards, he underwent surgical treatment for a meningioma; this meningioma was strongly suspected as the cause of the recurrence.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.22-30
• /
• 2003

Purpose : The efficacy of magnetic resonance imaging for evaluating coronary artery disease has been reported. In this study, we evaluated the usefulness of breath-hold segmented K-space cine MR imaging for evaluating the patency of coronary artery bypass grafts (CABG). Materials and Method s : Thirty eight patients with a total of 92 CABGs (36 internal thoracic arteries and 56 saphenous vein grafts) were evaluated using segmented K-space cardiac-gated fast gradient echo sequence (2D-FASTCARD) MR imaging. MR magnitude images were evaluated from the hard copies by two independent observers. A graft was defined as patent if it was seen as a bright small round area on at least two consecutive images throughout the cardiac cycle at a position consistent with the expected location for that graft. Results : MR images were obtained successfully for 23 patients (61%). The sagittal planes were most helpful in visualizing the cross-section of sapheneous vein bypass graft to left circumflex artery branch, whereas the transverse planes were used for identification of internal mammary artery grafts to left anterior descending coronary artery or its branch and identification of saphenous vein grafts to right coronary artery. Forty five grafts were visible using this MR technique, while the grafts were not visible on seven saphenous vein grafts and two internal mammary artery grafts. In two patients showing symptoms of myocardial ischemia, one or two bypass grafts were not visible. Imaging, perpendicular plane to a CABG was important to visualize the flow inside the CABG with maximum sensitivity. Conclusion : Evaluation of patency of the bypass graft was clinically feasible by 2D-FASTCARD MR imaging, whereas any invisible bypass grafts should be further studied by contrast-enhanced MR angiography or by conventional angiography for confirmation of abnormalities.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.41 no.3
• /
• pp.437-445
• /
• 2001

This study was performed to validate the procedure of transarterial embolization of the renal artery (TAE-RA) using iohexol-ethanol solution in dogs with unilateral experimental hydronephrosis and to evaluate the embolized kidney using B-mode ultrasonography and selective angiography. Experimental hydronephrosis was induced by ligation of unilateral ureter in 12 dogs. Ultrasonographic findings revealed that size of the kidney was significantly increased at 9 days and 17 days and the length of renal cortex was significantly decreased at 17 days after ligation of the unilateral ureter and it was in accordance with dilation of ipsilateral renal pelvis. No significant change of BUN, creatinine, ALT, calcium, and phosphorus was found immediately after unilateral experimental hydronephrosis. Therefore, it was concluded that unilateral hydronephrosis was established in 12 dogs at 17 days after ligation of ureter. Renal artery embolization was performed using selective catheterization in the hydronephrotic kidney of seven dogs and EKG, $SpO_2$, body temperature, pulse, and respiratory rate were within normal ranges during procedures. Iohexol-ethanol solution was used as embolic material. Average ethanol dose for renal artery embolization was $1.94{\pm}1.24ml/kg$. There were no dogs expired after TAE-RA and no side effects associated with regurgitation of iohexol-ethanol solution. Revascularization of renal artery was not found in angiography in dogs treated by TAE-RA at immediately after TAE-RA and 14 days after TAE-RA. Ultrasonographically, the mean longitudinal length of the embolized kidney decreased significantly at 2 and 3 months after TAE-RA compared to that of contralateral normal kidney. In summary, marked shrinkage of the embolized kidney was observed in dogs with unilateral experimental hydronephrosis treated by TAE-RA with iohexol-ethanol and no adverse effects were observed throughout the observation period. It is concluded that TAE-RA with iohexol-ethanol solution is a viable alternative to nephrectomy in dogs with unilateral hydronephrosis.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.100-107
• /
• 2002

Purpose : The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the treatment results of 30 patients with pineal region tumors who were underwent radiation therapy under the diagnosis by either CT or MRI. There was no histological verification. We analyzed the prognostic factors that have a significant effect on the overall survival (OS) and disease free survival (DFS) rates. Materials and Methods : A total 30 patients with pineal region tumors were treated between March 1983 and August 1995. After a trial radiation therapy of $20\~30\;Gy/2\~3$ weeks, the patients were evaluated for their clinical response and radiological response by either CT or MRI and the final treatment direction was then decided. According to their response to the trial radiation therapy and the involved site, radiation treatment was given in various fields i.e., local, ventricle, whole brain and craniospinal field. The radiation dose ranged from 40.8 to 59.4 Gy (Median 50.4 Gy). The median follow up was 36.5 months $(4\~172\;months)$. Results : An improvement or stability in the clinical symptoms was observed in 28 patients $(93.3\%)$ after the trial RT. Nineteen patients $(63.3\%)$ showed a partial or complete response by CT or MRI. The two-year and five-year survival rates of the patients were $66.7\%$ and $55.1\%$, respectively. No significant difference in the survival rates according to the degree of the radiological response was abserved after the trial RT. The results of univariate analysis showed that age, the primary site, the performance status $(KPS\geq70)$, the degree of response after completing RT and the RT field were significant prognostic factors affecting the survival and disease free survival rates (p<0.05). Conclusion : The clinical and histological characteristics of pineal region tumors are quite complex and diverse. Therefore, it is difficult to predict the histological diagnosis and the possibility of radiocurability only with the initial response to RT. We think that the development of less invasive histological diagnostic techniques and tailored treatment to the histological type of each tumor are needed.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.81-86
• /
• 2015

Purpose This study was to evaluate the usefulness through the comparison of patients group and healthy control group by acquiring a variety of functional parameters index from time-activity curves of salivary gland scintigraphy using $^{99m}Tc$. Materials and Methods From December 2014 to February 2015 with the targets of 30 patients in the patient group who presented themselves with xerostomia and underwent the salivary gland scan and 10 people in healthy control group, approximately 30 minutes of dynamic Scan was carried out after the intravenous bolus injection of 370 MBq of $^{99m}TcO_4{^-}$ and per os stimulation with Vitamin C powder 20 minutes after the injection. The method of quantitative analysis was as follows, the time-activity curve was drawn after the parotid gland and submandible gland were prescribed as a region of interest, a variety of functional parameters index was obtained in each position of the curve, and the patients group and the control group were compared. Results As for the methods applied in comparison and measurement, uptake ratio (UR), time at maximum counts (Tmax), time at minimum counts (Tmin), maximum accumulation (MA), accumulation velocity, maximum secretion (MS), maximum stimulation secretion (MSS), and secretion velocity (SV) were used. In the comparison of functional parameters index of patient group and normal group, the healthy normal group showed significant difference compared to the patient group in all indices except for the minimum radioactivity time (Tmin), and also in terms of variation over time the normal group showed significant difference compared to the patient group (p<0.05). Conclusion Consequently, it was considered that the quantitative analysis that used a variety of functional parameters index would be useful for evaluating the function of the salivary glands of the patients with xerostomia as an objective and standardized information.

• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.118-122
• /
• 2006

Purpose: We introduce a technique of all inside arthroscopic capsular imbrication and lateral release used to treat patellofemoral instability. Methods: With the arthroscope in the anteromedial portal for best viewing, the arthroscopic scissor is placed through superolateral portal for proximal to distal release. The release performed 5mm to 1cm from the edge of the patella. After completion of the procedure, with the arthroscope in anterolateral portal, we inserted 5mm cannula in superolateral portal and made working portal from superomedial portal. Medial reefing was performed with all inside technique by using curved needle of the spectrum suturing system and No. 1 monofilament PDS suture is passed through the superomedial portal percutaneously and retrieved through a superolateral portal. Conclusion: Several methods for arthroscopic patella realignment have been proposed, but they have consisted primarily of arthroscopically assisted techniques using a medial incision. We believe that our procedure is preferable to arthroscopically assisted methods commonly used, in that an incision is avoided and the vastus medialis obliqqus is not violated. Our technique is minimally invasive and is easy to control the tightness of the medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) under direct vision.

• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
• /
• v.33 no.6
• /
• pp.331-337
• /
• 2022

Raman spectroscopy is an optical technique that can identify molecules in a label-free manner, and is therefore heavily investigated in various areas ranging from biomedical engineering to materials science. Probe-based Raman spectroscopy can perform minimally invasive chemical analysis, and thus has potential as a real-time diagnostic tool during surgery. In this study, Raman experimentation was calibrated by examining the Raman shifts with respect to the concentrations of chemical substances. Raman signal characteristics, targeted for normal mice and cerebral tissues of the 5xFAD dementia mutant model with accumulated amyloid beta plaques, were measured and analyzed to explore the possibility of diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. The application to the diagnosis of dementia was cross-validated by measuring Raman signals of amyloid beta. The results suggest the potential of Raman spectroscopy as a diagnostic tool that may be useful in various areas of application.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.119-128
• /
• 2000

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic role of $^{99m}Tc$-Tetrofosmin in detection of breast cancer and compared with that of $^{99m}Tc$-MIBI. Material and Methods: Forty-eight patients with a clinically palpable mass or abnormal mammographic or ultrasonographic findings had $^{99m}Tc-MIBI\;and\;^{99m}Tc$-Tetrofosmin scintimammographies after intravenous injection of 925 MBq of radiopharmaceuticals. The scintimammographs were correlated with histopathologic findings. Results: Thirty-three patients were diagnosed with breast cancer and 15 patients with benign breast diseases. The numbers of true positive, true negative, false positive, and false negative cases of $^{99m}Tc$-MIBI scintimammography were 29, 10, 5, and 4 respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of $^{99m}Tc$-MIBI scintimammographies were 87.8%, 66.7%, 85.3%, and 71.4% respectively. The numbers of true positive, true negative, false positive, and false negative cases of $^{99m}Tc$-Tetrofosmin were 31,10, 5, and 2 respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value of $^{99m}Tc$-Tetrofosmin were 93.9%, 66.7%, 86.1%, and 73.3% respectively. One patient was false negative in both $^{99m}Tc-MIBI\;and\;^{99m}Tc$-Tetrofosmin acintimammographies and its size was 0.5 cm. Conclusion: $^{99m}Tc-Tetrofosmin\;and\;^{99m}Tc-MIBI$ were non-invasive and useful in detection of breast cancer and $^{99m}Tc$-Tetrofosmin was comparable to the $^{99m}Tc$-MIBI in detection of primary breast cancer.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.50 no.9
• /
• pp.882-890
• /
• 2007

Purpose : Preterm very low birth weight infant have high rate of adverse neurodevelopmental sequale. Recently, there have been lots of reports that human umbilical cord blood transplantation ameliorates functional deficits in animal models as hypoxic ischemic injury. This pilot study was undertaken to determine the clinical efficacy and safety of autologous umbilical cord blood cell transplantation for preventing neurodevelopmental sequale in perterm VLBW. Methods : Subjects were 26 preterm infants whose birth weight are less than 1,500 g and delivered under the intrauterine period 34 weeks. Autologous umbilical mononuclear cells (about $5.87{\times}10^7/kg$) were injected to neonate via the umbilical vein on the postnatal 24-48 hour. The therapeutic efficacy was assessed by numbers of nucleated RBC, urinary uric acid/creatinine ratio, concentration of neuron specific enolase (NSE), interleukin 6 (IL6), interleukin-$1{\beta}$ ($IL-1{\beta}$), and glial cell derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) in serum and cerebrospinal fluid on day 1 and 7. Results : There were no significant differences in the numbers of the nucleated RBC, urinary uric acid/creatinine ratio, concentration of creatine kinase between the transplanted infants and controls. But the nucleated RBC is more likely to be rapidly discharged in the transplanted group. In the transplanted group, the concentrations of IL6, $IL-1{\beta}$, and GDNF were no significant difference between day 1 and 7, although GDNF seemed to be elevated. Serum NSE concentration was significantly elevated after transplantation, but not in CSF. Conclusion : It is suggested that autologous umbilical cord blood transplantation in preterm very low birth weight infant is safe to apply clinical practice. Long term follow up study should be needed to evaluate the potential therapeutic effect of umbilical cord blood transplantation for neuroprotection.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.152-155
• /
• 2005

Purpose: The lower extremity edema (LEE) is a common distressful symptom in advanced cancer patients and is hard to manage. We analyze the characteristics of LEE in patients with advanced cancer to provide the basic information of causes and adequate management. Methods: Physical examination, assessment of the location and severity of edema, blood chemistry (albumin, creatinine), Doppler Sono for patients with suspecting deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and abdomen CT scan for patient with suspecting lymph edema were performed. Severity of edema was classified according to NCI lymph edema scaling and improvement was defined as lowering at least 1 grade of edema after management. Results: Among 154 patient who had been admitted to Hospice Ward from Mar 2003 to Jan 2004, 33 had LEE, and 6 had both upper extremity edema and LEE except generalized edema. Their underlying cancers were stomach (7), lung (6), biliary tract (5), liver (5), colorectal (5), pancreas (2), and others (9). There were 12 patient with grade I, 20 patients with grade II, and 7 patients with grade III edema. The causes were hypoalbuminemia (11), lymph edema (10), DVT (7), obstruction of inferior vena cava (IVC) or portal vein (6), and dependent edema (5). The common managements were including leg elevation and diuretics. Elastic stocking was applied for patients with DVT and leg massage and pneumatic compression was used for lymph edema. The 2/3 patients were improved after management. Conclusion: The incidence of LEE in terminal cancer pts was high (25.3%) and their causes were variable including lymph edema, DVT, hypoalbuminemia and dependent edema. Active noninvasive management according to causes could result in good palliation.