• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.1 no.6
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• pp.603-611
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• 1997

The motor evoked potentials (MEPs) have been advocated as a method of monitoring the integrity of spinal efferent pathways in various injury models of the central nervous system. However, there were many disputes about origin sites of MEPs generated by transcranial electrical stimulation. The purpose of present study was to investigate the effect of major extrapyramidal motor nuclei such as lateral vestibular nucleus (VN) and medullary reticular nucleus (mRTN) on any components of the MEPs in adult Sprague-Dalwey rats. MEPs were evoked by electrical stimulation of the right sensorimotor cortex through a stainless steel screw with 0.5mm in diameter, and recorded epidurally at T9 - T10 spinal cord levels by using a pair of teflon-coated stainless steel wire electrodes with 1mm exposed tip. In order to inject lidocaine and make a lesion, insulated long dental needle with noninsulated tips were placed stareotoxically in VN and mRTN. Lidocaine of $2{\sim}3\;{\mu}l$ was injected into either VN or mRTN. The normal MEPs were composed of typical four reproducible waves; P1, P2, P3, P4. The first wave (P1) was shown at a mean latency of 1.2 ms, corresponding to a conduction velocity of 67.5 m/sec. The latencies of MEPs were shortened and the amplitudes were increased as stimulus intensity was increased. The amplitudes of P1 and P2 were more decreased among 4 waves of MEPs after lidocaine microinjection into mRTN. Especially, the amplitude of P1 was decreased by 50% after lidocaine microinjection into bilateral mRTN. On the other hand, lidocaine microinjection into VN reduced the amplitudes of P3 and P4 than other MEP waves. However, the latencies of MEPs were not changed by lidocaine microinjection into either VN or mRTN. These results suggest that the vestibular and reticular nuclei contribute to partially different role in generation of MEPs elicited by transcranial electrical stimulation.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.119-124
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• 2002

Background : Guillain-$Barr{\acute{e}}$ syndrome(GBS) is a neurologically emergent condition, leading to respiratory insufficiency without an early and appropriate treatment. Thus, the treatment of GBS requires early diagnosis but it is difficult due to the low sensitivity of laboratory tools in the initial stage. Hoffman reflex (H-reflex) and its facilitation by Jendrassik maneuver (JM) are sensitive tools evaluating the central circuit of motor system on the spinal cord level. The aim of this study is to test whether the change of H-reflex and F-wave under the JM is able to detect the early stage of GBS and whether GBS involves the central nervous system (CNS). Material and Methods : All 7 GBS patients who showed normal or nearly normal nerve conduction study were included. The facilitation of H-reflex and changes of F-wave were calculated by measuring the percent difference of H-reflex or F-wave amplitude under JM compared to basal H-reflex of F-wave amplitude. The changes of F-wave and H-reflex in the GBS patients were compared with them of 8 healthy controls. Results : The F-wave amplitudes of both healthy controls and GBS patients did not changed under the influence of JM ($102.4{\pm}24.9%$, $108.7{\pm}29.0%$ respectively). However, the facilitation of H-wave by JM in the GBS patients was absent ($98.8{\pm}5.8%$), even though the H-reflex amplitude I the healthy controls increased under the influence of JM ($124.8{\pm}12.1%$). Conclusions : The loss of H-reflex facilitation in GBS implies that this phenomenon might be the most early change detected in the electrophysiological study and support the early diagnosis, and that GBS might include lesion in the spinal motor CNS.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2015

Purpose: The aim of this study was to estimate the seropositive prevalence of blood-borne infection in neurotrauma patients who underwent emergent surgical intervention, especially patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), syphilis and human immunodefIciency virus (HIV). Methods: A retrospective review identified 559 patients with traumatic brain injury and spinal trauma who underwent emergent surgery between 2007 and 2014. We reviewed the medical records and extracted data, including age, sex, location of lesion, result of serologic tests, time interval of admission and surgery after presenting to emergency room. Serologic tests for HBV, HCV, syphilis and HIV were performed and analyzed to determine whether the seropositive results were confirmed by the surgeon before surgery. Results: The majority of the patients were male (74.6%), and the mean age was $55.4{\pm}20.2years$. Most patients underwent surgery due to traumatic brain injury (90.0%). Fifty-three patients (10.0%) showed a positive result on at least one serologic test. Seropositive rates according to pathogens were 0.5% for syphilis, 5.2% for HBV and 3.9% for HCV. No positive results were noted on the serologic tests for HIV. HBV in patients with spinal cord injury and age from 40 to 49 years were associated with high serologic positive rate, and that result was statistically significant. However, no statistically significant differences were found in the other variables. Serologic results could not confirmed before surgery in the majority of the cases (62.1%), and 10.4% of these patients showed seropositive results. Conclusion: The results of this study emphasize the importance of taking precautions and conducting rapid serologic testing in preventing the occupational transmission of blood-borne viruses to health-care workers.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2010

Schwannoma of the brachial plexus region is very rare. There has not been general agreement in terms of surgical outcome from limited number of studies. We analyzed surgical outcomes from 11 cases of schwannomas which occurred in the brachial plexus. From February 2000 to August 2009, 11 patients with schwannomas of the brachial plexus region were surgically treated by a single surgeon. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and MRI of our cases, and evaluated the neurologic deficit and the recurrence of tumors after surgery. All the cases were proven histologically as schwannomas. The mean age of the patients was 52.6(36~67) years old, 4 of them were male and 7 were female. The tumor was located in the left side in 9 patients, and right in 2. The mean postoperative follow-up was 24.7(6~78) months. Initial presentation was usually painless, palpable mass. The mass was located in various level of the brachial plexus such as root, trunk, cord, or terminal branch level. The size of mass was from $1.5{\times}1.5{\times}0.5$ cm to $11.0{\times}10.0{\times}6.0$ cm. Eight of 11 patients showed no neurologic deficit. Three patients showed postoperative neurologic deficit; two of them had transient sensory deficit, and one of them had weakness of flexor pollicis longus and 2nd flexor digitorum profundus. There were no recurrences. The schwannoma of the brachial plexus region should be considered as a curable lesion with an acceptable surgical risk of injury to neurovascular structures. With precise surgical techniques, these tumors can be removed to improve patient's symptoms with minimal morbidity.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.55-61
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• 2009

Purpose: To analyze the clinical and radiologic results of the shoulder arthrodesis in brachial plexus injury patients with flail upper extremity. Material and Method: From Aug 1978 to April 2008, 29 shoulders in 29 patients with brachial plexus injury with shoulder fusion, we evaluated 20 shoulders in 20 patients, more than 1 year follow up. The average follow-up period was 6.45years (range: 1year~24years). There were 13 men and 7 women, and the mean age at the time of trauma was 32.0years(2~65 years). The type of injury was a motorcycle accident in 11 patients, in car accident in 5, pedestrian accident in 3, and fall from a height in 1. The lesion of injury was root and trunk in 1 patient, trunk and cord in 1, trunk in 18. Surgery was performed on the whole arm type paralysis in 12 patients, lower arm type paralysis in 8 patients. The preoperative visual analog scale score was 8.7(7~10). When the trapezius and serratus anterior muscle were in function, operation was performed. 18 patients were processed to the additional operation. Gracilis free flap in 6 patients, neurotization in 3, Steindler flexor plasty in 6, and tendon transfer in 3 were performed. Fixation was conducted with cancellous screws in 13 patients, Knoles pins in 5, and cancellous screws and Knoles pins in 2. The position of the arthrodesis at operation was $28.5^{\circ}$($20~45^{\circ}$) in abduction, $30.3^{\circ}$($20~45^{\circ}$) in flexion, and $30.8^{\circ}$($20~40^{\circ}$) in internal rotation. Result: The follow up visual analog scale score was 3.4(0~7). Postoperatively, shoulder spica cast was applied for 15.3weeks(8-20weeks). The median time to bony union was 17.7weeks(9~28weeks). Average range of motion was $32.0^{\circ}$($15~40^{\circ}$) of abduction, $24.0^{\circ}$($10~40^{\circ}$) of flexion, and $18.5^{\circ}$($10~30^{\circ}$)of internal rotation. Conclusion: The shoulder fusion in brachial plexus injury patients is one of the good methods to relieve pain, improve the function and stabilize the flail shoulder joint.

• Proceedings of the KOR-BRONCHOESO Conference
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• 1977.06a
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• pp.7.1-7
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• 1977

According to Bryce and Cranston, prolapse of the laryngeal ventricle is a protrusion of the ventricular mucosa into the laryngeal cavity from inflammatory hyperplasia or edema. This 53 year old female patient was admitted to our hospital March 11, 1977 with the chief complaints of dyspnea and hoarseness. On admission, evaluation of the larynx revealed smooth surfaced round pink-reddish mass protruding bilaterally beneath the false cord. The airway was almost completely obstructed by the tumor mass, but neither ulceration nor infiltration was seen, also no lymphnode was palpable in the neck. Tracheotomy was performed for the relief of dyspnea and biopsy was done endoscopically. Histologic study showed chronic inflammation. On April 2, 1977 laryngofissure was performed under general anesthesia. Laryngeal examination revealed smooth surfaced, plate like, pinkreddish mass protruding bilaterally from both laryngeal ventricles into the laryngeal cavity and extending the whole length of the ventricle antero-posteriorly and touching each other. Biopsy was taken of the mass and the result was non-specific inflammatory hyperplasia of the larynx. Postoperatively, the air way is completely clear of obstruction but mild hoarseness still remains. No recurrent mass is visible in the larynx. In view of the symptoms, operative findings and histological findings, this case is diagnosed as "Prolapse of the laryngeal ventricle". The prolapse of the laryngeal ventricle is a very rare lesion and is reported with review of the literature.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.481-487
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• 1998

The surgical management of acute type B dissection is controversial. The complexity of the repair usually requires a period of aortic cross-clamping exceeding 30 minutes, which can cause ischemic injury of the spinal cord. Several forms of distal perfusion have been considered for use to prevent this injury. To determine the safety and efficacy of a graft replacement with cardiopulmonary bypass in reparing acute dissection of descending thoracic aorta, we retrospectively reviewed our surgical experience treating 8 patients who had aortic dissection secondary to atherosclerosis, trauma, and carcinoma invasion. Cardiopulmonary bypass was performed with two aortic cannulas for simultaneous perfusion of the upper and lower body and one venous cannula for draining venous blood from the right atrium or inferior vena cava. Although aortic cross-clamp time was relatively long (average, 117.8 minutes; range, 47 to 180 minutes) in all cases, there was no neurologic deficit immediately after graft replacement for the aortic lesion. Two patients(25%) of relatively old age died on the postoperative 31st and 41st days, respectively, because of delayed postoperative complications, such as pulmonary abscess and adult respiratory distress syndrome. Although any of several maneuvers may be appropriate in managing dissection of the descending aorta, graft replacement with cardiopulmonary bypass during aortic cross-clamping may be a safe and effective method for the treatment of acute dissection of the descending thoracic aorta.

• Proceedings of the KOR-BRONCHOESO Conference
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• 1981.05a
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• pp.9.1-10
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• 1981

The clinical study of 183 cases of laryngeal mass was observed and 88 cases of vocal nodule and polyp which is confirmed histopathologically, were clinically classified into 30 cases of vocal nodule, 48 cases of localized vocal polyp, 10 cases of diffuse vocal polyp, and the following results of microscopic examination were obtained. I. The clinical study of laryngeal mass 1. Among total cases of 183, vocal nodule is 82(45%) vocal polyp 53(29%) postintubation granuloma 3(1%) laryngeal papilloma 18(10%) tuberculosis 2(1%) cancer 25(14%). 2. The sex ratio of male to female is 3:4 in vocal nodule, 1:1 in vocal polyp, 1:2 in postintubation granuloma, 3:2 in laryngeal papilloma, 11:1 in cancer. 3. The age distribution is third-fourth decade in vocal nodule, fourth-fifth decade in vocal polyp, third decade in postintubation granuloma, second and fifth decade in laryngeal tuberculosis, sixth decade in laryngeal cancer. 4. The distribution of symptoms is 5 month. -1 year in vocal nodule and polyp, less than 1 year in laryngeal papilloma and postintubation granuloma, 1 year-3 year in laryngeal tuberculosis and cancer. 5. The location of the lesion is between the anterior 1/3 and middle 1/3 in vocal nodule and polyp and papilloma, middle 1/3 and posterior 1/3 in postintubation granuloma, and is diffusely spread on the entire vocal cord in laryngeal tuberculosis and cancer. 6. The side of the lesion is bilateral in vocal nodule and papilloma and the ratio of right to left is 5:3 in vocal polyp, 2:1 in postintubation granuloma. 7. The size is 1~2mm(67%) in vocal nodule, 3~5mm(42%) in vocal polyp, 6~10mm (67%) in postintubation granuloma, 1~2mm (39%) in papilloma, more than 10mm in tuberculosis and cancer. 8. Among the symptoms, the hoarseness is in more than 90% of disease entity, the sore-throat in tuberculosis and cancer, the dyspnea in postintubation granuloma and papilloma and tuberculosis and cancer. 9. In the past history, certain relationship with smoking is noted in cancer (40%) and tuberculosis(50%) and the history of frequent attack of URI is in papilloma(33%). 10. In occupation, certain statistical significance was not noted. II. The histopathological study of vocal nodule and polyp. 1. Most polyps and nodules were covered with stratified squamous epithelium, but focal hyperkeratosis, parakeratosis, acanthosis and atrophy were rather frequently observed. Hyperkeratosis and acanthosis was most frequently seen.