Dorsal Ulnar Cutaneous Nerve Conduction Study in Entrapment Ulnar Neuropathy at the Elbow

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the electrophysiologic findings of the dorsal ulnar cutaneous nerve (DUCN) in ulnar neuropathy at the elbow and to correlate the sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) amplitude of DUCN to those of ulnar compound muscle action potential (CMAP) and SNAP. METHOD: The subjects were 39 patients diagnosed as ulnar neuropathy at the elbow. Electrophysiologic classification consisted of 3 groups: conduction block (CB); conduction block and axonal degeneration (CBAD); axonal degeneration (AD). Findings of DUCN conduction study were evaluated according to the electrophysiologic classification. The amplitude of DUCN was correlated to those of CMAP and SNAP. RESULTS: The DUCN conduction study was normal in all cases of CB (4 cases), but was abnormal in 21 cases of CBAD (23 cases) and in 10 cases of AD (12 cases). Even in the cases with AD, 4 cases showed normal DUCN potentials. Correlations of DUCN to ulnar SNAP and CMAP were r=0.48, (p<0.01) and r=0.33, (p<0.05), respectively. CONCLUSION: Findings of DUCN may be related to the fascicular involvement of the ulnar nerve at the elbow. Although it is possible for the DUCN to be spared in ulnar neuropathy at the elbow, electrophysiologic measurement of the DUCN response remains useful, but only in those cases where it is abnormal, which suggests the lesion to be at a more proximal site.

Influence of Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy on Functional Outcomes of the Upper Extremity in Stroke Patients

OBJECTIVE: To assess the influence of reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) on functional status and recovery of the hemiplegic upper extremity in stroke patients. METHOD: Retrospective chart review was performed in 561 patients. Among 561 stroke patients, 116 subjects were recruited and classified into two groups: patient group, 43 cases with RSD; control group, 73 cases without RSD. Upper extremity function was assessed based on feeding, dressing and personal hygiene scores of the modified Barthel index at the beginning of rehabilitation treatment and at the time of discharge. Causes of stroke and length of stay were recorded. Median nerve-somatosensory evoked potential studies were performed and assessed. RESULTS: The incidence of RSD was 7.7% and the time to development of RSD was 62.3+/-34.1 days after the onset of stroke. There was no significant difference in functional status between two groups at initial and final evaluation. The upper extremity function had improved in both groups although the length of stay was longer in patient group. SSEP abnormalities were more frequent in the patient group. CONCLUSION: The presence of well-managed RSD affected neither the functional status nor the functional recovery of upper extremity in stroke patients.

Clinical Status and Prognosis of Patients with Basal Ganglia Hemorrhage in Traumatic Brain Injury

OBJECTIVE: To assess the frequency of traumatic basal ganglia hemorrhage (TBGH) and its functional recovery in traumatic brain injury (TBI). METHOD: Three hundred two patients with TBI were retrospectively analyzed via the medical records and radiologic findings. The subjects were divided into 4 groups according to the brain lesions: extraaxial lesion (subdural hemorrhage, epidural hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage), intraaxial lesion (diffuse axonal injury, white matter hemorrhage, gray matter hemorrhage), mixed lesion, and TBGH. Statistical comparison of cause, severity and prognosis between groups. RESULTS: Mean age was 41.6 years old. The most common lesion of TBI was extraaxial lesion. The most common cause was falls (47.5%). The incidence of TBGH group was 4.7%. Although TBGH group was of longer duration of hospital stay and lower GCS than the other brain lesions, there was no significant difference in GOS score. TBGH with extraaxial or mixed lesion was of lower GCS and GOS score compared with TBGH itself or TBGH with intraaxial lesion. CONCLUSION: The associated cerebral lesion, but not TBGH itself, could be considered to be an important factor in determining severity and recovery of TBI.

Electrophysiologic Assessement of Axonopathy and Demyelination in Diabetic Neuropathy according to the Severity

OBJECTIVE: To assess the axonopathy and demyelination neuropathy according to the electrophysiologic severity in diabetic neuropathy. METHOD: Electrophysiologic data of 246 patients who had been diagnosed with diabetic neuropathy was obtained and classified into suspected, possible, and definite groups by the criteria of our laboratory. Nerve conduction study was performed in the median, ulnar motor and sensory nerves, peroneal and tibial motor nerves, and sural nerve. Statistics were done with the results from the median motor and sensory, tibial motor and sural nerves. According to the severity of diabetic neuropathy, correlation and Chi-square analysis between amplitudes and latencies were performed. RESULTS: Frequencies of diabetic neuropathy according to electrophysiologic severity were as follows: 24 cases of suspected, 141 cases of possible, and 81 cases of definite neuropathy. The correlation ratios between amplitude and latency were 0.41- 0.79 (p<0.05) in the definite group of all the nerves examined, and below 0.3 in the suspected and possible groups. By Chi-square analysis, amplitude reduction was the predominant finding in the suspected and possible groups.si CONCLUSION: In the early stage of diabetic neuropathy, axonopathy might be the preceding pathogenesis, while with progression of diabetic neuropathy, axonopathy and demyelination may coexist.

Anatomical Evaluation of Ulnar Nerve according to the Elbow Position

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the anatomy of the ulnar nerve according to the degree of elbow flexion and to obtain optimal elbow position for ulnar nerve conduction study. METHODS: Eleven elbows in nine cadavers were dissected. We estimated the 10 cm elbow segment to be the distance between 2 points, 4 cm distal and 6 cm proximal to the center of the cubital tunnel, which was determined to be the halfway point between the medial epicondyle and olecranon with elbow position in extension and 45o, 90o, 135o flexion. Anatomical measurements of the actual length of ulnar nerve, distance between medial epicondyle and ulnar nerve, and distance between medial epicondyle and olecranon were obtained in each position. The actual length of the ulnar nerve was measured between two points of the ulnar nerve closest to the landmarks of the estimated 10 cm with flexible ligature. RESULTS: The actual lengths of ulnar nerve were 10.23 cm, 10.00 cm, 9.44 cm, and 9.08 cm in elbow extension, and 45o, 90o, 135o flexion, respectively. The difference between actual length and estimated lengths were least in 45o elbow flexion (p=0.0001). The distance between medial epicondyle and olecranon increased with increasing elbow flexion (p=0.0001). However, there was no difference in the distance between medial epicondyle and ulnar regardless of the elbow position. As a result, the ulnar nerve seemed to have migrated anteriorly in the cubital tunnel with increasing elbow flexion. CONCLUSION: This study suggest that the optimal angle in ulnar nerve conduction study would be 45o flexion, under the condition that the distance measurement is through the halfway point between the medial epicondyle and olecranon.

The disease pattern and relation factor of second generation of the Korean paraquat intoxication patients in vietnam war / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: This is the studies about "If the soldiers expose in the paraquat, how much have it influenced on themselves who participated in the Vietnam War and their second generation?" and this is also researched about the factors that "How differents do the symptoms according to their health conditions and a class of diseases?". First of all, We divided them into 3 groups as exposure duration and exposure degree of the paraquat and We gave marks against each steps, too. ( point 20: high group). We've focused in "Does the high score really involves with their descendants who suffers from paraquat?" as direct damages men during from June 1965 to February 1971 (72 persons) and their descendants (266 persons) who are in the Pusan veterans hospital and outpatients. METHODS: It is completed by direct interview, telephone interview, army records, army history, and medical records with them. We've tried to minify sample bias as analyzing their information. We could contact only a few people among living in Pusan or Kyongnam province. Generally, someone including persons who couldn't get a damaging proofs from paraquat hardly joined us and the others strongly rejected the interview for this research. RESULTS: Among the 72 participating soldiers in the Vietnam war, average age of patient is 53 years old (the youngest: 46 years old, the oldest: 64 years old), average of exposure score is 16 point (minimum: 1.9 point, maximum: 31.9 point), average of pregnant frequency is 5.2 persons, and average degree of smoking is 14.382 single cigarette (minimum: 4 single cigarette, maximum: 60 single cigarette). The second generation is suffering from abortion, skin disorder, still birth, congenital anomalies, weakness, visual disturbance, peripheral neuropathy in frequency. CONCLUSION: There's no relation between exposure score of paraquat and diseases of the descendants.

A Case of Stongyloidiasis Associated with Acute Hemorrhagic Gastritis / 대한소화기내시경학회지

A 69-year-old male was admitted to the neurosurgery department for traumatic intracra-nial hemorrhage in both frontal lobes. After 2 months, he complained of epigastric dis-comfort, nausea, vomiting, and loose stools. The gastric endoscopic examination found acute hemorrhagic gastritis and there were rhabditoid nematode larvae in the gastric fluid and biopsy sections. The filariform larvae of Strongyloides sp. were discovered from a fecal culture. The patient was treated with albendazole (200 mg, po bid, for 4 weeks). The epigastric discomfort disappeared and endoscopic findings improved after treatment.

A Case of CD5 Negative B-Cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia / 대한내과학회지

A 67-year-old male visited Pusan Veterans Hospital due to general weakness and weight loss for 6 months. Physical examination showed non-tender 4 finger breaths sized splenomegaly and both inguinal and cervical lymphadenopathy. The white blood cell count was 25,300/uL with 91% morphologically mature lymphocytes. Bone marrow aspirate revealed hypercellularity with 74.5% lymphocytes morphologically similar to peripheral lymphocytes. The immunophenotpying study of lymphocytes displayed the phenotype of CD19(+), CD20(+), HLA-DR(+), sIg(+) but CD5(-). We concluded that this patients's diagnosis is CD 5 negative B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Intradural Extramedullary Metastases caused by systemic cancer

Studies have shown that only a small percentage of metastatic lesions arising outside the central nervous system spreads to the spinal subarachnoid space. The MRI findings of the two cases of surgically proven intradural extramedullary metastases from systemic cancer are presented with a review of the literature. The size of these tumors were more than 2 cm. They were ill defined isointense signal lesions in comparison with spinal cord on T1 and T2 weighted image. On proton density image the tumors had more demarcated high signal intensity than the intermediate signal intensity of spinal cord and the lower signal intensity cerebral spinal fluid. The postcontrast T1 weighted MR images postcontrast revealed well contrast enhancement of the mass.

CT and IVIRI Findings of Neuroepithelial Cysts in the Lateral Ventricles

Symptomatic neuroepithelial cysts of the lateral ventricles are rare. The CT and MRI findings of the intraventricular neuroepithelial cysts in the surgically proven three cases are reported. On CT, the cysts had density similar to CSF, and the cyst walls were generally not seen. The cyst contents were slightly higher signal than CSF signal in Tl-weighted and proton density MR images. The delicate cyst walls were easily seen in spin echo MR images. MRI was better than CT in the demonstration of the cyst wall and the evaluation of the cyst content in patients with neuroepithelial cysts in the lateral ventricles.

Experimental study with modified gianturco expandable stent in the dog urethra

Benign prostatic hyperplasia and urethral stricture are common causes of urethral obstruction over 50 years of age. To evaluate the usefulness of the Gianturco expandable stent for dilatation of the urethra, 14 single stents were placed in the posterior urethra (2 in prostatic urethra, 12 in membranous urethra), 20 in the anterior urethra. And 4 six-eight connected stents ere positioned in the posterior urethra to straddle at the internal sphincter or external sphincter and followed up for 2 weeks (one dog), 1 month (two dog), 2 months (one dog), 3 months (one dog), 5 months (one dog), 9 months (three dogs), and 14 months (two dogs). Seven of 18 stents in the posterior urethra and 5 to 20 in the anterior urethra were migrated during the follow-up. By 2 weeks after placement. 100% expansion was achieved in the posterior urethra, but by 1 month in the anterior urethra. Partial or complete epithelial covering of the stents was observed 1 month after stent placement in the anterior urethra, but mucosal folds were observed in the anterior and posterior urethra. Urinary incontinence was not observed in all cases. Our experience suggests that Gianturco expandable stent can be used in dilating and maintaining the lumen of the prostatic urethra and urethral stricture.

A Case of Congenital Isolated Unilateral Absence of It. Pulmonary Artery

Unilateral adsence of a pulmonary artery is frequently undiagnosed. Unless this entity is recognized, a patient with a potentially curable lesion may become inoperable. The importance of considering unilateral absence of a pulmonary artery in the diffirential diagnosis of cyanotic congenital heart disease and pulmonary hypertension has become clear. We exeperienced a case of congenital isolated unilateral absence of it. pulmonary artery confirmed by clinical features, lung scan, echocardiogram and angiogram.