Basal Forebrain Cholinergic-induced Activation of Cholecystokinin Inhibitory Neurons in the Basolateral Amygdala

The basolateral amygdala (BLA) receives dense projections from cholinergic neurons of the basal forebrain. Acetylcholine can contributes to amygdala-dependent behaviors: formation and extinction of fear memory and appetitive instrumental learning. However, the cholinergic mechanism at the circuit level has not been defined yet. We demonstrated that cholinergic-induced di-synaptic inhibition of BLA pyramidal neurons exhibits a retrograde form of short-term synaptic inhibition, depolarization-induced suppression of inhibition (DSI). Activation of nicotinic receptors was sufficient to evoke action potentials in cholecystokinin (CCK)-positive inhibitory neurons, which strongly inhibit pyramidal neurons through their perisomatic synapses. Our cell type-specific monosynaptic retrograde tracing also revealed that CCK neurons are innervated by basal forebrain cholinergic neurons. Therefore, our data indicated that CCK inhibitory neurons mediate the cholinergic-induced di-synaptic inhibition of BLA pyramidal neurons.

Comparative Study of Clinical Outcomes of Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion Using Autobone Graft or Cage with Bone Substitute

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study. PURPOSE: To compare the clinical and radiological outcomes of autogenous bone graft and cage with bone substitute for anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: The clinical outcomes of cage with bone substitute for anterior cervical discectomy and fusion is satisfactory. METHODS: Eighty four patients who underwent cervical spine surgery between February 2004 and April 2009 were included. Fifty-nine patients were approached anteriorly and underwent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion by the Smith-Robinson method (Group A), and 25 patients underwent fusion by decompression of the cervical spine and cage with bone substitute (Group B). We measured and evaluated the postoperative period until patients were able to ambulate, for pre- and postoperative symptomatic improvement, postoperative complications, pre- and postoperative change of lordosis, degree of endplate collapse or subsidence, and fusion rate and period of union. RESULTS: By Robinson's criteria, respectively 45, 10 and 4 patients in Group A experienced excellent, good and fair symptomatic improvement, and respectively 19, 5 and 1 patients in Group B experienced excellent, good and fair symptomatic improvement. The postoperative period in which patients became ambulant and the period of hospital stay was significantly shorter in Group B. Increase of lordosis at final follow up after surgery was significantly larger in Group A, as was the fusion period. Significantly more endplate collapse occurred in Group B. CONCLUSIONS: Of patients who had anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, results of both groups were both satisfactory.

Heterotophic Ossification in the Thenar Eminence and the Thumb: A Case Report

Heterotopic ossification is defined as a reactive disease with mature lamellar bone formation in soft tissue. We experienced a case of heterotopicc ossification occurred on the thenar eminence and the thumb without trauma. We report this rare case with a review of the relevant literature.

Second-look Hip Arthroscopy after Arthroscopic Labrectomy of the Hip: Preliminary Report / 대한정형외과학회잡지

PURPOSE: To evaluate the cause of sustained symptoms after previous hip arthroscopy through second-look hip arthroscopy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 243 cases of acetabular labrectomy performed in our hospital from 1995 to 2007, we selected for review 9 cases, that had possible follow-up of more than 12 months with second-look hip arthroscopy. The male to female ratio was 3:6, the mean age was 32.2 years, and the mean follow-up period was 19.9 months. We evaluated the cause of sustained symptoms by comparing previous radiographs and second-look arthroscopic findings, and compared the pre-second-look and post-second-look state through physical examination, using the Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) pain score. RESULTS: We performed additional osteoplasty or chondroplasty in 6 cases of femoroacetabular impingement, that were due to previously insufficient arthroscopic treatment. Second-look hip arthroscopy revealed 6 cases with labral adhesions, 4 with synovial hypertrophy, 4 with a remnant labral tear, and 1 with a posterior periacetabular cyst. We did a procedure to release the labral adhesion, a synovectomy for the synovial hypertrophy, a labrectomy for the remnant labral tear and a cystectomy for the periacetabular cyst. Secondary arthroscopic treatment showed a post-operative improvement in the range of motion, in 5 cases and the JOA pain score increased improved from 0 to 2, indicating less pain, in all 9 cases. CONCLUSION: The most common cause of a second-look hip arthroscopy is post-operative, sustained femoroacetabular impingement and insufficient labrectomy and labral adhesion. To prevent failure of the arthroscopic treatment, adequate osteoplasty for femoroacetabular impingement, accurate labrectomy for labral tears and constructive rehabilitation treatment for preventing post-operative labral adhesion are recommended.

A Case of Early Gastric Remnant Cancer Treated by Endoscopic Mucosal Resection / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Patients who have undergone partial gastric resection are at an increased risk for the development of cancer and polyps in the gastric remnant, and this risk increases with time following gastrectomy. The prevalence of polypoid change at 15~20 years after surgery is approximately 10%, about four or five times higher as compared to nonoperated one. Hyperplastic polyps are encountered more frequently than adenomatous polyps. Surgical treatment for gastric remnant cancer has been regarded as standard method, but it was reported that endoscopic mucosal resection of early gastric remnant cancer could be performed under strict indication, as the incidence of lymph node metastasis was very low. Recently one adenomatous polyp with focally carcinoma in situ in the gastric remnant was removed by endoscopic mucosal resection in male patient who had undergone Billroth II gastrojejunostomy for gastric ulcer disease 12 years earlier.