Preservation of Facial Nerve Function Repaired by Using Fibrin Glue-Coated Collagen Fleece for a Totally Transected Facial Nerve during Vestibular Schwannoma Surgery

Recently, the increasing rates of facial nerve preservation after vestibular schwannoma (VS) surgery have been achieved. However, the management of a partially or completely damaged facial nerve remains an important issue. The authors report a patient who was had a good recovery after a facial nerve reconstruction using fibrin glue-coated collagen fleece for a totally transected facial nerve during VS surgery. And, we verifed the anatomical preservation and functional outcome of the facial nerve with postoperative diffusion tensor (DT) imaging facial nerve tractography, electroneurography (ENoG) and House-Brackmann (HB) grade. DT imaging tractography at the 3rd postoperative day revealed preservation of facial nerve. And facial nerve degeneration ratio was 94.1% at 7th postoperative day ENoG. At postoperative 3 months and 1 year follow-up examination with DT imaging facial nerve tractography and ENoG, good results for facial nerve function were observed.

Preoperative Identification of Facial Nerve in Vestibular Schwannomas Surgery Using Diffusion Tensor Tractography

OBJECTIVE: Facial nerve palsy is a common complication of treatment for vestibular schwannoma (VS), so preserving facial nerve function is important. The preoperative visualization of the course of facial nerve in relation to VS could help prevent injury to the nerve during the surgery. In this study, we evaluate the accuracy of diffusion tensor tractography (DTT) for preoperative identification of facial nerve. METHODS: We prospectively collected data from 11 patients with VS, who underwent preoperative DTT for facial nerve. Imaging results were correlated with intraoperative findings. Postoperative DTT was performed at postoperative 3 month. Facial nerve function was clinically evaluated according to the House-Brackmann (HB) facial nerve grading system. RESULTS: Facial nerve courses on preoperative tractography were entirely correlated with intraoperative findings in all patients. Facial nerve was located on the anterior of the tumor surface in 5 cases, on anteroinferior in 3 cases, on anterosuperior in 2 cases, and on posteroinferior in 1 case. In postoperative facial nerve tractography, preservation of facial nerve was confirmed in all patients. No patient had severe facial paralysis at postoperative one year. CONCLUSION: This study shows that DTT for preoperative identification of facial nerve in VS surgery could be a very accurate and useful radiological method and could help to improve facial nerve preservation.

Relationship Between Body Mass Index and Early Menarche of Adolescent Girls in Seoul / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: The object of this study was to determine the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and early menarche in adolescent girls in Seoul. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted with 144 middle school students in Seoul who provided informed consent. We measured their body composition, and used the questionnaire survey method for data collection from November to December 2008. Past elemental body composition data were collected from elementary school health records of first year of middle school. RESULTS: The early menarcheal group was taller and heavier than the late menarcheal group (p<0.05 from 8-12 years old). The body fat percentage (%), BMI were higher in the early menarcheal girls than the late-menarcheal girls (p<0.05, age at 13). In the result of multiple logistic regression, the BMI at the age of 8 and 9 was associated with early menarche after adjusting for birth weight, breast feeding and age at menarche of the mother (BMI at the age of 8: p for trend=0.01, BMI at the age of 9: p for trend=0.04). An increase in BMI from 7 to 8 year was associated with early menarche after adjusting for birth weight, breast feeding, age at menarche of the mother (p for trend=0.048). CONCLUSIONS: The BMI at the age of 8 and 9 was associated with the early menarche of girls and increase in BMI from 7 to 8 year was associated with the early menarche of girls. These results suggest that BMI and increase in BMI before menarche cause early menarche. Although this study does not represent all Korean adolescent girls, it is one of the few studies that have investigated the temporal relationship between BMI and early menarche.

No Association between Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Urocanase Domain Containing 1 (UROC1) and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) in the Korean Population

OBJECTIVES: Urocanase domain containing 1 (UROC1) has never been studied in prior studies on autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). UROC1 causes urocanic aciduria, one of the symptoms of which is mental retardation. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the UROC1 gene and ASDs in a Korean population. METHODS: A total of 258 control and 214 patients with ASD were used as subjects of this study. SNPs selected from UROC1 were genotyped using Illumina Golden-Gate Genotyping assay with VeraCode(R) technology. Statistical analysis was performed using SAS and Plink software. RESULTS: We found no association of the 12 SNPs in the UROC1 gene with ASDs in a Korean population. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that the 12 SNPs (11 SNPs and 1 SNP in the intron and 3'UTR region, respectively) in the UROC1 were not associated with ASDs in a Korean population. Further study on the exon region of UROC1 is needed.

Physical Examination and Computed Tomography in Children with Toe in Gait

OBJECTIVE: To determine the correlation between the physical examination and the computed tomography of femoral anteversion and tibial internal torsion. METHOD: The angle of internal and external rotation of hip for femoral anteversion and thigh-foot angle for tibial internal torsion were measured by a rehabilitation physician for 116 young children with toe in gait. Within a week after the physical examination, the angle of femoral anteversion and tibial internal torsion were measured by computed tomography for comparison. RESULTS: Two-hundred thirty-two lower limbs of 116 children (64 girls and 52 boys) included in this study whose mean age was 6.4+/-2.7 years for girls and 6.8+/-2.8 years for boys. The Pearson correlation coefficient between the angle of internal rotation of the hip and the femoral anteversion measured by computed tomography showed 0.62 in right side and 0.55 in left side, an indication of significant correlation (p<0.01). The Pearson correlation coefficient between the thigh-foot angle and the tibial internal torsion measured by computed tomography showed 0.50 in right side, 0.42 in left side, an indication of significant correlation (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Children with toe-in gauts showed a significant correlation between finding of physical exam (i.e. TFA and femoral internal torsion angle) and those of CT omages (i.e. tibial torsion angle and femoral torsion angle).

Polymorphisms of CDH9 and CDH10 in Chromosome 5p14 Associatedwith Autism in the Korean Population

OBJECTIVES: The region of chromosome 5p14 is known to be associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The cadherin9 (CDH9) and cadherin10 (CDH10) genes are located in the region of chromosome 5p14 and reported to be associated with ASD in the Caucasian population. We performed an association study to identify if single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located on the CDH9 and CDH10 genes are associated in the Korean population. METHODS: Genomic DNA was extracted from the blood of 214 patients with ASD and 258 controls. SNPs selected from two genes were genotyped using an Illumina Golden-Gate Genotyping assay with VeraCode technology. Statistical analysis was performed using SAS and Plink software. RESULTS: All controls and ASD patients were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. In the results of logistic regression analyses for the genotype model and the chi-square test for the allele model, we found that SNPs on the CDH9 and CDH10 genes were not associated with ASD. CONCLUSION: Our data suggests that the CDH9 and CDH10 genes are not associated with ASD in the Korean population.

Polymorphisms of CDH9 and CDH10 in Chromosome 5p14 Associatedwith Autism in the Korean Population

OBJECTIVES: The region of chromosome 5p14 is known to be associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The cadherin9 (CDH9) and cadherin10 (CDH10) genes are located in the region of chromosome 5p14 and reported to be associated with ASD in the Caucasian population. We performed an association study to identify if single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located on the CDH9 and CDH10 genes are associated in the Korean population. METHODS: Genomic DNA was extracted from the blood of 214 patients with ASD and 258 controls. SNPs selected from two genes were genotyped using an Illumina Golden-Gate Genotyping assay with VeraCode technology. Statistical analysis was performed using SAS and Plink software. RESULTS: All controls and ASD patients were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. In the results of logistic regression analyses for the genotype model and the chi-square test for the allele model, we found that SNPs on the CDH9 and CDH10 genes were not associated with ASD. CONCLUSION: Our data suggests that the CDH9 and CDH10 genes are not associated with ASD in the Korean population.

No Association Between Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Distal-Less Homeobox-6 (DLX6) and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) from the Korean Male Population

OBJECTIVES: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterized by abnormalities of social functioning, communication and behavior. The association of the 7q21-34 region with ASD has been reported. The DLX6 gene, which is located at the 7q22 region, is one of the positional and functional candidate genes for ASD. We found that there is no association between DLX6 polymorphisms and ASD in the Korean male population. METHODS: We selected three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that might be implicated in the change of the DLX6 gene expression. The genomic DNA was collected from the venous blood of 147 male controls and 179 male patients with ASD. The genotypes of the selected SNPs were determined using the Illumina GoldenGate assay, and the statistical analyses were performed using HapAnalyzer software and SAS Enterprise. RESULTS: We found no association of the three SNPs in the DLX6 gene with ASD in the Korean male population. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that the three SNPs in the DLX6 gene are not associated with ASD, and we need to analyze the previously reported regions for their associations with ASD.

The Relation of Menarcheal Age to Anthropometric Profiles in Korean Girls

The aim of this study was to represent the trend of early menarche and to assess the association of age at menarche with anthropometric profiles of Korean children and adolescents. A cross sectional survey was conducted with 13,371 girls aged 10 to 18 yr, recruited nationwide from April, 2005 to March, 2006. Height, weight and waist circumference of the subjects were measured; and the subjects self-reported their ages at menarche. We found that the menarcheal girls were taller (P<0.05 for the girls between 10 and 14 yr) and heavier (P<0.05 for the girls between 10 and 18 yr) than non-menarcheal ones. Menarcheal girls also showed higher body mass index (BMI), and greater waist circumference than non-menarcheal ones. Significant differences were represented according to the age at menarche in terms of BMI, waist circumference, % body fat mass, waist hip ratio and neck circumference as well as height and weight (P<0.05). In conclusion, girls who matured early were taller and heavier in early adolescence than those who matured later.

Association between the Physical Activity of Korean Adolescents and Socioeconomic Status / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: The physical activity of Korean adolescents and its distribution based on social characteristics have not yet been fully assessed. This study intends to reveal the distribution of physical activity by its subgroups and offer possible explanatory variables. METHODS: The 3rd Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey was analyzed for this study. The appropriateness of physical activity was defined by Korea's Health Plan 2010 and physical inactivity was assessed independently. Family affluence scale, parents' education levels, subjective economic status, grade, and school location were considered explanatory variables. All statistical analysis was conducted using SAS ver. 9.1. RESULTS: The proportion of participants engaging in vigorous physical activity was high in males (41.6%), at a low grade (38.5%), within the high family affluence scale group (35.5%). The distribution of participants engaging in moderate physical activity showed similar patterns, but the overall proportion was lower (9.8%). Low family affluence and students with lower subjective economic status reported a higher prevalence of physical inactivity. In multiple logistic regression analysis for physical activity, significant factors included family affluence scale (p<0.05). For physical inactivity, family affluence scale, parents education levels, and subjective economic status were included as significant factors (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the physical activity and inactivity of adolescents may be affected by socioeconomic variables, such as family affluence scale. This implies the need to take proper measures to address these socio-economic inequalities.

The Effect of Percutaneous Selective Radiofrequency Thermocoagulation in the Treatment of Spasticity with Cerebral Palsy

OBJECTIVE: To compare the therapeutic effects between radiofrequency thermocoagulation and phenol motor branch block in treatment of spasticity of child with cerebral palsy. METHOD: Thirteen patients with spastic cerebral palsy were randomly divided into two groups. One group received percutaneous selective radiofrequency thermocoagulation on tibial nerve motor branch and the other group received phenol motor branch block to the gastrocnemius muscle. Therapeutic effects were assessed before and after treatment for 6 months in each group. The severity of ankle spasticity was assessed with the modified Ashworth scale (MAS), the modified Tardieu scale (MTS), and the passive range of motion (PROM) of ankle joint. RESULTS: In both groups, the MAS and MTS decreased, and radiofrequency thermocoagulation group showed more significant reduction of the spasticity (p<0.05). There was a significant increase in PROM on knee flexion and extension in a radiofrequency thermocoagulation group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Percutaneous selective radiofrequency thermocoagulation could be a treatment option for relieving the localized spasticity of ankle in spastic cerebral palsy with little adverse effect.

The Effect of Ginkgo Biloba Extract (Ginexin(R)) on Experimental Central Retinal Vein Occlusion

PURPOSE: To investigate the beneficial effect of ginkgo biloba (Ginexin(R)) on ischemic retina model by retinal vein occlusion after photodynamic injury. METHODS: Ginkgo biloba 20 mg/kg/day, 100 mg/kg/day or carboxymethyl cellulose as a control group was administrated orally from 1week before the retinal vein occlusion to 2weeks after. After rose bengal was injected through vein of tail, retinal vein was occluded with argon laser. And then venous occlusion was confirmed by fluorescein angiogram. Rats were examined by using an indirect ophthalmoscopy and fluorescein angiography to detect reperfusion and new vessels. Eyeballs were enucleated for histological examination, retinal ganglion cell count and intravitreal glutamate level. RESULTS: The reperfusion of occluded vein was faster in the ginkgo biloba-treated group than the control group. In the ginkgo biloba-treated group, damage of the inner retina and TUNEL-positive cells were smaller than the control group on histologic examination. The concentration of retinal ganglion cells in the control group was lower than in the ginkgo biloba-treated group. CONCLUSIONS: Ginkgo biloba has protective effects in experimental ischemic retina after vein occlusion.

Effects of Sports Activity in Spinal Cord Injured Persons

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of regular sports activity on psychosocial adaptation, natural killer cell activity (NKCA) as an immunologic measure and HDL-cholesterol level as an indirect index of heart disease in chronic spinal cord injured persons. METHOD: We compared two groups. One is sports group (n=13) who has been doing regular sports activity more than three hours a week for at least one year. Another group who leads sedentary life matched age and body mass index served as a control group (n=13). For the evaluation of psychosocial adaptation, we assessed Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale as subjective measure, Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique (CHART) as objective measure and Symptom Checklist 90 Revision (SCL-90-R) as a psychologic evaluation. NKCA and serum HDL-cholesterol level were assessed. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in subjective measure and psychologic evaluation between two groups. CHART score and NKCA are significantly higher in the sports group than in the control group (p<0.05). HDL cholesterol level was increased in the sports group compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: Participating in regular sports activity improved the psychosocial adaptation and immune system in chronic spinal cord injured persons.

A Case of Takayasu's Arteritis

Takayasu's arteritis is an arterial inflammatory disease of unknown etiology, which most commonly affects the aorta and its large branches, and the pulmonary artery. This pathological condition which is prevalent in. Asian females results in occlusive changes in the lamina, often combined with dilation and secondary thrombus formation. It is associated with four main complications, which is Takayasu's retinopathy. secondary hypertension, aortic regurgitation and aortic or arterial aneurysms. The authors have experienced a case of Takayasu's arteritis (25 years old female) with severe retinopathy, complicated cataract. cyanotic engorged conjunctival vessels and new vessels as a collateral circulation in both eyes.