Effect of preoperative skull block on pediatric moyamoya disease.

Object: Stable hemodynamics, normocapnia, and adequate pain relief are considered important factors in the reduction of neurological complications in pediatric patients undergoing encephaloduroarteriomyosynangiosis (EDAMS) operations for the treatment of moyamoya disease. A preoperative skull block may reduce hemodynamic fluctuations and hypo- or hyperventilation due to emergence delirium or oversedation and provide adequate pain relief, thereby reducing postoperative morbidity.

Methods: Pediatric patients (age 3-13 years) undergoing EDAMS surgery for moyamoya disease were randomly divided into a nerve block (NB) group (18 cases) or control group (21 cases).

Is prenatal childbirth preparation effective in decreasing adverse maternal and neonatal response to labor? A nested case-control study.

Sophrology, based on a combination of Western relaxation therapy and Eastern yoga and meditation might decrease maternal stress during labor. This study aimed to evaluate whether prenatal sophrologic childbirth preparation may decrease maternal and neonatal adverse response associated with delivery. In a nested case-control study, 69 nulliparous, singleton pregnant women who underwent an educational course of sophrologic childbirth preparation were compared to 69 nulliparous, singleton, age- and gestational age-matched pregnant women who did not receive any childbirth preparation.

Polyethyleneimine-mediated gene delivery into rat pheochromocytoma PC-12 cells.

In this study, we examined the use of polyethyleneimine (PEI) as a non-viral gene carrier and lipofectamine(trade mark) 2000 as control for rat pheochromocytoma PC-12 cells. The complex formation of PEI and DNA or lipofectamine and DNA was characterized by gel electrophoresis and measurement of particle size and surface charge. A gradual increase in surface charge (from 0.

Impact of caveolin-1 expression on the prognosis of transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship of caveolin-1 expression with prognosis in patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract (TCCUUT). Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections of TCC-UUT from 98 patients, who had undergone radical nephroureterectomy, were stained immunohistochemically using antibodies against caveolin-1. The expression pattern of caveolin- 1 was compared with the clinicopathological variables.

Polyethyleneimine-mediated gene delivery into human adipose derived stem cells.

In this study, we examined the use of polyethyleneimine (PEI) as a carrier for gene delivery in human adipose tissue-derived stem cells (hADSCs). These multipotent cells can form bone, cartilage, adipose, and other connective tissues. In primary culture, hADSCs are fibroblastic in appearance in primary culture, and they show a high rate of proliferation for at least five passages.

Selection of an affinity-matured antibody against a defined epitope by phage display of an immune antibody library.

In a previous study, we generated a murine hepatitis B virus (HBV)-neutralizing monoclonal antibody (mAb), KR127, that binds to an epitope (amino acids 37-45, NSNNPDWDF) of the preS1 antigen. Furthermore, an epitope tag, S1 (NANNPDWDF), was developed for protein tagging. The aim of the present study was to develop a high-affinity antibody to the same preS1 epitope.

Incidence of severe ventricular arrhythmias during pulmonary artery catheterization in liver allograft recipients.

Liver allograft recipients may develop a hyperdynamic circulation and cardiac electrophysiologic abnormalities. The incidence of severe ventricular arrhythmias in liver allograft recipients during pulmonary artery (PA) catheterization was determined. One hundred five liver allograft recipients were studied prospectively; 5 of the patients with preexisting valvular heart disease, ischemic heart disease, or arrhythmias were excluded.

Can peripheral venous pressure be an alternative to central venous pressure during right hepatectomy in living donors?

The safety of living donors is a matter of cardinal importance in addition to obtaining optimal liver grafts to be transplanted. Central venous pressure (CVP) is known to have significant correlation with the amount of bleeding during parenchymal transection and many centers have adopted CVP monitoring for right hepatectomy. However, central line cannulation can induce some serious complications.

Porcine small intestinal submucosa sheets as a scaffold for human bone marrow stem cells.

Native small intestinal submucosa (SIS) sheet was prepared by removal of inside and outside layer of porcine jejunum. The acid treated SIS sheet was also prepared by dipping of native SIS sheet in acetic acid solution. The native or acid treated SIS sheets exhibited elastic and soft property on touch.

An in vivo study of the host tissue response to subcutaneous implantation of PLGA- and/or porcine small intestinal submucosa-based scaffolds.

An innate immune response is often found at the site of biomaterial implantation. Since the effective use of biomaterials in vivo requires good biocompatibility and biofunctionality, it is vital that we assess and compare the inflammatory reactions provoked by various implanted biomaterials in vivo. In the present study, we assessed the host tissue response to poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)- and small intestinal submucosa (SIS)-based scaffolds subcutaneously implanted in Fischer rats.

Combination of laser photocoagulation and intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) for aggressive zone I retinopathy of prematurity.

Background: This report describes the use of combined laser photocoagulation and intravitreal bevacizumab administration for aggressive zone I retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

Methods: A male patient, born at 25 weeks gestation with a birth weight of 884 g, received indirect laser photocoagulation and a 0.75 mg intravitreal bevacizumab injection to each eye for aggressive stage 3 zone I ROP.

Exposure to amlodipine in the first trimester of pregnancy and during breastfeeding.

Objective: To assess the fetal outcome of three hypertensive women exposed to amlodipine. 5 mg/day, in the first trimester of pregnancy. CASE 1: The patient was treated with amlodipine until 7 weeks of gestation.

Matrix metalloproteinase expression in the recurrence of superficial low grade bladder transitional cell carcinoma.

Purpose: Superficial bladder transitional cell carcinoma has a high recurrence rate following endoscopic resection. Most parameters used to predict recurrence are associated with high grade transitional cell carcinoma. However, there are few valid parameters for predicting low grade transitional cell carcinoma recurrence.

The changes in coagulation profile and epidural catheter safety for living liver donors: a report on 6 years of our experience.

The use of epidural catheters has been a subject of active debate in living liver donors because of the possible postoperative coagulation derangement and the subsequent risk of epidural hematoma. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety of epidural catheters in relation to the changes in coagulation profile based on a review of previously published literature and the results of our 360 donors. In both the literature and in our cases, platelet count, prothrombin time (PT), and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) in cases of heparin administration showed significant changes (P < 0.

The hemostatic profiles of patients with Type O and non-O blood after acute normovolemic hemodilution with 6% hydroxyethyl starch (130/0.4).

Background: Individuals with Type O blood have been reported to have a tendency toward reduced Factor VIII and von Willebrand Factor (vWF) levels. If this is true, patients with Type O blood might be vulnerable to coagulopathy during acute normovolemic hemodilution using hydroxyethyl starch (HES), both from hemodilution as well as HES-related coagulopathy.

Methods: Thirty non-O and 15 type O ASA 1 or 2 patients scheduled for spinal surgery involving more than two spinal levels were enrolled for the study.

Arteriovenous malformations of the body and extremities: analysis of therapeutic outcomes and approaches according to a modified angiographic classification.

Purpose: To propose a modified angiographic classification for peripheral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) and to determine its value for assessing therapeutic outcomes and approaches to ethanol embolization of AVMs in the body and extremities.

Methods: AVMs of the trunk and extremities were categorized according to the angiographic morphology of the nidus: type I (arteriovenous fistulae), type II (arteriolovenous fistulae), type IIIa (arteriolovenulous fistulae with non-dilated fistula), and type IIIb (arteriolovenulous fistulae with dilated fistula). Sixty-six patients (41 women; mean age 28.

Perinatal outcome in twin pregnancies complicated by gestational diabetes mellitus: a comparative study.

The purpose of this study is to compare perinatal outcomes of twin pregnancies complicated by gestational diabetes (GDM) with those unaffected by GDM. A total of 1,154 twin pregnancies who delivered at Cheil General Hospital, between January 1998 and December 2002 were recruited to participate in a retrospective analysis. Out of these twin pregnancies, 37 women were had GDM.

Relationship between the bevel of the Tuohy needle and catheter direction in thoracic epidural anesthesia.

Background And Objectives: Directing an epidural catheter cephalad or caudad is usually attempted by orienting the beveled edge of the epidural needle. However, there have been few studies about the relationship between the direction of the bevel of epidural needle and the resulting position of the catheter. We studied this relationship in thoracic epidural catheter placement.

Hypobaric spinal anesthesia with 0.2% tetracaine for total joint hip arthroplasy.

Purpose: Hypobaric local anesthetics for total hip replacement (THR) have potential advantages related to body position and differential block. However, the dose requirements of hypobaric local anesthetics for THR have not been clearly established. Therefore, we undertook a dose-response study of hypobaric tetracaine for THR.

Prenatal diagnosis of congenital diaphragmatic hernia in a fetus with 46,XY/46,X,-Y,+der(Y)t(Y;1)(q12;q12) mosaicism: a case report.

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is often associated with major anomalies and chromosomal abnormalities. Chromosomal abnormalities are usually detected in 9.5% to 34% of fetuses with CDH prenatally diagnosed and the defect has also been reported in association with multiple syndromes such as Pallister-Killian syndrome, Fryns syndrome, Di George syndrome and Apert syndrome.

A korean predictive model for postoperative nausea and vomiting.

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is one of the most common and distressing complications after surgery. An identification of risk factors associated with PONV would make it easier to select specific patients for effective antiemetic therapy. We designed a case-controlled study to identify the risk factors for PONV in 5,272 surgical patients.

Electroacupuncture up-regulates natural killer cell activity Identification of genes altering their expressions in electroacupuncture induced up-regulation of natural killer cell activity.

As an important cellular component of the innate immune system, NK cells constitute a first line of defense against various infections and malignancies. Previous studies have reported electroacupuncture (EA) modulation of natural killer cell (NK cell) activities. Our study confirmed that EA treatment increases NK cell activity using (51)Cr release assay.

Oral misoprostol and uterine rupture in the first trimester of pregnancy: a case report.

We are reporting the case of a woman with 8 weeks of amenorrhea who orally received a single dose of misoprostol 400 microg at midnight for ripening of cervix before uterine evacuation of an intrauterine gestational sac containing a single fetus (6.3 weeks of gestation) without cardiac activity. The patient had severe abdominal pain an hour later.

Thoracic epidural anesthesia does not improve the incidence of arrhythmias after transthoracic esophagectomy.

Objective: The incidence of arrhythmias related to an esophagectomy is high, and its clinical significance has been well accepted. Thoracic epidural anesthesia (TEA) can modulate the sympathetic tone and neuroendocrine responses associated with major operation. This study was aimed to evaluate the effects of TEA on the incidence of arrhythmias in transthoracic esophagectomy patients.

Postnatal changes in the expression of p60c-Src in mouse testes.

Src family non-receptor tyrosine kinases are involved in signaling pathways which mediate cell growth, differentiation, transformation and tissue remodeling in various organs. In an effort to elucidate functional involvement of p60c-Src (c-Src) in spermatogenesis, the postnatal changes in c-src mRNA and c-Src protein together with kinase activity and subcellular localization were examined in mouse testes. c-src mRNA levels in testes increased during the first 2 weeks of postnatal development (PND).