Normative data for neuromuscular assessment of the hand-arm vibration syndrome and its retrospective applications in Korean male workers.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe normative data for the neuromuscular assessments of the hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) in Korean.

Methods: Data for the vibrotactile perception threshold (VPT) at three frequencies (31.5, 125, and 250 Hz), the hand grip strength (HGS), the finger pinch strength (FPS), the finger tapping test, and the Purdue pegboard tests were collected from 120 male office workers aged 30-59 years with no prior history of regular use of handheld vibrating tools.

Computed tomography-guided percutaneous facet screw fixation in the lumbar spine. Technical note.

The authors describe a new minimally invasive technique for posterior supplementation using percutaneous translaminar facet screw (TFS) fixation with computed tomography (CT) guidance. Oblique axial images were used to determine facet screw fixation sites. After the induction of local anesthesia and conscious sedation, a guide pin was inserted and guided with a laser mounted on the CT gantry.

An oblique paraspinal approach for intracanalicular disc herniations of the upper lumbar spine: technical case report.

Objective: To present our experience of treating the central or paramedian disc herniations of the upper lumbar levels through a paraspinal approach.

Clinical Presentation: We present four patients with intracanalicular disc herniations at the L1-L2 or L2-L3 level. All patients had unilateral or bilateral radicular leg pain and motor weakness.

Comparative radiologic evaluation of percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy and open microdiscectomy: a matched cohort analysis.

Background: Only a few studies comparing percutaneous endoscopic discectomy and open discectomy have been reported in the literature. The purpose of this study was to compare the radiographic changes in patients treated with percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) with those of patients treated with open lumbar microdiscectomy (OLM).

Methods: A total of 30 patients who underwent PELD with a minimum three years of follow-up were randomly selected.

Percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy for migrated disc herniation: classification of disc migration and surgical approaches.

Percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) for migrated disc herniations is technically demanding due to the absence of the technical guideline. The purposes of this study were to propose a radiologic classification of disc migration and surgical approaches of PELD according to the classification. A prospective study of 116 consecutive patients undergoing single-level PELD was conducted.

Immediate pain improvement is a useful predictor of long-term favorable outcome after percutaneous laser disc decompression for cervical disc herniation.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term clinical outcome of percutaneous laser disc decompression (PLDD) for cervical disc herniation and to identify factors affecting long-term favorable outcome.

Background Data: PLDD using the Ho:YAG laser has been regarded as an effective alternative for soft disc herniation. However, little is known about long-term favorable outcome parameters.

Operative failure of percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy: a radiologic analysis of 55 cases.

Study Design: A retrospective study.

Objective: To determine the range of lumbar disc herniation that can be addressed effectively using current endoscopic techniques.

Summary Of Background Data: The current technical limitation of the procedure in terms of the location and size of the herniation has not been fully documented in previous studies.

Percutaneous endoscopic cervical discectomy: clinical outcome and radiographic changes.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcome and radiographic changes of percutaneous endoscopic cervical discectomy (PECD) with the high-resolution working channel endoscope.

Background Data: Percutaneous disc decompression using a laser and/or microforceps for cervical disc herniation has been regarded as an effective treatment modality in selected cases. However, the postoperative radiographic changes have not yet been evaluated.

Fluoroscopically assisted percutaneous translaminar facet screw fixation following anterior lumbar interbody fusion: technical report.

Study Design: A technical report of fluoroscopically assisted percutaneous translaminar facet screw fixation after anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF).

Objectives: To describe a minimally invasive translaminar facet screw fixation technique that was modified from the Magerl method, and to assess its technical feasibility and clinical efficacy.

Summary Of Background Data: There is no previous study in the literature on percutaneous translaminar facet screw fixation assisted only by fluoroscopy without using any specially designed guiding device.

Minimally invasive anterior lumbar interbody fusion followed by percutaneous pedicle screw fixation for isthmic spondylolisthesis.

Background Context: Most surgeons have thought that posterior decompression is necessary to treat isthmic spondylolisthesis with leg pain. However, the surgical procedure not only requires wide muscle dissection but can also lead to spinal instability. The authors' treatment concept for isthmic spondylolisthesis is one-stage anterior reduction and posterior stabilization with minimally invasive surgical procedure without touching the spinal thecal sac and nerve.

Percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy for recurrent disc herniation: surgical technique, outcome, and prognostic factors of 43 consecutive cases.

Study Design: A retrospective study of 43 consecutive patients who underwent percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy for recurrent disc herniation.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of endoscopic discectomy for recurrent disc herniations and to determine the prognostic factors affecting surgical outcome.

Summary Of Background Data: Repeated open discectomy with or without fusion has been the most common procedure for a recurrent lumbar disc herniation.

Cloning and characterization of rat neuronal apoptosis inhibitory protein cDNA.

The human neuronal apoptosis inhibitory protein (NAIP) gene was originally discovered because of its deletion in infantile spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a childhood genetic disorder characterized by motor neuron loss and progressive paralysis with muscular atrophy. Although SMA is now known to be caused by deletions of survival motor neuron (SMN), the fact that NAIP is an anti-apoptotic protein is consistent with the NAIP gene modifying SMA severity. Here we report the cloning of a 1.

FKBP-12 exhibits an inhibitory activity on calcium oxalate crystal growth in vitro.

Urolithiasis and calcium oxalate crystal deposition diseases are still significant medical problems. In the course of nephrocalcin cDNA cloning, we have identified FKBP-12 as an inhibitory molecule of calcium oxalate crystal growth. lambdagt 11 cDNA libraries were constructed from renal carcinoma tissues and screened for nephrocalcin cDNA clones using anti-nephrocalcin antibody as a probe.