A case of subdural empyema resulting from an acute infection of frontal cysts is reported. Urgent surgery was performed to create a right frontal burr hole, followed by an osteoplastic frontal sinusotomy and postoperative chemotherapy. Thus, this intracranial complication was successfully treated with no further sequelae. MRI was useful for clearly revealing a transtentorial herniation and the affected site of the dura mater from which bacterial infection spread intracranially. Review of rhinogenic intracranial complications in Japan shows a dramatic decrease in the mortality rate from the preantibiotics era to the pre-CT-scan era, and also from the pre-CT-scan era to the present CT-scan era. This suggests that CT scan and, more recently, MRI, have indirectly helped to reduce the mortality rate by enabling an earlier and accurate diagnosis.

Cysts↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A cross-sectional study on the relationship between depression and left ventricular hypertrophy.

BACKGROUND: Despite a large number of studies, the relationship between depression and cardiovascular disease remains ambiguous. This study is the first to investigate the relationship between depression and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) as detected by electrocardiogram. METHODS: The subjects were 346 male Japan Self-Defense Forces personnel ages 49 to 55 years. LVH was assessed by electrocardiogram. Depression was measured by the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS). Other selected risk factors were measured. Odds ratios for LVH in relation to selected variables were calculated. A logistic regression analysis was used to adjust for possible confounding variables. RESULTS: High level of depression (SDS score > or = 34) showed a high risk of LVH occurrence. After adjusting for BMI, systolic blood pressure, and/or diastolic blood pressure, there was a tendency toward a positive association of LVH with high level of depression. CONCLUSIONS: Our present study demonstrated that depression is closely related to LVH. Since LVH could be a predictor of fatal cardiovascular disease, this is of direct relevance to the prescription of preventive measures.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Plasminogen with type-I mutation is polymorphic in the Japanese population.

A functionally inactive plasminogen (PLG) variant designated as PLG M5 is polymorphic in the Japanese population and has a feature common to PLG with type-I mutation that has a codon 601 missense mutation in exon 15 (GCT for Ala-->ACT for Thr). This study was conducted to clarify whether the type-I mutation of PLG is present in PLG M5 and polymorphic in the Japanese population. Direct sequencing of the amplified DNA from the PLG gene in a heterozygote for PLG M5 revealed that the sequence of the exon 15 in the gene for PLG M5 is identical with that in the PLG gene with type-I mutation. In addition, the amplified DNA from the PLG gene in 12 heterozygotes for PLG M5 reacted with the probe for the type-I mutation in dot blot hybridization with an allele-specific oligonucleotide probe. The heterozygote for PLG with type-I mutation was found in 2.2% of 360 unrelated healthy subjects. These data indicate that the type-I mutation of PLG is present in PLG M5 and polymorphic in the Japanese population. The data also suggest that the PLG M5 is identical with PLG Tochigi and Kagoshima.

Asian People↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Double aortic arch associated with common inlet left ventricle.

A double aortic arch is usually an isolated abnormality. We report a case with a previously undescribed combination of double aortic arch and common inlet left ventricle. The patient underwent division of the nondominant right aortic arch and the right ductus arteriosus at 2 months of age following a left modified Blalock-Taussig shunt. At 3 years of age, extracardiac total cavopulmonary connection was successfully performed via bidirectional cavopulmonary anastomosis.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Primary surgical correction of transposition of the great arteries and atrioventricular septal defect associated with left isomerism.

We report successful primary surgical repair of transposition of the great arteries (TGA) and complete atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD) associated with left isomerism {I,L,L} without pulmonary obstruction in a 1-month-old infant. The operative procedure consisted of an arterial switch and a two-patch repair of the AVSD. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of successful primary surgical repair of TGA and AVSD with left isomerism. Primary anatomic correction of this defect combination is feasible in patients with left isomerism.

Aorta↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Biological studies of cholestane-3beta,5alpha,6beta-triol and its derivatives. 1. Hypocholesterolemic effects in rabbits, chickens and rats on atherogenic diets.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Adrenal Glands↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Injury of the suprascapular nerve in shoulder surgery: an anatomic study.

Fifty-two shoulders in 26 cadavers were dissected to evaluate the safe zone for avoiding injury of the suprascapular nerve during open surgical procedures and arthroscopic Bankart repairs requiring blind drilling. The course of the suprascapular nerve was given as the shortest distance between the suprascapular nerve and the glenoid rim. A Kirschner wire was inserted from the anterior glenoid rim toward the suprascapular nerve. The insertion angle toward the suprascapular nerve at the base of the scapular spine in the transverse plane averaged 37.0 degrees and in the sagittal plane averaged 17.5 degrees. The insertion angle toward the bifurcation of the infraspinatus motor branch in the transverse plane averaged 44.3 degrees and in the sagittal plane averaged 27.7 degrees. On the basis of the results of the anatomic evaluation, the safe zone was described. An appreciation of this safe zone may help shoulder surgeons avoid iatrogenic injury to the suprascapular nerve.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A new method of quantitative measurement of abdominal and back muscle strength.

A new method of quantitative measurement with a cybex machine is applied to the trunk muscles. The curves of muscle torque and muscle fatigue are easily obtained in clinical medicine. In normal controls, maximal muscle torque is greater in back muscles than in abdominal muscles, and the definite influence of aging is found in both muscles. Furthermore, the trunk muscles are more easily fatigued by a sustained contraction than by repeated contractions, and abdominal muscles are more easily fatigued than back muscles. The role of the trunk muscles in the mechanism of pain production and prevention is still to be determined.

Abdominal Muscles↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Posttraumatic spinal stenosis of the lumbar spine: report of a case caused by hyperextension injury; review of literature.

Posttraumatic spinal stenosis of the lumbar spine is very rare. An unusual case caused by hyperextension injury is described and the reported cases are reviewed.

Fractures, Bone↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Anatomic study of the interrelation between lumbosacral nerve roots and their surrounding tissues.

In order to clarify the mechanism of symptom production of sciatica or intermittent claudication, the interrelation between lumbosacral nerve roots and their surrounding tissues was analyzed in 75 cadavers. The running course of nerve roots can be changed by congenital anomalies and by acquired lesions, such as compression by articular facets. Ossification of spinal ligaments may also cause nerve root compression. The space around the nervous tissue, both in the spinal canal and in the intervertebral foramen, is narrower in the male than in the female. Membranous structures, an epidural membrane, and an epiradicular sheath can be found around nerve roots. Their existence is correlated with a serpentine figure of the roots observable by selective radiculography.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Spondylolysis of the axis. Report of four cases.

Spondylolysis or spondylolisthesis of the cervical spine, especially of the upper cervical spine, is very rare. The authors report four cases of spondylolysis of the axis and outline its roentgenographic features for differential diagnosis. The clinical course of the cases and the unvarying roentgenographic findings throughout the course strongly suggest that the lesion is congenital in origin.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Anatomic and clinical studies of radicular symptoms.

Anatomic studies using cadavers showed that three factors are responsible for radicular symptoms. The first is congenital or acquired abnormalities of nerves and nerve roots--the intradural segmental arrangement of rootlets, congenital anomalies of the nerve roots, and the furcal nerve. Another factor is changes of bone and soft tissue around nerves and nerve roots--indentation of nerve roots and extremely transverse courses of nerve roots. The third factor is a correlation of two other factors--spatial relationship of the nervous tissue to osseous and nonosseous elements of the spinal canal and the intervertebral foramen. In the intervertebral foramen, the nerve root is surrounded by a rather thick membranous structure, an epiradicular sheath, which is responsible for a tubular form obtained in nerve root infiltration. Anatomic abnormalities can be observed in contrast studies, but the defects revealed do not correspond necessarily with neurologic symptoms. In such cases, nerve root infiltration is very useful for a functional diagnosis. The analysis of radicular symptoms with nerve root infiltration showed that radicular pain and/or claudication are caused mainly by single nerve root involvement, irrespective of the findings obtained by contrast studies. Furthermore, therapeutic effect of nerve root infiltration can be expected in any disease and it can be applied as a final trial of conservative treatment.

Female↗