The Evaluation of Neurotoxicity after Intrathecal Restorative Fluid Injection in the Rat

OBJECTIVE: To assess neurotoxicity of intrathecal restorative fluid leakage in the course of the intradiscal restorative fluid injection. METHOD: Twenty male Sprague-Dawley rats, body weight range of 300~350 gm, were divided randomly into four groups. Control group, group A (mixed solution of glucosamine hydrochloride 5%, chondroitin sulfate 5%, and bupivacaine hydrochloride 2%), group B (glucosamine hydrochloride 8%, chondroitin sulfate 2%, and bupivacaine hydrochloride 2%) and group C (glucosamine hydrochloride 16%, chondroitin sulfate 2%, and bupivacaine hydrochloride 2%). The behavioral test for cold allodynia (tail flick test) was conducted 1 day prior to the injection and 7 days postoperatively. Histopathologic evaluation was performed using light microscopy by a neuropathologist. The severity of nerve and cord injury were graded according to injury scoring system. RESULTS: Each group showed no significant difference in sensory function test using tail flick test before and after intrathecal restorative fluid injection. Cold allodynia was not showed statistically significant difference among the group. Histological examination showed statistically significant difference between control group and group B, group C, and between group A and group B, C in both cord and root. CONCLUSION: Intrathecal injection of restorative fluid shows neurotoxic changes in roots and spinal cord in histopathologic studies. Although same ingredients of restorative solution, the different concentration of the ingredients revealed different neurotoxicity.

The auditory evoked potential in premature small for gestational age infants / 소아과

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of auditory evoked potential (AEP) in clarifying neuronal development in premature small for gestational age (SGA), and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) infants. METHODS: A total of 183 premature infants who were born from August 2002 to July 2005, were examined with AEP. They were divided into three groups; AGA, symmetric-SGA and asymmetric-SGA group. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences in the head circumference were observed in three groups. Among the risk factors, prevalence of hypoglycemia and hypoalbuminemia between AGA and asymmetric SGA infants were significantly different. V absolute peak latency (APL) in the right side of AGA infants was delayed were than that of asymmetric SGA infants. III-V interpeak latency (IPL) of asymmetric SGA infants was delayed more than that of symmetric SGA infants. Moreover, I-V IPL on both sides of symmetric SGA infants was shortened more than that of AGA infants. However, all the results of AEP were within the reference range, according to gestational age. Birth weight of, only asymmetric SGA, was related to the III APL on both sides and the III-V IPL on right side. CONCLUSION: This study shows that the values of APL and IPL of premature SGA infants are different than that of premature AGA infants. These data could be an indicator in evaluating the neurologic functions of small for gestational age infants.

A Long-Term Follow Up Study of Prognostic Factors after Carpal Tunnel Release

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the factor influencing the improvement of symptoms and change of electrophysiologic findings of patients after carpal tunnel release. METHOD: We examined 16 patients (27 hands) who underwent carpal tunnel release operation after diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome by the electrodiagnostic study from March 2000 to February 2001. Nerve conduction tests and visual analogue scale were performed pre-operateively and 1 month and 3 years post-operatively. We also performed a correlation study to measure the improvements of symptoms with the patient's age, duration of symptoms, and severity of works. RESULTS: The improvement of visual analogue scale had no correlation with the age, severity of work and visual analogue scale at pre-operation. However, there was significant relationship between the improvement of visual analogue scale and duration of symptom. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the benifits of the carpal tunnel release operation were influenced by the patient's duration of the symptoms. The longer the symptoms were experienced, the improvements of the symptoms were reduced.

Schinzel-Giedion Syndrome and Psychomotor Retardation: A case report

We reported a girl diagnosed Schinzel-Giedion syndrome with severe psychomotor retardation and malformation that was characterized by mid face retraction, scoliosis, skull anomaly, wide cranial fontanels, brain cortical atropy, atrial septal defect, and hydronephrosis. Urinary tract infection, respiratory tract infection, and seizure were common. The neurodevelopment therapy was not effective and developmental stage was not improved. Spasticity was the only findings which was improved.