Yonsei medical journal
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Yonsei medical journal · Apr 2009
Spinal anesthesia with isobaric tetracaine in patients with previous lumbar spinal surgery.
Previous lumbar spinal surgery (PLSS) is not currently considered as a contraindication for regional anesthesia. However, there are still problems that make spinal anesthesia more difficult with a possibility of worsening the patient's back pain. Spinal anesthesia using combined spinal-epidural anesthesia (CSEA) in elderly patients with or without PLSS was investigated and the anesthetic characteristics, success rates, and possible complications were evaluated. ⋯ The success rate of CSEA in patients with PLSS was 93.3%, and patients experienced no significant neurological complications. The MSBL can be higher in PLSS group than Control group.
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Yonsei medical journal · Apr 2009
The characteristics of acute aortic dissection among young Chinese patients: a comparison between Marfan syndrome and non-Marfan syndrome patients.
Aortic dissection (AoD) is one of the most common catastrophes involving the aorta. Nevertheless, early diagnosis remains to be a challenge in the Emergency Department (ED), particularly in young individuals. In this study, we attempted to identify the characteristics of acute AoD among young individuals, particular in patients with Marfan syndrome. ⋯ ED physicians should have high alert to acute AoD in young patients presenting with severe unexplained chest and back pain, particularly in those patients with a history of heart diseases, hypertension, and Marfan syndrome or featuring Marfanoid habitus. Acute coronary syndrome, unexplained abdominal symptoms, and sudden cardiac arrest could be the initial manifestation of AoD in young patients. A low threshold to perform enhanced computed tomography may facilitate early diagnosis and timely treatment in this patient population.
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Yonsei medical journal · Apr 2009
Microsatellite marker in gamma - aminobutyric acid - a receptor beta 3 subunit gene and autism spectrum disorders in Korean trios.
This study aimed to identify the association between gamma-aminobutyric acid-A (GABA-A) receptor subunit beta3 (GABRB3) gene and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in Korea. Fifty-eight children with ASD [47 boys (81.0%), 5.5 +/- 4.1 years old], 46 family trios, and 86 healthy control subjects [71 males (82.6%), 33.6 +/- 9.3 years old] were recruited. Transmission disequilibrium test revealed that, 183 bp long allele in GABRB3 gene was preferentially transmitted in families with ASD (p = 0.025), whereas a population-based case-control study, however, showed no association between ASD and GABRB3 microsatellite polymorphism. Our data provide preliminary evidence that GABRB3 gene is associated with ASD in Korea.
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Yonsei medical journal · Apr 2009
Measurement of kidney volume with multi-detector computed tomography scanning in young Korean.
Kidney volume is regarded as the most precise indicator of kidney size. However, it is not widely used clinically, because its measurement is difficult due to the complex kidney shape. We attempted to evaluate the normal kidney volume in young Korean men by using multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT). ⋯ The kidney volume measured with MDCT is correlated well with body parameters, and is useful to predict renal function.
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Yonsei medical journal · Apr 2009
Identification of proteins that interact with podocin using the yeast 2-hybrid system.
As a membrane protein at the insertion site of the slit diaphragm (SD) complex in podocyte foot processes, podocin has been reported to act as a scaffolding protein required to maintain or regulate the structural integrity of the SD. In order to identify proteins that associate or interact with podocin, we screened a mouse kidney complementary DNA (cDNA) library using a yeast 2-hybrid system. ⋯ Additional studies are needed to clarify the role and interaction with podocin and candidates.