• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.91-95
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• 2008

In human, sympathetic nerve blocks with local anesthetics are widely used to treat a variety of diseases in the innervating regions. However, its procedure in dogs is difficult to approach and process repeatedly because of anatomically location. Therefore, this study was designed to develop a new technique of sympathetic nerve block in beagle dogs. Fifteen healthy beagle dogs, which did not show any neurologic abnormalities and disease, were used for the study. Radiograghs were taken after injected radiopaque material mixed with 2% lidocaine at the cranial cervical ganglion and injected methylene blue using the same percutaneous technique to verify the reliability of this newly developed technique. The successful block rate of the cranial cervical ganglion block was present in 80% of all dogs and the stained cranial cervical ganglions were shown in all dogs. The results show that this new technique of the cranial cervical ganglion block is a reliable and simple method that can be used for clinical studies in dogs.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.281-292
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• 2021

Cranial-nerve disorders can be caused by a wide spectrum of diseases, including congenital, inflammatory, and tumorous diseases, and are often encountered in practice. However, the imaging of cranial-nerve disorders is challenging, and understanding the anatomical differences of each region is essential for conducting the best protocols and for detecting subtle changes in cranial nerves during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations. In this review we discuss which MRI techniques are best for observing normal and pathologic appearance, according to the different regions of the cranial nerves.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.59 no.3
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• pp.204-213
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• 2016

Syndromic craniosynostosis has severe cranial stenosis and deformity, combined with hypoplastic maxillary bone and other developmental skeletal lesions. Among these various lesions, upper air way obstruction by hypoplastic maxillary bone could be the first life-threatening condition after birth. Aggressive cranial vault expansion for severely deformed cranial vaults due to multiple synostoses is necessary even in infancy, to normalize the intracranial pressure. Fronto-orbital advancement (FOA) is recommended for patients with hypoplastic anterior part of cranium induced by bicoronal and/or metopic synostoses, and posterior cranial vault expansion is recommended for those with flattening of the posterior part of the cranium by lambdoid synostosis. Although sufficient spontaneous reshaping of the cranium can be expected by expansive cranioplasty, keeping the cranial bone flap expanded sufficiently is often difficult when the initial expansion is performed during infancy. So far distraction osteogenesis (DO) is the only method to make it possible and to provide low rates of re-expansion of the cranial vault. DO is quite beneficial for both FOA and posterior cranial vault expansion, compared with the conventional methods. Associated hydrocephalus and chronic tonsillar herniation due to lambdoid synostosis can be surgically treatable. Abnormal venous drainages from the intracranial space and air way obstruction should be always considered at any surgical procedures. Neurosurgeons have to know well about the managements not only of the deformed cranial vault and the associated brain lesions but also of other multiple skeletal lesions associated with syndromic craniosynostosis, to improve treatment outcome.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.94-102
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• 1990

In Xenopus laevis the cranial myotomes, W, X, Y and Z represent transient embry-specific structures since they undergo reduction" in the later stage of development. An extensive set of expertmental studies was undertaken in order to discriminate whether the cranial myotomes perform a programmed autonomous death or reduction" by the influence from surrounding tissue such as otic vesicle. Removal of the neighboring otic vesicle did not affect WXYZ degeneration. Grafting the otic vesicle to novel site along the somite file did not induce local myotome degenration. When anterior-most somitic primordia were relocated to the trunk somite region, they underwent reduction eventually. Likewise, with the transplantation of posterior somite forming region into the anterior, autonomous differentiation pafferns were observed. And the cullture of presumptive somitic tissue revealed that WXYZ might degnerate like in vivo. It is therefore concluded that the cranial myotomes of Xenopus laevis exhibit an autonomous cell death during later embryogenesis.yogenesis.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.69-73
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• 2006

Objective : The optimal surgical treatment for symptomatic middle cranial fossa arachnoid cysts is controversial. Therapeutic options include endoscopic fenestration, excision, cyst shunting, and craniotomy for fenestration of basal cistern. We reviewed the results of surgically treated middle cranial fossa arachnoid cysts. Methods : We performed a retrospective study in 18 cases of middle cranial fossa arachnoid cysts who had been treated with microsurgical fenestration between 1995 to 2003. The analysis was based on the results of the patients' age, sex distribution, developed area, clinical symptoms, treatment method, and complications. Results : Eighteen surgical treated middle cranial fossa arachnoid cysts patients were evaluated. The age range of cyst development was between 2 years and 44 years with the average of 16.4 years. The follow-up periods averaged 31.48 months. There were 15 male and 3 female patients, with significantly more cyst development in males than females. The most common clinical symptom was headache, followed by seizure. In the entire series, 77.8% of patients demonstrated a decrease in cyst size In serial imaging studies. Of them, 67.3% demonstrated a complete cyst effacement. Overall, 100% of patients with Grade I cysts, 81.8% of patients with Grade II cysts, 60% of patients with Grade III cysts exhibited evidence of decrease in cyst size during long-term monitoring. Complications included headache, meningitis, and hydrocephalus. Conclusion : Patients who were treated with microsurgical fenestration showed good outcome with acceptable complications. We concluded that microsurgical fenestration is a safe and effective surgical method for middle cranial fossa arachnoid cysts.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.213-218
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• 2010

Objective : Pituitary apoplexy (PA) is described as a clinical syndrome characterized by sudden headache, vomiting, visual impairment, and meningismus caused by rapid enlargement of a pituitary adenoma, We retrospectively analyzed the clinical presentation and surgical outcome in PA presenting with cranial neuropathy. Methods : Twelve cases (33%) of PA were retrospectively reviewed among 359 patients diagnosed with pituitary adenoma, The study included 6 males and 6 females, Mean age of patients was 49,0 years, with a range of 16 to 74 years, Follow-up duration ranged from 3 to 20 months, with an average of 12 months, All patients were submitted to surgery, using the transsphenoidal approach (TSA). Results : Symptoms included abrupt headache (11/12), decreased visual acuity (12/12), visual field defect (11/12), and cranial nerve palsy of the third (5/12) and sixth (2/12) Mean height of the mass was 29.0 mm (range 15-46) Duration between the ictus and operation ranged from 1 to 15 days (mean 7.0) The symptom duration before operation and the recovery period of cranial neuropathy correlated significantly (p = 0.0286) TSA resulted in improvement of decreased visual acuity in 91.6%, visual field defect in 54.5%, and cranial neuropathy in 100% at 3 months after surgery. Conclusion : PA is a rare event, complicating 3.3% in our series, Even in blindness following pituitary apoplexy cases, improvement of cranial neuropathy is possible if adequate management is initiated in time, Surgical decompression must be considered as soon as possible in cases with severe visual impairment or cranial neuropathy.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.483-489
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• 2011

Purpose: Craniofacial structure form results from the adaptation to morphologic and functional changes in their neighboring structures for a mutual balance. The purpose of this study is classification of maxillomandibular complex growth pattern follow by cranial base growth pattern. And this study is identifying the correlation between maxilla-mandibular complex growth pattern and orthodontic criteria. Methods: 142 Class III malocclusion patients had orthognathic surgery at Wonkwang University Dental Hospital during April 2004 to October 2010. Patients were divided into 4 groups and the correlation between cranial base and maxillomandibular growth patterns were evaluated. Results: There was a correlation between cranial base and maxillomandibular growth patterns. Positive relationships were found between the occlusal plane, Incisor mandibular plane angle, mandibular plane, positioning of pogonion and the saddle angle, indicating maxillary growth patterns. Negative relationships were found between SNA, SNB, maxillary incisor angle and saddle angle. Positive relationships were found between the ratio of the anterior and posterior cranium, positioning of pogonion and the percentage of cranial depth indicating mandibular growth patterns. Negative relationships were found between the occlusal plane, maxillary incisor angle, mandibular plane, mandibular angle and cranial depth. Conclusion: Cranial base and maxillofacial growth patterns were correlated and the classification should be adjusted before orthognathic surgery.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.344-349
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• 2014

Background An abnormally obtuse cranial base angle, also known as platybasia, is a common finding in patients with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS). Platybasia increases the depth of the velopharynx and is therefore postulated to contribute to velopharyngeal dysfunction. Our objective was to determine the clinical significance of platybasia in 22q11DS by exploring the relationship between cranial base angles and speech resonance. Methods In this retrospective chart review at a tertiary hospital, 24 children (age, 4.0-13.1 years) with 22q11.2DS underwent speech assessments and lateral cephalograms, which allowed for the measurement of the cranial base angles. Results One patient (4%) had hyponasal resonance, 8 (33%) had normal resonance, 10 (42%) had hypernasal resonance on vowels only, and 5 (21%) had hypernasal resonance on both vowels and consonants. The mean cranial base angle was $136.5^{\circ}$ (standard deviation, $5.3^{\circ}$; range, $122.3-144.8^{\circ}$). The Kruskal-Wallis test showed no significant relationship between the resonance ratings and cranial base angles (P=0.242). Cranial base angles and speech ratings were not correlated (Spearman correlation=0.321, P=0.126). The group with hypernasal resonance had a significantly more obtuse mean cranial base angle ($138^{\circ}$ vs. $134^{\circ}$, P=0.049) but did not have a greater prevalence of platybasia (73% vs. 56%, P=0.412). Conclusions In this retrospective chart review of patients with 22q11DS, cranial base angles were not correlated with speech resonance. The clinical significance of platybasia remains unknown.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.83-88
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• 2020

Purpose: Growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11) and myostatin (MSTN) are closely-related transforming growth factor β family members reported to play crucial roles in bone formation. We previously reported that, in contrast to MSTN, GDF11 promotes osteogenesis of vertebrae and limbs. GDF11 has been also reported as an important regulator in tooth development by inducing differentiation of pulp stem cells into odontoblasts for reparative dentin formation. The goal of this study was to investigate the differential roles of GDF11 and MSTN in dental and cranial bone formation. Methods: Micro-computed tomography analysis was performed on cranial bones, including frontal, parietal, and interparietal bones, and lower incisors of wild-type, Gdf11 knockout (Gdf11-/-), and Mstn knockout (Mstn-/-) mice. Tissue volume, thickness, and mineral density were evaluated for both cranial bone and lower incisors. Lower incisor lengths were also measured. Because Gdf11-/- mice die shortly after birth, analysis was performed on newborn (P0) mice. Results: Compared to those of Mstn-/- mice, cranial bone volume, thickness, and mineral density levels were all significantly diminished in Gdf11-/- mice. Tissue mineral density of Gdf11-/- mice were also significantly decreased compared to wild-type mice. Likewise, lower incisor length, tissue volume, thickness, and mineral density levels were all significantly reduced in Gdf11-/- mice compared to Mstn-/- mice. Incisor length was also significantly decreased in Gdf11-/- mice compared to wild-type mice. Mstn-/- mice exhibited mildly increased levels of tissue volume, thickness, and density in cranial bone and lower incisor compared to wild-type mice although statistically not significant. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that GDF11, unlike MSTN, endogenously promotes cranial bone and tooth development.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.169-181
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• 2024

Background With the advent of cranial orthoses as therapeutic medical devices for the treatment of severe positional head deformities in Japan, an increasing number of patients are being treated with them. However, assessing the effectiveness of a treatment is often difficult due to the use of different metrics. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of cranial orthoses for deformational plagiocephaly using two- (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) evaluation metrics. Methods We conducted a retrospective study of infant patients with deformational plagiocephaly who underwent cranial orthosis treatment. We evaluated the severity of deformational plagiocephaly using cranial asymmetry (CA) and the cranial vault asymmetry index (CVAI) as 2D metrics, and anterior and posterior symmetry ratios as 3D metrics. The patients were divided into 24 subgroups based on the initial severity of each outcome and their age at the start of treatment. We analyzed the changes in outcomes and correlations within improvements across the age and severity categories. Results Overall, 1,038 infants were included in this study. The mean CA, CVAI, and anterior and posterior symmetry ratios improved significantly after cranial orthosis treatment. The improvement in each score was greater in patients with more severe initial deformities and in those who underwent treatment at a younger age. Conclusion Cranial orthosis treatment was effective in correcting deformational plagiocephaly in infants, as demonstrated by improvements in both 2D and 3D metrics. Patients with more severe initial deformities and those who underwent treatment at a younger age showed greater improvement.