Acute thyroid abscess is an uneommon type of neck infection. We experieneed a case of staphylococcal thyroid abscess in 29 year old man, diagnosed by needle aspira~tion and culture of the aspirate. The patient had complained fever and slowly growing anterior neck swelling. Needle aspiration of the cold nodule prior to broad spectrum antibiotics was performed. After Surgical excision combined with antibiotics, he was discharged with elinical improvement. The laboratory diagnosis and clinical course was summarized and is reported with relevent references.
Abscess ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Clinical Laboratory Techniques ; Fever ; Humans ; Neck ; Needles ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Staphylococcus ; Thyroid Gland

No abstract available.
Angiomyolipoma* ; Lymph Nodes*

PURPOSE: To describe soft-tissue radiographic and high-resolution CT findings of radiation-induced lung injury of rabbit over time and to correlate them with pathologic findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 15 rabbits were irradiated in the right lung with one fraction of 2000 cGy. After 4, 6, 12, 20, 24 weeks, 3 rabbits in each group were sacrificed and soft-tissue radiographs and high-resolution CT of their lung tissue were obtained. Radiological findings were correlated with pathologic findings. RESULTS: On soft- tissue radiogram, radiation pneumonitis shown as consolidation with air-bronchogram occurred in 3 cases after 6 weeks, and in 1 case after 12 weeks of irradiation. In addition, pneumonic consolidation with adjacent pleural contraction was seen in 2 cases after 12 weeks of irradiation. Fibrotic changes indicated by decreased volume occurred after 20 weeks and combined bronchiectatic change and bronchial wall thickening appeared after 20 weeks(N=1), and 24 weeks(N=3). HRCT findings of radiation pneumonitis were homogeneous, increased attenuation after 4 weeks(N=3), 6 and 12 weeks (each N=I), patchy consolidation after 6 and 12 weeks(each N=2), discrete consolidation after 12, 20 and 24 weeks(each N=I) and solid consolidation after 20 and 24 weeks(each N=2). Pathologically radiation pneumonitis and pulmonary congestion were seen after 4 and 6 weeks. After 6 weeks, collagen and reticulin fibers were detected along alveolar wall. Mixed radiation pneumonitis and fibrosis were detected after 12 weeks. 20 weeks after irradiation, fibrosis was well defined in interstitium and in 24 weeks, decreased number of alveoli and thickening of bronchial wall were defined. CONCLUSION: Radiation pneumonitis was provoked 4 weeks after irradiation on rabbit lung and progressed into radiation fibrosis 20 weeks after irradiation on soft-tissue radiographs and high-resolution CT. High-resolution CT is more precise in detecting early radiation pneumonitis and detailed pathologic findings.
Collagen ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Fibrosis ; Lung Injury ; Lung* ; Rabbits ; Radiation Pneumonitis ; Reticulin

Femoral arteriography has assumed in recent years a greater clinical and surgical significance, especiallysince the advent of arterial grafting for occlusive arterial disease. Evaluation of the site and extent ofocclusion, the state of distal arterial tree and degree of collateral circulation can best be obtained byserialographic studies. Authors analyzed 28 cases of clinically and radiologically diagnosed Buerger's disease inGURO hospital radiology, College of medicine, Korea university, during last 6 months from March to August, 1984.The results are as follows; 1. The age distribution were between 20 and 50 years old, and most commonly involvedage group was 20-29. 2. The most frequent finding was the obstruction of peripheral artery with or withougcollateral vessel and almost all patient had occlusion more than 1 segmental branch. 3. The most frequentlyinvolved arteries in Buerger's disease were trifurcation area below the knee joint, anterior and posterior tibialartery and peroneal artery. Peroneal artery was less commonly involved than anterior or posterior tibial artery.
Age Distribution ; Angiography ; Arteries ; Collateral Circulation ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; Korea ; Thromboangiitis Obliterans ; Tibial Arteries ; Transplants ; Trees

No abstract available.
Osteoarthropathy, Primary Hypertrophic*

OBJECTIVES: It is widely accepted that estrogen has favorable effects on cardiovascular diseases, especially in the postmenopausal women. Endothelin-1(ET-I), released from the vascular endothelium, is a 21-amino acid peptide with strong vasoconstrictor activity. However, the effect of estrogen on the vasoconstriction to ET-1 has not been extensively studied. METHODS: To investigate the effect of estrogen (175beta-estradiol) on the vascular contraction to ET-1, porcine coronary artery(PCA) rings were suspended in organ chambers(37 degrees C, 95% O2/5% CO2) for measurement of isometric tension change. Endothelium was removed mechanically if necessary. In acute experiments, vascular rings were preincubated for 15minutes with 3different concentrations of 170beta-estradiol(10(-6), 10(-5), 10(-4)M) and concentration-contraction curves to cumulative doses of ET-1 were constructed. In the experiments after a longer exposure to 17beta-estradiol, the vessels with endothelium were exposed in the 5% CO2 incubator to 3different concentrations of 17beta-estradiol(10(-9), 10(-8), 10(-7)M) for 44-50 hours, and then concentrationcontraction curves to ET-1 were obtained. RESULTS: Incubation for 15minutes with 170beta-estradiol(10(-4)M) inhibited ET-1-induced contraction in the vessels with endothelium(area under the curve and maximal contraction, p<0.05 compared with control). This effect persisted regardless of the sex and the presence or absence of the endotheliurn. Incubation of the vessels far a longer time with 170beta-estradiol(44-50 hours) resulted in the inhibition of maximal contraction to ET-1(p<0.05) by a lower concentration of 175beta-estradiol(10(-7)M) than in acute experiments in male PCA rings, but an enhanced contraction to ET-1(area under the curve; p<0.05) by 10M of 175beta-estradiol was observed in female PCA rings. CONCLUSION: Short-time incubation with 17Pbeta-estradiol has an inhibitory effect on the contraction to ET-1 in PCA rings. This effect is independent of the presence of the endothelium and the sex of the pigs. A longer incubation with 17beta-estradiol results in a similar inhibitory effect on male(but not female) PCA rings, suggesting that a sex-related difference may exist concerning the effect of 17beta-estradiol on ET-1-induced contraction.
Cardiovascular Diseases ; Coronary Vessels* ; Endothelin-1* ; Endothelins ; Endothelium ; Endothelium, Vascular ; Estrogens ; Female ; Humans ; Incubators ; Male ; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis ; Swine ; Vasoconstriction

A clinical analysis of 249 patients with maxillo-facial trauma, who underwent general anes- thesia from January 1992 to December 1993 at Lee-Rha General Hospital, were made in order to investigate various case characteristics such as sex ratio, age distribution, types of trauma, fracture sites, associated injuries, underlying medical problems, abnormal laboratory findings, intubation, and preoperative physical condition. It was found that males outnumbered females showing the peak age incidence in 20's and 30's. The high velocity motor vehicle accidents was the most common cause of trauma and the mandible was the most frequent fracture sites. Among 96 associated injury cases, 63 cases were neumsurgical problems. Underlying medical problems or abnormal laboratory findings were present in 28.9% of the patients studied and preoperative physical status 1 or 1E (ASA classification) was most common accounting for 54.8% of the patients studied. Of the patients who received endotracheal intubation, 73.5% were done via a nasotracheal route.
Age Distribution ; Anesthesia ; Female ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intubation ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Male ; Mandible ; Motor Vehicles ; Sex Ratio

Neuroendocrine tumor (NET) of the colon and rectum has been reported to have a low incidence and aggressive progression; it is frequently misdiagnosed and its treatment is not well documented. Four NET cases were collected at our hospital during the previous year of a colon cancer survey. Endoscopic mucosal biopsy of the colon was done for each case and all the cases proved to be adenocarcinomas. Curative surgery was conducted after the preoperative diagnostic and staging evaluation was completed. The locations of the primary lesions of the patients were all different; cecum, ascending colon, splenic flexure colon and sigmoid colon. The disease was advanced in all cases and the first postoperative diagnosis was poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Immunohistochemical tests followed and all the cases were positive for chromogranin A staining. A retrospective study was then conducted.
Adenocarcinoma ; Biopsy ; Cecum ; Chromogranin A ; Colon* ; Colon, Ascending ; Colon, Sigmoid ; Colon, Transverse ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Incidence ; Neuroendocrine Tumors* ; Rectum ; Retrospective Studies

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is widely recognized as the antidote of choice for acetaminophen overdose. Acetaminophen is a commonly used analgesic and antipyretic agent, and its use is one of the most common causes of poisoning worldwide. Acetaminophen toxicity may occur acutely when supratherapeutic amounts are ingested purposefully or unintentionally. Liver failure may occur in severe toxicity. However, if treated early, patients with acetaminophen poisoning generally recover uneventfully. Acetaminophen is metabolized to N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine (NAPQI), which is detoxified by conjugation with glutathione. In overdose, hepatic stores of glutathione are depleted and NAPQI binding to hepatocytes induces cell death and hepatic necrosis. NAC replenishes hepatic glutathione and may also act as a glutathione substitute, combining directly with the toxic metabolite. Intravenous NAC is indicated in patients who present with a history of acetaminophen overdose within the previous 8 to 10 hours, patients unable to tolerate oral NAC, and patients who present with evidence of fulminant hepatic failure. However, caution should be used in patients who have experienced previous hypersensitivity or anaphylactoid reactions to intravenous NAC, as well as in patients with asthma. The most common anaphylactoid reactions include rash, flushing, and bronchospasm. Adults should receive 150 mg/kg administered for 45 minutes, followed by 50 mg/kg administered for 4 hours, followed by 100 mg/kg administered for 16 hours. The total dose is 300 mg/kg delivered over 21 hours. Additionally, caution should always be used when intravenous NAC is prescribed and the amount of diluent is calculated. Monitoring of patients with a should include repeated neurologic and hemodynamic assessment.
Acetaminophen* ; Acetylcysteine* ; Adult ; Antidotes ; Asthma ; Benzoquinones ; Bronchial Spasm ; Cell Death ; Exanthema ; Flushing ; Glutathione ; Hemodynamics ; Hepatocytes ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Imines ; Liver Failure ; Liver Failure, Acute ; Necrosis ; Poisoning*

Purpose: The purpose of this pilot study was to assess the feasibility of a proposed study “To investigate the effects of applying a vibration stimulation to the paretic and non-paretic sides on balance and gait in stroke patients” before proceeding with the main study. Methods: A total of 30 patients who had suffered a stroke and who met the selection criteria participated in this study. However, only 14 patients completed the study. The study subjects were randomly assigned to vibration stimulation on either both sides (B group) or the paralyzed side (P group). The interventions were applied for six weeks. The patients were assessed using the Berg balance scale (BBS), Timed up and go (TUG), 10-meter walk (10 MW), and 6-minute walk (6 MW) tests. Results: There was a significant difference before and after the application of vibration stimulation in the BBS, TUG, 10MW, and 6 MW tests in the B group (p < 0.05). Similarly, there was also a significant difference observed in the 10 MW and 6 MW tests in the P group (p < 0.05). The difference between the two groups was not significant in the BBS, TUG, 10 MW, and 6 MW tests (p > 0.05). Conclusion This pilot study suggests that it would be feasible to conduct a large-scale randomized controlled trial (RCT) to examine the effects of applying a vibration stimulation to the paretic and non-paretic sides, on the balance and gait in stroke patients.