Plexiform schwannoma is a rare benign tumor arising from the peripheral nerve sheath and characterized by a multinodular and plexiform growth pattern. This tumor usually arises sporadically. In rare cases, plexiform schwannomas have been associated with neurofibromatosis type 2. Plexiform schwannoma should be differentiated from plexiform neurofibroma, because the latter is pathognomonic tumor of neurofibromatosis type 1 and has a potential of malignant transformation. We report a case of multiple plexiform schwannomas associated with bilateral acoustic neuromas and meningioma.
Meningioma ; Neurilemmoma* ; Neurofibroma, Plexiform ; Neurofibromatoses* ; Neurofibromatosis 1 ; Neurofibromatosis 2* ; Neuroma, Acoustic ; Peripheral Nerves

Our previous experimental work with tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) suggested the possibility of the clearance of vitreous hemorrhage by repetitive injections of low-dose TPA. We therefore investigated in rabbits the effect of both repeated injections of TPA and the change of the integrity of the vitreous body on the clearance of vitreous hemorrhage. Vitreous hemorrhage was produced by intravitreal injection of 0.05 ml of autologous whole blood in the pigmented rabbit eyes with intact vitreous or gas-compressed vitreous. Three intravitreal injections of 3-g TPA (total dose of 9 microgram), separated by 7-day intervals, were performed. The endpoint for vitreous hemorrhage clearance was defined as clear visualization of the posterior central retina of the rabbits. Regardless of whether gas compression vitrectomy was performed, repeated injections of low-dose TPA resulted in rapid clearance of fresh vitreous hemorrhage in approximately two to three weeks after the last TPA injection. No evidence of retinal toxicity was seen in all experimental groups. Repetitive injections of low-dose TPA may be effective in the treatment of fresh vitreous hemorrhage.
Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Injections ; Rabbits ; Tissue Plasminogen Activator/*administration & dosage/therapeutic use ; Vitreous Body/drug effects ; Vitreous Hemorrhage/*drug therapy

Chronic paranasal sinusitis is one of the most common disease in the field of otolaryngology, and endoscopic sinus surgery(ESS) is efficient and safe operative method of chronic paranasal sinusitis. We employed socalled symptom score to quantify the common sinusitis related symptoms before and after endoscopic sinus surgery which followed up to 6 months. A prospective study of 50 patients all having undergone ESS from June, 1995 to February, 1996 was performed and we analyzed the surgical results using questionaires which focused on six common sinusitis related symptoms-nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea, olfactory disturbance, postnasal drip, headache and sneezing. Postoperative symptom relief was apparent in all six common symptoms(p value<0.001) and the higher sinusitis stage, the more relief of sinusitis related symptoms(p value=0.029). It seems to be helpful to employ a symptom score in predicting and analyzing the surgical results in the treatment of chronic sinusitis.
Headache ; Humans ; Otolaryngology ; Prospective Studies* ; Sinusitis ; Sneezing

Familial adenomatous polyposis(FAP) is a rare hereditary disorder characterized by the development of hundreds to thounds polyps throughout the colon and rectum. Moreover, several extracolonic manifestations are seen. Recently, this disease is recognized as a adenomatous polyposis syndrome which can involve the entire astrointestinal tract. Several reports have demonstrated a high incidence of gastroduodenal polyps in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis. These colon polyps can be eventually developed as colon cancer, if not be treated. So early diagnosis is needed and prophylactic surgery should be erformed. We experienced a case of familial adenomatous polyposis with a large sentinel polyp on the sigmoid colon, presenting hematochezia and mucoid diarrhea. He was early treated before progression to carcinoma by total colectomy, rectal mucosectomy and J pouch ileoanal anastomosis.
Adenomatous Polyposis Coli* ; Colectomy ; Colon ; Colon, Sigmoid ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Colonic Pouches ; Diarrhea ; Early Diagnosis ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Polyps* ; Rectum

Multiple aneurysms at the same cerebral arterial branching site are rare, and have been mainly described in a few case reports in comparison with other intracranial multiple aneurysms. Most reported locations of the same artery where multiple aneurysms developed were internal carotid artery and anterior communicating artery. We experienced a very rare case of multiple aneurysms arising at the same bifurcation site of the middle cerebral artery. Only one case like this has been reported previously in the literature. We discussed the preoperative diagnosis and surgical management of such condition.
Aneurysm* ; Arteries ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Diagnosis ; Middle Cerebral Artery*

Traumatic carotid-cavernous fistula(CCF) is an uncommon situation resulting from trauma. The blood shunted from the internal carotid artery to the cavernous sinus results in pulsation exophthalmos,orbital headache, bruit, loss of visual acuity, diplopia, ophthalmoplegia. We were recently faced with such a case. The patient sustained fracture of the mandible during sports activity. Five months later, all the classic signs and symptoms of CCF had appeared. A carotid angiography confirmed the presence of a CCF. The management was achieved intravascularly by platinum electrothrombosis embolization. The main signs and symptoms of the CCF had resolved, but the patient remained in a visual loss of affected eye.
Angiography ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Cavernous Sinus ; Diplopia ; Fistula* ; Headache ; Humans ; Mandible ; Mandibular Fractures* ; Ophthalmoplegia ; Platinum ; Sports ; Visual Acuity

BACKGROUND: Cholecystectomy is the standard treatment for gallbladder stones and at present is performed in minimally invasive procedures. There are several advantages to a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, so now it is a popular procedure for use in a cholecystectomy. Also, a minilaparotomy cholecystectomy is an alternative method to a traditional open cholecystectomy and results in a smaller incision than a traditional open cholecystectomy. METHODS: We analyzed outcomes following laparoscopic and minilaparotomy cholecystectomy. 74 patients with gallstones were included. 45 patients were treated by a laparoscopic cholecystectomy and 29 patients were treated by a minilaparotomy cholecystectomy. RESULTS: Compared to the minilaparotomy cholecystectomy, the laparoscopic cholecystectomy resulted in a shorter mean hospital stay, a faster mean time to diet, and a longer mean operating time. During the first postoperative 24 hours more analgesics were used in the minilaparotomy cholecystectomy than in the laparoscopic cholecystectomy, and the laparoscopic cholecystectomy was more expensive than the minilaparotomy cholecystectomy. Postoperative complications occurred in 3 patients receiving a lapaaroscopic cholecystectomy and 1 patient receiving a minilaparotomy cholecystectomy. Conversion from a laparoscopic cholecystectomy to a traditional open cholecystectomy was necessary in 2 patients; no conversion to a traditional cholecystectomy was necessary in the minilaparotomy cholecystectomy. CONCLUSIONS: This study has proven the advantages of a laparoscopic cholecystectomy to be shorter hospitalization, less pain, and better cosmetic effect. Also, a minilaparotomy cholecystectomy has the advantages of a laparoscopic cholecystectomy and can be performed more safely.
Analgesics ; Cholecystectomy* ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic* ; Diet ; Gallbladder ; Gallstones ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Laparotomy* ; Length of Stay ; Postoperative Complications

Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy is characterized by 1) early contractures of the elbows, Achilles tendons, and postcervical muscles, 2) slowly progressive muscle wasting and weakness with a humeroperoneal distribution in the early stages, and 3) cardiomyopathy with conduction defects and risk of sudden death. The inheritance is usually X-linked recessive but can be autosomal dominant and recessive. We report a case of 28-year old woman who presented with dizziness, palpitation, and progressive muscular weakness. Her ECG revealed high degree AV block and muscle biopsy demonstrated diffuse degenerative change consistent with Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy. She was diagnosed as autosomal dominant Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy by characteristic clinical features, and findings of ECG, nerve conduction test, electromyography and muscle biopsy findings. A VVI-type permanent pacemaker was implanted.
Achilles Tendon ; Adult ; Atrioventricular Block* ; Biopsy ; Cardiomyopathies ; Contracture ; Death, Sudden ; Dizziness ; Elbow ; Electrocardiography ; Electromyography ; Female ; Humans ; Muscle Weakness ; Muscles ; Muscular Dystrophy, Emery-Dreifuss* ; Neural Conduction ; Wills

PURPOSE: Central venous catheterization is widely used to supply substantial amounts of fluids, total parenteral nutrition and hemodialysis in renal failure patients, as well as for measuring the central venous pressure. The most common complications encountered during central venous catheterization include catheter-related infections and subsequent sepsis. Therefore, when fever exists in patients with a central venous catheter, an immediate blood culture should be performed, and if the fever persists, an infection must be suspected and the catheter immediately removed; a culture of the catheter tip should also be performed. To date, no definite clinical details relating to this matter have been reported. METHODS: Between December 2002 and March 2005, a retrospective study was undertaken using the medical records of 85 patients. In those patients where a fever lasted for more than 8 hours, or when catheterization was no longer needed, the catheter tip cultures were sent to the microbiology laboratory. Blood cultures were also performed on 49 patients with a fever. The Chi-square method using the PC SPSS program, with P value less than 0.05 as statically significant. RESULTS: Of the 85 patients where the catheters were removed, significant microorganisms were detected 20 of the 49 with a fever. Only 5 of the remaining 36 patients had their catheters spontaneously removed. Moreover, 14 of the 20 patients with significant microorganisms were found to have kept their catheter in place for more than 14 days. Of the 49 patients with a fever, in who blood cultures were undertaken, 13 showed specific microorganisms, with 6 of these showing the same results for both their blood and catheter tip cultures, which enabled the definite diagnosis of the catheter-related infection and underlying sepsis. Various microorganisms were detected from the catheter tip cultures, including Staphylococcus species the CNS, with S. aureus being the most common, at 61.6%. CONCLUSION: A central venous catheter should be removed immediately when an infection is suspected, but early broad-spectrum antibiotics therapy should be commenced due to the time required to obtain the culture results. Moreover, even if a fever does not exist in patients with a catheter inserted for more than 14 days, infection and sepsis from the catheter should be of concern, with a more cautious approach being mandatory.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Catheter-Related Infections ; Catheterization ; Catheterization, Central Venous ; Catheters ; Central Venous Catheters* ; Central Venous Pressure ; Diagnosis ; Fever ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Parenteral Nutrition, Total ; Renal Dialysis ; Renal Insufficiency ; Retrospective Studies ; Sepsis ; Staphylococcus

This study investigated the trabecular and cortical bone microarchitecture of tibia in 14-week-old C3H/HeN, C57BL/6J and ICR mice using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). Defined volumes of interest were scanned at a resolution of 17 micrometer (isotropic). The X-ray tube was set at photon energy of 50 kV, current of 200 microA, exposure time 1.2 sec, and a 0.5 mm-thick aluminium filter. For quantification of bone mineral density (BMD), the bone samples were scanned by micro-CT together with 2 calibration phantoms. The image slices were reconstructed using 3-dimensional CT analyzer software. C3H/HeN mice showed significantly higher levels of bone volume fraction, trabecular number and BMD, and lower levels of trabecular separation, structure model index and degree of anisotropy compared to C57BL/6J or ICR mice in trabecular bone area. So the C3H/HeN mouse appeared to be a good model animal for the study on the changes of trabecular bone with high trabecular bone mass.
Animals ; Anisotropy ; Bone Density ; Calibration ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Tibia