In Albright's hereditary osteodystrophy (AHO) including the syndromes of pseudohypoparathyroidism (PHP) and pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism (PPHP), multiple areas of intracutaneous ossification are often encountered. The characteristic features are short stature, round face, short neck, obesity, cutaneous ossifications, and various skeletal anomalies including short metacarpal and metatarsal bones, curve of radius, and brachydactyly. The patient was a 10-month-old male infant. He presented slightly depressed erythematous hard plaques on the left upper chest and left thigh. We had taken biopsies from both skin lesions, confirming cutaneous ossification or bone formation. He also had the characteristic features of AHO. He had a history of admission due to patent ductus arteriosus and atrial septal defect. The laboratory results showed slightly decreased calcium, increased phosphorus and PTH levels. The patient received no specific corrective measures because his calcium and phosphorus levels were not far from normal values until newly developed similar skin lesions appeared.
Biopsy ; Brachydactyly ; Calcium ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Metatarsal Bones ; Neck ; Obesity ; Osteogenesis ; Phosphorus ; Pseudohypoparathyroidism* ; Pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism ; Radius ; Reference Values ; Skin ; Thigh ; Thorax

The authors performed combined trabeculectomy-cataract extraction on eyes of 8 patients with coexisting glaucoma and cataract. Posterior chamber lens implantation was performed in 2 of 9 eyes. The follow-up period ranged from 6 to 12 months. Visual acuity was improved in 8 eyes. The mean intraocular pressure was reduced by approximately 53%, from 28 mmHg preoperatively to 13 mmHg postoperatively. No medications were required in 6 of the 8 eyes, but 2 needed one medication for adequate control of intraocular pressure, postoperatively. No greater incidence of complications were evident with the combined procedure, from that expected with routine cataract extraction or trabeculectomy alone.
Cataract Extraction* ; Cataract* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glaucoma ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intraocular Pressure ; Trabeculectomy ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: Free radicals are defined as any species capable of independent existence that contains one or more unpaired electrons and they have the effects on carcinogenesis and tumor progression by causing mutations on genetic structure or suppressing repair of mutated DNA. This study was aimed to identify changes of antioxidant capacity in carcinogenesis and tumor progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS: We studied the level of serum antioxidant capacity using ABTS technique for 34 CRC patients who were operated between July 1997 and January 1998 at department of surgery, Taegu Catholic Medical Center and compared with 38 persons who had normal value of liver function during the same period. RESULTS: CRC patients showed decreased serum antioxidant capacity level compared to that of control group (CRC male 1.23 0.15 mmol/L, CRC female 1.11 0.13 mmol/L, control male 1.40 0.15, control female 1.35 0.11 mmol/L). Changes of antioxidant capacity levels were not correlated with stages, even though the marginal difference between T-stages (T1/2 1.23 0.10 mmol/L, T3/4 1.16 0.15 mmol/L). CONCLUSIONS: Free radicals may be the causative agent of colorectal carcinogenesis and can be associated with early phase of carcinogenesis rather than tumor progression.
Carcinogenesis ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Daegu ; DNA ; Female ; Free Radicals ; Genetic Structures ; Humans ; Liver ; Male ; Reference Values

In order to compare the visual outcome and amount of surgically induced outcome between 3.1mm clear corneal incision group and 6.0mm scleral tunnel incision group in sutureless cataract surgery, 55 eyes(44 patients) were evaluated retrospectively. Clear corneal incision group and scleral tunnel incision group was consisted of 35 eyes and 20 eyes respectively and all patients were followed up by 2months postoperatively. Twenty two eyes(65%) from clear corneal incision group and 14 eyes(70%) from scleral tunnel incision group showed the uncorrected visual acuity of 20/40 or better at postoperative first day. As measurement of surgically induced astigmatism corneal topography using CVK(computerized videokeratography) was applied. The corneal flattening was significantly more prominent at the distances of 0.75, 1.5, and 2.5mm along the 90-degree meridian at one week postoperatively in clear corneal incision group than scleral tunnel incision(p<0.05). But these changes decreased and became not statisticlly significant at eight weeks(p>0.05). The change of surgically induced astigmatism between one day and eight weeks was within the range of one diopter in both groups. There was moderate corneal edema along the incisional meridian at one week and recovered to preoperative levet at four weeks postoperatively in clear corneal incisional group. Conclusively, clear corneal incision in catarad surgery showed early visual rehabilitation and small surgical astigmatism such like scleral tunnel incision.
Astigmatism ; Cataract* ; Corneal Edema ; Corneal Topography ; Humans ; Rehabilitation ; Retrospective Studies ; Visual Acuity

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to investigate the correlation between 2-dimensional (2D) cephalometric measurement and 3-dimensional (3D) cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) measurement, and to evaluate the availability of 3D analysis for asymmetry patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of Twenty-seven patients were evaluated for facial asymmetry by photograph and cephalometric radiograph, and CBCT. The 14 measurements values were evaluated and those for 2D and 3D were compared. The patients were classified into two groups. Patients in group 1 were evaluated for symmetry in the middle 1/3 of the face and asymmetry in the lower 1/3 of the face, and those in group 2 for asymmetry of both the middle and lower 1/3 of the face. RESULTS: In group 1, significant differences were observed in nine values out of 14 values. Values included three from anteroposterior cephalometric radiograph measurement values (cant and both body height) and six from lateral cephalometric radiographs (both ramus length, both lateral ramal inclination, and both gonial angles). In group 2, comparison between 2D and 3D showed significant difference in 10 factors. Values included four from anteroposterior cephalometric radiograph measurement values (both maxillary height, both body height) and six from lateral cephalometric radiographs (both ramus length, both lateral ramal inclination, and both gonial angles). CONCLUSION: Information from 2D analysis was inaccurate in several measurements. Therefore, in asymmetry patients, 3D analysis is useful in diagnosis of asymmetry.
Cephalometry ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Facial Asymmetry ; Humans ; Malocclusion

PURPOSE: To demonstrate the MRI findings of olivopontocerebellar atrophy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the MRI findings of eight patients who had been diagnosed by clinical manifestation and the peculiar pattern of atrophy and signal change on MRI. RESULTS: Seven patients had an atrophy of the olive, pons and cerebellum and increased signal change of the transverse pontine fiber, median raphe and middle cerebellar peduncle on T2WI. Of these, six patients had severe atrophy of the olive, pons and cerebellum and decreased signal change of the basal ganglia, red nucleus, substantia nigra or dentate nucleus on T2WI. Additionally, four of six patients had a cerebral atrophy. Except one patient who had an urinary incontinence, these 5 patients had not been associated with extrapyramidal or autonomic symptom. The other patient with relatively short duration of the disease had only cerebellar atrophy without signal change on T2WI . CONCLUSION: With progressing of the olivopontocerebellar atrophy, cerebral atrophy and decreased signal change of the basal ganglia, red nucleus, substantia nigra or dentate nucleus on T2WI is combined. Thus, MRI is essential in establishing the diagnosis and evaluating the severity of olivopontocerebellar atrophy.
Atrophy ; Basal Ganglia ; Brain* ; Cerebellar Nuclei ; Cerebellum ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Olea ; Olivopontocerebellar Atrophies* ; Pons ; Red Nucleus ; Retrospective Studies ; Substantia Nigra ; Urinary Incontinence

BACKGROUND: Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia(CEP) presents with profound systemic symptoms, including fever, malaise, night sweats, weight loss, and anorexia together with localized pulmonary manifestations such as cough, wheeze, and sputum. It is an illness occurring predominantly in women. The chest radiogragh shows fluffy opacities that often have a characteristic peripheral configuration. The hallmark of CEP is the peripheral blood eosinophilia and a prompt response to oral corticosteroid therapy. We investigated characteristics of eleven patients of chronic eosinophilic pneumonia, reported in Korea. METHOD: There were eleven reports of CEP from 1980 to 1996, including three cases experienced in our hospital. The journals were analysed in respects of clinical history, laboratory, and radiographic findings. RESULTS: 1) Male vs. female ratio is 3 : 8. The peak incidence occurred in forty and fifty decades. The atopic diseases were present in 6 cases. Asthma was the commonest manifestation. 2) The presenting symptoms were as follows: cough, dyspnea, sputum, weight loss, fever, general weakness, night sweats, urticaria with the descending incidence. 3) Peripheral blood eosinophilia was present in all patients(mean; 38.4%) and serum Ig E level was elevated in nine patients(mean; 880IU/ml). CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of chronic eosinophilic pneumonia is based on classic symptoms, including fever, night sweats, weight loss with a typical roentgenogram of peripheral pulmonary infiltrates and peripheral blood eosinophilia, and that is confimed by lung biopsy and/or bronchoalveolar lavage. Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia is responsive to corticosteroid promptly and recommended at least 6 months of therapy to prevent relapse.
Anorexia ; Asthma ; Biopsy ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage ; Cough ; Diagnosis ; Dyspnea ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils* ; Female ; Fever ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea* ; Lung ; Male ; Pulmonary Eosinophilia* ; Recurrence ; Sputum ; Sweat ; Thorax ; Urticaria ; Weight Loss

PURPOSE: Gallstone disease has been presumed to be a sequellae of gastrectomy. To know correlation between gallbladder disease and gastrectomy, we check anatomical and functional status of gallbladder with ultrasonogram in our study. METHODS: Gallbladder motility after gastrectomy was studied by means of measuring fasting and postprandial gallbladder volume using real time ultrasonography in 50 gastrectomized patients and in 28 controls (healthy but not operated gastric cancer patients) were selected as study subjects. RESULTS: Mean fasting and postprandial gallbladder volume was significantly increased in gastrectomized patient group (FV: 37.63+/-20.70 ml, PV: 11.50+/-10.26 ml) than control group (FV: 22.17+/-10.35 ml, PV: 5.44+/-3.67 ml, p<0.01). The ejection fraction of gallbladder in gastrectomized patient group (69.05+/-14.57%)was significantly smaller than control group (75.57+/-10.26%, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The risk of gallbladder disease was independent of age, sex, and post-operative duration in our study. Gastrectomy may have the possibility of increasing the risk of gallbladder disease by causing gallbladder dysmotility and bile stasis. So, gallbladder motility evaluation would be helpful for prevention and understanding gallstone formation. Further study will be needed about the clinical benefits of prophylactic cholecystectomy during gastrectomy.
Bile ; Cholecystectomy ; Fasting ; Gallbladder Diseases ; Gallbladder* ; Gallstones* ; Gastrectomy* ; Humans ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Ultrasonography

Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) is a rare tumor of vascular origin. While it can be found in any tissue, it is most often found in lung and liver and usually has an intermediate behavior. EHEs originating from pleural tissue have been less frequently described than those from other sites. Furthermore, to date, all of the cited pleural EHEs were described as highly aggressive. In the present report, we describe a rare case of pleural EHE extending to lung and bone in a 31-year-old woman. The histological diagnosis was confirmed by both conventional examination and immunohistochemistry. Her disease stabilized during the 4th course of adriamycin (45mg/m2, day 1-3), dacarbazine (300mg/m2, day 1-3) and ifosfamide (2,500mg/m2, day 1-3) with mesna, and she survived for 10 months after the diagnosis.
Adult ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Factor VIII/metabolism ; Female ; Hemangioendothelioma, Epithelioid/*diagnosis/drug therapy/metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Keratins/metabolism ; Lung Neoplasms/diagnosis ; Pleural Neoplasms/*diagnosis/drug therapy/metabolism ; Vimentin/metabolism

Cerebral lesions can cause dermatomal sensory deficit. The most commonly reported site is the medulla oblongata due to its well-separated sensory systems. Dermatomal sensory deficit that has developed after pontine infarctions have been reported in several cases, the majority of which involved the medial lemniscus. However, restricted spinothalamic sensory loss has rarely been reported in pontine infarctions. We report herein a patient who presented with dermatomal spinothalamic sensory deficits below the tenth thoracic level after pontine infarction.
Humans ; Infarction ; Medulla Oblongata ; Spinothalamic Tracts