Endometrioma is a common clinical condition, but cases in which an episiotomy scaris present are, however, rare: only two cases have been reported in obstetric journals, and one other in a radiologic journal. All three were in English. We encountered a case in which a solitary endometrioma was present in the perineal region beneath an episiotomy scar. An irregularly marginated hypoechoic mass was revealed by US, and a discrete homogeneous enhancing mass by CT.
Cicatrix* ; Endometriosis* ; Episiotomy* ; Female

Objective Heavily calcified left-main coronary diseases (LMCA) remain a formidable challenge for percutaneous interventions (PCI). This study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of using rotational atherectomy (RA) in treating such lesions in actual practice. Methods From February 2004 to March 2012, all consecutive patients who received RA for heavily-calcified LMCA lesions in our cath lab were en-rolled. The relevant clinical and angiographic characteristics at the time of index PCI, as well as the clinical follow-up outcomes, were re-trieved and analyzed. Results A total of 34 consecutive patients were recruited with a mean age 77.2 ± 10.2 years. There were 82.4%pre-sented with acute coronary syndrome and 11.8%with cardiogenic shock. Chronic renal disease and diabetes were seen in 64.7%and 52.9%, respectively. Triple-vessel coronary disease was found in 76.5%of them. The mean SYNTAX score was 50 ± 15 and EuroSCORE II scale 5.6 ± 4.8. The angiographic success rate was 100%with a procedural success rate of 91.2%. The mean number of burrs per patient was 1.7 ± 0.5. Crossing-over stenting was used in 64.7%. Most stents were drug-eluting (67.6%). Intra-aortic ballon pump was used in 20.6%of the procedures. Three patients died during hospitalization, all due to presenting cardiogenic shock. No major complication occurred. Among 31 hospital survivors, the major adverse cardiac events (MACE) rate was 16.1%, all due to target lesion revascularization or target vessel revas-cularization. Conclusions In high-surgical-risk elderly patients, plaque modification with RA in PCI of heavily-calcified LMCA could be safely accomplished with a minimal complication rate and low out-of-hospital MACE.

BACKGROUND: Although non-lytic filamentous bacteriophages have been made into biomaterial to guide tissue growth, they had limited ability to prevent bacterial infection. In this work a lytic bacteriophage was used to make an antibacterial biomaterial for neural tissue repair. METHODS: Lytic phages were chemically bound to the surface of a chitosan film through glutaraldehyde crosslinking. After the chemical reaction, the contact angle of the sample surface and the remaining lytic potential of the phages were measured. The numbers of bacteria on the samples were measured and examined under scanning electron microscopy. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to observe the phages and phage-infected bacteria. A neuroblast cell line was cultured on the samples to evaluate the sample’s biocompatibility. RESULTS: The phages conjugated to the chitosan film preserved their lytic potential and reduced 68% of bacterial growth on the sample surface at 120 min (p < 0.001). The phage-linked surface had a significantly higher contact angle than that of the control chitosan (p < 0.05). After 120 min a bacterial biofilm appeared on the control chitosan, while the phagelinked sample effectively prevented biofilm formation. The TEM images demonstrated that the phage attached and lysed the bacteria on the phage-linked sample at 120 min. The phage-linked sample significantly promoted the neuroblast cell attachment (p < 0.05) and proliferation (p < 0.01). The neuroblast on the phage-linked sample demonstrated more cell extensions after day 1. CONCLUSION The purified lytic phages were proven to be a highly bioactive nanomaterial. The phage-chitosan composite material not only promoted neural cell proliferation but also effectively prevent bacterial growth, a major cause of implant failure and removal.

Objective: Anxious depression is a prevalent characteristic observed in Asian psychiatric patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD). This study aims to investigate the prevalence and clinical presentation of anxious depression in Taiwanese individuals diagnosed with MDD. Methods: We recruited psychiatric outpatients aged over 18 who had been diagnosed with MDD through clinical interviews. This recruitment took place at five hospitals located in northern Taiwan. We gathered baseline clinical and demographic information from the participants. Anxious depression was identified using a threshold of an anxiety/somatization factor score ≥7 on the 21-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D). Results: In our study of 399 patients (84.21% female), 64.16% met the criteria for anxious depression. They tended to be older, married, less educated, with more children, and an older age of onset. Anxious depression patients had higher HAM-D and Clinical Global Impression–Severity scale score, more panic disorder (without agoraphobia), and exhibited symptoms like agitation, irritability, concentration difficulties, psychological and somatic anxiety, somatic complaints, hypochondriasis, weight loss, and increased insight. Surprisingly, their suicide rates did not significantly differ from non-anxious depression patients. This highlights the importance of recognizing and addressing these unique characteristics. Conclusion Our study findings unveiled that the prevalence of anxious depression among Taiwanese outpatients diagnosed with MDD was lower compared to inpatients but substantially higher than the reported rates in European countries and the United States. Furthermore, patients with anxious depression exhibited a greater occurrence of somatic symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of three-phase helical dynamic CT in the detection of hepatocellular carcinomas in patients with advanced liver cirrhosis. MATERIALS AND METFODS: Three-phase helical dynamic CT in 77 patients with advanced liver cirrhosis was evaluated prospectively before orthotopic liver transplantation. The histopathologically confirmed hepatocellular carcinomas in the explanted livers were compared with pretransplantation CT results by one-to-one correlation. RESULTS: Histopathologic examination of the explanted livers revealed 72 hepatocellular carcinomas in 41 patients. The size of the hepatocellular carcinomas was 0.5-14.0 cm (mean, 1.6 cm). The use of helical dynamic CT enabled the detection of 38 of 72 hepatocellular carcinomas (sensitivity, 53%). Fifteen of 35 (43%) hepatocellular carcinomas smaller than 2 cm and 23 of 37 (62%), hepatocellular carcinomas ranging from 2.0 cm to 14.0 cm were detected. Patient sensitivity and specificity in the detection of hepatocellular carcinoma were 81% (33/41) and 94% (34/36), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Three-phase helical dynamic CT is insensitive for detection of hepatocellular carcinomas in patients with advanced liver cirrhosis, especially for hepatocellular carcinomas smaller than 2 cm.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/complications/pathology/*radiography/surgery ; Female ; Human ; Liver/*pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis/*complications ; Liver Neoplasms/complications/pathology/*radiography/surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; *Tomography, Spiral Computed

OBJECTIVE: 1) To evaluate the mid-term efficacy and safety of a permanent nitinol inferior vena cava (IVC) filter; 2) to evaluate filter effectiveness, filter stability and caval occlusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective evaluation of the TrapEase IVC filter was performed on 42 patients (eight men, 34 women) ranging in age from 22 to 78 years (mean age 66 years). All patients were ill with a high risk of pulmonary embolism (PE). Indications for filter placement were: 1) deep vein thrombosis with recurrent thromboembolism; 2) and/or free-floating thrombus with contraindication to anticoagulation; and 3) complications in achieving adequate anticoagulation. Follow-up evaluations (mean: 15.4 months, range: 2 to 28 months) were performed at 6- and 12-month intervals after the procedure and included clinical histories, chart reviews, plain film, Doppler ultrasounds, and contrasted abdominal CT scans. RESULTS: In follow-up evaluations, the data analysis revealed no cases of symptomatic PE. There were no cases of filter migration, insertion site thrombosis, filter fracture, or vessel wall perforation. During the study, there was one case of filter thrombosis; early symptomatic thrombosis that was successfully treated in the hospital. Of the 42 subjects, eight died. These deaths were not related to the filter device or the implantation procedure, but to the underlying disease. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that the TrapEase permanent IVC filter is a safe and an effective device with low complication rates and is best used in patients with thromboembolic disease with a high risk of PE.
Adult ; Aged ; *Alloys ; Equipment Design ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Pulmonary Embolism/*prevention & control ; Safety ; Thromboembolism/complications ; Treatment Outcome ; *Vena Cava Filters ; Vena Cava, Inferior ; Venous Thrombosis/*complications

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The requirement for neurology liaison is increasing in accordance with the growing health care demands associated with aging populations. The aim of this study was to characterize the nature of neurological inpatient liaisons (NILs) to help plan for the appropriate use of neurology resources. METHODS: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study of NILs in a secondary referral hospital over a 12-month period. RESULTS: There were 853 neurological consultations with a liaison rate of 3% per admission case. Chest medicine, gastroenterology, and infectious disease were the three most frequent specialties requesting liaison, and altered consciousness, seizure, and stroke were the three most frequent disorders for which a NIL was requested. Infection was the most common cause of altered consciousness. Epilepsy, infection, and previous stroke were common causes of seizure disorders. Acute stroke accounted for 44% of all stroke disorders. Electroencephalography was the most recommended study, and was also the most frequently performed. Ninety-five percent of emergency consultations were completed within 2 hours, and 85% of regular consultations were completed within 24 hours. The consult-to-visit times for emergency and regular consultations were 44+/-47 minutes (mean+/-standard deviation) and 730+/-768 minutes, respectively, and were shorter for regular consultations at intensive care units (p=0.0151) and for seizure and stroke disorders (p=0.0032). CONCLUSIONS: Altered consciousness, seizure, and stroke were the most common reasons for NILs. Half of the patients had acute neurological diseases warranting immediate diagnosis and treatment by the consulting neurologists. Balancing increasing neurologist workloads and appropriate health-care resources remains a challenge.
Aging ; Communicable Diseases ; Consciousness ; Cross-Sectional Studies* ; Delivery of Health Care ; Diagnosis ; Electroencephalography ; Emergencies ; Epilepsy ; Gastroenterology ; Humans ; Inpatients* ; Intensive Care Units ; Nervous System Diseases* ; Neurology ; Referral and Consultation ; Retrospective Studies* ; Secondary Care Centers* ; Seizures ; Stroke ; Taiwan* ; Thorax

OBJECTIVE: We wanted to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of the percutaneous balloon dilatation and large profile catheter maintenance method for the management of patients with anastomotic biliary strictures following liver transplant. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From May 1999 to June 2003, 12 patients with symptomatic benign biliary stricture complicated by liver transplantation were treated with the percutaneous balloon dilatation and large profile catheter maintenance method (1-6 months). The patients were eight males and four females, and their ages ranged from 20 to 62 years (mean age: 44 years). Ten patients underwent living donor liver transplantation and two underwent cadaveric liver transplantation. Postoperative biliary strictures occurred from two to 21 months (mean age: 18 months) after liver transplantation. RESULTS: The initial technical success rate was 92%. Patency of the bile duct was preserved for eight to 40 months (mean period: 19 months) in 10 of 12 (84%) patients. When reviewing two patients (17%), secondary balloon dilatations were needed for treating the delayed recurrence of biliary stricture. In one patient, no recurrent stenosis was seen during the further 10 months follow-up after secondary balloon dilatation. Another patient did not response to secondary balloon dilatation, and he was treated by surgery. Eleven of 12 patients (92%) showed good biliary patency for 8-40 months (mean period: 19 months) of follow-up. CONCLUSION: The percutaneous balloon dilatation and large profile catheter maintenance method is an effective therapeutic alternative for the treatment of most biliary strictures that complicate liver transplantation. It has a high success rate and it should be considered before surgery.
Treatment Outcome ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Liver Transplantation/*adverse effects ; Humans ; Hepatic Artery/ultrasonography ; Female ; Constriction, Pathologic/etiology/therapy ; Cholangiography ; Bile Duct Diseases/etiology/*therapy ; Balloon Dilatation/*methods ; Adult

OBJECTIVE: To determine the value of selective intra-arterial calcium stimulation with hepatic venous sampling using serum insulin and C-peptide gradients for the preoperative localization of insulinomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven consecutive patients [three men and four women aged 15-77 (mean, 42.7) years] with hypoglycemia underwent selective intra-arterial calcium stimulation in conjunction with hepatic venous sampling. Insulin gradients were calculated by an individual blinded to all other preoperative imaging studies and operative findings. In all patients except one, C-peptide gradients were also analyzed. The results were compared with the preoperative findings of ultrasonography, computed tomography, arteriography and endoscopic ultrasonography, as well as with the intraoperative findings of ultrasonography and palpation at surgery. RESULTS: Eight insulinomas (mean diameter, 12.5 mm) were diagnosed after surgery. In six patients, the calcium stimulation test with insulin gradients allowed accurate localization of the pathologic source of insulin secretion. Both C-peptide and insulin gradients substantially increased diagnostic accuracy. In one patient, C-peptide gradients were more helpful than insulin gradients for tumor localization. CONCLUSION: Selective intra-arterial calcium stimulation with hepatic venous sampling is a highly accurate and safe method for the preoperative localization of insulinomas. Additional C-peptide gradients seem to be helpful in assessing tumor location, but further study is needed.

PURPOSE: To assess the effectiveness of ethanol embolization for the treatment of arteriovenous malformation (AVM), and the complications, if any, arising. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-three patients with AVMs underwent 145 staged sessions of ethanol embolization. AVMs were located in an upper extremity (n=14), a lower extremity (n=10), the pelvis (n=7), the thorax (n=1), or the abdomen (n=1). Eighty-five transcatheter embolizations and 60 direct percutaneous puncture embolizations were performed, and seven patients underwent additional coil embolization of the dilated outflow vein. The therapeutic effectiveness of embolization was evaluated in terms of the extent to which an AVM was obliterated between baseline and the final angiogram. Complications were classified as minor or major. RESULTS: In 13 patients (39%), AVMs were totally obliterated. In eitht patients (24%), more than 75% were obliterated; in three (9%), the proportion was 50-75%; and in four (12%), less than 50%. Five patients (15%), were not treated. The reasons for failure were the difficulty of approaching the nidus due to previous surgical ligation or coil embolization of the feeding artery, the subcutaneous location of an AVM, post-procedural infection, and massive bleeding during the follow-up period. Twenty-one minor complications such as focal skin necrosis or transient nerve palsy developed during 145 sessions of (an incidence of 14%), but these were relieved by conservative treatment. The five major complications arising (3%) were cerebral infarction, urinary tract infection, acute renal failure due to rhabdomyolysis, permanent median nerve palsy, and infection. CONCLUSION: Ethanol embolization by direct percutaneous puncture or using a transcatheter technique is an effective approach to the treatment of an AVM. However, to overcome the considerable number of complications arising, further investigation is required.
Abdomen ; Acute Kidney Injury ; Arteries ; Arteriovenous Malformations* ; Cerebral Infarction ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Ethanol* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Ligation ; Lower Extremity ; Median Nerve ; Necrosis ; Paralysis ; Pelvis ; Punctures ; Rhabdomyolysis ; Skin ; Thorax ; Upper Extremity ; Urinary Tract Infections ; Veins