We reported a case of nontraumatic cerebrospinal fluid fistula who had concomittantly CSF rhinorrhea, pneumocephalus and bacterial meningitis. By metrizamide CT cisternography, we found her CSF fistula was likely to be on the right lateral wall of sphenoidal sinus. She was recovered from her symptoms by medical treatment and has been free of CSF rhinorrhea or meningitis without surgical repair of CSF fistula during recent 1 year follow up.
Cerebrospinal Fluid* ; Fistula* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Meningitis ; Meningitis, Bacterial ; Metrizamide ; Pneumocephalus

BACKGROUND: Information on the long-term fate of patients with prosthetic valve is limited. Cerebral embolism is a major cause of late morbidity and mortality in patients with prosthetic valves even though recent prostheses are less thrombogenic and anticoagulants are administered. We investigated the long-term risk of the first ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke and effect of presumed risk factors on the development of stroke in patients with prosthetic valves. METHODS: In a retrospective study, 554 patients who survived the 30-days after cardiac valve replacement between June, 1985 and May, 1995 were included. End points were attacks of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. Risk of stroke at end points was calculated according to Kaplan-Meier method. The influence of several clinical variables on these stroke events was analyzed by univariate and mutivariate analyses. RESULTS: Thirty seven of 554 patients had 42 stroke events(34 ischemic stroke, 8 hemorrhagic stroke) during follow-up periods(mean: 52.9months). Six of these patients died from stroke. The cumulative stroke-free probability was 92.4% at 5years and 87.7% at 10years. The cumulative ischemic stroke-free probability was 93.7% at 5years and 89.4% at 10years. No or irregular use of anticoagulants was the only significant independent predictor(RR:4.99, 95%CI:2.01-12.41, p<0.01) of ischemic stroke. The cumulative hemorrhagic stroke-free probability was 98.7% at 5years and 98.1% at 10years. CONCLUSION: Regardless of the type of prostheses, patients with prosthetic valves, notably those without anticoagulants, are at high risk for ischemic stroke.
Anticoagulants ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Valves ; Humans ; Intracranial Embolism ; Mortality ; Prostheses and Implants ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Stroke* ; Thromboembolism

No abstract available.
Fractures, Compression* ; Vertebroplasty*

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis forms part of a spectrum of diseases that are characterized by a monoclonal proliferation and infiltration of organs by Langerhans cells. Several organ systems may be involved in Langerhans cell histiocytosis, including the lungs, bone, skin, pituitary gland, liver, lymph nodes and thyroid. Pulmonary histiocytosis X represents 2.8% of interstitial lung disease. Here we present the clinical, radiological, therapeutic aspects of pulmonary histiocytosis X. METHOD: Fourteen cases of biopsy-proven pulmonary histiocytosis X patients who were diagnosed in Seoul National University Hospital during the period from January 1990 to December 1998 were analyzed retrospectively. RESULT: There were 12 men and 2 women in this study. The initial presenting symptoms were dyspnea, cough, chest pain, which was associated with the pneumothorax, and chest radiography abnormalities. Only 8 patients (57%) were smokers. There were 5 patients with extra-pulmonary histiocytosis (pituitary, bone, skin). Eight patients had received the chemotherapy. There were no mortalities and only one patient experienced an aggravation of symptom during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: In contrast to previous reports from other countries, the patients with pulmonary histiocytosis X in this study presented with several different clinical characteristics, such as a male predominance, relatively low smoker's rate, and a better prognosis.
Chest Pain ; Cough ; Drug Therapy ; Dyspnea ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Histiocytosis ; Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell* ; Humans ; Langerhans Cells ; Liver ; Lung ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Mortality ; Pituitary Gland ; Pneumothorax ; Prognosis ; Radiography ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul ; Skin ; Thorax ; Thyroid Gland

BACKGROUND: Minimum effective anesthetic concentration (MEAC) of local anesthetics for spinal anesthesia, defined as the concentration at which a spinal anesthetic agent produces surgical anesthesia within 20 minutes of administration in 50% of patients. This concept is similar to the concept of minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) for inhalation anesthetic. Furthermore, as MEAC may vary with the administered dose, it will be determined using 10 mg of hyperbaric tetracaine. METHODS: 10 mg hyperbaric tetracaine containing dextrose 10 % was administered intrathecally to 12 patients (ASA I-II, age 20~40 yr), who were undergoing lower limb or urological procedures within 90 minutes, at concentrations ranging from 0.07~0.1%. The choice of tetracaine concentration was determined by Dixon's up-and-down method. Complete anesthesia was defined as: (1) pinprick anesthesia at or higher than T10 and (2) complete leg paralysis; all occurring in both lower extremities within 20 min. General anesthesia was initiated if spinal anesthesia was incomplete. RESULTS: MEAC of 10 mg hyperbaric tetracaine was 0.083 %. Mean anesthetic duration was 75.2 minutes (range: 40~100 min). The maximum sensory block level ranged from T3~T8. CONCLUSION: The aim of this study was to establish new concept of minimum effective anesthetic concentration of hyperbaric tetracaine for spinal anesthesia. We recognized that spinal anesthesia can be accomplished with very dilute solution. As fixed dose, no correlation was found between concentration of the spinal tetracaine solution with the highest sensory level, anesthetic duration and the degree of mean arterial pressure decreased.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Anesthesia, Spinal* ; Anesthetics, Local ; Arterial Pressure ; Glucose ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Leg ; Lower Extremity ; Paralysis ; Tetracaine*

BACKGROUND: Minimum effective anesthetic concentration (MEAC) of local anesthetics for spinal anesthesia, defined as the concentration at which a spinal anesthetic agent produces surgical anesthesia within 20 minutes of administration in 50% of patients. This concept is similar to the concept of minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) for inhalation anesthetic. Furthermore, as MEAC may vary with the administered dose, it will be determined using 10 mg of hyperbaric tetracaine. METHODS: 10 mg hyperbaric tetracaine containing dextrose 10 % was administered intrathecally to 12 patients (ASA I-II, age 20~40 yr), who were undergoing lower limb or urological procedures within 90 minutes, at concentrations ranging from 0.07~0.1%. The choice of tetracaine concentration was determined by Dixon's up-and-down method. Complete anesthesia was defined as: (1) pinprick anesthesia at or higher than T10 and (2) complete leg paralysis; all occurring in both lower extremities within 20 min. General anesthesia was initiated if spinal anesthesia was incomplete. RESULTS: MEAC of 10 mg hyperbaric tetracaine was 0.083 %. Mean anesthetic duration was 75.2 minutes (range: 40~100 min). The maximum sensory block level ranged from T3~T8. CONCLUSION: The aim of this study was to establish new concept of minimum effective anesthetic concentration of hyperbaric tetracaine for spinal anesthesia. We recognized that spinal anesthesia can be accomplished with very dilute solution. As fixed dose, no correlation was found between concentration of the spinal tetracaine solution with the highest sensory level, anesthetic duration and the degree of mean arterial pressure decreased.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Anesthesia, Spinal* ; Anesthetics, Local ; Arterial Pressure ; Glucose ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Leg ; Lower Extremity ; Paralysis ; Tetracaine*

We report a rare case of adenoid basal carcinoma in uterine cervix. The patient was a 43-year-old Korean female. She received neoadjuvant chemotherapy with Quick Cis-VP16 (cisplatin and VP16 with 7-10 days interval), three times and radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymph nodes dissection under the diagnosis of cervical cancer stage IIa. After the neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the mass size was 3 x 2.5 Cm and which was protruded in exocervical region. Microscopically, scattered small nests of uniformed small cells with dark nuclei and scant cytoplasm were observed. Peripheral palisading as well as the formation of gland-like or acinar structures were noted. There were also foci of squamous differentiation in same portion of the small nests. The epithelial surface in other portions showed squamous cell carcinoma, large cell non-keratinizing cell type. Distribution between adenoid basal carcinoma of the cervix and other disease, such as adenoid cystic carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma with basaloid features, is important for clinical management because the clinical behavior of adenoid basal carcinoma is less malignant than adenoid cystic carcinoma.
Adenoids* ; Adult ; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cervix Uteri* ; Cytoplasm ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Etoposide ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Lymph Nodes ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

Presumed risk factors including hypertension, hyperlipidemia, high hematocrit and high hemoglobin was retrospectively studied in 260 strokes (125 cerebral infarction, 79 Intracerebral hemorrhage, 56 subarachnoid hemorrhage) and 266 age and sex matched neurological inpatients controls from 1985 Mar. to 1988 Feb. in Keiymung University Dongsan Hospital. The frequency of hypertension is significantly higher in patients of intracerebral hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage but not significantly higher in patients of cerebral infarction. The level of serum total lipids, beta-lipoproteins and total cholesterols is significantly higher in patients of cerebral infarction but the level of serum triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol and the ratio of total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol is not correlated with cerebral infarction. The level of hematocrit and hemogiobin is significantly higher in patients of cerebral infarction and subarachnoid hemorrhage. These results suggest hypertension, hyperlipidemia, high hematocrit and high hemoglobin may be risk factors of stroke in Korea as well as in Western countries.
Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Cerebral Infarction ; Cholesterol ; Hematocrit ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; Hypertension ; Inpatients ; Korea ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors* ; Stroke* ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; Triglycerides

A Case of pigmented choroid plexus carcinoma is reported. The patient was a 35-year-old woman who had headache of 3-month duration, followed by ataxia for 1month before admission. Brain CT revealed a well enhanced mass at the left cerebello-pontine angle area as well as hydrocephalus. Subtotal removal of the tumor was performed via suboccipital craniectomy under the impression of meningioma because there was a mass only in the extraventricular area. The tumor was diagnosed by light microscopic examination. Pigmented choroid plexus carcinoma, which has been reported as low grade malignancy, is very rare and located always in the ventricles. In the case the tumor was subtotally removed and ventriculo-peritoneal shunt surgery and radiation therapy underwent later. The patient has been followed-up without recurrence for 1 year postoperatively.
Adult ; Ataxia ; Brain ; Choroid Plexus Neoplasms* ; Choroid Plexus* ; Choroid* ; Female ; Headache ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Meningioma ; Recurrence ; Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt

OBJECTIVES: To learn which inhibition of nitric oxide synthase with L-nitro arginine methylester(L-NAME) induces a preeclampsia-like syndrome in pregnant rabbits and high dose of L-arginine reverse the adverse changes induced by nitric oxide synthesis inhibition in pregnant rabbits. MTERIAL AND METHOD: Twenty Newzealand rabbits with 22-days of gestation were injected subcutaneously with 400mg of L-NAME for 7days and 100mg/kg L-arginine was also given intravenously 10 of 20 L-NAME injected pregnant rabbits. They are compared with the control group in which same volume of saline was subcutaneously injected to 5 rabbits with same condition. They were anesthesized by ketamine 50 mg/kg and roupum 2 mg/kg intramuscularly. Cutdown of femoral artery was performed and 22 gauge angioneedle was inserted. On manometer,three way catheter was connected, zeroed with saline, and blood pressure was read. Blood samples were taken from the vein of ear and checked for count of blood cells and bood chemistry (BUN/Cr, GOT/GPT, LDH, Uric acid). Urine protein was measured with nelaton catheterized urine. We injected drugs for 7 days begining on 22 days after mating and performed cesarian section to deliver fetus. To observe their effects on organs, lung, liver, placenta and kidney were taken and fixed with formalin. The sliced kidney tissue in thickness of 1 mm, was fixed with glutaraldehyde for electron microscopy and stored at 4degree C. Special staining was done for closed observation of pattern changes. For statistical analysis, mean+/-SEM was used. The control and experimental groups were compared by unpaired t-test and the differences were significant if probability level is less than 0.05(<0.05). RESULT: Mean blood pressure(MAP) in the experimental group I was significantly high compared to the control group(P<0.05). There was no significant differences in MAP between experimental group II and control group. Urine Protein, BUN, Cr, GOT/GPT, LDH, platelet count in the experimental group I was significantly high(p<0.05) compared to the control group. There was no significant difference between experimental group II and control group. In light microscopic examination, lung, liver, kidney, placenta showed specific finding in experimental group I. Misconstructive of glomerulus in the experimental kidney was well preserved under EM examination. Interstitium of kidney was widened by increase of mesangial matrix. Mild effacement of foot process and cytoplasm of proximal tubule containing electron dense myelin figure like structure were observed. CONCLUSION: Long term injection of L-arginine analogue produced preeclampsia like syndrome and pathologic changes of organ system in pregnant rabbits. Concurrent high dose of L-arginine reversed such chages.
Arginine* ; Blood Cells ; Blood Pressure ; Catheters ; Chemistry ; Cytoplasm ; Ear ; Femoral Artery ; Fetus ; Foot ; Formaldehyde ; Glutaral ; Ketamine ; Kidney ; Liver ; Lung ; Microscopy, Electron ; Models, Animal* ; Myelin Sheath ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester ; Nitric Oxide Synthase* ; Nitric Oxide* ; Placenta ; Platelet Count ; Pre-Eclampsia* ; Pregnancy ; Rabbits ; Veins