Mechanochemical ablation (MOCA) is a non-thermal, non-tumescent technique for the treatment of incompetent saphenous vein. It is sometimes difficult to maintain consistency when simultaneously implementing wire rotation, sclerosant injection, and wire pullback. Here, we report a simple technique for achieving constant injection during MOCA with the help of a syringe pump; thus, the operator can focus on wire pullback only with convenience and consistency.

Primary cutaneous plasmacytoma is a rare cutaneous B cell lymphoma characterized by monoclonal proliferation of mature plasma cells in the skin without systemic involvement. Although a significant proportion of patients, especially with multiple lesions, went on to develop systemic disease with a poor prognosis, the abnormal clone of plasma cells may arise in the skin and never progress to multiple myeloma involving the bone marrow in a number of patients. We report a case of primary cutaneous plasmacytoma and review data published in the literature. A 19-year-old man developed multiple 0.2 to 0.5cm sized erythematous grouped papules on his posterior neck for 4 years. Histopathologic examination represented superficial and deep interstitial and nodular dense infiltration of plasma cells showing monoclonal expression of immunoglobulin lambda light chain. F-18 FDG coincidence PET(CoDe-PET) scan and serum electrophoresis were within normal limit. Any systemic disease has not developed for 6 months after diagnosis.
Bone Marrow ; Clone Cells ; Diagnosis ; Electrophoresis ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; Multiple Myeloma ; Neck ; Plasma Cells ; Plasmacytoma* ; Prognosis ; Skin ; Young Adult

Stasis dermatitis is an itchy, scaly, and hyperpigmented condition of the lower leg due to venous insufficiency. Hemosiderin and/or melanin have been considered responsible for the brown pigmentation. However, there are not sufficient histopathologic studies. In this retrospective study the hospital records and biopsy slides of 20 patients were reviewed to determine the pathogenetic mechanisms of brown pigmentation in stasis dermatitis. Fifteen were men (75%) and 5 were women (25%) with a mean age of 46.2+/-8.2 yr (18-76), mean age at onset of 43.4+/-18.0 yr (17-73), and a mean duration of the disease 2.8+/-2.5 yr (0.25-10). All patients had varicose vein and complained of pruritus. On histopathologic evaluation, two cases out of 20 (3 skin biopsy specimens from 25 samples) showed dermal melanocytes containing melanin, and incontinence of melanin pigment was observed in 5 cases, which indicates that melanin pigments from epidermis could contribute to cutaneous pigmentation in stasis dermatitis. However, the existence of dermal melanocytes in two cases cannot be explained because normally the dermis contains no melanocytes. Further studies concerning the role of iron or inflammatory cytokines on the development of dermal melanocytes should be conducted.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Dermatitis/etiology/metabolism/*pathology ; Dermis/metabolism/pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperpigmentation/etiology/metabolism/*pathology ; Leg Dermatoses/etiology/metabolism/pathology ; Male ; Melanins/metabolism ; Melanocytes/metabolism/*pathology ; Middle Aged ; Venous Insufficiency/complications

PURPOSE: There is limited data on the outcomes of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for large diameter saphenous veins. This study aimed to determine whether the large-diameter great saphenous vein (GSV) affected closure rate, complications, and clinical and quality of life (QoL) improvement. METHODS: From January 2012 to September 2016, a total of 722 limbs were treated with ClosureFAST RFA in a single center. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the vein diameter measured 3 cm below the saphenofemoral junction (group A ≤ 12 mm, group B > 12 mm). Vein closure was evaluated with duplex scan at 3–5 days, 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. The incidence of complications, improvements in symptoms (measured by the Venous Clinical Severity Score [VCSS]) and QoL (measured by the Aberdeen Varicose Vein Symptom Severity Score [AVSS]) were evaluated. RESULTS: Groups consisted of 663 GSVs in group A (mean diameter, 6.00 ± 1.74 mm) and 59 in group B (mean diameter, 13.17 ± 1.28 mm). Vein closure rates at 12 months were 98.9% in group A and 100% in group B (P = 0.428). There was no significant difference in the incidence of complications. Both groups showed marked improvements in the VCSS and the AVSS with no significant differences. CONCLUSION: For large-diameter veins, RFA showed comparable outcomes in terms of closure rate, complications, clinical and QoL improvements.
Catheter Ablation ; Extremities ; Humans ; Incidence ; Quality of Life ; Saphenous Vein ; Varicose Veins ; Veins

BACKGROUND: Tracheal complications caused by excessive mucosal pressure from an inflated endotracheal tube are major concerns during anesthesia; hence, an intracuff pressure of 20–30 cmH₂O is recommended as a clinically acceptable intracuff pressure. Diffusion of nitrous oxide (N₂O) into the endotracheal tube cuff increases the intracuff pressure, which may also be influenced by the cuff shape. Therefore, we investigated whether the intracuff pressure of a tapered cuff was different from that of a cylindrical cuff in patients undergoing general anesthesia using 60% N₂O. METHODS: Twenty-six patients who underwent general anesthesia using 60% N₂O in supine position were randomly allocated to the cylindrical cuff group (Group C) or tapered cuff group (Group T). The baseline intracuff pressure was set at 20 cmH₂O, and measured every 10 minutes for 60 minutes. RESULTS: The primary outcome was the intracuff pressure at 60 minutes after N₂O exposure, which was 40 cmH₂O in Group C (95% CI 36–44) and 40 cmH₂O (95% CI 35–45) in Group T (P = 0.895). The lower confidence limit of the intracuff pressures in both groups exceeded 30 cmH₂O at 60 minutes of N₂O exposure, which is the upper limit for clinically acceptable intracuff pressure (20–30 cmH₂O). CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference in the intracuff pressures between cylindrical and tapered cuffs. Continuous or frequent monitoring is recommended regardless of the duration of the 60% N₂O exposure because the intracuff pressure can exceed 30 cmH₂O within an hour.
Airway Management ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Clinical Study* ; Diffusion ; Humans ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Nitrous Oxide* ; Supine Position

PURPOSE: Pseudoaneurysms after percutaneous vascular access are common and potentially fatal if left untreated. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and risk factors associated with access site pseudoaneurysms after endovascular intervention for peripheral arterial disease (PAD) under a routine postintervention ultrasound (US) surveillance protocol. METHODS: A total of 254 PAD interventions were performed in a single center between January 2015 and November 2016, and puncture site duplex US surveillance was routinely performed within 48 hours of the procedure. Clinical, procedural and follow-up US data were analyzed. RESULTS: The overall incidence of pseudoaneurysm was 2.75% (6 cases in the femoral artery and 1 in the brachial artery). There was no difference between retrograde and antegrade approach, but there was a higher rate of pseudoaneurysm formation after manual compression compared to arterial closure device (ACD) use (4.3% vs. 0.87%). Manual compression was more commonly used for antegrade punctures (79.0%) and ACD for retrograde punctures (67.7%). Calcification was more frequently found in antegrade approach cases (46.8% vs. 16.9% for retrograde cases) and manual compression was preferred in its presence. All pseudoaneurysms were treated successfully at the time of diagnosis by US-guided compression repair and there were no cases of rupture. CONCLUSION: Pseudoaneurysm rates after therapeutic endovascular intervention for PAD were comparable to other cardiologic or interventional radiologic procedures despite the higher possibility of having a diseased access vessel. Routine US surveillance of access sites allowed for early diagnosis and noninvasive treatment of pseudoaneurysms, preventing potentially fatal complications.
Aneurysm, False ; Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Endovascular Procedures ; Femoral Artery ; Follow-Up Studies ; Incidence ; Peripheral Arterial Disease ; Punctures ; Risk Factors ; Rupture ; Ultrasonography ; Vascular Closure Devices

Intramuscular hemangiomas of the masseter muscle are uncommon tumors and therefore can be difficult to accurately diagnose preoperatively, due to the unfamiliar presentation and deep location in the lateral face. A case of intramuscular hemangioma of the masseter muscle in a 66-yearold woman is presented. Doppler ultrasonography showed a 34× 15 mm hypoechoic and hypervascular soft tissue mass in the left masseter muscle, suggesting hemangioma. The mass was excised via a lateral cervical incision near the posterior border of the mandibular ramus. The surgical wound healed well without complications.

Intramuscular hemangiomas of the masseter muscle are uncommon tumors and therefore can be difficult to accurately diagnose preoperatively, due to the unfamiliar presentation and deep location in the lateral face. A case of intramuscular hemangioma of the masseter muscle in a 66-yearold woman is presented. Doppler ultrasonography showed a 34× 15 mm hypoechoic and hypervascular soft tissue mass in the left masseter muscle, suggesting hemangioma. The mass was excised via a lateral cervical incision near the posterior border of the mandibular ramus. The surgical wound healed well without complications.

Human dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) are multi-potent mesenchymal stem cells that have several differentiation potentials. An understanding of the tissues that differentiate from these cells can provide insights for future regenerative therapeutics and tissue engineering strategies. The mesiodens is the most frequent form of supernumerary tooth from which DPSCs can differentiate into several lineages similar to cells from normal deciduous teeth. Recently, it has been shown that nanoscale structures can affect stem cell differentiation. In our presentstudy, we investigated the effects of a 250-nm nanoscale ridge/groove pattern array on the osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation of dental pulp cells from mesiodenscontaining human DPSCs. To this end, the expression of lineage specific markers after differentiation induction was analyzed by lineage specific staining and RT-PCR. The nanoscale pattern arrayed surface showed apositive effect on the adipogenic differentiation of DPSCs. There was no difference between nanoscale pattern arrayed surface and conventional surface groups onosteogenic differentiation. In conclusion, the nanoscale ridge/groove pattern arrayed surface can be used to enhance the adipogenic differentiation of DPSCs derived from mesiodens. This finding provides an improved understanding of the effects of topography on cell differentiation as well as the potential use of supernumerary tooth in regenerative dental medicine.
Cell Differentiation ; Dental Pulp ; Humans* ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Stem Cells ; Tissue Engineering ; Tooth, Deciduous ; Tooth, Supernumerary*