A global increase in the incidence of tuberculosis has prompted the need for earlier diagnosis, treatment, and isolation of the disease. In tuberculosis, concomitant tuberculous meningitis and vascular complications such as intracranial aneurysms and subarachnoid hemorrhage are very rare. Because of the poor prognosis of tuberculous meningitis as well as intracranial aneurysm and subarachnoid hemorrhage, early diagnosis and management are crucial. We present the case of a 76-year-old woman who had two intracranial aneurysms complicated by subarachnoid hemorrhage, who had concomitant tuberculous meningitis. She remained well with medical management.

No Abstract Available.
Case-Control Studies*

PURPOSE: To report a rare case of lymphocytic hypophysitis in a 31-year-old woman who presented with gradually progressive bilateral visual loss during the third trimester of pregnancy. METHODS: Ophthalmologic examination revealed best corrected visual acuity of 0.02 OD and counting fingers at 20 cm OS. Pupil examination revealed no relative afferent pupillary defect in either eye and intraocular pressure was normal in both eyes. A visual field test revealed nearly total visual defect sparing superotemporal area OD and total defect OS. An MRI of the head was performed. RESULTS: At the time of transsphenoidal surgery following the patient's delivery, a frozen biopsy of the lesion revealed diffuse lymphocytic infilteration and fibrosis of the pituitary gland consistent with the diagnosis of lymphocytic hypophysitis. Postoperatively the patient was treated for hypopituitarism. At 5 weeks postoperative, her best corrected visual acuity was 1.0 OU, and visual field defects resolved in both eyes. On follow-up by telephone for postoperative 7 months, the patient remained visually asymptomatic. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical presentation of lymphocytic hypophysitis may mimic pituitary adenoma, lymphoma, germinoma, and histiocytosis. The diagnosis should be suspected in any pregnant or postpartum patient with an intrasellar or suprasellar mass.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Fingers ; Follow-Up Studies ; Germinoma ; Head ; Histiocytosis ; Humans ; Hypopituitarism ; Intraocular Pressure ; Lymphoma ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Pituitary Gland ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Pregnancy* ; Pupil ; Pupil Disorders ; Telephone ; Visual Acuity ; Visual Field Tests ; Visual Fields

Although a number of remedies like corticosteroids, retinoids, griseofulvin, PUVA, cyclosporine, antibiotics, dapsone, cyclophosphamide, surgery, methotrexate, radiation therapy, antimalarial drugs, psychotharapy and psychiatric medications have been used to treat lichen planus, there were no specific methods until now. We report herein an interesting case of lichen planus in which complete healing was achieved by griseofulvin administration. The patient was a 54-year-old male who for 3 months had variouly sized and shaped, flat-topped, scaly, violaceous papules and plaques on the whole of his body. We confirmed the patients disease as lichen planus by a histopathologic examination of a skin biopsy specimen and gave him 500mg ultramicronized griseofulvin daily in divided dosages. After 12 weeks of the medication nearly all of the skin lesions were regressed, and by 14 weeks all skin lesions had disappeared leaving hyperpigmentation. Up to now, l9 months after discontinuation of the medication, no recurrence of the disease has been noted.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Antimalarials ; Biopsy ; Cyclophosphamide ; Cyclosporine ; Dapsone ; Griseofulvin* ; Humans ; Hyperpigmentation ; Lichen Planus* ; Lichens* ; Male ; Methotrexate ; Middle Aged ; Recurrence ; Retinoids ; Skin

Recently, due to the evolution of technology, the field of neurosurgery is receiving spotlight. In particular endovascular neurosurgery has gained a great interest along with the advancement of the modern neurosurgery. The most remarkable advances were made in embolization of the cerebral aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations and intracranial stenosis during the past 10 years. These advances will further change the role of neurosurgeons in treating cerebrovascular disease. Because interventional neuroradiologists have performed most of procedures in the past, neurosurgeons have been deprived of chances to learn endovascular procedure. This article discusses the development of technological aspect of endovascular neurosurgery in chronological order. By understanding the history and current status of the endovascular surgery, the future of neurosurgery will be promising.
Aneurysm ; Arteriovenous Malformations ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Endovascular Procedures ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Neurosurgery

To investigate the effects of prostaglandin E1(PGX1) in prevention of proliferative scar formation, we cultured fibroblasts of normal skin (NS), hypertrophic scar (HS) and keloid (KL) tissues obtained from patients. We have compared type I collagenase production of cultured fibroblasts from normal skin, hypertrophic scar, and keloid tissues under various concentrations of PGE1. Our results demonstrate that type I collagenase production was significantly increased after addition of PGE1 in HS and KL, but not NS. Type I collagenase production of HS and KL fibroblasts were increased similarly in 10M and 10M of PGE1 and maximally increased in the concentration of 10M. This promotive effects of PGE1 on the production of type I collagenase was larger in KL than in HS. These results also suggest that PGE1 may play the promotive effects on type I collagenase production in dose-dependent manner. PGE1 may have a role in the prevention of hypertrophic scar and keloid by enhancing the production of type I collagenase of HS and KL fibroblasts. The promotive effects of PGE1 on type I collagenase production was variable depending on its concentration, and its effects was maximum in certain optimal condition. The maximally effective concentration of PGE1 in the prevention of proliferative scar formation should be searched in further investigations for clinical use.
Alprostadil ; Cicatrix ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic* ; Collagenases* ; Fibroblasts* ; Humans ; Keloid* ; RNA, Messenger* ; Skin

PURPOSE: To report a primary surgical repair of a severe corneal laceration, a lens prolapse and a traumatic aniridia by blunt trauma in Terrien's marginal degeneration. METHODS: A 46-year-old female visited our hospital for corneal laceration due to a blunt trauma of the right eye. A primary corneal suture was done and 8 days later, amniotic membrane transplantation was performed. RESULTS: The perforated eyeball regained its integrity with a stabilized cornea. Also, the anterior chamber was reformed and visual acuity improved. CONCLUSIONS: In the first case of Terrien's marginal degeneration in the right eye, which had a 360-degree iridodialysis(aniridia) with aphakia due to blunt traumatic separation of the iris root from the ciliary body. We achived a good operative result with primary corneal suture and amniotic membrane transplantation.
Amnion ; Aniridia ; Anterior Chamber ; Aphakia ; Ciliary Body ; Cornea ; Female ; Humans ; Iris ; Lacerations ; Middle Aged ; Prolapse ; Rupture* ; Sutures ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: To investigte the extrusion rate of punctal plugs and to evaluate their long-term effectiveness related to punctal occlusion. METHODS: The subjects were 120 eyes of 60 patients with tear-deficient dry eye who underwent punctal occlusion using a silicone punctal plug from May 2003 to Jun 2004. They were followed up for 382.3+/-164.3 days. We studied the extrusion rate and the period of extrusion for each plug and examined the differences between the objective and subjective indicators of dry eye syndrome before and after plug insertion and between extruded and non-extruded punctal plugs. RESULTS: In this study, 25.8% of all plugs were extruded during the follow-up period. The majority of plugs (41.9%) were extruded within 100 days after plug insertion. As objective indicators, results of Schirmer test and BUT were significantly increased after plug insertion. As subjective indicators, the patients' clinical symptoms significantly improved. Patient use of artificial tear drops significantly decreased and was discontinued by 70.8% after plug insertion. There were however no significant differences between the extrusion group and the non-extrusion group in each case. CONCLUSIONS: Punctal plug occlusion therapy for tear-deficient dry eye is effective, but the extrusion rate is relatively high. Regardless of punctal plug extrusion, patients experienced a symptomatic improvement. Serious consideration of this fact may greatly aid in making therapeutic adaptations and maintaining a good relationship.
Dry Eye Syndromes* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Silicones ; Tears

Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are congenital anomalies of the cerebrovascular system. AVM harbors 2.2% annual hemorrhage risk in unruptured cases and 4.5% annual hemorrhage risk of previously ruptured cases. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) have been shown excellent treatment outcomes for patients with small- to moderated sized AVM which can be achieved in 80–90% complete obliteration rate with a 2–3 years latency period. The most important factors are associated with obliteration after SRS is the radiation dose to the AVM. In our institutional clinical practice, now 22 Gy (50% isodose line) dose of radiation has been used for treatment of cerebral AVM in single-session radiosurgery. However, dose-volume relationship can be unfavorable for large AVMs when treated in a single-session radiosurgery, resulting high complication rates for effective dose. Thus, various strategies should be considered to treat large AVM. The role of pre-SRS embolization is permanent volume reduction of the nidus and treat high-risk lesion such as AVM-related aneurysm and high-flow arteriovenous shunt. Various staging technique of radiosurgery including volume-staged radiosurgery, hypofractionated radiotherapy and dose-staged radiosurgery are possible option for large AVM. The incidence of post-radiosurgery complication is varied, the incidence rate of radiological post-radiosurgical complication has been reported 30–40% and symptomatic complication rate was reported from 8.1% to 11.8%. In the future, novel therapy which incorporate endovascular treatment using liquid embolic material and new radiosurgical technique such as gene or cytokine-targeted radio-sensitization should be needed.

STUDY DESIGN: Clinical and radiographic results of spine fracutre treated with pedicle screws and hooks were reviewed. OBJECTIVES: Evaluate the efficacy of tile pedicle screw and hook for thoracolumar bursting fracture. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Despite of the mechanical advantage of the pedicle screw, the metal failure in short segment fusion has been reported. A biomechanical study showed additional laminar hook increased rotational strength. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 1994 and 1996, seventeen patients who had a Denis type B bursting fracture of the thoracolumbar spine were treated by posterior instrumentation with pedicle screws and laminar hooks and auterior interbody fusion after partial corpectomy. They have been followed for an average of 13.4 months. RESULTS: At last follow-up, radiographs showed successful fusion of the injured spinal segment in all patient. The subsidence of grafts which were used In anterior interbody fusion was an average of 0.76mm. There was a loss of 2.6 degrees on average in the correction of the kyphosis. No patients had screw breakage or loosening. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that posterior fixation with screws and hooks, anterior decompression by partial corpectomy, and strut-grafting in patient who had a Denis type B bursting frafture of the thoracolumbar spine yielded good radiographic and functional results.
Decompression ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Kyphosis ; Spine* ; Transplants