Lobular capillary hemangioma (LCH) in the nasal cavity, previously known as pyogenic granuloma, is an extremely rare benign vascular tumor in infants. LCH is a rapidly growing lesion that has a bleeding tendency due to its excessive vascularity. The authors experienced a case of LCH of the nasal cavity in a 2-month-old infant that was totally resected via the endoscopic approach after preoperative embolization. Therefore, we report this case with a brief review of the literature.
Embolization, Therapeutic ; Granuloma, Pyogenic* ; Hemangioma ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Infant* ; Nasal Cavity ; Nasal Surgical Procedures

Carcinosarcoma is a rare malignant tumor composed of a mixture of neoplastic epithelial and mesenchymal elements, which has been reported in many organ systems, but its occurrence is very rare in the skin. An 81-year-old female patient presented with aml-year-history of a painful exophytic mass on the tip of the middle finger of the right hand involving the distal part of the nail bed. The mass was 1 × 1 × 0.6 cm in size, hard, flesh colored, ulcerated and easily bleeding. Microscopically, the epidermis at the margin of the tumor showed the characteristic findings of squamous cell carcinoma and the carcinomatous component was mixed with malignant mesenchymal components focally differentiating into chondrosarcoma. This combination of squamous cell carcinoma and chondrosarcoma has not been reported yet in the skin. She had a distal interphalanx amputation and no recurrence appeared for 1 year on follow-up.
Aged, 80 and over ; Amputation ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Carcinosarcoma ; Chondrosarcoma* ; Epidermis ; Epithelial Cells* ; Female ; Fingers ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hand ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Recurrence ; Skin* ; Ulcer

A variety of clinical conditions are known to result in a giant T wave and a marked QT prolongation. We report a case of a giant T wave and a QT prolongation after the resolution of an acute cardiogenic but nonischemic pulmonary edema.
Heart Failure ; Pulmonary Edema*

OBJECTIVES: To examine the effect of extracts of Korean native Cimicifuge species on cell proliferation in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). METHODS: VSMC were isolated from rat aorta. Cell proliferation was assessed by measure of bromodeoxyuridine incorporation into the cells. Differences in Reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were examined after exposure to the extracts of Korean native Cimicifuge species using the detection reagents dichlorofluorecin diacetate. The rhizomes/roots were air-dried and milled with a commercial food mixer. Milled rhizomes/roots of each Cimicifuga species were separately extracted by 80% ethanol, absolute methanol, and 40% 2-propanol using homogenizer and evaporated under reduced pressure at low temperatures. Effects of extracts dissolved in phosphate-buffered saline (0.3 mg/mL) were examined. RESULTS: Ethanolic, methanolic or propanolic extracts of 4 Korean native Cimicifuge species (Cimicifuga [C] davurica, C. japonica, C. heracleifolia var. bifida Nakai, C. simplex) were screened. The addition of extracts of each Korean native Cimicifuge species to cells in the presence of 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) potently inhibited cell proliferation. Significant decrease of 23%-30% was observed. Vitamin E, a potent antioxidant, inhibited 10% FBS-stimulated cell proliferation of VSMC. We also demonstrated that extracts of each Korean native Cimicifuge species decreased intracellular ROS generation induced with 10% FBS. The effect of Korean native Cimicifuge species was not species-specific and solvent-specific. CONCLUSION: TExtracts of Korean native Cimicifuge species inhibit VSMC proliferation via inhibition of intracellular ROS. These findings suggest that Cimicifuge species used for reducing menopause symptoms might be cardioprotective in women.
1-Propanol ; 2-Propanol ; Animals ; Aorta ; Bromodeoxyuridine ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cell Proliferation ; Cimicifuga ; Estrogens ; Ethanol ; Female ; Humans ; Indicators and Reagents ; Menopause ; Methanol ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; Rats ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Vitamin E ; Vitamins

From October 2005 to August 2006, sympathetic nerve reconstruction with using the intercostal nerve was performed in 4 patients with severe compensatory hyperhidrosis following thoracoscopic sympathetic surgery for facial hyperhidrosis. The interval between the initial sympathetic clipping and the sympathetic nerve reconstruction was a median of 23.1 months. The compensatory sweating after sympathetic nerve reconstruction was improved for 2 patients, but it was not improved for 2 patients. Thoracoscopic sympathetic nerve reconstruction may be one of the useful treatment methods for the patients with severe compensatory hyperhidrosis after they under go sympathetic nerve surgery for hyperhidrosis.
Humans ; Hyperhidrosis ; Intercostal Nerves ; Sweat ; Sweating ; Thoracoscopy ; Transplants

Among the treatment options for BRCA mutation carriers, risk reducing surgery is the most effective. However, this procedure has been rarely performed in Korea. Interestingly, our case showed double heterozygosity for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations. The patient was diagnosed with left renal cancer and left breast cancer at 45-years-of-age, 4 years before risk reducing surgery. The patient received left radical nephrectomy and left partial mastectomy with axillary lymph node dissection. After pretest counseling, the patient underwent genetic testing that identified BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations. After post-test counseling, the patient decided on intensive surveillance. At 49-years-of-age, the patient was newly diagnosed with contralateral breast cancer. Treatment options were discussed once again. We performed bilateral total mastectomy with immediate reconstruction and prophylactic bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy after multidisciplinary discussion. The patient has been satisfied with the results of surgery. We think this procedure is a recommendable treatment option for BRCA mutation carriers.
Breast Neoplasms ; Counseling ; Genes, BRCA1 ; Genes, BRCA2 ; Genetic Testing ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; Korea ; Lymph Node Excision ; Mastectomy ; Mastectomy, Segmental ; Mastectomy, Simple ; Nephrectomy

Although adriamycin (Doxorubicin) is one of the most effective and useful antineoplastic agents for the treatment of a variety of malignancies, its repeated administration can induce irreversible myocardial damage and resultant heart failure. Currently, no marker to detect early cardiac damage is available. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether an assessment of the acoustic properties of the myocardium could enable the earlier detection of myocardial damage after adriamycin chemotherapy. Forty Wistar rats were treated with adriamycin (2 mg/kg, i.v.) once a week for 2, 4, 6 or 8 weeks consecutively. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was calculated using M-mode echocardiography data. The magnitude of cardiac cycle dependent variation of integrated backscatter (CVIB) of the myocardium was measured in the mid segment of the septum and in the posterior wall of the left ventricle, using a real time two dimensional integrated backscatter imaging system. LVEF was significantly lower in the adriamycin-treated 8-week group than in the controls (75 +/- 9 vs 57 +/- 8%, p < 0.05). Myocyte damage was only seen in the 8-week adriamycin-treated group. However, no significant changes of CVIB were observed between baseline or during follow-up in the ADR or control group. In conclusion, serial assessment of the acoustic properties of the myocardium may not be an optimal tool for the early detection of myocardial damage after doxorubicin chemotherapy in a rat model.
Animals ; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic/*toxicity ; Cardiomyopathies/*chemically induced/*ultrasonography ; Disease Models, Animal ; Doxorubicin/*toxicity ; *Echocardiography ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Granulocytic sarcoma is a localized extramedullary solid tumor composed of immature myeloid cell and is usually associated with acute myeloid leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome. Although it can involve any site, commonly in lymph nodes, skin, bone and soft tissue, the involvement of breast is unusual. Especially, the involvement of the breast as a pattern of relapse after bone marrow transplantation is extremely rare. We have experienced 2 cases of granulocytic sarcoma after bone marrow transplantation. One case was a 39-year-old woman with right breast mass diagnosed with granulocytic sarcoma. She had received an unrelated bone marrow transplantation due to biphenotype acute leukemia 3 years before our presentation. Another case was a 48-year-old woman with acute myeloid leukemia, who was diagnosed with granulocytic sarcoma on both breasts 8 months after allogenic bone marrow transplantation. We also discuss the clinicopathologic features of granulocytic sarcoma in breast after bone marrow transplantation.
Bone Marrow ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; Breast ; Female ; Humans ; Leukemia ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; Lymph Nodes ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; Myeloid Cells ; Recurrence ; Sarcoma, Myeloid ; Skin

Endometriosis in the abdominal scar following cesarean section is very rare condition among the extrapelvic endometriosis. Abdominal wall endometriosis secondary to cesarean section is being reported in less than 0.5% of patients undergoing cesarean section and has a distinct presentation and treatment. Three patients with history of cesarean section presented with a painful, enlarging mass involving the cesarean section scar. The pain was cyclic and the strongest just prior to menstruation. These patients were treated with surgical excision and specimens had endometriosis confirmed by histopathology. We have experienced three cases of endometriosis in the abdominal scar following cesarean section. So, we report the cases with a brief review of the concerned literatures.
Abdominal Wall ; Cesarean Section* ; Cicatrix* ; Endometriosis* ; Female ; Humans ; Menstruation ; Pregnancy

Small bowel obstruction due to congenital band is not only rare in children, but also difficult to diagnose, because common symptoms such as vomiting and abdominal pain are observed in patients. In order to prevent a fatal result, an anomalous congenital band should be considered in the discriminative diagnosis of intestinal obstruction in children who have no previous experience of operation or intraperitoneal inflammation. This report presents a 4-year-old boy who was admitted with abdominal pain and nonbilious vomiting for a day. The initial suspicion was for acute gastroenteritis. However, after further investigation and performance of surgery, the intestinal obstruction associated with a congenital band was confirmed. No recurrence was observed during the 8-month follow-up period. Thus early confirmation based on radiologic study is a crucial factor for the diagnosis of small bowel obstruction caused by a congenital band.
Abdominal Pain ; Child ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastroenteritis ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Preschool Child ; Recurrence ; Vomiting