Truncus arteriosus is characterized by a single arterial vessel arising from the base of the heart and giving origin to the systemic, pulmonary and coronary circulation. To evaluate the incidence, types, and associated anomalies, 18cases of truncus arteriosus diagnosed by angiocardiography, were reviewed and were compared with other reports. Ten of them were confirmed by operation. The overall incidence of truncus arteriosus was 0.127%. Accordin to Collett and Edwards classification. Type I was encountered in 11cases(61%), type II in 4cases(22%), and type III in 3cases(17%), All the patients had subtruncal ventricular septal defects. Eight patients showed truncal valve regurgitation and valve stenosis was noted in one case. A right aortic arch was present in 9 cases. Associated anomalies were atrial septal defect(8cases), patent ductus arteriosus(3cases), coarctation of the aorta(2cases), isolation of the left subclavian artery(2 cases), and right aortic arch with an aberrant left subclavian artery(1case). Truncus arteriosus is an uncommon congenital cardio vascular malformation. In the group of cases which we encountered, type I was the most common anomaly. Frequently associated anomalies were right aortic arch, incompetent truncal valve and atrial septal defect.
Angiocardiography ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Classification ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Circulation ; Heart ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Truncus Arteriosus* ; Vascular Malformations

No abstract available.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Spinal Cord*

A large intrathoracic meningocele, a saccular protrusion of the meninges through a dilated intervertebral foramen or a bony defect of the vertebral column, was diagnosed in a 41-year-old female patient showing clinical features of neurofibromatosis-1 (NF-1), including cafe-au-lait spots, cutaneous neurofibromas, and axillary frecklings and Lisch nodules on the iris. Her daughter and son also had similar manifestations of NF-1. Regular follow-up with periodic imaging was recommended without surgical treatment because there were no signs or symptoms. Meningocele should be differentiated from posterior mediastinal tumors such as neurofibroma, neuroblastoma, and ganglioneuroma because NF-1 has a high risk of tumor formation. We report on this case with a brief review of the literature.
Adult ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Incidental Findings ; Meningocele/*complications/*pathology ; Neurofibromatosis 1/*complications/genetics/*pathology ; Pedigree

BACKGROUND: Although aortic valve sclerosis causes no significant hemodynamic alterations, it is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular death and myocardial infarction. However, the role of beta3 integrin in aortic valve sclerosis remains unclear. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Twenty male New Zealand rabbits were divided into two groups. Group 1 rabbits (n=10) received a normal chow diet, while group 2 (n=10) rabbits received a diet containing 1% cholesterol for 12 weeks. After the rabbits were euthanized, their aortic valves and ascending aortas were excised for analysis. RESULT: Total serum cholesterol (2,148.3+/-1,012.5 mg/dL versus 53.7+/-31.8 mg/dL, p<0.05), triglyceride (240.4+/-218.3 mg/dL versus 31.6+/-6.4 mg/dL, p<0.05), and low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol (2,065.3+/-960.9 mg/dL versus 29.1+/-30.9 mg/dL, p<0.05) levels were significantly higher in the cholesterol diet group compared with the normal diet group. Myofibroblasts and macrophages were more highly expressed in the aortic valve leaflets of rabbits in the cholesterol diet group than of those in the normal diet group. A real-time polymerase chain reaction revealed decreased beta3 integrin mRNA levels in the hypercholesterolemic aortic valves and aortas. CONCLUSION: The present study shows that hypercholesterolemia induces aortic valve sclerosis. These findings suggest that alterations in beta3 integrin may play a role in the development of aortic valve sclerosis.
Aorta ; Aortic Valve ; Atherosclerosis ; Cholesterol ; Diet ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Integrin beta3 ; Integrins ; Lipoproteins ; Macrophages ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myofibroblasts ; Rabbits ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Messenger ; Sclerosis

Actinomycosis is an indolent infectious disease characterized by pyogenic response and necrosis, followed by intense fibrosis. The main forms of human actinomycosis are cervicofacial, pulmonary, and abdominopelvic type. Pulmonary actinomycosis accounts for 15% to 20% of total cases and unfortunately, clinical manifestations and radiologic findings are nonspecific. Small pleural effusion or empyema may develop in advanced disease but massive empyema is infrequent and rarely reported. We report a case of huge empyema caused by pulmonary actinomycosis in a 55 year-old man, presented with one-month history of productive cough and fever. The CT scan revealed a huge cavity with air-fluid level occupying the left hemithorax. Empyema caused by actinomycosis was confirmed microscopically by demonstration of sulfur granules in empyema sac through thracotomy. Decortication and surgical resection of empyema sac and destructed lung was accomplished and followed by intravenous infusion of penicillin G.
Actinomycosis* ; Communicable Diseases ; Cough ; Empyema* ; Fever ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Lung ; Middle Aged ; Necrosis ; Penicillin G ; Pleural Effusion ; Sulfur ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Gefitinib is a novel drug used to treat advanced non-small cell lung cancer. However, drug-related interstitial pneumonia is a major life-threatening side effect, which has a worldwide prevalence of 0.3-0.4%. In Japan, the prevalence is high as 3-4% but the actual frequency in Korea has not been officially assessed. We report two cases of gefitinib-induced interstitial lung disease during the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. High-resolution computerized tomography (HRCT) of one case showed nonspecific ground glass opacity and the chest x-ray of another case showed diffuse bilateral ground glass opacity. The former patient showed a rapid good response to corticosteroid treatment whereas the latter died despite receiving aggressive treatment with high dose corticosteroid and empirical antibiotics.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; Glass ; Humans ; Japan ; Korea ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial* ; Prevalence ; Thorax