Aggressive angiomyxoma is a rare neoplasm occurring in the female pelvic cavity or perineum, and tends torecur. The radiographic findings of angiomyxoma have not been previously reported in Korea ; we describe a case ofaggressive angiomyxoma in the female pelvic cavity, with emphasis on the pathologic and radiologic findings, andreview the literature.
Female* ; Humans ; Korea ; Myxoma* ; Perineum

PURPOSE: To evaluate the differential features of complete and partial-thickness tears of the anteriorcruciate ligament, as seen on magnetic resonance imaging(MRI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectvely reviewedMR images of 36 patients with ACL injuries (complete tear 16, incomplete tear 20). In all cases, the presence ofan ACL tear was determined by arthroscopy or surgery. Primary and secondary signs of ACL injury and associatedinjuries were assessed. RESULTS: Ligamentous discontinuity of the ACL was observed in ten complete tears (63 %),but in only four (10%) of those that were partial (p=0.009). In addition, complete tears were more likely to showa low degree of ACL axis, less than 45 degree(11/16 : 2/20, p=0.001). There was, however, no statistically significantdifference between complete and partial tears with regard to signal intensity of ACL, PCL buckling or angle,anterior dis-placement of the tibia, uncovered meniscus sign, deep notch sign, empty notch sign, and associatedinjuries. CONCLUSION: Ligamentous discontinuity and the ACL axis are features which usefully differentiatebetween complete and partial tears of the ACL.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament* ; Arthroscopy ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Humans ; Ligaments ; Tibia

PURPOSE: To evaluate the MR findings of septic thrombosis of the cavernous sinus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eleven MR images of six patients with septic cavernous sinus thrombosis obtained over a five-year period and proven clinically or radiologically were retrospectively reviewed. The contour and enhancement pattern of the cavernous sinus, changes in the internal carotid artery, orbit, pituitary gland and sphenoid sinus, and intracranial abnormalities were analyzed and compared with the findings of follow-up studies. RESULTS: In all six patients, contrast study revealed asymmetrical enlargement of the ipsilateral cavernous sinus and multiple irregular filling defects within it. Narrowing of the cavernous portion of the ipsilateral internal carotid artery was noted in five patients, upward displacement of the ipsilateral internal carotid artery in four, ipsilateral proptosis with engorgement of the superior ophthalmic vein in two, pituitary enlargement in five, and inflammatory change in the sphenoid sinus in six. Associated intracranial abnormalities included edema and enhancement in the meninx, temporal lobe, or pons adjacent to the cavernous sinus in four patients, hydrocephalus in one, and cerebral infarction in one. Follow-up MR imaging indicated that the extent of asymmetrical enlargement of the cavernous sinus, filling defects within it, as seen on contrast study, and enlarged pituitary glands had all decreased, without significant interval change. CONCLUSION: MR imaging is useful in the diagnosis of septic cavernous sinus thrombosis. Asymmetrical enlargement of the cavernous sinus, multiple irregular filling defect within it, as seen on contrast study, and changes in the internal carotid artery are characteristic findings.
Carotid Artery, Internal ; Cavernous Sinus Thrombosis* ; Cavernous Sinus* ; Cerebral Infarction ; Diagnosis ; Edema ; Exophthalmos ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Orbit ; Pituitary Gland ; Pons ; Retrospective Studies ; Sphenoid Sinus ; Temporal Lobe ; Thrombophlebitis ; Thrombosis ; Veins

BACKGROUND: Necrotizing fasciitis is a life threatening severe soft tissue infection primarily involving the fascia and the subcutaneous tissue with thrombosis of the cutaneous microcirculation. The purpose of the study was to analyze the microbiological and clinical characteristics of necrotizing fasciitis in Korea and to suggest adequate antibiotic therapy. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of three Soonchunhyang University Hospitals in Seoul, Bucheon and Cheonan. Patients admitted for skin graft or secondary treatment were excluded. Blood cultures were obtained at the time of admission and pus cultures were obtained at the time of first operative debridement. RESULTS: Twenty two patients (16 males, 6 females, 16~82 years old, median age: 59 years old) were enrolled for this study. Fourteen pateints underwent surgical treatment and 2 of them died of necrotizing fasciitis. Gram positive organisms were isolated in 13 cases and gram negative organisms were isolated in 11 cases. Third generation cephalosporin resistant gram negative organisms were isolated in 3 cases. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggest that characteristics of necrotizing fascitis in Korea were; high proportion of aged person, predominance of type 2 necrotizing fascitis and increasing tendency of third generation cephalosporin resistant gram negative bacterial infections. Consequently, initial choice of empirical antibiotics for necrotizing fasciitis should consider 3rd generation cephalosporin resistant gram negative organisms. Prompt surgical debridement and adequate antimicrobial therapy are mandatory for improved survival.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Cephalosporin Resistance ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Debridement ; Fascia ; Fasciitis, Necrotizing* ; Female ; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections ; Gyeonggi-do ; Hospitals, University* ; Humans ; Korea* ; Male ; Medical Records ; Microcirculation ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul ; Skin ; Soft Tissue Infections ; Subcutaneous Tissue ; Suppuration ; Thrombosis ; Transplants

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most common hereditary renal disease in adults, and its major morbidities are renal failure and cerebrovascular accident. The prevalence of this disease in the chronic haemodialysis patient population is known to be approximately 2% in Korea. So far, three genetic loci have been identified as being responsible for ADPKD, and approximately 85% of the cases in Western countries are related to the PKD1 gene. However, little information is available concerning the pattern of linkage analysis or the mutations present in Asian populations. For this study, 35 families with hereditary renal cysts were recruited from our ADPKD clinic from 1993 to the present, and their molecular genetic characteristics were studied. Subjects were chosen according to the criteria of Ravine et al. Linkage analysis was done with microsatellite markers(PKD1:SM7, UT581, AC2.5, KG8, D16S418, PKD2 : D4S423, D4S1534, D4S1542, D4S1544, D4S2460). Genomic DNA PCR and PAGE gel run were done, and the allele patterns were compared with sonographic findings. The results of this study showed that the ratio of PKD1 to PKD2 was 23 : 3, and PKD2 families showed the tendency of milder renal prognosis than PKD1 families. In conclusion, we confirmed the usefulness of linkage analysis for ADPKD in Korean population, and our data shows a similar percentage of PKD1(88%) and PKD2(12%) in Korean patients as in the Western population.
Adult ; Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; DNA ; Genetic Loci ; Genotype* ; Humans ; Korea ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Molecular Biology ; Polycystic Kidney, Autosomal Dominant* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence ; Prognosis ; Renal Insufficiency ; Stroke ; Ultrasonography

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging zoonotic disease, which causes high fever, thrombocytopenia, and death in humans and animals in East Asian countries. The pathogenicity of SFTS virus (SFTSV) remains unclear. We intraperitoneally infected three groups of mice: wild-type (WT), mice treated with blocking anti-type I interferon (IFN)-α receptor antibody (IFNAR Ab), and IFNAR knockout (IFNAR−/−) mice, with four doses of SFTSV (KH1, 5 × 105 to 5 × 102 FAID50). The WT mice survived all SFTSV infective doses. The IFNAR Ab mice died within 7 days post-infection (dpi) with all doses of SFTSV except that the mice were infected with 5 × 102 FAID50 SFTSV. The IFNAR−/− mice died after infection with all doses of SFTSV within four dpi. No SFTSV infection caused hyperthermia in any mice, whereas all the dead mice showed hypothermia and weight loss. In the WT mice, SFTSV RNA was detected in the eyes, oral swabs, urine, and feces at 5 dpi. Similar patterns were observed in the IFNAR Ab and IFNAR−/− mice after 3 dpi, but not in feces. The IFNAR Ab mice showed viral shedding until 7 dpi. The SFTSV RNA loads were higher in organs of the IFNAR−/− mice compared to the other groups. Histopathologically,coagulation necrosis and mononuclear inflammatory cell infiltration in the liver and white pulp atrophy in the spleen were seen as the main lesions in the IFN signaling lacking mice. Immunohistochemically, SFTSV antigens were mainly detected in the marginal zone of the white pulp of the spleen in all groups of mice, but more viral antigens were observed in the spleen of the IFNAR−/− mice. Collectively, the IFN signaling-deficient mice were highly susceptible to SFTSV and more viral burden could be demonstrated in various excreta and organs of the mice when IFN signaling was inhibited.

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging zoonotic disease, which causes high fever, thrombocytopenia, and death in humans and animals in East Asian countries. The pathogenicity of SFTS virus (SFTSV) remains unclear. We intraperitoneally infected three groups of mice: wild-type (WT), mice treated with blocking anti-type I interferon (IFN)-α receptor antibody (IFNAR Ab), and IFNAR knockout (IFNAR−/−) mice, with four doses of SFTSV (KH1, 5 × 105 to 5 × 102 FAID50). The WT mice survived all SFTSV infective doses. The IFNAR Ab mice died within 7 days post-infection (dpi) with all doses of SFTSV except that the mice were infected with 5 × 102 FAID50 SFTSV. The IFNAR−/− mice died after infection with all doses of SFTSV within four dpi. No SFTSV infection caused hyperthermia in any mice, whereas all the dead mice showed hypothermia and weight loss. In the WT mice, SFTSV RNA was detected in the eyes, oral swabs, urine, and feces at 5 dpi. Similar patterns were observed in the IFNAR Ab and IFNAR−/− mice after 3 dpi, but not in feces. The IFNAR Ab mice showed viral shedding until 7 dpi. The SFTSV RNA loads were higher in organs of the IFNAR−/− mice compared to the other groups. Histopathologically,coagulation necrosis and mononuclear inflammatory cell infiltration in the liver and white pulp atrophy in the spleen were seen as the main lesions in the IFN signaling lacking mice. Immunohistochemically, SFTSV antigens were mainly detected in the marginal zone of the white pulp of the spleen in all groups of mice, but more viral antigens were observed in the spleen of the IFNAR−/− mice. Collectively, the IFN signaling-deficient mice were highly susceptible to SFTSV and more viral burden could be demonstrated in various excreta and organs of the mice when IFN signaling was inhibited.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ex vivo activated and expanded natural killer (NK) cell therapy (SNK01) plus pembrolizumab in a randomized phase I/IIa clinical trial. Materials and Methods: Overall, 18 patients with advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and a programmed death ligand 1 tumor proportion score of 1% or greater who had a history of failed frontline platinum-based therapy were randomized (2:1) to receive pembrolizumab every 3 weeks +/– 6 weekly infusions of SNK01 at either 2×109 or 4×109 cells per infusion (pembrolizumab monotherapy vs. SNK01 combination). The primary endpoint was safety, whereas the secondary endpoints were the objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival, and quality of life. Results: Since no dose-limiting toxicity was observed, the maximum tolerated dose was determined as SNK01 4×109 cells/dose. The safety data did not show any new safety signals when SNK01 was combined with pembrolizumab. The ORR and the 1-year survival rate in the NK combination group were higher than those in patients who underwent pembrolizumab monotherapy (ORR, 41.7% vs. 0%; 1-year survival rate, 66.7% vs. 50.0%). Furthermore, the median PFS was higher in the SNK01 combination group (6.2 months vs. 1.6 months, p=0.001). Conclusion Based on the findings of this study, the NK cell combination therapy may consider as a safe treatment method for stage IV NSCLC patients who had a history of failed platinum-based therapy without an increase in adverse events.