PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of superselective intra-arterial fibrinolysis for acute cerebral stroke and the usefulness of pre- and postfibrinolysis diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 41 patients with acute ischemic stroke whose treatment involved intra-arterial fibri-nolysis, the occlusion site, degree of recanalization, and clinical results were compared. In 12 patients, diffusion weighted MRI was performed before fibrinolysis, and eight of these also underwent diffusion-weighted MRI after fibrinolysis. Using diffusion-weighted MRI, neurological outcomes were compared with signal intensity ratio (SIR, or the average signal intensity within the region of interest divided by that in the contralateral, nonischemic, homologous region). RESULTS: Twenty patients showed complete recanalization, nine partial recanalization, and in twelve there was no recanalization. Fourteen patients (34 %) improved neurologically. No relationship existed between occlusion sites, degree of recanalization, and clinical outcome. Among 12 patients who underwent DWI before fibrinolysis, complete recanalization was noted in eight. Neurological improvement was seen in four patients with low SIR(<1.55),while in four with high SIR(>1.7 ), neurological outcome was poor despite complete recanalization. CONCLUSION: Although superselective intra-arterial fibrinolysis for acute cerebral stroke is a good therapeutic method for recanalization, the clinical outcome can be disappointing. We therefore suggest that in cases of acute cerebral ischemic infaret, SIR-as seen on DWI-might be useful for predicting the benefits of recanalization. In such cases, further investigation of the use of DWI prior to fibrinolysis is therefore needed.
Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Diffusion* ; Fibrinolysis* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Stroke

Abdominal wall leakage of dialysate in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients is uncommon complication. We experienced one case of abdominal wall leakage in CAPD patient confirmed by CT peritoneography. She complained weight gain, decreased ultrafiltration volume, and localized abdominal wall edema without clinical evidence of hernia. CT peritoneography of the abdomen showed leakage of contrast dye from the site of insertion of the CAPD catheter into the anterior abdominal wall. The dialysate was completely drained and CAPD was discontinued. She was switched temporally to hemodialysis and abdominal wall edema disappeared. When CAPD was restarted seven days later, the edema appeared. After CAPD catheter was removed and reinserted at the opposite site, she returned to CAPD without leakage.
Abdomen ; Abdominal Wall* ; Catheters ; Edema ; Hernia ; Humans ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory* ; Renal Dialysis ; Ultrafiltration ; Weight Gain

Paraneoplastic neurologic syndrome is a group of assorted disorders resulting from damage to the nervous system in cancer, remote from primary site, and not related to metastasis, infection, or metabolic disorder associated with cancer. Patient with small cell lung cancer sometimes shows various neurological syndromes, but patient with non-small cell lung cancer rarely shows neurologic syndromes and few antineuronal antibodies have been found. Here, we report a case of 53-year-old male patient who developed ptosis and extraocular muscular limitation of left eye due to third and forth cranial nerve palsy in non-small cell lung cancer without brain metastasis. These neurologic symptoms improved after lobectomy without any other treatment immunotherapy.
Antibodies ; Brain ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; Cranial Nerve Diseases ; Cranial Nerves ; Eye ; Humans ; Immunotherapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Nervous System ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Paraneoplastic Syndromes ; Paraneoplastic Syndromes, Nervous System ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma

FA (Fanconi's Anemia) is an autosomal recessive disorder that is characterized by pancytopenia with bone marrow hypoplasia, diverse congenital abnormalities and an increased predisposition towards malignancy. The mainstay of the treatment for these cancers has been surgery, because of the hypersensitive reactions of FA patients to DNA cross- linking agents or radiation. Therefore, there has been no effective therapy for advanced squa mous cell carcinoma. We report here on a patient suffering from advanced multiple squamous cell carcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma along with an FA, and this patient was treated with gefitinib.
Bone Marrow ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Congenital Abnormalities ; DNA ; Fanconi Anemia* ; Humans ; Pancytopenia

Hyperthyroidism may be associated or present with a variety of neuromuscular disorders, including thyrotoxic myopathy, exophthalmic ophthalmoplegia, periodic paralysis and myasthenia gravis. In contrast to muscle, peripheral nerve involvement in hyperthyroidism is exceedingly rare, and has received little attention. Paraplegia-like weakness during severe hyperthyroidism was first described by Charcot in 1889, and called Basedow's paraplegia' by Joffory in 1894. However, there has been no reported case in Korea. A 38-year-old woman was admitted for evaluation of progressive weakness and a gait disturbance. Her endocrinological results were compatible with hyperthyroidism. The polyneuropathy was also confirmed with sequential electrophysiological studies of the nerves and muscles. Drug therapy for hyperthyroidism resulted in resolution of the clinical neurological symptoms and progressive improvement of electrophysiological findings. Hyperthyroidisms are common medical disorders, which are often accompanied by diverse types of neurological and neuromuscular dysfunctions. All of these neurological manifestations are important, as they can serve as important clues to the diagnosis of a thyroid disorder. Furthermore, they are often related to the patient's presenting complaint. Therefore, the physician must be alert to the diverse manifestations of thyroid dysfunction, as they can lead to the diagnosis of potentially serious but treatable disorders. Herein is reported a case of myopathy and neuropathy associated with hyperthyroidism (Basedow's paraplegia), with a review of the literature
Adult ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Gait ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism ; Korea ; Muscles ; Muscular Diseases ; Myasthenia Gravis ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Ophthalmoplegia ; Paralysis ; Paraplegia* ; Peripheral Nerves ; Polyneuropathies ; Thyroid Gland

Hyperthyroidism may be associated or present with a variety of neuromuscular disorders, including thyrotoxic myopathy, exophthalmic ophthalmoplegia, periodic paralysis and myasthenia gravis. In contrast to muscle, peripheral nerve involvement in hyperthyroidism is exceedingly rare, and has received little attention. Paraplegia-like weakness during severe hyperthyroidism was first described by Charcot in 1889, and called Basedow's paraplegia' by Joffory in 1894. However, there has been no reported case in Korea. A 38-year-old woman was admitted for evaluation of progressive weakness and a gait disturbance. Her endocrinological results were compatible with hyperthyroidism. The polyneuropathy was also confirmed with sequential electrophysiological studies of the nerves and muscles. Drug therapy for hyperthyroidism resulted in resolution of the clinical neurological symptoms and progressive improvement of electrophysiological findings. Hyperthyroidisms are common medical disorders, which are often accompanied by diverse types of neurological and neuromuscular dysfunctions. All of these neurological manifestations are important, as they can serve as important clues to the diagnosis of a thyroid disorder. Furthermore, they are often related to the patient's presenting complaint. Therefore, the physician must be alert to the diverse manifestations of thyroid dysfunction, as they can lead to the diagnosis of potentially serious but treatable disorders. Herein is reported a case of myopathy and neuropathy associated with hyperthyroidism (Basedow's paraplegia), with a review of the literature
Adult ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Gait ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism ; Korea ; Muscles ; Muscular Diseases ; Myasthenia Gravis ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Ophthalmoplegia ; Paralysis ; Paraplegia* ; Peripheral Nerves ; Polyneuropathies ; Thyroid Gland

Purpose: The treatment of male breast cancer (MBC) has been extrapolated from female breast cancer (FBC) because of its rarity despite their different clinicopathologic characteristics. We aimed to investigate the distribution of intrinsic subtypes based on immunohistochemistry, their clinical impact, and treatment pattern in clinical practice through a multicenter study in Korea. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 248 MBC patients from 18 institutions across the country from January 1995 to July 2016. Results: The median age of MBC patients was 63 years (range, 25 to 102 years). Among 148 intrinsic subtype classified patients, 61 (41.2%), 44 (29.7%), 29 (19.5%), and 14 (9.5%) were luminal A, luminal B, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, and triple-negative breast cancer, respectively. Luminal A subtype showed trends for superior survival compared to other subtypes. Most hormone receptor-positive patients (166 patients, 82.6%) received adjuvant endocrine treatment. Five-year completion of adjuvant endocrine treatment was associated with superior disease-free survival (DFS) in patients classified with an intrinsic subtype (hazard ratio [HR], 0.15; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.04 to 0.49; p=0.002) and in all patients (HR, 0.16; 95% CI, 0.05 to 0.54; p=0.003). Conclusion Distribution of subtypes of MBC was similar to FBC and luminal type A was most common. Overall survival tended to be improved for luminal A subtype, although there was no statistical significance. Completion of adjuvant endocrine treatment was associated with prolonged DFS in intrinsic subtype classified patients. MBC patients tended to receive less treatment. MBC patients should receive standard treatment according to guidelines as FBC patients.

BACKGROUND: Since the bioavailability of itraconazole capsule is influenced by patients gastric acidity, it results in treatment failure due to its low dissolution and subsequent low absorption when administered in fasting. Itraconazole Melt-Extrusion tablet has been lately developed in order to improve its dissolution profile. It is the first clinical study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of itraconazole Melt-Extrusion tablet in Korea. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of itraconazole melt-extrusion tablet 400mg daily for 1 week(pulse therapy) for hyperkeratotic type of tinea pedis and manus. METHODS: A clinical and mycological investigation was made of 812 outpatients with hyperkeratotic type of tinea pedis and/or tinea manus who had visited at 52 general hospitals under the lead of the Korean Dermatological Association from June to December, 1998. Patients confirmed by clinically and microscopically as hyperkeratotic type of tinea pedis and/or tinea manus were administered 2 tablets twice a day for one week and followed up for 8 weeks from the start of the medication. RESULTS: The results were summarized as follows; 1. Clinical symptoms of hyperkeratotic type of tinea pedis and/or tinea mauns were significantly improved at the end of study, week 8(p<0.001). 2. Clinical response rate, defined as more than 50% decrease of the sum of the clinical symptom scores, was 79.3%(512/646). 3. Mycological cure rate, dafined as both culture and KOH negative at week 8, was 78.2%(244 /312). 4. 40(5.5%) patients, of the 727 patients evaluable for drug safety evaluation, were reported to have adverse event. CONCLUSION: Itraconazole Melt-Extrusion tablet 400mg/day for 1 week (pulse therapy) is effective and safe in the treatment of hyperkeratotic type of tinea pedis and/or tinea manus.
Absorption ; Biological Availability ; Fasting ; Gastric Acid ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Itraconazole* ; Korea ; Outpatients ; Tablets ; Tinea Pedis* ; Tinea* ; Treatment Failure

Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is defined as the occurrence of spontaneous wheals, angioedema, or both for >6 weeks in the absence of specific causes. It is a common condition associated with substantial disease burden both for affected individuals and societies in many countries, including Korea. CSU frequently persists for several years and requires high-intensity treatment; therefore, patients experience deteriorations in quality of life and medication-associated complications. During the last decade, there have been major advances in the pharmacological treatment of CSU and there is an outstanding need for evidence-based guidelines that reflect clinical practice in Korea. The guidelines reported here represent a joint initiative of the Korean Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Clinical Immunology and the Korean Dermatological Association, and aim to provide evidence-based guidance for the management of CSU in Korean adults and children. In Part 1, disease definition, guideline scope and development methodology as well as evidence-based recommendations on the use of antihistamines and corticosteroids are summarized.

Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is defined as the occurrence of spontaneous wheals, angioedema, or both for >6 weeks in the absence of specific causes. It is a common condition associated with substantial disease burden both for affected individuals and societies in many countries, including Korea. CSU frequently persists for several years and requires high-intensity treatment; therefore, patients experience deteriorations in quality of life and medication-associated complications. During the last decade, there have been major advances in the pharmacological treatment of CSU and there is an outstanding need for evidence-based guidelines that reflect clinical practice in Korea. The guidelines reported here represent a joint initiative of the Korean Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Clinical Immunology and the Korean Dermatological Association, and aim to provide evidence-based guidance for the management of CSU in Korean adults and children. In Part 1, disease definition, guideline scope and development methodology as well as evidence-based recommendations on the use of antihistamines and corticosteroids are summarized.