Primary amenorrhea due to intrasella arachnoid cyst is a very rare disease and require careful and frequent evaluation because may produce intracranial hemorrhage, elevated intracranial pressure and rapid expansion. Surgical intervention is needed only when visual disturbance, hypopituitarism or enlarging lesion is shown. Thus, we present a case of primary amenorrhea due to intrasella arachnoid cyst which was resected through the transsphenoidal approach.
Amenorrhea ; Arachnoid* ; Female ; Hypogonadism* ; Hypopituitarism ; Intracranial Hemorrhages ; Intracranial Hypertension ; Rare Diseases

PURPOSE: We evaluated the MR and CT findings of the masticator space lesions in order to identify the differences among the malignant and benign tumors and infectious conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MR and CT findings in 46 cases with proven masticator space lesions were reviewed retrospectively. We analysed the involvement of masticator muscles, adjacent spaces, orbit and intracrahium, homogeneity, necrosis, cystic changes, growth patterns, calcifications, enhancement patterns, MR signal intensity, and CT attenuation. RESULTS: Among the 29 cases of malignant tumors, seven cases were mandibular tumors including four chondrosarcomas, and 22 cases were extramandibular tumors. Malignant tumors of mandibular origin showed large masses with severe bone destruction and epicenter of mandible. Extramandiblular malignant tumors showed the epicenter out of the mandible and less severe bone destruction than mandibular tumors: Among the nine benign tumors, four cases were ameloblastomas which showed the well-defined masses and the expansion of the mandible, and four cases were extramandibular tumors which showed well-marginated extramandibular masses with no bone destruction. Among the eight infectious conditions, five cases were mandibular osteomyelitis with or without abscess formations, and the other three cases were infections from adjacent soft tissue or limited to the soft tissue. CONCLUSION: By careful observations of growth patterns, involvement of the masticator and adjacent spaces, bone changes, and epicenter of the lesions, one can discriminate a mandibular lesion from an extramandibular lesion. With this approach, it is thought to be easier to suggest a dignosis among a wide spectrum of masticator lesions.
Abscess ; Ameloblastoma ; Chondrosarcoma ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Mandible ; Muscles ; Necrosis ; Orbit ; Osteomyelitis ; Retrospective Studies

Diploic arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) or intraosseous dural AVFs are rare arteriovenous shunts. A diploic AVF is formed between a meningeal artery and an intraosseous diploic vein or the transosseous emissary vein, and the nidus is located exclusively within the bone. Currently, endovascular embolization with a transvenous approach is considered the treatment of choice for most dural AVFs. However, in the absence of an accessible venous channel, an alternate treatment approach should be considered. Herein, we report a case of a diploic AVF that was treated using embolization with transosseous direct cannulation.

Sonography with a high-frequency transducer is the modality of choice for imaging the scrotum. Most intratesticular lesions are hypoechoic. Differentiation of intratesticular hypoechoic lesions as either malignant or benign is important because the treatment of these lesions vary. In this paper, we review the sonographic features of different types of intratesticular hypoechoic lesions, such as testicular cysts, testicular tumors, testicular inflammatory lesions, segmental testicular infarction, and testicular trauma.

PURPOSE: To better understand the performance of four commercially available neurovascular stents in intracranial aneurysm embolization, the stents were compared in terms of their basic morphological and mechanical properties. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four different types of stents that are currently being used for cerebral aneurysm embolization were prepared (two stents per type). Two were laser-cut stents (Neuroform and Enterprise) and two were braided from a single nitinol wire (LEO and LVIS stents). All were subjected to quantitative measurements of stent size, pore density, metal coverage, the force needed to load, push, and deploy the stent, radial force on deployment, surface roughness, and corrosion resistance. RESULTS: Compared to their nominal diameters, all stents had greater diameters after deployment. The length generally decreased after deployment. This was particularly marked in the braided stents. The braided stents also had higher pore densities than the laser-cut stents. Metal coverage was highest in the LEO stent (14%) and lowest in the Enterprise stent (5%). The LIVS stent had the highest microcatheter loading force (81.5 gf). The LEO stent had the highest passage force (55.0 gf) and deployment force (78.9 gf). The LVIS and LEO stents had the highest perpendicular (37.1 gf) and circumferential (178.4 gf) radial forces, respectively. The Enterprise stent had the roughest stent wire, followed by the LVIS, LEO, and Neuroform stents. CONCLUSION: The four neurovascular stent types differed in terms of morphological and physical characteristics. An understanding of this diversity may help to decide which stent is most suitable for specific clinical situations.
Corrosion ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Stents*

OBJECTIVES: Although enhanced appetite and weight gain are potential side effects of treatment with antipsychotic agents, the mechanism is poorly understood. Ghrelin is a newly discovered appetite-stimulating peptide that has a role in the regulation of feeding behavior. Ghrelin is synthesized principally in the stomach, and the concentration of circulating ghrelin is negatively correlated with body fat mass. This study was designed to investigate the correlation between plasma ghrelin levels and weight gain following risperidone treatment. METHOD: Thirty-six schizophrenia patients, according to DSM-IV criteria, who did not take any antipsychotic medications for the previous two months were recruited. All the patients were administrated with 2-6 mg/day of risperidone for 8 weeks. Plasma ghrelin levels, weight and height of these subjects were measured before and after 2, 4, 6, 8 weeks administration of risperidone. The concentrations of growth hormone, insulin, glucose and lipid metabolic parameters were measured before and after 8 weeks administration of risperidone. RESULTS: The body mass index (BMI) and body weight increased, whereas the plasma level of total and active ghrelin decreased significantly after risperidone treatment (p<0.01). The changes in total and active ghrelin level were negatively correlated with the changes in BMI and body weight (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Plasma ghrelin concentration decreased, whereas body weight and body mass index (BMI) increased in schizophrenia patients treated with risperidone. Our results suggest that ghrelin is negatively correlated with risperidone induced weight gain.
Adipose Tissue ; Antipsychotic Agents ; Appetite ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Feeding Behavior ; Ghrelin* ; Glucose ; Growth Hormone ; Humans ; Insulin ; Plasma* ; Risperidone* ; Schizophrenia ; Stomach ; Weight Gain*

Neuroblastomas are sometimes associated with abnormal constitutional karyotypes, but the XYY karyotype has been rarely described in neuroblastomas. Here, we report a case of an esthesioneuroblastoma in a boy with a 47, XYY karyotype. A 6-year-old boy was admitted to our hospital because of nasal obstruction and palpable cervical lymph node, which he first noticed several days previously. A polypoid mass in the right nasal cavity was detected through sinuscopy. Biopsy of the right nasal polyp was performed. Based on the result, the patient was diagnosed with a high-grade esthesioneuroblastoma. Nuclear imaging revealed increased uptake in both the right posterior nasal cavity and the right cervical IB-II space, suggesting metastatic lymph nodes. Cytogenetic analysis revealed a 47, XYY karyotype. Twelve courses of concurrent chemotherapy were administered. Three years after the completion of chemotherapy, the patient had had no disease recurrence. He manifested behavioral violence and temper tantrums, so we started methylphenidate for correction of the behavior.
Biopsy ; Child ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Cytogenetic Analysis ; Drug Therapy ; Esthesioneuroblastoma, Olfactory* ; Humans ; Karyotype ; Lymph Nodes ; Male* ; Methylphenidate ; Nasal Cavity ; Nasal Obstruction ; Nasal Polyps ; Neuroblastoma ; Recurrence ; Violence ; XYY Karyotype*

BACKGROUND: Sensitive skin is largely agreed to be a lay term used by individuals who have reduced tolerance to frequent or prolonged use of cosmetics and toiletries, with symptoms ranging from subjective neurosensory forms of discomfort such as stinging, burning, itching, tightness and smarting sensations to visible signs of irritation such as erythema and scaling. Although the concept of sensitive skin is intriguing to many dermatologists, the diagnosis is dependant on self-perceived symptoms. Models to define sensitive skin are not standardized, and the term sensitive skin can be misleading. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate difference of influence to skin barrier function between corrosive and non-corrosive agents in sensitive skin. METHODS: 0.1%, 0.25%, 0.5%, 2% solution of sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and 1%, 2.5%, 5%, 20% solution of nonanoic acid (NAA) were applied on volar forearm skin for 24 hours in healthy controls and self-perceived sensitive skin subjects without underlying problems. Clinical score, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), and erythema-index (E-index) were compared between healthy controls and the sensitive skin group. RESULTS: Clinical scores, TEWL values and E-indices showed a rising curve concentration for each irritant in a similar pattern. There were no significant differences in clinical score and TEWL value between non-sensitive and sensitive skin. In contrast, E-indices evaluated from sensitive skin subjects were much higher than those in a healthy controls. CONCLUSION: An elevated TEWL value indicates barrier impairment. An increase in the erythema parameter shows that cutaneous vascular reactions have an unspecifically exaggerated reaction to various irritants and this induces multifarious inflammatory reactions and vasodilation. Therefore, the results of this study suggest that sensitive skin without underlying disease is derived from cutaneous vascular hyperreactivity and various inflammatory reactions, rather than barrier impairment.
Bites and Stings ; Burns ; Diagnosis ; Erythema ; Forearm ; Humans ; Irritants* ; Pruritus ; Sensation ; Skin* ; Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate ; Vasodilation

Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon does not occur with common hemangioma, rather it is associated with the more aggressive Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma and rarely with other vascular neoplasm. We report the case of an adult who was diagnosed as Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma complicated by Kasabach-Memtt phenomenon. This is the first report in Korea of an adult with Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon who has osteolytic changes of femur, pelvic bone, and lumbar spine.
Adult* ; Femur ; Hemangioendothelioma* ; Hemangioma ; Humans ; Kasabach-Merritt Syndrome ; Korea ; Pelvic Bones ; Spine ; Vascular Neoplasms

PURPOSE: We investigated the causative organism and its antibiotic susceptibility of community acquired urinary tract infection (UTI) in children at a secondary hospital to test the adequacy of the current guidelines. METHODS: Children diagnosed with UTI at the Department of Pediatrics, Kwandong University Myongji Hospital by pyuria and bacterial growth of greater than 1.0x10(5) CFU/mL on clean catch midstream urine from January 2005 to December 2008 were studied retrospectively. The epidemiologic data, causative organism, and the antibiotic susceptibility were analyzed. RESULTS: Sixty two children were diagnosed with sixty four cases of UTI's. Two bacteria were isolated in one case and thus data on 65 urine cultures were analyzed. The male:female ratio was 1.6:1 and 78.1% were less than 12 months of age. Escherichia coli was the predominant cause consisting of 53 cases (82.8%) of the cases. K. pneumoniae (5), Enterobacter (4), Enterococcus (1), beta-streptococcus (1), Diphtheroides (1) were isolated. The antibiotic resistance of E. coli were as follows; ampicillin 69.8%, cefotaxime 1.9%, gentamicin 15.1%, amikacin 0.0%, levofloxacin 1.9%, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole 26.4%. Only one case of the E. coli was extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) positive. CONCLUSION: Compared to prior reports from other tertiary hospitals in Korea, E. coli was the predominant cause in childhood UTI and the rate of ESBL positivity was low. The antibiotic resistance was also different compared to prior reports. We conclude that a difference in the cause and antibiotic resistance of childhood UTI exists between centers and this should be taken into consideration when prescribing antibiotics for childhood UTIs.
Amikacin ; Ampicillin ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacteria ; beta-Lactamases ; Cefotaxime ; Child ; Drug Resistance, Microbial ; Enterobacter ; Enterococcus ; Escherichia coli ; Gentamicins ; Humans ; Korea ; Ofloxacin ; Pediatrics ; Pneumonia ; Pyuria ; Retrospective Studies ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Urinary Tract ; Urinary Tract Infections