We report a case of congenital giant pigmented nevus with malignant melanoma of brain in a 14-year-old male patient. He had giant pigmented nevus on the back and neck, and multiple satellite lesions over the whole body since birth. One year prior to visit to our hospital, the patient suffered from various neurologie symptoms including headache, nausea, vomiting, seizure and right side motor weakness. Flistologic findings of skin lesions were benign nevocytic nevi. Computed tomogram of brain demonstrated increased densities in the both fronto-parietal leptameninges and brain parenchyme. Histologic findings of brain parenchyme by stereotaxic long needle biopsy showed the infiltration of melanin containing atypical melanocytes. There was no evidence of malignant melanoma at other organs. All of these findings suggested that origin of malignant melanoma of brain parenchyme was leptomeninges rather than skin.
Adolescent ; Biopsy, Needle ; Brain* ; Headache ; Humans ; Male ; Melanins ; Melanocytes ; Melanoma* ; Nausea ; Neck ; Nevus ; Nevus, Pigmented* ; Parturition ; Seizures ; Skin ; Vomiting

The paroxysmal kinesigenic choreoathetosis is characterized by choreathetoic, dystonic and/or tonic movements induced by sudden voluntary movements, without loss of consciousness, urinary incontinence and clonic movement. These attacks begin in childhood, and are occasionally familial. The response to anticonvulsants is usually excellent. We present 4 cases of paroxysmal kinesigenic choreoathetosis with a brief review of literature, which is believed to be the first report in Korea.
Anticonvulsants ; Korea ; Unconsciousness ; Urinary Incontinence

Changes in the number, the immunoreactivities and the ultrastructures of sero- tonin immunoreactive mucosal mast cells[MMCs] in rat gastrointestinal tracts after vagus nerve stimulation were investigated by using light and electron microscopic immunocytochemical methods. The vagus nerves were electrically stimulated with a square wave pulse generator for a duration of 5 minutes each, a total of 8 times at 2 minute intervals. Serotonin immunoreactive cells of the connective tissues of the gastrointestinal tract were mainly located in the lamina propria, and a small number of the cells were also scattered in the submucosa. By using electron microscopic immunocytochemistry and Wright stain, the serotonin immunoreactive cells of the lamina propria and the submucosa were identified to be MMCs. A few large-sized serotonin immunoreactive connective tissue mast cells [CTMCs], showing strong metachromasia with the Wright stain, were located together with the MMCs in the submucosa of the stomach. In most of the gut regions of the control group, the majority of the MMCs did not show any serotonin immunoreactivities and only a few MMCs showed weak serotonin immunoreactivities. After stimulation of the vagus nerves, the number and the immnu- noreactivities of the serotonin immunoreactive MMCs dramatically increased in all gut regions observed, especially in the small intestines. In the samples treated with the electron microscopic immnunocytochemical methods, hardly any serotonin immunoreactivities were detected in the MMCs of the control group. However, the serotonin imrnunoreactivities of the MMCs were significantly increased after vagus nerve stimulation. The serotonin immnunoreactive products were localized, following vagal stimulation, both in the peripheral matrix of the granules and in the cytoplasm. Also, it was confirmed ultrastructurally that the Golgi complexes were expanded in the MMCs of the vagal stimulation group. The above results suggest that vagus nerve stimulation may activate serotonin biosynthesis in MMCs.
Animals ; Connective Tissue ; Cytoplasm ; Gastrointestinal Tract* ; Golgi Apparatus ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intestine, Small ; Mast Cells* ; Mucous Membrane ; Rats* ; Serotonin* ; Stomach ; Vagus Nerve Stimulation* ; Vagus Nerve*

This study was undertaken to investigate the ultrastructure of the neurons, neuroglial cells and capillaries in the area postrema[AP] of the Oriental discolured bat, Vespertilio superans. The AP of the bat was a single midline structure at the most caudal portion of the fourth ventricle. Most neurons in the AP were small cells, but their ultrastructure were similar to the typical neurons located elsewhere in the central nervous system. Astroglial cells and oligodendrocytes were also observed and showed their typical ultrastructure. Ultrastructural features of neurons, astroglial cells and oligodendrocytes were not changed during hibernating cycles. However, microglial cells were only found in the hibernating AP ; these cells were located in the parenchyma and near the blood vessels of the AP. Since the microglial cytoplasm was filled with phagocytotic inclusions, the nuclei of the these cells were eccentrically located. Phagocytotic cytoplasmic inclusions were shown to be composed of a dense irregular peripheral region and the pale round central region. A Large vacant space was often found in the electron lucent central region. Continuous and fenestrated capillaries surrounded by pericytes were found in the bat`s AP. Especially, Phagocytotic inclusions were found in the pericyte cytoplasm of the hibernating AP, and this result supports suggestion that pericytes might be phagocytotic cells. On the basis of the distributions of phagocytotic tells[pericytes and microglial cell], ultrastructure of these cells, morphology of their cytoplasmic inclusions, and the appearance of phagocytotic activity of the pericytes during the hibernating stage when microglial cells were observed, it can be concluded that pericytes may also participates in the formation of rrlicroglial cells. Tanycytes were also found in the bat AP.
Area Postrema* ; Blood Vessels ; Capillaries ; Central Nervous System ; Cytoplasm ; Ependymoglial Cells ; Fourth Ventricle ; Inclusion Bodies ; Microglia ; Neuroglia ; Neurons ; Oligodendroglia ; Pericytes

Microscopic analysis of bone is very useful method for estimating age at death of individual identification, diagnosing metabolic disorder or dietary deficiency in bone tissue, and differentiating human bone or not when applied to fragmentary skeletal remains. The purpose of this study was to establish a systematic method for preparing bone tissues by manual grinding method and offer help in application of related histomorphometric field such as estimating age at death. For this, human bone tissues of rib and femur from cadavers were prepared and considered histomorphological variations of osteon with light microscope. As results of this study, Type II osteons, smaller versions of Intact osteons (Type I) that form by radial remodeling of a preexisting Haversian canal, were distinguished from double-zonal osteons, one of the osteons that exhibit hypercalcified ring within their concentric lamellae, by the lack of an internal reversal line and the parallel contours of lamellae, and it is possible to suggest metric basis for drifting osteons as counting one osteon with the exception of size measurement. By applying this method of present study, one could easily make a bone tissue all oneself that would be helpful for establishing basic data in physical and forensic anthropology.
Bone and Bones ; Cadaver ; Femur ; Forensic Anthropology* ; Haversian System ; Humans ; Ribs

A case of the brain death confirmed by isotope angiogrphy is described. Isotope angiography is a simple and noninvasive technic compared to carotid angiography, and is recommended as a reliable test for the diagnosis of brain death.
Angiography* ; Brain Death* ; Brain* ; Diagnosis

A case of the brain death confirmed by isotope angiogrphy is described. Isotope angiography is a simple and noninvasive technic compared to carotid angiography, and is recommended as a reliable test for the diagnosis of brain death.
Angiography* ; Brain Death* ; Brain* ; Diagnosis

To achieve optimal decalcification in tissue and tissue preservation, we have tried magnetic field method and made some promising results. We used pulsed unipolar magnetic field obtained by rectification of 250 V-60 cycle, A.C. As a new method of bony decalcification, using 5% nitric acid, 10% formic acid and 10% formic acid+3% hydrochloric acid solutions, experimental groups were decalcified in the center of the magnetic field. The concentration of calcium ion in the decalcifying solution was measured by calcium-oxalate turbidity test by photometry method, and direct visualization of calcium radiopacity was obtained by soft X-ray view during the decalcification process. The pH change during decalcification was continuously checked and needle penetration method was also used. All the decalcification solution used in this study showed accelerated effect of bony decalcification in the strong magnetic field. Among them 5% nitric acid produced complete decalcification for the medium size bony specimen (less than 10x10x10 mm) within 24 hours, and the histologic feature was almost free of acid-chemical degeneration. The pH of all the decalcification solutions decreased in the strong magnetic field, maximum within 4~6 hours, and kept strong acidity throughout the decalcification procedure. After removal of the magnetic field the pH of all the decalcification solution returned to their original values after 24 hours. It was presumed that the cause of the accelerated decalcification in the magnetic field was due to combined effects of the rapid increase of acidity and the increased molecular resonance to stimulate the ionization of mineral elements.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether kinds of implants would influence on the radiologic outcomes in the treatment of unstable osteoporotic intertrochanteric fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, radiologic outcomes of 151 patients with unstable osteoporotic intertrochanteric fractures undergoing surgical treatments were compared based on the types of fixation implants as follows : PFNA (53 cases, group I), gamma nail 3(31 cases, group II), CHS with TSP (43 cases, group III), and helical blade type LCP-DHS with TSP (24 cases, group IV). On the follow-up radiographs after operations, we assessed differences of bone union durations, neck-shaft ankle changes, lag screw or helical blade slippages, and varus alpha angle changes among the study groups. RESULTS: All the radiologic outcomes evaluated in this study were not significantly different among the study groups. The average bone union durations of the group I, II, III and IV were 17.7, 18.0, 18.2, and 17.8 weeks, respectively (P=0.429). The average variation of neck-shaft angle of the group I, II, III and IV were 3.6degrees, 3.1degrees, 3.7degrees and 2.9degrees, respectively (P=0.273). The average lag screw or blade slippage of the group I, II, III and IV were 5.1 mm, 3.3 mm, 3.6 mm and 2.7 mm, respectively (P=0.154). The average variation of varus alpha of the group I, II, III and IV were 5.3degrees, 4.7degrees, 4.1degrees and 4.6masculine, respectively (P=0.894). CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that four typical types of fixation implants for treating unstable osteoporotic intertrochanteric fractures would not lead to differences in postoperative radiological outcomes.
Animals ; Ankle ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hip Fractures ; Humans ; Nails ; Retrospective Studies

Objective: This study examined the frequency of emergency department visits for syncope according to the day, week, and month. The frequency of syncope associated with holidays and the locations was also investigated. Methods: A retrospective study was performed on the frequency of patients discharged from the emergency department with a diagnosis of syncope from July 2016 to June 2017. Each 24-hour period was analyzed in four-hour intervals, and the frequency of occurrence was calculated for weekly and monthly time frames. In addition, the frequency of syncope associated with holidays and the locations where syncope occurred were analyzed for any possible trends. Results: For the 259 patients in this study, the frequency of the reflex syncope was significantly higher between 6 and 10 am (P=0.011), and showed a decreasing trend since that period (P=0.006). The number of reflex syncope visits on Mondays was significantly higher than on the other days (P<0.001) and a decreasing trend after Monday toward the weekend (P=0.023). A significant difference in the frequency of syncope associated with holidays was observed: 0.48 on weekdays, excluding the day after a holiday; 0.37 on a holiday; and 0.92 on the day after a holiday (P<0.001). Almost half of the reflex syncope events (44.3%) occurred in the subway. Conclusion The frequency of syncope was highest in the morning. In addition, reflex syncope showed a higher frequency on the day after a holiday, and the incidence was higher in the subway.