We studied the association of nonspecific bronchial hyperresponsiveness with general characteristics, exposure concentration, respiratory symptoms, chest x-ray findings, past histories and pulmonary function. We determined bronchial hyperresponsiveness by methacholine challenge test. And we conducted a respiratory symptom questionnaire and performed spirometry on 111 workers occupationally exposed to isocyanates in various industries. About 21.6% of subjects had bronchial hyperresponsiveness. No significant differences were observed between the hyperresponsive and non-responsive group with respect to age, sex, employment period, height, and smoking histories cough and breathlessness were significantly associated with the bronchial hyperresponsiveness. The hyperresponsive group had more experience of bronchitis and asthma in the past than the non-responsive group. The lower FEV1 and FEV1 % were closely related with bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Bronchial hyperrespoosiveness seems to be associated with some of respiratory symptoms, past histories and pulmonary function parameters in workers exposed to isocyanates.
Asthma ; Bronchitis ; Cough ; Employment ; Isocyanates* ; Methacholine Chloride ; Occupations ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Spirometry ; Thorax

Primary adenosquamous carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater is extremely rare. We report two cases of adenosquamous carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater in a 48-year-old female and an 80-year-old female patient. The gross appearance was a polypoid mass in both cases. Histologically, the majority of the two tumors was composed of squamous cell carcinoma with some intermingled glandular adenocarcinoma components in both cases. Squamous cell carcinomas showed an abrupt transition from the normal glandular epithelium or glandular adenocarcinoma. Although the two cases revealed duodenal wall invasion and lymph node metastasis was found in case 2, both patients are still alive at 19 and 46 months after surgery, respectively.
Adenocarcinoma ; Aged, 80 and over ; Ampulla of Vater* ; Carcinoma, Adenosquamous* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Epithelium ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study are clinical application of perfusion computed tomography (perfusion CT) in hydrocephalus and comparison its cerebral blood flow parameters with transcranial doppler (TCD) and clinical outcome. METHOD: 25 patients with hydrocephalus took pre- and postoperative perfusion CT and TCD. 15 patients without neurologic deficit were also examined with same protocol as a control. Blood flow parameters of perfusion CT, such as cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral blood volume (CBV) and mean transit time (MTT) were analyzed according to clinical status and postoperative outcome. So did the TCD parameters, mean flow velocity (mFv) and pulsatility index (PI) with regard to clinical outcome. RESULTS: Perfusion CT parameters of the hydrocephalus showed decrease in CBF (gray matter P=0.035, periventricular region P=0.042) and increase in MTT (gray matter P=0.039, periventricular region P=0.045) compared to control. In postoperative improvement group, there noted reversal of perfusion parameters close to those of the control. TCD parameters showed increase in mFv (P=0.047), and decrease in PI (P=0.042) in cases with improvement. CONCLUSION: Perfusion brain CT and TCD can used as clinically useful tools to predict the postoperative outcome on hydrocephalus.
Blood Volume ; Brain ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus* ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Perfusion*

Intradural lumbar disc herniation(ILDH) is a rare pathology. The pathogenesis of ILDH is not known with certainty. Adhesions between the ventral wall of the dura and the posterior longitudinal ligament(PLL) could act as a preconditioning factor. Diagnosis of ILDH is difficult and seldom suspected preoperatively. Prompt surgery is necessary because the neurologic prognosis appears to be closely related to preoperative duration of neurologic symptoms. Despite preoperatively significant neurological deficits, the prognosis following surgery is relatively good. We report on case of ILDH at L3/4 with differential diagnoses, and the possible pathogenic factors are discussed.
Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Pathology ; Prognosis ; Spine

OBJECTIVE: The authors analyze prospectively the result of transcranial doppler(TCD) in normal pressure hydrocephalus and compared its cerebral blood flow parameters to radionuclide cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) flow study, postoperative brain computed tomography(CT) findings and clinical outcome, and studied the relationship betweeen cerebral hemodynamics and clinical performance. METHODS: Twenty five patients with hydrocephalus undertook pre- and post-operative TCD but only preoperative CSF flow study was performed. Mean flow velocity(Vm), pulsatility index(PI) and resistance index(RI) were assessed through TCD and changes in ventricle size and cortical gyral atrophy were checked through brain CT. RESULTS: Postoperative hydrocephalus showed an increase in Vm(ACA P=0.037, MCA P=0.034), decrease in PI(ACA P=0.019, MCA P=0.017) and decrease in RI (ACA P=0.017, MCA P=0.021) compared to preoperative TCD parameters in the postoperative improvement group. In the postoperative improvement group, postoperative TCD parameters correlated with CSF flow study grade (Vm: R2=-0.75, PI: R2=0.86, RI: R2=0.78) and ventriculocranial ratio change correlated with PI change (R2=0.73). The convexity gyral atrophy and initial TCD parameters showed close relationship to outcome. CONCLUSION: PI and RI can be used as an indicator of post operative prognosis, and with the addition of CSF flow study values, can also be used as a tool to predict pre-op and post-op patient status and successful shunt surgery.
Atrophy ; Brain ; Cerebrospinal Fluid* ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Hydrocephalus, Normal Pressure* ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies

A 61-year-old man was admitted to the emergency room complaining of a severe left exophthalmos caused by frontal and ethmoid sinus mucoceles that were visualized on a brain computerized tomogram. In addition, he had coexisting ankylosing spondylitis with a 20 year duration that resulted in total fixation of the cervical spine and progressive thoracic kyphosis. An unruptured anterior communicating artery aneurysm was found incidentally on the cerebral angiogram. We report that the anesthetic management for endoscopic sinus surgery of a frontal sinus mucocele in a patient with coexisting severe cervical spine ankylosing spondylitis and an unruptured cerebral aneurysm requires a detailed preoperative assessment of the airway, cardiac, pulmonary, and neurologic system. This case highlights the need for careful measures to avoid rupturing the cerebral aneurysm by the increased blood pressure induced by endotracheal intubation and the infiltration of an epinephrine-containing local anesthetic.
Blood Pressure ; Brain ; Emergencies ; Ethmoid Sinus ; Exophthalmos ; Frontal Sinus ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Kyphosis ; Middle Aged ; Mucocele ; Spine ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing

The purpose of this article is to introduce a new virtual orthodontic treatment (VOT) system, which can be used to construct three-dimensional (3D) virtual models, establish a 3D virtual setup, enable the placement of the virtual brackets at the predetermined position, and fabricate the transfer jig with a customized bracket base for indirect bonding (IDB) using the stereolithographic technique. A 26-year-old woman presented with anterior openbite, crowding in the upper and lower arches, and narrow and tapered upper arch, despite having an acceptable profile and balanced facial proportion. The treatment plan was rapid palatal expansion (RPE) without extraction. After 10 days of RPE, sufficient space was obtained for decrowding. After a 10-week retention period, accurate pretreatment plaster models were obtained using silicone rubber impression. IDB was performed according to the protocol of the VOT system. Crowding of the upper and lower arches was effectively resolved, and anterior openbite was corrected to normal overbite. Superimposition of the 3D virtual setup models (3D-VSM) and post-treatment 3D virtual models showed that the latter deviated only slightly from the former. Thus, the use of the VOT system helped obtain an acceptable outcome in this case of mild crowding treated without extraction. More cases should be treated using this system, and the pre- and post-treatment virtual models should be compared to obtain feedback regarding the procedure; this will support doctors and dental laboratory technicians during the learning curve.
Adult ; Crowding ; Female ; Humans ; Laboratories, Dental ; Learning Curve ; Open Bite ; Overbite ; Retention (Psychology) ; Silicone Elastomers

Malignant melanoma is a highly malignant form of cutaneous cancer derived from melanocytes. The lesion frequently metastasizes to the lymph nodes, lung, liver and bone. However, an endobronchial metastasis and a primary malignant melanoma of the lung are quite rare. We report a case of an unknown primary malignant melanoma with a pulmonary and endobronchial metastasis in a 34 years old male. He complained of coughing and black-colored sputum. Abnormal skin and mucosal lesions were not found during a physical examination. A chest X-ray revealed multiple nodular masses in both lung fields. A flexible bronchoscopy showed two yellowish small nodules at the entry of left lower bronchus. Vimentin, the S-100 protein, and HMB-45 stain positive melanoma cells were detected at the bronchoscopic biopsy specimen.
Biopsy ; Neoplasm Metastasis

Malignant melanoma is a highly malignant form of cutaneous cancer derived from melanocytes. The lesion frequently metastasizes to the lymph nodes, lung, liver and bone. However, an endobronchial metastasis and a primary malignant melanoma of the lung are quite rare. We report a case of an unknown primary malignant melanoma with a pulmonary and endobronchial metastasis in a 34 years old male. He complained of coughing and black-colored sputum. Abnormal skin and mucosal lesions were not found during a physical examination. A chest X-ray revealed multiple nodular masses in both lung fields. A flexible bronchoscopy showed two yellowish small nodules at the entry of left lower bronchus. Vimentin, the S-100 protein, and HMB-45 stain positive melanoma cells were detected at the bronchoscopic biopsy specimen.
Biopsy ; Neoplasm Metastasis

We present the case of a 44-year-old man who presented with continuous chest pain and fever with pneumonia. Additionally, idiopathic Brugada ECG patterns were observed. The patient's initial electrocardiogram showed ST-segment elevation at the right precordial and lateral leads. An emergency coronary angiography showed that there was no significant stenosis or thrombus in the coronary arteries. ECG findings showed Brugada ECG patterns, which were exaggerated by high fever. The diagnosis was confirmed with a flecainide provocation test that allowed us to document ECG changes consistent with type 1 Brugada ECG patterns. This case report reveals how dynamic ST-segment elevations may look similar in cases of acute coronary syndrome and Brugada syndrome. Additionally, we showed that Brugada ECG patterns can be exaggerated by fever.
Acute Coronary Syndrome ; Adult ; Brugada Syndrome ; Chest Pain ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Vessels ; Electrocardiography ; Emergencies ; Fever ; Flecainide ; Humans ; Pneumonia ; Thrombosis