2 Cases of primary lymphoma of brain are reported with brief review of literatures. Preoperative CT scans were performed and the correct diagnoses were made by operative biopsy. Initially the tumor masses were located in the periventricular white matter, in both cases. CT scans showed slightly high density areas with homogenous contrast enhancement. After local irradiation, these lesions disappeared completely. But soon after, well circumscribed homogenous contrast enhancing mass lesions recurred in the cerebellum.
Biopsy ; Brain ; Cerebellum ; Diagnosis ; Lymphoma ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; White Matter

The spindle and epithelioid cell nevus, is known also as Spitz's nevus or benign juvenile melanoma. The histologic picture of the lesion often closely resembles that of a malignant melanoma, but spindle and epithelioid cell nevus hehaves benignly. Criteria for accurate histological diagnosis of this nevus now exist. However, a difficult lesion occasionally brings one to the worrisome situation even now. We experienced four cases (three children and one adult) of spindle and epithelioid cell neveus with nodular or macular skin lesions. In children (7/F, 9/F, 4/M), all of the lesion show a solitary pinkish red or light brown nodular firm masses, 0.7 cm to 1.0 cm in greatest dimension, which are located at the left posterior thigh, posterior neck and right anterior neck region, respectively. In adult (36/F), the lesion shows a light brown, erythematous macule, 0.8 cm in greatest diameter, in the skin of the back. Microscopically, both spindle and epithelioid cells are found in all the four cases, but epithelioid cells predominate in children and spindle cells predominate in adult.
Child ; Adult ; Male ; Female ; Humans

Background : It is not easy to diagnose sporadic medullary thyroid carcinoma(MTC) before surgery and this might lead the patient reoperation and/or lowered chance of definite cure. Methods : The prevalence of sporadic MTC in Korean was studied in patients with thyroid nodules. A prospective study of 1048 consecutive patients with thyroid nodules was performed. In all patients, measurements of basal serum calcitonin, thyroid hormones, TSH, anti-thyroglobulin antibody and anti-thyroperoxidase antibody were undertaken along with technetium-99m thyroid scintigraphy and fine needle aspiration cytology. In patients with elevated basal calcitonin levels, calcium stimulated calcitonin level was determined. Results: Two patient had markedly elevated calcitonin levels(over 3,200 pg/mL and 1,763 pg/ mL) and another one slightly elevated calcitoni#n(71.9 pg/mL). Fine needle aspiration cytology was suggestive of MTC in one and nodular hyperplasia in the other two. They underwent surgery and histological examination revealed MTC in those two with markedly elevated calcitonin levels. The patient with slightly elevated calcitonin, who was on the maintenance hemodialysis due to chronic renal failure, had nodular hyperplasia. Conclusion: MTC was found in 0.19% of patients with thyroid nodules, which was not different with the previously reported prevalence in Europe. Routine measurements of serum calcitonin might be of value to detect sporadic MTC; however, the cost-effectiveness of routine measurement of serum calcitonin is not clear, considering the relatively low prevalence of MTC in Koreans.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Calcitonin ; Calcium ; Carcinoma, Medullary ; Europe ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Mass Screening ; Prevalence ; Prospective Studies ; Radionuclide Imaging ; Renal Dialysis ; Reoperation ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Hormones ; Thyroid Nodule

BACKGROUNG AND OBJECTIVES: Diet is the basic and principal therapeutic modality for hyperlipidemia. However, diet therapy alone showed variable responses in lowering lipid levels in different studies. This research is to prove the effect of diet and Apo E polymorphism on the variation of serum lipid profile in Korean males. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To evaluate the gene-diet interation, serum total cholesterol (Chol), triglycerides (TG), HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol (HDLc, LDLc), lipoprotein (a) (Lp (a)), and fasting blood glucose (FBS) were measured with Apo E genotyping in vegeterians (group A, n=154) and in healthy Korean male adults (group B, n=150) of similar mean age (50.1 vs. 49.3). RESULTS: Lipid profiles showed significantly lower levels in group A compared to group B (Chol 168.3+/-30.5 mg/dL vs. 181.3+/-33.4 mg/dL, p<0.001;TG 131.0+/-62.9 mg/dL vs. 149.4+/-76.7 mg/dL, p=0.023;HDLc 56.0+/-11.0 mg/dL vs. 56.9+/-11.5 mg/dL, p=0.509;LDLc 92.5+/-28.1 mg/dL vs 100.6+/-29.9 mg/dL, p=0.016;Lp (a) 22.1+/-14.6 mg/dL vs. 26.9+/-13.8 mg/dL, p=0.004;FBS 85.1+/-14.1 mg/dL vs. 102.7+/-16.6 mg/dL, p<0.001). The Apo E genotyping showed Epsilon3/3, 64.1%; Epsilon3/4, 20.7%;Epsilon2/3, 11.8%;Epsilon2/2, 1.3%;Epsilon4/4, 0.6% in the combined groups. The distribution was similar in both groups. Chol and LDLc were significantly (p<0.05) higher in Epsilon3/4 allele group compared to other allele groups among non-vegetarians. On the other hand, Chol and LDLc were significantly (p<0.01) lower in vegetarians compared to non-vegetarians only in Epsilon3/4 allele group. CONCLUSION: Vegetarian diet significantly lowered Chol, TG, LDLc, Lp (a) and FBS levels. Significant lipid lowering effect of vegetarian diet was noted in Apo E allele Epsilon3/4 group which had significantly higher Chol and LDLc levels without diet intervention. These data suggest that the influence of diet on serum lipid profiles differ according to apo E genotypes.
Adult ; Alleles ; Apolipoproteins E ; Blood Glucose ; Cholesterol ; Diet Therapy ; Diet* ; Diet, Vegetarian ; Fasting ; Genotype ; Hand ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; Lipoprotein(a) ; Male* ; Triglycerides

*Chromosomes, Human, Pair 18 ; Down Syndrome/*diagnosis ; Female ; Genetic Markers ; Human ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/*methods ; Polymorphism (Genetics) ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis/*methods ; *Tandem Repeat Sequences ; Trisomy/*genetics

PURPOSE: Nutritional as well as genetic and hormonal factors play an important role in the bone mineralization during childhood and adolescence. There are several physical and metabolic changes in obese children, and these changes may influence on the mineralization of the skeleton. The studies about bone mineralization of obese children are rare and contradictory. This study was performed to evaluate the influence of childhood obesity on bone mineral density(BMD). METHODS: The BMD of 49 obese and 41 non-obese children were measured at lumbar spines(L2-L4) using dual energy X-ray bone absorptiometry. Then, the results were assessed and compared according to the degree of obesity and pubertal sex maturation. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in BMD between obese children and non-obese children(0.87+/-.19 g/cm2 vs 0.81+/-.13 g/cm2). BMD increased according to the Tanner' pubertal staging, and the most marked increment was observed at overt puberty. No sex difference in BMD was seen in both obese and non-obese children. BMD was highly correlated with age, height, weight and body mass index(BMI), but there was no significant correlation between BMD and osteocalcin. CONCLUSION: BMD of obese children was not significantly different from that of non-obese children, and BMD also was not changed according to the degree of obesity. These findings suggest that BMD is not influenced by obesity in children.
Adolescent ; Bone Density* ; Calcification, Physiologic ; Child* ; Humans ; Obesity* ; Osteocalcin ; Pediatric Obesity ; Puberty ; Sex Characteristics ; Sexual Maturation ; Skeleton

PURPOSE: The physiologic mechanism of chemotherapy induced emesis is poorly understood, but recently it is thought to be mediated by serotonergic (5-hydroxytryptamine-3 or 5-HT3) receptars. 5-HT3 is released by enterochromaffin cells in the gastrointestinal tract, which peaks 2-6 hours after the start of chemotherapy. In this study, the granisetron, an antiemetic agent, was given over 2-hour from the start of cisplatin administration to synchronize the peak level of the drug with that of 5-HT3 release. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Chemotherapy-naive patients undergoing their first cycle of cisplatin ( > 60 mg/m)-based chemotherapy were included. One milligram of granisetron was given intravenously 15 minutes before the start of cisplatin as a loading dose, then 2 mg was given over 2-hour starting with the cisplatin. RESULTS: 24 of 25 patients were evaluable for efficacy and safety. Fifteen (62.5%) of the 24 evaluable patients had advanced gastric carcinoma and 21 (87.5%) received FP (5-FU/ Cisplatin) combination chemotherapy. The complete response rate for acute and delayed vomiting/retching was 58.3% (10/24) and 33.3% (8/24), respectively. The median latency time to first vomiting or retching was 20.3 hours. Side effects were tolerable, but central nervous symptoms (dizziness, headache, or anxiety) and diarrhea were frequently noted. CONCLUSION: Two-hour infusion of granisetron with the beginning of cisplatin showed no superior efficacy compared with historical controls that used bolus administration of granisetron, but somewhat more frequent central nervous system and gastrointestinal symptoms were observed.
Central Nervous System ; Cisplatin* ; Diarrhea ; Drug Therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Enterochromaffin Cells ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Granisetron* ; Headache ; Humans ; Vomiting

PURPOSE: To demonstrate the utility and efficacy of percutaneous direct glue embolization for juvenilenasopharyngeal angiofibromas with skull base invasion MATERIALS AND METHODS: In nine cases of juvenilenasopharyngeal angiofibromas with invasion of the skull base, embolization under general anethesia was performed.Using an 18G spinal needle, direct puncture were made via the transnasal or mandibular sciatic notch. Aglue-lipiodol mixture (1:1-1:3) was injected slowely for 15 to 30 seconds under fluoroscopic control; the numberof injections depended on the size of the tumoral compartment. The results were evaluated by post-embolizationangiography and the distribution of embolic materials was assessed on CT within 1-3 days. The mass was surgicallyremoved 3 to 7 days after embolization. RESULTS: Postembolization angiography revealed total devascularization insix cases, and devascularization greater than 90% of the initial volume in the remaining three. The cast of thetumor was clearly demonstrated by the embolization material with increased density. Surgical removal was safelyperformed without significant bleeding. And no neurologic complications were observed. CONCLUSION: Direct glueembolization of juvenile angiofibroma with skull base invasion appears to be a simple and safe procedure. Thetechnique could be used for other hypervascular lesions in the base fo the skull or parapharyngeal space.
Adhesives ; Angiofibroma* ; Angiography ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Hemorrhage ; Needles ; Punctures* ; Skull Base* ; Skull*

Extraventricular neurocytomas are rare brain tumors that have a diverse range of clinical characteristics. We describe two cases involving fluorescence-guided resection of extraventricular neurocytoma using 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) and evaluate the efficacy of the technique. We found that the tumor reactions to 5-ALA differed depending on the histologic grade. This finding shows that the 5-ALA fluorescence reaction may potentially be used as a biomarker of the clinical behavior of these tumors. To our knowledge, this is the first report in which fluorescence-guided resection was utilized for the resection of extraventricular neurocytomas.
Brain Neoplasms ; Fluorescence* ; Neurocytoma*

OBJECTIVE: Adhesions resulting from surgery may well be the most signigicant iatrogenic factor contributing to infertility and pelvic pain. Recently surgical barriers which mechanically separate opposing surfaces during tissue healing have been devised. Interceed(R) is an absorbable oxized regenerated cellulose barrier that adheres to the site of injury, converts into a gel, spontaneously maintains its position and dose not necessitate sutures. The goal of the study was whether the use of Interceed(R) elicits an inflammatory reaction when it remains foreign materials after laparoscopic surgery. METHODS: This randomized prospective study inculded 207 patients who had undergone laparoscopic operation at the department of Obstetric and Gynecology, Chosun University hospital, from January 2002 to December 2004. Of these 207 patients, 102 underwent laparoscopic operation with applying Interceed(R) (Group 1) and 107 underwent laparoscoic operation without applying Interceed(R) (Group 2). The WBC (White Blood Cell) count, ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate), CRP (C-Reactive Protein), body temperature were compared postoperatively. P<0.05 was considered statistically signigicant. RESULTS: Preoperative WBC (White Blood Cell) count, ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate), CRP (C-reactive protein), body temperature of two groups were no significant difference between Group 1 and 2. At postoperative 4th, 10th, 28th day, WBC (White Blood Cell) count, ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate), CRP (C-reactive protein), body temperature, vaginal cuff tenderness of two groups were not significantly different between Group 1 and 2. DISCUSSION: We found that the use of Interceed(R) do not elicit an inflammatory reaction through laboratory finding and clinical finding although it remains foreign material after laparoscopic surgery. So we can use Interceed(R) for preventing adhesion safely.
Body Temperature ; Cellulose ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Infertility ; Laparoscopy* ; Pelvic Pain ; Prospective Studies ; Sutures