We report a case of basilar artery dissection presenting with subarachnoid hemorrhage, which was successfully treated with self-expandable stent placement and coil embolization, achieving excellent clinical and anatomical outcome. This method can provide protection of the rupture point, collapse of dissected space within the vessel wall, and prevention of further dissection although long-term outcome needs to be seen.
Basilar Artery* ; Embolization, Therapeutic* ; Rupture* ; Stents* ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Two cases of blood blisterlike aneurysm or dorsal bleb of the internal carotid artery (ICA) underwent segmental occlusion of the aneurysmal segment and trapping of the ICA. With this procedure, the causative lesions were successfully excluded from the circulation and moderate to good clinical outcome could be attained. We describe these cases with review of the literature.
Aneurysm ; Blister* ; Carotid Artery, Internal* ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Azithromycin* ; Doxycycline* ; Scrub Typhus*

BACKGROUND: Many strategies to reduce pain during propofol injection have been investigated. Inhibitors of cyclooxygenase are frequently used to provide post operative pain relief in patients undergoing minor gynecologic surgery. Therefore, in this study, we have investigated whether ketorolac injected intravenously reduces pain during propofol injection. METHODS: Fifty healthy female patients scheduled for minor gynecological surgery were randomly allocated to one of four groups. All patients were inserted 20 G Angiocatheter into the veins on the dorsum of the hands. After applying an arm tourniquet at an inflation pressure of 40-45 mmHg, the control group received 2 ml of 0.9% saline, and those in groups I, II, and III received ketorolac 0.5, 0.75, and 1.0 mg/kg mixed with 2 ml of 0.9% saline respectively. The tourniquet was released 2 minutes later. 2 mg/kg of 1% propofol bolus was then injected with an infusion pump intravenously. After 50 mg of propofol were injected, patients were assessed for visual analogue scale (VAS) scores and pain grades. RESULTS: VAS scores during propofol injection diminished significantly in group II (0.75 mg/kg ketorolac) and group III (1 mg/kg ketorolac) compared with the control (saline) group. CONCLUSIONS: Pretreatment with intravenous ketorolac more than 0.75 mg/kg during the 2 minutes tourniquet time can reduce pain elicited by profofol injection.
Arm ; Female ; Gynecologic Surgical Procedures ; Hand ; Humans ; Inflation, Economic ; Infusion Pumps ; Ketorolac* ; Propofol* ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases ; Tourniquets ; Veins

Pseudomembranous colitis (PMC) is a frequent cause of morbidity and mortality among hospitalized patients. Although diarrhea is the most common manifestation, PMC may be associated with intraperitoneal fluid accumulation in the severe cases. And a few cases showing both ascites and pleural effusion have been reported in patients with PMC. We report a case of PMC who showed elevated serum and ascites levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) with a normal CEA level in pleural effusion and who successfully recovered after oral administration of metronidazole. After treatment, the serum CEA level returned to the reference range.
Administration, Oral ; Ascites ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen* ; Diarrhea ; Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous* ; Humans ; Metronidazole ; Mortality ; Pleural Effusion ; Reference Values

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the usefulness of time-resolved contrast enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (4D MRA) after stent-assisted coil embolization by comparing it with time of flight (TOF)-MRA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: TOF-MRA and 4D MRA were obtained by 3T MRI in 26 patients treated with stent-assisted coil embolization (Enterprise:Neuroform = 7:19). The qualities of the MRA were rated on a graded scale of 0 to 4. We classified completeness of endovascular treatment into three categories. The degree of quality of visualization of the stented artery was compared between TOF and 4D MRA by the Wilcoxon signed rank test. We used the Mann-Whitney U test for comparing the quality of the visualization of the stented artery according to the stent type in each MRA method. RESULTS: The quality in terms of the visualization of the stented arteries in 4D MRA was significantly superior to that in 3D TOF-MRA, regardless of type of the stent (p < 0.001). The quality of the arteries which were stented with Neuroform was superior to that of the arteries stented with Enterprise in 3D TOF (p < 0.001) and 4D MRA (p = 0.008), respectively. CONCLUSION: 4D MRA provides a higher quality view of the stented parent arteries when compared with TOF.
Adult ; Aged ; Cerebral Arteries/pathology ; *Contrast Media ; *Embolization, Therapeutic ; Female ; Humans ; *Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Intracranial Aneurysm/*diagnosis/therapy ; *Magnetic Resonance Angiography/methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; *Stents ; Young Adult

T cell mediated immunity amlifies macrophage capacities to kill and digest the bacilli through production of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). The secreted cytokines of Th1 and Th2 cells can mutually regulate and inhibit each other's function. Therefore, the fine balance between the secreted cytokines is important for the resulting nature of tuberculosis. In this study, activation marker and cytokine production profiles were compared in patients with active tuberculosis and healthy control, and according to degree of radiographic extent and pleural involvement. METHOD:Forty-four patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis and 25 normal controls were recruited. We measuerd soluble interleukin-2 receptor(sIL-2R), IFN-r, IL-4 and IL-5 produced from blood mononuclear cells in vitro stimulation with phytohemagglutinin by ELISA. RESULTS: The sIL-2R and IFN-gamma from patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis were significantly lower than normal control, while IL-4 and IL-5 were not different between two group. The sIL-2R and IFN-r decreased in proportion to the extent of pulmonary involvement, and the sIL-2R and IFN-r from pulmonary tuberculosis with pleural effusion were significantly lower than those without pleural effusion. CONCLUSION: At the level of systemic T cells, development of tuberculosis is associated with diminished Th1 but not enhanced Th2 response.
Cytokines ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; Interferon-gamma ; Interleukin-2 ; Interleukin-4 ; Interleukin-5 ; Macrophages ; Pleural Effusion ; T-Lymphocytes ; Th2 Cells ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

Anatomic variations in the biliary tree may not be detected until adulthood and they can cause unexplained jaundice and biliary pain. Recognition of these anatomic variations is important to avoid an incorrect diagnosis and significant ductal injury during biliary surgery. Although there are numerous anatomic bile duct variations, an accessory cystic duct draining into the right hepatic duct is rare. We report a case of an accessory cystic duct draining into the right hepatic duct with cholelithiasis, in which the abnormality was identified by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography and confirmed by laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Bile Ducts ; Biliary Tract ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cholangiopancreatography, Magnetic Resonance ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic ; Cholecystitis ; Choledocholithiasis ; Cholelithiasis ; Cystic Duct* ; Diagnosis ; Hepatic Duct, Common ; Jaundice

BACKGROUND: Hemodynamic monitoring during aortic valve replacement in patients with aortic stenosis is controversial and there are little prospective data on which to base an enlightened clinical decision. The relationship between central venous pressure (CVP) and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) was examined in patients with aortic stenosis. METHODS: 30 patients with aortic stenosis who underwent aortic valve replacement were examined. For each patient, simultaneous measurements of CVP, pulmonary artery diastolic pressure (PADP) and PCWP were made at pre-and post-cardiopulmonary bypass. After cardiopulmonary bypass, measurement of left atrial pressure(LAP) was made. RESULTS: The PCWP correlated well with PADP(r=0.86 p<0.01, r=0.79 p<0.01) and LAP (r=0.89 p<0.01) at pre- and post-bypass. The CVP did not correlate with PADP(r=0.22 p>0.05, r=0.45 p>0.05), PCWP(r=0.39 p<0.01, r=0.53 p<0.01) and LAP(r=0.53 p<0.05) at pre- and post-bypass. The changes in CVP and PCWP also correlated poorly at pre- and post-bypass (r=0.16 p>0.05, r=0.51 p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study confirmed the disparities between CVP and PCWP which were anticipated in aortic stenosis. This disparity seems due to marked differences between either compliance or function of the two ventricles. Therefore, CVP monitoring in aortic stenosis is limited value and may mislead in management.
Aortic Valve ; Aortic Valve Stenosis* ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Central Venous Pressure* ; Compliance ; Heart ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Pulmonary Artery ; Pulmonary Wedge Pressure*

OBJECTIVE: To determine the utility of perfusion MR imaging in the differential diagnosis of brain tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-seven patients with pathologically proven brain tumors (21 high-grade gliomas, 8 low-grade gliomas, 8 lymphomas, 6 hemangioblastomas, 7 metastases, and 7 various other tumors) were included in this study. Relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) and time-to-peak (TTP) ratios were quantitatively analyzed and the rCBV grade of each tumor was also visually assessed on an rCBV map. RESULTS: The highest rCBV ratios were seen in hemangioblastomas, followed by high-grade gliomas, metastases, low-grade gliomas, and lymphomas. There was no significant difference in TTP ratios between each tumor group (p<0.05). At visual assessment, rCBV was high in 17 (81%) of 21 high-grade gliomas and in 4 (50%) of 8 low-grade gliomas. Hemangioblastomas showed the highest rCBV and lymphomas the lowest. CONCLUSION: Perfusion MR imaging may be helpful in the differentiation of thevarious solid tumors found in the brain, and in assessing the grade of the various glial tumors occurring there.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Analysis of Variance ; Blood Volume/physiology ; Brain/*pathology/physiopathology ; Brain Neoplasms/*pathology/physiopathology/secondary ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Human ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Age ; Time Factors