We report a case of squamous metaplasia of the pleura observed in a 51 year old man. Squamous metaplasia of serosal surface, and in particular of the pleura, is uncommon. The pathogenesis of squamous metaplasia is obscure, but it may be associated with chronic irritation.

No abstract available.
Infant, Newborn ; Meconium Aspiration Syndrome* ; Meconium* ; Mortality ; Suction*

Carotidynia is defined as an atypical craniofacial pain syndrome caused by the dilatation or distension of the extracranial arteries. We report an unusual case of carotidynia mimicking trigeminal neuralgia caused by an arterioscle-rotic tortous carotid artery. A 68-year-old woman suffered from frequent episodes of severe electrical shock-like radiating pain around her left ophthalmic and maxillary division of the trigeminal nerve for 5 years. Initially, under the impression of trigeminal neuralgia, carbamazepine was tried. She was reevaluated due to an unsatisfactory pharmacological response. On examination, no abnormalities were found on the craniofacial region except for a tortous pulsating tender mass on the region of the left carotid artery. Routine laboratory findings and a connective tissue study were normal. Neck sonography and a 4-vessel angiography showed a tortous left internal carotid artery with stenosis extending near to the skin. The patient was treated for 2 weeks with a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent, steroids, a prophylctic beta blocker, and a TCA antidepressant. The pain gradually subsided.
Aged ; Angiography ; Arteries ; Carbamazepine ; Carotid Arteries ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Connective Tissue ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Dilatation ; Facial Neuralgia ; Female ; Humans ; Neck ; Skin ; Steroids ; Trigeminal Nerve ; Trigeminal Neuralgia*

The limb-body wall malformation complex is a sporadic congenital anomaly characterized by protean manifestations. The diagnosis is based upon the presence of at least two out of craniofacial anomaly, body wall defect, and limb abnormalities. We present a case of limb-body wall malformation complex. This case shows abdominal and pelvic wall defects with eventration of the viscera. It also shows an absence of right kidney, polycystic left kidney, absence of external genitalia and anus, and lower extremity abnormalities. The right lower extremity is absent and the deformed left leg shows malformed foot-like structure attached to the shin in addition to a normally positioned left foot. Our patient is the first case of complete absence of the external genitalia associated with limb-body wall malformation complex in Korean publications and the seventh in English publications.

It has been known that the interconnection between the gervous, endocrine and immune system are largely mediated through regulatory soluble factors such as neruopeptides, cytokines and hormones. Capsaicin, the pungent principle of hot peppers, is a neurotoxin that affects primary sensory neurons of the C and A-b type and depletes primary sensory neurons (polymodal nociceptors) of neuropeptides like tachykinin. In this study capsaicin was used to explore the possible role of the neruons on the expression of cellular and humoral immune responses and TNF-a prodcution. Mice were pretreated with s.c. injections in the neck region with a single dose of 100 u,g of capsaicin per mouse before immunization. ...continue...
Anaphylaxis* ; Animals ; Capsaicin* ; Carcinogenesis* ; Cytokines ; Immune System ; Immunity, Humoral ; Immunization ; Mice* ; Neck ; Neuropeptides ; Sensory Receptor Cells ; Tachykinins

Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance(MGUS) is one of the monoclonal plasma cell disorder. According to the recent reports, polyneuropathy associated with MGUS may be treatable disease due to potential relationship between the monoclonal protein and immune-mediated nerve damage. It is reported that plasmapheresis is highly effective in the treatment of polyneuropathy associated with IgG type MGUS. We present 53-year-old male with slowly progressive motor weakness and sensory change since 1 year ago. Electrophysiologic studies were compatible with demyelinating neuropathy showing conduction block and temporal dispersion in upper and lower extremities. Abnormal arc against anti-lamda on serum immunoelectrophoresis and M-band in the gamma region on serum protein electrophoresis were shown. After the combined therapy of plasmapheresis (5 times) and steroid, clinical and electrophysiologic findings were markedly improved. We report a case of demyelinating neuropathy associated with IgG lamda type MGUS, which showed good response to combined therapy of plasmapheresis and steroid.
Electrophoresis ; Humans ; Immunoelectrophoresis ; Immunoglobulin G* ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance* ; Paraproteinemias* ; Plasma Cells ; Plasmapheresis ; Polyneuropathies

BACKGROUND: Neointimal hyperplasia, as the most important mechanism of restenosis after intracoronary artery stenting, its severity is closely correlated with the degree of local inflammatory reaction initiated by vasular injury during stenting procedure. So, we proceeded this study to determine whether inflammatory markers such as CD11b/CD18 (Mac-1) adehsion molecules of neutrophils, sICAM-1 (soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1), ESR, and CRP increase or not in the peripheral circulation after coronary artery stenting, and whether there is any association between these findings and the degree of later restenosis. METHOD: 32 patients (chronic stable angina 4, unstable angina 17, acute myocardial infarction 11) underwent single vessel coronary artery stenting were enrolled in our study. Blood samples were obtained from peripheral vein just before coronary artery stenting and 48 hours thereafter. The degrees of CD11b/CD18 expression on the surface of neutrophils were analyzed by flow cytometry with monoclonal antibodies, and sICAM-1 by ELISA method. At each times, ESR and CRP were also measured. Follow-up coronary artery angiography was performed with QCA analysis at least 6 months later. We compared the each 48 hours values with the baseline (just before procedure) values. Percentage increments (as a ratio 48 hours values to baseline) of CD11b/CD18 expression, sICAM-1, ESR, and CRP levels were also compared with the results of follow-up QCA analysis. RESULTS: Restenosis (diameter stenosis > or = 50%) occurred in 6 patients (19%) at follow up angiography. 48 hours values of CD11b/CD18 expression, sICAM-1, ESR, and CRP were significantly elevated from the baseline values (each p values, CD11b : < 0.0001, CD18 : 0.01, sICAM-1 : < 0.0001, ESR : 0.005, and CRP : 0.001). The percentage increments of CD11b/CD18 expression were more elevated in restenosis group than nonrestenosis group (CD11b : 341+/-215%/74+/-95%, CD18 : 84+/-60%/17+/-37%, each p < 0.001, 0.001). There was some positive correlation between the percentage increments in the expression of CD11b and the late loss index at the follow up angiography (r=.43, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Through this study, we found that the activation of neutrophils was occurred, and that sICAM-1 level was increased after coronary artery stenting in the peripheral blood. There was some correlations between the degree of CD11b expression on the surface of neutrophils and the severity of late lumen loss of inserted stents. The measurements of increased neutrophil adhesion molecules of CD11b/CD18 levels at 48hrs after coronary stenting may have a value as the predictor of subsequent late restenosis.
Angina, Stable ; Angina, Unstable ; Angiography ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Arteries ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Vessels* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Flow Cytometry ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Myocardial Infarction ; Neutrophils* ; Stents* ; Veins

No abstract available.
Plasma Exchange* ; Plasma* ; Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic*

No abstract available.
Anemia* ; Hypothyroidism*

Thirty cases of kikuchi's lymphadenitis, diagnosed by fine needle aspiration cytology, were reviewed to determine the main cytologic features helpful in reaching a diagnosis. The patients(mean age 26.6 years. male: female=1:3.8) presented with lymphadenopathy(cervical 24, submandibular 3, and axillary 1) with or without fever and local tenderness. Excisional biopsy was done for confirmation in 5 cases and the remaining 25 cases showed the similar cytologic and clinical features. In the aspiration smears of all cases. there was a heterogenous cellular mixture including frequent extracellular karyorrhectic nuclear debris, phagocytic histiocytes, plasmacy toid monocytes, and a variable number of polymorphous lymphocytes such as immunoblasts. activated large lymphocytes, and small mature lymphocytes, The characteristic cytologic features of kikuchi's lymphadenitis were the following: (1) frequent extracelluar karyorrhectic nuclear debris in the background: (2) phagocytic histiocytes with eccentrically placed crescentic nuclei and abundant pale cytoplasm containing phagocytized karyorrhectic debris: (3) plasmacytoid monocytes, which were medium-sized cells with eccentrically placed round nuclei and amphophilic cytoplasm: (4) no neutrophilic background.
Biopsy ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle* ; Cytoplasm ; Diagnosis ; Fever ; Histiocytes ; Humans ; Lymphadenitis* ; Lymphocytes ; Male ; Monocytes ; Neutrophils