PURPOSE: To find characteristic MRI features of vermian medulloblastoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MRI studiesand medical records were retrospectively reviewed for 12 patients with surgically proven midline medulloblastoma. The assessment concerned appearance of the mass in relation to surrounding structures ; MR signal intensity ; the enhancement pattern ; the mass's location and size ; presence of a cystic/necrotic area, calcification, or vascular void ; extension through the foramen Luschka ; degree of hydrocephalus ; and presence of tonsillarherniation. RESULTS: The midline medulloblastoma commonly showed roundish moon-surface appearance, especially onthe axial T2-weighted images. All tumors showed heterogeneous signal intensities mainly due to intratumoralcystic/necrotic or hemorrhagic changes. The tumors were commonly located at mid- and/or inferior vermis. Occasionally the tumors extended through the foramen Luschka, and caused obstructive hydrocephalus of moderate tosevere degree. Post-con-trast study showed heterogeneous, dense contrast enhancement in the majority of patients. CONCLUSION: The MR finding of the moon-surface appearance formed by both the mass and the intratumoralcystic/necrotic change as seen on axial T2-weighted images could be helpful in the diagnosis of vermianmedulloblastoma.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Medical Records ; Medulloblastoma* ; Retrospective Studies

The six patients included in this study had painful dysesthesia, resulting from vascular lesions in or near the thalamus, confirmed by computerized tomography(CT) brain scan. Using hexamethyl propyleneamine oxime(HM-PAO) single photon emission computed tomography(SPECT) brain scanning, regional cerebral perfusion(rCP) was demonstrated. In contrast to three patients with lesions near the thalamus who showed symmetrical cortical radioactivity, the other three patients with thalamic lesions revealed decreased rCP in the ipsilateral cerebral cortex on HM-PAO brain SPECT. We thought that the loss of afferent activating stimuli from the thalamus led to decreased cortical neuronal activity and the following hypoperfusion. In patients with thalamic syndrome resulting from thalamic lesions, the role of the remote effect of the thalamic damage and consequent cortical deregulation in the development of thalamic pain and/or neuropsychological symptoms cannot be excluded completely.
Brain/*radionuclide imaging ; Female ; Human ; Male ; Middle Age ; Organotechnetium Compounds ; Oximes ; Pain/etiology ; Syndrome ; Technetium/diagnostic use ; Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime ; Thalamic Diseases/*radionuclide imaging ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

Focal fatty change of the liver is a nodular lesion which is a rarely described and poorly characterized entity. The hepatic nodule measured 1.4cm at its maximum diameter, was subcapsular in location and occurred adjacent to the falciform ligament. Microscopically it was composed of hepatic tissue with a preserved lobular architecture. The central venous structures and portal tracts with their triads were regularly placed. The cytoplasm of almost all of the hepatocytes within the nodule was replaced by macrovesicular fat vacuoles with the nuclei displaced. Several large abnormal vessels were found at the margin of the nodule. The nodule was discovered incidentally on postmortem examination of a female infant who proved, at autopsy, to have multiple cardiac anomalies and bronchopneumonia. The possible inadequate local tissue perfusion due to abnormal intrahepatic vessels at this particular location could be augmented by multiple cardiac anomalies culminating in focal ischemia and focal fatty change. When encountered in surgery or on gross examination, it could be confused with other space occupying lesions such as liver cell adenoma, abscess and metastatic lesions.
Fatty Liver/complications ; Fatty Liver/pathology* ; Female ; Heart Defects, Congenital/complications ; Hepatic Artery/abnormalities ; Human ; Infant

OBJECTIVES: MDM-2 is an oncoprotein that inhibits p53 tumor suppressor protein. Amplication and over- expression of its protein have been observed in human malignancies, and these abnormalities have a role in tumorigenesis through inactivation of p53 function. To elucidate the role of p53 and MDM-2 protein in cervical neoplasia we investigated the expression rates of MDM-2 and p53 protein in surgically resected specimens. METHEDS: Immunohistochemical studies using anti-p53 and anti-MDM-2 protein in the paraffin embedded section of 62 cases including cervical intraepithelial neoplasm(CIN) and invasive cervical cancer were performed. RESULTS: Expression rates of p53 protein were 25% in CIN I& CINII, 20% in CINIII, and 44% in invasive carcinoma, respectively. The MDM-2 protein were 33% in CIN I & CIN II, 16% in CIN III, and 48% in invasive carcinoma, respectively. There was no evident correlation between p53 positivity and MDM-2 positivity(p>0.05). However, correlation between MDM-2 negativity and p53 negativity was statistically significant(p=0.002) CONCLUSION: These data suggest that the expression of p53 protein is presumed to be necessarily correlated with MDM-2 protein expression in cervical neoplasia.
Carcinogenesis ; Humans ; Paraffin ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2* ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

Preoperative evaluation of metastasis to internal iliac lymph nodes are very important in the designing of the patient's therapeutic plan and the predicting the prognosis of carcinoma of the uterine cervix. Until now no study has reported on the subject of selective visualization of the internal iliac lymph nodes. Indirect lymphangiography is a simple method for evaluating local lymphatic system. The internal iliac lymph nodes can be visualized by combining indirect lymphangiography of the upper one-third area of the vagina and thin section CT scan. We applied this method to 25 cases of FIGO B and A stage of the carcinoma of the uterine cervix, and correlated our findings with results of radical abdominal hysterectomy, We were able to visualize the internal iliac lymph nodes in 24 cases out of 25, and their size range was 3-15 mm. No nodal metastasis were found in all the patients and these were varified by subsequent pathologic examination from radically dissected lymph nodes.
Cervix Uteri* ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Lymph Nodes* ; Lymphatic System ; Lymphography ; Methods* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed* ; Vagina

BACKGROUND: Elevated level of low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) is one of the major risk factors for the development of coronary heart disease. Direct LDL-C determination method by immunoseparation (DLDL-C) recently developed is claimed not to be influenced by food ingestion. We re-evaluated the effects of diet and storage conditions for this method. METHODS: Samples were collected from thirty-two medical college students before and after meal to study the effects of diet on this method. We compared the difference of LDL-C of filtered samples between refrigerated and frozen state. We also compared direct and indirect calculated measurements of LDL-C with ultracentrifugal beta-quantification (BQLDL-C) method. RESULTS: Morning 2-hour-postprandial specimen can be acceptable with no minimal significant bias, but afternoon 2-hour or 4-hour-postprandial specimen cannot be recommended due to significant negative bias (8.6-9.6%). Storage of filtered samples showed no significant difference between frozen and refrigerated state. Calculated LDL-C when triglyceride level is more than 400 mg/dL was not reliable due to large proportional and constant bias. In contrast, DLDL-C showed good accuracy comparing with BQLDL-C (y=0.909x+3.3, r=0.869, n=9, x=BQLDL-C, y=DLDL-C). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, morning two-hour postprandial specimens can be acceptable for DLDL-C, but afternoon postprandial specimens may not be recommended due to significant negative bias. DLDL-C seems to be reliable and useful especially for hypertriglyceridemic patients or follow-up cases of hypercholesterolemia with normal triglyceride or HDL-C levels.
Bias (Epidemiology) ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Coronary Disease ; Diet ; Eating* ; Fasting ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Meals ; Risk Factors ; Triglycerides ; Ultracentrifugation

Mycotic aneurysms of the intracavernous segment of the internal carotid artery secondary to cavernous sinus thrombophlebitis are exceedingly rare. The authors report a case with mycotic pseudoaneurysm in the cavernous portion of the internal carotid artery with clinical and angiographic evidence cavernous sinus thrombosis. The strikingly development of the pseudoaneurysms was demonstrated by digital subtraction angiography.
Aneurysm, False* ; Aneurysm, Infected ; Angiography, Digital Subtraction ; Carotid Artery, Internal* ; Cavernous Sinus Thrombosis* ; Cavernous Sinus*

BACKGROUND: Confirm the stability of intervertebral disc sustaining each fused lumbar spine cases, comparing vertical compression, A-P shear force and rotational moment on intervertebral disc of instrumented lumbar spine with simple vertical compression load and follower load using finite element analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyze the stability of intervertebral disc L4-5 supporting fused lumbar spine segments. After performing finite element modelling about L1-L5 lumbar vertebral column and L1-L4 each fusion level pedicle screw system for fused lumbar spine fine element model. Intervertebral discs with complex structure and mechanical properties was modeled using spring element that compensate stiffness and tube-to-tube contact element was employed to give follower load. Performing geometrical non-linear analysis. RESULTS: The differences of intervertebral disc L4-5 behavior under the follower compression load in comparision with vertical compression load are as follows. CONCLUSION: As a result of finite element interpretation of instrumented lumbar spine, the stability of L4-5 sustaining fused lumbar segment, the long level fused lumbar spine observed hing stability under follower load. This research method can be the basis tool of effects prediction for instrumentation, a invention of a more precious finite element interpretation model which consider the role of muscle around the spine is loaded.
Finite Element Analysis ; Intervertebral Disc* ; Inventions ; Spine*

BACKGROUND: Confirm the stability of intervertebral disc sustaining each fused lumbar spine cases, comparing vertical compression, A-P shear force and rotational moment on intervertebral disc of instrumented lumbar spine with simple vertical compression load and follower load using finite element analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyze the stability of intervertebral disc L4-5 supporting fused lumbar spine segments. After performing finite element modelling about L1-L5 lumbar vertebral column and L1-L4 each fusion level pedicle screw system for fused lumbar spine fine element model. Intervertebral discs with complex structure and mechanical properties was modeled using spring element that compensate stiffness and tube-to-tube contact element was employed to give follower load. Performing geometrical non-linear analysis. RESULTS: The differences of intervertebral disc L4-5 behavior under the follower compression load in comparision with vertical compression load are as follows. CONCLUSION: As a result of finite element interpretation of instrumented lumbar spine, the stability of L4-5 sustaining fused lumbar segment, the long level fused lumbar spine observed hing stability under follower load. This research method can be the basis tool of effects prediction for instrumentation, a invention of a more precious finite element interpretation model which consider the role of muscle around the spine is loaded.
Finite Element Analysis ; Intervertebral Disc* ; Inventions ; Spine*

No abstract available.
Angiography* ; Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy* ; Reflex*