PURPOSE: To identify the four layers based on intranodular vascular nature visible in multiphase incremental bolus dynamic CT and to determine any differential points according to various factors of liver abscess with this vascular nature or not. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We categonized 29 cases of confirmed liver abscess into three different groups according to presence of four layers visible in early phase(arterial phase) of CT. Three groups were compared in regard to the results of antiamebic antibody test and bacteriologic study and presense of cholangitic abscess and internal septation. RESULTS: We could separate four layers, innermost hypodense central cavitary lesion, hyperdense granular tissue, hypodense abscess wall and outermost hyperdense compensatory hypervascular zone in 18 cases(62%), only two layers, cavity and wall in six cases(21%), and characteristically we could find three layers without innermost cavitary lesion in five cases(17%). But we couldn't find significant correlations between various clinical factors of liver abscess and our vascular groups. CONCLUSION: Our method of CT could represent four layers based on vascularity in 62% of cases. And also could find the unusual inflammatory mass containing three layer which must be differentiated from other malignant solid mass. But we couldn't find differential point between various clinical factor of liver abscess and imaging diagnosis. We think that with the improvement of hardware such as spiral CT, identification of four layers will be earier and will be very helpful in early detection and proper treatment planning of liver abscess.
Abscess* ; Diagnosis ; Liver Abscess* ; Liver* ; Tomography, Spiral Computed

The presence and distribution of pan-neuroendocrine markers such as neuron-specific enolase (NSE), chromogranin (CG), and synaptophysin (SYP) were investigated by immunohistochemistry in 15 cases of neuroblastic tumors, including four cases of neuroblastomas, six cases of ganglioneuroblastomas, and five cases of ganglioneuromas. Three cases of normal sympathetic ganglion were used for the normal control group. NSE was observed in all cases and both in ganglion cells and in neuropils. NSE was detected not only in the majority of the neuroblasts showing signs of differentiation, but also in some poorly differentiated neuroblasts. All cases of neuroblastic tumors were positive for CG, however, some variability of staining intensity and distribution patterns were noted. CG was found mainly in differentiated neuroblasts with enlarged cytoplasm and nuclei along the periphery of the perikaria, and was also found in the perinuclear regions of some undifferentiated cells. SYP was positive in 9 of 11 cases. In all of the 9 cases, SYP was detected in some differentiating neuroblasts and differentiated neuroblasts, as well as the mature ganglion cells. However, it has scarcely stained in dot or granular pattern. Two CG-negative tumors were also negative for SYP. Our data indicate that antibodies against NSE and CG are helpful as a diagnostic aid for neuroblastic tumors.
Antibodies ; Cytoplasm ; Ganglia, Sympathetic ; Ganglion Cysts ; Ganglioneuroblastoma ; Ganglioneuroma ; Immunohistochemistry ; Neuroblastoma ; Neurons* ; Neuropil ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase* ; Synaptophysin*

Hemorrhagic cystitis is potentially life-threatening sequellae of chemotherapy using oxazaphosphorine alkylating agents (cyclophosphamide and ifosfamide). Mesna contains a sulfhydryl group that is believed to bind acrolein within the urinary collecting system and reduce the hemorrhagic cystitis without affecting the chemotherapeutic potential. To date, about thirty cases of hypersensitivity or allergic reactions of the delayed and urticarial type associated with mesna have been reported. We reported two patients with systemic lupus erythematosus who developed facial rash and flushing associated with mesna which imitate malar rash.
Acrolein ; Alkylating Agents ; Cyclophosphamide ; Cystitis ; Drug Therapy ; Exanthema* ; Flushing ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity* ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Mesna*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:Traditionally, down beat nystagmus is regarded as a sign of central nervous system dysfunction. But, several years has passed since Herdman et al reported the down beat nystagmus developed during treatment maneuvers for posterior semicircular canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo(BPPV). We undertook this study to evaluate the character and clinical analysis of the positional or positioning down beat nystagmus, to discuss the clinical significance of positional or positioning down beat nystagmus as a diagnostic criteria of superior semicircular canal BPPV, and to propose the new treatment method. MATERIALS AND METHOD:From November 1999 to March 2004, we sampled the 103 patients with positional or positioning down beat nystagmus. Of these patients, we selected 16 patients except for the patients with central nervous system dysfunction, nonspecific or artifact result, idiopathic origin. RESULTS:All of 16 patients had no sign and radiologic result of central nervous system disorder. 10 patients was reported or suspected the diagnosis of posterior semicircular canal BPPV. Fatigability was reported in 9 patients and reversibility was reported in 1 patient. Average latency was checked less than 2 seconds. CONCLUSION:Although the diagnostic criteria of superior semicircular canal BPPV that we reported was not controversial, we expect that this criteria is useful in diagnosis for patients with atypical positional or positioning down beat nystagmus. And the new treatment method that we reported will has the better results than previous method.
Artifacts ; Central Nervous System ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Semicircular Canals ; Vertigo*

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a transmembrane glycoprotein whose expression is a possible cause of increased tumor cell proliferation and has recently been proposed as a prognostic parameter in some tumors. Expression of EGFR was studied immunohistochemically in 62 cases of human renal cell carcinomas to evaluate their possible prognostic roles. We also examined the correlation between EGFR expression and cell proliferation by immunohistochemical staining for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Fifty-six cases (90.3%) expressed EGFR, with staining largely confined to the cell membrane and cytoplasm. Staining intensity of EGFR was directly correlated with nuclear grade (p=0.000) and TNM stage (p=0.015). PCNA index was significantly higher in EGFR-positive tumors than in EGFR- negative tumors. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between PCNA index and increasing staining intensity of EGFR (p=0.000). In univariate survival analysis, EGFR expression was significantly associated with shortened survival. However, EGFR expression was not an independent prognostic factor by multivariate analysis. These findings suggest that EGFR expression may be an important cause of tumor cell proliferation in renal cell carcinoma and further studies are needed to evaluate whether EGFR expression analysis provides independent prognostic information.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Cell Membrane ; Cell Proliferation* ; Cytoplasm ; Epidermal Growth Factor* ; Glycoproteins ; Humans ; Multivariate Analysis ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor*

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanism of endothelium-dependent and independent responses to endothelins (ETs) in porcine coronary artery. METHODS: The vascular rings of left anterior descending artery or left circumflex artery from 7 pigs were suspended in conventional organ chambers for the measurement of isometric force. To evaluate relaxation responses, vascular rings with endothelium were exposed to ET-1 and ET-3. To evaluate contraction responses, vascular rings with and without endothelium were exposed to ET-1 and ET-3 in the presence or absence of BQ 123 (ET(A) receptor antagonist) or TAK-044 (ET(A) and ET(B) receptor antagonist). RESULTS: Transient relaxation responses of vascular rings occurred after exposure of ET-1 and ET-3. These transient responses disappeared after preincubation with N-nitro-L arginine. There was an increased contractions of vascular rings according to increasing concentration of ET-1 and ET-3. The initial responses were enhanced in vascular rings without endothelium in ET-1 and ET-3. In vascular rings with endothelium, the contraction responses were more reduced in vascular rings with preincubation of BQ 123 than in vascular rings without BQ 123 in ET-1. In vascular rings without endothelium, the contraction responses were more reduced in vascular rings with preincubation of TAK-044 than in vascular rings without TAK-044 in ET-1. CONCLUSION: ET(B) receptor on the endothelium might mediate the transient vasodilator responses to ET-1 and ET-3 through release of nitric oxide in porcine coronary artery. ET(A) and ET(B) receptor on vascular smooth muscle cells might mediate vasoconstrictor responses to ETs.
Arginine ; Arteries ; Coronary Vessels* ; Endothelins* ; Endothelium ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; Nitric Oxide ; Receptors, Endothelin ; Relaxation ; Swine

No abstract available.
Follow-Up Studies* ; Hyperbilirubinemia, Neonatal*

No abstract available.

Acute myocardial infarction after a bee sting is a very rare process. Among proposed mechanisms, vasospasm of the coronary artery is the most probable mechanism. Many mediators are included in the venom of wasps, and those mediators have vasoconstrictive properties and may constrict the coronary artery. Furthemore, those mediators have thrombogenic properties that lead to thrombogenesis in the coronary artery and aggravate myocardial ischemia. Epinephrine, commonly used in the management of anaphylactic shock, may further aggravate myocardial ischemia. We experienced two cases of acute myocardial infarction after a bee sting. In the first case, we could find no underlying abnormalities of the coronary vessel because the patient died during coronary angiography. In the second case, the electrocardiogram showed inferior wall myocardial infarction, but only mild stenosis of the right coronary artery was seen in coronary angiography.
Anaphylaxis ; Bees* ; Bites and Stings* ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Vessels ; Electrocardiography ; Epinephrine ; Humans ; Inferior Wall Myocardial Infarction ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Venoms ; Wasps

Augumentation rhinoplasty using autogenous cranial bone graft (outer table) can be used more successfully than other methods. In patients with congenital or posttraumatic severe saddle nose deformity and lateral deviation, cranial bone graft is an excellent method of augumentation. The advantages of cranial bone graft compared with traditional method of bone graft are summarized as follows; 1. Easy to reach donor site 2. Abundance of material 3. Little pain and functional disability 4. Shorter hospitalization period 5. Inconspicuous donor scar 6. No secondary deformity of donor site 7.Appropriate curvature can be obtained by proper selection of donor site. With the above advantages, we conclude that augumentation rhinoplasty using split cranial bone graft is a good method in correction of congenital or posttraumatic deformity of nose.
Cicatrix ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Methods ; Nose ; Rhinoplasty* ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants*