PURPOSE: Pilomatrixoma is a benign, usually asymptomatic tumor. It presents clinically as a solitary superficial subcutaneous nodule measuring between 0.5 cm and 5 cm in diameter on the head or upper extremeties and has not been reported after skin graft. The objective of this article is to report our experience in treating pilomatrixoma which occurred after split thickness skin graft on the lower extremity. METHODS: A 56-year-old female was treated in August 2005 with a 0.5 X 0.5 cm firm subcutaneous nodule at recipient site of split thickness skin graft on the left medial thigh. The tumor was successfully removed by complete excision and histologic examination was followed. RESULTS: The diagnosis was pilomatrixoma which was characterized by a dual population of proliferating basophilic cells and diagnostic shadow cells. CONCLUSION: The tumor was successfully treated by complete resection. The authors report this very rare case of pilomatrixoma which occurred at recipient site of split thickness skin graft.
Basophils ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Head ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Middle Aged ; Pilomatrixoma* ; Skin* ; Thigh ; Transplants*

BACKGROUND: Although anticardiolipin antibody(aCL)-related stroke is far more frequently identified in younger populations, the role of aCL in the pathogenesis of cerebral infarction may be important also in the old, stroke-prone population. We studied the clinical profiles of aCL- related stroke in elderly patient to look at its role on the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke. METHODS: We analyzed unselected patients with acute ischemic stroke and age matched controls for the presence of aCL, prospectively. Also, we studied the characteristics of these patients based on the conventional risk factors and other clinical, laboratory and radiological features in them. RESULTS: aCL was positive 30 (14.7%) of 203 stroke patients, but 11 (6.1%) in 193 control patients. The proportion of patients having more than one of the risk factors was significantly greater in aCL-positive (24/30, 80.0%) than in aCL-negative patients (100/173, 57.8%). The incidence of aCL positivity was significantly greater in patients having one or more risk factors (24/124, 19.3%) than in patients not having any of the risks (6/79, 7.6%). Two of the patients had prolonged aPTT, and only one had a lupus anticoagulant. A positive ANA and false-positive VDRL were not found in our patients. Radiological findings confer subcortical infarction. CONCLUSION: The elevated aCL are a risk marker for stroke also in the elderly population. Our aCL-positive patients generally had multiple risk factors for stroke and are associated with subcortical infarctions, contrary to previous studies. The role of aCL as a disease marker for ischemic stroke in elderly patients warrants further investigations.
Aged* ; Antibodies, Anticardiolipin* ; Cerebral Infarction ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Stroke*

No abstract available.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Humans ; Soil*

This study was designed to evaluate the potential application of MRI in differentiating static blood from thrombus, age-related changes of thrombus and the signal differences of the intravascular thrombus in various pulse sequences. External jugular vein was ligated at both upper and lower ends to form a static blood column, and thrombin was injected into the column to cause venous thrombosis in a total of 15 mongrel dogs. The MR images were obtained with T1-and T2-weighted spin echo and gradient echo techniques, immediately after the formation of static blood and after 2 hour, 1 day, 1 week, 2 weeks and 4 weeks of the formation of thrombus at a 2.0T MR unit. The signal intensities of the thrombus and adjacent muscles were compared stubjectively, and the signal intensity ratio was compared objectively by the measurement of the signal intensities using a cursor. The MRI findings were compared with histologic findings. The signal intensities of static blood were hyperintense in all pulse sequences, and those of 2-hour, 1-day and 1-week-old thrombi were hyperintense in all pulse sequences. The number of experimental thrombi which showed isointensity on T1-and T2-weighted image, and hypointensity on gradient echo image increased as thrombi aged. The signal intensities of 2-week-old thrombus were isointense on T1-weighted image, hyperintense on T2-weighted image, and hypointense on gradient echo image, while those of 4-week-old thrombus were isointense on T1-weighted and T2-weighted image, and hypointense on gradient echo image in most experimental thrombi. There was a tendency to decrease in a signal intensity ratio as thrombi aged on T1-weighted, T2-weighted and gradient echo images(P<0.01) Histologically, thrombus was not formed and lumen was filled with many red blood cells(RBCs) in 2-hour-old specimen, but fibrin mesh was visible and RBCs decreased in number in 1-day-old specimen. In 1-week-old specimen, vessel was contracted and lumen was filled with thombus, RBCs, platelets, many fibrins and capillary-like strucrutes. The histologic findings of 2-week-old thrombus were similar to those of 1-week-old one except calcification. In 4-week-old specimen, vessels were contracted and lumen was obliterated with fibrosis and organization of the thrombus. Therefore, it is possible to diagnose thrombus, and to assess sequential changes of MRI findings of thrombus by using all pulse sequences, and these results can be essential bases for the interpretation of MR images of patients with venous thrombosis.
Animals ; Dogs* ; Fibrin ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Jugular Veins ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Muscles ; Thrombin ; Thrombosis ; Venous Thrombosis*

This case report describes a patient with semipedunclated granuylar cell tumor(granular cell myoblastoma) of the proximal ascending colon removed by endoscopic polypectomy. A 39-year old femalie was visited to our hospital for intermittent abdominal pain and loose stool. Colonoscopic examination showed a semipedunclated lesion covered with yellowish white smooth mucosa in the proximal ascending colon. The tumor was removed by endoscopic polypectomy. The collected specimen was 0.9x0.8 cm in size. The cut surface of the specimen showed a white round firm tumor covered with mormal epithelium of the colon. Using immunohistochemical study, the tumor cells were to be positively stained by S-100 protein and negatively stained by desmin, which supports the concept of the Schwann cell origin of granular cell tumor. In Korea, 2 cases of granular cell tumor of the colon and rectum, which were treated by surgical removal, have been reported. This case in the first endoscopic polypectomy of granular cell tumor of the colon and retum in Korea. The endoscopic polypectomy is thought to be useful for the therapy of small pedunclated or semipedunclated granular cell tumor, intracolonic type.
Abdominal Pain ; Adult ; Colon ; Colon, Ascending* ; Desmin ; Epithelium ; Granular Cell Tumor* ; Humans ; Korea ; Mucous Membrane ; Rectum ; S100 Proteins

PURPOSE: Persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN) is considered an important prognostic factor in meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS). The aim of this study was to determine the comorbid risk factors for PPHN in infants with MAS. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 60 infants diagnosed with MAS and admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of the Sanggye Paik Hospital from January 2007 to April 2013. There were 28 infants (47%) with PPHN and 32 infants (53%) without PPHN. Clinical characteristics, laboratory findings within 24 hours after birth, and initial capillary blood gas analysis results were compared between infants with and without PPHN. RESULTS: Incidence of PPHN was associated with the severity of MAS (P<0.001). The PPHN group had a greater incidence of hypotension and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy within 24 hours of birth compared to the non-PPHN group. The PPHN group also had a lower initial pH. However, there was no significant difference for laboratory findings within 24 hours of birth and initial capillary blood gas analysis. In the multivariate analysis, hypotension within 24 hours of birth (P=0.046, odds ratio 11.494, 95% confidence interval 1.048-125.00) was found to be a significant comorbid factor for PPHN in infants with MAS. CONCLUSION: Infants with MAS who develop hypotension within 24 hours of birth should be closely monitored for development of PPHN.
Blood Gas Analysis ; Capillaries ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Hypertension, Pulmonary* ; Hypotension ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; Incidence ; Infant* ; Infant, Newborn* ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Meconium Aspiration Syndrome* ; Multivariate Analysis ; Odds Ratio ; Parturition ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors*

This study was conducted to evaluate prevalence of intestinal helminthic infections and skin tests and Paragonimus and Clonorchis in tuberculosis(TB) patients in Korea. Stool examinations by formalin-ether technique and intradermal tests were carried out in 2 areas; Masan TB hospital and Kong-Ju TB hospital. The positive rate of intestinal helminths of any kind was 51.7 percent among 329 patients in Masan hospital, but 18.1 percent among 215 patients in Kong-Ju hospital. The infection rates of Trichocephalus trichiurus and Clonorchis sinensis were 20.7 percent and 17.6 percent respectively in Masan hospital patients, but the infection rates of T. trichiurus and C. sinensis were 6.5 percent and 6.0 percent respectively in Kong-Ju hospital patients. In skin tests, positive reactions to Paragonimus and Clonorchis antigens were 22.0 percent and 37.6 percent respectively in Masan hospital patients. On the contrary, Kong-Ju hospital patients showed the positive rates of 15.2 percent for Paragonimus and 27.2 percent for Clonorchis respectively.
parasitology-helminth-trematoda ; Ascaris lumbricoides ; Trichuris trichiura ; hookworm ; Trichostrongylus orientalis ; Clonorchis sinensis ; Paragonimus westermani ; Metagonimus yokogawai ; Taenis sp. ; Hymneolepis nana ; epidemiology ; skin test

Intracranial mycotic aneurysms due to Aspergillus species are extremely uncommon but fatal. A medium-sized ruptured intracranial aneurysm at the middle cerebral artery bifurcation was identified in a 50-year-old female patient. Proper microsurgical clipping was not feasible due to the aneurysm's friable nature. Microsuture and wrapping were done instead. Histological findings confirmed a mycotic aneurysm caused by Aspergillus. Herein, we report on the clinical course and histopathological findings with a relevant literature review.
Aneurysm, Infected ; Aspergillus ; Female ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Middle Aged ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Sulpiride, a selective antagonist for adenylate cyclase-independent dopamine receptors, was administrated to 25 patients with blepharospasm and oromandibular dystonia(Meige's syndrome). Of the 25, 7 patients (28%) exhibited marked and lasting improvement with sulpiride and 12 patients (48%) showed mild or transient improvement. This favorable therapeutic response to sulpiride suggests that striatal glutamate underactivity may play a role in the pathophysiology of Meige's syndrome as a primary or secondary defect.
Adult ; Aged ; Basal Ganglia Diseases/*drug therapy ; Corpus Striatum/metabolism ; Dopamine/metabolism ; Female ; Glutamates/metabolism ; Glutamic Acid ; Human ; Male ; Meige Syndrome/*drug therapy/metabolism ; Middle Age ; Sulpiride/*therapeutic use

PURPOSE: This study was designed to determine the recurrence rate, the recurrence time after surgical correction of intermittent exotropia and the relationships between the factors and the surgical outcome of intermittent exotropia. METHODS: The surgical results were retrospectively investigated in 210 patients who had undergone surgery for intermittent exotropia with at least 3 months (average 26.3 months, range 1~65 months) after surgical correction. Surgical success was defined as a final distance and near deviation less than 10PD at primary position. Overcorrection was defined as a final distance and near esodeviation more than 10PD at primary position over 3 months. Recurrence was defined as a final distance and near exodeviation more than 10PD at primary position. We investigated the recurrence rate according to the follow-up duration with survival analysis. RESULTS: Out of 210 patients, surgical success was achieved in 130 patients (61.9%), overcorrection was achieved in 7 patients (3.3%) and recurrence occurred in 73 patients (34.8%). As a result of surgical analysis, survival period (the time interval from onset to initial surgery) was from 1 to 65 months (mean 21.3 months). As the follow-up duration increased, the recurrence rate increased progressively. The factors including age at diagnosis, age at onset, age at surgery contribute significantly to the early recurrence. The factors including exodeviation at postoperative 1 day and 1 week, duration of exotropia contribute significantly to the late recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: The factors including age, exodeviation at postoperative 1 day and 1 week, duration of exotropia and follow-up duration did contribute significantly to the recurrence. By these factors, we can estimate the proper time of surgery and the prognosis after surgical correction of intermittent exotropia.
Diagnosis ; Esotropia ; Exotropia* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Recurrence* ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Analysis