Primary malignant fibrous histocytoma (MFH) of pleura is very rare. Upon microscopic examination, the tumor was characterized by storiform pattern of growth and intense, diffuse immunostaining for alpha l-antichymotripsin. We report a case of primary malignant pleural fibers histiocytoma with extension to lung, which was managed by complete excision of pleural mass and lobectomy with thoracoplasty.
Histiocytoma ; Histiocytoma, Malignant Fibrous* ; Lung ; Pleura* ; Thoracoplasty

BACKGROUND: Majority of patients with mitral valve disease and chronic atrial fibrillation can resume sinus rhythm with the maze procedure. The purpose of this study is to identify mid-term outcome and possibility of recurrent atrial fibrillation in the patients who underwent mitral valve operation and the maze procedure. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A retrospective study was undertaken on 11 consecutive patients(including 10 patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease) operated on for mitral valve disease and chronic atrial fibrillation. Maze II and its modified procedure were performed in 6 patients and maze III and its modified procedures in 5 patients. Postoperative left atrial contractility was compared between the patients that underwent mitral valve operation and maze procedure and the patients with mitral valve procedure and medication of anti-arrhythmic drugs. RESULT: Five(83.3%) of 6 patients with maze II procedure and all 5 patients(100%) with maze III procedure resumed sinus rhythm. In 1(20%) of 5 patients with sinus rhythm after maze II procedure and 2(40%) of 5 patients with sinus rhythm after maze III procedure, atrial fibrillation recurred 23, 2, and 13 months after the operations, respectively. None of three patients with the modified procedure had recurrence of atrial fibrillation. Of 3 patients with recurrent atrial fibrillation, 2 patients resumed sinus rhythm and 1 still had atrial fibrillation. After the maze procedures, only 4 (40%) of 10 patients with sinus rhythm presented left atrial contraction, and their mean velocity of mitral 'A' wave was lower than that of the patients who resumed sinus rhythm with only valve replacement and anti-arrhythmic drugs. CONCLUSION: Although the maj ority of patients with mitral valve disease and chronic atrial fibrillation can resume sinus rhythm with the maze procedure associated with mitral valve operation, atrial fibrillation may recur in mid-term. Also, the left atrial contractility may be very poor in patients who resumed sinus rhythm with maze procedure.
Atrial Fibrillation* ; Humans ; Mitral Valve ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies

A specimen of Beauveria bassiana was collected from Yang-yang of Gangwon province, Korea in October 2006. Conidial isolates were prepared from the specimen by the dilution method and inoculated in brown rice medium for fruiting body production. After nearly two months incubation for perithecial stromata developed from single isolates as well as from their combinations. They were determined as Cordyceps bassiana by observing the stromatal characters and their conidial structures. This is the first report of the development of C. bassiana from B. bassiana cultures.
Beauveria ; Cordyceps ; Fruit ; Korea

We report a rare case of an idiopathic pseudoaneurysm causing intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH). A 28-year-old man presented with sudden onset of severe headache. He underwent external ventricular drainage for an isolated IVH in the right lateral ventricle. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) revealed that the aneurysm (7.5x4.5 mm) arose from the distal part of the medial lenticulostriate artery. Following removal of the external ventricular drainage catheter, the aneurysm decreased in size (4.0x2.3 mm). However, follow-up DSA revealed a slightly enlarged aneurysm (4.2x3.2 mm) with morphologic change. The aneurysm was clipped via the interhemispheric transcallosal approach, but postoperative DSA revealed a residual aneurysm sac beside the clips. Given the risk of rebleeding, a second operation was planned for complete resection of the aneurysm. After revised craniotomy and careful dissection of the caudate nucleus, the aneurysm sac was completely resected. Histopathological examination revealed that the aneurysm was a pseudoaneurysm. The patient recovered without any neurological sequel and was discharged. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of an idiopathic lenticulostriate artery pseudoaneurysm protruding into the right lateral ventricle and causing an IVH that was successfully treated with microsurgical resection.
Adult ; Aneurysm ; Aneurysm, False ; Angiography, Digital Subtraction ; Arteries ; Catheters ; Caudate Nucleus ; Craniotomy ; Drainage ; Follow-Up Studies ; Headache ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Lateral Ventricles

Several different diseases may have an associated exudative pleural effusion. In a patient with a pleural effusion of unknown origin, a possibility of intra-abdominal abscess should always be considered, especially in a patient who has the past history of abdominal surgery or procedure. We describe a 5-year-old male patient who had been operated for congenital hydrocephalus with ventriculo-peritoneal shunt insertion at 15 months old, admitted to our hospital with complaints of headache and edema of valvular area. Brain CT scan revealed shunt disconnection, and he was operated for insertion of new shunt catheter. Seven days after first operation, he presented fever, abdominal pain and distension. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed bowel adhesion and peritonitis. Staphylococcus epidermidis was isolated by aspiration of shunt valve and reservior, repeatedly. He should have had another 2 operations of peritoneal lavage and catheter change for shunt infection associated peritonitis. Eight days after the 3rd operation, he complained newly developed left shoulder, left chest pain and fever up to 39 degrees C. His chest x-ray revealed pleural effusion on the left side. Though antibiotic therapy was already being conducted, the left pleural effusion and fever aggravated. Repeated ultrasonography disclosed an occult left subphrenic abscess, explaining the fever and left pleural effusion on the radiograph. Fourth operation of abscess drainage and infected shunt removal with extraventricular drainage was done. After the operation, his fever and pleural effision were rapidly disappered, and postoperative CSF culture was negative. A review of ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection associated with subphrenic abscess and pleural effusion was discussed.
Abdominal Abscess ; Abdominal Pain ; Abscess ; Brain ; Catheters ; Chest Pain ; Child, Preschool ; Drainage ; Edema ; Fever ; Headache ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Infant ; Male ; Peritoneal Lavage ; Peritonitis ; Pleural Effusion* ; Shoulder ; Staphylococcus epidermidis ; Subphrenic Abscess* ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography ; Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt*

Ganoderma lucidum has a long history of use as a traditional medicine in Asian countries. However, the taxonomy of Ganoderma species remains controversial, since they were initially classified on the basis of their morphological characteristics. Recently, it was proposed that G. lucidum from China be renamed as G. sichuanense or G. lingzhi. In the present study, phylogenetic analysis using the internal transcribed spacer region rDNA sequences of the Ganoderma species indicated that all strains of the Korean 'G. lucidum' clustered into one group together with G. sichuanense and G. lingzhi from China. However, strains from Europe and North American, which were regarded as true G. lucidum, were positioned in a clearly different group. In addition, the average size of the basidiospores from the Korean cultivated Yeongji strains was similar to that of G. lingzhi. Based on these results, we propose that the Korean cultivated Yeongji strains of 'G. lucidum' should be renamed as G. lingzhi.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; China ; Classification ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Europe ; Ganoderma ; Humans ; Korea* ; Medicine, Traditional ; Phylogeny ; Reishi

Single ascospore isolates of Cordyceps bassiana were observed for their colony pigmentation on Sabouraud Dextrose agar plus Yeast Extract (SDAY) plates and were inoculated in a brown rice medium for production of fruiting bodies. Colony pigmentation did not show any relationship with perithecial stromata formation. The isolates were also grown on opposite sides of SDAY agar plates and were observed for vegetative compatibility. Neither vegetative compatibility nor perithecial stromata could be found to be related to each other. It was concluded that fertile fruiting body production was independent of colony pigmentation and vegetative compatibility. Synnemata formation was found to be more common than perithecial stromata formation. This might be due to its highly conidiogenous anamorphic stage, i.e., Beauveria bassiana.
Agar ; Beauveria ; Cordyceps ; Cultural Characteristics ; Fruit ; Glucose ; Pigmentation ; Yeasts

Aino virus infection is characterized by abortion, stillbirth, and congenital abnormalities such as arthropgryposis-hydranencephaly syndrome in calves. In Korea, Aino virus infection was first reported in 1997 by researchers who were investigating the cause of newborn calf deformities. Given the incidence of Aino-related deformities, the need for a study of the Aino virus infection status in Korea was recognized. In this study, we investigated the nationwide seroepidemiological status of Aino virus infection. A total of 9,921 serum samples collected between 1993 and 2001, and 23,760 serum samples between 2002 and 2007 were tested using a virus neutralization assay. The seroprevalence of Aino virus was 73.1, 63.8, 44.9, 56.0, 38.5, 28.4 18.3, 19.6, and 23.2%, respectively, between 1993 and 2001, and 43.8, 42.9, 50.7, 55.3, 31.4, and 25.4%, respectively, between 2002 and 2007. Aino virus infection does not pose a major threat to the bovine industry in Korea till now. The future prospects for Aino virus infection in cattle, however, may change with the global warming phenomena. The results of this study may serve as a basis for future epidemiological studies on Aino virus infection.
Animals ; Cattle ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Global Warming ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Korea ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Stillbirth ; Viruses

PURPOSE: To analyze the clinical and radiologic results of the shoulder arthrodesis in brachial plexus injury patients with flail upper extremity. MATERIAL AND METHOD: From Aug 1978 to April 2008, 29 shoulders in 29 patients with brachial plexus injury with shoulder fusion, we evaluated 20 shoulders in 20 patients, more than 1 year follow up. The average follow-up period was 6.45years (range: 1year~24years). There were 13 men and 7 women, and the mean age at the time of trauma was 32.0years(2~65 years). The type of injury was a motorcycle accident in 11 patients, in car accident in 5, pedestrian accident in 3, and fall from a height in 1. The lesion of injury was root and trunk in 1 patient, trunk and cord in 1, trunk in 18. Surgery was performed on the whole arm type paralysis in 12 patients, lower arm type paralysis in 8 patients. The preoperative visual analog scale score was 8.7(7~10). When the trapezius and serratus anterior muscle were in function, operation was performed. 18 patients were processed to the additional operation. Gracilis free flap in 6 patients, neurotization in 3, Steindler flexor plasty in 6, and tendon transfer in 3 were performed. Fixation was conducted with cancellous screws in 13 patients, Knoles pins in 5, and cancellous screws and Knoles pins in 2. The position of the arthrodesis at operation was 28.5degrees(20~45degrees) in abduction, 30.3degrees(20~45degrees) in flexion, and 30.8degrees(20~40degrees) in internal rotation. RESULT: The follow up visual analog scale score was 3.4(0~7). Postoperatively, shoulder spica cast was applied for 15.3weeks(8-20weeks). The median time to bony union was 17.7weeks(9~28weeks). Average range of motion was 32.0degrees(15~40degrees) of abduction, 24.0degrees(10~40degrees) of flexion, and 18.5degrees(10~30degrees)of internal rotation. CONCLUSION: The shoulder fusion in brachial plexus injury patients is one of the good methods to relieve pain, improve the function and stabilize the flail shoulder joint.
Arm ; Arthrodesis ; Brachial Plexus ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Free Tissue Flaps ; Humans ; Male ; Motorcycles ; Muscles ; Nerve Transfer ; Paralysis ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Shoulder ; Shoulder Joint ; Tendon Transfer

Primary cardiac myxosarcoma is extremely rare, which is uncommon in primary cardiac tumors. We report a primary cardiac myxosarcoma in a 40-year-old female patient who was admitted to the hospital because of exertional dyspnea and palpitation. The patient underwent emergency operation immediately after the intracardiac (left atrium) tumor was discovered by an echocardiography. Palliative tumor removal was done and final pathologic diagnosis was primary cardiac myxosarcoma. She was discharged without complications.
Adult ; Diagnosis ; Dyspnea ; Echocardiography ; Emergencies ; Female ; Heart Neoplasms ; Humans ; Myxoma ; Myxosarcoma*