No abstract available.
Hemoptysis*

Neurilemmoma reprsents a benign nerve sheath tumor derived from Schwann cells. Lesions almost always are solitary, although multiple lesions may occur in association with multiple neurofibromatosis. We report a case of multiple neurilemmomas not in asaociation with neurofibromatosis. The patient was a 28-year-old male who had multiple tender nodules along the course of peripheral nerves on the palmar aspect of the right hand. A local excision of all lesions was performed and the microscopic diagnosis of neurilernmoma was established.
Adult ; Diagnosis ; Hand ; Humans ; Male ; Neurilemmoma* ; Neurofibromatoses ; Peripheral Nerves ; Schwann Cells

Nevus lipomatosus cutaneus superficialis is a very rare skin disease which appears at birth or within the firat two decades of life. This uncommon condition is due to collections of ectopic fat cells within the upper and mid-dermis. There are two clinical forms. The first form is a lesion of zonal distribution, present from birth or childhood, usually on the buttocks or the lower back. The second form, a dome or sessile, papule, begins in adult life and is less restricted in distribution, and occurs also on the limbs Coalescence of soft, yellowish papules tends to form cerebriform plaques. The authors experienced two cases of typical nevus lipomatosus cutaneus superficialis. The first case was a 23-year male who had asymptomatic, soft, skin colored, and pea sized confluent nodules on the right lower back area since at birth. The second case was a 35-year female who had asymptomatic, multiple, soft, skin colored from rice to walnut sized confluent nodules on the coccygeal area which developed at the age of 27. Diagnosis was confirmed by clinical and histopathological findings.
Adipocytes ; Adult ; Buttocks ; Diagnosis ; Extremities ; Female ; Fluconazole ; Humans ; Juglans ; Male ; Nevus* ; Parturition ; Peas ; Skin ; Skin Diseases

Epidermolytic hyperkeratosis is a rare disease which is extremely variable in its severity. In some patients it may be so severe and generalized during the neonatal period as to be lifethreatening, in others, it is relatively inconspicuous. A bullous eruption is the characteristic finding of the epidermolytic hyperkeratosis The bullous episodes soon become less frequent and more localized and may eventually cesse, but continue into adult life after the age of 20 years in at least 20% of cases. A case of epidermolytic hyperkeratosis is represented. The patient was a 25-year-old male who had ichthyosiform erythroderma and the frequent episades of bullous eruption. The bullous eruption had been subsided under the treatment with oral penicillin administration. The histopathological features of the bullous lesion on his abdomen revealed the features of epidermolytic hyperkeratosis.
Abdomen ; Adult ; Blister ; Dermatitis, Exfoliative ; Humans ; Hyperkeratosis, Epidermolytic* ; Male ; Penicillins ; Rare Diseases

PURPOSE: The nephrotic syndrome (NS) is characterized by the favorable response to glucocorticoid therapy and the development of NS may be associated with dysfunctional immune systems. In order to investigate the serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels and cytokines activity in pediatric NS, the total of 32 steroid responsive NS patients and 5 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients were divided into two groups according to the initial serum IgE levels, such as normal and high IgE group, and their clinical characteristics were evaluated. In addition, serum levels of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-10 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta were compared and correlated with serum albumin, proteinuria by means of disease severity, and cytokines. RESULTS: In the high IgE group, the higher comorbidity of allergic diseases and relapsing rate, the longer duration of steroid therapy before initial remission, and the higher serum IL-4 and IL-5 levels were found. In all patients, initially higher serum levels of IL-4 and IL-5 declined to normal levels after steroid therapy, whereas the serum IL-10 levels showed no significant difference between nephrotic phase (heavy proteinuria) and remission phase (no proteinuria) of NS. The serum TGF-beta levels of the nephrotic phase were significantly lower than those of remission phase or control group, and returned to normal control levels after steroid therapy. CONCLUSION: This study indicates that initial IgE level is associated with steroid responsiveness and disease severity, and cytokine activities may also be related to the pathogenesis of pediatric steroid responsive NS.
Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cytokines/*blood ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A/blood ; Immunoglobulin E/*blood ; Immunoglobulin G/blood ; Immunoglobulin M/blood ; Infant ; Interleukin-4/blood ; Interleukin-5/blood ; Male ; Nephrotic Syndrome/*blood/*drug therapy ; Steroids/*therapeutic use ; Transforming Growth Factor beta/blood

No abstract available.
Autoantibodies* ; DNA*

Although the nasogastric tube (NGT) is widely used in critically ill patients, most intensivists do not give much thought to it or its possible complications. NGT syndrome is a rare but fatal complication characterized by throat pain and vocal cord paralysis in the presence of NGT. Recently, we experienced a case of NGT syndrome developed in an 86-year-old female twelve days after NGT insertion. We immediately removed the NGT and secured the airway by tracheostomy. She was treated successfully with an intravenous antibiotic, steroid and proton pump inhibitor and the syndrome did not recur after reinsertion of the NGT.
Aged, 80 and over ; Critical Illness ; Female ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units* ; Critical Care* ; Pharynx ; Proton Pumps ; Tracheostomy ; Vocal Cord Paralysis

No abstract available.
Humans ; Lichen Planus* ; Lichens*

Metal-on-metal bearings have been reintroduced with the improved materials, design and manufacturing quality control as an alternative to the conventional metal-on-polyethylene articulation. The advantages of total hip arthroplasty using a metal-on-metal bearing include an extremely low wear rate, a very small risk of in vivo fracture and the use of a larger femoral head. These advantages have led to an increased use of metal-on-metal bearings for younger and more active patients with advanced hip disease. Concerns remain regarding the elevated levels of metal ions and their potential consequences such as metal hypersensitivity or potential carcinogenesis.
Arthroplasty ; Head ; Hip ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Ions ; Quality Control ; Ursidae

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical and radiological results of hip arthroplasty using a cementless modular femoral stem in patients older than 70 years with a femoral neck fracture. Materials and Methods: From January 2002 to May 2005, 67 hip arthroplasty procedures (66 patients) using a cementless modular femoral stem for displaced femoral neck fractures in patients older than 70 years of age were evaluated. All the patients were followed up for more than 2 years. The mean age at surgery was 77 (70~92) years. There were 22 men and 44 women. The mean follow up period was 31 months (24~41). The clinical evaluation was performed by examining the perioperative Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and postoperative complications. The radiological evaluation for femoral stem loosening and osteolysis was performed using the serial postoperative radiographs. The radiological evaluation for leg length discrepancies was performed using the immediate postoperative radiograph. Results: In preoperative ADL, 31 cases (46%) were in grade 1, 21 (31.5%) in grade 2, 14 (21%) in grade 3, 1 (1.5%) in grade 4 and none in grade 5. A review of the postoperative ADL revealed 25 cases (37.5%) in grade 1, 18 (27%) in grade 2, 21 (31%) in grade 3, 3(4.5%) in grade 4 and none in grade 5. Postoperative restoration of the ADL was observed in 48 cases (71.5%). There were no significant complications. Radiographically, all cases showed stable bony fixation of the femoral stem with the exception of 1 case, who showed subsidence and a pedestal reaction. Postoperative leg length discrepancy was observed in 5 cases (7.5%) but was <1 cm in all cases. Conclusion: In elderly patients older than 70 years of age with a displaced femoral neck fracture, cementless hip arthroplasty using a modular femoral stem provides good initial stability and subsequent secure bony fixation with minimal complications.
Activities of Daily Living ; Aged ; Arthroplasty ; Female ; Femoral Neck Fractures ; Femur Neck ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hip ; Humans ; Leg ; Male ; Osteolysis ; Postoperative Complications