The role of scintigraphic imaging has moved from the detection of lesions to the tissue-specific characterization of lesions over the past 2 decades. Major advances in nuclear medicine imaging include: 1) positron imaging, 2) improved instrumentation, such as the use of multidetector (dual or triple head) gamma cameras for single photon emission computed tomography, and 3) development of numerous new radiopharmaceuticals for positron or single photon imaging ( labeled glucose analogue, amino acids, fatty acids, hormones, drugs, receptor ligands, monoclonal antibodies, etc). These advanced have resulted in a significantly improved efficacy of radionuclide techniques for the evaluation of various of focal gepatic tumors is reviewed in this article with an emphasis on the clinical applications of various tracer studies and imaging findings.
Amino Acids ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Electrons ; Fatty Acids ; Gamma Cameras ; Glucose ; Hemangioma ; Ligands ; Nuclear Medicine* ; Radionuclide Imaging ; Radiopharmaceuticals ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

No abstract available.
Alloys* ; Joints*

PURPOSE: To draw attention to the radiological findings of a benign variant of cerebral astrocytoma in a young patient. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 24-year-old man with generalized tonic-clonic seizure of 7 years' duration and normal neurological examination was examined with plain skull series, brain CT and MRI, and cerebral angiography. MR imaging was performed with a 0.5 Tesla Toshiba MRT-50A scanner (TIWI, PDWI, T2WI, 0.1 mmol/kg of Gd- DTPA, SE). RESULTS: 1 ) Plain skull series: A radiolucent lesion with a partial radiopaque rim of about 2.5 x 3 cm size in the right anterior parietal bone.2) B rain CT scan: A cystic mass in the right frontoparietal cortex of midconvexity with pressure erosion on the adjacent skull and partial enhancement at outer and anterior portion.3) Brain MRI:A hypointense mass containing a small, intensely enhancing isointensity anterolaterally on Tl-weighted images, which was hyperintense with better delineation of bulging cortical-based appearance on T2-weithted images. No peritumoral edema.4) Cerebral anglography: An avascular mass. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma(PXA) should be entertained in patients in whom a superticially placed enhancing intracerebral tumor containing cystic portion that seems to be in contact with the meninges develops during juvenile years.
Astrocytoma ; Brain ; Cerebral Angiography ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Meninges ; Neurologic Examination ; Pentetic Acid ; Rabeprazole ; Rain ; Seizures ; Skull ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult

No abstract available.
Diagnosis* ; Knee* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging*

No abstract available.
alpha-Fetoproteins* ; Amniotic Fluid* ; Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second* ; Pregnancy*

No abstract available.
Facial Bones*

Mycetoma is a clinical syndrome of localized, indolent, deforming, swollen lesions and sinuses, involving cutaneous and subcutaneous tissues, fascia, and bone. Its lesions. are composed of suppurat.ing abscesses, granulomata, and dra ning sinuses and the etiologic agents are wide variety of bacteria (actinomycotic mycetoma) and fungi(eumcotic mycetoma) from plant and soil. The patient was a 65-year-old female and a farnier. She was referred by the skin lesion loalized on the dorsum of her lefther left hand and wrist for three months. It showed multiple subcutaneclis nodules, abscesses, and discharging fitula based on the erythematous plaque. The skin biopsy frorn the lesion revealed the PAS positive hyphae in the granulocytic infiltration. Fungus cult,ure with a piece of tissue on sabouraud media shows hin, floccose, white colonies. Slide culture and biochemical idcrtification of pathogen led to the final diagnosis as Mycetoma caused by Pseudallescheria boydii(Monosporium apiospermum). The lesions disappeared gradualy following systemic oral administratior of Itraconazole 200mg daily for six weeks.
Abscess ; Aged ; Bacteria ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Fascia ; Female ; Fungi ; Hand ; Humans ; Hyphae ; Itraconazole ; Mycetoma* ; Plants ; Pseudallescheria* ; Skin ; Soil ; Subcutaneous Tissue ; Wrist

OBJECTIVES: Patients with schizophrenia often have a concrete thinking or an impairment in abstract thinking, but there has been a limitation in quantitatively measuring this cognitive function. The aim of the current study was to investigate a deficit in abstract thinking in patients with schizophrenia using the theme identification task. METHODS: Twenty subjects with schizophrenia and 20 healthy volunteers participated in the behavioral study for theme identification. The visual stimuli were composed of a series of pictures, which contained positive or negative emotional situations. Three words, indicating a main theme of the picture, a theme-related item and a theme-unrelated item, respectively, were presented in the bottom of the pictures, and participants had to select a theme. RESULTS: The patient group selected theme words at significantly lower rate in both emotional conditions than the control group (positive, p=0.002 ; negative, p=0.001). Especially, in the negative condition, the patient group more selected theme-unrelated items than the control group (p=0.001). The rates of theme identification were inversely correlated with scores of the Social Anhedonia Scale (positive, r=-0.440, p=0.007 ; negative, r=-0.366, p=0.028). CONCLUSION: Patients with schizophrenia exhibited an impairment in abstract thinking, and it was remarkable in the negative condition. The ability to think abstractly was associated with the severity of social anhedonia. The impairment of abstract thinking may become one of the reasons for poor social functioning in socially anhedonic patients.
Anhedonia ; Humans ; Schizophrenia ; Thinking

An etiologic agent in seborrheic dermatitis is now considered to be due to Pityrosporum ovale. The connection between the yeast and the disease has been clearly dernonstrated in a number of patients treatd with antifungal agents. However, the fact, that Pityrosporum ovale (Pityrosporum orbiculare) belongs to the normal human cutaneou. flora makes it difficult, to explain the role of the organism in seborrheic dermatitis. In this clinical study, twenty eight subjects were divided into two group by treatment regimen of topical 2% ketoconazole shampoo(TKS)and 0.3% prednisolone valerate solution (PVS). Before and during the four weeks treatment periods, the number of Pityrosporum ovale on the scalp were evaluated by scrub Giemsa staining method, which estimat,ed by score scale, under direct. microscopic examination. Also clinical symptoms including erythema, scales and itching were recorded by scores every week and compared between two treatment group. Topical application of 2% ketoconazole shampoo(TKS) is a very effective treatment regimen to reduce the yeasr cell score(from 5.8+1.3 to 1.8+1.4) than PVS(from 6.4+1.3 to 3.5+1.5), significantly(p<0.05). So the results of this study acconsistent with the view that density of Pityrosgourum ovale plays a role in the cause and course of seborcheic derrnatitis on the scalp. And antifungal agent(TKS) shows favorable effects ori tnis disease clinically and mycologically.
Antifungal Agents ; Azure Stains ; Dermatitis, Seborrheic* ; Erythema ; Humans ; Ketoconazole* ; Malassezia ; Prednisolone ; Pruritus ; Scalp* ; Weights and Measures ; Yeasts

No abstract available.
Animals ; Diuresis* ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins* ; Rats* ; Urinary Bladder*