A Foreign body in the gastrointestinal tract is a common clinical problem seen in all age groups and rarely produces symptoms. However, the foreign bodies should be removed if they produce symptoms or remain in the gastrointestinal tract. A 31-year-old man with schizophrenia ingested a 20-cm-sized toothbrush. It passed through the ileocecal valve and penetrated the hepatic flexure of the colon and liver. It was removed successfully by using a surgical procedure. We report this unusual case of colonic perforation by an ingested toothbrush and review the related literature.
Adult ; Colon* ; Foreign Bodies ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Ileocecal Valve ; Liver ; Schizophrenia

There are many kinds of treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) such as surgical resection, liver transplantation, chemotherapy, interventional therapy [TACE, ethanol embolization, Immuno -chemoembolization, I131 -lipiodol embolization], thermal therapy, cryotherapy, and radiation therapy. Generally spontaneous remission is not common in HCC, however underlying mechanism of spontaneous remission is uncertain. We report a case of complete remission after one time TACE in ruptured HCC with review of literature about the effect of TACE and spontaneous remission. We conclude that arterial embolization is an effective alternative to surgery for hepatic hemostasis in patients with spontaneous rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Cryotherapy ; Drug Therapy ; Ethanol ; Hemostasis ; Humans ; Liver Transplantation ; Remission, Spontaneous ; Rupture, Spontaneous

BACKGROUND: Aplastic anemia is an uncommon disease characterized by marrow hypocellularity, resulting in a reduction of the counts of circulating red blood cells, neutrophils, and platelets. The etiology of aplastic anemia remains unknown in the majority of cases. An association of aplastic anemia with pregnancy has been reported but the strength of such a relationship remains somewhat controversial. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association of aplastic anemia with pregnancy and the optimal management of patients with aplastic anemia during pregnancy. METHODS: This retrospective study was done by review of medical records of 18 patients with aplastic anemia, of whom 8 patients were diagnosed before pregnancy and 10 patients were diagnosed during pregnancy, who had a total of 25 pregnancies after the diagnosis from January, 1990 to October, 1997 at the Seoul National University Hospital, RESULTS: The incidence of aplastic anemia during pregnancy was one in 806 persons(18/14, 507) in this study. During pregnancy, the circulating blood cell levels decreased in all pregnancies. In all 7 cases that showed a relapse during pregnancy the remission occurred following the termination of pregnancy. 12 patients presenting with severe aplastic anemia during pregnancy had poorer hematological improvement than patients with mild aplastic anemia after termination of pregnancy. CONCLUSION: In all patients with aplastic anemia during pregnancy the circulating blood cell levels decreased. The successful outcome in these cases illustrates the benefit of modern supportive care in the management of such patients. The present observations suggest that a pregnancy which occurs during the long-term remission of aplastic anemia may be allowed to progress to birth.
Anemia* ; Anemia, Aplastic ; Blood Cells ; Bone Marrow ; Diagnosis ; Erythrocytes ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Medical Records ; Neutrophils ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women* ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul

Adenoviridae ; Animals ; Axons ; Brain ; Cell Line ; Clone Cells ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; DNA Restriction Enzymes ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fluorescence ; Gene Library ; Half-Life ; HEK293 Cells ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lingual Nerve ; Microscopy ; Models, Animal ; Molar, Third ; Myelin Sheath ; Nerve Growth Factor ; Nerve Regeneration ; Neural Conduction ; Neurons ; Peripheral Nerves ; Rats ; Regeneration ; RNA, Messenger ; Schwann Cells ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sucrose ; Tongue ; Transfection ; Transplants

A glomus tumor of the stomach is a rare submucosal lesion that was first described by De Busscher in 1948. Submucosal tumors of the stomach are mostly leiomyoma, leiomyosarcoma, and malignant lymphoma. It is difficult to diagnose this kind of tumor preoperatively. We present a patient with a gastric glomus tumor which showed the characteristic endoscopic ultrasonographic (EUS) finding. Our case was also diagnosed by pathology after surgery. The major EUS findings in the present case are circumscribed low echoic mass in the forth submucosal layer and an internal heterogenous echo mixed with high echoic spots. The EUS seems to be useful in distinguishing between glomus tumor and other submucosal tumors.
Endosonography* ; Glomus Tumor* ; Humans ; Leiomyoma ; Leiomyosarcoma ; Lymphoma ; Pathology ; Stomach*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We assessed twelve cases of suspected chronic pesticide intoxication, with medically unexplained physical symptoms. METHODS: Complete blood cell count (CBC), blood chemistry, routine urinalysis, chest X-ray, ECG, gastrofiberscopy, abdominal ultrasonography, neuroselective sensory nerve conduction threshold, and psychological assessment were performed on 12 farmers who believe themselves to have suffered from chronic pesticide intoxication. RESULTS: No specific abnormalities were observed on CBC, routine urinalysis, chest X-ray, ECG, gastroscopy, abdominal ultrasonography, or peripheral nerve conduction velocity test. They persistently manifested helplessness, depression, and anxiety. The results of both psychological assessment and general physical examination revealed the following clinical features: depression (8 cases), multiple chemical hypersensitivity syndrome (2 cases), alcoholism (1 case), and religious preoccupation (1 case). CONCLUSION: In those living in the western rural area of South Korea, depression is a prominent ongoing presentation in pesticide-exposed farmers, in addition to unexplainable physical symptoms.
Aged ; Agricultural Workers' Diseases/*diagnosis/psychology ; Chronic Disease ; Environmental Illness/*diagnosis/psychology ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Observation ; *Occupational Exposure ; Pesticides/*poisoning ; Psychological Tests

The complex hemodynamic environment within the aortic lumen plays a crucial role in the progression of aortic diseases such as aneurysms and dissections. Traditional imaging modalities often fail to provide comprehensive flow dynamics that are essential for precise risk assessment and timely intervention. The advent of time-resolved, three-dimensional (3D) phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (4D flow MRI) has revolutionized the evaluation of aortic diseases by allowing a detailed visualizations of flow patterns and quantification of hemodynamic parameters. This review explores the utility of 4D flow MRI in the assessment of thoracic aortic diseases, highlighting the key hemodynamic parameters, including flow velocity, wall shear stress, oscillatory shear index, relative residence time, vortex, turbulent kinetic energy, flow displacement, pulse wave velocity, aortic distensibility, energy loss, and stasis. We elucidate the significant findings of studies utilizing 4D flow MRI in the context of aortic aneurysms and dissections, highlighting its role in enhancing our understanding of disease mechanisms and improving clinical outcomes. This review underscores the potential of 4D flow MRI to refine risk stratification and guide therapeutic decisions, ultimately contributing to better management of aortic diseases.

The complex hemodynamic environment within the aortic lumen plays a crucial role in the progression of aortic diseases such as aneurysms and dissections. Traditional imaging modalities often fail to provide comprehensive flow dynamics that are essential for precise risk assessment and timely intervention. The advent of time-resolved, three-dimensional (3D) phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (4D flow MRI) has revolutionized the evaluation of aortic diseases by allowing a detailed visualizations of flow patterns and quantification of hemodynamic parameters. This review explores the utility of 4D flow MRI in the assessment of thoracic aortic diseases, highlighting the key hemodynamic parameters, including flow velocity, wall shear stress, oscillatory shear index, relative residence time, vortex, turbulent kinetic energy, flow displacement, pulse wave velocity, aortic distensibility, energy loss, and stasis. We elucidate the significant findings of studies utilizing 4D flow MRI in the context of aortic aneurysms and dissections, highlighting its role in enhancing our understanding of disease mechanisms and improving clinical outcomes. This review underscores the potential of 4D flow MRI to refine risk stratification and guide therapeutic decisions, ultimately contributing to better management of aortic diseases.

The complex hemodynamic environment within the aortic lumen plays a crucial role in the progression of aortic diseases such as aneurysms and dissections. Traditional imaging modalities often fail to provide comprehensive flow dynamics that are essential for precise risk assessment and timely intervention. The advent of time-resolved, three-dimensional (3D) phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (4D flow MRI) has revolutionized the evaluation of aortic diseases by allowing a detailed visualizations of flow patterns and quantification of hemodynamic parameters. This review explores the utility of 4D flow MRI in the assessment of thoracic aortic diseases, highlighting the key hemodynamic parameters, including flow velocity, wall shear stress, oscillatory shear index, relative residence time, vortex, turbulent kinetic energy, flow displacement, pulse wave velocity, aortic distensibility, energy loss, and stasis. We elucidate the significant findings of studies utilizing 4D flow MRI in the context of aortic aneurysms and dissections, highlighting its role in enhancing our understanding of disease mechanisms and improving clinical outcomes. This review underscores the potential of 4D flow MRI to refine risk stratification and guide therapeutic decisions, ultimately contributing to better management of aortic diseases.

The complex hemodynamic environment within the aortic lumen plays a crucial role in the progression of aortic diseases such as aneurysms and dissections. Traditional imaging modalities often fail to provide comprehensive flow dynamics that are essential for precise risk assessment and timely intervention. The advent of time-resolved, three-dimensional (3D) phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (4D flow MRI) has revolutionized the evaluation of aortic diseases by allowing a detailed visualizations of flow patterns and quantification of hemodynamic parameters. This review explores the utility of 4D flow MRI in the assessment of thoracic aortic diseases, highlighting the key hemodynamic parameters, including flow velocity, wall shear stress, oscillatory shear index, relative residence time, vortex, turbulent kinetic energy, flow displacement, pulse wave velocity, aortic distensibility, energy loss, and stasis. We elucidate the significant findings of studies utilizing 4D flow MRI in the context of aortic aneurysms and dissections, highlighting its role in enhancing our understanding of disease mechanisms and improving clinical outcomes. This review underscores the potential of 4D flow MRI to refine risk stratification and guide therapeutic decisions, ultimately contributing to better management of aortic diseases.