Attention is a phenomenon hard to define, but can be conceptualized as a mental function ranging from sustaining readiness to perceive stimuli to understanding the nature and value and selecting stimuli that are most relevant to the given situation. Manifestations of attention include vigilance, and focused, directed, selective, divided, and sustained attentions. While basic attentional tone is controlled by the interaction among reticular activating system, thalamus, and prefrontal cortex, direction and selection of attention is controlled by neural circuits of prefrontal, posterior parietal, and limbic cortex. It is expected that understanding of attention and its neural could provide answers to the relationship between pathophysiology and clinical symptoms of some major psychiatric disorders. More effort are required to develop tools to assess more detailed and various aspects of attention in Korea.
Attention ; Korea ; Prefrontal Cortex ; Rabeprazole ; Thalamus

Dermal melanocytosis is characterized by the presence of ectopic melanocytes in the dermis and shows several morphological forms, including the mongolian spot, the blue nevus, the nevus of Ota, the nevus of Ito, and dermal melanocyte hamartoma. A 30-month-old boy had a gray blue patch on the left deltoid region, upper back, sacral area, the entire length of the right arm, and right hand. There was a bluish speckled patch on the right palm. The lesions were present at birth, and no appreciable change in appearance had occurred. He also had blue to brownish pigmentation on the right side of his face with dark bluish pigmentation of the right sclera. His Mental and physical development had been normal. The histopathological examination revealed dendritic dermal melanocytes, mainly in the upper and mid dermis. Clinically and pathologically, the patient was diagnosed as having Ota nevus, Ito nevus, mongolian spot, and dermal melanocyte hamartoma. To our knowledge, dermal melanocytosis with 4 different morphological forms in a patient has not previously been reported. We report this unique case of dermal melanocytosis with various morphological forms.
Arm ; Child, Preschool ; Dermis ; Hamartoma ; Hand ; Humans ; Male ; Melanocytes ; Mongolian Spot ; Nevus ; Nevus of Ota ; Nevus, Blue ; Parturition ; Pigmentation ; Sclera

Transvaginal cervical cerclage for the prevention of pregnancy loss in patients with cervical incompetence is well accepted. However, there is a small subject of patients with incompetence of cervix, congenital or surgical shortening of the cervix, previously failed transvaginal cerclage and deep cervical damage or tears in the fornices. We experienced a case of the transabdominal cervical cerclage. 'Ihe patient had a past history of deep cervical laceration due to vaginal delivery. Therefore, we present here a surgical technique of transabdominal cerdage and report it with brief review of literatures.
Cerclage, Cervical ; Cervix Uteri* ; Female ; Humans ; Lacerations ; Pregnancy

Lipoblastoma is a benign tumor which frequently arises in the limbs but rarely in the mediastinum, and is common in children under the age of three years. We report a case of mediastinal lipoblastoma in a 27-month-old female child complaining of dyspnea. Plain radiography demonstrated a huge well-defined mass in the me-diastinum, while CT scanning revealed a soft tissue mass with an internal hypodense portion. When radi-ographic images in children under the age of three reveal a soft tissue mass with a fat component in the mediastinum, especially where there is no calcification or a cystic component, lipoblastoma should be included in the differential diagnosis.
Child* ; Child, Preschool ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Dyspnea ; Extremities ; Female ; Humans ; Lipoblastoma* ; Mediastinum ; Radiography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Purpose: This report presents a unique case featuring real, ghost, and pseudo-ghost images on the panoramic radiograph of a patient wearing earrings. It also explains the formation of these images in an easy-to-understand manner.Material and MethodsOne real image and two ghost images appeared on each side of a panoramic radiograph of a patient wearing earrings on both sides. Of the two ghost images on each side, one was considered a typical ghost image and the other was considered a ghost-like real image (pseudo-ghost image). The formation zones of the real, double, and ghost images were examined based on the path and angles of the X-ray beam from the Planmeca ProMax. To simulate the pseudo-ghost and typical ghost images on panoramic radiography, a radiopaque marker was affixed to the right mandibular condyle of a dry mandible, and the position of the mandible was adjusted accordingly. Results: The center of rotation of the Planmeca ProMax extended beyond the jaw area, and the area of double image formation also reached beyond the jaw. The radiopaque-marked mandibular condyle, situated in the outwardly extending area of double image formation, exhibited triple images consisting of real, double (pseudo-ghost), and ghost images. These findings helped to explain the image formation associated with the patient's earrings observed in the panoramic radiograph. Conclusion Dentists must understand the characteristics and principles of the panoramic equipment they use and apply this understanding to taking and interpreting panoramic radiographs.

PURPOSE: This study was performed to evaluate differentiating features of spinal compression fractures between benign and metastatic lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed MR imaging in 52 patients (benign 38, metastasis 14) with vertebral compression fracture. Signal intensity of fracture and uninvolved areas, presence of contrast enhancement, fragmentation, and paravertebral mass were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Signal intensity of fracture site was variable in benign lesions, but low signal intensity on T1-weighted image and high on T2*-weighted image were seen in all cases of metastasis. Signal intensity of uninvolved area was high on T1-weighted image and low on T2*-weighted image in 84% of benign lesions. On the contrary, normal marrow signal intensity was not seen in the uninvolved areas of all metastatic fractures. Contrast enhancement were observed in all cases of benign & metastatic compression fractures. Fragmentation were seen in 1 case of metastasis(7%) and in 11 cases of benign lesions(29%). Paravertebral mass were seen in 5 cases of metastasis(36%) and in 7 cases of benign lesions(18%). CONCLUSION: Presence of normal marrow signal intensity in the uninvolved area of fracture site could be the most useful sign for differentiating benign causes from metastasis.
Bone Marrow ; Fractures, Compression* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: This study was designed to analyze the short-term clinical and functional outcomes of perineal rectosigmoidectomy with levatoroplasty for complete rectal prolapse. METHODS: The data were prospectively collected and consisted of the clinical data, the functional status before and after surgery, the operation record, and the postoperative course. The functional status was evaluated by using Wexner's constipation score (0-30), Wexner's incontinence score (0-20), anorectal manometry, and pudendal nerve terminal motor latency. Follow-up was performed at 3-6 months after the operation by using both a standardized questionnaire completed in the outpatient clinic or telephone interview (n=23) and an anorectal physiology test (n=7). RESULTS: During a one-year period, 23 patients (male=10) underwent perineal rectosigmoidectomy with levatoroplasty for complete rectal prolapse. The median duration of the operations was 88 minutes. The median length of postoperative hospital stay was 6 days. There was one urinary tract infection and no mortalities. The constipation score was significantly decreased after the operation (9.8 vs 3.8; P<0.001), and constipation was improved in 90 percent (19/21) of the cases. The incontinence score was significantly decreased after surgery (mean preop.=11.6, postop.=3.7; P<0.001) and incontinence was improved in 17 of 21 patients with impaired continence (81 percent). Anal sphincter function was not improved but rectal reservoir capacity was significantly decreased after surgery (rectal urgent volume (45.7 cc vs 37.1 cc; P=0.045), maximal tolerable volume (120 cc vs 85.7; P=0.011). Most patients (83 percent) felt that the operation had improved their symptoms. The major reasons for dissatisfaction after surgery were frequent defecation, fecal soiling, persistent or aggravated fecal incontinence, and recurrence. One patient had a complete recurrence (4.3 percent), and another patient had a mucosal prolapse which was treated. CONCLUSIONS: Perineal rectosigmoidectomy with levatoroplasty for complete rectal prolapse is a safe technique with acceptable short-term functional results; however, it is not recommended for rectal prolapse patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome.
Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Anal Canal ; Constipation ; Defecation ; Fecal Incontinence ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; Length of Stay ; Manometry ; Mortality ; Physiology ; Prolapse ; Prospective Studies ; Pudendal Nerve ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Rectal Prolapse* ; Recurrence ; Soil ; Urinary Tract Infections

No abstract available.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle* ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Diagnosis*

Juvenile granulosa cell tumor (JGCT) is one of the sex cord stromal tumors of the ovary ocurring in the first two decades of life. These tumors are different from adult granulosa cell tumor (AJCT) with regard to clinical and pathological fetures. Follicles are often irregular, Call-exner bodies are rare, and luteinization is frequent. The tumor may be solid, cystic, or both. The most common presenting symptoms are abnormal uterine bleeding and pain. Breast swelling, pain and tenderness may also be associated with unopposed estrogen secretion by granulosa cell tumors. The tumor should be removed as soon as the diagnosis is estabilished. The juvenile granulosa cell tumor has a good overall prognosis because fewer than 5% of these tumors in children are malignant.
Adult ; Breast ; Child ; Diagnosis ; Estrogens ; Female ; Granulosa Cell Tumor* ; Granulosa Cells* ; Humans ; Lutein ; Luteinization ; Ovary* ; Prognosis ; Sex Cord-Gonadal Stromal Tumors ; Uterine Hemorrhage

PURPOSE: To assess the characteristic features of MR imaging in the diagnosis of spinal tuberculosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed MR imaging of 27 cases with pathologically-proven spinal tuberculosis and analyzed the MR findings including the extent of the lesions on non-contrast T1, proton density, and T2*VI, and the specific contrast enhancement patterns of the lesion on Gd-DTPA enhnced TIWI. RESULTS: The inflammatory lesions showed low signal intensity on T1WI in 25 patients(93%) and high signal intensity on T2*gradient echo image in 25 patients(93%). Bone destruction was noted in 15 patients(55%), disc-space narrowing in 21 patients(77%), paravertebral abscess in 16 patients(59%), subligamentous extension in 23 patients(85%), kyphosis in 8 patients(29%), and spinal canal narrowing in 19 patients(70%). After Gd-DTPA was administrated, rim-enhancement was noted in all patients(100%). CONCLUSION: We conclude that MR imaging is an excellent imaging modality for establishing the diagnosis of spinal tuberculosis as well as delineating the extent of soft tissue involvement. Characteristic peripheral rim enhancement after injection of Gd-DTPA may provide rather specific diagnosis in spinal tuberculosis.
Abscess ; Diagnosis ; Gadolinium DTPA ; Kyphosis ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Protons ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Canal ; Tuberculosis, Spinal*