Although a rare entity, intraspinal extradural cyst can cause severe deficit via neural compression. After reviewing available literature, the authors report a rare case of cord compression by intraspinal extradural cystic mass that developed after an osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture. An 80-year-old female patient had undergone vertebroplasty for osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture of T12, subsequent to a minor fall. However, the patient complained about sustained pain and progressive weakness of lower extremities even after the procedure. Follow-up magnetic resonance imaging revealed an intraspinal extradural cystic lesion compressing the spinal cord, and the patient had to undergo a surgical intervention via the posterior approach. Symptoms were relieved postoperatively, with no recurrence during the 1-year follow-up.

Takayasu's arteritis is briefly as an inflammatory process of unknown etiology occuring dominantly in young female most commonly involving the great vessels arising from the aortic arch. The disease process results in stenosis and obliteration of involved vessels. Syncope in Takayasu's arteritis is known to result from decreased blood flow to brain because of stenosing blood vessels. We herein describe a case of paroxysmal atrioventricular block in a 40-year old man with Takayasu's arteritis. The patient presented with spontaneous recurrent syncope associated with paroxysmal AV block. Carotid sinus pressure repeatedly induced paroxysmal AV block and syncope. Carotid sinus pressure after pretreatment of atropine failed to induce AV block or syncope. Coronary angiogram was normal. We concluded that syncope in this patients was attributed to carotid hypersensitivity rather than decreased blood flow to the brain due to vessel stenosis.
Adult ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Atrioventricular Block* ; Atropine ; Blood Vessels ; Brain ; Carotid Sinus ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Female ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Syncope ; Takayasu Arteritis*

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to investigate the prevalence of depressive symptoms in patients with breast cancer and to identify demographic variables and clinical characteristics impact on depressive symptoms and health related quality of life in patients with breast cancer in a university hospital. METHODS: Fourty-one patients with breast cancer were selected, who had visited the department of General surgery of the Wonkwang University hospital with a diagnosis of breast cancer regularly during the period November, 2010-May, 2011. All of subjects were evaluated for the depression, anxiety and the health related quality of life with Beck Depression Inventory(BDI), anxiety subscale of Personality Assessment Inventory(PAI) and Short-Form 36 Health Survey-Korean version(SF-36-K). Patients were divided into depressive symptoms and non-depressive symptoms group according to the BDI score. We compared SF-36-K between two groups, and analized multiple regression with depression and health related quality of life as criterion variables and demographic and clinical characteristics. RESULTS: The prevalence of depression in patients with breast cancer in a University hospital was 36.4%. Compared to the non-depression, depressed patients with breast cancer appeared significantly lower mean scores on six subscales in SF-36-K : Physical function(p<.01), Role-physical(p<.001), General health(p<.05), Social function(p<.001), Role-emotional(p<.001) and Mental health(p<.001). But there was no significant difference between two groups in Vitality and Bodily pain. Anxiety, level of education and presence of enforcement of chemotherapy(63.6%) were significant explanation variables for depressive symptoms. And type of surgery and age (55.8%) were significant explanation variables for health related quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of depressive symptoms in patients with breast cancer in a University hospital was 36%. The depressive symptoms had not only negative impact on the health related quality of life but also important explanation variable for health related quality of life. These results suggest that depressive symptoms in patients with breast cancer should be evaluated and treated for improving patient's health related quality of life.
Anxiety ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Depression ; Humans ; Personality Assessment ; Prevalence ; Quality of Life

Chronic pelvic pain is a common condition in women of reproductive age and can be described as chronic nociceptive, inflammatory and neuropathic pain characterized by spontaneous pain or a response to various stimuli. Oxidative stress is a component of the inflammatory reaction associated with pain processes. Iron and NF-kappaB are well-known inducers of oxidative stress, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) are associated with chronic pelvic pain and play an important role in the regulation of genes expressing immunoregulators, cytokines, and other molecules. Chronic pelvic pain treatment is often unsatisfactory and limited to symptom control. However, dietary treatment with antioxidants can improve the function of the immune system and overcome free radical damage. Therefore, dietary supplementation is suggested as a means to treat some chronic medical conditions that respond poorly to medication. In summary, dietary treatment with antioxidants could be considered for new strategy for treatment of chronic pelvic pain and may be better tolerated by patients than current treatments.
Antioxidants ; Cytokines ; Dietary Supplements ; Female ; Humans ; Immune System ; Inflammation ; Iron ; Neuralgia ; NF-kappa B ; Oxidative Stress ; Pelvic Pain ; Reactive Oxygen Species

Nontyphoidal Salmonella are gram negative bacilli organism, which may induce systemic infection such as febrile enteritis, bacteremia, and osteomyelitis. Main route of infection is known as food but also possible through reptile, amphibian, and fish raised as pets in the house. There is no known cases report of Salmonella infection through pets in Korea and also rare in the overseas. We report 2 patients who visited Severance children's hospital with chief complaint of fever and diagnosed as nontyphoidal salmonellosis. Each case had a history of raising turtle or tropical fish with possibility of Salmonella infection through these pets. Increasing incidence of raising pet reptile and fish lately, contact precaution and proper prevention and control of Salmonella infection of these pets especially in children under 5 years old are necessary due to higher risk of serious complications of salmonellosis.
Amphibians ; Bacteremia ; Child ; Enteritis ; Fever ; Fishes ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Osteomyelitis ; Reptiles ; Salmonella ; Salmonella Infections ; Turtles

PURPOSE: Human bocavirus (hBoV), a recently discovered virus, has been detected in children with respiratory tract infections worldwide. The aim of this study was to analyze the frequency and molecular phylogeny of hBoV in the respiratory samples of children with acute respiratory tract infections in 2010. METHODS: Nasopharyngeal samples were collected from 953 children with lower respiratory tract infections at Severance children's hospital in Korea from January 2010 to December 2010. We applied the multiplex PCR technique for the identification of 12 respiratory viruses from the samples. Among the total specimens, hBoV positive samples were subjected to phylogenetic analysis by sequencing a fragment of the VP1/VP2 gene junction. RESULTS: hBoV was detected in 141 (14.8%) among 953 patients. The 61.7% of hBoV-positive samples were found to co-exist with other respiratory viruses. The results of phylogenetic analysis showed that all 141 hBoV-positive isolates were identified as hBoV 1, revealing a high similarity among the isolates (>98%). CONCLUSION: hBoV 1 with minimal sequence variations circulated in children with acute respiratory infections during 2010. More research is needed to determine the clinical severity and outcomes of the minimal sequence variations.
Child ; Child, Hospitalized ; Human bocavirus ; Humans ; Korea ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Phylogeny ; Respiratory System ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; Viruses

No abstract available.
Prostate* ; Prostatectomy* ; Prostatic Neoplasms*

No abstract available.
Prostate* ; Prostatectomy* ; Prostatic Neoplasms*

Osteoporosis, the most common bone disease, is a silent condition resulting in increased fracture risk. The disorder is characterized by compromised bone strength and increased susceptibility to fractures that have important health and socioeconomic consequences. The prevention of osteoporosis should begin early and continue throughout life with measures that maintain or improve bone health. These measures include regular physical activity and a balanced diet, including adequate intake of calcium and other minerals, proteins, and foods rich in antioxidants. In older persons at increased risk of fragility fractures, the prevention of falls and the maintenance of adequate vitamin D status are essential. Assessment of fracture risk, followed by proven effective non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic management remains low, even in patients who have sustained a fragility fracture. Non-pharmacologic intervention should always be implemented, but many patients also need pharmacologic intervention to achieve adequate fracture protection. While low bone mineral density (BMD) is a factor in bone fragility, low BMD is not the only factor. Drugs for osteoporosis should not only promote changes in BMD, but should be proven to reduce the incidence of fractures. This article reviews advances in strategies to prevent osteoporosis.
Antioxidants ; Bone Density ; Bone Diseases ; Calcium ; Diet ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Minerals ; Motor Activity ; Osteoporosis ; Proteins ; Vitamin D

Osteoporosis, the most common bone disease, is a silent condition resulting in increased fracture risk. The disorder is characterized by compromised bone strength and increased susceptibility to fractures that have important health and socioeconomic consequences. The prevention of osteoporosis should begin early and continue throughout life with measures that maintain or improve bone health. These measures include regular physical activity and a balanced diet, including adequate intake of calcium and other minerals, proteins, and foods rich in antioxidants. In older persons at increased risk of fragility fractures, the prevention of falls and the maintenance of adequate vitamin D status are essential. Assessment of fracture risk, followed by proven effective non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic management remains low, even in patients who have sustained a fragility fracture. Non-pharmacologic intervention should always be implemented, but many patients also need pharmacologic intervention to achieve adequate fracture protection. While low bone mineral density (BMD) is a factor in bone fragility, low BMD is not the only factor. Drugs for osteoporosis should not only promote changes in BMD, but should be proven to reduce the incidence of fractures. This article reviews advances in strategies to prevent osteoporosis.
Antioxidants ; Bone Density ; Bone Diseases ; Calcium ; Diet ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Minerals ; Motor Activity ; Osteoporosis ; Proteins ; Vitamin D