The cardiomyopathy associated with Adriamycin is frequently fatal and full clinical recovery is uncommon. To evaluate the radiological manifestation and the outcome of Adriamycin induced cardiac toxicity, we retrospectively reviewed the serial chest X-ray films of children treated with Adriamycin. Among 154 children with leukemia, fourteen patients developed clinical and radiologic evidence of congestive heart failure(CHF), Six out of 14(43%) died of CHF within 2 weeks after attack and eight children survived after their acute episodes of CHF, were controlled following digoxin and diuretic therapy. Despite the improving clinical evidence of heart failure, the follow-up chest roentgenograms of these 8 children showed definite cardiomegaly as compared with the pre-treatment chest X-ray. Three children among 8 had minimal cardiomegaly and the remaining five children showed persistent, marked cardiomegaly during the period of 9-25 months of follow up. In summary, when CHF develops during chemotherapy in leukemic children, the possibility of Adriamycin induced cardiac toxicity should be suspected. Our findings showed that persistence of cardiomegaly represented significant cardiomyopathy despite clinical improvement of CHF.
Cardiomegaly ; Cardiomyopathies* ; Cardiotoxicity ; Child ; Digoxin ; Doxorubicin* ; Drug Therapy ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Leukemia* ; Retrospective Studies ; Thorax ; X-Ray Film

Candidiasis of the central nervous system (CNS) is a rare condition and like other opportunistic fungal infections, most commonly occurs in immune-compromised patients. Because of the increasing use of antibiotics and the improving survival rate of premature infants requiring intensive care, the incidence of fungal infections in the brain has increased. We report the findings of ultrasonography and MR imaging in two cases of candidiasis of the CNS in premature infants.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Brain ; Candidiasis* ; Central Nervous System ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature* ; Critical Care ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Nervous System* ; Survival Rate ; Ultrasonography

A persistent left superior vena cava is the most common anomaly of the superior caval system. Usually the persistent left superior vena cava is connected with the right atrium via the coronary sinus, resulting in no physiologic derangement : however in 7 to 8 percents of the patietns with a persistent left superior vena cava, the anomalous vessel communicates with the left atrim. In the absence of obstruction to the flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle. this anatomic situation usually results in right to left shunting of varying degress. We recently experienced a case of persistent left superior vena cava in a 52-year-old female who complained of chest discomfort, epigastric pain and dyspnea(NYHA functional class II). Cine-angiography showed that the contrast passed from the left SVC through the dilated coronary sinus into right atrium. And right sided SVC was not seen. The patient was treated with conservative measures and discharged with improved condition.
Coronary Sinus ; Female ; Heart Atria ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Thorax ; Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency* ; Vena Cava, Superior

Simple bone cyst (SBC) is very rare in adult ribs. The diagnosis basically relies on conventional radiography and occasionally on CT. There has been no earlier publication on PET/CT diagnosis of SBC. We report a case of adult costal SBC diagnosed by positive 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake. Histology showed the FDG uptake to be associated with reactive woven bone formation and nonspecific chronic inflammation. Correlation of PET, CT, plain radiography and sonography are also described.
Adult ; Bone Cysts ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Osteogenesis ; Publications ; Ribs

A 69-year-old man was admitted to the hospital because of flu-like symptoms and fatigue for 2 weeks. Computed tomography revealed ground glass opacity and consolidation in both the lungs as well as pleural effusion. The patient was diagnosed with pneumonia and was hospitalized. At the time of hospitalization, he complained of shortness of breath and coughed-up blood-tinged sputum. Two days after admission, he died suddenly. An autopsy was performed; cardiomegaly was noted, and further examination revealed that the aortic valve had been destroyed by multiple, irregular vegetations. Herein, we report an autopsy case of infective endocarditis with a review of the relevant literatures.
Aged ; Aortic Valve ; Autopsy* ; Cardiomegaly ; Dyspnea ; Endocarditis* ; Fatigue ; Glass ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Lung ; Pleural Effusion ; Pneumonia ; Sputum

Both death certificates and postmortem examination certificates are used as proof of death. These certificates sometimes contain erroneous information but how frequently they do so is unknown. In particular, only a few studies have measured the accuracy of the cause and manner of death on Korea death documents. In this study, we compared the cause and manner of death on both kinds of certificates with those on autopsy reports to determine the frequency of errors, and to identify way to improve the accuracy of these certificates. In 2012, 528 autopsies were requested of out institute, and certificates were submitted in 241 of the cases. The manner of death was classified as natural, unnatural, or unknown. The cause of death in the autopsy report matched that on the death certificate in 37 of 63 cases (58.7%), and the manner of death matched in 40 of 63 cases (63.5%). The cause of death in the autopsy report matched that on the postmortem examination certificate in 62 of 178 cases (34.8%), and the manner of death matched in 74 of 178 cases (41.6%). Death certificates and postmortem examination certificates are important documents. We identified many incorrect reports of causes and manners of death on both kinds of documents, especially the postmortem death certificates. These inaccuracies are presumably due to a lack of forensic information and education, as well as lack of interest on the part of medical doctors.
Autopsy* ; Cause of Death ; Death Certificates* ; Education ; Korea

Lymphoma is the third most common childhood malignancy after leukemia and brain tumor. In contrast to adult non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, that occurring in children is usually found extranodally. The most common site is the abdomen, including the gastrointestinal tract, kidney and pancreas, and the next most common is the extranodal head and neck. Gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in adults is usually considered to be MALT lymphoma, a distinct B-cell type, but the occurrence of this variety in the small bowel of children is relatively rare. We report a case of high-grade MALT lymphoma occurring in a nine-year-old boy who presented with ileoileal intussusception.
Abdomen ; Adult ; B-Lymphocytes ; Brain Neoplasms ; Child* ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Head ; Humans ; Ileum* ; Intussusception* ; Kidney ; Leukemia ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone* ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; Male ; Neck ; Pancreas

The cerebral compression and edema were successfully produced by the expansion of the stalk of laminaria in the right epidural space of the rabbits. By weighting the wet and dry brain tissues, and by calculating the percentage of water content and that of swelling, with the rate of per cent water content to that of control group, the studies of the occurrence and changes of experimental brain edema have been observed. In the normal rabbits, the average per cent water content of cerebral gray and white matters were 79.9+/-0.7% and 73.0+/-1.0% respectively. The percentage of water content and swelling of cerebral gray and white matters in the compression site showed higher values than those in control group. As compared with normal group, the rate of per cent water content of cerebral gray matter at the site of compression showed gradual increasing tendency as time elapsed by 24 hours, while that of white matter demonstrated rapid increased of it by 6 hours and decreased gradually thereafter. And it appeared that the value of the cerebral white matter showed higher than that of gray matter throughout the period of 24 hour's compression. Cereral edema induced by laminaria compression was more evident and severe in the white matter than in the gray, which was more striking at the early stage of cerebral compression.
Brain Edema ; Brain* ; Edema ; Epidural Space ; Laminaria ; Rabbits ; Strikes, Employee

No abstract available.
Neurons*

PURPOSE: Cinacalcet is effective for treating refractory secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT), but little is known about the response rates and clinical factors influencing the response. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective, single-arm, multi-center study was performed for 24 weeks. Cinacalcet was administered to patients with intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) level greater than 300 pg/mL. Cinacalcet was started at a dose of 25 mg daily and titrated until 100 mg to achieve a serum iPTH level <300 pg/mL (primary end point). Early response to cinacalcet was defined as a decrease of iPTH more than 50% within one month. RESULTS: Fifty-seven patients were examined. Based on the magnitude of iPTH decrease, patients were divided into responder (n=47, 82.5%) and non-responder (n=10, 17.5%) groups. Among the responders, 38 achieved the primary end point, whereas 9 patients showed a reduction in serum iPTH of 30% or more, but did not reach the primary end point. Compared to non-responders, responders were significantly older (p=0.026), female (p=0.041), and diabetics (p<0.001). Additionally, early response was observed more frequently in the responders (30/47, 63.8%), of whom the majority (27/30, 90.0%) achieved the primary end point. Multivariate analysis showed that lower baseline iPTH levels [odds ratio (OR) 0.96, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.93-0.99], the presence of diabetes (OR 46.45, CI 1.92-1125.6) and early response (OR 21.54, CI 2.94-157.7) were significant clinical factors affecting achievement of iPTH target. CONCLUSION: Cinacalcet was effective in most hemodialysis patients with refractory SHPT. The presence of an early response was closely associated with the achievement of target levels of iPTH.
Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers, Pharmacological/blood ; Calcium/blood ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperparathyroidism, Secondary/*drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Naphthalenes/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Parathyroid Hormone/*blood ; *Renal Dialysis ; Treatment Outcome