Zonisamide was administered to 20 patients with refractory epileptic seizures. The mean duration of the administration was 6 months, and the mean dosage was 7.2 mg/kg/day. The efficacy of zonisamide was rated remarkable in 15% of the cases, improvement in 40%, and no change in 45%. The response rates of zonisamide were 62.5% for myoclonic seizures, 50% for tonic-clonic seizures, 80% for atonic seizures and 33.3% for atypical absence seizures. There was no correlation between the clinical response and dose or serum concentration of the drug. The adverse effects were observed in 35% of the cases which were drowsiness, dizziness, ataxia, nausea, and vomiting. In all cases, however, the administration of zonisamide could be continued.
Ataxia ; Child* ; Dizziness ; Epilepsy* ; Epilepsy, Absence ; Humans ; Nausea ; Seizures ; Sleep Stages ; Vomiting

The purpose of this study is to describe the magnetic resonance imaging (MR) findings of metastatic brain tumors with emphasis on the signal intensities of the lesion on MR. Thirty four patients with intracranial metastases were studies with MR imaging. The diagnosis was established on the basis of either brain biopsy or combination of brain MR findings and the presence of primary tumors. The primary tumors include lung cancer (n=18), breast cancer (n=3), stomach cancer (n=3), rectal cancer (n=1), renal cell carcinoma (n=1), hepatocellular carcinoma(n=1), ovarian cancer (n=1), thyroid cancer (n=1), melanoma (n=1) and unknown primary sites (n=4). The parenchymal lesions were solitary in 35% (12/34) and multiple in 65% (22/34). The size of the lesions was variable, ranging from several millimeters to 5cm in diameter. The corticomedullar junction of the cerebral heispheres was the most common location of the lesions (68%). The signal intensity of solid portion of the lesions was usually either isointense (44%) or hypointense (29%) on T1-weighted images, whereas it appeared in isointense (47%), hypointense (8%) or hyperintense (11%) on proton density-weighted or T2-weighted images. The remaining cases showed mixed signal intensities. The enhancement patterns were variable including nodular (<1cm) (6%), homogenous (19%), heterogeneous (10%), ring-like enhancement (22%) or mixed pattern(43%). The size of surrounding edema was larger than the tumor diameter in 76%. In conclusion, although there are no specific MR findings of intracranial metastasis except multiplicity, intracranial metastasis should be included in differential diagnosis with high priority, when a solitary mass showing isointensity on boty T1-and T2-weighted images with massive surrounding edema, especially in the corticomedullary junction of the cerebral hemispheres is encountered.
Biopsy ; Brain Neoplasms* ; Brain* ; Breast Neoplasms ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; Cerebrum ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Edema ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Melanoma ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Protons ; Rectal Neoplasms ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Thyroid Neoplasms

The purpose of this study is to describe the magnetic resonance imaging (MR) findings of metastatic brain tumors with emphasis on the signal intensities of the lesion on MR. Thirty four patients with intracranial metastases were studies with MR imaging. The diagnosis was established on the basis of either brain biopsy or combination of brain MR findings and the presence of primary tumors. The primary tumors include lung cancer (n=18), breast cancer (n=3), stomach cancer (n=3), rectal cancer (n=1), renal cell carcinoma (n=1), hepatocellular carcinoma(n=1), ovarian cancer (n=1), thyroid cancer (n=1), melanoma (n=1) and unknown primary sites (n=4). The parenchymal lesions were solitary in 35% (12/34) and multiple in 65% (22/34). The size of the lesions was variable, ranging from several millimeters to 5cm in diameter. The corticomedullar junction of the cerebral heispheres was the most common location of the lesions (68%). The signal intensity of solid portion of the lesions was usually either isointense (44%) or hypointense (29%) on T1-weighted images, whereas it appeared in isointense (47%), hypointense (8%) or hyperintense (11%) on proton density-weighted or T2-weighted images. The remaining cases showed mixed signal intensities. The enhancement patterns were variable including nodular (<1cm) (6%), homogenous (19%), heterogeneous (10%), ring-like enhancement (22%) or mixed pattern(43%). The size of surrounding edema was larger than the tumor diameter in 76%. In conclusion, although there are no specific MR findings of intracranial metastasis except multiplicity, intracranial metastasis should be included in differential diagnosis with high priority, when a solitary mass showing isointensity on boty T1-and T2-weighted images with massive surrounding edema, especially in the corticomedullary junction of the cerebral hemispheres is encountered.
Biopsy ; Brain Neoplasms* ; Brain* ; Breast Neoplasms ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; Cerebrum ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Edema ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Melanoma ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Protons ; Rectal Neoplasms ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Thyroid Neoplasms

No abstract available.
Radiography* ; Radionuclide Imaging* ; Sacroiliitis* ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing*

A hemorrhagic disease due to prothrombin complex deficiency os described in 4 infants from 1 to 11 months of age. This disease is different from the hemorrhagic disease of the newborn. The main differences are that it is found in an older age group and that intracranial hemorrhages are frequent. Rapid clinical and laboratory response after vitamin K therapy are observed. Severe prothrmbin complex deficiency due to vitamin K deficiency is a accounted for the pathogenesis of bleeding. Possible causes of vitaimn K deficiency are reviewed.
Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Intracranial Hemorrhages ; Prothrombin ; Vitamin K ; Vitamin K Deficiency

We report a case of Castleman`s disease of the hyaline-vascular type which was located in retroperitoneum. A 20-year-old girl was admitted because of a history of postprandial epigastric discomfort. Computed tomography of the abdomen demonstrated a solid 7 x 7 cm mass between the abdominal aorta and the left kidney in the retroperitoneum. At surgery, a solid 9 x 8 x 6 cm tumor was resected. Pathologic diagnosis was Castleman`s disease of the hyaline-vascular type.
Abdomen ; Aorta, Abdominal ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney ; Young Adult

Adalimumab (Humira(TM)) is the first fully humanized monoclonal TNF-alpha antibody that antagonizes the effects of TNF-alpha. Its use has been found in the treatment of various rheumatologic disorders, namely rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, and ankylosing spondylitis, as well as for various skin conditions such as psoriasis. As the use of this particular biologic agent is becoming more widespread, cutaneous adverse effects of the drug is now being reported at a steady rate. The authors herein report a case of 32 year-old female who presented with multiple psoriasiform eruptions on her trunk, back and lower extremities. She had a four-year history of ankylosing spondylitis, for which she was started on subcutaneous adalimumab injection monthly, three and a half years prior to her initial visit.
Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Crohn Disease ; Dermatitis ; Female ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Psoriasis ; Skin ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Adalimumab

PURPOSE: Helicobacter pylori infection has been reported as a major factor of chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer, gastric lymphoma, and stomach cancer. In some uncontrolled studies, a high seroprevalence of H. pylori infection unexpectedly has been found in patients with colorectal cancer. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of H. pylori infection in patients with colorectal neoplasm. METHODS: 93 colonic tissue samples were collected during the colonoscopic biopsy. The specimens included polyp, cancer, and normal colonic mucosa. The CLO testTM kit (Delta West Ltd., Bentley, Western Australia) was used for detection of H. pylori. The SAS program (USA) was used for the Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: H. pylori infection was detected 11 (11.8%) of total 93 specimens, 7 (25.7%) of 27 in cancers and 3 (6.9%) of 43 in polyps. Significantly higher H. pylori infection was detected in the colorectal cancers than non-cancer lesions (p=0.012) and polyps (p=0.038). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest a statistically significant association between H. pylori and colorectal neoplasm. The mechanism underlying this association needs to be investigated.
Biopsy ; Colon ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Gastritis ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Humans ; Lymphoma ; Mucous Membrane ; Peptic Ulcer ; Polyps ; Prevalence ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms

No abstract available.
Hydroxyurea ; Hyperpigmentation*

No abstract available.
Onycholysis*