Though leiomyomas are the commonest benign tumors in the esohpagus, the vast majority of the leiomyomas of alimentary tract occurs outside the esophagus. Leiomyoma is mostly solitary, and multiple lesions are rare. Diffuse esophageal leiomyomatosis is a very rare disease, which is the condition having diffuse thickening of esophageal musculature and with or without discrete lesion. We are reporting a typical case of diffuse leiomyomatosis of the esophagus in a 37-year-old woman successfully resected.
Adult ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; Esophagus* ; Female ; Humans ; Leiomyoma ; Leiomyomatosis* ; Rare Diseases

The 21st century is considered as the era of Biotechnology (BT). Recently, the regenerative medicine using stem cells has been recognized as the future medicine, especially for the devastating diseases such as neurodegenerative diseases, heart disease, diabetes, infertility and liver diseases. Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are at the center of the stem cell research due to its ability to proliferate unlimitedly without differentiation (self-renewal) and to differentiate into the derivatives of all three germ layers including germ cells with appropriate treatments (pluripotency). A total of 173 hESC lines have been derived since the first derivation by Thomson et al. in 1998, and 70 hESC lines are currently available for distribution including hESC line (Miz-hES1) established at the MizMedi Hospital. The major goal of hESC research is to provide basic and clinical clues for cell replacement therapy, whose targets are aforementioned incurable diseases. One of the landmarks in hESC research is the derivation of a hESC line from a cloned human blastocyst, which has recently been done by Korean scientists. This made it possible to overcome the issue of immune-mediated rejection following cell replacement therapy using hESCs. Guided differentiation of hESCs into specific cell types by treating growth factors and drugs or by genetic manipulation by using overexpression or an RNAi knockdown system is one of the most active research areas. Combined efforts towards the guided differentiation of hESC into specific cell types and the cloning of hESC from a cloned human blastocyst will overcome a list of diseases hitherto considered to be incurable.
Biotechnology ; Blastocyst ; Clone Cells ; Cloning, Organism ; Embryonic Stem Cells* ; Germ Cells ; Germ Layers ; Heart Diseases ; Humans* ; Infertility ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Liver Diseases ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; Regenerative Medicine ; Stem Cell Research* ; Stem Cells

BACKGROUND: Multifocal hypointense cerebral lesions (MHCLs) manifesting as minute round signal loss on T2*-weighted gradient echo MR imaging (GE-MRI), are known to be frequently detected in chronic hypertensive patients. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the correlation among hypertension (HTN), intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), and MHCLs. METHODS: We prospectively examined GE-MRI in 104 patients with HTN (40 ICH and 64 non-ICH patients) and 72 age and sex matched controls. MHCLs on GE-MRI were counted by two neurologists separately and determined as abnormal by consensus, and the number of MHCLs in each subject was graded as 0 (the number of MHCLs: 0), 1 (1-5), and 2 (>5). RESULTS: MHCLs were found in 71 of 104 patients with HTN (68.3%) and in 11 of 72 controls (15.3%). The grade of MHCLs was significantly correlated with HTN (p<0.001). In addition, MHCLs were discovered in 34 of 40 hypertensive patients with ICH (85%) and in 37 of 64 hypertensive patients without ICH (57.8%). The degree of MHCLs was more severe in the former than that in the latter with statistical significance (p<0.005). Multivariate analysis revealed that only HTN and the presence of ICH were the independent risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: Microaneurysm or microbleeding, which has been known as one of the characteristic findings of hyper-tensive microangiopathy, may be shown as MHCLs on GE-MRI. In this study, the positive correlation between MHCLs and HTN was clear. Moreover, we also found that in hypertensive patients with ICH, MHCLs are more fre-quently seen than in patients without ICH. These suggest the causal relationship between MHCLs and ICH. Further cohort study would be necessary in order to confirm this suggestion.
Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Cohort Studies ; Consensus ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Intracranial Hemorrhage, Hypertensive* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors

PURPOSE: To learn the long-term prognosis of patients with deep vein thrombosis (DVT), we evaluated the location and extent of thrombotic changes, hemodynamic status and clinical symptoms of patients of more than 12 months after development of acute thrombosis. METHODS: 31 patients (man; 24, female; 7, mean age; 44.7 13.2 years) with phlebograpically documented DVT were followed-up for 13~90 months (mean: 32.6 20.4 months) with Duplex scanning, and photo-plethysmography (PPG), and clinical symptoms. To evaluate the effects of treatment modality, the patients were devided into 3 groups; Group 1 (heparine warfarin, n=17), Group 2 (heparine warfarin catheter directed urokinase, n=10), Group 3 (heparine warfarin systemic urokinase, n=4). But, the size of Group 3 was inappropriate to compare with other groups, we performed analysis of the results of Group 1 and 2. RESULTS: Remained thrombi were detected in 22 patients (70.2%) of 31 patients by Duplex scanning, even 1 year later. Of the 29 patients studied with PPG, 24 patients (83%) revealed valvular incompetence in deep (11 cases, 38%) and superficial venous systems (13 cases, 45%). Thrombolytic rate in Group 2 was much higher than Group 1; complete resolution (40% vs 23%), complete obstruction (0% vs 41%). The statistically significant correlation between resolution degree and symptomatic improvement was shown (p=0.008). CONCLUSION: Residual thrombi and valvular damages after DVT were common. But, thrombolysis by catheter-directed urokinase may be associated with a higher rate of thrombolysis and clinical improvement. Anticoagulation alone may not be a sufficient method for treatment of DVT.
Catheters ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Lower Extremity* ; Prognosis ; Thrombosis ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator ; Venous Thrombosis* ; Warfarin

Insulinomas are the most common type of islet cell tumor. Generally, these tumors are benign (90%), intrapancreatic, solitary, and small. Moreover, hyperinsulinemia in infants and children can result in permanent damage to the central nervous system. Thus, early diagnosis and treatment are important. The principal challenge during anesthesia is the avoidance of hypoglycemia, which may occur during tumor manipulation, though hyperglycemia may follow after successful surgical removal of the tumor. Because symptoms of hypoglycemia (systemic hypertension, tachycardia, diaphoresis) may be masked during anesthesia, it is important to monitor blood glucose levels frequently during the perioperative period. Here we report up on the case of a 3 year old female with insulinoma. We monitored blood glucose levels intermittently (about every 15 minutes) using a glucometer (Medisense Optium, Abbott, USA). No hypoglycemic episode occurred during anesthesia. We report this clinical experience and review anesthetic choices and the management of this patient.
Adenoma, Islet Cell ; Anesthesia ; Blood Glucose ; Central Nervous System ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperglycemia ; Hyperinsulinism ; Hypertension ; Hypoglycemia ; Infant ; Insulinoma* ; Isoflurane ; Masks ; Pancreas ; Perioperative Period ; Tachycardia

We report a case of the accidental intravenous administration of a large dose of magnesium sulfate during cesarean section. A 41-year-old woman, at 33 weeks gestation, with pregnancy-aggravated hypertension, headache and generalized edema presented in acute labor and showed fetal bradycardia on a nonstress test. Laboratory tests demonstrated an increased level of magnesium (5.4 mg/dl). A cesarean section was performed under general anesthesia with O2-N2O-enflurane and vecuronium. After delivery 2,000 mg of magnesium sulfate was mixed with the lactated Ringer's solution 1,000 ml and 550 ml administered to the patient. After noticing the accidental infusion of the magnesium sulfate, we replaced the lactated Ringer's solution with normal saline 1,000 ml and performed arterial blood gas analysis, checked serum electrolyte, including Mg2+ and Ca2+, and had monitored depth of muscle relaxation and vital signs. The level of magnesium had increased to 8.9 mg/dl after the accidental magnesium infusion. For about one and half hours after emergence from general anesthesia, she complained of dyspnea and paraparesis of extremities. To treat the hypermagnesemia, 3% calcium gluconate 1,000 mg and furocemide were given intravenously to antagonize magnesium and to increase the urine output. The depth of neuromuscular block was frequently monitored using a nerve stimulator. After conservative treatment, she recovered from the effect of the hypermagnesemia and was discharged on the fifth postoperative day. Anesthesiologists must to keep in mind the preoperative patients' pathophysiologic conditions, check co-administered drugs and the contents of intravenously connected solutions.
Administration, Intravenous* ; Adult ; Anesthesia, General ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Bradycardia ; Calcium Gluconate ; Cesarean Section* ; Dyspnea ; Edema ; Extremities ; Female ; Headache ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Magnesium Sulfate* ; Magnesium* ; Muscle Relaxation ; Neuromuscular Blockade ; Paraparesis ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy ; Vecuronium Bromide ; Vital Signs

No abstract available.

We compared heavily T2W high field MR images of 18 Parkinson's disease (PD group), 8 Parkinsonian syndromes (PS group: progressive supranuclear palsy, OPCA, Shy-Drager syndrome, atypical' parkinsonism), and 20 control patients and exaimined the reported abnormalities (putaminal hypointensity, restoration of the signal intensity of the substantia nigra, narrowing of the pars compacta, brain atrophy) in our patients by 2.0 Tesla MRI. In this study, the narrowing of the signal band from the pars compacta of the substantia nigra was the most valuable index differentiating PD group or PS group from control group and the signal restoration of the substantia nirga was more common in PD than PS or control group. The frequency of putaminal hypointensity and brain atrophy increased with aging and brainstem atrophy was observed in only PS group.
Aging ; Atrophy ; Brain ; Brain Stem ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Parkinson Disease* ; Parkinsonian Disorders* ; Shy-Drager Syndrome ; Substantia Nigra ; Supranuclear Palsy, Progressive

No abstract available.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Encephalitis, Japanese ; Humans ; Temporal Lobe

Renovascular hypertension secondary to renal artery vascular disease is the most common form of surgically correctable hypertension. The common causes of renovascular hypertension are atherosclerosis, fibromuscular dysplasia, and Takayasu arteritis. Takayasu arteritis is a chronic nonspecific arteritis of unkown cause that is relatively prevalant in young female subjects. It has been well known that the pathologic feature of the disease consist predominantly of occulsive changes in the aorta and the origin of its major branches. The most important pathogenetic mechanism of hypertension seems to be through renal artery stenosis. We have experimented three hypertensive patients with Takayasu arteritis experienced. Basic diagnosis was established by angiographic study. This article presents surgical treatment methods of Takayasu arteritis with renovascular hypertension and brief review of literatures.
Aorta ; Arteritis ; Atherosclerosis ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Fibromuscular Dysplasia ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypertension, Renovascular ; Renal Artery ; Renal Artery Obstruction ; Takayasu Arteritis ; Vascular Diseases