Thyrotoxicosis (thyroid crisis) is a known cause of sudden death; however, only a few cases of death resulting from thyrotoxicosis have been reported. Histopathologic examination and postmortem thyroid function tests may be helpful in postmortem diagnosis, but their usefulness seems to be limited. We report three autopsy cases associated with thyrotoxicosis.
Autopsy ; Death, Sudden ; Thyroid Crisis ; Thyroid Function Tests ; Thyrotoxicosis

No abstract available.
Bronchiectasis*

Heterogeneity in clinical features and pathogenesis of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent (NSAIDs) hypersensitivity have been reported. NSAIDs can cause bronchial constriction in asthmatics or hives and angioedema in patients with chronic urticaria, in which case causative drugs show cross-reactivity with other NSAIDs. Normal subjects without allergic diseases may develop urticaria angioedema or anaphylaxis after ingestion of a specific NSAID. In this type of reaction, cross-reactivity between causative drugs and other NSAIDs does not occur. We experienced a case of acetaminophen anaphylaxis without aspirin sensitivity in a 38-year-old male, which was confirmed by oral provocation test. An oral challenge with 150mg of acetaminophen induced urticaria in lower legs, and erythema, with febrile sensation in ears. With a dose of 600mg acetaminophen, urticaria developed in trunk and extremities with facial angioedema. An oral provocation test with 650mg of aspirin was well tolerated without any adverse reactions. We report acase of acetaminophen anaphylaxis, which occurred in a normal individual at a small dose(150mg) without cross-reactivity with aspirin. This type of reaction supports heterogenei~ty of NSAIDs hypersensitivity and it may be caused by an other mechanism, not by cyclooxygenase inhibition.
Acetaminophen* ; Adult ; Anaphylaxis* ; Angioedema ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; Aspirin* ; Bronchoconstriction ; Ear ; Eating ; Erythema ; Extremities ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Leg ; Male ; Population Characteristics ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases ; Sensation ; Urticaria

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the usefulness of serum ECP as a marker of the severity of asthma and extent of airway inflammation. METHOD: We investigated 108 patients suffering from bronchial asthma, who were classified as mild intermittent(n=19), mild persistent(n=27), moderate persistent(n=42), and severe persistent(n=20) and 10 healthy controls. Atopy was defined as those who showed >2+ responses on skin prick test. Serum ECP, peripheral blood eosinophil, sputum eosinophil, and PEFR were measured on the same date and meth~acholine PC20 were determined within 2 weeks. RESULTS: Serum ECP levels were 10.1+- 2.0 ug/L in controls, and 29.1+- 23.6 ug/L in asthmatic patients. According to symptom severity, serum ECP levels were 22.9 +- 15.6 ug/L, 28. 6 +- 24.1 ug/L, 29.5 +- 22.2 ug/L, and 34.6 +- 31.2 ug/L in mild intermittent, mild persistent, moderate persistent and severe persistent asthmatic patients, respectively and there were no significant differences among four groups(p>0.05). Serum ECP levels correlated with peripheral blood eosinophil counts(r=0.48, p<0.01), but not with sputum eosinophil, PEFR, and methacholine PC20 levels. There was no significant difference in serum ECP level between atopic and non-atopic asthma(p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Single measurevment of ECP level at clinic could not represent the severity of asthma.
Asthma* ; Eosinophil Cationic Protein* ; Eosinophils* ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Methacholine Chloride ; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate ; Skin ; Sputum

This study was conducted to compare the maternal characteristics, and birth weight of infants delivered at five different categories of medical facility in Taegu to examine the risk level of pregnant women and children by the medical facility for delivery. The study population included 1,410 pregnant women who delivered a baby at one of nine medical facilities (3 university hospitals, 2 general hospitals, 2 private clinics, 1 midwife clinic, 1 MCH center) in Taegu in April, 1987(April and May, 1987 for K university hospital). Pregnant women were interviewed to ask the age and educational level of woman, payment of medical fee, birth order, delivery method. Birth weight of infant was obtained from medical record. Mean ages of the women delivering at the university hospitals(27.5 years) and at general hospitals(26.7 years) were higher than those at midwife clinic(25.4 years) and at MCH center(26.1 years). Also, mean years of school education were higher in women of university hospitals(12.7 years) and general hospitals(12.2 years) than in women of midwife clinic(9.2 years) and MCH center (9.3 years). The percentages of women covered by the medical insurance were far greater in the university hospitals(78.1%) and general hospitals(82.9%) than in private clinics(44.3%), midwife clinic(29.1%) and MCH center (5.4%). Infants born at the MCH center were mostly the second birth (47.3%) while 56.0% to 61.7% of infants born at all the other medical facilities were the first birth more women delivering at the university hospitals had history of spontaneous abortion as well as still birth than the women delivering at the other medical facilities. The preterm birth rate (11.4%) and low birthweight incidence rates(5.8-13.0%) in university hospitals were significantly higher than those of other medical facilities. Accordingly, c-section rates showed a wide variation among the medical facilities. Study findings revealed that most of women delivering at the university hospitals and general hospitals are in the middle of or upper socio-economic class and obstetrically high risk group regardless of socioeconomic class while the women delivering at the midwife clinic and MCH center are low risk group of low socioeconomic class. Therefore, the data of a specific medical facility are highly limited in interpretation and can not be generalized.
Abortion, Spontaneous ; Birth Order ; Birth Weight* ; Child ; Daegu* ; Education ; Fees, Medical ; Female ; Hospitals, General ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Insurance ; Medical Records ; Midwifery ; Parturition* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Premature Birth

Cystic nephroma (CN) is a benign cystic neoplasm composed of mixed epithelial and stromal elements. Less than 200 cases have been reported. We had a patient, a 41-year-old woman, who had a huge typical CN. The patient was admitted for a right renal mass that was found incidentally. On laparaoscopic right nephrectomy, there was an encapsulated 7 cm multilocular cystic mass at the upper pole. Microscopically, the cystic wall was lined by a single layer of low cuboidal or hobnail epithelium without a solid area. The thin septa were composed of bland, ovarian type spindle cells. The main differential diagnoses were mixed epithelial and stromal tumor (MEST), low grade multilocular renal cell carcinoma, and tubulocystic carcinoma. The results of immunohistochemical staining were cytokeratin 7/19(+/+) and CD10(-) in lining epithelium, estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor(+/+) in stromal cells. After surgery, she was free of recurrence for 10 months. We report this rare case and compare it with other cystic renal tumors, especially MEST.
Adult ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Epithelium ; Estrogens ; Female ; Humans ; Keratins ; Kidney ; Nephrectomy ; Receptors, Estrogen ; Recurrence ; Stromal Cells

PURPOSE: Recently, vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) have become one of the major nosocomial pathogens in Korea. However, there have been few studies on the epidemiology of VRE colonization among neonates. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of VRE colonization, risk factors for VRE, and how to control the spread of VRE infection in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Pusan National University Hospital (PNUH). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 192 neonates who were admitted to the NICU of PNUH from March 2006 to March 2007. Surveillance cultures from rectal swabs for detecting VRE were obtained weekly during the study period. We analyzed the prevalence of VRE and various risk factors. RESULTS: The rate of VRE colonization among NICU patients was 25% (48/192). Thirty five of these VRE colonized patients were transferred to the NICU from other local hospitals. Compared with the non-VRE group, the risk factors associated with VRE colonization were lower birth weight, congenital heart disease, applied mechanical ventilation, use of a central venous catheter, chest tubing, a history of surgery, and use of antibiotics. CONCLUSION: VRE colonization among patients admitted to the NICU is rapidly increasing. Monitoring and managing premature neonates from the beginning of the birth process, avoiding many invasive procedures, avoiding antibiotics such as vancomycin and third generation cephalosporin are important for preventing the emergence and spread of VRE colonization in the NICU.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Birth Weight ; Central Venous Catheters ; Colon ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Parturition ; Prevalence ; Respiration, Artificial ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Thorax ; Vancomycin ; Vancomycin Resistance

PURPOSE: To evaluate and compare the diagnostic findings and usefulness of MRI and MR arthrogram in recurrent anterior dislocation of the shoulder. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MRI and MR arthrogram of thirty-two cases of thirty patients with recurrent anterior dislocation of the shoulder were retrospectively analyzed to evaluate glenohumeral ligaments, pattern of labral injury, bony Bankart lesion, capsular stripping, Hill-Sachs lesion, and loose body. RESULTS: Labral abnormalities was detected on MRI in 23 cases(72%) and MR arthrogram in 22 cases(69%) as labral tear, detachment, and deficiency. All cases involved anteroinferior labrum. On MR arthrogram, labral abnormalities was confined to anteroinferior portion in 4 cases(18%), extended into midglenoid level in 13 cases(59%), and that into anterosuperior portion in 5 cases(23%). Capsular stripping was noted on MRI in 6 cases(19%) and MR arthrogram in 12 cases(38%). Loose body was detected only on MR arthrogram in 5 cases (16%). Bony Bankart lesion and Hill-Sachs lesion was detected equally on MRI and MR arthrogram in 2 cases (6%) and 21 cases(66%) respectively. We obtained identical findings on both MR arthrogram and operation field in 6 patients. CONCLUSION: MRI with its excellent soft tissue contrast resolution and multiplanar imaging capafility helps detection of labral injury in recurrent anterior dislocation of the shoulder. MR arthrogram is slightly invasive, but shows good artatomic details of labral-ligamentous-capsular relationship and thus provides accurate detec- tion of pattern of labral injury, capsular stripping, and loose body.
Dislocations* ; Humans ; Ligaments ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Retrospective Studies ; Shoulder*

Allopurinol is widely used for chronic tophaceous gout as a uric acid lowering agent. Hypersensitivity to allopurinol occurrs in about 10% of patients, which limits the usage of allopurinol. The successful oral and intravenous desensitization of allopurinol has been reported worldwide since 1976. We recently experienced a 51-year-old male patient with gouty arthritis and hyperuricemia, who had previously experienced skin rash after allopurinol treatment. When allopurinol was retried, erythematous and foliative skin rash developed on entire body. Because allopurinol was essential in controlling hyperuricemia, the oral desensitization of allopurinol was tried. We report successful rapid oral allopurinol desensitization in the patient with chronic tophaceous gout, who exhibited exfoliative dermatitis as allopurinol hypersensitivity.
Allopurinol* ; Arthritis, Gouty ; Dermatitis, Exfoliative* ; Exanthema ; Gout ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Hyperuricemia ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Uric Acid

Impetigo herpetiformis is a rare pustular disorder that primarily affects pregnant women. A 31 year-old woman at 37 weeks and 4 days' gestation of 3rd pregnancy presented with pruritic multiple erythematous pustules and crusts on the trunk and both antecubital fossa for 3 months. She had had similar lesions in her 1st and 2nd pregnancy, which subsided after delivery without any fetal or maternal complication. She had no personal or familial history of psoriasis. Histopathologic findings showed subcorneal pustules with numerous neutrophils and spongiform pustule of Kogoj. Bacterial culture from pustules was sterile. After Caesarean section at 38 weeks' gestation, a healthy female neonate was delivered and her skin lesion resolved spontaneously.
Cesarean Section ; Female ; Humans ; Impetigo* ; Infant, Newborn ; Neutrophils ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Psoriasis ; Skin