PURPOSE: To determine whether the compression technique is a valuable additional method for differentiating between benign and malignant breast masses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The ultrasonographic findings of 95 benign and 53 malignant masses, all pathologically proven, were prospectively analyzed with regard to five diagnostic criteria: shape (regular/irregular), retrotumoral acoustic phenomena (posterior enhancement/posterior attenuation), internal echo pattern (homogeneous/inhomogeneous), compression effect on shape (distortion/no change), and compression effect on internal echo pattern (more homogeneous/no change). RESULTS: The number of cases of benign and malignant masses, respectively, was as follows: regular / irregular shape: 84/11, 9/44; posterior acoustic enhancement/posterior attenuation: 82/13, 16/37; homogeneous/inhomogeneous internal echo pattern: 78/17, 14/39; distortion/no change in shpae: 76/19, 5/48; and more homogeneous/ no change in internal echo pattern: 71/24, 3/50. For all diagnostic criteria for the differentiation of benign and malignant masses, the differences were statistically significant (p<.05). CONCLUSION: Ultrasonography is helpful for differentiating between benign and malignant breast masses. The compression technique is a valuable additional diagnostic method.
Acoustics ; Breast* ; Prospective Studies ; Ultrasonography*

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of respiration on the size of lung cysts by comparing inspiratory and expiratory high-resolution CT (HRCT) scans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors evaluated the size of cystic lesions, as seen on paired inspiratory and expiratory HRCT scans, in 54 patients with Langerhans cell histiocytosis (n = 3), pulmonary lymphangiomyomatosis (n = 4),confluent centrilobular emphysema (n = 9), paraseptal emphysema and bullae (n= 16), cystic bronchiectasis (n = 13), and honeycombing (n = 9). Using paired inspiratory and expiratory HRCT scans obtained at the corresponding anatomic level, a total of 270 cystic lesions were selected simultaneously on the basis of five lesions per lung disease. Changes in lung cyst size observed during respiration were assessed by two radiologists. In a limited number of cases (n = 11), pathologic specimens were obtained by open lung biopsy or lobectomy. RESULTS: All cystic lesions in patients with Langerhans cell histiocytosis, lymphangiomyomatosis, cystic bronchiectasis, honeycombing, and confluent centrilobular emphysema became smaller on expiration, but in two cases of paraseptal emphysema and bullae there was no change. CONCLUSION: In cases in which expiratory CT scans indicate that cysts have become smaller, cystic lesions may communicate with the airways. To determine whether, for cysts and cystic lesions, this connection does in fact exist, paired inspiratory and expiratory HRCT scans are necessary.
Comparative Study ; Cysts/*radiography ; Female ; Human ; Lung Diseases/*radiography ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial/radiography ; Male ; Middle Age ; Pulmonary Emphysema/radiography ; Respiration ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/*methods

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of respiration on the size of lung cysts by comparing inspiratory and expiratory high-resolution CT (HRCT) scans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors evaluated the size of cystic lesions, as seen on paired inspiratory and expiratory HRCT scans, in 54 patients with Langerhans cell histiocytosis (n = 3), pulmonary lymphangiomyomatosis (n = 4),confluent centrilobular emphysema (n = 9), paraseptal emphysema and bullae (n= 16), cystic bronchiectasis (n = 13), and honeycombing (n = 9). Using paired inspiratory and expiratory HRCT scans obtained at the corresponding anatomic level, a total of 270 cystic lesions were selected simultaneously on the basis of five lesions per lung disease. Changes in lung cyst size observed during respiration were assessed by two radiologists. In a limited number of cases (n = 11), pathologic specimens were obtained by open lung biopsy or lobectomy. RESULTS: All cystic lesions in patients with Langerhans cell histiocytosis, lymphangiomyomatosis, cystic bronchiectasis, honeycombing, and confluent centrilobular emphysema became smaller on expiration, but in two cases of paraseptal emphysema and bullae there was no change. CONCLUSION: In cases in which expiratory CT scans indicate that cysts have become smaller, cystic lesions may communicate with the airways. To determine whether, for cysts and cystic lesions, this connection does in fact exist, paired inspiratory and expiratory HRCT scans are necessary.
Comparative Study ; Cysts/*radiography ; Female ; Human ; Lung Diseases/*radiography ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial/radiography ; Male ; Middle Age ; Pulmonary Emphysema/radiography ; Respiration ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/*methods

Anomalous unilateral single pulmonary vein is a rare abnormality of the pulmonary venous system characterized by a tortuous pulmonary venous confluence which never crosses the diaphragm and drains all arterialized blood from a lung to the left atrium, into which it normally flows. Cardiac and pulmonary anomalies are not associated. We report a case in which this condition was comfirmed by the findings of chest radiography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance angiography.
Diaphragm ; Heart Atria ; Lung ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; Pulmonary Veins* ; Radiography ; Thorax

PURPOSE: There is debate concerning the observation of metabolite changes on MRS at the designated cortex during some tasks. The purpose of this study is to assess the change of the lactate content at the motor cortex during hand-grasping tasks with performing real-time fMRI-guided fMRS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven healthy volunteers (23-28 years old) underwent realtime fMRI during right hand grasping tasks with using a 1.5 T system. After confirming the activating area, single voxel MRS was preformed at 1) the baseline, 2) during the task and 3) after the task on the activating cortex. The three consecutive spectra were compared for observing the changes of the lactate content by the tasks. The Cho/Cr, NAA/Cr and Lac/Cr ratios were calculated manually from those spectra. RESULTS: MRS during the tasks revealed the lactate peaks at the 1.33 ppm resonance frequency with great conspicuity at the activated area, which was identified on the real-time fMRI. After the task scan, the lactate peaks completely disappeared and the spectra recovered to the values of the baseline scan in all volunteers. At baseline, during the task and after the task, the Cho/Cr ratios were 0.81, 0.76 and 0.77, respectively, and the NAA/Cr ratios were 1.68, 1.65 and 1.72, respectively, and the Lac/Cr ratios were 0.28, 0.41 and 0.30, respectively. During the task, Lac was significantly increased by 46%. CONCLUSION: We observed prominent lactate peaks on MRS during hand-grasping tasks at the activated area, as was shown on the real-time fMRI. We suggest that fMRS can be used as a sensitive tool for observing the metabolite changes of the functioning brain.
Hand ; Hand Strength ; Lactic Acid ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Motor Cortex

The incidence of skull tuberculosis is very rare, with only a few cases reported as a result of a simple radiography and computed tomographic findings. In this study, we report the magnetic resonance image (MRI) findings of a case of skull tuberculosis, which was confirmed histologically.
Frontal Bone ; Incidence ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Skull ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Osteoarticular

Presented in this paper are the experimental results that measure rapid prototyping (RP) errors in 3D medical models. We identified various factors that can cause dimensional errors when producing RP models, specifically in maxillofacial areas. For the experiment, we used a human dry skull. A number of linear measurements based on landmarks were first obtained on the skull. This was followed by CT scanning, 3D model reconstruction, and RP model fabrication. The landmarks were measured again on both the reconstructed models and the physical RP models, and these were compared with those on dry skull. We focused on major sources of errors, such as CT scanning, conversion from CT data to STL models, and RP model fabrication. The results show that the overall error from skull to RP is 0.64+/-0.36mm(0.71+/-0.66%) in absolute value. This indicates that the RP technology can be acceptable in the real clinical applications. A clinical case that has applied RP models successfully for treatment planning and surgical rehearsal is presented. Although the use of RP models is rare in the medical area yet, we believe RP is promising in that it has a great potential in developing new tools which can aid diagnosis, treatment planning, surgical rehearsal, education, and so on.
Diagnosis ; Education ; Humans ; Skull ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVES: Little is known about the influence of urinary incontinence and depression on individual's QOL(Quality of life). We aimed to clarify how the interaction between urinary incontinence and depression influences one's QOL. METHODS: A total of 1262 patients were enrolled in this study from April, 2011 to July, 2011. We estimated the severity of depressive symptoms and QOL, using SGDS-K, EQ-5D. We also investigated the morbidity of urinary incontinence for each patient in person or by questionnaire. Comparisons of QOL between groups with or without depression, with or without urinary incontinence were established using t-test, ANOVA and Scheffe's post hoc analysis. The interaction between urinary incontinence and depression was analyzed by each domain of QOL, using multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: Patients with depression and urinary incontinence showed significantly higher EQ-5D scores on every domain of QOL than other patients, which means significantly lower QOL. Patients with depression, no urinary incontinence reported lower QOL, especially in the domain of ‘usual activity’, ‘anxiety’ and ‘visual analogue scale(VAS)’, whereas those with urinary incontinence, no depression showed lower QOL in ‘motility’, ‘usual activities’ and ‘pain’ domain. Statistically significant interaction effects of two diseases were observed in the domain of ‘VAS’, ‘self care’ and ‘anxiety’. CONCLUSIONS: Comorbidity of urinary incontinence and depression showed significantly lower QOL of patients, compared with urinary incontinence or depression respectively, which implies additive interaction effects of the two diseases. Optimal diagnosis and treatment of depression should be emphasized for patients with urinary incontinence.
Aged ; Comorbidity ; Depression ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Quality of Life ; Urinary Incontinence

Objective: To investigate the suitability of citrus-press cakes, by-products of the juice industry as a source for the whitening agents for cosmetic industry.
Methods:Ethylacetate extracts of citrus-press cakes (CCE) were examined for their anti-melanogenic potentials in terms of the inhibition of melanin production and mechanisim of melanogenesis by using Western Blot analysis with tyrosinese, tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1), TRP2, and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) proteins. To apply the topical agents, citrus-press cakes was investigated the safety in human skin cell line. Finally flavonoid analysis of CCE was also determined by HPLC analysis.
Results: Results indicated that CCE were shown to down-regulate melanin content in a dose-dependent pattern. The CCE inhibited tyrosinase, TRP-2, and MITF expressions in a dose-dependent manner. To test the applicability of CCE to human skin, we used MTT assay to assess the cytotoxic effects of CCE on human keratinocyte HaCaT cells. The CCE exhibited low cytotoxicity at 50 μg/mL. Characterization of the citrus-press cakes for flavonoid contents using HPLC showed varied quantity of rutin, narirutin, and hesperidin.
Conclusions:Considering the anti-melanogenic activity and human safety, CCE is considered as a potential anti-melanogenic agent and may be effective for topical application for treating hyperpigmentation disorders.

PURPOSE: To evaluate factors related to the recurrence of TCC(transitional cell carcinoma) in the urinarybladder after transurethral resection of bladder tumor(TUR-BT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectivelyreviewed 54 patients in whom TCC(transitional cell carcinoma) after TUR-BT had been confirmed. Recurrence wasevaluated by US, CT, cystoscopy and urine smear during the follow-up period of 6 months. The multiplicity, shape,size, and calcification of TCC, as revealed by radiologic studies, were evaluated retrospectively before TUR-BT.After TUR-BT, the histologic grade and pathologic stage of TCC were evaluated. RESULTS: According to themultiplicity of TCC, the recurrence rate was 66.7% in the multiple type and 28.6% in the single type(p=0.039) ;according to shape, this rate was 61.5% in the sessile type and 29.3% in the pedunculated type(p=0.0505), andaccording to mass size, the rate was 41.7% in tumors more than 3cm in diameter and 35.7% in tumors less than3cm(p=0.706). In the presence of calcification, the recurrence rate was 40.0% and in its absence, this rate was36.7%(p=0.885). Pathologically, the higher the grade and stage of TCC, the higher the recurrence rate(respectivelyp=0.010 and 0.041). CONCLUSIONS: Radiologically, multiple and/or sessile type TCC had a higher recurrence ratethan the single and/or pedunculated type. Pathologically, when the grade and stage of bladder tumor were higher,recurrence rates were higher.
Carcinoma, Transitional Cell* ; Cystoscopy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Recurrence* ; Retrospective Studies ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; Urinary Bladder*