No abstract available.
Cardiomyopathy, Dilated* ; Doxorubicin

Neutrophils are important effector cells against protozoan extracellular parasite Entamoeba histolytica, which causes amoebic colitis and liver abscess in human beings. Apoptotic cell death of neutrophils is an important event in the resolution of inflammation and parasite's survival in vivo. This study was undertaken to investigate the ultrastructural aspects of apoptotic cells during neutrophil death triggered by Entamoeba histolytica. Isolated human neutrophils from the peripheral blood were incubated with or without live trophozoites of E. histolytica and examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Neutrophils incubated with E. histolytica were observed to show apoptotic characteristics, such as compaction of the nuclear chromatin and swelling of the nuclear envelop. In contrast, neutrophils incubated in the absence of the amoeba had many protrusions of irregular cell surfaces and heterogenous nuclear chromatin. Therefore, it is suggested that Entamoeba-induced neutrophil apoptosis contribute to prevent unwanted tissue inflammation and damage in the amoeba-invaded lesions in vivo.
Animals ; Apoptosis/*physiology ; Entamoeba histolytica/*physiology ; Host-Parasite Relations/physiology ; Humans ; In Vitro ; Neutrophils/physiology/*ultrastructure ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of each phases in two and three phase spiral CT in the detection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two phase spiral CT images of 18 patients and three phasespiral CT images of 12 patients with pathologically-proven pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma were retrospectively compared. Using a single spiral scan, images of early and delayed phases were obtained at 43 seconds and 2 ~ 3 minutes respectively initiating the after administration of 100-120 cc of contrast material (2 ~ 3 cc/sec),Images of arterial, portal and delayed phases were also obtained at 25 and 60 seconds, and 3 ~ 4 minutes,respectively, by the use of a double spiral scan. CT scans were performed with 10 mm collimation at 1 : 1 pitchtable speed. Contrast between the tumor and adjacent pancreatic parenchyma were compared and graded and enhancement pattern of the tumor were analysed together. RESULTS: In 12 patients (66.7%), images of the earlyphase were superior to those of the delayed phase. images of the portal phase were superior to those of thearterial phase. Enhancement of tumor was seen in four patients ; all tumors were less than 3cm in size. CONCLUSION: The early phase of two phase spiral CT is superior to the delayed phase and the portal phase of three phasespiral CT is superior to the arterial phase. Both arterial and portal phases are superior to the delayed phase.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Humans ; Pancreatic Ducts ; Tomography, Spiral Computed* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Perirenal hematoma after a renal biopsy is a common complication that usually resolves spontaneously, but this rarely requires transfusions or surgical/radiological intervention. We report here on a case of a renal perforating artery that was mistaken for renal arterial bleeding in a 53-year-old woman who was complicated with perirenal hematoma after undergoing a percutaneous renal biopsy. On the color and pulsed wave Doppler ultrasonography, linear blood flow was seen in the perirenal hematoma, which extended perpendicularly from the renal parenchyma into the perirenal space, and this linear blood flow exhibited an arterial pulse wave. On CT angiography, the renal perforating artery was demonstrated as a curvilinear vessel coursing tangentially to the renal margin and we decided that it was a pseudolesion caused by the renal perforating artery. A renal perforating artery may be mistaken for renal arterial bleeding after a percutaneous renal biopsy. A renal perforating artery and arterial bleeding can be differentiated by the location and shape seen on a color Doppler examination and the pulse waves characteristics.
Angiography ; Arteries ; Biopsy ; Female ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Hematoma ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Ultrasonography, Doppler ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color

We report a man who exhibited pure agraphia after suffering a left subcortical infarction involving part of the thalamus and the basal ganglia. His writing difficulty was characterized by stopping, letter omission, and substitution in spontaneous writing and writing to dictation, but he was able to copy normally. Decreased perfusion in the left frontal lobe and temporal cortex was noted on brain single-photon-emission computed tomography . This patient's agraphia persisted at follow-up 52 days later. We suggest that the subcortical lesion in this patient caused pure agraphia secondary to diaschisis of the interconnected cortical area.
Agraphia ; Basal Ganglia ; Brain ; Cerebral Infarction ; Coat Protein Complex I ; Follow-Up Studies ; Frontal Lobe ; Humans ; Infarction ; Perfusion ; Stress, Psychological ; Thalamus ; Writing

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The oculomotor nerve fascicles arise along its entire length and sweep ventrally to exit the midbrain at the medial edge of the crus cerebri. A rostro-caudal topography among the fascicular fibers is relatively well established. There are, however, some controversies whether medio-lateral topography also exists. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records and MRI of the 8 patients showing isolated oculomotor nerve palsy due to midbrain infarction. Brain MRI was performed using a 1.5-T magnet with 2mm thickness and 0.1 mm slice interval. The anterior-posterior axis(X) was defined as the midline crossing the center of the cerebral aqueduct and the medio-lateral axis(Y) as the line crossing the same point. For rostro-caudal measurement, the intercommissural line was used as base line of the Z axis. The location of the lesions was defined by measuring actual distance of the margins of the lesions in millimeter from each axis; anterior, right, and caudal direction was defined as positive values in X, Y and Z coordinates, respectively. RESULTS: The mean values and range of the X, Y and Z are as follows: X=7.56+/-4.34, 1< or =X< or =15; Y=3.43+/-1.37, 0< or =Y< or =6; Z=6.51+/-3.91, 0< or =Z< or =12.5. CONCLUSIONS: The distribution of all the MRI lesions was 0< or =|Y|< or =6 (mm), 0< or =|Z|< or =12.5 (mm) in mediolateral and rostrocaudal direction respectively, which is almost the same as the previously reported divergent range of the oculomotor fascicles in midbrain tegmentum. We suggest that our method of three dimensional measurements of the MRI lesion in midbrain tegmentum could be a useful tool for the study of oculomotor fascicular arrangement.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Brain ; Cerebral Aqueduct ; Humans ; Infarction ; Magnets ; Mesencephalon ; Oculomotor Nerve ; Oculomotor Nerve Diseases ; Retrospective Studies

Valproic acid-induced hyperammonemic encephalopathy (VHE) is a very rare but serious complication. Discontinuation of valproic acid is the first and critical step for treatment. VHE can occur in people with normal liver function, despite normal doses and serum levels of valproic acid, therefore it is very hard to predict. Recently, we experienced a case of VHE. Here we will present the clinical, laboratory and electroencephalography findings in this patient.
Electroencephalography ; Epilepsy ; Humans ; Liver ; Status Epilepticus ; Valproic Acid

A type I Arnold-Chiari malformation (ACM1) is characterized by herniation of cerebellar tonsils at least 3 mm below the plane of the foramen magnum and can present with various clinical symptoms, frequently occipital headache, lower cranial nerve palsy, or ataxia. However, syncope has rarely been described as an initial manifestation of ACM1. An 18-year-old girl experienced a falling to the ground with a loss of consciousness for a minute. The fall occurred with a sensation of vertigo when she was extending her neck to pick up a shuttlecock. Electroencephalography, autonomic function tests, and echocardiography did not demonstrate abnormalities. An magnetic resonance image showed a ACM1. A second-degree atrioventricular block was noted on the initial 24-hour EKG, but not on the second and the third ones taken after neck movement had been restricted by a brace. The initiation of syncope with a sensation of vertigo during excessive head movement and the absence of any other common causes of syncope except for the transient second-degree atrioventricular block disappearing after restriction of neck movement raise the possibility that the syncope was due to the ACM1. Therefore, we recommend that a differential diagnosis of syncope should include ACM1 on the initial evaluation.
Adolescent ; Arnold-Chiari Malformation* ; Ataxia ; Atrioventricular Block ; Braces ; Cranial Nerve Diseases ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Echocardiography ; Electrocardiography ; Electroencephalography ; Female ; Foramen Magnum ; Head Movements ; Headache ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neck ; Palatine Tonsil ; Sensation ; Syncope* ; Unconsciousness ; Vertigo

We report a rare case of primary dorsal medullary hemorrhage showing lateral medullary syndrome with ipsilesional nystagmus. A 41-year woman, presented with the first degree horizontal vestibular nystagmus and ocular tilt reaction to the left in lateral medullary hemorrhagic lesion. Primary medullary hemorrhage is rare and details of the abnormal eye movement in the lesion have never been described well. While most of the reported vestibular nystagmus in the lateral medullary infarction was contralesional., the nystagmus in this case was ipsilesional. This ipsilesional beating of the nystagmus might be explained that either destruction of the rostral part of vestibular nuclei or irritative effect of blood to vestibular nuclei is responsible. In addition, ocular tilt reaction (OTR) can be more important in deciding the side of the lesion in medullary hemorrhage
Eye Movements ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Infarction ; Lateral Medullary Syndrome ; Vestibular Nuclei

Primary squamous cell carcinoma is a rare tumor of the stomach with an incidence ranging from 0.04% to 0.4% of all diagnosed gastric cancers. We report a case of squamous cell carcinoma in the stomach associated with hypertrophic gastropathy and observed as a huge mass and wall thickening on the greater curvature site by a multidetector CT.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Incidence ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms