Clear cell hidradenoma is a much less common primary cutaneous tumor originated from sweat gland. Clinically this tumor occurs more frequently in female than in male and in patients of any age although there is a predilection for the middle and older age groups. The lesion is solitary and represents a cutaneous nodular and cystic mass of slow expansible growth. By light microscopy the lesion has been characterized as a solid cataneous tumor composed of clear epithelial cells which are focally arranged in glandular and cystic patterns. We observed a 37-year-old housewife who had suffered from a tumor on her back for 3 years. The tumor was a pedunculated, soft, fixed mass and 3. 5 * 3 * 1. 5 cm in size. Histopathologic finding showed the tumor to be composed of two main types of cells, fusiform and clear cells.
Acrospiroma* ; Adult ; Epithelial Cells ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Microscopy ; Sweat Glands

PURPOSE: To evaluate surface configuration of intervertebral disc on three dimensional CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three dimensional surface images reconstructed from CTscans(1 mm thick) of 20discs in 14 healthy adults were reviewed. Disc surface was classified into peripheral and central zones in contact with consecutive peripheral ring and central endplate. Local irregularity incidence, pattern in radial, concentric, or mixed form, size, location, and extension were observed. Incidence and severity ranges in 4 grades of general irregularity, and peripheral width relative to central radius were evaluated. RESULTS: Normal disc mostly showed smooth surface with few display of small local irregularity(6/20) which was mainly radial in pattern(4/5), posterolaterally located(4/6), and confined within peripheral zone(5/6). General irregularity displayed(5/20) was all grade I and peripheral width was 0.82 of central radius. CONCLUSION: Normal disc shows smooth surface but few may display small local irregularity maybe due to very early degenerative change.
Adult ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intervertebral Disc* ; Radius

Subcutaneous form of neuromuscular hamartoma is extremely rare and histologically different from the conventional neuromuscular hamartoma of the peripheral nerve or benign Triton tumor by an indistinct nodular growth with ill-defined margin and marked collagen interposition. It is usually not associated with a major nerve. We report a case of subcutaneous neuromuscular hamartoma developed in the forehead of 24-year-old man. The tumor showed proliferation of dense, hyalinized fibrous tissue, in which single or group of mature skeletal muscle fibers and nerve fibers were haphazardly intermixed. Recognition of abnormally arranged muscle and nerve fibers is important not to miss this lesion.
Collagen ; Forehead ; Hamartoma* ; Humans ; Hyalin ; Muscle Fibers, Skeletal ; Neptune ; Nerve Fibers ; Peripheral Nerves ; Skin ; Young Adult

Carbon monoxide is colorless, oolorless, tasteless and non-irritating gas produced by the incomplete combustion of carbonaceous rnaterial. It combines with hemoglobin and displaces oxygen because the affinity of hemoglobin for carbon monoxide is two hundred times greater than oxygen. Symptoma and signs of carbon monoxide poisoning include headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, collapse, unconsciousness, blindness, convulsion, coma and skin lesions. Recently we have observed seven patients with carbon monoxide poisoning who expressed cutaneous syrnptoms. In this work we investigated the pathogenesis of cutaneous manifestations of carbon monoxide poisoning through clinical, histologic and electronmicroscopic study. The results are summarized as follows: 1. Mental states of the patients were comatose in two, Semicomatcse in two, stuporous in two, and drowsy in one patient. In routine laboratory tests, we observed elevated blood sugar in six, elevated sorum creatinine phosphokinase in four and abnormal findings in urinalysis in all patients. 2. Cutaneous lesions were vesicobullae, plaque or swelling, erythema, gangrene and 'ulceration in order of frequency and located in the dependent areas in six caies. 3. Histopathologically, the sites of the bullae were subepidermal in four cases and intraepidermal in. one case and there was one case with ulceration. 4. In electronmicroscopic findings, secretory and ductal cells showed degenerative
Blindness ; Blood Glucose ; Carbon Monoxide Poisoning* ; Carbon Monoxide* ; Carbon* ; Coma ; Creatinine ; Dizziness ; Erythema ; Gangrene ; Headache ; Humans ; Nausea ; Oxygen ; Seizures ; Skin ; Stupor ; Ulcer ; Unconsciousness ; Urinalysis ; Vomiting

Fat containing masses, except mediastinal lipomatosis, of the thorax are uncommon. In spite of uncommonoccurences, as CT can detect not only the fat content but also the presence and character of the non-fattycomponent of the mass, accurate preoperative diagnosis can usually be made in most cases of fat containingmediastinal masses. Authors report 6 cases of fat containing mediastinal masses, that were diagnosedpreoperatively by CT scan, comprising 2 cases of limpoma(combined with plexiform neurofibroma in a case), 1liposarcoma, 1 thymolipoma, and 2 cases of omental hernia through Morgagni foramen.
Diagnosis ; Hernia ; Lipomatosis ; Neurofibroma, Plexiform ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: To compare image quality of storage phosphor digital radiography(DR) with film-screen radiography in portable chest imaging, and to assess the minimum X-ray dose that can be applied to DR in adults without image degradation, and also to compare image qualities of low dose and standard dose DR. Materials and Methalos: A geometrical phantom similar to the human thorax was imaged by a portable radiographic unit with fixed kVp and variable m^s in both film-screen and DR systems. Three radiologists scored the images by four grades in four categories of 1) contrast between mediastinum and lung, 2) definition of the nodule in the lung, 3) definition of another nodule through the mediastinal shadow, and 4) grainess(noise : assessed only in DR). Additionally, portable chest images were obtained in 10 patients in a intensive care unit by film-screen, standard dose and half dose DR in consecutive days. The same readers scored the images by four grades in six categories of 1) the lungs and hila, 2) the mediastinum, 3) subphrenic area. 4) musculoskeletal shadow, 5) tubes and lines, and 6) grainess (only in DR). The images with superior quality were assessed by paired t-test. RESULTS: In phantom study, the minimum dose of digital images scored 3 or more by all readers was 39% of the standard dose. In patient study, DR was superior to film-screen radiography in all categories except tube and line. Low dose DR was not inferior to standard dose DR in five categories other than grainess to two readers or more. CONCLUSION: In portable chest imaging, storage phosphor DR image was superior to conventional film-screen radiography and half dose DR was comparable to standard dose DR despite of more noise.
Adult ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Lung ; Mediastinum ; Noise ; Radiographic Image Enhancement* ; Radiography ; Thorax*

PURPOSE: To compare image quality of storage phosphor digital radiography(DR) with film-screen radiography in portable chest imaging, and to assess the minimum X-ray dose that can be applied to DR in adults without image degradation, and also to compare image qualities of low dose and standard dose DR. Materials and Methalos: A geometrical phantom similar to the human thorax was imaged by a portable radiographic unit with fixed kVp and variable m^s in both film-screen and DR systems. Three radiologists scored the images by four grades in four categories of 1) contrast between mediastinum and lung, 2) definition of the nodule in the lung, 3) definition of another nodule through the mediastinal shadow, and 4) grainess(noise : assessed only in DR). Additionally, portable chest images were obtained in 10 patients in a intensive care unit by film-screen, standard dose and half dose DR in consecutive days. The same readers scored the images by four grades in six categories of 1) the lungs and hila, 2) the mediastinum, 3) subphrenic area. 4) musculoskeletal shadow, 5) tubes and lines, and 6) grainess (only in DR). The images with superior quality were assessed by paired t-test. RESULTS: In phantom study, the minimum dose of digital images scored 3 or more by all readers was 39% of the standard dose. In patient study, DR was superior to film-screen radiography in all categories except tube and line. Low dose DR was not inferior to standard dose DR in five categories other than grainess to two readers or more. CONCLUSION: In portable chest imaging, storage phosphor DR image was superior to conventional film-screen radiography and half dose DR was comparable to standard dose DR despite of more noise.
Adult ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Lung ; Mediastinum ; Noise ; Radiographic Image Enhancement* ; Radiography ; Thorax*

Since the introduction of percutaneous mitral valvotomy(PMV) in 1984, PMV was an effecive alternative to surgical commissurotomy in selected patients with severe mitral stenosis. Also PMV was an excellent palliative strategy in such patients who were high risk for operative management or longterm anticoagulation was not feasible. We performed PMV in a patient with very tight mitral stenosis and severe pulmonary hypertension under the general anesthesia because the patient was anticipated to be uncooperative due to mental problem, who was diagnosed as schizophrenia 16 years ago. Robinol was used for premedication and i.v fentanyl was used for maintenance of anesthesia. Inoue balloon was introduced into the LV and gradual ballooning was performed with favorable results. Total anesthesia time and interval from internal jugular vein puncture to the completion of valvuloplasty were 1 hour 45 min and 40 minutes respectively. Hemodynamic variables were improved immediately after intervention and mitral valve area was increased from 0.5cm2 to 1.3cm2.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General* ; Fentanyl ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; Jugular Veins ; Mitral Valve ; Mitral Valve Stenosis* ; Premedication ; Punctures ; Schizophrenia*

Infection with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) leads to gastritis, but the majority of infected persons are asymptomatic, and it has been recently described that the ability of H. pylori to cause more severe disease is related to the presence of the cytotoxin-associated gene A (cagA). We investigated the prevalence of cagA-bearing strains in a group of H. pylori-positive gastritis, and compared the morphologic differences between cagA-positive and cagA-negative cases on H&E stained slides. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays for detection of H. pylori and cagA of 62 gastric biopsy specimens were performed. All the slides were analyzed by the updated Sydney system. Forty eight (77.4%) were PCR positive for H. pylori and thirty four (54.8%) were positive for cagA. There were no significant differences in numbers of H. pylori, degree of infiltration of mononuclear cells and degree of atrophy between cagA-positive and cagA-negative groups. The rates of neutrophilic infiltration and intestinal metaplasia were significantly higher in cagA-positive group than in cagA-negative group. In conclusion, the detection of H. pylori by PCR method is more sensitive than that of microscopic examination and H. pylori strains possessing cagA are associated with an enhanced induction of severe gastritis.
Atrophy ; Biopsy ; Gastritis* ; Helicobacter pylori ; Helicobacter* ; Humans ; Metaplasia ; Neutrophils ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence

Treatment of oral cancers with chemotherapeutic agents are evaluated as an effective method for remission to reduce cancer proliferation nowadays. But, minimization of side-effects such as bone marrow suppression, gastrointestinal toxicity and renal damage is another problem to be solved. Thus, a possible approach to develop a clinically applicable chemotherapeutic agents is to screen anticancer activity among traditional medicinal plants which have been used for thousands of years with very low side-effects in orient. In this study we focused on screening anti-oral cancer activities among 14 traditional medicinal plant extracts that revealed anticancer activities on other solid tumors. The results were as follow: 1. Methanol extract of Lepidium apetalum showed the highest anti-oral cancer activity against A253 cells. At concentration of 4 microgram/ml, the cell viability was 48% under our experimental condition. IC50 value obtained was 4 microgram/ml. 2. Methanol extract of Coptis japonica and Solanum nigrum were effective on KB cells. Cell viability observed were 62% and 67% at concentration of 4 microgram/ml, and IC50 values were 12 microgram/ml and 10 microgram/ml respectively. 3. When the methanol extract of Lonicera caerule was combined with 2 microgram/ml of cisplatin, the anticancer activity was synergistically increased. One hundred microgram/ml of Lonicera caerule showed 92% (alone) or 59% (combined with cisplatin) cell viabilities. IC50 value of Lonicera caerule extract against KB cells was reduced from 301 microgram/ml to 126 microgram/ml when combined with 2 microgram/ml of cisplatin. 4. Medicinal plant extracts effective on both A253 and KB cells were Coptis japonica, Lepidium apetalum, Solanum nigrum, Caesalpiniae Lignum, Curcuma aromatica.
Bone Marrow ; Caesalpinia ; Cell Survival ; Cisplatin ; Coptis ; Curcuma ; Humans ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; KB Cells ; Lepidium ; Lonicera ; Mass Screening ; Methanol ; Mouth Neoplasms ; Plants, Medicinal* ; Solanum nigrum