Craniosysostosis is a congenital anomaly which should be corrected at an early age. The correction should be both for shape as well as to assure normal growth of the brain. In the past, many patients of craniosysostosis underwent corrective suturectomy only for the purpose of removing constructive forces on the brain. However, recurrence is frequent and further deformity in the shape of the skull and face often develop. The particular patient in this article had undergone a simple suturectomy in the neurosurgery department. For 12 years, he had suffered from not only the deformed shape of the skull but also from medical refractory epileptic convulsions. Therefore, the patient underwent total cranial remodeling for correction of a deformed forehead and skull following correction of the bone contour. Unexpectedly, the epileptic convulsions of the patient markedly improved with the new shape. Based upon these results, the authors suggest that secondary total cranial remodeling can improve the convulsions by affecting the epileptic focus which may have been caused by previous operational scars on the dura.
Brain ; Cicatrix ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Craniosynostoses* ; Forehead ; Humans ; Neurosurgery ; Recurrence ; Seizures* ; Skull

BACKGROUND: It was recently shown that human atherosclerotic plaque contains large numbers of T lymphocytes : this indicates that immune and inflammatory mechanism may be important factors in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. By measuring the soluble interleukin 2 receptor(sIL-2R) level we can evaluate the activation of T lymphocyte. The purpose of this study is to evaluate relationship between T cell activation and ischemic heart disease by measuring the soluble interleukin 2 receptor (sIL-2R) level in patient with ischemic heart disease. METHOD: Seventy-two patients(40 males and 32 female, mean age : 56.5+/-9.9 years) who were taken coronary angiography were included in this study. Among them, 49 patients showed abnormal coronary angiographic findings and 23 patients showed normal coronary angiographic findings. Ten mililiters of arterial blood was drawn at the time of coronary angiography. The blood was allowed to coagulate and then the serum was removed and tested in duplicate for soluble interleukin 2 receptor (sIL-2R) level by ELISA. RESULTS: 1) The soluble interleukin 2 receptor (sIL-2R) level was significantly different between abnormal coronary angiographic findings and normal coronary angiographic findings (P < 0.001). 2) According to clinical severity of ischemic heart disease (i.e. stable angina, unstable angina, acute myocardial infarction.), soluble interleukin 2 receptor (sIL-2R) level was not significantly different between single vessel disease group and multivessels disease groups (p > 0.05), but showed increasing tendency with clinical severity. 3) According to numbers of involved coronary vessels, soluble interleukin 2 receptor (sIL-2R) level was not significantly different between single vessel disease group and multivessels disease groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: T lymphocyte activation, as reflected in elevated soluble interlekin 2 receptor (sIL-2R) level, is frequent in patient with ischemic heart disease. In the further we will investigate relationship between clinical diagnosis of ischemic heart disease of the numbers of involved coronary vessels and T cell activation.
Angina, Stable ; Angina, Unstable ; Atherosclerosis ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Vessels ; Diagnosis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-2 ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Lymphocytes ; Male ; Myocardial Ischemia* ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; Receptors, Interleukin-2 ; T-Lymphocytes

Several agents are in use to promote new bone formation during bone graft procedures in maxillofacial region. Among them, we have used crude BMP, PRP, and P-15 for experimentally created defects with accompanying graft materials in the rabbit model. The aim of this study is to analyze the effect of above mentioned agents on bone formation using histologic and histomorphometrical methods, thus to provide experimental support for clinical application of these agents. Six rabbits were used as experimental animals. Four surgical defects were created on the distal femoral heads of each animal using trephine drill. The defects were filled with each agents with accompaning graft materials as experimental groups and particulate cortico- cancellous autogenous graft as control. For histomorphometric analysis, fluorescent dye was injected at 2week and 1week before sacrifice. Then, the animals were sacrificed at 2, 4 and 8weeks after surgery and histologic and histomorphometric examinations were achieved. At two weeks after bone graft, bone formation and active remodeling process were examined in all experimental groups and the control. But the intensity of such activities of the experiments were somewhat weaker than that of the control. In BMP group, the amount of newly formed osteoid was increased constantly and the amount was preserved constantly in PRP group. But in P-15 group, the amount of newly formed osteoid was decreased with time to 8week after surgery. Histologic findings showed superior bony quantity and quality in PRP group than that of P-15 group. MAR(Mineralization Apposition Rate) of all experimental groups were slower than that of control group. In P-15 group, constant foreign body reaction was observed at all periods and the graft material showed inwardly destroyed characteristics rather to mature. The data from this study provide the basis for future studies for evaluating the long-term remodeling process and foreign body reactions observed in P-15 group and clinical study for predictable use of these agents.
Animals ; Foreign Bodies ; Foreign-Body Reaction ; Head ; Osteogenesis ; Rabbits ; Transplants

Werniche's encephalopathy is clinically characterized by the acute onset of global confusion, ataxia, gaze paresis, and nystagmus. It result from a deficiency in thiamine, an essential coenzyme in intermediate carbohydrate metabolism. The prompt use of thiamine prevents progression of the disease and reverses those lesions that have not yet progressed to the point of fixed structural change. We experienced a case of Wemiches encephalopathy associated with hyperemesis gravidarum, which happens to the patient who are injected only dextrose without thiamine. Therefore, we emphasize the need of thiamine replacement in hyperemesis gravidarum.
Ataxia ; Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Female ; Glucose ; Humans ; Hyperemesis Gravidarum ; Paresis ; Pregnancy ; Thiamine

Background: Cutaneous metastasis (CM) is the spread of cancer cells from a primary site to the skin and is rarely the first sign of silent cancer. We investigated the clinicopathological characteristics of CM from internal malignancies in Korean patients treated at our institution over 20 years. Methods: The clinicopathological findings of 112 patients (62 females, 50 males) with CM diagnosed at Yeungnam University Hospital between 2000 and 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Mean patient age was 58.6 years (range, 26 to 87 years), and the most common primary cancer site was breast (74.2%) in women and lung (36.0%) in men. Ninety-six patients (85.7%) presented with CM after primary tumor diagnosis. CM from the lung or biliary tract usually occurred within 2 years of primary tumor diagnosis, whereas metastases from the breast and kidney occurred several years later. The chest, abdomen, and scalp were common sites of CM. Breast cancer usually metastasized to chest skin, while gastrointestinal tract cancers commonly metastasized to the abdomen. The scalp was a common location for CM from various tumors. The most common dermatologic presentations were nodules and masses. Immunohistochemical studies helped identify underlying malignancies when primary tumors were unknown. Conclusions The relative frequency of CM parallels the overall incidence of primary malignant tumors, and CMs usually occur at anatomic sites close to the primary tumor. CM can be diagnosed based on clinical, radiological, and histological features; however, immunohistochemical study is required in some cases.

Background: Cutaneous metastasis (CM) is the spread of cancer cells from a primary site to the skin and is rarely the first sign of silent cancer. We investigated the clinicopathological characteristics of CM from internal malignancies in Korean patients treated at our institution over 20 years. Methods: The clinicopathological findings of 112 patients (62 females, 50 males) with CM diagnosed at Yeungnam University Hospital between 2000 and 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Mean patient age was 58.6 years (range, 26 to 87 years), and the most common primary cancer site was breast (74.2%) in women and lung (36.0%) in men. Ninety-six patients (85.7%) presented with CM after primary tumor diagnosis. CM from the lung or biliary tract usually occurred within 2 years of primary tumor diagnosis, whereas metastases from the breast and kidney occurred several years later. The chest, abdomen, and scalp were common sites of CM. Breast cancer usually metastasized to chest skin, while gastrointestinal tract cancers commonly metastasized to the abdomen. The scalp was a common location for CM from various tumors. The most common dermatologic presentations were nodules and masses. Immunohistochemical studies helped identify underlying malignancies when primary tumors were unknown. Conclusions The relative frequency of CM parallels the overall incidence of primary malignant tumors, and CMs usually occur at anatomic sites close to the primary tumor. CM can be diagnosed based on clinical, radiological, and histological features; however, immunohistochemical study is required in some cases.

Background: Nodular hidradenoma is a relatively common benign cutaneous neoplasm, which usually presents as solitary intradermal nodule. In Korea, an extensive study on tumors with eccrine differentiation was performed in 2006; however, the study considered all eccrine tumors and detailed analysis of its differentiation was not performed. In addition, although most skin pathology textbooks classify it as a tumor showing eccrine differentiation, its differentiation remains controversial. Objective: This study investigated clinicopathological features of nodular hidradenoma in Koreans at a tertiary referral center. Methods: We retrospectively investigated 22 patients who presented with nodular hidradenoma at Yeungnam University Hospital between 2000 and 2021. Diagnosis was confirmed by histopathological examination in all the patients. Results: About half of the lesions were located on the head and neck area (45.5%), followed by the trunk (31.8%). Histopathological examination revealed that tumor cells in most of the cases consisted of cuboidal and clear cells; however, in some cases there were several specific modified cells such as clear cells (9.1%), squamoid cells (4.5%), and poroid cells (22.7%). Considering the morphological characteristic of tubular structures, most cases (90.9%) showed apocrine differentiation, and only 2 cases (9.1%) showed eccrine differentiation. Conclusion Considering the characteristics of cells and tubular structures constituting tumors, it is reasonable to consider nodular hidradenoma as a tumor with apocrine differentiation rather than with eccrine differentiation, which had previously been the predominant classification. Furthermore, there still is no distinct marker for determining whether cells differentiate into eccrine or apocrine tissues and further studies are therefore needed.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the histopathological prognostic factors, relapse pattern and survival in patients with endometrial carcinoma who were treated with surgery and postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy (RT). METHODS AND MATERIALS: From September 1991 to December 1997, 27 patients with endometrial carcinoma treated with surgery and postoperative adjuvant RT at Asan Medical Center were entered in this study. Surgery was performed with total abdominal hysterectomy in six, total abdominal hysterectomy with pelvic lymph node dissection in eight and radical hysterectomy in 13 patients. External RT of 50.4 Gy was done to all patients and among these, additional high dose rate vaginal vault irradiation of 20-25 Gy with fractional dose of 4-5 Gy was boosted in 16 patients. The patients were followed for 6-95 months (median 30). RESULTS: The number of patients according to FIGO stage were I 18 (67%), II 1 (4%) and III 7 (26%). Patients with poor histologic grade, deep myometrial invasion, adnexal involvement, lymphovascular invasion showed more pelvic lymph node involvement, but no statistical significance was indicated. The 5year overall and disease free survival were 100% and 76.8%, respectively. Relapse sites were pelvic, para-aortic lymph node, and multiple metastases including lung, and no vaginal relapse was developed. Factors that were associated with disease free survival were FIGO stage (p=0.01), lymphovascular invasion (p=0.03), pelvic lymph node involvement (p=0.000 1). There was only one Grade 1 rectal bleeding without moderate to severe complications. CONCLUSION: Postoperative adjuvant RT is considered to reduce the loco-regional failure, resulting the improvement of survival. The group of patients with the risk of vaginal failure without vaginal vault irradiation should be investigated according to stage and grade.
Chungcheongnam-do ; Disease-Free Survival ; Endometrial Neoplasms* ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Lung ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant ; Recurrence

The oral lesion of acquired syphilis - primary, secondary, and tertiary - is comparatively rare. Most of the time secondary syphilis manifests itself as a systemic disease with maculopapular eruptions of the skin, generalized lymphadenopathy, fever, and occasional eruptions on the mucous membranes. The lesions of the tertiary stage may occur anywhere in the body, including the oral cavity. Necrotizing faciitis of the head and neck is an uncommon, rapidly spreading soft tissue infection of polymicrobial origin characterized by extensive necrosis and gas formation in the subcutaneous tissue and superficial fascia. This is characterized by its fulminating, devastating, and rapid-progressing course. The mortality rate is high if it is not treated promptly and vigorously. Patients with an impaired immune system and those with small-vessel disease such as diabetes mellitus are more prone to develop this infection.
Diabetes Mellitus ; Fasciitis ; Fasciitis, Necrotizing* ; Fever ; Head ; Humans ; Immune System ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Mortality ; Mouth ; Mucous Membrane ; Neck ; Necrosis ; Skin ; Soft Tissue Infections ; Subcutaneous Tissue ; Syphilis*

Nonstructural valvular dysfunction of the mechanical valve is one of the serious complications after valve replacement. It may be caused by various factors; 1) entrapment by pannus, tissue or suture material 2) paravalvular leakage 3) inappropriate sizing or positioning. We have experienced the rare case of nonstructural valvular dysfunction caused by abnormal subaortic pannus ingrowth associated with malposition of mechanical valve. We removed the pannus and successfully performed valve replacement after annulus enlargement procedure(Nicks procedure).
Heart Valve Prosthesis ; Sutures