Diffuse neonatal hemangiomatosis is a fatal disorder characterired by multiple cutaneous and visceral hemangiomas. The organs most commonly affected are the gastrointestinal tract, brain, liver and lung. The complications are high output cardiac failure, gastrointestinal bleeding and hydrocephalus. We present a patient with diHuse neonatal hemangiomatosis associated with massive hepatic involvement and high output cardiac failure, which was successfully treated with high dose corticosteroid.
Brain ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Heart Failure ; Hemangioma ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Liver ; Lung

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcomes and complications of cataract surgery, using phacoemulsification in patients with Behcet's disease. METHODS: Twenty eyes of fourteen patients with Behcet's disease, who underwent extracapsular cataract extraction using phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation between July 2001 and March 2004, were included in this study. Their postoperative visual acuity and complications were reviewed. RESULTS: Ocular attacks after cataract surgery occurred in 10 eyes (50%). Uveitis developed in 10 of 12 eyes (83.3%) that had a uveitis-free interval of less than six months. On the other hand, in eight eyes that lasted more than 12 months with no uveitis, no postoperative ocular attack was found (p<0.01, Chi-square test). The incidence and severity of uveitis did not appear to increase upon surgery. Visual acuity improved in 17 eyes (85%). However, after 1 year postoperatively, a statistically significant decrease in visual acuity was observed in the recurrent uveitis group (p=0.05, t-test). CONCLUSIONS: Cataract surgery, using phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation, is tolerable in patients with Behcet's disease. The most predictive factor of ocular attacks and prognosis after cataract surgery was the 'uveitis free' duration before surgery. A uveitis-free interval of more than 12 months in duration was predictive of the best prognosis.
Behcet Syndrome ; Cataract Extraction ; Cataract* ; Hand ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lens Implantation, Intraocular ; Phacoemulsification* ; Prognosis ; Uveitis ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: Although carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is recommended as a treatment for carotid stenosis rather than carotid artery stenting (CAS), CAS has been preferred in Korea. The aim of this study was to analyze long-term outcomes after CAS compared with CEA using Korean nationwide insurance data. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We obtained all data from the nationwide database of the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service (HIRA) during the study period using several codes regarding the procedure or operation. We included the HIRA data, which included at least one-year follow-up after the procedures. The outcomes associated with both procedures were death, recurrence of ischemic stroke, and admission for cerebral hemorrhage. RESULTS: A total of 16,065 eligible patients who were treated with CAS or CEA between 1 January 2007 and 31 December 2016 were analyzed. The number of patients with CAS and CEA was 12,173 (75.8%) and 3,892 (24.2%), respectively. 8,976 patients (55.9%) were classified as symptomatic patients. CAS was associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.282; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.173–1.400). The adjusted rates for recurrent ischemic stroke and cerebral hemorrhage between CAS versus CEA were 24.9% versus 15.9% (HR, 1.474; 95% CI, 1.325–1.639) and 1.5% versus 0.9% (HR, 2.026; 95% CI, 1.322–3.106), respectively. In young symptomatic patients, there was no statistically significant difference in all-cause mortality and cardiovascular death between CAS and CEA. CONCLUSION: Our study using Korean nationwide insurance data demonstrated similar results to previous studies. Until further evidence of CAS is established through prospective studies, CAS should be performed in selected patients according to current guidelines.
Carotid Arteries ; Carotid Stenosis ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Endarterectomy ; Endarterectomy, Carotid ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Insurance ; Insurance, Health ; Korea ; Mortality ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies ; Recurrence ; Stents ; Stroke

Hyperintense vessels are frequently observed on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery imaging in acute ischemic stroke patients. Some investigators suggest that a hyperintense vessel sign in patients with middle cerebral arterial occlusion results from collateral blood flow originating in neighboring arterial territories, especially via pial collaterals. We report two cases of acute proximal middle cerebral arterial infarction that exhibited hyperintense vessels signs on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery imaging accompanying pial collaterals as confirmed by cerebral angiography.
Cerebral Angiography ; Cerebral Infarction ; Collateral Circulation ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Humans ; Infarction ; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Research Personnel ; Stroke

PURPOSE: To determine whether sleep-related erections(SREs) occur during chronic vegetative state and if so, to investigate what factors are involved. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-six men in a vegetative state aged 16~65 were selected. Exclusion criteria were the lack of informed consent, mean blood pressure under 90/60 mmHg during last 3 days, erectile dysfunction before brain injury, and a history of any anti-androgen treatment. Serum testosterone, albumin, sex hormone binding globulin(SHBG), and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate(DHEAS) were assayed, and bioavailable testosterone(cBT) and free testosterone(cFT) were calculated. Nocturnal penile erections were counted and evaluated using the Rigiscan device for72 hours. Data on the number of erections, erection duration, minimal and maximal base tumescence, minimal and maximal tip tumescence, and base and tip rigidity were taken. RESULTS: SREs were noted in 25 patients. The mean erection number was 4.65+/-3.93(1~15), and the mean erection duration was 128.85+/-46.86 minutes(0~478.5). SREs were negatively correlated with age(r=-0.445, p<0.05), systolic BP(r=-0.394, p<0.05) and diastolic BP(r=-0.403, p<0.05), but positively correlated with DHEAS(r=0.395, p<0.05). SREs were not correlated with total testosterone, cBT or cFT. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary findings suggest that SREs are a normal occurrence in vegetative patients. They contribute to penile blood perfusion if the supraspinal erection control center is intact and serum testosterone level is above the minimum required for SREs.
Blood Pressure ; Brain Injuries ; Dehydroepiandrosterone ; Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Humans ; Informed Consent ; Male ; Perfusion ; Persistent Vegetative State* ; Testosterone

We report a case of delayed cerebral infarction due to stent longitudinal folding deformation following carotid artery stenting using a self-expandable stent with an open-cell design. The stented segment of the left common carotid artery was divided into two different lumens by this folding deformation, and the separated lumens became restricted with in-stent thrombosis. Although no established method of managing this rare complication exists, a conservative approach was taken with administration of anticoagulant and dual antiplatelet therapy. No neurological symptoms were observed during several months of clinical follow-up after discharge.
Aged ; Anticoagulants/therapeutic use ; Carotid Arteries/radiography ; Cerebral Infarction/*diagnosis/therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors/therapeutic use ; Stents/*adverse effects ; Thrombosis/drug therapy/*etiology ; Ticlopidine/analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: Clopidogrel is metabolized by the hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP) system into its active thiol metabolite. CYP3A4 is involved in the metabolism of both clopidogrel and dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (CCBs). A few reports have suggested an inhibitory interaction between CCBs and clopidogrel. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of CCBs on the antiplatelet activity of clopidogrel by serial P2Y12 reaction unit (PRU) measurements. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We assessed changes in antiplatelet activity in patients receiving both clopidogrel and CCBs for at least 2 months prior to enrollment in the study. The antiplatelet activity of clopidogrel was measured by VerifyNow P2Y12 assay in the same patient while medicated with CCBs and at 8 weeks after discontinuation of CCBs. After discontinuation of the CCBs, angiotensin receptor blockers were newly administered to the patients or dosed up for control of blood pressure. RESULTS: Thirty patients finished this study. PRU significantly decreased after discontinuation of CCBs (238.1+/-74.1 vs. 215.0+/-69.3; p=0.001). Of the 11 patients with high post-treatment platelet reactivity to clopidogrel (PRU> or =275), PRU decreased in nine patients, decreasing below the cut-off value in seven of these nine patients after 8 weeks. Decrease in PRU was not related to CYP2C19 genotype. CONCLUSION: CCBs inhibit the antiplatelet activity of clopidogrel.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Blood Platelets/*drug effects ; Calcium Channel Blockers/*therapeutic use ; Dihydropyridines/*therapeutic use ; Drug Interactions ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors/*therapeutic use ; Ticlopidine/*analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use

Postpartum cerebral angiopathy is a benign, reversible clinicoradiologic syndrome. The clinical significance of this syndrome is the difficulty in differentiating it from other severe disorders such as subarachnoid hemorrhage and cere-bral vasculitis. A 25-year-old woman who developed a severe headache, transient total blindness ,and generalized tonic clonic seizures 14 days postpartum was admitted to our hospital. A MRI of the brain revealed a bilateral anterior cere-bral artery (ACA) infarction. A cerebral angiography showed the narrowing of the M1 and M2 segments of the left middle cerebral artery (MCA), the right MCA M1 segment, and the A1 and proximal A2 segments of the right ACA. Also, it showed the narrowing of the proximal basilar artery portion from which the anterior inferior cerebellar artey arose, P1, P2, and P3 segments of the left posterior cerebral artery (PCA), and the right PCA P1 segment. With the treatment of nimodipine, the abnormalities on these studies were markedly improved two weeks later.
Adult ; Arteries ; Basilar Artery ; Blindness ; Brain ; Cerebral Angiography ; Cerebrovascular Disorders ; Female ; Headache ; Humans ; Infarction ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Nimodipine ; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis ; Posterior Cerebral Artery ; Postpartum Period* ; Pregnancy Complications ; Seizures ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; Vasculitis

PURPOSE: To evaluate the changes in corneal keratometry (K) readings after corneal collagen cross- linking (CXL) using 20% alcohol in primary keratoconus and keratectasia after refractive surgery. METHODS: Twelve eyes of 10 patients with primary keratoconus and 3 eyes of 3 patients with keratectasia after refractive surgery were included in the present study. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and mean K, corneal astigmatism by corneal topography, and mean K, corneal astigmatism, and spherical equivalent (SE) by auto refractometer were evaluated at baseline, and 6 months postoperatively. Eight eyes of 7 patients were also evaluated 1 year postoperatively. RESULTS: Mean BCVA improved from log MAR 0.66 +/- 0.50 to log MAR 0.55 +/- 0.58 (p = 0.100) at 6 month after CXL. In corneal topography, mean K significantly decreased from 50.04 +/- 5.88 D to 49.18 +/- 6.15 D (p = 0.019), and corneal astigmatism slightly decreased from 5.33 +/- 4.47 D to 5.29 +/- 4.88 D (p = 0.755) at 6 months after CXL. According to the auto refractometer, mean K significantly decreased from 48.53 +/- 5.94 D to 47.95 +/- 5.79 D (p = 0.038), corneal astigmatism significantly decreased from 3.95 +/- 2.54 D to 3.52 +/- 2.40 D (p = 0.010), and SE significantly decreased from -6.25 +/- 3.45 D to -5.40 +/- 2.91 D (p = 0.037) at 6 months after CXL. Significant mean K and corneal astigmatism decreases in topography were also observed at 1 year after CXL. Complications related to CXL were not observed. CONCLUSIONS: CXL using 20% alcohol appears to be a safe and promising treatment modality with less corneal stromal damage in progressive primary keratoconus and keratectasia after refractive surgery.
Astigmatism ; Collagen ; Corneal Topography ; Eye ; Humans ; Keratoconus ; Reading ; Refractive Surgical Procedures ; Visual Acuity

No abstract available.
Cerebral Infarction ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Cerebral Artery*