Graves disease occur in association with myasthenia gravis is rare. We report a case of Graves disease and myasthenia gravis treated by bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy and total thymectomy simultaneously. A 37 year old woman was admitted with anterior neck mass and ptosis. Various examinations were compatible with combined Graves disease and myasthenia gravis. The bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy and total thymectomy were done simultaneously. The pathologic diagnosis was Graves disease and thymic hyperplasia. The patients postoperative course was uneventful. The thyroid function of patient became euthyroid and the clinical symptoms related with myastenia gravis resolved during follow up period.
Adult ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Graves Disease* ; Humans ; Myasthenia Gravis* ; Neck ; Thymectomy* ; Thymus Hyperplasia ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroidectomy*

Spinal epidural abscesses were evaluated using Gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 19 surgically and clinically confirmed cases, including 13 with tuberculous spondylitis and 6 with pyogenic spondylitis. We observed rim enhancement patterns in 10 patients and diffuse enhancement patterns in 9 patients. The spread patterns were localized to ventral or dorsal epidural space and encircled entire epidural space. We conclude that rim enhancement indicates abscess and diffuse enhancement indicates granulation tissue and fibrosis. Tuberculous epidural abscess spreads to ventral epidural space and pyogenic epidural abscess encircles entire epidural space.
Abscess ; Epidural Abscess* ; Epidural Space ; Fibrosis ; Granulation Tissue ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Spondylitis

OBJECTIVES: Despite remarkable development of pharmacotherapy for schizophrenia, some patients continuously have had violence problems. The violence of psychotic patients is recently becoming the focus of the attention. The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) on patients with schizophrenia having violence related history. METHODS: 15 Patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder of crime history were treated with individual CBT for 12 sessions, and assessed with 4 scales (Korean version of Aggression Questionnaire, Korean version of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11-Revised, Beck Cognitive Insight Scale and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale) to evaluate anger, impulse, insight and clinical symptoms respectively at baseline and post treatment. The comparison group consisted of 15 patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder of crime history. They were also assessed with the same scales during the same period. RESULTS: Although impulsivity is not changed significantly after treatment, but there was significant improvement in clinical symptom, insight and aggression, especially self-reflectiveness and anger respectively. CONCLUSION: CBT can be one of the good therapeutic tools for patients with schizophrenia having violence problems in that it reduces aggression and enhances insight of patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder.
Aggression ; Anger ; Case-Control Studies* ; Cognitive Therapy* ; Crime* ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Impulsive Behavior ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Schizophrenia* ; Violence ; Weights and Measures

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of depression has been steadily increasing. This study aim to identify associations between smoking, drinking and depression in Korean adults. METHODS: The study subjects were 17,871 adults aged 19 or over who participated in the 5th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2010-2012). We performed multiple logistic regression to identify whether smoking and drinking were independently significant variables to depression after adjusting for the confounding variables. RESULTS: The proportion of having any depressive episodes was a total of 13.4% with 9.1% of male and 16.6% of female, respectively. Among all of smoking behaviors, higher cigarette consumption was only associated with depression in men. However, for women ever-smoking (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=1.63, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.38-1.92), ex-smoking (aOR=1.38, 95% CI=1.10-1.54), current smoking (aOR=1.89, 95% CI=1.53-2.94) and younger initiation of smoking (aOR=2.34, 95% CI=1.73-3.16) had significantly higher odds for depression. Moreover, and higher cigarette consumption (20 or more per day) showed significantly higher odds ratios for depression both in men (aOR=1.21, 95% CI=1.01-1.54) and women (aOR=2.41, 95% CI=1.32-4.41). For alcoholic drinking behaviors, frequent binge drinking (1 per week: aOR=1.46, 95% CI=1.16-1.85, most everyday: aOR=1.79, 95% CI=1.14-2.80) was an independent risk factor for depressive symptoms in female. CONCLUSIONS: Smoking and drinking behaviors were independently associated with depression especially in female. Smoking and drinking management may benefit depression control as well as health promotion.
Adult* ; Alcohol Drinking ; Alcoholics ; Binge Drinking ; Confounding Factors (Epidemiology) ; Depression* ; Drinking Behavior ; Drinking* ; Female ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Korea* ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Nutrition Surveys* ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Smoke* ; Smoking* ; Tobacco Products

OBJECTIVE: To compare the therapeutic and adverse effects of globus pallidus interna (GPi) and subthalamic nucleus (STN) deep brain stimulation (DBS) for the treatment of advanced Parkinson's disease (PD). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of patients with PD who underwent GPi (n = 14) or STN (n = 28) DBS surgery between April 2002 and May 2014. The subjects were matched for age at surgery and disease duration. The Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) scores and levodopa equivalent dose (LED) at baseline and 12 months after surgery were used to assess the therapeutic effects of DBS. Adverse effects were also compared between the two groups. RESULTS: At 12 months, the mean changes in the UPDRS total and part I–IV scores did not differ significantly between the two groups. However, the subscores for gait disturbance/postural instability and dyskinesia were significantly more improved after GPi DBS than those after STN DBS (p = 0.024 and 0.016, respectively). The LED was significantly more reduced in patients after STN DBS than that after GPi DBS (p = 0.004). Serious adverse effects did not differ between the two groups (p = 0.697). CONCLUSION: The patients with PD showed greater improvement in gait disturbance/postural instability and dyskinesia after GPi DBS compared with those after STN DBS, although the patients had a greater reduction in LED after STN DBS. These results may provide useful information for optimal target selection for DBS in PD.
Deep Brain Stimulation* ; Dyskinesias ; Gait ; Globus Pallidus ; Humans ; Levodopa ; Parkinson Disease* ; Retrospective Studies ; Subthalamic Nucleus ; Therapeutic Uses

We experienced a case of Krukenberg tumor arising from transverse colon in a teenager who complained acute abdominal pain, which was confirmed by postoperative pathologic study and initially misdiagnosed as ovarian cancer with a huge pelvic mass, and report with a brief review of literatures.
Abdominal Pain ; Adolescent ; Colon, Transverse ; Humans ; Krukenberg Tumor ; Ovarian Neoplasms

OBJECTIVES: Lateral cephalometry, computed tomography (CT) and full-night polysomnography were used to examine the correlation of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) severity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 29 patients (5 females, 24 males) diagnosed with OSA were evaluated by lateral cephalometry, CT and full-night polysomnography. Lateral cephalometry was performed in the closed and open mouth states. The radiographic and polysomnography measurements of the patients with OSA were evaluated statistically to determine the association with OSA severity. RESULTS: A significant relationship was observed between the increased respiratory disturbance index and closing lateral cephalometry. With mouth opening, the airway space narrowed and the OSA worsened. Lateral cephalometry revealed OSA patients to have an inferiorly positioned hyoid bone, longer-than-normal soft palate and narrowing airway space. As OSA was severe, the airway shape was ovoid in the CT horizontal view. CONCLUSION: Polysomnography and the radiographic parameter can be used for diagnosing OSA.
Airway Obstruction ; Cephalometry ; Female ; Humans ; Hyoid Bone ; Mouth ; Palate, Soft ; Polysomnography ; Retrospective Studies ; Sleep Apnea Syndromes ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive

BACKGROUND: For the evaluation of infectious or inflammatory disease, Tc-99m HMPAO WBC scan has been used. But techniques involving radiolabelled leukocytes scan were difficult, and have failed to distinguish between bacterial infection and non-bacterial inflammation. To overcome this difficulty, we evaluated Tc-99m Ciprofloxacin in clinically suspected bacterial infection. METHODS: We used this agent for 31 patients who had suspected sites of infection. And then we compared the imaging results of these patients with those of radiolabelled leukocyte scan. RESULTS: There was no adverse effect. 29 patients was involved for the interpretation. Infective spondylitis was the most common suspected disease (41%). Bateriologic culture was positive in 10 patients. The most common organism was meticillin-susceptible S. aureus (5 cases). The sensitivity and specificity of Tc- 99m Ciprofloxacin was 83.3% and 66.6%, and those of Tc-99m HMPAO WBC was 62.5% and 83.3%, repectively. For the diagnosis of infective spondylitis the sensitivity of Tc-99m Ciprofloxacin was 80.0% and that of Tc-99m HMPAO WBC was 40.0%. CONCLUSOIN: Tc-99m Ciprofloxacin shows relatively high sensitivity and specificity. Tc-99m Ciprofloxacin was superior to Tc-99m HMPAO WBC for the diagnosis of infection in axial skeleton.
Bacterial Infections ; Ciprofloxacin* ; Communicable Diseases* ; Diagnosis* ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Leukocytes ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Skeleton ; Spondylitis ; Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime

Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma (EMC) is a low-grade malignant salivary gland neoplasm that was first described in 1972. EMC occurs in the older age group, there is a female predilection and mainly involves the parotid gland. Most authors recommend superficial parotidectomy as a treatment for low-grade malignant tumor in the superficial lobe of parotid gland. The treatment of epithelial-myoepithelial tumors typically includes surgical excision aimed at achieving a R0 resection. This paper reports a case of EMC of the parotid gland treated only by a conservational surgical excision. The lesion was exposed by the retromandibular approach and detached. After the parotid gland envelop was exposed, the mass was observed and was easy to remove due to capsulation. The preoperative diagnosis was a pleomorphic adenoma on the left parotid gland. The tumor was removed surgically with a conservative extracapsular dissection. The postoperative diagnosis was EMC, so superficial parotidectomy or radiation therapy was considered. Nevertheless, the patient was observed and no additional treatment was attempted because the patient was old and a successfully excision of the tumor had been achieved.
Adenoma, Pleomorphic ; Female ; Humans ; Parotid Gland ; Salivary Gland Neoplasms

OBJECTIVE: Concurrent chemoradiotherapy is the idea where the chemotherapeutic agent acts as a radiosensitizer thus producing a synergistic effect between radiotherapy and chemotherapy. We evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) in loco-regionally advanced cervical cancer patients. METHODS: The medical records were retrospectively reviewed for 24 patients who underwent CCRT (cisplatin 70 mg/m2 on day 1, 29; 5-FU: 1000 mg/m2 on day 2-5 and 30-33 X 4 cycles), 26 patients who underwent weekly CCRT (cisplatin: 40 mg/m2 X 6 weeks) and 62 patients who had underwent radiation therapy alone for loco-regionally advanced cervical cancer at Ajou University Hospital. Toxicity was assessed according to the Gynecologic Oncology Group toxicity criteria. Statistical analysis was performed with chi- squre test. RESULTS: 2 year overall survival rate of patients only treated with RT was 75.0% (39/52). When this was compaired to CCRT, 83.3% (20/24) with monthly CCRT and 88.5% (23/26) with weekly CCRT of 2 year overall survival rates were attained. Recurrence rates were measured 2 years after each therapy done, they were 30.8% (16/52) with RT, 25.0% (6/24) with weekly CCRT, and 23.1% (6/26) monthly CCRT. During CCRT, grade 3 and 4 acute complication rates of nausea/vomiting (20.8% vs. 3.8%) and leukocytopenia (29.1% vs. 15.4%) was significantly higher in monthly group compared to weekly group (p<0.05). Weekly group had more patients who completed planned therapy compaired to monthly group (70.9% vs. 84.6%). CONCLUSION: CCRT improved overall survival rates and disease-free survival rate, but in some cases increased acute toxicity, and it is suggested that CCRT may be advantageous compared to radiation therapy for loco-regionally advanced cervical cancer. Weekly CCRT does not seem to afford distinct advantages in terms of acute toxicities over monthly CCRT, except for possible better patient compliance. Due to small size sample and short duration of follow up, further study of a large group of patients and the long survival rate is necessary.
Chemoradiotherapy* ; Disease-Free Survival ; Drug Therapy ; Fluorouracil ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Leukopenia ; Medical Records ; Patient Compliance ; Radiotherapy ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*