The recent hypothesis about the pathophysiology of schizophrenia has been centered mainly on two theories, i.e. dopamine hypothesis and serotonin hypothesis. We investigate the correlations between plasma metabolite concentrations and clinical symptoms in schizophrenic patients. The purpose of our study was to examine whether the plasma levels of HVA(homovanillic acid) and 5-HIAA(hydroxyindoleacetic acid) are significantly different in schizophrenics, compared to normal controls. And, with the intention of clarifying the interaction between dopaminergic system and serotoninergic system, the ratio of HVA/5-HIAA also was measured. The second purpose was whether the basal(pre-treatment) levels of these metabolites show the correlation with clinical symptoms. Finally, third purpose was whether basal HVA and 5-HIAA levels can be held as a predictor of treatment response. We used scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms(SAPS) and Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms(SANS) as the clinical symptom rating scales. Our results were as followed, 1) only the level of basal plasma HVA was significantly differ in schizophrenics. 5-HIAA and HVA/5-HIAA were not. 2) basal HVA showed significant correlation with SAPS score, especially delusion subscale. 3) the higher was the basal HVA level, the more improvement in clinical symptoms was observed. The basal 5-HIAA level and the HVA/5-HIAA ratio did not show any significant findings. These results support the dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia, but fail to examine on the possible involvement of serotonin in schizophrenia.
Delusions ; Dopamine ; Homovanillic Acid* ; Humans ; Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid ; Intention ; Plasma* ; Psychopathology* ; Schizophrenia ; Serotonin ; Weights and Measures

Developmental venous anomalies (DVAs) are hemodynamically low flow, low resistance vascular malformations without clinical significance. Although most DVAs are asymptomatic and are found incidentally, sometimes they can be symptomatic with intracerebral hemorrhage, many of which are usually caused by associated cavernous malformations (CMs) rather than the DVAs themselves. Only a few cases have been reported in the literature where an intracerebral hemorrhage has been caused by a DVA alone. This report describes a case of an intracerebral hemorrhage due to DVA alone with review of the literature.
Caves ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Vascular Malformations

When doctors evaluate the complaints of dizziness, they often perform a series of clinical tests to look for the evidence of a vestibular dysfunction. A useful procedure is to ask the patient to take deep breaths and observe the gaze behind Frenzel goggles. If hyperventilation-induced nystagmus(HIN) is detected, it is the evidence for an underlying vestibular imbalance. The authors evaluated nystagmus with electronystagmography after hyperventilation for 50 seconds. Brain imaging was performed to search the responsible lesion for dizziness. Brain MRI revealed a brain tumor suggesting vestibular schwannoma in the left cerebellopontine angle. After hyperventilation, dizziness and the right beating horizontal nystagmus with Alexander law could be detected. By precisely measuring the HIN, we determined that inputs arising from the horizontal semicircular canal were mainly responsible. The contralaterality of the direction of the horizontal component of the nystagmus was detected. We suggest that clinicians should routinely check the nystagmus after hyperventilation, when they evaluate patients complaining of dizziness.
Brain ; Brain Neoplasms ; Cerebellopontine Angle ; Dizziness ; Electronystagmography ; Eye Protective Devices ; Humans ; Hyperventilation* ; Jurisprudence ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neuroimaging ; Neuroma, Acoustic* ; Nystagmus, Pathologic ; Semicircular Canals

This report describes a sclerosing hemangioma of the lung evaluated by MRI. The mass demonstrated hyperintense signal on T1 -weighted, proton density, and T2-weighted spin-echo images. Contrast-enhanced T1 -weighted images showed marked, homogeneous enhancement of the mass. The MR appearance is not specific for sclerosing hemangioma of the lung, as other benign tumors can appear similarly. However, the appearance of homogeneous enhancement within the mass on Gd-DTPA enhanced MR may suggest the diagnosis.
Diagnosis ; Gadolinium DTPA ; Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Protons ; Pulmonary Sclerosing Hemangioma*

This report describes a sclerosing hemangioma of the lung evaluated by MRI. The mass demonstrated hyperintense signal on T1 -weighted, proton density, and T2-weighted spin-echo images. Contrast-enhanced T1 -weighted images showed marked, homogeneous enhancement of the mass. The MR appearance is not specific for sclerosing hemangioma of the lung, as other benign tumors can appear similarly. However, the appearance of homogeneous enhancement within the mass on Gd-DTPA enhanced MR may suggest the diagnosis.
Diagnosis ; Gadolinium DTPA ; Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Protons ; Pulmonary Sclerosing Hemangioma*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The Romberg test is a simple, inexpensive modality to test the vestibulo-spinal reflex. However, it is not a quantitative measure and has low sensitivity and specificity. We investigated the effectiveness of the modified Romberg test in evaluating equilibrium ability in dizzy patients by comparing it with the computerized dynamic posturography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted on 63 patients with various degrees of dizziness. Computerized dynamic posturography(CDP) was performed and equilibrium ability was measured with the modified Romberg test. Modifications were made in two ways : heel-to-toe standing(test 1) and standing on sponge(test 2). RESULTS: Correlation coefficients between the modified Romberg test and the vestibular dysfunction score of CDP were 0.62 and 0.52, respectively, and they were statistically significant(P<0.01). The Receiver Operating Characteristics(ROC) curve showed that the area index of tests 1 and 2 were 0.86 and 0.78, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The modified Romberg tests showed fairly good correlation with the vestibular dysfunction score of CDP. Further modifications are required to use the modified Romberg test as an accurate diagnostic tool in the evaluation of dizzy patients.
Cytidine Diphosphate ; Dizziness ; Humans ; Posture ; Reflex* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Vestibular Function Tests

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Sensorineural hearing loss and vestibular dysfunction are frequently found in patients receiving hemodialysis with chronic renal failure (CRF). However, the responsible etiologic factors, prevalence, relationship between auditory and vestibular dysfunction still remains unclear. The purpose of this study is to assess vestibular dysfunction and to investigate the relation between changes in vestibulo-ocul ar reflex (VOR) and auditory dysfunction in CRF patients receiving hemodialysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-five patients (70 ears) receiving hemodialysis with chronic renal failure were selected. Pure tone audiometry, monothermal caloric test, and velocity step rotation test were performed to assess the audio-vestibular function of the patients. Thirty normal controls were selected for comparison of vestibular function tests. RESULTS: Twenty-four (34%) out of 70 ears had pure tone average (PTA) of 25dBHL or more. The average peak velocity of caloric test and the value of slow cumulative eye position (SCEP) of velocity step test in the patient group were 18.7+/-10.5 d/sec and 376.9+/-170.0 degree, respectively. These values were significantly different from those of normal controls whose average peak velocity of caloric test and SCEP values of velocity step test were 25.3+/-6.0d/sec and 586.3+/- 207.3 degree, respectively(p<0.05). The results of caloric test and velocity step test in the patients with PTA of 25dBHI, or more were 10.2+/- 6.0 d/sec and 224.5+/-143.0 degree, respectively, while those of the patients with PTA of less than 25dBHL were 22.7+/-9.7 d/sec and 437.9+/-140.5 degree, respectively. These two groups showed a statistically significant difference(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The patients under hemodialysis with CRF exhibited reduced vestibular function compared to normal control group.
Audiometry ; Caloric Tests ; Ear ; Exercise Test ; Hearing Loss ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Prevalence ; Reflex ; Reflex, Vestibulo-Ocular* ; Renal Dialysis* ; Vestibular Function Tests

No abstract available.
Humans ; Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II ; Xanthomatosis

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to figure out the radiologic findings and risk factors related to adjacent segment degeneration (ASD) after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) using 3-year follow-up radiography, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance image (MRI). METHODS: A retrospective matched comparative study was performed for 64 patients who underwent single-level ACDF with a cage and plate. Radiologic parameters, including upper segment range of motion (USROM), lower segment range of motion (LSROM), upper segment disc height (UDH), and lower segment disc height (LDH), clinical outcomes assessed with neck and arm visual analogue scale (VAS), and risk factors were analyzed. RESULTS: Patients were categorized into the ASD (32 patients) and non-ASD (32 patients) group. The decrease of UDH was significantly greater in the ASD group at each follow-up visit. At 36 months postoperatively, the difference for USROM value from the preoperative one significantly increased in the ASD group than non-ASD group. Preoperative other segment degeneration was significantly associated with the increased incidence of ASD at 36 months. However, pain intensity for the neck and arm was not significantly different between groups at any post-operative follow-up visit. CONCLUSION: The main factor affecting ASD is preoperative other segment degeneration out of the adjacent segment. In addition, patients over the age of 50 are at higher risk of developing ASD. Although there was definite radiologic degeneration in the ASD group, no significant difference was observed between the ASD and non-ASD groups in terms of the incidence of symptomatic disease.
Arm ; Cohort Studies* ; Diskectomy* ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Neck ; Radiography ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Retrospective Studies* ; Risk Factors* ; Spondylosis

No abstract available.
Acupuncture ; Foreign Bodies ; Granuloma, Foreign-Body ; Leprosy ; Leprosy, Lepromatous