No abstract available.
Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome*

Cryptococcus is native to the environment and thrives in any type of environment inhabited by birds. Cryptococcal genito-urinary infection has been reported in immunnocompromised patients and can involve the adrenal gland, kidney, prostate, or penis. To our knowledge, there have been no reports of cases where cryptococcal epididymo-orchitis infects an uncompromised healthy host. Here, we report a case of primary cryptococcal epididymo-orchitis in a healthy male.
Adrenal Glands ; Birds ; Cryptococcus ; Humans ; Kidney ; Male ; Orchitis ; Penis ; Prostate

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to know the prevalence of cognitive disorders in patients with thyroid cancer, and identify related variables to them. METHODS: Subjects were consisted of fourty-two patients with thyroid cancer, who were admitted for radioiodine ablative therapy at 6-12 months after total thyroidectomy. The data were obtained from interviews about history and assessments of depression and cognitive function(Korean Version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, MoCA-K). RESULTS: 1) Among subjects, those with below 22 of total score of the MoCA-K were twenty-one(50.0%). 2) Upon age, education, Pre-radioiodine therapy thyroid stimulating hormone(TSH), there were statistically significant difference between subgroup with above 23 of the total MoCA-K score and those below 22. 3) The total scores of the MoCA-K in subjects had significant correlation with age, education, comorbidity, Pre-radioiodine therapy TSH, total score of the HDRS-17. CONCLUSIONS: Cognitive disorders were more prevalent among patients with thyroid cancer before radioiodine therapy. Therefore, further study should be needed to clarify the mechanism for the cognitive disorders in thyroid cancer. Furthermore, physicians should pay attention to the cognitive function and prepare preventative measures for cognitive disorder during management of thyroid cancer.
Carcinoma, Papillary* ; Comorbidity ; Depression ; Education ; Humans ; Prevalence ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; Thyroidectomy ; Thyrotropin

We have noticed an inadvertent error in our article.

Primary intracranial squamous cell carcinoma is extremely rare, with most cases arising from a preexisting benign epidermoid cyst. We report a rare case of primary intracranial squamous cell carcinoma in the brain stem with a cerebellopontine angle (CPA) epidermoid cyst. A 72-year-old female suffered from progressive left hemiparesis, difficulty in swallowing, and right hemifacial numbness. Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging revealed a high signal intensity (SI) lesion in the CPA region and an intra-axially ring-enhanced cystic mass in the right brain stem with low SI. Whole-body positron emission tomography showed no evidence of metastatic disease. The histological findings revealed a typical epidermoid cyst in the CPA region and a squamous cell carcinoma in the brain stem. We speculate that the squamous cell carcinoma may have been developed due to a chronic inflammatory response by the adjacent epidermoid cyst. The patient underwent a surgical resection and radiotherapy. After 12 months, she had no evidence of recurrence.
Aged ; Brain ; Brain Stem ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cerebellopontine Angle ; Deglutition ; Epidermal Cyst ; Female ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Paresis ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Recurrence

The final degrees of education for the third and fourth authors were mutually misplaced.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the effect of pre-applied orthodontic force on the regeneration of periodontal ligament (PDL) tissues and the underlying mechanisms in tooth replantation. METHODS: Orthodontic force (50cN) was applied to the left maxillary first molars of 7-week-old male Sprague–Dawley rats (n = 32); the right maxillary first molars were left untreated to serve as the control group. After 7 days, the first molars on both sides were fully luxated and were immediately replanted in their original sockets. To verify the effects of the pre-applied orthodontic force, we assessed gene expression by using microarray analysis and real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), cell proliferation by using proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunofluorescence staining, and morphological changes by using histological analysis. RESULTS: Application of orthodontic force for 7 days led to the proliferation of PDL tissues, as verified on microarray analysis and PCNA staining. Histological analysis after replantation revealed less root resorption, a better arrangement of PDL fibers, and earlier regeneration of periodontal tissues in the experimental group than in the control group. For the key genes involved in periodontal tissue remodeling, including CXCL2, CCL4, CCL7, MMP3, PCNA, OPG, and RUNX2, quantitative RT-PCR confirmed that messenger RNA levels were higher at 1 or 2 weeks in the experimental group. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that the application of orthodontic force prior to tooth replantation enhanced the proliferation and activities of PDL cells and may lead to higher success rates with fewer complications.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the association between low tongue position (LTP) and the volume and dimensions of the nasopharyngeal, retropalatal, retroglossal, and hypopharyngeal segments of the upper airway. Methods: A total of 194 subjects, including 91 males and 103 females were divided into a resting tongue position (RTP) group and a LTP group according to their tongue position. Subjects in the LTP group were divided into four subgroups (Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4) according to the intraoral space volume. The 3D slicer software was used to measure the volume and minimum and average cross-sectional areas of each group. Airway differences between the RTP and LTP groups were analyzed to explore the association between tongue position and the upper airway. Results: No significant differences were found in the airway dimensions between the RTP and LTP groups. For both retropalatal and retroglossal segments, the volume and average cross-sectional area were significantly greater in the patients with extremely low tongue position. Regression analysis showed that the retroglossal airway dimensions were positively correlated with the intraoral space volume and negatively correlated with A point-nasion-B point and palatal plane to mandibular plane. Males generally had larger retroglossal and hypopharyngeal airways than females. Conclusions Tongue position did not significantly influence upper airway volume or dimensions, except in the extremely LTP subgroup.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary tuberculosis is an infectious disease of the lungs caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTB) designated by law in Korea, and accurate diagnosis and urgent treatment are necessary for the maintenance of public health. Recently, nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) have been more frequently isolated in respiratory system specimens, which were confused with MTB. We investigated whether the incidence of NTM isolation is increasing in Jeju, Korea. METHODS: The results of microbacterial cultures of acid fast bacilli (AFB) from respiratory system specimens were collected at Jeju National University Hospital, Jeju, Korea from 2004 to 2011. The incidences of MTN or NTM isolation were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 15,484 AFB cultures were performed in 6,281 patients. In 2004, 365 AFB cultures were requested, and the number increased to 1,550 in 2011. However, the culture-positive rate decreased from 18.7% in 2004 to 6.19% in 2011. Among the 573 cultured specimens, 506 MTB (88.3%, mean age of 49.7, male 63.2%) and 72 NTM (12.6%, mean age of 65.8, male 50.0%) were identified. The proportions of NTM isolations were less than 10% until 2009, but increased to 30% after 2010 (P<0.001). M. avium complex (MAC) was the most frequently isolated NTM, followed by M. abscessus. CONCLUSION: The proportion of NTM isolation is increasing. A clinical diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis based on respiratory system specimens should be made with caution, especially in cases of positive AFB smears.
Communicable Diseases ; Humans ; Incidence ; Jurisprudence ; Korea ; Lung ; Male ; Mycobacterium ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Nontuberculous Mycobacteria ; Public Health ; Respiratory System ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

Hyperosmolar nonketotic coma complicated in diabetes mellitus has been a rare cause of rhabdomyolysis, although increasingly reported recently. Acute renal failure can be complicated in 15 percent of rhabdomyolysis patients, but is rare in the case of rhabdomyolysis caused by diabetic hyperosomolar nonketotic coma. We report a 14 years-old boy with acute renal failure complicated by rhabdomyolysis caused by diabetic hyperosmolar coma.
Acute Kidney Injury* ; Adolescent ; Child* ; Coma* ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Humans ; Male ; Rhabdomyolysis*