For the morphological analysis of DMBA (9,10-diemethyl-1,2-benzanthracene) induced tumor, thirty Sprague-Dawley rats were received 0.1 ml of a 2% paraffin solution of DMBA into the knee joint cavity, which was repeated three times at an interval of 4 weeks. The induced tumor masses were removed at the 12th week after the first injection. Histological and histochemical examinations (H & E, PAS, alcian blue, Van Gieson, prussian blue, reticulin, PTAH stain) and enzyme histochemical examinations (acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase) were performed. The results were as follows: 1) By the 12th week after the first injection of DMBA, the tumor incidence rate was 20 percent. 2) On histological and histochemical examination, most of the induced tumor disclosed the features of the fibrous histiocytoma originating from mesenchymal cells, and the remains sweat gland adenoma and adenocarcinoma originating from epithelial cells. 3) On enzyme histochemical examination, most of the mesenchymal cell-derived tumor cells showed positive reactions for acid phosphatase and alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase, which were similar characteristic features of enzyme stains as shown in the component cells of fibrous histiocytoma.
Rats ; Animals ; Incidence ; Adenocarcinoma ; Adenoma

A 39 years old healthy male patient with intracranial brain stem tuberculoma manifested hydrocephalic symptoms due to obstruction of aqueduct of sylvius is presented. Surgical excision was undertaken for obtaining histologic diagnosis and resolving hydrocephalus, which made postoperative neurologic deficits. CT and Magnetic resonance(MR) imaging of intracranial tubercuroma were studied for approaching nonsurgical diagnosis of tuberculoma. MR imaging of tuberculoma shows low intensity on T2-weighted imaging with Magnevistring enhancement. The MR imaging feature of the tuberculoma were found to be distinct from those abscess, metastasis and glioma. Antituberculous chemotherapy is thought to be better than surgical approach in managing brain stem tuberculoma if radiologic diagnosis was obtained.
Abscess ; Adult* ; Brain Stem* ; Brain* ; Cerebral Aqueduct ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Glioma ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Tuberculoma

PURPOSE: Spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage(S-SAH) is a relatively rare disease with good clinical course and prognosis. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the cisternal blood distribution on CT in patient with S-SAH. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Out of 406 patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage on brain CT scan, 11 patients confirmed to be S-SAH by angiography and clinical follow-up were examined. We analysed the CT findings of these 11 cases retrospectively. RESULTS: Five patients had only perimesencephalic distribution of hemorrhage:the prepontine, the interped- uncular, and the suprasellar cisterns were involved in 4 cases each, the basal sylvian cistern in 3 cases, and the ambient cistern in 2 cases. The quadrigeminal and a portion of the lateral sylvians were also involved in 1 case each. Six patients revealed cisternal hemorrhage extending beyond the perimesencephalic cistern into the ventricles, cortical sulci, and lateral sylvian fissure. Intraventricular hemorrhage was noted in 3 cases of these 6 patients. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that uncomplicated clinical course and normal anglographic finding are more important than CT distribution of cisternal hemorrhage in diagnosing S-SAH.
Angiography ; Brain ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Rare Diseases ; Retrospective Studies ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVE: Psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety and alcohol dependence are associated with serotonin metabolism. We assessed the methylation level of the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) promoter region in control and alcohol dependent patients. METHODS: Twenty seven male patients who met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder IV (DSM-IV) criteria for alcohol dependence were compared with fifteen controls. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays of bisulfate-modified DNA were designed to amplify a part of the CpG island in the 5HTT gene. Pyrosequencing was performed and the methylation level at seven CpG island sites was measured. RESULTS: We found no differences in the methylation patterns of the serotonin transporter linked promoter region (5-HTTLPR) between alcohol-dependent and control subjects. CONCLUSION: Our negative finding may be because 5-HTT epigenetic variation may not affect the expression for 5-HTT or there may be other methylation site critical for its expression. To find out more conclusive result, repeating the study in more methylation sites with a larger number of samples in a well-controlled setting is needed.
Alcoholism ; Anxiety ; CpG Islands ; Depression ; DNA ; Epigenomics ; Humans ; Male ; Mental Disorders ; Methylation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Serotonin ; Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins

This study was performed to evaluate optic disc appearance, retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, and macular thickness in normal, ocular hypertensive (OHT) and glaucomatous eyes using optical coherence tomography (OCT) 3000. One hundred fifty-eight eyes of 167 consecutive subjects were enrolled: 60 normal, 53 OHT, and 54 glaucomatous. OCT topographic parameters of cup diameter, cup area, rim area, and cup/disc area ratio were significantly less in OHT eyes than in normal eyes and were significantly less in glaucomatous eyes than in normal and OHT eyes. RNFL was significantly thinner in OHT eyes than in normal eyes in the inferior quadrant, and in glaucomatous eyes than in OHT and normal eyes in the mean and for all four quadrants. Macular thickness was significantly thinner in glaucomatous eyes than in OHT and normal eyes throughout all subdivisions. Optic disc parameters, and RNFL and macular thickness measurements made with OCT may be useful in the clinical assessment of glaucoma.
Adult ; Comparative Study ; Female ; Glaucoma/*diagnosis ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nerve Fibers/*pathology ; Ocular Hypertension/diagnosis ; Optic Disk/*pathology ; Optic Nerve Diseases/*diagnosis ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Retinal Ganglion Cells/*pathology ; Tomography, Optical Coherence/*methods

Hypercholesterolemia is one of the major risk factors for atherosclerosis. Reduction of serum total and low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C) and the increase of high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C) are known to be associated with significant decrease of the incidence of atherosclerotic disease. HMG CoA reductase is known as rate limiting enzyme in the synthesis of cholesterol. Among many inhibitors of this enzyme pravastatin was recently released. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of this drug in Korean patients with hypercholesterolemia daily 5-40mg of pravstatin was administred in 30 patients after 4 weeks' wash-out and followed in 4 week-intervals up to 12 weeks. 1) Total cholesterol(TC) was decreased from 247.3+/-24,7mg/dl to 216.6+/-34.8mg/dl after 4 weeks, 214.3+/-36.7mg/dl after 8 weeks and 212,5+/-36.1mg/dl after 12 weeks(p,0.001, respectively). 2) Triglycrride(TG) was decreased from 191.3+/-77.9mg/dl to 161.4+/-61.4mg/dl after 4 weeks(p<0.005),155.4+/-74,8mg/dl after 8 weeks (p<0.05) but after 12 weeks the level of triglyceride was 165.5+/-70.3mg/dl, not significantly different from the basal level. 3) LDL-C was decreased from 155.0+/-29.3mg/dl to 129.8+/-34.4mg/dl after 4 weeks. 132.0+/-32.4mg/dl after 8 weeks and 125.9+/-38.1mg/dl after 12 weeks (p<0.01. respectively). 4) HDL-C was not significantly changed during the trial. 5) TC/HDI-C ratio was decreased from 4.8%+/-1.3 to 4.1+/-0.9 after 4 weeks. 4.3.+/-0.9 after 8 weeks and 4.1+/-1.1 after 12(p<0.01.respectivcly). 6) LDL-C/HDL-C ratio was decreased from3.0+/-1.0 to2.5+/-0.8 after 4 weeks(p<0.01).2.6+/-0.7 after 8 weeks(p<0.05) and 2.4+/-0.9 after 12 weeks(p<0.01). 7) The side effects of pravastatin were mild and transient, including 1 case of nausea, 1 headache, 1 flushing sensation on the face and 2 dizziness. 8) The laboratory studies including serum transaminases,uric acid, creatinine, creatine phoshokinase and blood glucose were not changed significantly. These results suggested that pravastatin is an effective and relative safe hypolipidemic agent in Korean adult patients with hypercholesterolemia.
Adult ; Atherosclerosis ; Blood Glucose ; Cholesterol ; Creatine ; Creatinine ; Dizziness ; Flushing ; Headache ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases ; Hypercholesterolemia* ; Incidence ; Lipoproteins ; Nausea ; Pravastatin* ; Risk Factors ; Sensation ; Triglycerides

PURPOSE: The purpose of our study is to evaluate characteristic features of 4th ventricular tumors in CT and MRI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pathologically proved 9 patients with 4th ventricular tumor were examined by CT and/or MRI. 4th ventricular tumors were epedymoma(4 cases), medulloblastoma(2 cases), choroid plexus papilIoma(2 cases), and oligodendroglioma(1 case). Included in our study were only those mass lesions that were located at surgery predominently within 4th ventricle with or without ventricular expansion. RESULTS: The origin of 4th ventricular tumor was the roof (epedymoma 3 cases, medulloblastoma 2 cases), the floor (epedymoma 1 case), and the undetermined(remaining 3 cases). On MRI, all tumors were hypointense exept ependymoma(3 cases) showing isointensity on T1WI. All tumors were hyperintense on PDWI and T2WI. On Gd-DTPA enhanced T1WI, strong enhancement was seen in all but epedymoma(1 case) which showed mild enhancement. On CT, as compared with MR images, various density on precontrast and postcontrast images were seen. Calcification was seen in choroid plexus papilloma(1 case) and oligodendroglioma(1 case). Hydrocephalus is seen in all cases exept ependymoma(2 cases) and oligodendroglioma(1 case). Hemorrhage within tumor was present only in epedymoma(2 cases). Cystic change or necrosis of tumor was seen in ependymomma(3 cases), choroid plexus papilloma(1 case), and oligodendroglioma(1 case). Peritumoral edema was seen in medulloblastoma(1 case). Extension through the foramen Luschka and the Magendie was seen in ependymoma(2 cases), choroid plexus papilloma(2 cases), and medulloblastoma(1 case). Seeding along the CSF pathway was seen only in ependymoma(2 cases). CONCLUSION: The results of our study may suggest that specific diagnosis of 4th ventricular tumor can be suggested preoperatively by analysing the origin in 4th ventricle, difference of CT density or MRI signal inten. sity, presence of extension or seeding through cerebrospinal fluid of the lesion.
Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Choroid Plexus ; Diagnosis ; Edema ; Gadolinium DTPA ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Medulloblastoma ; Necrosis

STUDY DESIGN: A case report. OBJECTIVES: To report a rare case of remote cerebellar hemorrhage (RCH), which was a complication after posterior decompression and lumbar interbody fusion (PILF). SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Remote cerebellar hemorrhage (RCH) after spinal surgery is a rare complication, and its cause is known to be due to a loss of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) through the dural tear. Most of the literature has disclosed that early diagnosis and treatment of RCH is very important in the patient with suspicious symptoms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 57-year-old woman had posterior lumbar decompression and interbody fusion for the severe spinal stenosis at L4-5. During surgery, an accidental dural tear with CSF leakage occurred. The torn dura was sutured. Postoperatively, she developed nausea and a severe headache. Hypotension developed at postoperative 2 hours. A brain CT showed RCH. The patient was conservatively managed with clamping of the wound drainage. RESULTS: The nausea and severe headache were controlled and normal blood pressure could be maintained without dopamine therapy at postoperative day 2. The patient was discharged without any neurological deficit, and her consciousness was clear at postoperative 2 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Persistent postoperative nausea, headache, and hypotension after repair of the torn dura may suggest that the treating surgeons pay careful attention due to the possibility of RCH, even though the amount of CSF leakage is small.
Blood Pressure ; Brain ; Consciousness ; Constriction ; Decompression* ; Dopamine ; Drainage ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Headache ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Middle Aged ; Nausea ; Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting ; Spinal Stenosis ; Wounds and Injuries

No abstract available.
*Chromosome Aberrations ; Female ; Humans ; Leukemia/*genetics ; Male

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of using Keratome in endonasal Dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR). METHODS: The authors used 3.0mm keratome, designed for cataract surgery, to incise medial wall of the lacrimal sac during endoscopic endonasal DCR in 11 patients with nasolacrimal duct obstruction. RESULTS: Surgical success rate was 90% with fast recovery time of nasal mucosa without specific complication. CONCLUSIONS: Lacrimal sac incision using keratome was more effective and non-invasive than using nasal forceps, with advantages such as shorter operation time and less nasal mucosa injury with rapid recovery time.
Cataract ; Dacryocystorhinostomy* ; Humans ; Nasal Mucosa ; Nasolacrimal Duct ; Surgical Instruments