PURPOSE: To characterize the MRI appearance of the peripherally located schwannoma as compared with pathologic findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 11 cases of 13 lesions of the schwannoma confirmed by pathology were analyzed, retrospectively. T11 T2 and Gadolinium-enhanced T1 weighted sagittal and axial images were obtained. The signal intensity, contour of lesion, and relationship with surrounding tissue were analyzed. All cases were correlated with MRI and pathologic findings. RESULTS: In 9 out of the 11 cases, schwannoma was connected to the main nerve trunk. Among them, tumors were located centrally in 6 cases and eccentrically in 3 cases. MR findings of schwannoma were iso signal intensity on T1WI(8 cases) with muscle intensity, high signal intensity on T2WI(all cases), strong heterogenous enhancement in all cases. 8 cases showing heterogenous appearance on T2WI, showed mixture of Antoni-A and B area and multifocal hemorrhage. Central low and peripheral high signal intensity on T2Wl(Target sign) was mainly high cellular component in the central portion and diffuse myxoid degeneration at the periphery, pathologically. Reversed target appea.rance(central high, peripheral low on T2WI) revealed central cystic degeneration with low cellular component and hemorrhage in the central portion, and high cellular component at the periphery. Linear band-like low signal intensity on T2WI, suggesting capsule of the schwannoma, was not the true capsule proven by pathology. Thin true capsule was not visualized on T2WI. CONCLUSION: MR appearance of schwannoma was non-specific. The signal intensity on T2 weighted MR imaging was determined by the presence of multifocal hemorrhage, focal cystic and myxoid degeneration, admixture of Antoni-A and B area.
Hemorrhage ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Neurilemmoma* ; Pathology ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: To characterize the MRI appearance of the peripherally located schwannoma as compared with pathologic findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 11 cases of 13 lesions of the schwannoma confirmed by pathology were analyzed, retrospectively. T11 T2 and Gadolinium-enhanced T1 weighted sagittal and axial images were obtained. The signal intensity, contour of lesion, and relationship with surrounding tissue were analyzed. All cases were correlated with MRI and pathologic findings. RESULTS: In 9 out of the 11 cases, schwannoma was connected to the main nerve trunk. Among them, tumors were located centrally in 6 cases and eccentrically in 3 cases. MR findings of schwannoma were iso signal intensity on T1WI(8 cases) with muscle intensity, high signal intensity on T2WI(all cases), strong heterogenous enhancement in all cases. 8 cases showing heterogenous appearance on T2WI, showed mixture of Antoni-A and B area and multifocal hemorrhage. Central low and peripheral high signal intensity on T2Wl(Target sign) was mainly high cellular component in the central portion and diffuse myxoid degeneration at the periphery, pathologically. Reversed target appea.rance(central high, peripheral low on T2WI) revealed central cystic degeneration with low cellular component and hemorrhage in the central portion, and high cellular component at the periphery. Linear band-like low signal intensity on T2WI, suggesting capsule of the schwannoma, was not the true capsule proven by pathology. Thin true capsule was not visualized on T2WI. CONCLUSION: MR appearance of schwannoma was non-specific. The signal intensity on T2 weighted MR imaging was determined by the presence of multifocal hemorrhage, focal cystic and myxoid degeneration, admixture of Antoni-A and B area.
Hemorrhage ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Neurilemmoma* ; Pathology ; Retrospective Studies

A statistical study of soldiers who visited the outpatient ciepartment of the Capital Armed Forces General Fiospital from 1987 to 1989 was performed. The results were as follows : 1. The total number of outpatients was 9969 with peak clinic visits in June(11.2%) and the lowest number of clinic visits in February(6.4% ). 2. The most frequent age was 22 years(20.7% ). Soldiers between 19 and 24 years old comprised 68.1% of total patients. 3. By rank 69.3% of the outpatients were private', 16.0% sergeant and 14,4% officers. 4. The most common dermatoses were dermatophytosis, contact dermatitis, scabies, acne, seborrheic dermatosis, urticaria, alopecia, condyloma acuminatum, verruca, folliculitis, psoriasis, insect bite reactions, pityriasis rosea, herpes zoster and corns. 5. Frequent diseases, which occured during summer season, included dermatophytosis, contact dermatitis and inser,t bites. The incidence of scabies, pityriasis prsea was increased during winter and that of psoriasis was increased during spring.
Acne Vulgaris ; Alopecia ; Ambulatory Care ; Arm ; Callosities ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Folliculitis ; Herpes Zoster ; Humans ; Incidence ; Insect Bites and Stings ; Military Personnel* ; Outpatients ; Pityriasis ; Pityriasis Rosea ; Psoriasis ; Scabies ; Seasons ; Skin Diseases* ; Statistics as Topic* ; Tinea ; Urticaria ; Warts ; Young Adult ; Zea mays

No abstract available.
Humans ; Spinal Cord*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of methylphenidate on cognitive function especially on working memory and visuospatial attention in the patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). METHOD: Eighteen subjects, 16 males and 2 females, with TBI were enrolled. Their mean age was 34.2 years old. A double-blind placebo-controlled study was designed. The baseline cognitive assessment was performed before the administration of drug. Two days after the baseline study, 20 mg of methylphenidate or placebo was administered. The second cognitive assessment was performed 2 hours after the treatment. The follow-up assessment conducted two days after the second test. Cognitive assessments consisted of 'one-back working memory task' and 'endogenous visuospatial attention task', designed using SuperLab Pro 2.0 software. RESULTS: In one-back working memory test, there was significant improvement of response accuracy in methylphenidate group in comparison with placebo group (p<0.01). Significant shortening of reaction time was also seen after the administration of drug in methylphenidate group (p<0.05). In endogenous visuospatial attention test, significant improvement of response accuracy was noticed after the administration of drug in methylphenidate group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: These results demonstrated that the administration of methylphenidate was beneficial in improving cognitive function following TBI. The effect was prominent in the accuracy of working memory.
Brain Injuries* ; Brain* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Memory, Short-Term ; Methylphenidate* ; Reaction Time

PURPOSE: Percutaneous peripheral balloon angioplasty and stent insertion are used for the treatment of peripheral arterial obstructions and stenosis. In this study, we assessed the efficacy of peripheral balloon angioplasty and stent insertion in patients with peripheral arterial disease. METHOD: We performed a retrospective review of patients who underwent peripheral balloon angioplasty or stent insertion in obstructive or stenotic peripheral arterial lesions between July 2003 and November 2006. Follow-up study was performed using lower extremity multi-directional computed tomography (MDCT) or lower extremity angiography. Mean follow-up was 22.8 months. RESULT: A total of 30 patients (47 lesions) were treated. The mean age was 66.8 years, and the ratio of male to female patients was 29 to 1. Calf claudication was the most common chief complaint, and 19 patients had hypertension. Obstructive lesions were found in the common iliac artery (CIA) (18), external iliac artery (EIA) (11), superficial femoral artery (SFA) (15), and anterior tibial artery (ATA) (3). Peripheral balloon angioplasty was performed for 8 lesions, and stent insertion was performed for 39 lesions. Re-stenosis occurred in 9 lesions (3 in the CIA, 5 in the SFA, 1 in the ATA) during follow-up. CONCLUSION: Peripheral balloon angioplasty and stent insertion are useful modalities for the treatment of obstruction or stenosis in lower extremity peripheral arteries. Close follow-up is necessary to improve long-term outcomes.
Angiography ; Angioplasty, Balloon ; Arteries ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Female ; Femoral Artery ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Iliac Artery ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Peripheral Arterial Disease ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents ; Tibial Arteries

Background: This study aimed to retrospectively assess results of intracranial meningioma surgerywith or without intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) in a single institution. Methods: Two cohorts (a historical cohort and a monitoring cohort) were collected for the analy-sis. Before IONM was introduced, a total of 107 patients underwent intracranial meningioma operation without IONM from January 2000 to December 2008 by one neurosurgeon (historical cohort). After IONM was introduced, a total of 99 patients with intracranial meningioma were operated under IONM between November 2018 and February 2023 by two neurosurgeons (monitoring cohort). A retrospective comparison was made on the complications from meningioma surgery between the two groups. Results: In the monitoring cohort, warning signals of motor evoked potential (MEPs) or so-matosensory evoked potential (SSEPs) were alarmed in 10 patients. Two of these 10 patients aborted the operation and eight of these 10 patients with warning signals underwent tumor resection. Of these eight patients, five showed postoperative morbidity. Five of 89 patients without warning signals developed neurological deficits. In the historical cohort, 14 of 107 patients showed postoperative morbidity or mortality. Conclusion Even after successful resection of intracranial meningiomas prior to the advent ofIONM, integration of MEPs and SSEPs monitoring yielded valuable insights for surgical teams during operative procedures.

Benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) is a male reproductive disease that has gained increasing importance in recent years. The present study investigated whether Pycnogenol® (PYC), a standardized French maritime pine bark extract, could prevent BPH induced by testosterone propionate (TP) in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups of six rats. One group was used as a normal control rats and the other groups received subcutaneous injections of TP for 4 weeks to induce BPH. In the two treatment groups, PYC (20 or 40 mg/kg) was administered daily for 4 weeks by oral gavage concurrently with the induction of TP. All rats were sacrificed at the scheduled termination time, the prostates were weighed, and histopathologic examinations were conducted. Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels in serum and the prostate were measured, and the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and Ki-67 proteins was investigated. BPH-treated animals showed increases in the relative weight of the prostate, higher concentrations of DHT in serum and the prostate, and higher expression of PCNA and Ki-67 in the prostate; in contrast, PYC-treated animals had significant reductions in these factors compared with the BPH animals. These findings indicated that PYC inhibited the development of BPH and that this was closely associated with a reduction in DHT concentration.
Animals ; Dihydrotestosterone ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Injections, Subcutaneous ; Male ; Models, Animal* ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; Prostate ; Prostatic Hyperplasia* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Testosterone Propionate ; Testosterone*

Megacystis Microcolon Intestinal Hypoperistalsis(MMIH) Syndrome is a rare cause of functional neonatal bowel obstruction, characterized by hypoperistalsis, narrow distal ileum and colon, and bladder distension. We report a case of MMIH syndrome and review the literature. The patient was born after 34 weeks of gestation with marked abdominal distension. Her birth weight was 2,830g with 276ml of urine drained by catheter. Prenatal ultrasonic findings were bladder distension, hydronephrosis and possible intraabdominal mass. Supine view of abdomen on third day of life showed dilated loops of proximal small bowel and stomach without colonic gas shadow. Preoperative diagnosis was intestinal obstruction. When the abdomen was opened, the distal ileum was filled with meconium and postoperative diagnosis was meconium plug syndrome. Ganglion cells were present in the ileal biopsy. All postoperative attempts to feed her resulted in bilous vomiting. Voiding cystourethrography done on the 4th day after colon study showed markedly distended bladder, contrast enhanced microcolon and hypoperistalsis. She was dischaged against medical advice by her parents at the age of 23 days and died at home at the age of 33 days.
Abdomen ; Biopsy ; Birth Weight ; Catheters ; Colon ; Diagnosis ; Ganglion Cysts ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Ileum ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Meconium ; Parents ; Pregnancy ; Stomach ; Ultrasonics ; Urinary Bladder ; Vomiting

No abstract available.
Anemia, Dyserythropoietic, Congenital*