No abstract available.
Brain* ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Humans

No abstract available.
Myocardial Infarction*

A brain abscess recurred after complete removal of encapsulated mass on the quite same spot three months later. 23-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of headache and vomiting for 3 months. On admission, she was mentally alert but the bilateral optic discs were markedly blurred. Left carotid angiogram and Conray ventriculogram suggested a large space-occupying lesion. At the time of operation, a large mass was removed with slightest occipital damage to the brain. On selection of the extirpated mass, thick purulent liquid came out. After operation, her neurological deficits were markedly improved except the equivocal hemiparesthesia of the right extremity. Postoperative course was quite uneventful and she was discharged. After 3 months postoperatively, she was re-admitted with recurrence of the trouble. She was comatose at this time. Pupillary light reflex was abolished. Pathologic reflexes were positive. The angiography and brain scan revealed recurrence of abscess on the just same area. Puncture for aspiration was immediately performed. Purulent materials were drained about 40ml. After abscess cavity was irrigated with physiologic saline solution, instillation of penicillin and micropaque was done within cavity. After several repeated puncture and aspiration her conditions were dramatically improved. Again, she became almost asymptomatic and was discharged days later her second admission. The results are as following ; 1. Primary focus of bacterial spreading to the brain was not found on both occasions. 2. Pathogenesis of both occasions was not clear. 3. At time of first operation, evidence of local inflammation was not found. 4. Local process and other induration was not found. These were confirmed with the operation and brain scanning. 5. Recurred brain abscess was newly developed. It seems to be hematogenous spreading in anywhere else.
Abscess ; Angiography ; Brain Abscess* ; Brain* ; Coma ; Extremities ; Female ; Headache ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Penicillins ; Punctures ; Recurrence ; Reflex ; Sodium Chloride ; Vomiting ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: A retrospective study was undertaken to determine the role of conventional radiotherapy with or without surgery for treating a supraglottic carcinoma in terms of the local control and survival. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From Jan. 1986 to Oct. 1996, a total of 134 patients were treated for a supraglottic carcinoma by radiotherapy with or without surgery. Of them, 117 patients who had completed the radiotherapy formed the base of this study. The patients were redistributed according to the revised AJCC staging system (1997). The number of patients of stage I, II, III, IVA, IVB were 6 (5%), 16 (14%), 53 (45 %), 32 (27%), 10 (9%), respectively. Eighty patients were treated by radical radiotherapy in the range of 61.2~79.2 Gy (mean : 69.2 Gy) to the primary tumor and 45.0~93.6 Gy (mean : 54.0 Gy) to regional lymphatics. All patients with stage I and IVB were treated by radiotherapy alone. Thirty-seven patients underwent surgery plus postoperative radiotherapy in the range of 45.0~68.4 Gy (mean : 56.1 Gy) to the primary tumor bed and 45.0~59.4 Gy (mean : 47.2 Gy) to the regional lymphatics. Of them, 33 patients received a total laryngectomy (+-lymph node dissection), three had a supraglottic horizontal laryngectomy (+-lymph node dissection), and one had a primary excision alone. RESULTS: The 5-year survival rate (5YSR) of all patients was 43%. The 5YSRs of the patients with stage I+I, III+V were 49.9%, 41.2%, respectively (p=0.27). However, the disease-specific survival rate of the patients with stage I (n=6) was 100%. The 5YSRs of patients who underwent surgery plus radiotherapy (S+T) vs radiotherapy alone (RT) in stage II, III, IVA were 100% vs 43% (p=0.17), 62% vs 52% (p=0.32), 58% vs 6% (P<0.001), respectively. The 5-year actuarial locoregional control rate (5YLCR) of all the patients was 57%. The 5YLCR of the patients with stage I, II, III, IVA, IVB was 100%, 74%, 60%, 44%, 30%, respectively (p=0.008). The 5YLCR of the patients with S+T vs RT in stage II, III, IVA was 100% vs 68% (p=0.29), 67% vs 55% (p=0.23), 81% vs 20% (P<0.001), respectively. In the radiotherapy alone group, the 5YLCR of the patients with a complete, partial, and minimal response were 76%, 20%, 0%, respectively (P<0.001). In all patients, multivariate analysis showed that the N-stage, surgery or not, and age were significant factors affecting the survival rate and that the N-stage, surgery or not, and the ECOG performance index were significant factors affecting the locoregional control. In the radiotherapy alone group, multivariate analysis showed that the radiation response and N-stage were significant factors affecting the overall survival rate as well as locoregional control. CONCLUSION: In early stage supraglottic carcinoma, conventional radiotherapy alone is an equally effective modality compared to surgery plus radiotherapy and could preserve the laryngeal function. However, in the advanced stages, radiotherapy combined with concurrent chemotherapy for laryngeal preservation or surgery should be considered. In bulky neck disease, all the possible planned neck dissections after induction chemotherapy or before radiotherapy should be attempted.
Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Induction Chemotherapy ; Laryngectomy ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neck ; Neck Dissection ; Radiotherapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

Acute necrotizing esophagitis (AEN), also called "black esophagus," is a rare disorder with an unknown pathogenesis. Endoscopic findings generally show black pigmentation throughout the esophagus. This case also offered rare views of the gross anatomy of this disorder. Histological examination revealed that the mucosal and submucosal layers of the esophagus were involved in the severe necrotizing inflammation. The chief manifestation of this disease is hematemesis from hemorrhage of the upper gastrointestinal tract with a typically multifactorial etiology. AEN is also characterized by a clear boundary at the gastroesophageal junction where the necrosis stops. In this study, we report an autopsy case of a 61-year-old man with necrotizing inflammation throughout the esophagus and esophageal necrosis from the laryngopharynx to the gastroesophageal junction. The patient was a disabled person with a history of alcohol abuse who was also diagnosed with mild coronary arteriosclerosis and fatty liver on the basis of the underlying diseases. In this case, the main etiology for poor perfusion from the distal esophageal area was likely underlying illness, history of alcoholism, and malnutrition.
Alcoholism ; Autopsy* ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Disabled Persons ; Esophagitis* ; Esophagogastric Junction ; Esophagus ; Fatty Liver ; Hematemesis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypopharynx ; Inflammation ; Malnutrition ; Middle Aged ; Necrosis ; Perfusion ; Pigmentation ; Upper Gastrointestinal Tract

Idiopathic restrictive cardiomyopathy is characterized by clinical and hemodynamic findings of restrictive cardiomyopathy in the absence of morphologic cause. The differential diagnosis between idiopathic restrictive cardiomyopathy and noncalcified constrictive pericarditis is difficult but the distinction is crucial because of the therapeutic implication. The diagnosis of idiopathic restrictive cardiomyopathy is aided by echocardiography and cardiac catheterization, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. The patients should be approached systemically to differentiate from noncalcified constritive pericarditis.
Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Cardiomyopathy, Restrictive* ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Echocardiography ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Pericarditis ; Pericarditis, Constrictive

No abstract available.
Eye Movements* ; Sensitivity and Specificity*

Dark circles refer to visible darkness of the infra-orbital areas. Dark circles are a cosmetic concern for many individuals, although not a medical concern. Moreover, clear definitions and possible causes of dark circles have not been elucidated. This study reviews the possible causes and treatment options for dark circles based on a review of the medical literature and the authors' clinical experience. Potential factors that contribute to dark circles include excessive pigmentation, shadowing due to tear troughs and infra-orbital fat herniation, shadowing due to infraorbital laxity and wrinkles, and thin, translucent skin overlying the orbicularis oculi muscle. Given the different possible causes for dark circles, therapeutic modalities must be individualized for each patient. Because various factors cause dark circles, it is useful to identify the underlying causes in order to select the appropriate treatment.
Darkness ; Humans ; Pigmentation ; Shadowing (Histology) ; Skin ; Tears

The Endoscopic Injection Sclerotherapy(EIS) has been widely adopted as a primary treatment for acute hemorrhage from esophageal varices. The long term repeated EIS could achieve esophageal variceal obliteration which has been regarded as the endpoint of sclerotherapy by many authors. Several studies showed that repeated EIS improved the long-term survival, and reduced the bleeding episodes. However, in recent prospective randomized trials, the frequency of bleeding was not reduced and even increasd without improvement of survival in patients undergoing prophylactic sclerotherapy.
Esophageal and Gastric Varices* ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Sclerotherapy*

BACKGROUND: Persistent facial telangiectasia, erythema and flushing are the major cosmetic problems in patients with rosacea. However various therapeutic treatments for rosacea papules and pustules are not effective in reducing telangiectasia and flushing reactions. Matrix-centered theory that dermal matrix degradation can cause telangiectasis, erythema and flushing, is one of the various theories of rosacea pathogenesis. Shark cartilage extracts are collagenase inhibitors and can inhibit dermal matrix degradation. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical effects of shark catilage extracts (Venatrix(R)) for erythematotelangiectatic rosacea patients. METHODS: Twenty three patients with erythematotelangiectatic rosacea applied shark cartilage extracts twice daily for up to 8 weeks. Efficacy was evaluated by erythema index using mexameter (MPA 5, CK, Germany) and clinical photography. RESULTS: Erythema index decreased from 525.7+/-114 to 413.9+/-101.7 (mean reduction: 21.3%) (p<0.1) after 8 weeks treatment. 16 patients (69%) showed excellent or good results by clinical photography. Transient stinging sensation was the most common adverse effect and these symptoms improved after the first few days. There were no other significant side effects. CONCLUSION: Shark cartilage extracts may be an effective treatment for mild erythematotelangiectatic rosacea.
Bites and Stings ; Cartilage* ; Erythema ; Flushing ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors ; Photography ; Rosacea* ; Sensation ; Sharks* ; Telangiectasis