Chusid et al proposed diagnostic criteria of hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) that remain valid today. These were, (1) a sustained peripheral blood eosinophil count of more than 1500/L present for longer than 6 months ; (2) no evidence of other apparent causes for eosinophilia, and (3) presumptive signs of parenchymal organ involvement. Any organ system may be affected in HES, but the most severe clinicopathological involvements are of the heart and nervous system. Although multiple organ systems may be involved, the most common cause of morbidity and mortality is cardiac involvement with extensive fibrous thickening of the endomyocardium and overlying thrombus. We report a case of acute peri-myocarditis with eosinophilia, which was confirmed as eosinophilic myocarditis by endomyocardial biopsy, with literature review.
Biopsy ; Edema* ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils* ; Heart ; Hypereosinophilic Syndrome ; Mortality ; Myocarditis* ; Nervous System ; Thrombosis

Chusid et al proposed diagnostic criteria of hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) that remain valid today. These were, (1) a sustained peripheral blood eosinophil count of more than 1500/L present for longer than 6 months ; (2) no evidence of other apparent causes for eosinophilia, and (3) presumptive signs of parenchymal organ involvement. Any organ system may be affected in HES, but the most severe clinicopathological involvements are of the heart and nervous system. Although multiple organ systems may be involved, the most common cause of morbidity and mortality is cardiac involvement with extensive fibrous thickening of the endomyocardium and overlying thrombus. We report a case of acute peri-myocarditis with eosinophilia, which was confirmed as eosinophilic myocarditis by endomyocardial biopsy, with literature review.
Biopsy ; Edema* ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils* ; Heart ; Hypereosinophilic Syndrome ; Mortality ; Myocarditis* ; Nervous System ; Thrombosis

PURPOSE: This study was performed to investigate the growth pattern of epileptic children on medication with anticonvulsants. METHODS: We measured the weight, height and head circumference of 219 epileptic children on medication with anticonvulsants through the review of the medical records, compared these with those of the control group as means of Standard Measurement of Body Growth for Korean Chidren and Adolescence reformed at 1998 and analyzed this data according to sex, age at the start of medication, duration of medication, the cause of epilepsy, the type of seizure and the number of anticonvulsants. RESULTS: The weight and height at the start of medication with anticonvulsants had no difference from those of the control group according to sex, age at the start of medication, the cause of epilepsy, the type of seizure and the number of anticonvulsants, but the head circumference at the start of medication was smaller than that of the control group(P<0.05), especially in children aged 1 to 6 years(P<0.005) and in children with symptomatic epilepsy(P<0.001). The increase of weight, height and head circumference had no difference from those of the control group according to sex, age, duration of medication, the cause of epilepsy, the type of seizure and the number of anticonvulsants. CONCLUSION: The increase of weight, height and head circumference of epileptic children on medication with anticonvulsants had no difference from those of normal children.
Adolescent ; Anticonvulsants* ; Child* ; Epilepsy ; Head ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Seizures

PURPOSE: This study estimated the prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in Korean men and the conditions for being diagnosed with or treated for LUTS/benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). METHODS: We analyzed cross-sectional data collected from 69,851 Korean men who were 40 years of age or older and had participated in the Korean Community Health Survey performed in 2011. Interviewers performed face-to-face surveys that included sociodemographic questions, the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), and questions regarding whether the subjects had been diagnosed with or treated for LUTS/BPH. We estimated the prevalence of LUTS and assessed whether the subjects had been diagnosed with or treated for LUTS/BPH. RESULTS: Moderate to severe LUTS, storage symptoms, and voiding symptoms increased with age. The IPSS quality of life score was 1.5±0.004 in the mild LUTS group (n=57,701), 3.3±0.01 in the moderate LUTS group (n=9,203), and 4.3±0.02 in the severe LUTS group (n=2,947) (P<0.0001). The prevalence of moderate to severe LUTS in those who had not been diagnosed with LUTS/BPH was 64.5% (7,847 of 12,150), and the prevalence of moderate to severe LUTS in those who had been diagnosed with LUTS/BPH but had not been treated was 23.5% (2,853 of 12,150). CONCLUSIONS: The severity of LUTS in Korean men increased with age, and the IPSS quality of life score increased with the severity of LUTS. Many Korean men with moderate to severe LUTS had not been diagnosed or treated for LUTS/BPH. Socioeconomic conditions played an important role in health-seeking behavior among patients with LUTS/BPH.
Health Surveys* ; Humans ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms* ; Male ; Prevalence ; Prostate ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Quality of Life

To evaluate effect of coronary collateral circulation on left ventricular function in patients with acute myocardial infarction, global ejection fraction(EF), left ventricular end distolic pressure(LVEDP), peak creatine kinase(CK) level and regional wall motion were analysed and compared in 30 patients with acute myocardial infarction according to grade of coronary collateral circulation. Patients with total or near total(above 95% of diameter) occlsion of left anterior descending coronary artery without significant lesion in right coronary artery or left circumflex artery were selected and divided into 3 groups according to the degree of collateral circulation on coronary angiography, to be compared by the index of ejection fraction, peak creatine kinase level, left ventricular and diastolic pressure and regional wall motion. The result are as following : 1) There were no statistically significant differences in ejection fraction, peak creatine kinase level, left ventricualr and diastolic pressure among the groups. 2) Regional wall motion of infarct related area of G2+3 group(adequate collateral) were better than that of G0(no collateral) group(p<0.05). Therefore, adequate coronary collateral circulation in acute myocardial infarction is thought to have beneficial effect on left ventricular function especially in regional wall motion of infarct related area.
Arteries ; Blood Pressure ; Collateral Circulation* ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Vessels ; Creatine ; Creatine Kinase ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Ventricular Function, Left*

We experienced a 41-year-old male patient with the recurrent painful nodular swelling of muscles in both lower limbs for 4 years. The mass did not accompanied other general symptoms of muscle weakness and spontaneously regressed. On pathologic finding, there is marked inflammatory cell infiltration with muscle fiber destruction and regeneration. Analyzing the literature, we proposed the diagnosis of recurrent localized myositis.
Adult ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Muscle Weakness ; Muscles ; Myositis* ; Regeneration

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

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

An example of lymphoblastic lymphosarcoma was found in a 7-year-old male brown bear (Ursus arctos) that died after having a 7-month history of depression, anorexia and watery diarrhea. Grossly the mesenteric lymph nodes were enlarged to approximately 4 to 6 times their normal size and histologically diagnosed as lymphoblastic lymphosarcoma. The small intestinal mucosa was corrugated and had severe mural thickening due to infiltrated neoplastic cells. Hepatic metastasis was also noted. This is the first reported case of lymphosarcoma in Ursidae in Korea. As an incidental finding, endogenous lipid pneumonia was noted in the lung.
Animals ; Animals, Zoo ; Fatal Outcome ; Intestinal Mucosa/pathology ; Intestine, Small/pathology ; Korea ; Liver/pathology ; Liver Neoplasms/secondary/veterinary ; Lung/pathology ; Lymph Nodes/*pathology ; Male ; Mesentery ; Pneumonia, Lipid/pathology/veterinary ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/diagnosis/pathology/*veterinary ; *Ursidae

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