Malignant lymphoma of the sinus is very rare but potentially radiocurable neoplasm. The disease is tend to be localized to the sinus and spread to adjacent local structure on initial presentation, and change to generalized lymphoma is uncommon. Most of sinus lymphoma is diffuse histiocytic type. Radiotherapy to the primary and neck nodes is the treatment of choice, and a survival rate of 50~70% can be expected.
Lymphoma* ; Maxillary Sinus* ; Neck ; Radiotherapy ; Survival Rate

PURPOSE: Thallim-201 (201Tl) brain SPECT and proton (1H) magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) have been used to evaluate tumor grade and viability of glioma. We assessed the correlations between 201Tl brain index or spectrum of metabolites of 1H MRS and grade of glioma or histopathologic findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 17 patients (4 astrocytoma, 7 anaplastic astrocytoma and 6 glioblastoma). On 201Tl Brain SPECT, 201Tl index was measured as the ratio of average counts for region of interest to those for the contralateral normal brain. On 1H MRS, we calculated choline (Cho) /creatine (Cr) ratio and N-acetylaspartate (NAA)/Cr ratio in ROI defined as tumor center. Histopathologic findings were graded by Ki-67 index, cellularity, mitosis, pleomorphism, necrosis and endothelial proliferation. An unpaired t test and statistical correlations were performed to evaluate these data. RESULTS: Tl-index showed the best correlation with Ki-67 index (p<0.01), less correlations with cellularity, mitosis, and endothelial proliferation, but no correlation with results of MRS, pleomorphism, or necrosis. The findings of MRS did not correlate with all of the above. The cases of glioblastoma demonstrated a higher Tl-index, Cho/Cr ratio, Ki-67 index and lower NAA/Cr ratio, albeit without statistical significance. CONCLUSION: Even though 201Tl brain SPECT did not correlate directly with grade of malignancy, it may still be useful in determining biological aggressiveness of tumor and prognosis of patients because it correlated well with Ki-67 index, a growth fraction of glioma, cellularity, mitosis and endothelial proliferation.
Astrocytoma ; Brain* ; Choline ; Glioblastoma ; Glioma* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy* ; Mitosis ; Necrosis ; Pathology* ; Prognosis ; Protons ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*

PURPOSE: We examined whether fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) levels are associated with atopy profiles in terms of mono-sensitization and poly-sensitization in asthmatic children. METHODS: A total of 119 children underwent an assessment that included FeNO measurements, spirometry, methacholine challenge, and measurement of blood eosinophil count, serum total IgE, and serum eosinophil cationic protein (ECP). We also examined sensitization to five classes of aeroallergens (house dust mites, animal danders, pollens, molds, and cockroach) using skin prick testing. The children were divided into three groups according to their sensitization profiles to these aeroallergens (non-sensitized, mono-sensitized, and poly-sensitized). RESULTS: The geometric means (range of 1 SD) of FeNO were significantly different between the three groups (non-sensitized, 18.6 ppb [10.0-34.7 ppb]; mono-sensitized, 28.8 ppb [16.6-50.1 ppb]; and poly-sensitized, 44.7 ppb [24.5-81.3 ppb], P=0.001). FeNO levels were correlated with serum total IgE concentrations, peripheral blood eosinophilia, and serum ECP levels to different degrees. CONCLUSIONS: FeNO levels vary according to the profile of atopy, as determined by positive skin prick test results to various classes of aeroallergens. FeNO is also moderately correlated with serum total IgE, blood eosinophilia, and serum ECP. These results suggest that poly-sensitized asthmatic children may have the highest risk of airway inflammation.
Animals ; Asthma ; Child ; Dust ; Eosinophil Cationic Protein ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils ; Fungi ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Inflammation ; Methacholine Chloride ; Mites ; Nitric Oxide ; Pollen ; Skin ; Spirometry

PURPOSE: Cough and wheezing are the most common respiratory symptoms in children. Recently, the cough-holter monitoring has been used to estimate the frequency and intensity of cough and wheezing, objectively. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the validity of cough-holter monitoring for the objective assessment of cough and wheezing in the hospitalized children with respiratory symptoms. METHODS: Cough-holter monitoring was performed in 59 children who suffered from cough and/or wheezing. We obtained the information on the frequency and intensity of cough and wheezing from the parents, a pediatrician, and cough-holter monitoring. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores were taken by parents, and the pediatrician estimated the wheezing score by using a stethoscope. We assessed a relationship between the VAS scores, wheezing score, and cough-holter monitoring data. RESULTS: The frequencies and intensities of cough correlated positively with the VAS scores (r=0.301, P=0.032; and r=0.540, P=0.001, respectively) and the frequencies and intensities of wheezing also correlated positively with the Wheezing scores. (r=0.335, P=0.011; and r=0.457, P=0.001, respectively) The wheezing intensity did not correlate with the Wheezing score in wheezing children. (r=0.321, P=0.089) CONCLUSION: Cough-holter monitoring correlated positively with the VAS scores and the wheezing scores. Cough-holter monitoring appears to be a useful objective assessment tool for the children who have suffered from cough and/or wheezing.
Child ; Child, Hospitalized ; Cough ; Humans ; Parents ; Respiratory Sounds ; Stethoscopes

OBJECTIVE: Digital cervicography systems would be expected to reduce the costs of film cervicography, and provide the opportunity for "telemedicine-based" screening. We aimed to develop web-based digital cervicography system, and validate it compared with conventional film cervicography. METHODS: A hundred cases from five centers were prospectively included, and cervical images (analogue, digitalized by scanning analogue, and digital) were taken separately using both analogue (Cerviscope) and digital camera (Dr. Cervicam) in each patient. Nine specialists evaluated the three kinds of images of each case with time interval between evaluations of each image. To validate novel digitalized system, we analyzed intra-observer variance among evaluation results of three kinds of images. RESULTS: Sixty-three cases were finally analyzed after excluding technically defective cases that cannot be evaluable on analogue images. The generalized kappa for analogue versus digital image was 0.83, for analogue versus scanned image 0.72, and for digital versus scanned image was 0.71; all were in excellent consensus. CONCLUSION: Digitalized cervicography system can be substituted for the film cervicography very reliably, and can be used as a promising telemedicine tool for cervical cancer screening.
Consensus ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Prospective Studies ; Specialization ; Telemedicine ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of exocelomic fluid in first trimester pregnancy on trophoblast cell proliferation in vitro. METHODS: The coelomic fluid was obtained from women with apparently normal pregnancies (n=9) and women presenting with missed abortion (n=22). The concentrations of cytokines in coelomic fluid were determined by two steps sandwich ELISA. The detection limits were the 4 pg/ml for IFN-gamma, 1 pg/ml for TNF-alpha, 2 pg/ml for IL-6 and 5 pg/ml for IL-10, respectively. The data are presented as mean+/-SEM. Statistical analysis was performed by Mann-Whitney U test. Trophoblast cell (Jeg-3 choriocarcinoma cell line) proliferation in vitro was determined using colorimetric immunoassay, based on the measurement of BrdU incorporation using DNA synthesis. The optical absorbance of the samples at 450 nm was measured using an ELISA reader. The data are presented as absorbance in the samples (mean+/-SEM). Statistical analysis was performed using regression analysis and t-test. RESULS: Th-2 type cytokines are present to some extent and IL-6, one of Th-1 type cytokines, also exists in the coelomic fluid from the missed abortion. Coelomic fluids from the majority of normal pregnancies inhibited trophoblast proliferation in vitro significantly higher than fluids from the missed abortion. CONCLUSION: These data showed that exocoelomic fluids may have a unique immune privilege surrounding developing embryo in the early pregnancy. Further studies are required to determine the goowth factors in coelomic fluids from normal pregnancies and missed abortion, and to evaluate the influence on the development of early pregnancy complications.
Abortion, Missed ; Bromodeoxyuridine ; Cell Proliferation* ; Choriocarcinoma ; Cytokines ; DNA ; Embryonic Structures ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoassay ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-6 ; Limit of Detection ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications ; Pregnancy Trimester, First* ; Trophoblasts* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Essential thrombocythemia (ET) is a chronic myeloproliferative disease characterized by a markedly elevated platelet count in the peripheral blood due to excessive proliferation of bone marrow megakaryocytes. When the disease affects women during pregnancy, an adverse obstetric outcome is possible: miscarriages, intrauterine growth restriction, preterm delivery, intrauterine fetal death, preeclampsia. Maternal complications, both thrombotic and hemorrhagic, were reported relatively infrequently. Various treatments as acetylsalicylic acid, hydroxyurea, anagrelide, heparin, interferon-alpha and plateletpheresis have been proposed to improve the pregnancy. Our case was a 38 years old multiparous women at 37 weeks of gestation with preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction. Under the impression of oligohydramnios and fetal distress, an emergency cesarean section was performed under epidural anesthesia. During cesarean section, sudden cardiac arrest with unknown cause was developed, and successful resuscitation was done. After cesarean section, patient continued to elevate platelet count. So bone marrow aspiration and biopsy were performed and showed essential thrombocythemia. We report a case of essential thrombocythemia diagnosed during pregnancy with brief review of the literature.
Abortion, Spontaneous ; Adult ; Anesthesia, Epidural ; Aspirin ; Biopsy ; Bone Marrow ; Cesarean Section ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; Emergencies ; Female ; Fetal Death ; Fetal Distress ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; Heparin ; Humans ; Hydroxyurea ; Interferon-alpha ; Megakaryocytes ; Oligohydramnios ; Platelet Count ; Plateletpheresis ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy* ; Resuscitation ; Thrombocythemia, Essential*

PURPOSE: The overcrowding of the ECC (Emergency Care Center) is a significant problem for most general hospitals. This overcrowding can be a potential cause of undesirable outcomes in critically ill patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of an alerting call, with a cellular phone, before the presentation of critically ill patients in overcrowded emergency care centers. METHODS: One hundred and two patients with cardiac arrest, altered mental status, dyspnea, and chest pain were brought to the emergency care center by 119 EMS (Emergency Medical Transport System) from July 2007 to August 2007 and March 2008 to April 2008 and were enrolled in this study. The EMS made 39 alerting calls with a cellular phone before arrival to the ECC. Each alerting call was answered by the senior resident emergency physician over a 24 hour period. We prospectively reviewed the data and compared the cases with an alerting call to those without such a call. RESULTS: Thirty-nine (38%) patients arrived at the ECC with an alerting call and 63 (62%) without one. The general characteristics between the two groups were not different. The mean duration for the initiation of care for the patients with a cardiac arrest, with an alerting call, was faster than for those who arrived without an alerting call; the difference in the start of compressions was significant (p=0.006). For patients with altered mental status, all variables studied showed a significant statistical difference (p<0.001) between the two study groups. For acute dyspnea and chest pain, the first set of vital signs (p=0.004) and the ABG (p=0.001) were significantly different between the two groups. The mean time to the initiation of care was faster for the patients with an alerting call than for those without an alerting call. CONCLUSION: The initiation of care in critically ill patients was significantly faster with a cellular phone alerting call before the patient's arrival to the ECC. Therefore, an alerting call from the 119 EMS to the ECC appears to improve the time to initiating emergency care of critically ill patients in the ECC.
Cellular Phone ; Chest Pain ; Critical Illness ; Crowding ; Dyspnea ; Emergencies ; Emergency Medical Services ; Heart Arrest ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Prospective Studies ; Vital Signs