BACKGROUND: There exist considerable debates concerning about the effects of epilepsy surgery on cognitive function. To evaluate the effects of tailored anterior temporal lobectomy with amygdalohippocampectomy (ATLAH) on intelligence and memory, we compared the pre- and post-operative cognitive function in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE). METHODS: Thirty six patients who received unilateral tailored ATLAH from 1993 to 1997 and had been seizure-free for at least two years postoperatively were selected. Mean age at the time of surgery was 26.8 years and mean period of postoperative follow-up was 47 months. The change of cognitive function was assessed pre-and post-operatively using Korean Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (K-WAIS) and Rey memory test. We also assessed the correlation between the extent of hippocampal and lateral temporal cortical resection and cognitive changes respectively. RESULTS: In total patients (N=36), there was statistically significant improvement in performance IQ (PIQ, p<0.05), full scale IQ (FIQ, p<0.05), and auditory verbal learning test (AVLT). In the right temporal lobectomy group (N=16), improvement in PIQ, FIQ, and AVLT reached to statistical significance (p<0.05). In the left temporal lobecto-my group (N=20), improvement in PIQ was significant (p<0.05). In terms of the size of resection, there were tendencies that the cognitive function is more improved in patients with larger hippocampal resection (>2 cm) and in patients with smaller temporal cortical resection (4 cm). CONCLUSIONS: Patients became seizure free after tailored ATLAH may have improvement in performance IQ and full scale IQ. Right side resection, larger hippocampal resection, and smaller lateral temporal resection show better postoperative cognitive function. (J Korean Neurol Assoc 19(2):116~124, 2001)
Adult ; Anterior Temporal Lobectomy* ; Epilepsy ; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intelligence* ; Memory* ; Seizures ; Temporal Lobe* ; Verbal Learning

BACKGROUND: There exist considerable debates concerning about the effects of epilepsy surgery on cognitive function. To evaluate the effects of tailored anterior temporal lobectomy with amygdalohippocampectomy (ATLAH) on intelligence and memory, we compared the pre- and post-operative cognitive function in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE). METHODS: Thirty six patients who received unilateral tailored ATLAH from 1993 to 1997 and had been seizure-free for at least two years postoperatively were selected. Mean age at the time of surgery was 26.8 years and mean period of postoperative follow-up was 47 months. The change of cognitive function was assessed pre-and post-operatively using Korean Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (K-WAIS) and Rey memory test. We also assessed the correlation between the extent of hippocampal and lateral temporal cortical resection and cognitive changes respectively. RESULTS: In total patients (N=36), there was statistically significant improvement in performance IQ (PIQ, p<0.05), full scale IQ (FIQ, p<0.05), and auditory verbal learning test (AVLT). In the right temporal lobectomy group (N=16), improvement in PIQ, FIQ, and AVLT reached to statistical significance (p<0.05). In the left temporal lobecto-my group (N=20), improvement in PIQ was significant (p<0.05). In terms of the size of resection, there were tendencies that the cognitive function is more improved in patients with larger hippocampal resection (>2 cm) and in patients with smaller temporal cortical resection (4 cm). CONCLUSIONS: Patients became seizure free after tailored ATLAH may have improvement in performance IQ and full scale IQ. Right side resection, larger hippocampal resection, and smaller lateral temporal resection show better postoperative cognitive function. (J Korean Neurol Assoc 19(2):116~124, 2001)
Adult ; Anterior Temporal Lobectomy* ; Epilepsy ; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intelligence* ; Memory* ; Seizures ; Temporal Lobe* ; Verbal Learning

Nine patients of mean age 47.8 years, with suspected sinus node dysfunction, underwent extensive electrophysiological studies. Sinus bradycardia(6the electrophysiological study, AH and HV intervals were prolonged in 2/9 and 1/9 patients, respectively. Maximal sinus node recovery times were prolonged in 7/9 patients, ranging from 1,330 msec to 12,330msec. Sinoatrial conduction times measured by atrial premature stimulation technique were prolonged in 5/7 patients, ranging from 137msec to 310 msec. And sinoatrial conduction time measured by continuous pacing technique also revealed prolonged value in 4/6 patients ranging from 140 msec to 195 msec. The effective refractory periods, of atrium were prolonged in 6/8 patients (320 msec to 470 msec). The effective and functional refractory periods of AV node were prolonged in 3/8 patients (440 csec to 490 msec) and 4/8 patients (530 msec to 560 msec), respectively. Retrograde VA conduction could be observed in 3/7 patients and ventricular effective refractory periods were normal in 7/7 patients. Atrial flutter was induced in 1/9 patients by electric stimulation during electrophysiological study. Above data suggest that the electrophysiological study is very useful in assessing the sinus node function and other electrophysiological properties in sick sinus syndrome patients and also suggest that the data could be utilized in choosing the proper mode of artificial pacemaker for each patient.
Atrial Flutter ; Atrioventricular Node ; Electric Stimulation ; Humans ; Pacemaker, Artificial ; Sick Sinus Syndrome* ; Sinoatrial Node

We herein describe a 70-year-old woman who presented with respiratory failure due to extensive lung adenocarcinoma. Despite advanced disease, care in the intensive care unit with ventilator support was performed because she was a newly diagnosed patient and was considered to have the potential to recover after cancer treatment. Because prompt control of the cancer was needed to treat the respiratory failure, empirical treatment with an oral epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor was initiated before confirmation of EGFR-mutant adenocarcinoma, and the patient was successfully treated. Later, EGFR-mutant adenocarcinoma was confirmed.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Lung* ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; Respiration, Artificial ; Respiratory Insufficiency* ; Ventilators, Mechanical ; Erlotinib Hydrochloride

Pyothorax-associated lymphoma is a distinct type of malignant lymphoma composed of lymphocytes, mostly of a B-cell nature. It occurs in patients with a long history of pyothorax and is strongly associated with Epstein-Barr virus infection. We experienced a case of pyothorax-associated lymphoma in a 66-year-old male. The patient had chronic pyothorax after tuberculous pleurisy was treated about 37 years earlier and was hospitalized for a recently occurring chest wall mass. A core needle biopsy of the chest wall mass led to a diagnosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Pyothorax-associated lymphoma is rare in Korea, but should be considered in patients with chronic pyothorax and a recently occurring pleural mass.
Aged ; B-Lymphocytes ; Biopsy, Large-Core Needle ; Empyema ; Empyema, Pleural ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; Humans ; Korea ; Lymphocytes ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; Lymphoma, Primary Effusion ; Male ; Thoracic Wall ; Tuberculosis, Pleural

Pyothorax-associated lymphoma is a distinct type of malignant lymphoma composed of lymphocytes, mostly of a B-cell nature. It occurs in patients with a long history of pyothorax and is strongly associated with Epstein-Barr virus infection. We experienced a case of pyothorax-associated lymphoma in a 66-year-old male. The patient had chronic pyothorax after tuberculous pleurisy was treated about 37 years earlier and was hospitalized for a recently occurring chest wall mass. A core needle biopsy of the chest wall mass led to a diagnosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Pyothorax-associated lymphoma is rare in Korea, but should be considered in patients with chronic pyothorax and a recently occurring pleural mass.
Aged ; B-Lymphocytes ; Biopsy, Large-Core Needle ; Empyema ; Empyema, Pleural ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; Humans ; Korea ; Lymphocytes ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; Lymphoma, Primary Effusion ; Male ; Thoracic Wall ; Tuberculosis, Pleural

Novel influenza A (H1N1) virus is a common pathogen of febrile respiratory infection recently. Here, we report the case of a 63-year-old male patient who presented with 3 days' ongoing cough and fever. He was diagnosed with novel influenza A (H1N1) pneumonia by real-time reverse-transcriptase-polymerase-chain-reaction (rRT-PCR). During treatment for novel influenza A (H1N1), his symptoms and radiologic findings improved initially, but multiple lung nodules developed subsequently and found on chest x-ray (on the 5th hospital day). Mycobacterium abscessus was isolated repeatedly from sputum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of Mycobacterium abscessus lung disease in a patient with H1N1 influenza pneumonia.
Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; Cough ; Fever ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype ; Influenza, Human ; Lung ; Lung Diseases ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mycobacterium ; Nontuberculous Mycobacteria ; Pneumonia ; Sputum ; Thorax ; Viruses

Novel influenza A (H1N1) virus is a common pathogen of febrile respiratory infection recently. Here, we report the case of a 63-year-old male patient who presented with 3 days' ongoing cough and fever. He was diagnosed with novel influenza A (H1N1) pneumonia by real-time reverse-transcriptase-polymerase-chain-reaction (rRT-PCR). During treatment for novel influenza A (H1N1), his symptoms and radiologic findings improved initially, but multiple lung nodules developed subsequently and found on chest x-ray (on the 5th hospital day). Mycobacterium abscessus was isolated repeatedly from sputum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of Mycobacterium abscessus lung disease in a patient with H1N1 influenza pneumonia.
Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; Cough ; Fever ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype ; Influenza, Human ; Lung ; Lung Diseases ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mycobacterium ; Nontuberculous Mycobacteria ; Pneumonia ; Sputum ; Thorax ; Viruses

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic liver resection has gained much popularity in recent years, but relatively few centers have performed hepatectomies in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients due to the technical difficulties faced with underlying liver cirrhosis. We now present our early experience with laparoscopic liver resection in HCC performed in a single institution. METHODS: From October 2003 until March 2009, 39 laparoscopic liver resections were performed on HCC patients among whom 26 had underlying liver cirrhosis. RESULTS: The location of the tumor was in the left lateral section in 15, segment 5 or 6 in 20, segment 4 in 3 and caudate lobe in 1. Resection involving less than a monosegment was done in 26 and more than 2 segments in 13. Tumor size ranged from 0.8 cm to 6.6 cm (median 2.35) and the resection margin from 0.1 to 6 cm (median 1.5 cm). All patients were either stage I (29) or II (10). There was no difference between cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic patients in operation time (median 210 minutes, range 60~637), change of hematocrit value (4.8%, -1~19.6%), or hospital stay (8 days, 3~67 days). The median follow up duration was 15.1 months, and the 2-year recurrence free survival rate was 48.3%. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic liver resection in HCC with or without underlying cirrhosis seems to be feasible with minimal morbidity, especially in well selected cases with early stage HCC.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Fibrosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematocrit ; Hepatectomy ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Length of Stay ; Liver ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Recurrence ; Survival Rate

Fungal infection is an uncommon complication after small bowel transplantation. We present a rare form of mucormycosis found in the small bowel graft and in the skin of a recipient. We reviewed chart data and performed MEDLINE searches and found that this case was the first to report 2 kinds of mucormycosis to be found after organ transplantation. The patient was a 12 month old female baby who underwent small bowel transplantation due to short bowel syndrome. After 12 days she experienced acute cellular rejection which responded to steroid. 6 days later due to sustained fever, poor feeding and abdominal distention endoscopic biopsy was done which revealed mucormycosis. Antifungal treatment with lipo-amphotericin B was initiated, yet there was no improvement of clinical symptoms. On the 23 post operative day a black eschar developed on the incision site of the skin and biopsy was done which revealed cutaneous mucormycosis. Infected skin debridement and graftectomy was done but our patient expired because of septic shock.
Biopsy ; Debridement ; Female ; Fever ; Humans ; Mucormycosis ; Organ Transplantation ; Rejection (Psychology) ; Shock, Septic ; Short Bowel Syndrome ; Skin ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants