No abstract available.
Histiocytosis* ; Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell*

Positron emission tomography (PET) with 2-[F-18]-Fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) was performed in ninteen patients who had benign musculoskeletal tumors in order to determine if there was a relationship between histologic grade of tumor and FDG uptake of tumor. These patients had been evaluated previously with computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance (MR) imaging or both. The diagnoses were confirmed with incisional or excisional biopsy or by radiographic follow-up. Generally high-grade tumors had significantly greater uptake of FDG than low-grade lesions . Benign lesions such as giant cell tumor, fibrous dysplasia, and osteofibrous dysplasia showed significant elevation of SUV (Standardized Uptake Value) above 4.0. On the contrary. The current studies suggest the utility of FDG-PET imaging as an adjunct to CT or MR imaging in the evaluation of benign tumors. And results of PET suggest benign tumors with high SUV are histologically active lesion and tend to be locally aggressive.
Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Electrons* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Giant Cell Tumors ; Glucose* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Positron-Emission Tomography

No abstract available.
Hemangioma, Cavernous*

PURPOSE: To determine whether prostate-specific antigen density(PSAD) and transition zone prostate-specific antigen density(TZ-PSAD) can predict the clinical response of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH) to alpha-adrenergic blocker(terazosin). MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2000 to June 2002, 202 patients with BPH who were treated with alpha-adrenergic blocker(terazosin) were enrolled in this study. The peak flow rate(Qmax) and the International Prostate Symptom Score(IPSS) were compared prior to and 3 months following medication. We analyzed total prostate volume(TPV), transition zone volume(TZV), transition zone index(transition zone volume/total prostate volume, TZI), PSAD(PSA/total prostate volume), and TZ-PSAD (PSA/transition zone volume) as predictors of the response to alpha-adrenergic blocker (terazosin). RESULTS: At 3 months following medication with terazosin, a statistically significant improvement was shown in the IPSS and Qmax. There was no significant correlation between pretreatment TPV, TZV, TZI and the percent change in the IPSS and Qmax. However, there was a significant negative correlation between pretreatment PSAD (r=-0.632, p<0.001), TZ-PSAD (r=-0.599, p<0.001) and the percentage change in Qmax, while there was a positive correlation between pretreatment PSAD (r=0.620, p<0.001), TZ-PSAD(r=0.604, p<0.001) and the percentage change in the IPSS. Using the receiver operating characteristic curves to compare PSAD and TZ-PSAD for IPSS, the areas under the respective curves were 0.867 and 0.874(cut-off values were 0.04 and 0.1), and for the Qmax, the areas under the respective curves were 0.876 and 0.873(cut-off values were 0.04 and 0.1). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with a lower pretreatment PSAD and TZ-PSAD responded better to alpha-adrenergic blocker than those with a higher pretreatment PSAD and TZ-PSAD. PSAD and TZ-PSAD were predictors of the response to alpha-adrenergic blocker (terazosin) in patients with BPH.
Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists ; Humans ; Prostate ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Prostatic Hyperplasia* ; ROC Curve

BACKGROUND: To evaluate depressure effect and safety of delapril, a new ACE inhibitor, in Korea. METHOD: Thirty three patients, aged 37-69, with mild to moderate essential hypertension were first observed for 2 weeks with placebo followed by administration of 15mg of delapril twice daily for 2 weeks, then doubled dosage to 30mg b.i.d. and combined with 25mg of dihydrochlorothiazide if optimal BP were not obtained at the end of 4th week, continued the same dose until the end of 10 week's trial period. RESULT: BP dropped 15/9mmHg inaverage at the end of 10th week rewarding 70% of cumulative effectiveness. Most frequent side reaction was dry cough, occurred in 9% of patients followed by chest tightness, headache, constipation and transient elevation of GPT. CONCLUSION: Delapril 15-30mg twice daily as monotheraphy or combined with diuretics is well tolerated and effective in the treatment of mild to moderate essential hypertension.
Constipation ; Cough ; Diuretics ; Headache ; Humans ; Hydrochlorothiazide ; Hypertension* ; Korea ; Reward ; Thorax

Cryptococcus is native to the environment and thrives in any type of environment inhabited by birds. Cryptococcal genito-urinary infection has been reported in immunnocompromised patients and can involve the adrenal gland, kidney, prostate, or penis. To our knowledge, there have been no reports of cases where cryptococcal epididymo-orchitis infects an uncompromised healthy host. Here, we report a case of primary cryptococcal epididymo-orchitis in a healthy male.
Adrenal Glands ; Birds ; Cryptococcus ; Humans ; Kidney ; Male ; Orchitis ; Penis ; Prostate

The pneumopericardium following blunt chest trauma is exceedingly unusual. A patient was admitted to the emergency room after a motorcycle accident. Pneumopericardium and left pneumothorax were not detected on initial chest AP, but they were detected on chest computed tomograpy and resolved completely after chest tube insertion into the left pleural space.
Chest Tubes ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Humans ; Mediastinal Emphysema ; Motorcycles ; Pneumopericardium* ; Pneumothorax ; Thorax*

BACKGROUND: Spinal cord ischemic injury during thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic surgeries remains a potentially devastating outcome despite using various methods of protection. Neuronal voltage-dependent sodium channel antagonists are known to provide neuroprotection in cerebral ischemic models. This study was designed to compare the neuroprotective effects of phenytoin with those of hypothermia in a rabbit model of spinal cord ischemia. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Spinal cord ischemia was induced in New Zealand white rabbits by means of infrarenal aortic cross clamping for 25 minutes. Four groups of 8 animals each were studied. The control group and the hypothermia group received retrograde infusion of saline only (22degrees C, 2 mL/min); the normothermic phenytoin group and the hypothermicphenytoin group received retrograde infusion of 100 mg of phenytoin at different rectal temperatures (39degrees C and 37degrees C, respectively) during the ischemic period. The neurologic function was assessed at 24 and 72 hours after the operation with using the modified Tarlov criteria. The spinal cords were harvested after the final neurologic examination for histopathological examination to objectively quantify the amount of neuronal damage. RESULT: No major adverse effects were observed with the retrograde phenytoin infusion during the aortic ischemic period. All the control rabbits became severely paraplegic. Both the phenytoin group and the hypothermia group had a better neurological status than did the control group (p<0.05). The typical morphological changes that are characteristic of neuronal necrosis in the gray matter of the control animals were demonstrated by means of the histopathological examination, whereas phenytoin or hypothermia prevented or attenuated these necrotic phenomena (p<0.05). The number of motor neuron cells positive for TUNEL staining was significantly reduced, to a similar extent, in the rabbits treated with phenytoin or hypothermia. Phenytoin and hypothermia had some additive neuroprotective effect, but there was no statistical significance between the two on the neurological and histopathological analysis. CONCLUSION: The neurological and histopathological analysis consistently demonstrated that both phenytoin and hypothermia may afford significant spinal cord protection to a similar extent during spinal cord ischemia in rabbits, although no significant additive effects were noticed.
Animals ; Constriction ; Hypothermia ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Ischemia ; Motor Neurons ; Necrosis ; Neurologic Examination ; Neurons ; Neuroprotective Agents ; Phenytoin ; Rabbits ; Sodium Channels ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Cord Ischemia

Impetigo herpetiformis is a rare pustular eruption that may be seen in late pregnancy. It is associated with severe maternal and fetal complications in case of misdiagnosis and delayed treatment. The patient was a 25-years-old multigravida with psoriasis in her past history. At 20weeks gestation, she had been developed erythematous scaly annular patchs with papules and pustules on inner thigh. At 37weeks' gestation, the patient was suffered from a severely pruritic pustular rash with fever and leukocytosis. The skin of the affected areas was biopsied and showed intraepidermal pustular abscess with a neutrophilic infiltrate. Treatment commenced with intravenous fluids, antibiotics, systemic prednisone, steroid creams, and phototherapy(UVB) under the careful fetal well being monitoring. Cesarean section was done due to fetal distress, and a normal healthy male infant was delivered, following which the patient's condition improved rapidly.
Abscess ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Cesarean Section ; Diagnostic Errors ; Exanthema ; Female ; Fetal Distress ; Fever ; Humans ; Impetigo* ; Infant ; Leukocytosis ; Male ; Neutrophils ; Prednisone ; Pregnancy* ; Psoriasis ; Skin ; Thigh

BACKGROUND: Video assisted thoracic sympathectomy or sympathicotomy is a safe and effective therapy for the treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis with immediate symptomatic imporvement. However the degree of satisfaction may diminish with time due to cmpensatory sweating or excessive hand dryness. Therefore by comparing and assessing the degree of symptomatic improvement or compensatory sweating following sympathectomy or sympathicotomy at various levels we aim to determine the optimal level of sympathetic nerve block which will result in minimal side effects and maximal benefit. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Among 194 patients having undergone video assisted thoracic sympathectomy or sympathicotomy between January 1996 and June 1999, 137 patients who responded to either telephone interview or questionnaire were included in the current study. The patients were divided into three groups. Group I(n=61) ; patients having undergone T2,3,4 sympathectomy group II(35) ; patients having undergone T2 sympathicotomy and group III(41) ; patients having undergone limited T2 sympathicotomy which consist of block of interganglionic neuronal fiber on the third rib. The parameters studied comprised of pre- and post-operative palmar temperature change treatment satisfaction the degree of compensatory sweating or discomfort from palmar dryness postoperative complication and changes in plantar sweating. RESULT: There was no difference in age and sex among the groups and the mean postoperative elevation in palmar temperature was 21.59degrees C without any differences among the groups. Patients expressing satisfaction were 65.6%, 62.9% and 90.24% in groups I, II and III, respectively(p<0.05) Moderate to severe compensatory sweating was present in 65.6% 51.4%, and 24.39%, in group I, II, and III, respectively (p<0.05) Slight but comfortable amount of palmar humidness was expressed in decreasing order group III(41.6%) group I(24.6%) and group II(5.7%) (p<0.05) Ineffectiveness or recurrence was present in 5patients in group I(8.2%) 1 patient in group II(2.9%) and none in group III. With regards to plantar sweating decrease in sweating was expressed in 43 patients(31.4%) while similar degree of sweating in 61 patients(44.5%) and increase in sweating in another 33 patinets(24.1%). CONCLUSION: Limited T2 sympathicotomy resection of the lower interganglionic neuronal fiber of the second sympathetic ganglion on the third rib showed immediate effect in palmar hyperhidrosis and caused lesser compensatory sweating and hand dryness.
Autonomic Nerve Block ; Ganglia, Sympathetic ; Hand ; Humans ; Hyperhidrosis* ; Interviews as Topic ; Neurons ; Postoperative Complications ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Recurrence ; Ribs ; Sweat ; Sweating ; Sympathectomy