Cellular schwannoma is a variant of schwannoma, and is diagnosed as malignant tumor in over one fourth of cases because of its cellularity, mitotic activity and the occasional presence of bone destruction. This tumor is a tumor with low malignant potential and usually occurs in peripheral nervous system, mainly in the posterior mediastinum and retroperitoneal space. But pelvic retroperitoneal cellular schwannoma is very rare. Recently, we experienced a case of pelvic retroperitoneal cellular schwannoma in a 42-year-old woman; in reporting the case a brief review of the literature is included.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Mediastinum ; Neurilemmoma* ; Peripheral Nervous System ; Retroperitoneal Space

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We aimed to investigate the prevalence and possible causes of hypouricemia in the Korean population and to compare our findings with published results of other populations. METHODS: We examined the serum uric acid levels of 30,757 subjects who had their uric acid values measured at least once during a 1-year period. All individuals with hypouricemia (serum uric acid < 2.0 mg/dL, n = 424) were reviewed with respect to medical drug history and concomitant diseases previously identified as being associated with hypouricemia. RESULTS: The prevalence of hypouricemia was 4.14% (299/7,223) among inpatients and 0.53% (125/23,534) among outpatients, for an overall prevalence of 1.39% (424/30,757). Possible causes associated with hypouricemia were found to be solid or hematologic malignancies (n = 86), diabetes mellitus (n = 56), and therapeutic drugs (n = 29). The medications were allopurinol (n = 11), angiotensin II receptor blockers (n = 10), salicylates (n = 6), febuxostat (n = 1), and warfarin (n = 1). In the remaining 226 individuals, the cause of hypouricemia was not identified. CONCLUSIONS: Hypouricemia is relatively common in the Korean population compared to those of other countries. The possible causes associated with hypouricemia are related to underlying diseases and medications.
Allopurinol ; Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Febuxostat ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Outpatients ; Prevalence* ; Salicylates ; Tertiary Healthcare* ; Uric Acid ; Warfarin

Cordyceps is a fungus used as a traditional medicine in China, Japan, and Korea. Paecilomyces (P.) japonica is a new cordyceps that was recently cultivated on silkworm pupae in Korea. The present study evaluated the toxicological effects of P. japonica in rats. Forty rats were treated with oral doses of P. japonica (0, 20, 100, or 500 mg/kg/day) for 4 weeks. Twenty additional rats were treated with 0 or 500 mg/kg/day of P. japonica for 4 weeks and then maintained for 2 weeks without treatment. Clinical signs, body weight, food and water consumption, and organ weight as well as hematology, serum biochemistry, and histopathology data were examined. Body weight gain of the group treated with 500 mg/kg/day was significantly reduced. Microscopically, karyomegaly, single cell necrosis, and mitosis were observed in the renal tubular epithelium of all treated groups. In conclusion, P. japonica caused a reduction of body weight and renal injury in rats. The no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of P. japonica was less than 20 mg/kg/day.
Animals ; Biochemistry ; Body Weight ; Bombyx ; China ; Cordyceps ; Drinking ; Epithelium ; Fungi ; Hematology ; Japan ; Korea ; Medicine, Traditional ; Mitosis ; Necrosis ; No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Level ; Organ Size ; Paecilomyces* ; Pupa ; Rats*

No abstract available.
Craniocerebral Trauma* ; Head* ; Protons*

Charcot spinal arthropathy is a rare, progressive type of vertebral joint degeneration that occurs in the setting of any preexisting condition characterized by decreased afferent innervation to the extent that normal protective joint sensation in the vertebral column is impaired. The authors report on a case of Charcot arthropathy of the lower lumbar spine mimicking a spinal tumor following cervical cord injury.
Joints ; Preexisting Condition Coverage ; Sacrum ; Sensation ; Spinal Cord Injuries* ; Spinal Cord* ; Spine*

Leiomyoma is the most common benign tumor of the esophagus, but it still occurs rarely as compared with the incidence of carcinoma in this area. Most of leiomyomas may manifest itself with unusual and inconsistent symptoms, and found incidentally during endoscopic or radiographic examination. Those who menifested symptoms are included as dysphagia and vague pain mostly. We experienced recently two cases with esophageal leiomyoma who underwent successful surgical resection and endoscopic enucleation, respectively.
Deglutition Disorders ; Esophagus* ; Incidence ; Leiomyoma*

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between serum immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) levels and the presence and disease activity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: The study enrolled 128 participants (RA, 96; healthy controls, 17; osteoarthritis, 11; and IgG4-related disease, 4) between March 2014 and July 2017. Blood samples were collected prior to the commencement of treatment, and serum IgG4 levels were determined using a nephelometric assay (levels ≥135 mg/dL were considered elevated). The levels of serum IgG4 and the ratio of IgG4/total IgG in patients with RA were compared with those in healthy controls, patients with osteoarthritis, and patients with IgG4-related disease. Furthermore, the relationship between serum IgG4 levels and RA disease activity was evaluated. RESULTS: Among the 96 patients with RA, the mean (±standard deviation) serum IgG4 level was 48.0±45.4 mg/dL; 6 (6.3%) patients had elevated serum IgG4 levels. However, none of the healthy controls or patients with osteoarthritis had elevated serum IgG4 levels. The mean serum IgG4/IgG ratio in patients with RA was 3.5%±2.8% (range, 0.2%~16.9%). Using Spearman's correlation coefficient analysis, a significant correlation was found between serum IgG4 levels and the Disease Activity Score-28 with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (r, 0.245; p=0.016). CONCLUSION There was an increased frequency of elevated serum IgG4 levels in patients with RA, and the levels were correlated with RA disease activity.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between osteoporosis and skin thicknessas shown by CT scanning. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty- six women with osteoporosis (mean age, 52) and 51 normalcontrols (mean age, 50) participated in the study. For a quantitative CT examinations, a CT scanner(Somatom Plus,Siemens) was used. Osteoporosis was defined as present when spinal bone mineral density was more than 2.5 standarddeviations below young normal density, as determined by quantitative CT. Patients with endocrinologic, malignantor collagen disease and undergoing antimetabolite or steroid therapy were excluded. The thickness of back skin wasretrospectively measured at the third lumbar vertebra level, as seen on CT films, using a conventional magnifier.For statistical analysis, Students' t test and Spearman's rank correlation were used. RESULTS: On the basis of CTscans, the mean thickness of back skin in the osteoporotic group(0.50+/-0.20 mm) was significantly less than innormal control subjects(0.80+/-0.23 mm) (p<0.001). Significant correlation was observed between skin thickness andbone mineral density(r=0.523, p<0.0001). Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and positive and negative predictivevalues were measured as 76, 78, 76, 88, 62% with a cut-off value of 0.6 and 84, 61, 77, 81, 66% with a cut-offvalue of 0.7, respectively. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated that the thickness of back skin, asmeasured by CT scanning, is predictive of osteoporosis.
Bone Density ; Collagen Diseases ; Female ; Humans ; Osteoporosis* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Skin* ; Spine ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed*

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare a negative pressure drain with a natural drain in order to determine whether a negative pressure drainage tube causes an increase in the drainage volume. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-two patients who underwent total thyroidectomy for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) were enrolled in the study between March 2010 and August 2010 at Gyeongsang National University Hospital. The patients were prospectively and randomly assigned to two groups, a negative pressure drainage group (n=32) and natural drainage group (n=30). Every 3 hours, the volume of drainage was checked in the two groups until the tube was removed. RESULTS: The amount of drainage during the first 24 hours postoperatively was 41.68+/-3.93 mL in the negative drain group and 25.3+/-2.68 mL in the natural drain group (p<0.001). After 24 additional hours, the negative drain group was 35.19+/-4.26 mL and natural drain groups 21.53+/-2.90 mL (p<0.001). However, the drainage at postoperative day 3 was not statistically different between the two groups. In addition, the vocal cord palsy and temporary and permanent hypocalcemia were not different between the two groups. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that a negative pressure drain may increase the amount of drainage during the first 24-48 hours postoperatively. Therefore, it is not necessary to place a closed suction drain when only a total thyroidectomy is done.
Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma/*surgery ; Drainage/*instrumentation/*methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Care/methods ; Postoperative Complications/surgery ; Postoperative Period ; Pressure ; Prospective Studies ; Reproducibility of Results ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; Thyroid Neoplasms/*surgery ; Thyroidectomy/*instrumentation/*methods ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the fistulographic features of malfunctioning axillary loop-configured arteriovenous grafts and the efficacy of percutaneous interventions in failed axillary loop-configured arteriovenous grafts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten patients with axillary loop-configured arteriovenous grafts were referred for evaluation of graft patency or upper arm swelling. Fistulography and percutaneous intervention, including thrombolysis, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stent placement, were performed. Statistical analysis of the procedure success rate and the primary and secondary patency rates was done. RESULTS: Four patients had graft related and subclavian venous stenosis, two patients had graft related stenosis and another four patients had subclavian venous stenosis only. Sixteen sessions of interventional procedures were performed in eight patients (average: 2 sessions / patient) until the end of follow-up. An interventional procedure was not done in two patients with central venous stenosis. The overall procedure success rate was 69% (11 of 16 sessions). The post-intervention primary and secondary patency rates were 50% and 63% at three months, 38% and 63% at six months and 25% and 63% at one year, respectively. CONCLUSION: Dysfunctional axillary loop-configured arteriovenous grafts almost always had subclavian venous and graft-related stenosis. Interventional treatments are helpful to overcome this and these treatments are expected to play a major role in restoring and maintaining the axillary loop-configured arteriovenous loop grafts.
Adult ; Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon/*methods ; Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical/*methods ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation/*methods ; Chronic Disease ; Constriction, Pathologic/therapy/ultrasonography ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Graft Occlusion, Vascular/*therapy/ultrasonography ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic/*complications/therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Renal Dialysis ; Subclavian Vein/ultrasonography ; Survival Analysis ; Treatment Outcome ; Vascular Patency