No abstract available.

Sellar arachnoid cysts are rare; an infected arachnoid cyst is extremely rare as only one case has been reported to date in the literature. Here, we report a patient with an infected or inflamed sellar arachnoid cyst that was successfully treated with transsphenoidal surgery (TSA). A 53-year-old female with a history of chronic sinusitis developed a headache 5 months ago, and one month before admission polyuria, polydipsia, and abnormal vaginal bleeding occurred. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a sellar cystic mass with a thickened pituitary stalk. Preoperative hormonal study revealed normal pituitary hormone levels except for a moderate elevation of prolactin. She was diagnosed with diabetes insipidus of the central nervous system origin based on a water-deprivation test. TSA was performed under an impression of symptomatic Rathke's cleft cyst according to the MRI findings. Intraoperative findings showed confirmation of turbid intracystic contents, but micro-organisms were unidentified on microbial culture. Pathology of the cyst wall revealed inflamed meningoepithelial lining cells compatible with an arachnoid cyst.
Arachnoid Cysts ; Arachnoid* ; Central Nervous System ; Diabetes Insipidus ; Female ; Headache ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Pathology ; Pituitary Gland ; Polydipsia ; Polyuria ; Prolactin ; Sinusitis ; Uterine Hemorrhage

This study was performed to examine the combined effects of L-carnitine and isoflavone supplementation on weight reduction and body fat distribution in overweight women. Overweight/obese women (body mass index > 23 kg/m2) who were not diagnosed any type of diseases were included in this study and sixty subjects (41.1 +/- 1.5 years, 25.9 +/- 0.3 kg/m2) were randomly assigned to a placebo (n = 30) or a supplement group (n = 30, L-carnitine 300 mg + isoflavone 40 mg/day). We measured anthropometric parameters, abdominal fat distribution by computerizd tomography and blood components before and after the 12 week intervention period. After the 12 weeks of supplementation, subjects in L-carnitine and isoflavone supplement group showed a significant reduction of body weight (p < 0.001), body fat % (p < 0.05), and waist to hip ratio (p < 0.01) whereas placebo group did not show any changes. In a CT-scanned results, total fat area at L4 level was significantly reduced by 8.1% (p < 0.01) with the reduction of visceral fat area (-11.1%, p < 0.001) and subcutaneous fat area (-7.0%, p < 0.05) in the supplement group. The supplementation of L-carnitine and isoflavone showed the significant improvement of HDL-C (p < 0.01) and apoB (p < 0.05) concentrations, however, change values in those markers were not significant compared with those of the placebo group. In addition, a significant increase of adiponectin level (p < 0.001) was observed in the supplement group after the intervention. The result of present study demonstrated that supplementation of 300 mg L-carnitine and 40 mg isoflavone per day for 12 weeks can give beneficial effects on weight reduction and visceral fat accumulation. These potential antiobesity supplement can produce more favorable effects when combined with lifestyle modification.
Abdominal Fat ; Adiponectin ; Adipose Tissue ; Apolipoproteins B ; Body Fat Distribution ; Body Weight ; Carnitine* ; Female ; Humans ; Intra-Abdominal Fat* ; Life Style ; Obesity ; Overweight* ; Subcutaneous Fat ; Waist-Hip Ratio ; Weight Loss*

Meningiomas are the most common benign intracranial tumors and make up 13-26% of all primary intracranial tumors. Clinical presentation of hemorrhage is rare in these tumors occurring in approximately 1.3% of cases and subdural hemorrhages are even more uncommon. The mechanism of hemorrhage is still unclear and may vary according to histologic type, location and the type of hemorrhage. We experienced a case of 61-year-old woman with a benign meningioma presenting as a subdural hemorrhage. She developed sudden onset of headache right after aggressively coughing. Her headache persisted for a week before she was admitted to the emergency room of National Cancer Center. She had a past medical history of ovarian cancer which had been treated and was allegedly recurrence-free for 2 years. At the time of admission, a headache was the only symptom and imaging studies showed a right frontal hemorrhagic subdural mass lesion accompanying an ipsilateral subdural hematoma. Elective surgery was performed and intraoperative findings revealed the hallmark characteristics of a meningioma with mixed stage diffuse subdural hematoma. Permanent pathology result determined it was a conventional meningioma (World Health Organization grade I). From this case, we discuss the rare presentation of subdural hemorrhage in meningioma and related points by reviewing the literature of previous studies.
Cough ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Female ; Headache ; Hematoma, Subdural* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Meningioma* ; Middle Aged ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Pathology ; World Health Organization

BACKGROUND: If an inhalation agent has an odor that causes airway irritation and cardiovascular instability, it is important that inhalation induction is performed rapidly and smoothly. So, we studied characteristics of inhalational induction in healthy adults using high inspired concentrations of sevoflurane. METHODS: Fifty-three patients, 19 to 59 years old, received 6 vol% sevoflurane in 66 vol%N2O/28 vol%O2 by face mask for five minutes until endotracheal intubation. Participants exhaled to residual volume and took vital capacity breaths of the gas mixture, thereafter ventilation was manually assisted. Subsequently we recorded the number of breaths before apnea, time to loss of consciousness, the loss of lid-lash reflex, eyeball deviation, the time until BIS reduced to 45, degree of jaw relaxation, and vital signs. After endotracheal intubation without muscle relaxant, ease of intubation and vital signs were observed. RESULTS: Apnea developed after an average three time vital capacity breaths, time to unconciousness was less than one minute. The mean times to loss of lid-lash reflex was 69.0 +/- 8.2 seconds, to eyeball deviation 85.7 +/- 22.2 seconds, and to pupil convergenece 239.5 +/- 31.4 seconds. There was no case of increased secretion or laryngospasm during mask ventilation. The BIS score was significantly lowered after inhalational induction, and the time to a BIS < 45 was 132.3 +/- 19.7 seconds. Mean blood pressures before and after intubation were 75.0 mmHg, and 104.6 mmHg, and heart rates before and after intubation were 77.0 beats/min and 109.8 beats/min, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The speed of the induction of anesthesia to loss of lid lash reflex in healthy adults approaches that of intravenous induction techniques. No untoward airway responses were noted using the vital capacity breath technique. Healthy adults were successfully intubated with sevoflurane without muscle relaxant.
Adult* ; Anesthesia ; Apnea ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Intubation ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Jaw ; Laryngismus ; Masks ; Middle Aged ; Odors ; Pupil ; Reflex ; Relaxation ; Residual Volume ; Unconsciousness ; Ventilation ; Vital Capacity ; Vital Signs

BACKGROUND: Fatigue is one of the common chief complaints in primary care setting. It causes disability in daily activity and lowers quality of life. This study was intended to investigate the information about fatigue useful in outpatient clinic. METHODS: The data was obtained from the Korean Health and Nutrition Survey 2001. Logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the association between self- reported fatigue and several factors including sociodemographic factors, life style factors, stress, depression, and worry about health. RESULTS: The prevalence of fatigue was low in unmarried status, more significantly in men when compared with those in married status. No significant association was found between fatigue and occupation, education level, monthly income, smoking, and alcohol consumption. The risk of fatigue in the exercising group more than 4 times per week was significantly low in women. The risk of fatigue in the group of sleeping duration less than 5 hours was significantly higher than the group of sleeping more than 9 hours. Compared with unemployed state, the daily working duration of more than 9 hours increased the risk for fatigue significantly. Stress perception, sadness or depression during the past 1 year and worry about health were strongly associated with fatigue. CONCLUSION: When evaluating and managing patients with fatigue, we should search for information about the patients' lifestyle such as exercise, daily work hours, sleeping as well as stress perception and depressive mood. Especially among the lifestyle, inquiring about regular exercise and promoting it may be important in order to manage patients with fatigue.
Alcohol Drinking ; Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Depression ; Education ; Fatigue* ; Female ; Humans ; Life Style ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Nutrition Surveys* ; Occupations ; Prevalence ; Primary Health Care ; Quality of Life ; Single Person ; Smoke ; Smoking

To evaluate the cardiovascular effect of lidocaine and serum electrolytes during inhalational or intravenous anesthesia, thirty-two healthy patients were randomly divided into three groups and measured systolic pressure, diastolic pressure, mean pressure, heart rate and serum K+ and Na+ level were measured at 30 sec, l, 3, 6, 12 minutes after intravenous injection of lidocaine(1.5 mg/kg) during halothane-N2O-O2 or enflurane-N2O-O2 or diazepam-N2O-O2 anesthesia. In all 3 groups, the values of hemodynamic and serum electrolytes were not changed by 2% lidocaine. These results indicate that intravenous injection of lidocaine(1.5 mg/kg) to prevent undesirable reflexes and to prevent intracranial hypertension is a safe method without depression of hemodynamics.
Anesthesia* ; Anesthesia, Intravenous ; Anesthetics ; Anesthetics, Local ; Blood Pressure ; Depression ; Diazepam* ; Electrolytes ; Enflurane* ; Halothane* ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Injections, Intravenous ; Intracranial Hypertension ; Lidocaine* ; Reflex

INTRODUCTION: During an acute myocardial ischemia, maintenance of overall ventricular function may depend on remote nonischemic myocardium. Whereas fentanyl has minimal hemodynamic effects, volatile anesthetics, including halothane and isoflurane cause negative inotropic and lusitropic effects in normal myocardium. This investigation examined the effects of volatile anesthetics in comparision with fentanyl on compensatory responses to brief left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) occlusion in remote normal myocardium (left circumflex coronary artery (LCX) supply) in an open-chest canine model. METHODS: Thirty-six mongrel dogs, acutely instrumented for measurement of pressure (left ventricle (LV) and aorta), flows (pulmonary trunk and LCX) and dimensions in ischemic and non-ischemic myocardium, were subjected to a 10-min LAD occlusion during fentanyl (n=10), halothane (n=13), or isoflurane (n=13) anesthesia. Regional contractile function was assessed using percent systolic shortening (%SS) and the preload recruitable stroke work slope (Mw). Diastolic function was evaluated using a regional time constant for intramyocardial pressure decline of LV (IMPtau), peak lengthening rate (dL/dtmax) and a regional chamber stiffness constant (Kp). RESULTS: Acute LAD occlusion caused immediate deterioration of anterior wall function similarly without changes in cardiac index, mean arterial pressure and dP/dtmax in all three groups. LV end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP), LVPtau, and heart rate increased and dP/dtmin decreased to the same extent with regional myocardial ischemia in all groups. During fentanyl anesthesia, acute myocardial ischemia was associated with an increase in %SS (26%) and Mw (48%) in LCX area without changes in IMPtau and dL/dtmax. With halothane or isoflurane anesthesia, %SS, Mw and IMPtau showed similar changes as those in fentanyl in response to LAD occlusion. However, dL/dtmax was increased (47 and 45% in the halothane and isoflurane groups, respectively) and Kp was increased (34 and 33% in the halothane and isoflurane groups, respectively) less compared to fentanyl (78%). Enhanced function in LCX zone was associated with a comparable increase (21~28% from baseline) in LCX flow in all groups. CONCLUSION: Enhanced regional contractility following acute coronary occlusion in nonischemic myocardium during fentanyl anesthesia is well-preserved with volatile anesthetics in an open-chest canine model. In addition, diastolic functions are also enhanced rather than depressed during anesthesia with volatile anesthetics. Halothane and isoflurane, however, do not differ in the compensatory responses to acute regional ischemia.
Anesthesia ; Anesthetics ; Animals ; Arterial Pressure ; Coronary Occlusion ; Coronary Vessels ; Dogs* ; Fentanyl ; Halothane ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Ischemia ; Isoflurane ; Myocardial Ischemia* ; Myocardium* ; Stroke ; Ventricular Function

BACKGROUND: Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are increasingly treated by radiologists using various embolic materials. Because of pain and significant hemodynamic changes that may be associated with this treatment, anesthesiologists are frequently asked to provide anesthesia and supportive care. We evaluated the hemodynamic changes that occurred after absolute alcohol embolization. METHODS: Fourteen patients between 15 and 50 years of age who had arteriovenous malformation were included in this study. 2 to 4 ml of alcohol was injected each time. The hemodynamic parameters were measured before alcohol injection (control) and after 1st to 10th alcohol injection. RESULTS: Blood pressure, heart rate, and cardiac output were significantly increased after 1st to 10th alcohol injection compared with control value. Central venous pressure, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and systemic vascular resistance were not significantly changed. But pulmonary vascular resistance was significantly increased after 9th and 10th alcohol injection. Systolic pulmonary artery pressure was significantly increased after 4th, 8th, 9th and 10th alcohol injection. CONCLUSIONS: Bolus injection of absolute ethyl alcohol induces short-term significant increases in blood pressure, heart rate and cardiac output probably by severe pain and sympathetic activation that appear to be centrally mediated. The underlying mechanism of cardiovascular event and other systemic effects of intravascular ethanol in this setting need further study.
Anesthesia ; Arteriovenous Malformations* ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiac Output ; Central Venous Pressure ; Ethanol ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Pulmonary Artery ; Pulmonary Wedge Pressure ; Sclerotherapy* ; Vascular Resistance

Treatment of Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis (LMC) from solid cancers has not advanced noticeably since the introduction of intra-cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) chemotherapy in the 1970's. The marginal survival benefit and difficulty of intrathecal chemotherapy injection has hindered its wide spread use. Even after the introduction of intraventricular chemotherapy with Ommaya reservoir, frequent development of CSF flow disturbance, manifested as increased intracranial pressure (ICP), made injected drug to be distributed unevenly and thus, the therapy became ineffective. Systemic chemotherapy for LMC has been limited as effective CSF concentration can hardly be achieved except high dose methotrexate (MTX) intravenous administration. However, the introduction of small molecular weight target inhibitors for primary cancer treatment has changed the old concept of 'blood-brain barrier' as the ultimate barrier to systemically administered drugs. Conventional oral administration achieves an effective concentration at the nanomolar level. Furthermore, many studies report that a combined treatment of target inhibitor and intra-CSF chemotherapy significantly prolongs patient survival. Ventriculolumbar perfusion (VLP) chemotherapy has sought to increase drug delivery to the subarachnoid CSF space even in patients with disturbed CSF flow. Recently authors performed phase 1 and 2 clinical trial of VLP chemotherapy with MTX, and 3/4th of patients with increased ICP got controlled ICP and the survival was prolonged. Further trials are required with newly available drugs for CSF chemotherapy. Additionally, new LMC biologic/pharmacodynamic markers for early diagnosis and monitoring of the treatment response are to be identified with the help of advanced molecular biology techniques.
Administration, Intravenous ; Administration, Oral ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Drug Therapy ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Intracranial Pressure ; Meningeal Carcinomatosis* ; Methotrexate ; Molecular Biology ; Molecular Weight ; Perfusion