Intraspinal neurenteric cysts are rare congenital lesions that results from abnormal separation of germ layers in the third week of embryonic development, which may cause spinal compression. Although, the diagnosis of neurenteric cyst was very difficult prior to operation, MRI has proven to be a useful imaging modality in detection, localization and characterization of intraspinal neurenteric cysts. We recently experienced intraspinal neurenteric cyst in two patients who presented with progerssive quadriparesis. Myelography, CT myelography and MRI were taken and complete excision was performed. The MRI findings are presented and the literature is reviewed.
Diagnosis ; Embryonic Development ; Female ; Germ Layers ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Myelography ; Neural Tube Defects* ; Pregnancy ; Quadriplegia

PURPOSE: A common finding of carotid artery on magnetic resonance angiograms(MRAs) is a signal dropout along the posterior wall of carotid bulb due to reverse flow. The purpose of this study is to evaluate variable flow patterns on bifurcated carotid arterial phantoms using steady-state flow. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We designed phantoms of a bifurcated carotid artery with acrylic materials. Flow patterns were evaluated with axial and coronal imaging of MRA(2D-TOF, 3D-TOF), color Doppler imaging, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) within the phantoms constructed of an automated closed-type circulatory system filled with 4% sugar solution. These findings were compared with findings obtained from normal volunteers. RESULTS: Axial 3D-TOF MRA images exhibited closer resemblance to the contour of the inner wall of phantoms when compared to coronal 2D-TOF MRA imaging. However, 2D-TOF MRA showed good contrast difference of signal intensities between forward flow area and reverse flow area. Dark zones with reduced signal intensities due to reversed flow were separated from the outer wall of the internal and external carotid arteries by a thin layer of forward flow along the wall on the source slice image of MRA. The general hemodynamics of the phantoms on MRA were identical to hemodynamics on color Doppler imaging and CFD. The results obtained with the phantoms matched the findings on normal volunteers. CONCLUSION: Although representations of bifurcated carotid arterial phantoms on axial 3D-TOF MRA were excellent if ideally desinged, the zone of reversed flow could be a significant factor in creating distorted image when the zone of reversed flow contacted directly with curved or deformed arterial wall.
Carotid Arteries ; Carotid Artery, External ; Healthy Volunteers ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hydrodynamics ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography* ; Patient Dropouts

No abstract available.
Rupture* ; Scrotum* ; Ultrasonography*

No abstract available.
Seizures*

In order to determine the value of CT in the diagnosis of choledocholithiasis, the authors retrospectivelystudied 33 cases of choledocholithiasis proven by surgery from January 1983 to June 1985. Among them, 15 caseswere examined by both CT and ultrasonography. The results were as follows: 1. There were 12 men and 21 women withmean age of 57 years. 2. CT correctly diagnosed choledocholithiasis in 29(88%) of total 33 cases. There were 4false negative diagnoses and there were no false positive. 3. In 15 cases which were examined by both CT andultrasonography, 13(86%) cases were correctly diagnosed by CTand 7(46%) by utrasonography. 4. The majority(88%) ofcholedocholithiasis were demonstrated as calcific density and 4 cases(12%) were nearly isodense to pancreas. 5.Most cases were shown as homogenous density and 5 cases(16%) as ringlike structure with low density center andhigh density periphery. 6. Additional findings, such as intrahepatic and/or GB stones, pericholangitic abscess, GBempyema, ascites, and liver cirrhosis were also identified by CT. 7. CT is effective for noninvasive and accuratedetection of choledocolithiasis. So invasive cholangiography, such as E.R.C.P or P.T.C can be reserved in manycases of choledocholithiasis.
Abscess ; Ascites ; Cholangiography ; Choledocholithiasis ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Male ; Pancreas ; Ultrasonography

The purpose of this study was to examine the associations of head posture, the position of the tongue or the hyoid bone to craniofacial structure. Cephalograms taken in Natural head position(NHP) of 90 dental students (50 in male, 40 in female, 20 to 30 years in age) were traced and measured using the extracranial true horizontal and vertical lines. The obtained results were as follows; 1. There was no sex difference in head posture, but the hyoid bone was placed anteroinferiorly in male more than in female and anteroinferior inclination of the hyoid bone showed greatly in male. 2. The more inclined was the cervical column, the less prognathic was the face in natural head posture, and the larger cervical curvature, the more vertical pattern of the face. 3. The less small showed raniocervical angulation, the more anteriorly placed was the hyoid bone to the cranial base, and there was no significantly association between craniocervical angulation and the vertical position of the hyoid bone. 4. The more prognathic was the mandible, the more anteriorly placed was the hyoid bone, and there was slightly association between the crap ofacial morphology and the vertical position of the hyoid bone.
Female ; Head ; Humans ; Hyoid Bone* ; Male ; Mandible ; Posture* ; Sex Characteristics ; Skull Base ; Students, Dental ; Tongue*

Induced activation of the gamma-aminobutyric acidA (GABA(A)) receptor in the retina of goldfish caused the fish to rotate in the opposite direction to that of the spinning pattern during an optomotor response (OMR) measurement. Muscimol, a GABA(A) receptor agonist, modified OMR in a concentration-dependent manner. The GABA(B) receptor agonist baclofen and GABA(C) receptor agonist CACA did not affect OMR. The observed modifications in OMR included decreased anterograde rotation (0.01~0.03 micrometer), coexistence of retrograde rotation and decreased anterograde rotation (0.1~30 micrometer) and only retrograde rotation (100 micrometer~1 mM). In contrast, the GABA(A) receptor antagonist bicuculline blocked muscimolinduced retrograde rotation. Based on these results, we inferred that the coding inducing retrograde movement of the goldfish retina is essentially associated with the GABA(A) receptor-related visual pathway. Furthermore, from our novel approach using observations of goldfish behavior the induced discrete snapshot duration was approximately 573 ms when the fish were under the influence of muscimol.
Baclofen ; Bicuculline ; Clinical Coding ; Cytarabine ; Goldfish ; Injections, Intraocular ; Muscimol ; Receptors, GABA ; Receptors, GABA-A ; Retina ; Visual Pathways

The appearance of a tumor in the chest wall is rare compared to that in any other part of the body. It can be classified into benign and malignant types and can be located in the rib, clavicle, sternum, cartilage and soft tissues. Tumors that are metastatic are commonly located in the lung, breast, bone and pleura. But, the soft tissue mass of anterior chest wall is rarely metastasized from a distant organ that is not confined to the thoracic cavity. This and thus has rarely been described. A 68-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with a chief complaint of resting dyspnea. A huge non-tender mass of about 10*15 cm in size was visible on his left lower anterior chest wall. We pathologically confirmed that the mass was a metastatic renal cell carcinoma of clear cell type by incision biopsy. Through an incision biopsy, the mass was pathologically confirmed as a metastatic renal cell carcinoma of the clear cell type.
Aged ; Biopsy ; Breast ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Cartilage ; Clavicle ; Dyspnea ; Humans ; Lung ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Pleura ; Ribs ; Sternum ; Thoracic Cavity ; Thoracic Wall* ; Thorax*

Spinal arachnoid cysts are relatively uncommon lesions that may be either intradural or extradural, while intradural spinal arachnoid cysts are even less common. The cysts are filled with clear, and colorless fluid nearly identical to cerebrospinal fluid. The origin of these cysts remains unclear although congenital, traumatic, and inflammatory causes have been postulated. These cysts are usually asymptomatic but may produce symptoms by compressing the spinal cord or nerve roots suddenly or progressively. The treatment of choice is surgical excision or fenestration, which is indicated when there are features of cord compression. We report a case of a thoracic spinal intradural arachnoid cyst in 13-year-old girl with chest pain.
Adolescent ; Arachnoid Cysts ; Arachnoid* ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Chest Pain* ; Female ; Humans ; Spinal Cord ; Thorax*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of caffeine on balance control of hemiparetic stroke patients, we investigated the difference in postural stability before and after drinking coffee by observing changes in stability index (SI) from posturography. METHODS: Thirty patients with history of stroke and 15 age-matched healthy subjects participated in this study. Effect of group factor (of the control and stroke groups) and treatment factor (pre- and post-drinking of coffee) on SI were tested in three conditions: with eyes opened, with eyes closed, and with a pillow support. The effects of these factors on visual deprivation and somatosensory change of subjects were also tested. RESULTS: Under all conditions, SI was higher in the stroke group than in the control group. Under eyes-open condition, the treatment factor was not statistically significant. Under eyes-closed condition, the interaction between group and treatment factor was statistically significant. After the subjects drank coffee, SI in the control group was increased. However, SI in the stroke group was decreased. Under pillow-supported condition, the interaction between group and treatment factor appeared marginally significant. For visual deprivation effect, the interaction between treatment and group factor was statistically significant. After caffeine consumption, the visual deprivation effect was increased in control group but decreased in the stroke group. For somatosensory change effect, the interaction between group and treatment factor was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Postural stability of hemiparetic stroke patients related to somatosensory information was improved after intake of usual dose of caffeine.
Caffeine* ; Coffee ; Drinking ; Humans ; Stroke*