We describe a 8-year-old girl with erythrokeratodermia varibilis (EKV). This diagnosis was supported by erythematous, configurate patches over the entire body. Their size, shape and location varyed with enviromental factors and emotional state. In addition, well defined brownish, hyperkeratotic plaques were scattered over the trunk and extremities. Also, this patient had alopecia universalis, which is not typical of EKV. Etretinate therapy resulted in an almost complete clinical clearing of the plaques; however, her alopecia universalis and erythematous lesions were not affected.
Acitretin ; Alopecia* ; Child ; Diagnosis ; Erythrokeratodermia Variabilis* ; Etretinate ; Extremities ; Female ; Humans

We report herein a. case of angio-Behqets syndrome, arterial occlusion type in a 31 year-old male. He had a history of scrotal ulceration, frequent oral ulceration and ocular pain with decreased visual acuity. About 8 months ago, moderately dull pain developed on the volar aspect of left index finger. Subsequently, a bean sized bluish patch developed on the previous painful area and on the ipsilateral thumb tip. Subungual splinter hemorrhages developed on the distal portions of left thumb and index finger nails at the same time. The result of saline puncture test showed the positive reaction in both intradermal and subeutaneous injections. The hrachial angiography showed an obliteration of digital artery at the second proxirnal phalanx of ulnar side.
Adult ; Angiography ; Arteries ; Behcet Syndrome* ; Fingers ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Male ; Oral Ulcer ; Punctures ; Thumb ; Ulcer ; Visual Acuity

BACKGROUND: renal artery stenosis (RAS) is a major cause of renovascular hypertension and renal function due to ischemic atrophy of kidney. There are several methods to treat the RAS, including are surgery, percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty, and medical treatment. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the usefulness, safety, and efficacy of percutaneous transluminal stent deployment in RAS. METHOD: From January 1995 to July 1996, 17 patients underwent renal stent implantation due to renal artery stenosis (11 male, 6 female). the mean age was 49 years old, one patient had both renal artery stenosis and total lesions were 18. The causes of renal artery stenosis were atherosclerosis in 12, fibromuscular dysplasia in 2, Takayasu's disease in 2, and autoimmune disease (Bechet's) in one case. Renal artery stenting was performed via femoral artery in 12 lesions and brachial artery in 6 lesions. Follow up was performed by renogram, renal angiogram, and clinical examination. RESULT: the degree of renal artery stenosis was 83% (70-95%). the lesion sites were 12 ostial and 6 non-ostial lesions. The used renal stents were Palmaz-biliary stent in 17 lesions and Micro-2 stent in one lesions. All stents were implanted successfully and there was no residual stenosis in all patients except one case showed 20% residual stenosis due to huge renal artery size. The transstenotic pressure gradients after renal artery stenting was decreased markedly from 74mmHg to 2mmHg. There no serious complications such as a death, emergency surgery, or nephrectomy. There were two minor complications which were one case of pyelonephritis and one case of inguinal hematoma. After stenting, blood pressure was decreased partially in 13 patients and completely in 2 cases. CONCLUSION: Renal artery stenting appears to be safe and feasible and the alternative treatment modality to surgery for renal artery stenosis.
Angioplasty ; Atherosclerosis ; Atrophy ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Blood Pressure ; Brachial Artery ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Emergencies ; Femoral Artery ; Fibromuscular Dysplasia ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Hypertension, Renovascular ; Kidney ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nephrectomy ; Pyelonephritis ; Renal Artery Obstruction* ; Renal Artery* ; Stents*

The crossing laminar screw fixation might be the most recently developed approach among various fixation techniques for C2. The new construct has stability comparable to transarticular or transpedicular screw fixation without risk of vertebral artery injury. Quantitative anatomical studies about C2 vertebra suggest significant variation in the thickness of C2 lamina as well as cross sectional area of junction of lamina and spinous process. We present an elderly patient who underwent an occipito-cervical stabilization incorporating crossed C2 laminar screw fixation. We preoperatively recognized that she had low profiles of C2 lamina, and thus made a modification of trajectory for the inferiorly crossing screw. We introduce a simple modification of crossing C2 laminar screw technique to improve stability in patients with low laminar profiles.
Aged ; Humans ; Spine ; Vertebral Artery

No abstract available.
Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute* ; Sarcoma, Myeloid*

We report two cases of murine typhus diagnosed by indirect immunofluorescent test. The patients showed cardinal symptoms and signs such as fever and chill, general myalgia, intractable headache and typical rash. Laboratory values and histopathologic findings were compatible with murine typhus. The oral administration of doxycycline improved dramatically the clinical manifestations of the two CCLSPS.
Administration, Oral ; Doxycycline ; Exanthema ; Fever ; Headache Disorders ; Humans ; Myalgia ; Typhus, Endemic Flea-Borne*

We report a case of staphylococcal septicemia with skin lesions characteristic of septic emboli in a 55-year-old man. Examination of the skin revealed small pustules surrounded by wide ring of erythema on the trunk and extremities. Histopathologic examination of a pustule showed subcorneal pustule and Gram positive septic emboli within blood vessels. There were neutrophilic infiltration and numerous extravasated erythrocytes within dermis. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated on the bacterial culture of blood and small pustules, He was treated with cloxacillin, but died due to respiratory distress syndrome.
Blood Vessels ; Cloxacillin ; Dermis ; Erythema ; Erythrocytes ; Extremities ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neutrophils ; Sepsis* ; Skin* ; Staphylococcus aureus

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor(IMT) or inflammatory pseudotumor is a rare, solid tumor that most often affects children. This tumor is characterized by a spindle cell proliferation admixed with a variety of inflammatory cells. Although it has disputed nosology, a distinctive fibroinflammatory and even pseudosarcomatous appearance have been well appreciated. Herein, we report a case of IMT in the posterior mediastinum in a 19-year-old girl with clinical findings. The immunohistochemical and ultrastructural studies on the tumor cells are reported, and their distinctive characteristics are discussed in details.
Cell Proliferation ; Child ; Female ; Granuloma, Plasma Cell ; Humans ; Mediastinum* ; Myofibroblasts* ; Young Adult

No abstract available.
Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Vertebroplasty*

No abstract available.
Female ; Nifedipine* ; Obstetric Labor, Premature* ; Pregnancy ; Ritodrine*