Abdominal pain usually originates from the abdomen, but the lack of evidence of any abdominal disease suggests the pain originate from the thorax or have metabolic and neurogenic causes. Especially, neurogenic abdominal pain is recurrent and sustained causalgic pain, regardless of diet and without abdominal distension or rigidity, may be accompanied by signs of neurologic dysfunction. We have experienced a very rare case of abdominal pain arising from the intramedullary cavernous hemangioma of spinal cord. We report this case with a review of the literature.
Abdomen ; Abdominal Pain* ; Diet ; Hemangioma, Cavernous ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Spinal Cord ; Thorax

Liver is generally known as an organ which is most commonly involved by the metastic tumors. According to the tendency of using fine needle aspiration in the diagnosis of hepatic tumors, the differentital diagnosis between hepatocellular carcinoma and metastatic carcinoma frequently has been a main issue in the poorly differentitated cases, especially to the pathologists of Korea, an endemic area of hepatocellular carcinoma. Until now the problem has been usually solved by the comparison of cytologic characteristics of their tumor cells but not by background cytologic features which rarely have been studied. We observed the background cytologic features helpful for the differential diagnosis through the analysis of 20 cases who had confirmed primary cancer and were diagnosed as metastatic carcinomas in the liver by fine needle aspiration cytology. Twenty cases included 9 adenocarcinomas, 7 spuamous cell carcinomas, 1 small cell carcinoma, 1 carcinoid, 1 adenoid cystic carcinoma, and 1 renal cell cacinoma. Analysis of background cytologic features revealed that 77% of adenocacinoma cases showed benign mesenchymal components and hepatocytes and spuamous cell carcinoma cases disclosed benign mesenchymal tissue (71%) and necrosis (57%). Remaining cases showed variable combinations of benign mesenchymal component, necrosis, hepatocytes, and bile duct epithelial cells. No case revealed atypical hepatocytic naked nuclei, a useful cytologic finding of hepatocellular carcinoma. In summary, the background cytologic features more commonly observed in metastatic carcinomas than in the hepatocellular carcinoma were benign mesenchymal components, hepatocytes, necrosis, and bile duct epithelium. The endothelial cells and hepatocytic naked nuclei, two relatively specific findings of hepatocellular carcinoma were not observed except for renal cell carcinoma. Above background cytologic features are thought to be helpful for the differential diagnosis between the hepatocellular carcinoma and various metastatic carcinomas in the poorly differentiated cases.
Adenocarcinoma ; Bile Ducts ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Carcinoid Tumor ; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; Carcinoma, Small Cell ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Endothelial Cells ; Epithelial Cells ; Epithelium ; Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome* ; Hepatocytes ; Korea ; Liver ; Necrosis ; Pneumococcal Infections* ; Ulnar Nerve

PURPOSE: To report a case with proptosis associated with orbital panniculitis. METHODS: A 34-old-year man with unilateral proptosis for 1 month presented with diffuse swelling and redness in the eyelid and conjunctiva. His systemic symptoms were high fever, headache, nausea, diarrhea, dizziness, weight loss, malaise and hepatosplenomegaly. He had subcutaneous nodules on the inguinal region, the pubis, and the upper abdomen. Ophthalmic examinations, orbit magnetic resonance imaging(MRI), and biopsy from orbital tissue were performed. RESULTS: The right eye revealed proptosis(22/14/102, Hertel's exophthalmometer), but other ocular findings including the fundus were normal. Diffuse infilterative lesions and definite proptosis were shown on orbit MRI. Biopsy specimen of orbital tissue revealed histiocytes containing nuclei and nuclear debris, mononuclear cells infiltration, and the characteristic 'bean-bag' cell i.e., macrophage exhibiting hemophagocytosis, which is histopathological characteristic of cytophagic histiocytic panniculitis. Proptosis, swelling and redness of the eyelid improved gradually following systemic corticosteroid therapy to control the disease. CONCLUSION: This report describes a rare finding of proptosis as the manifesting sign of orbital panniculitis.
Abdomen ; Biopsy ; Conjunctiva ; Diarrhea ; Dizziness ; Exophthalmos* ; Eyelids ; Fever ; Headache ; Histiocytes ; Macrophages ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Nausea ; Orbit* ; Panniculitis* ; Weight Loss

OBJECTIVES: Anticardiolipin antibody (ACA) and lupus anticoagulant (LA) are acquired antiphospholipid antibodies (APAs), which are regarded as important risk factors far vascular thrombosis and recurrent fetal loss. Although the clinical relevance of APAs in dialysis patients is uncertain, recent studies have suggested that APAs are involved in bioincompatibility and thrombogenic complications in hemadialysis (HD) patients. METHOD: We performed a cross sectional study of ACA and LA in 50 stable HD patients and their 68 vascular accesses (52 native arteriovenous fistulae and 16 synthetic arterovenous grafts), with the analysis of factors associated with the presence of APAs and the retrospective evaluation of vascular access occlusion (VAO). LA was assessed by platelet neutralization method whereas IgG-ACA was measured by a solid phase ELISA. Values higher than 23GPLU/ml (IgG phospholipid units) were considered to be positive for IgG-ACA and positive values for LA was more than 8 seconds in prolongation of the clotting time with human platelet lysate. Vascular access survival was assessed by Kaplan- Meier method, RESULTS: The mean age of the subject (M:F 21:29) was 46 years and the mean duration of hemodialysis was 49 months. The frequency of VAO in entire subjects was 0.45+/-0.98 episodes/patient year. The median value of IgG-ACA was 16.0 GPLU/ml with a distribution from 2.7 to 46.1GPLU/ ml. The median titer of I.A was 4.5 (3.1-45.6) seconds. Fourteen patients (28%) were found to have at least one episode of VAO. In spite of comparable clinical and biochemical data according to the presence of VAO, the titers of IgG-ACA (13.6+/-7.7 vs, 20.3+/-8.7GPLIJ/ml, P<0.05) and LA (4.5+/-2.9 vs. 11.7 +/-12.6sec, P<0.05) were significantly higher in VAO group. Six out of 50 patients(12%) had an increased titer of IgG-ACA and LA was found in 11 patients(22%). No patients were positive for ACA and LA simultaneously. There was no significant difference in sex, etiology of ESRD, diabetic status, the dosage of heparin during HD or the amount of erythropoietin administered according to the presence of APAs. We could not find any significant correlation between the titer of APAs and age, duration of dialysis, blood pressure, platelet count and biochemical parameters. In the patients with positive ACA, the frequency of VAO was 1.05+/-0.12 episodes/patient year, which was significantly higher than patients without ACA (0.33+/-0.17 episodes/ patient year, P<0.05). In the patients with the presence of LA(1.06+/-0.43 vs. 0.12+/-0.06 episodes/ patients year, P<0.01). The median vascular access survival time in IgG-ACA positive patients (32.7 months) was significantly decreased compared to 66.8 months in IgG-ACA negative group. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that the presence of APAs (ACA and/or LA) affects the event-free vascular access survival in HD patients. Therefore the evaluation of APAs status have to be included in the diagnostic strategies for the patients with recurrent VAO. Further studies are necessary to explore the pharmacologic intervention method to decrease APAs and prevent VAO in HD patients.
Antibodies, Anticardiolipin* ; Antibodies, Antiphospholipid ; Arteriovenous Fistula ; Blood Platelets ; Blood Pressure ; Dialysis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Erythropoietin ; Heparin ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor* ; Platelet Count ; Renal Dialysis* ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Thrombosis

No abstract available.
Hand*

Two cases of skull metastasis from thyroid carcinoma are presented. The one case shows multiple involvement inthe skull base with sphenoid sinus, frontal bone, and rib. The other case is solitary extensive involvement to theright parietal bone. The follicular caroinoma of the thyroid shows a strong tendency toward vascualr invasion and dissemination through blood stream to the lungs, bones, liver, brain, and other distant sites. The sternum, thevetebrae, and the pelvis are the most common sites in bone metastasis of thyroid carcinoma, followed by the femur,shoulder girdle, skull, and rib. Metastatic caroinoma to the skull base, including sphenoid sinus s extremelyrare. Authors experienced recently 2 cases of metastatic carcinoma of the thyroid to the skull and report withreview of literature.
Brain ; Frontal Bone ; Liver ; Lung ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Parietal Bone ; Pelvis ; Ribs ; Rivers ; Skull Base ; Skull ; Sphenoid Sinus ; Sternum ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Neoplasms

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the static (SFF) and kinetic frictional forces (KFF) of a computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing lingual bracket (CAD/CAM-LB) with those of conventional LB (Con-LB) and Con-LB with narrow bracket width (Con-LB-NBW) under 3 tooth displacement conditions. METHODS: The samples were divided into 9 groups according to combinations of 3 LB types (CAD/CAM-LB [Incognito], Con-LB [7th Generation, 7G], and Con-LB-NBW [STb]) with 3 displacement conditions (no displacement [control], maxillary right lateral incisor with 1-mm palatal displacement [MXLI-PD], and maxillary right canine with 1-mm gingival displacement [MXC-GD]; n = 6/group). While drawing a 0.016-inch copper or super-elastic nickel-titanium archwire with 0.5 mm/min for 5 minutes in a chamber maintained at 36.5℃, SFF and KFF were measured. The Kruskal-Wallis method with Bonferroni correction was performed. RESULTS: The Incognito group demonstrated the highest SFF, followed by the 7G and STb groups ([STb-control, STb-MXLI-PD, Stb-MXC-GD] < [7G-MXC-GD, 7G-MXLI-PD, 7G-control] < [Incognito-MXLI-PD, Incognito-control, Incognito-MXC-GD]; p < 0.001). However, there were no significant differences in SFF among the 3 displacement conditions within each bracket group. Within each displacement condition, the Incognito group demonstrated the highest KFF, followed by the 7G and STb groups ([STb-control, STb-MXLI-PD] < Stb-MXC-GD < 7G-MXLI-PD < [7G-control, 7G-MXC-GD] < [7G-MXC-GD, Incognito-MXLI-PD, Incognito-control] < [Incognito-control, Incognito-MXC-GD]; p < 0.001). MXC-GD exhibited higher KFFs than MXLI-PD in the same bracket group. CONCLUSIONS The slot design and ligation method of the CAD/CAM-LB system should be modified to reduce SFF and KFF during the leveling/alignment stage.

PURPOSE: Platelet-rich plasma(PRP) contains protein growth factors, which are actively secreted by platelets to promote wound healing. However, it is not clear whether the injection of PRP into the autologous fat grafts increases the survival rate and the degree of angiogenesis. METHODS: New Zealand White rabbit ears were injected fat with PRP, saline, insulin or isoproterenol (n=8/each group) for observation of the survival and degree of angiogenesis of the injected fat. The volume of the harvested fat and the degree of angiogenesis from dorsum of rabbit ears were evaluated 4, 8, and 12 weeks after the autologous fat graft. The degree of angiogenesis was measured with microvascular density (MVD) counts. RESULTS: The volume of harvested fat decreased in a time-dependent manner after autologous fat grafts, but the decrease rate in volume of harvested fat was slower in PRP-injected group compared to that of other control groups. The difference in the volume of the harvested fat between PRP-injected group and other control groups became significant from 4 weeks after the autologous fat graft, and was maintained up to 12 weeks. However, there was no significant difference between PRP-injected group and insulin-injected group 8 and 12 weeks after the autologous fat graft. On the contrary, MVD counts increased in a time-dependent manner after autologous fat grafts. The MVD counts were significantly higher in PRP-and insulin-injected groups than in other control groups from 4 weeks after the autologous fat graft, and these differences were maintained up to 12 weeks. There was no correlation between mean platelet numbers and the volume of harvested fat. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrates that PRP-injection into autologous fat grafts increases the survival rate and the degree of angiogenesis. Thus, PRP injection with autologous fat grafts would be a promising tool for maintaining the volume of the grafted fat.
Ear ; Insulin ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Isoproterenol ; New Zealand ; Platelet Count ; Platelet-Rich Plasma ; Survival Rate ; Transplants* ; Wound Healing

PURPOSE: Platelet-rich plasma(PRP) contains protein growth factors, which are actively secreted by platelets to promote wound healing. However, it is not clear whether the injection of PRP into the autologous fat grafts increases the survival rate and the degree of angiogenesis. METHODS: New Zealand White rabbit ears were injected fat with PRP, saline, insulin or isoproterenol (n=8/each group) for observation of the survival and degree of angiogenesis of the injected fat. The volume of the harvested fat and the degree of angiogenesis from dorsum of rabbit ears were evaluated 4, 8, and 12 weeks after the autologous fat graft. The degree of angiogenesis was measured with microvascular density (MVD) counts. RESULTS: The volume of harvested fat decreased in a time-dependent manner after autologous fat grafts, but the decrease rate in volume of harvested fat was slower in PRP-injected group compared to that of other control groups. The difference in the volume of the harvested fat between PRP-injected group and other control groups became significant from 4 weeks after the autologous fat graft, and was maintained up to 12 weeks. However, there was no significant difference between PRP-injected group and insulin-injected group 8 and 12 weeks after the autologous fat graft. On the contrary, MVD counts increased in a time-dependent manner after autologous fat grafts. The MVD counts were significantly higher in PRP-and insulin-injected groups than in other control groups from 4 weeks after the autologous fat graft, and these differences were maintained up to 12 weeks. There was no correlation between mean platelet numbers and the volume of harvested fat. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrates that PRP-injection into autologous fat grafts increases the survival rate and the degree of angiogenesis. Thus, PRP injection with autologous fat grafts would be a promising tool for maintaining the volume of the grafted fat.
Ear ; Insulin ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Isoproterenol ; New Zealand ; Platelet Count ; Platelet-Rich Plasma ; Survival Rate ; Transplants* ; Wound Healing

BACKGROUND: The SF-6D, derived from the SF-36, is a preference-based instrument measuring health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Using this tool, we measured the HRQOL of persons disabled by stroke dwelling in Gyeongju city and identified factors affecting the HRQOL. METHODS: As of March 2008, 991 persons who had had a stroke and were aged 50 and over were identified on the Gyeongju city disabled registry. Interviewers specifically trained for this face-to-face survey gathered pertinent information including general and clinical characteristics from June to October 2008. In addition, the health status was measured using the Modified Rankin Scale, the Barthel ADL index, and the SF-36. The SF-6D index was derived from the SF-36. We analyzed the known-group construct validity and convergent validity. Finally, we performed multiple regression analyses to identify factors affecting the HRQOL. RESULTS: Of the 991 potential subjects, 498 persons participated in the interviews (response rate: 50.3%). The SF-6D indices for females and those aged 70 and over were lower than indices for males and those aged 60 and less. Correlation coefficients between the Modified Rankin Scale, the Barthel index, and the SF-6D index were relatively high (-0.533 and 0.555, respectively) and statistically significant (P<0.001). Multiple regression analyses showed that sex, age, smoking, alcohol use, comorbidity, the Modified Rankin Scale, and the Barthel index had an effect on the SF-6D index of persons with stroke, and the Barthel index was the most important factor. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that the SF-6D can be a valid tool for evaluating health states of persons disabled by stroke, and functional limitation was the main factor affecting the HRQOL.
Activities of Daily Living ; Aged ; Comorbidity ; Disabled Persons ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Quality of Life ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Stroke ; Value of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires