No abstract available.
Proteinuria*

No abstract available.
Brain Stem* ; Glioma*

No abstract available.
Chordoma*

No abstract available.
Neurilemmoma*

Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) is an uncommon neurodegenerative syndrome characterized by a progressive deterioration of language, while nonverbal cognitive and other neurological functions of PPA are relatively preserved for a longer period. However, it still remains unclear whether PPA represents a distinct diagnostic entity or a precursor of global dementia syndrome. We report PPA cases that presented with a slowly progressive language dysfunction without disturbing other daily living activities for several years. Repeated neuropsychological tests revealed progres-sive deterioration of executive aspects of language and mild memory dysfunction, although their receptive language and nonverbal cognitive functions were relatively preserved. The imaging of the brain showed prominent atrophic changes in the left perisylvian and the adjacent temporal region. In considering the mild cognitive decline accompanied by language deterioration, we conclude that in these cases it is clinically heterogenous and may be parts of a spectrum of focal forms of non-Alzeimer type dementia.
Activities of Daily Living ; Aphasia, Primary Progressive* ; Brain ; Dementia ; Memory ; Neuropsychological Tests

To validate the diagnostic significance of red cell indices in non-anemic iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia, complete blood count, serum iron, total iron binding capacity, and serum ferritin were measured in 208 middle school girls between 13 and 15 years of age. We used Reciever Operatin Characteristic (ROC) curve to compare the diagnostic significances of various red cell indices (MCV, MCH, MCHC, RDW). We also established the ideal cutoff values of red cell indices for the diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia. The results were as follows: 1) The prevalence of iron deficiency anemia and non-anemic iron deficiency were 4.8% and 11.1% respectively. 2) For the diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia, MCV had the highest diagnostic capacity, and MCH was the secondly useful one. 3) For the diagnosis of non-anemic iron deficiency. MCV had the highest diagnostic capacity, but the sensitivity and specificity of the 4 red cell indices(MCV, MCH, MCHC, RDW) were so low that they could not be used as screening or confirmative tests. 4) The sensitivity and specificity of MCV were 1 for the diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia(cutoff value: MCV=79 fl). In case of MCH, the sensitivity was. 1 and the specificity was 0.995 for the diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia(cutoff value: MCH=25pg). In case of MCHC, the sensitivity was 1 and the specificity was 0.69 for the diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia (cutoff value: MCH-33g/dl). In case of RDW, the sencitivity was 0.9 and the specificity was 0.96 for the diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia(cutoff value: RDW=13.5%). With above results, we could conclude that MCV and MCH were very useful screening tests for iron deficiency anemia and MCV could be used as a confirmative test of iron deficiency anemin.
Anemia, Iron-Deficiency* ; Blood Cell Count ; Diagnosis ; Erythrocyte Indices* ; Female ; Ferritins ; Humans ; Iron* ; Mass Screening ; Prevalence ; ROC Curve* ; Sensitivity and Specificity

BACKGROUND: Striatocapsular infarction involves the territory of the large lateral striate branches of the middle cerebral artery sparing the overlying cortex. Two kinds of angiographic findings of the striatocapsular infarction have been reported previously: one with a complete occlusion of the M1 segment and the other without. However, the clinical features and outcomes in relation to the magnetic resonance angiographic (MRA) findings remain unknown. In the present study, we evaluated the clinical outcomes in patients with striatocapsular infarctions according to the MRA findings. METHODS: Twenty-two consecutive patients with striatocapsular infarctions who were admitted to the Chosun University Hospital between July 1998 and June 2000 were included in the study. Striatocapsular infarction was confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and MRA. The patients were divided into two groups based on MRA findings. Ten patients with occluded MCA were included in group A, and the remaining 12 patients with normal or stenotic MCA were categorized as group B. We compared their clinical characteristics and outcomes at 3-months post-stroke. RESULTS: Only 1 out of 12 patients in group B and 6 out of 10 patients in group A showed cortical symptoms and signs. Patients in group A tended to have more severe disability and a worse prognosis than those in group B. CONCLUSIONS: The MRA findings may help clinicians to better predict the clinical outcomes after striatocapsular infarctions. (J Korean Neurol Assoc 19(5):452~456, 2001)
Humans ; Infarction* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Prognosis

BACKGROUND: Diet and weight concerns are commonplace and almost accepted features of life for girls during adolescence. Until recently, younger age groups haue largely been ignored, as these concerns were thought to be a product of pubertal development and sexual maturity. Girls under the age of fifteen therefore, have been assumed to be free of the pressures experienced by adult women. However, this belief is now hard to sustain. The object of the present study was to investigate the self-perception and body shape satisfaction in different weight categories of boys and girls aged 12-years old in Korea. METHODS: In May, 1995, one hundred and sixty seven boys and one hundred and twenty girls from two schools in Seoul completed assessments of body-esteem, self-esteem, body shape preference. The children's body weight and height were also measured. RESULTS: The heaviest children expressed the most discontent, having a low body-esteem, a desire for thinness. By the age of 12, girls boys already differ in their body shape satisfaction and differ in their body shape aspirations. There was a significant effect of weight category on the children's body esteem(boys(P =.005), girls(P=.0001). Children in both extreme categories, under-and over-weight, had lower body-esteem scores than those in other weight categories. However, it was the overweight children who had the lowest. reported body-esteem. Body esteem was highest among girls in the 'slightly underweight' category and highest among boys on the 'average weight' category. There was no effects of either weight category or gender on the childrens appraisal of self-esteem. A comparison of the points chosen on the silhouette scales to reflect current and preferred body shapes revealed clear gender differences. Of the girls, 63% placed their preferred body shape at a point thinner than their currently perceived shape, while only 15% chose a broader figure. In contrast,, 41% of the boys rated their preferred figure as broader than their current perception, and 37% as thinner than their current perception. CONCLUSIONS: This study has noted a relationship between body weight and self-perception in 12-year old children. The heaviest children expressed low body-esteem, a desire for thinness. This pattern was more characteristic of girls than boys. Even at this age, well before they have completed physical maturation, girls are aspiring to a body shape which is thinner than their average. This discontent experienced by the heaviest children on this sample was apparent in their lower body-esteem and the distance between their current and preferred body shapes. The girls preference was for thinness, while in the boys it was for a body shape which was broader than their current shape. From their responses, it would appear that the boys' desire was not for fatness, but for a more athletic and muscular build.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aspirations (Psychology) ; Body Weight ; Child* ; Diet ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Overweight ; Self Concept ; Seoul ; Sports ; Thinness ; Weights and Measures

No abstract available.
Abscess* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging*

Pneumomediastinum is a relatively uncommon, infrequently reported entity, In the evaluation of these entity, it is important to exclude pathological causes, including Boerhaave's syndrome which carries a high mortality. Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is related to excessive intraalveolar pressure leading to rupture of perivascular alveoli in the setting of a Valsalva maneuver without communication to gut material. So, it has a benign self-limited course and rarely requires medical intervention. On the contrary, secondary pneumomediastinum caused by instrumental, traumatic, and spontaneous perforation of esophagus. Although the prognosis have been improved since the advent of broad-spectrum antibiotics and nutritional support, pneumomediastinum due to esophageal perforation still has a high morbidity and mortality. The most important prognostic factor is the time interval between perforation and initiation of therapy, and an awareness and a high clinical suspicion is critical in the early diagnosis and treatment. Recently, we have experienced 2 cases of pneumomediastinum, one case was spontaneous pneumomediastinum and the other may be caused by instrumental esophageal perforation. We report the clinical course of the patients with a current literature review.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Early Diagnosis ; Esophageal Perforation ; Esophagus ; Fibrinogen ; Humans ; Mediastinal Emphysema* ; Mortality ; Nutritional Support ; Prognosis ; Rupture ; Valsalva Maneuver