Functional mapping techniques including functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), positron emission tomography (PET), and magnetoencephalography (MEG) can be used to study the function of the nervous system. Optical imaging is an emerging technique for functional imaging of the nervous tissue. Functional optical imaging can be classified into two major streams; intrinsic signal optical imaging (ISO) and voltage-sensitive dye optical imaging (VDO). ISO is related to hemodynamic changes such as hemoglobin concentration and oxygenation changes, cytochrome oxidation change, and light scattering. On the contrary, VOD measures changes in membrane potentials of neural cells. Therefore, ISO reflects metabolic activity of neurons, while VOD directly reflects neural activity. Recent advances in optical imaging opened the possibility of its application to clinical situations as well as basic researches. Further, development of optical imaging may greatly contribute to the understanding of the function of the nervous system.
Cytochromes ; Hemodynamics ; Hemoglobins ; Light ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Magnetoencephalography ; Membrane Potentials ; Nervous System ; Neurons ; Optical Imaging ; Oxygen ; Positron-Emission Tomography

No abstract available.
Sepsis* ; Yersinia*

Arterio-ureteral fistulas are uncommon but potentially cause a life-threatening hemorrhage that manifest as gross hematuria. Approximately 90 cases of arterio-ureteral fistulas have been reported in the English-language literature. To our knowledge, there have been no report about this issue in Korea. We experienced 1 patient with arterio-ureteral fistula after pelvic operation and radiation therapy followed by ureteral stent. Arterio- ureteral fistula was diagnosed by selective arteriography and treated by surgical management successfully without complications.
Angiography ; Fistula* ; Hematuria ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Iliac Artery* ; Korea ; Rupture* ; Stents ; Ureter

The study of pain has recently received much attention, especially in understanding its neurophysiology by using new brain imaging techniques, such as positron emission tomography (PET) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), both of which allow us to visualize brain function in vivo. Also the new brain imaging devices allow us to evaluate the patients pain status and plan to treat patients objectively. Functional activation of brain regions are thought to be reflected by increases in the regional cerebral blood flow in the brain imaging studies. Regional cerebral blood flow increases to noxious stimuli are observed in second somatic (SII) and insular regions and in the anterior cingulate cortex and with slightly less consistency in the first somatic area (S1), motor area, supplementary motor area, prefrontal area, amygdala and contralateral thalamus. These data suggest that pain has multidimensions such as sensory-discrimitive, motivational-affective and cognitive-evaluative.
Amygdala ; Brain ; Gyrus Cinguli ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neuroimaging ; Neurophysiology ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Thalamus

The study of pain has recently received much attention, especially in understanding its neurophysiology by using new brain imaging techniques, such as positron emission tomography (PET) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), both of which allow us to visualize brain function in vivo. Also the new brain imaging devices allow us to evaluate the patients pain status and plan to treat patients objectively. Functional activation of brain regions are thought to be reflected by increases in the regional cerebral blood flow in the brain imaging studies. Regional cerebral blood flow increases to noxious stimuli are observed in second somatic (SII) and insular regions and in the anterior cingulate cortex and with slightly less consistency in the first somatic area (S1), motor area, supplementary motor area, prefrontal area, amygdala and contralateral thalamus. These data suggest that pain has multidimensions such as sensory-discrimitive, motivational-affective and cognitive-evaluative.
Amygdala ; Brain ; Gyrus Cinguli ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neuroimaging ; Neurophysiology ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Thalamus

Metaplastic carcinoma of the breast is rare. We report a case in a 53-year-old woman who presented with a rapidly-growing breast mass. The lesion had a complex echogenicity in ultrasonography and a high signal intensity in a T2-weighted image with rim enhancement in contrast-enhanced MR images. The PET/CT images showed high uptake for the lesion. The lesion was biopsied and found to be a metaplastic carcinoma with an adenomyoepithelioma component. Although metaplstic carcinoma was difficult to differentiate from other common breast cancers, it showed complex echogenicity on ultrasonography and high signal intensity on a T2 weighted image with rim enhancement on contrast-enhanced MR images.
Adenomyoepithelioma ; Breast ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged

We report two patients with metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) with a focus on the morphological features related to Gleevec treatment. In case 1, a 50-year-old woman presented with a 1.8 cm metastatic GIST in the liver after resection of a gastric GIST. Majority of the metastatic tumor showed fibrosis and hyalinization after 8 weeks of Gleevec treatment. CD117-positive cells were present in approximately 1% of the overall tumor. In case 2, a 2 cm and 14 cm metastatic liver masses were found in a 54-year-old man who had a rectal GIST. After 4 weeks of Gleevec treatment, metastatic tumors showed a decrease in size on CT scan. The metastatic tumors showed a decrease in number of tumor cells. The hemorrhage, cystic changes, necrosis, and fibrosis made up approximately 90% of the tumor. The morphological features related to Gleevec treatment are important for correct diagnosis and evaluation of tumor response and prognosis.
Benzamides ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hyalin ; Liver ; Middle Aged ; Necrosis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Piperazines ; Prognosis ; Pyrimidines ; Imatinib Mesylate

Malignant obstruction develops frequently in advanced gastric cancer. Although it is primarily the gastric outlet that is obstructed, there are occasional reports of colonic obstruction. Treating intestinal obstruction usually requires emergency surgery or stent insertion. There are several kinds of complications with stent insertion, such as bowel perforation, stent migration, bleeding, abdominal pain and reobstruction. Nevertheless, endoscopic stent insertion could be a better treatment than emergency surgery in cases of malignant bowel obstruction in cancer patients with poor performance status. We report a case of advanced gastric cancer with carcinomatosis in which a recurrent colonic stent was inserted at the same site because of cancer growth into the stent. The patient maintained a good condition for chemotherapy, thus improving their chances for survival.
Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Intestinal Obstruction/etiology/radiography/*surgery ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Prosthesis Implantation/*methods ; *Stents ; Stomach Neoplasms

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to compare the incidence of ventricular shunt placement for shunt-dependent hydrocephalus (SDHC) after clipping versus coiling of ruptured aneurysms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted in 215 patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) who underwent surgical clipping or endovascular coiling during the period from May 2008 to December 2011. Relevant clinical and radiographic data were analyzed with regard to the incidence of hydrocephalus and ventriculo-peritoneal shunt (VPS). Patients treated with clipping were assigned to Group A, while those treated with coiling were assigned to Group B. RESULTS: Of 215 patients (157 clipping, 58 coiling), no significant difference in the incidence of final VPS was observed between treatment modalities (15.3% vs. 10.3%) (p = 0.35). Independent risk factors for VPS for treatment of chronic hydrocephalus were as follows: (1) older than 65 years, (2) poorer Hunt-Hess grade IV and V, (3) Fisher grade III and IV, and (4) particularly initial presence of an intraventricular hemorrhage. CONCLUSION: In this study comparing two modalities for treatment of aneurysm, there was no difference in the incidence of chronic hydrocephalus requiring VPS. A significantly higher rate of shunt dependency was observed for age older than 65 years, poor initial neurological status, and thick SAH with presence of initial intraventricular hemorrhage. By understanding these factors related to development of SDHC and results, it is expected that management of aneurysmal SAH will result in a better prognosis.
Aneurysm ; Aneurysm, Ruptured ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus* ; Incidence* ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors* ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage* ; Surgical Instruments ; Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt

No abstract available.