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*

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

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

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

PURPOSE: Peritoneal seeding of gastric cancer is known to have a poor prognosis. With the diagnosis of peritoneal seeding, there is no effective treatment modality. Gastrectomy with chemotherapy or primary chemotherapy is basically one of major options for this condition. This study was conducted to compare the clinical outcomes of these treatments and to identify the better way to improve the prognosis of patients with peritoneal seeding. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 2001 and 2007, gastric cancer patients with peritoneal seeding by preoperative or intraoperative diagnosis were reviewed retrospectively. The enrolled patients were divided as primary gastrectomy and primary chemotherapy group. Clinicopathologic characteristics and clinical outcomes of groups were analyzed and compared. RESULTS: Fifty-four patients were enrolled. 21 patients belonged to the group of primary gastrectomy and 33 patients were to the primary chemotherapy group. Among 33 patients of the primary chemotherapy group, 17 patients were received only chemotherapy and 16 patients were received gastrectomy due to the good responses of primary chemotherapy. The 3 years survival rates were 14% in primary gastrectomy group, 55% in patients who received gastrectomy after primary chemotherapy, and 0% in patients with primary chemotherapy only. CONCLUSIONS: Although this study had many limitations, some valuable information was produced. In terms of survival benefits for the gastric cancer patients with peritoneal seeding, primary gastrectomy and additional gastrectomy after primary chemotherapy revealed the better clinical outcomes. But, prospective randomized clinical study and multi-center study are should be performed to decide proper treatment for gastric cancer patients with peritoneal seeding.
Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Seeds ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Survival Rate

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: This study was performed to determine the anatomical landmarks and optimal dissection points of the facial nerve (FN) and the hypoglossal nerve (HGN) in the submandibular region to provide guidance for hypoglossal-facial nerve anastomosis (HFNA). METHODS: Twenty-nine specimens were obtained from 15 formalin-fixed adult cadavers. Distances were measured based on the mastoid process tip (MPT), common carotid artery bifurcation (CCAB), and the digastric muscle posterior belly (DMPB). RESULTS: The shortest distance from the MPT to the stylomastoid foramen was 14.1+/-2.9 mm. The distance from the MPT to the FN origin was 8.6+/-2.8 mm anteriorly and 5.9+/-2.8 mm superiorly. The distance from the CCAB to the crossing point of the HGN and the internal carotid artery was 18.5+/-6.7 mm, and that to the crossing point of the HGN and the external carotid artery was 15.1+/-5.7 mm. The distance from the CCAB to the HGN bifurcation was 26.6+/-7.5 mm. The distance from the digastric groove to the HGN, which was found under the DMPB, was about 35.8+/-5.7 mm. The distance from the digastric groove to the HGN, which was found under the DMPB, corresponded to about 65.5% of the whole length of the DMPB. CONCLUSION: This study provides useful information regarding the morphometric anatomy of the submandibular region, and the presented morphological data on the nerves and surrounding structures will aid in understanding the anatomical structures more accurately to prevent complications of HFNA.
Adult ; Cadaver ; Carotid Artery, Common ; Carotid Artery, External ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Facial Nerve ; Humans ; Hypoglossal Nerve ; Mastoid ; Muscles