A 53-year-old man had skin-colored linear serpiginous plaque within brownish patch on his left thigh for one year. He habitually drank natural spring water for 3 years. We diagnosed this case as sparganosis infiltrated within dermis by histologic and parasitologic diagnosis. The skin lesion mimicked the cutaneous larva migrans by showing dermal migration of sparganum to pro-duce itchy linear serpiginous plaque. We report an interesting case of sparganosis mimicking cutaneous larva migrans.
Dermis ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Larva Migrans* ; Middle Aged ; Natural Springs ; Skin ; Sparganosis* ; Sparganum ; Thigh ; Water

Crossed renal ectopia is an unusual congenital anomaly, probably produced by abnormal development of the ureteral bud. The deformity itself produces no symptoms and the clinical presentation generally is for obstruction and infection. The pediatric patients present most often with multiple congenital anomalies, especially of the skeletal system. We report the two cases of crossed renal ectopia with fusion with review of literatures.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Humans ; Ureter

Mycoplasma hominis can cause life-threatening central nervous system infections in neonates following intrauterine infection or during delivery. In newborns, the dia gnosis and treatment of M. hominis meningitis are challenging, because cultures are often negative and the bacterium is not susceptible to empirical antibiotics. Herein, we describe a case of neonatal M. hominis meningitis diagnosed using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and treated with ciprofloxacin. The patient was a 3-day-old female hospitalized for a fever and lethargy. Her blood laboratory findings were non-specific; cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination showed a white blood cell count of 580/µL and indicated meningitis. Her symptoms could not be controlled with empirical antibiotics. Urine culture on a special medium revealed ciprofloxacinsusceptible M. hominis. Furthermore, the RT-PCR performed with the CSF sample revealed M. hominis. Therefore, the patient was administered cipro­floxacin; after 2 days, the fever subsided. The patient was discharged on day 30 without complications.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to find out what clinicopathologic or immunohistochemical parameter that may affect FDG uptake of primary tumor in PET/CT scan of the gastric carcinoma patient. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-nine patients with stomach cancer who underwent pre-operative FDG PET/CT scans were included. In cases with perceptible FDG uptake in primary tumor, the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) was calculated. The clinicopathologic results such as depth of invasion (T stage), tumor size, lymph node metastasis, tumor differentiation and Lauren's classification and immunohistochemical markers such as Ki-67 index, expression of p53, EGFR, Cathepsin D, c-erb-B2 and COX-2 were reviewed. RESULTS: Nineteen out of 89 gastric carcinomas showed imperceptible FDG uptake on PET/CT images. In cases with perceptible FDG uptake in primary tumor, SUVmax was significantly higher in T2, T3 and T4 tumors than T1 tumors (5.8+/-3.1 vs. 3.7+/-2.1, p=0.002). SUVmax of large tumors (above or equal to 3 cm) was also significantly higher than SUVmax of small ones (less than 3 cm) (5.7+/-3.2 vs. 3.7+/-2.0, p=0.002). The intestinal types of gastric carcinomas according to Lauren showed higher FDG uptake compared to the non-intestinal types (5.4+/-2.8 vs. 3.7+/-1.3, p=0.003). SUVmax between p53 positive group and negative group was significantly different (6.0+/-2.8 vs. 4.4+/-3.0, p=0.035). No significant difference was found in presence of LN metastasis, tumor differentiation, Ki-67 index, and expression of EGFR, Cathepsin D, c-erb-B2 and COX-2. CONCLUSION: T stage of gastric carcinoma influenced the detectability of gastric cancer on FDG PET/CT scan. When gastric carcinoma was perceptible on PET/CT scan, T stage, size of primary tumor, Lauren's classification and p53 expression were related to degree of FDG uptake in primary tumor.
Cathepsin D ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Stomach Neoplasms

Primary sarcomas of the vulva constitute an unusual groups of neoplasm. Peripheral nerve sheath tumor (Schwannoma) is arising from schwann cell of the neuroectodermal origin. This tumor arises on the cranial and spinal nerve roots, as well as on the course of the peripheral nerves rarely. In most cases this tumor is solitary but be multiple in Von Recklinghausen's disease. This initial treatment of this unusual tumor should be radical excision of the primary. Regional lymphadenectomy probably is not useful, since metastases are generally hematogenous rather than lymphatics. Radiation is ineffective as primary therapy
Lymph Node Excision ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neural Plate ; Neurofibromatosis 1 ; Peripheral Nerves* ; Sarcoma ; Spinal Nerve Roots ; Vulva*

BACKGROUND: Speech production requires accurate coordination of the speech musculature, and is dependent upon cooperation among cortical and subcortical structures. Multiple subcortical structures, including the basal ganglia, thalamus, and cerebellum, are involved in several parallel and segregated cortical-subcortical-cerebellum circuits. These circuits serve critical functions in integrating neural networks that modulate speech motor behaviors. Previous studies on speech disorders linked to subcortical lesions have been limited to perceptual evaluations of speech in patients with lesions. However, more recent studies using neuroimaging have confirmed the results of the lesion studies and provided further evidence of the important contributions of the subcortical structures to speech motor control. METHODS: We reviewed recent research literature on both behavioral and functional neuroimaging to reveal the role of subcortical structures in speech production. A review of this topic was conducted by searching the literature and electronic databases. RESULTS: Based on numerous articles, we found that the basal ganglia, thalamus, and cerebellum make different contributions to the modulation of speech-related variables. The cerebellum is the structure that is most strongly associated with speech rate, complexity, and timing. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the subcortical structures may play critical functions in speech production. The function of each structure involves the stimulation of cortical regions through the neural circuits and neurotransmitters. Thus, the function of the subcortical structures should be understood within the paradigm of neural networks.
Basal Ganglia ; Cerebellum ; Electronics ; Electrons ; Functional Neuroimaging ; Humans ; Neuroimaging ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Speech Disorders ; Thalamus

Vertebral hemangiomas are rarely symptomatic and have been treated by surgical managements in patients with symptoms. A case of symptomatic vertebral hemangioma which was treated by radiotherapy successfully is presented.
Hemangioma* ; Humans ; Radiotherapy*

Panax ginseng roots have long been used as a medicinal herb in oriental countries. We have investigated anti-proliferative effects of lipid soluble Panax ginseng components on human renal cancer cell lines. Petroleum ether extract of Panax ginseng roots (GX-PE) or its partially purified preparation (7:3 GX) was added to cultures of three human renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cell lines, A498, Caki-1, and CURC II. Proliferation of RCC cells was estimated by a [3H]thymidine incorporation assay and cell cycle distribution was analyzed by flow cytometry. GX-PE, 7:3 GX, panaxydol and panaxynol inhibited proliferation of all three RCC cell lines in a dose dependent manner in vitro with an order of potency, 7:3 GX > panaxydol > panaxynol = GX-PE. Additive effect of interleukin 4 was also demonstrated, most prominently in Caki-1 which responded poorly to GX-PE alone. Analysis of cell cycle in CURC II and Caki-1 treated with GX-PE demonstrated increase in G1 phase population and corresponding decrease in S phase population. The present study demonstrated that proliferation of human RCC cell lines were inhibited by lipid soluble components of Panax ginseng roots by blocking cell cycle progression at G1 to S phase transition.
Alkanes ; Alkynes/therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/therapeutic use* ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell/drug therapy* ; Cell Cycle/drug effects ; Fatty Alcohols/therapeutic use ; Ginseng/therapeutic use* ; Ginseng/chemistry ; Human ; Interleukin-4/therapeutic use ; Kidney Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Plant Extracts/therapeutic use ; Plant Roots/therapeutic use ; Plant Roots/chemistry

A 73-year-old man presented with a chief complaint of progressive left knee pain for two months. He had a history of total thyroidectomy and central lymph node dissection due to papillary thyroid carcinoma three months ago. MRI images revealed a solid mass in the left patella. A solid mass demonstrated low signal on T1 weighed image, and high signal on T2 weighed image. And whole body bone scan showed focal photon defect in same lesion of left patella. The histologic result of left knee lesion was adenocarcinoma, consistent with metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma. Although patellar metastasis of papillary thyroid carcinoma is very rare, when knee pain and radiologic abnormality are noted, differential diagnosis of metastasis is necessary.
Adenocarcinoma ; Aged ; Carcinoma ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Knee ; Lymph Node Excision ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Patella ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; Thyroidectomy