Primary intracranial choriocarcinoma is a extremely rare neoplasm since the case was reported by Askanasy, in 1906, there have been 35 reported, even if germinal neoplasms containing chorocarcinoma-like tissue are added. But pure choriocarcinoma was rarely reported. The purpose of this paper is to report a case of 18-year-old boy with tumor in subependymal region around left frontal horn, which was present with high level of serum beta chain of chorionic gonadotropin(B-HCG) and was verified as germine choriocarcinoma by biopay.
Adolescent ; Animals ; Choriocarcinoma* ; Chorion ; Female ; Horns ; Humans ; Male ; Pregnancy

The authors present the one case of a 22-year-old man admitted with intermittent quadriparesis and respiratory difficulty. On investigation, atlantoaxial instability and upper cervical cord compression due to abnormal soft tissue were revealed. We have performed transoral decompression and biopsy, and then posterior transarticular facet screw fixation with interspinous wiring and fusion. We could obtain immediate and long-term postoperative stability with Philadelphia collar only. The pathologic examination reveald connective soft tissue hypertrophy due to chronic mechanical irritation.
Biopsy ; Decompression* ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Quadriplegia ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Laser therapy for various skin conditions is one of the most common procedures in dermatology. Recently, several articles described the use of 1064 nm Q-switched Nd:YAG lasers for the treatment of benign skin lesions. Such treatment is known to trigger its therapeutic effect through a photoacoustic effect and selective photothermolysis effect. However, only a limited number of articles have dealt with the theoretical base of the photoacoustic effect of the 1064 nm Q-switched Nd:YAG laser. OBJECTIVE: To compare the wound repair process and nonselective tissue heat damage induced by three different laser modalities: the CO2 laser, Er:YAG laser, and 1064 nm Q-switched Nd:YAG laser. METHODS: We irradiated the skin of an albino rat (Sprague Dawley(R), 200~250 g) with CO2, Er:YAG, and 1064 nm Q-switched Nd:YAG lasers. Skin biopsy specimens of the irradiated areas were collected on the first, fifth, and tenth day after laser exposure. For histologic analysis, the specimens were stained with the H&E, Verhoff-Van Gieson, and Masson's trichrome protocols. RESULTS: Compared with other laser modalities, rat skin irradiated by the 1064 nm Q-switched Nd:YAG laser showed the least amount of heat damage and the quickest tissue repair response to the damage. CONCLUSION: A 1064 nm Q-switched Nd:YAG laser with a photoacoustic effect capable of ablating the epidermis and dermis can be a proper treatment modality for the removal of benign skin lesions. The 1064 nm Q-switched Nd:YAG laser may be considered as an alternative treatment option for the treatment of benign skin lesions.
Animals ; Biopsy ; Dermatology ; Dermis ; Epidermis ; Hot Temperature ; Laser Therapy ; Lasers, Gas ; Rats* ; Skin* ; Wounds and Injuries*

The authors had analysed retrospectively a series of 286 consecutive patients with head injury who were admitted to the department of neurosurgery. Dong Gang Hospital between March and July, 1992. 59 cases underwent craniotomy for evacuation of intracranial hematoma and/or placement of subarachnoid bolt for intracranial pressure monitoring under general anesthesia. Patients with a Glasgow Coma Scale(GCS) Score of 8 or less had significantly higher serum glucose levels postoperatively than patients with GCS score of 12 to 15(p<0.05). Patients who subsequently remained in a vegetative state or died had significantly higher glucose levels postoperatively than patients who had good outcome or moderate disability(p<0.05). Among the more severely injured patients(GCS Score< or =8), a serum glucose level greater than 200mg/dl on admission is associated with a significantly worse outcome(p<0.05). The results suggest that severely head-injured patients frequently showed hyperglycemia and the elevted serum glucose level may worsen the neurological outcome in such patients.
Anesthesia, General ; Blood Glucose* ; Coma ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Craniotomy ; Glucose ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Hyperglycemia ; Intracranial Pressure ; Neurosurgery ; Persistent Vegetative State ; Retrospective Studies

Atlato-axial instability is a serious condition that often requires operation. Atlanto-axial subluxation may cause severe symptoms; and threaten the intergrity of the spinal cord, leading to quadriplegia or sudden death. A techique of combining C1-C2 posterior screw fixation with a supplemental bone wire fusion has been advocated for the management of atlantoaxial instability. It was used in 9 patients with this disorder. Patients ages ranged from 20 years to 52 years; follow-up period ranged from 3 to 16 months with a mean of 9.8 months. All nine patients gained immediate rigid fixation of C1,2 with this technique. Of these 9 patients, instability occurred due to trauma in seven, os odotoideum in one and os odontoideum with trauma in another one. One patient was presented with nonunion and C1,2 instability after a Halovest applications a result of type II odontoid fracture. All 9 patients were placed in a philedelphia collar for 12weeks and all achieved solid fusion. Posterior atlantoaxial facet screw fixation provides immediate multidirectional rigid fixation of C1,2 and is mechanically superior to siring or clamp fixation. This technique maximizes success without the need for a supplemental rigid external orthosis.
Bone Wires ; Death, Sudden ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Orthotic Devices ; Quadriplegia ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Fusion ; Transplants*

Neointimal hyperplasia causes vascular stenosis and subsequent thrombosis, which result in vascular access failure in patients undergoing hemodialysis. Interleukin-10 (IL-10) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) are involved in this inflammatory process. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between vascular access failure and various inflammatory markers including the genetic polymorphisms of IL-10 and TNF-alpha. Seventy-five patients on hemodialysis with an arteriovenous fistula in place or an artificial graft (18 with vascular access failure and 82 without failure) and 98 healthy individuals were genotyped for IL-10 and TNF-alpha single nucleotide polymorphisms. Clinical and laboratory data including serum IL-10 and TNF-alpha levels were compared. Stimulated IL-10 levels, from in vitro incubation of blood with lipopolysaccharide, were also obtained and compared. Female gender, hypoproteinemia, and hypertriglyceridemia were associated with vascular access failure. The basal TNF-alpha level was significantly higher in patients with access failure. The distribution of IL-10 and TNF-alpha genotype did not differ among patients with or without access failure. This study could not demonstrate a relationship between genetic polymorphisms and vascular access failure. However, an altered immune response and inflammation might contribute to vascular access failure.
Adult ; Aged ; Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical/*adverse effects ; Catheters, Indwelling/*adverse effects ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-10/blood/*genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; *Renal Dialysis ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/blood/*genetics

Cervical spondylolysis is a rare condition, and less than 100 cases have been reported in the world literature. Cervical spondylolysis is defined as a well corticated defect in the posterior element of a cervical vertebra. Although the etiology of cervical spondylolysis is unknown, its association with dysplastic changes and spina bifida occulta suggest that the lesion is congenital. Here, we describe the radiographs and CT images of cervical spondylolysis involving four levels in a 9 year old boy.
Child* ; Humans ; Male ; Spina Bifida Occulta ; Spine ; Spondylolysis*

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) is a rare disease in which extensive toxic epidermolysis occursafter medication. Skin and mucous membranes are involved in about 90% of SJS cases, and webbingof mouth corners (microstomia) may occur when they are affected. Few reports have been issuedon microstomia in SJS, and no consensus has been reached regarding treatment methods,timings, or results. We encountered a case of microstomia following SJS after ofloxacin medicationin a 22-year-old woman treated by commissuroplasty using a lozenge-shaped excision. Wepresent an appropriate correction method and surgical timing for microstomia following SJS.

V. fluvialis is a gram-negative, oxidase-producing, halophilic bacterium. It is normally found in coastal waters and seafoods. There have been a few reports on Vibrio fluvialis gastroenteritis in other countries, whereas there has been no previous report of V. fluvialis infections in Korea. Reports from other countries showed that V. fluvialis was isolated mostly from infants and children. We experienced a rare case of gastroenteritis due to V. fluvialis in a 55-year-old man with liver cirrhosis who ate an ark shell. He was admitted due to mild abdominal pain and severe watery diarrhea followed by rapidly progressive dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and hepatorenal syndrome for a week. This patient was not improved by intensive care and antibiotic therapy.
Abdominal Pain ; Arcidae ; Child ; Dehydration ; Diarrhea ; Gastroenteritis* ; Hepatorenal Syndrome ; Humans ; Infant ; Critical Care ; Korea ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Middle Aged ; Seafood ; Vibrio*

The purpose of this study was to investigate the immunomodulatory activity of ice plant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum) extract (IPE) in vitro and in vivo. Raji (a human B cell line) and Jurkat (a human T cell line) cells were treated with various doses of IPE and cell proliferation was measured by WST assay. Results showed that IPE promoted the proliferation of both Raji and Jurkat cells in a dose-dependent manner. IPE also enhanced IL-6 and TNF-α production in macrophages in the presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), although IPE alone did not induce cytokine production. Moreover, IPE treatment upregulated iNOS gene expression in macrophages in a time- and dose-dependent manner and led to the production of nitric oxide in macrophages in the presence of IFNγ. In vivo studies revealed that oral administration of IPE for 2 weeks increased the differentiation of CD4+, CD8+, and CD19+ cells in splenocytes. These findings suggested that IPE has immunomodulatory effects and could be developed as an immunomodulatory supplement.
Administration, Oral ; Cell Proliferation ; Cytokines ; Ethanol* ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Ice* ; In Vitro Techniques ; Interleukin-6 ; Jurkat Cells ; Lymphocytes ; Macrophages ; Mesembryanthemum* ; Nitric Oxide