No abstract available.
Wound Healing* ; Wounds and Injuries*

A 26-year-old man presented with a bluish speckled patch on the dorsum of the left hand. It had apperaed at birth as a bluish spot. Since adolescence the lesion extended and at the time of visiting hospital it covered the most part of the dorsum of the left hand and even some palmar aspect. The histopathological and ultrastructural examination revealed numerous dermal melanocytes, mainly in the upper dermis. Clinically and pathologically, the patient was diagnosed as having dermal melanocyte hamartoma, a distinct type of dermal melanocytosis.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Dermis ; Hamartoma* ; Hand ; Humans ; Melanocytes* ; Parturition

No abstract available.
Osteoblasts*

Opposition of the thumb is necessary for pinch-one of the three most important functions of the hand. Frequently, opposition is either partially or totally lost in poliomyelitis or median nerve palsy. Several types of operations have been devised for restoration of opposition, and in 1973, Burkhalter et al. announced extensor indicis proprius opponensplasty: the tendon of extensor indicis proprius is brought out in the area of the pisiform and then passed against subcutaneously across the palm to the thumb, being attached to the abductor pollicis brevis and extensor pollicis longus tendon. It is useful in the case of loss of opposition without available finger flexor or wrist motors. Of nine patients who underwent operation-one with Riordan and eight with Burkhalter type of opponensplasty-at National Medical Center, seven had excellent results: one had a fair, and another one had a poor result. Six patients were with low combined median and ulnar nerve injury: one with high combined median and ulnar nerve injury: one with brachial plexus injury: and one with myotmesis of the thenar muscles. From the results, we conclude that Burkhalter type of opponensplasty makes satisfactory result for the hand without opposition movement; it is indicated in high median nerve injury and any combined median and ulnar nerve injury6; early restoration of opposition to the thumb in median nerve injury and in those limbs with multiple tissue trauma adds immeasurably to the over-all early rehabilitative effort.
Brachial Plexus ; Extremities ; Fingers ; Hand ; Humans ; Median Nerve ; Muscles ; Paralysis ; Poliomyelitis ; Tendons ; Thumb ; Ulnar Nerve ; Wrist

Percutaneous catheter drainage (PCD) of pancreatic pseudocyst has been reported to have good therapeutic results, low complications, and short hospital course. To find the clinical and radiological findings which can predict the treatment period for PCD, we retrospectively correlated the clinical data (presence of invection, initial and 1 week follow-up serum and aspirate amylase level, daily drainage amount) and radiological findings (evidence of fistula, PCD route, inital size of pseudocyst) with the treatment period in each case. The age ranged from 20 to 64 years(mean:39.8 years) and male to female ratio was nine to one. When the cavity was obliterated after PCD and did not recur after tube removal without a surgical treatment, we regarded the patient to be cured. Mean treatment period was 20.2 days and nine patients(90%) were cured. We think that the factors shortening treatment period are the presence of superimposed infection and the abrupt decrease of the amount of daily drainage for the first week. But the presence of fistula to the pancreatic duct may prolong the treatment period. In conclusion, PCD is safe and effective in the treatment of pancreatic pseudocyst, and the clinical ad radiological findings are expected to be able to predict the treatment period of PCD.
Amylases ; Catheters* ; Drainage* ; Female ; Fistula ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Pancreatic Ducts ; Pancreatic Pseudocyst* ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVES: This study was aimed at investigating the effect of haloperidol on alcohol craving in patients wih alcohol dependence. METHODS: Eighteen patients with alcohol dependence were divided randomly into two groups of nine patients each: one haloperidol group and the other, placebo group. The medication for each group was done for 14 days. Alcohol craving and difficulty in resisting drinking were measured on day 1 and day 14, each consisting of a series of four assessments. Assessment 0 was basal levels. Assessment 1 was made 3 hours after medication. Assessment 2 was made after alcohol intake in a dose of 0.4gm of 100% alcohol/kg body weight and assessment 3 was done after the second alcohol intake in the same amount. RESULTS: The results were as follows: 1) With acute treatment, placebo group showed a significant increase in alcohol craving whereas haloperidol group did not show any change after the first and second alcohol intake. 2) With chronic treatment, both groups showed significant increase in the alcohol craving after alcohol intake. 3) Haloperidol did not increase difficulty in resisting drinking after acute treatment, however, with chronic treatment, it resulted in a significant increase of the difficulty in resisting drinking. CONCLUSIONS: From these results, the authors suggest that an acute treatment of haloperidol lowers alcohol craving in patients with alcohol dependence, but the effect does not maintain itself with chronic treatment.
Alcoholism* ; Body Weight ; Drinking ; Haloperidol* ; Humans

Alcohol has been used as sedatives historically. The effect of alcohol on sleep is different according to its dose, timing of ingestion, and drinking frequency. Sleep problems may play a role in the development and course of alcohol-related disorders. Insomnia in alcohol-dependent patients is common and early treatment of insomnia may reduce the rate of relapse. Sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, periodic limbs movement disorder, and altered circadian rhythm may be more frequent in this patients. Management of sleep and alcohol problems is important in treating alcohol-related disorder and sleep disorders, respectively.
Alcohol-Related Disorders ; Circadian Rhythm ; Drinking ; Eating ; Extremities ; Humans ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; Movement Disorders ; Recurrence ; Restless Legs Syndrome ; Sleep Apnea Syndromes ; Sleep Wake Disorders ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders

The minor fissure is an important anatomical landmark in the localization of the pulmonary diseases. For the evaluation of the normal feature of the minor fissure, we analyzed the high-resolution computed tomography (CT) scans in 51 normal patients. The purposes of this study are to evaluate the normal appearance of the minor fissure on high-resolution CT scans and to compare it with that on the coventional CT and chest radiographs. We analysed the morphologic feature of the minor fissure on the high-resolution CT scans in 51 normal patients, and compared it with that on the conventional CT scans. On the high-resolution CT scans, we particularly paid attention to the completeness and types according to Berkmen classification. And finally, we compared the types determined by the high-resolution CT scans with those by the plain radiographs. In most patients (n=47), the minor fissure was seen as a hyperattenuating line or hand on the high-resolution CT scans. In contrast, it was mostly seen as a lucent zone on the conventional CT scans (n=44). Of 47 patients having a hyperattenuating line or band on the high resolution CT scans, the minor fissure was considered to be complete in 17 patients (36%), and incomplete in 30 patients (64%), who had defect at medial portion of the minor fissure. The most common type of the minor fissure seen on the high-resolution CT scans was type I variety (n=23), followed by type IIa (n=10) and type II (n=8). We could not determine the type in six patients. The type determined by the high resolution CT scans was highly well correlated with that determined by the plain radiographs (p<0.05). In conclusion, the minor fissure was seen on CT studies as variable appearances and high-resolution CT scans were superior to the conventional CT scans in the evaluation of the minor fissure. The type of the minor fissure determined by the high-resolution CT scans were well correlated with those seen on the radiographs.
Classification ; Hand ; Humans ; Lung Diseases ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

The minor fissure is an important anatomical landmark in the localization of the pulmonary diseases. For the evaluation of the normal feature of the minor fissure, we analyzed the high-resolution computed tomography (CT) scans in 51 normal patients. The purposes of this study are to evaluate the normal appearance of the minor fissure on high-resolution CT scans and to compare it with that on the coventional CT and chest radiographs. We analysed the morphologic feature of the minor fissure on the high-resolution CT scans in 51 normal patients, and compared it with that on the conventional CT scans. On the high-resolution CT scans, we particularly paid attention to the completeness and types according to Berkmen classification. And finally, we compared the types determined by the high-resolution CT scans with those by the plain radiographs. In most patients (n=47), the minor fissure was seen as a hyperattenuating line or hand on the high-resolution CT scans. In contrast, it was mostly seen as a lucent zone on the conventional CT scans (n=44). Of 47 patients having a hyperattenuating line or band on the high resolution CT scans, the minor fissure was considered to be complete in 17 patients (36%), and incomplete in 30 patients (64%), who had defect at medial portion of the minor fissure. The most common type of the minor fissure seen on the high-resolution CT scans was type I variety (n=23), followed by type IIa (n=10) and type II (n=8). We could not determine the type in six patients. The type determined by the high resolution CT scans was highly well correlated with that determined by the plain radiographs (p<0.05). In conclusion, the minor fissure was seen on CT studies as variable appearances and high-resolution CT scans were superior to the conventional CT scans in the evaluation of the minor fissure. The type of the minor fissure determined by the high-resolution CT scans were well correlated with those seen on the radiographs.
Classification ; Hand ; Humans ; Lung Diseases ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Although visible collateral vessels on computed tomography (CT) has been considered as an important finding in superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome, there is no systematical concerning correlation between the CT evidence of collateral vessels and clinical evidence of SVC syndrome. The purpose of this study is to evaluate how accurately we predict the clinical presence of SVC syndrome by the collateral vessels in patients with apparent SVC obstruction on CT. Forty-seven patients having a CT evidence of obstruction or compression of SVC and/or its major tributaries were included in this study. Lung cancer was the most common underlying disease (n=40). The enhanced CT scans were obtained through either arm vein using a combined bolus and drip-infusion technique. Analyzing the CT scans, we particularly paid attention to the site and pattern of venous compromise, presence of collateral vessels, and if present, heir location, without knowing whether symptoms and signs were present or not, and then compared them with clinical data by a thorough review of charts. To verify the frequency of visible collateral vessels in normal subjects, we also evaluated the CT scans of 50 patients without mediastinal disease and clinical SVC syndrome as a control group. On CT, collateral vessels were found in 24 patients, among whom three patients had a single collateral and 21 patients had two or more collateral channels. There were two false positive cases, in which clinically overt SVC syndrome appeared 10days and three months after CT examination respectively, and one false negative case. The presence of collateral vessels on CT, respectively, and one false negative case. The presence of collateral vessels on CT, regardless of the number and location of collateral vessels and the pattern of venous obstruction, was a good clue for predicting the presence of clinical SVC syndrome with the sensitivity and the specificity of 95.7% and 91.7%, respectively. In control group, collateral vessels were seen in three patients (6%). We conclude that the presence of collateral vessels on CT is a highly sensitive and specific sign of clinical SVC syndrome.
Arm ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Mediastinal Diseases ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Superior Vena Cava Syndrome* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Veins ; Vena Cava, Superior*