Trichorrhexis nodosa is a distinctive response of the hair shaft to physical or chemical trauma, characterized by the development of node-like swelling, through which the shaft readily fractures. We have described here a case of trichorrhexis nodosa with scanning electron microscopic findings. Nodular swelling of the affected hair showed longitudinal fissures and fractures in the cortex with loss of cuticular scales. At the site of fracture, a paintbrush-like effect was seen.
Hair ; Weights and Measures

Cysticercosis which very rarly involves spinal canal, may show symptoms similar to herniated nucleus pulposus and cord tumor, and even myelogram may not be helpful for the accurate diagnosis. In this paper, a case in which free floating larvae of taenia solium mimicking intradural tumor by myelogram and clinical symptoms were presented. The present authors feel that cysitcercosis has to be considered as a cause when there is central filling defect of contrast media in myelogram.
Contrast Media ; Cysticercosis ; Diagnosis ; Larva ; Spinal Canal ; Spine ; Taenia solium

Retroperitoneal fibrosis sometimes causes urological problem involving the ureter, but the mechanism is uncertain. An aortic aneurysm, including an iliac artery aneurysm, is thought to be one of the mechanisms of retroperitoneal fibrosis. However, cases caused by an isolated iliac artery aneurysm are very rare, and symptoms tend to be non-specific; therefore, no definitive treatment has been established. Herein, we report our recent experience of a patient with a left common iliac artery aneurysm involving the ureter, who underwent successful surgical therapy.
Aneurysm* ; Aortic Aneurysm ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Humans ; Iliac Artery* ; Retroperitoneal Fibrosis* ; Ureter*

Hydroa vacciniforme is a very rare photosensitivity disorder. The primary skin lesion is a vesicle or bulla which then heals with vacciniform scarring. We report a case of hydroa vacciniforme recurred after 3 years period of quiescence in a 20 year-old man who had had history of the disease from the age of two. The duplication of the natural lesion, clinically and histologically, was successfully made by artificial UV-A irradiation on the patient's back.
Cicatrix ; Hydroa Vacciniforme* ; Photosensitivity Disorders ; Skin

BACKGROUND: One of the most, probable pathogenesis of vitiliga is autoimmune. Systemic cor tico st,eroids suppress immunity and may arrest the progression of vitiligo and lead to repigmentation. OBJECTIVE: We have assessed the clinical effect of a oral small oral dose of corticosteroid to minimize side effects in vitiligo patients. METHODS: Thirty four patients(9;male, 25;female) with vitiligo were evaluated in this study. The patients took 7.5mg-20mg prednisolone initially for 2 months and then the dosage was tapered to half of the initial dosiat the 3rd month and half of dose of 3rd month for the last 4th month. We compared the effcct of treatment of vitiligo before and aft.er the study by photographs. and side efferts were issessed at. 1, 2, 3 and 4 month. RESULTS: The arrest of the progression of vitiligo was noticed in 79% of patients and repigmentation was noticed in 59% of patients which is statistically significant. The effect, of treatment according to extent, duiation, type, and site of vitiligo were not statistically significant. The side effects of treatment were minimal and did not affect the course of treatment. CONCLUSION: Small doses of iral corticosteroids are effective without any significant side effects in preventing progression and loiiduce repigmentation of active spreading vitiligo and generalized type of vitiligo that is difficult to treat with topical corticosteroids.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones* ; Humans ; Prednisolone ; Vitiligo*

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

PURPOSE: There are little research about the factors of DNA damage and repair that might cause renal parenchymal damage under the condition of hydronephrosis. In this study, we studied the expressions of p53, gamma-H(2)AX and Ku70/Ku80 in rat kidney under the condition of hydronephrosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 16 Sprague-Dawley rats that were 7~8 weeks old were used. Partial ureteral obstruction was induced in 12 rats. And for the other 4 rats, a sham-operation was done as a control. The hydronephrosis-induced rats had their right kidney removed after 1, 2 and 3 weeks and the sham-operated rats underwent nephrectomy after 3 weeks. Those removed tissues were examined with immunohistochemical staining and western blot to confirm the degree of expression of p53, gamma-H(2)AX and Ku70/Ku80. RESULTS: The expressions of p53, gamma-H(2)AX and Ku70/Ku80 caused by hydronephrosis in the rat increased as time passed, and these expressions of controls were in a low level or they were negative. These results were similar with the results of the immunohistochemical staining and Western blot. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirmed that the protein expressions of gamma- H(2)AX, p53, and Ku70/Ku80 are increased, and these expressions are the DNA damage-related factors in the renal parenchyma of hydronephrosis-induced rats. We confirmed the possibility that DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) might be the main mechanism that induces renal parenchymal damage under the condition of hydronephrosis.
Animals ; Blotting, Western ; DNA ; DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded ; DNA Damage ; DNA Repair ; Hydronephrosis* ; Kidney* ; Nephrectomy ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Ureteral Obstruction

OBJECTIVE: To identify the location and formation of the sural nerve and its contributing nerves. METHOD: Fourteen lower limbs of 7 adult cadavers were anatomically dissected. The location and formation of the sural nerve (SN) in relation to the medial sural cutaneous nerve (MSCN) and the lateral sural cutaneous nerve (LSCN) were investigated. The length and diameter of the SN and contributing nerves were measured and the differences of the results were analyzed. RESULTS: Twelve SNs were formed by the union of the MSCNs and LSCNs, and 2 SNs were direct extensions of the MSCNs. The point of formation of the SN by union of the MSCN and LSCN was found in the middle third of the legs in 66.7% of SNs examined. The union sites of the SNs were located at 40.58+/-13.97% of the length of lower leg from the tip of lateral malleolus and 55.84+/-6.48% of the calf width from the medial border of the calf. There were significant statistical differences of diameter among nerves (p<0.05) and no significant difference of length between MSCN and LSCN. CONCLUSION: The results of this cadaveric study would increase the accuracy of the sural nerve conduction study and provide the locational information for precise surgical approach.
Adult ; Cadaver ; Humans ; Leg ; Lower Extremity ; Sural Nerve*

Osteochondromadevelop most commonly at distal femur, proximal humerus and proximal tibia, but the rib osteochondroma was reported less commonly. In this report, scapular snapping syndrome complicated by adventitious bursa and soft tissue pseudotumor surrounding the osteochondroma of the 6th rib body was treated successfully by surgical excision of them. We report this rare case with reviewing the relevant literature.
Femur ; Humerus ; Osteochondroma* ; Ribs* ; Shoulder* ; Tibia

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of Gd-DTPA enhanced MR imaging in determining the metastatic lymph nodes in uterine cervical carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty nine patients with histologically proven cervical carcinoma underwent Gd-DTPA enhanced MR imaging. One hundred and thirty-eight pelvic regions(69 right,69 left) in 69 patients were analyzed for lymph node metastases. Pelvic lymph nodes were considered to be abnormal if they were greater than lcm in diameter and were enhanced on postcontrast T1 weighted images. RESULTS: Metastatic lymph nodes were found in 22 pelvic regions by surgicopathologic examinations. On MR imaging there were 14 true positives, 106 true negatives, 10 false positives and 8 false negatives. Gd-DTPA enhanced MR image had an accuracy of 86.9%, a sensitivity of 58.3%, a specificity of 91.4%, a positive predictive value of 58.3% and negative predictive value of 92.9% in evaluation of pelvic lymph node metastases. CONCLUSION: MR imaging with contrast enhancement may be useful in the evaluation of pelvic lymph node metastases in patients with uterine cervical carcinoma.
Gadolinium DTPA ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pelvis ; Sensitivity and Specificity