Sinus venosus is a rare cardiac defect, which may lead to an interatrial shunt. Diagnosis on echocardiography may be difficult requiring an evaluation by a board-certified cardiologist. We report a case of a 41 year-old male who presented with recurrent episodes of hemiparesis (first left sided, second right sided). Surgical correction of sinus venosus led to resolution of his symptoms.
Heart Septal Defects, Atrial

Neurocysticercosis is the most common parasitic disease of the central nervous system. Generally, the spinal cord involvement of neurocysticercosis is very rare. We experienced a 52-year-old female patient presented with tetraplegia. She was diagnosed as mixed type neurocysticercosis involving brain parenchyma, ventricle and cervical spinal cord. She underwent an operation of intradural mass removal with cervical laminectomy. In spite of gradual improvement in activities of daily livings, muscle power and sensation, she revealed the fluctuation of mental status and tetraplegia, possibly associated with perilesional inflammation, twice during the period of admission. So, we administered prednisolone 20 mg and albendazole 800 mg a day for a week per event and then her mental status and aggravated tetraplegia were improved. After comprehensive rehabilitation for 4 months, her ASIA impairment scale changed from ASIA C to ASIA D with the improvement of modified Bathel index, Functional independence measure and Mini-mental status examination scores.
Albendazole ; Asia ; Brain ; Central Nervous System ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Laminectomy ; Middle Aged ; Neurocysticercosis* ; Parasitic Diseases ; Prednisolone ; Quadriplegia* ; Rehabilitation ; Sensation ; Spinal Cord

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation between the severity of paralysis and hand sympathetic skin response (SSR) in patients with Bell's palsy and to evaluate the clinical utility of hand SSR as a predicting factor of prognosis. METHOD: Twenty patients with Bell's palsy and twenty normal controls were recruited. The severity of paralysis was graded according to House-Brackmann Facial Grading Scale (H-B FGS), and percent degeneration of Nasalis was determined by Facial Nerve Conduction Study (FNCS). RESULTS: The difference of hand SSR amplitude between affected and unaffected side was significant (p<0.05). There was significant correlation between H-B FGS and the difference of hand SSR amplitude (p<0.05). There was significant correlation between percent degeneration and the difference of hand SSR amplitude (p<0.05). There were significant correlations between the difference of hand SSR amplitude at 5 days and percent degeneration at 9 and 14 days (p=0.026, p=0.001). CONCLUSION: The difference of hand SSR amplitude between affected and unaffected side was useful for the indication of the severity of paralysis. And, hand SSR would be useful for an early prognostic predictor in Bell's palsy.
Bell Palsy* ; Facial Nerve ; Hand* ; Humans ; Paralysis ; Prognosis ; Skin*

Hypertension is a serious health problem due to high frequency and concomitant other diseases including cardiovascular and renal dysfunction. Olmesartan cilexetil is a new antihypertensive drug associated with angiotensin II receptor antagonist. This study was conducted to evaluate the mutagenicity of olmesartan cilexetil by bacterial reverse mutation test using Salmonella typhimurium (TA100, TA1535, TA98, and TA1537) and Escherichia coli (WP2 uvrA). At the concentrations of 0, 62, 185, 556, 1667, and 5000 microg/plate, olmesartan cilexetil was negative in both Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli regardless of presence or absence of metabolic activation system (S9 mix). These results demonstrate that olmesartan cilexetil does not induce bacterial reverse mutation.
Biotransformation ; Escherichia coli ; Hypertension ; Imidazoles ; Receptors, Angiotensin ; Salmonella typhimurium ; Tetrazoles

PURPOSE: Generally, young age onset malignancies show worse prognosis. But is "young age onset" a single prognostic factor for breast cancer, has been controversial. The incidence of breast cancer according to age is different by region and races. This study purposed to know the incidence of breast cancer in younger or 35 year old (below Young age group) and its clinical characteristics, prognosis, and difference with older age onset breast cancer. METHODS: A retrospective study of consecutive 545 breast cancer patients who had been treated by our hospital from 1990 to 1999, was carried out. We investigated the ratio of 35 year old or younger breast cancer patients, age of menarche, TNM stage, histologic grades, hormone receptor status, survival rates. And compared it with counter age (>35) group's. The significances of differences were evaluated using Student's-t test or chi-square test by variable type. Analysis were performed using SPSS software. RESULTS: Younger age group patients were 62 (11.3%) among them, showed earlier menarche, worse histologic differentiation, and lower mammographic detection rate than counter group (p<0.05). There were no difference in TNM stage distribution, hormone receptor expression status according to age group (p>0.05). Young age group's 5 year overall and disease free survival rates were 83+/-5% and 58+/-8%, both were lower than counter group's 89+/-2% and 74+/-3% (p<0.05). Also age adjusted overall and disease free survival rates were worse than counter age group's. CONCLUSION:Younger age group shows worse survival rates, have poor prognostic factors and show early relapsing rate than older age group. So we can consider "young age onset" as a poor prognostic factor in breast cancer.
Adult ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Continental Population Groups ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Menarche ; Prognosis* ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

Total scalp avulsion is rare but a devastating injury. This condition burdens the patient with disfigured cosmetic appearance and permanent psychosocial trauma. Throughout history, this condition has been favored in women working with mechanics since the long hair function as a vector appliance for oblique pull of the hair into a stationary torque. We present our experience of the replantation of the total avulsed scalp in male, first to be reported in Korea. Warm ischemic time was exceeding 16 hours along with severe crushed condition of the detached margin, a relatively satisfactory result was obtained.
Cosmetics ; Female ; Hair ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Mechanics ; Replantation ; Scalp ; Torque ; Warm Ischemia

BACKGROUND: Recently, several studies have assessed the association between diabetes and hearing impairment. However, the effect of diabetes on hearing impairment is not well known in diabetic patients exposed to noise, a typical cause of hearing impairment. The aim of this study is to longitudinally analyze the effect of diabetes on hearing impairment in workers exposed to similar noise levels from 2013 to 2017 who had experienced little change in their working conditions. METHODS: The study subjects included 2,087 male workers exposed to noise in a single company and who underwent health examinations at the same hospital in Ulsan city in 2013 and 2017. Hearing impairment was defined that a pure-tone average of pure-tone audiometry (PTA) thresholds at 1,000, 2,000, 3,000, and 4,000 Hz was 25 dB and over in both ears. Statistical analyses were conducted using χ2 tests, ANOVA, and Cox proportional hazard models. We analyzed covariates that might affect hearing impairment, including age; working period; levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, and serum creatinine; smoking and alcohol history; and noise level. RESULTS: The average PTA thresholds and their average changes between 2013 and 2017 were significant in the diabetes mellitus (DM) group than those in the normal and impaired fasting glucose group. Among the subjects with the same status of fasting glucose group in 2013 and 2017, the adjusted hazard ratios for incident hearing impairment among those in the DM group compared to normal group were 3.35 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.54–7.29) in the left ear and 5.66 (95% CI, 2.01–15.98) in the right ear. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggested that the risk of hearing impairment in the DM group was significantly higher than that in the normal group in both ears, even when exposed to similar noise levels.
Audiometry, Pure-Tone ; Blood Glucose ; Cholesterol ; Creatinine ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Ear ; Fasting ; Glucose ; Hearing Loss ; Hearing ; Humans ; Longitudinal Studies ; Male ; Noise ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Triglycerides ; Ulsan

Immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related disease (IgG4RD) is a relatively recently recognized entity that is histopathologically characterized by an extensive infiltration of lymphocytes and IgG4-positive plasma cells with dense fibrosis. IgG4RD is now known to affect any organ system, and a few cases of gastrointestinal lesions have also been reported. However, solitary IgG4RD of the stomach is still very rare. Furthermore, as it can mimic malignant conditions, it is important to recognize this disease to avoid unnecessary surgery. Herein, we present a case of IgG4RD presenting as an isolated subepithelial mass in the stomach.
Fibrosis ; Granuloma, Plasma Cell* ; Immunoglobulins* ; Lymphocytes ; Plasma Cells ; Stomach* ; Unnecessary Procedures

Posttransplant erythrocytosis (PTE) is a common complication of renal transplantation. It afflicts 5-15 % of renal transplant recipients with good renal function and is associated with an increased incidence of thromboembolic events. Traditional therapies for PTE include serial phlebotomy and native nephrectomy, neither of which has proved optimal. Recently, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors have been developed as an alternative for PTE treatment. The aim of the study was to evaluate the therapeutic effect of an ACE inhibitor, enalapril, on PTE by the measurement of serum erythropoietin (EPO) level. Ninety consecutive cyclosporine (CsA)-treated recipients who have received living donor kidneys were investigated during the first two years. Eleven recipients (12.2%) had developed PTE, and ten of them were prospectively treated with enalapril (5-10 mg/day) for 1 year for PTE. The average age for the nine men and one woman was 32+/-7.8 years . All retained their native kidneys. Seven recipents were hypertensive, 5 on diuretics, and 2 were smokers. Serum creatinine was 1.4+/-0.3 mg/dl. Onset of PTE occured 9.8+/-5.5 months posttransplant. Duration of PTE was 7.7+/-6.8 mos (range 1-24 mos). Three had undergone 1-2 phlebotomies during the previous year. None had experienced thromboembolic event. In 10 recipients, hematocrit (HCT) during 3 clinic visits before treatment was 55.8+/-3.4 %. After the application of enalapril, HCT in all recipients decreased. Mean HCT at 3 months was decresed to 44.1+/-3.3 % (p<0.001 vs. pre-enalapril values). One patient became anemic (HCT<40 %). One patient who had initially responsed to enalapril stopped using the drug due to dry cough and suffered a recurrence of PTE. Serum EPO levels (RIA) decresed significantly, from a mean of 15.6+/-6.7 to 8.7+/-3.8 mU/ml at 2 month (p<0.05), although the values were within the normal range for our laboratory. Regardless of pre-enalapril EPO level, the HCT normalized in all patients. Mean arterial pressure decreased (105.2+/-14 vs. 97.2+/-12 mmHg, p<0.05) at 12th month. Serum creatinine did not change (1.4+/-0.3 vs. 1.5+/-0.4 mg/dl) during the study period. No patient required phlebotomy after starting enalapril. We conclude that enalapril administration resulted in a reversible decline of HCT to normal levels in renal transplant recipients with PTE. Clinically, enalapril is a safe and effective alternative to traditional treatment of PTE.
Ambulatory Care ; Arterial Pressure ; Cough ; Creatinine ; Cyclosporine ; Diuretics ; Enalapril* ; Erythropoietin ; Female ; Hematocrit ; Humans ; Incidence ; Kidney ; Kidney Transplantation* ; Living Donors ; Male ; Nephrectomy ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; Phlebotomy ; Polycythemia* ; Prospective Studies ; Recurrence ; Reference Values ; Transplantation

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the effect of a new clomiphene citrate (CC) regimen on preventing thin endometrial lining in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients receiving CC plus gonadotropin treatment with a timed intercourse cycle. METHODS: A total of 114 women with PCOS were included in this trial. Patients were divided into two groups and treated in accordance with the controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) protocol. In group A, 104 COS cycles in 67 patients were included, and in each cycle 150 mg CC was given for three days, starting from day 3. In group B, 69 COS cycles in 47 patients were included, in which 100 mg CC was given for five days, starting from day 3. The thickness of the endometrium was measured on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) injection. Timed intercourse was recommended at 24 and 48 hours after the hCG injection. RESULTS: Additional doses of human menopausal gonadotropin and the number of days of hCG administration were not significantly different between the two groups. Endometrial thickness on the day of hCG administration was significantly larger in group A than group B (9.4+/-2.1 mm vs. 8.5+/-1.7 mm, p=0.004). The pregnancy rate was significantly higher in group A than in group B (38.4% vs. 21.7%, p=0.030). CONCLUSION: Three-day CC treatment resulted in a significantly higher pregnancy rate than the standard five-day CC treatment in a timed intercourse cycle in PCOS patients. Facilitating adequate endometrial growth via the early discontinuation of CC might be a crucial factor in achieving a higher pregnancy rate.
Chorionic Gonadotropin ; Clomiphene* ; Endometrium ; Female ; Gonadotropins* ; Humans ; Ovulation Induction ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate