This erratum is being published to correct of affiliation and add an acknowledgement.

Ticlopidine is a powerful inhibitor of platelet aggregation which is induced by adenosine diphosphate. Ticlopidine has been shown to be effective in reducing combined stroke, myocardial infarction, reocclusion of coronary stent. The principal side effects of ticlopidine are severe neutropenia, rash and gastrointestinal upset. Recently, we experienced two cases of severe neutropenia associated with ticlopidine. One was administered ticlopidine to prevent subacute thrombosis after intracoronary stent implantation in unstable angina pectoris. Thirty days of therapy, her absolute neutrophil count (ANC) had dropped to 14/mm3 . The other patient was presented with recurrent episodes of cerebral infarction, for which he had undergone right carotid angiogram. The carotid angiogram demonstrated tight stenosis of right internal carotid artery. Carotid artery stenting was performed at right internal carotid artery without any complications. Twenty seven days of ticlopidine therapy, his ANC had dropped to 111/mm3. The ticlopidine was stopped, and they were given granulocyte-colony stim-ulating factor 250 microgram/day subcutaneous injection until their ANC was up to 1000/mm3. They were discharged with normal neutrophil count and no other complications.
Adenosine Diphosphate ; Angina, Unstable ; Carotid Arteries ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Cerebral Infarction ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Exanthema ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Humans ; Injections, Subcutaneous ; Myocardial Infarction ; Neutropenia* ; Neutrophils ; Platelet Aggregation ; Stents ; Stroke ; Thrombosis ; Ticlopidine*

BACKGROUND: Neonatal hypocalcemia is not an infrequent condition, especially in the premature neonate. It is effectively treated by intravenous administration of calcium gluconate. Complications of extravasation during intraveous infusion included calcification and, occasionally necrosis. But the exact mechanism of calcinosis cutis following extravasation of calcium gluconate remains unknown and there is no specific mode of treatment except cold packs and skin graft. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to evaluate the clinical and histological features in rabbits after subcutaneous injection of 10% calcium gluconate and a mixed solution of gluconate and triamcinolone acetonide. METHODS: Two rabbits were divided into 3 groups and were subcutaneously injected with the following materials on the back; 10% calcium gluconate, a mixed solution of calcium gluconate and triamcinolone acetonide, and 25% normal saline as controls respectively. The injection site including the skin and subcutaneous fat was excised and fixed with natural buffered formalin. The biopsied specimens were stained with Hematolxylin and Eosin. RESULTS: 1) In the 10% calcium gluconate injected group, there was some erthema and induration after three days. By the fifth to the seventh days there was more erythema and firm induration. At 15 days, nodules and large ulcreated lesions developed. Multiple, linear shaped, ulcreative surfaced and indurated masses were noted at 37days.l from 45days to 2months there was progressive healing with decrease in ulceration, and gradual disapppearance of the mass. Histologically, at the 8th day calcium was seen in the walls of the arteries and veins, after 15days, the reaction was at its peak and epidermal necrosis was seen on the injected site. From 30 to 3days, calcium deposition and granuloma formation were seen in the dermis. In addition discharge of calcium deposits began to place by means of transepidermal elimination. After 45days, although the response was subsiding, the calcium and mucin deposition was observed focally in the dermis. 2. In the 10% calcium gluconate and triamcinolone acetonide adjuvant injected group, there was development of some erythema at 8days. After 15days, some erythema and induration were seen of the injected site ad this gradually disappeared. By 37days, the injection site was normal in appearance. Histologically, at 15days calcium deposition was seen on the upper dermis and the injection site was histologically normal after one month. 3. In 25% normal saline injected group, the injection site was clinically normal. Histologically there was no reaction except for focal perivascular eosinophilia after 24horus. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the important mechanism of calcinosis cutis appears to be elevated concentration as well as the tissue damage at the site of the extravasation of calcium gluconate. The final common pathway of calcification is the formation of crystalline and insoluble calcium phosphate mineral, in the form of hydroxyapatite. The intralesional injection of triamcinolone for the treatment of calcinosis cutis in our study was effective due to its antiinflammatory effect and the reabsorption of calcium in the tissues.
Administration, Intravenous ; Arteries ; Bowen's Disease ; Calcinosis* ; Calcium Gluconate* ; Calcium* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Crystallins ; Dermis ; Durapatite ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Eosinophilia ; Erythema ; Formaldehyde ; Granuloma ; Humans ; Hypocalcemia ; Infant, Newborn ; Injections, Intralesional ; Injections, Subcutaneous ; Keratoacanthoma ; Keratosis, Actinic ; Mucins ; Necrosis ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; Rabbits ; Skin ; Subcutaneous Fat ; Transplants ; Triamcinolone ; Triamcinolone Acetonide ; Ulcer ; Veins

BACKGROUND: Neonatal hypocalcemia is not an infrequent condition, especially in the premature neonate. It is effectively treated by intravenous administration of calcium gluconate. Complications of extravasation during intraveous infusion included calcification and, occasionally necrosis. But the exact mechanism of calcinosis cutis following extravasation of calcium gluconate remains unknown and there is no specific mode of treatment except cold packs and skin graft. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to evaluate the clinical and histological features in rabbits after subcutaneous injection of 10% calcium gluconate and a mixed solution of gluconate and triamcinolone acetonide. METHODS: Two rabbits were divided into 3 groups and were subcutaneously injected with the following materials on the back; 10% calcium gluconate, a mixed solution of calcium gluconate and triamcinolone acetonide, and 25% normal saline as controls respectively. The injection site including the skin and subcutaneous fat was excised and fixed with natural buffered formalin. The biopsied specimens were stained with Hematolxylin and Eosin. RESULTS: 1) In the 10% calcium gluconate injected group, there was some erthema and induration after three days. By the fifth to the seventh days there was more erythema and firm induration. At 15 days, nodules and large ulcreated lesions developed. Multiple, linear shaped, ulcreative surfaced and indurated masses were noted at 37days.l from 45days to 2months there was progressive healing with decrease in ulceration, and gradual disapppearance of the mass. Histologically, at the 8th day calcium was seen in the walls of the arteries and veins, after 15days, the reaction was at its peak and epidermal necrosis was seen on the injected site. From 30 to 3days, calcium deposition and granuloma formation were seen in the dermis. In addition discharge of calcium deposits began to place by means of transepidermal elimination. After 45days, although the response was subsiding, the calcium and mucin deposition was observed focally in the dermis. 2. In the 10% calcium gluconate and triamcinolone acetonide adjuvant injected group, there was development of some erythema at 8days. After 15days, some erythema and induration were seen of the injected site ad this gradually disappeared. By 37days, the injection site was normal in appearance. Histologically, at 15days calcium deposition was seen on the upper dermis and the injection site was histologically normal after one month. 3. In 25% normal saline injected group, the injection site was clinically normal. Histologically there was no reaction except for focal perivascular eosinophilia after 24horus. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the important mechanism of calcinosis cutis appears to be elevated concentration as well as the tissue damage at the site of the extravasation of calcium gluconate. The final common pathway of calcification is the formation of crystalline and insoluble calcium phosphate mineral, in the form of hydroxyapatite. The intralesional injection of triamcinolone for the treatment of calcinosis cutis in our study was effective due to its antiinflammatory effect and the reabsorption of calcium in the tissues.
Administration, Intravenous ; Arteries ; Bowen's Disease ; Calcinosis* ; Calcium Gluconate* ; Calcium* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Crystallins ; Dermis ; Durapatite ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Eosinophilia ; Erythema ; Formaldehyde ; Granuloma ; Humans ; Hypocalcemia ; Infant, Newborn ; Injections, Intralesional ; Injections, Subcutaneous ; Keratoacanthoma ; Keratosis, Actinic ; Mucins ; Necrosis ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; Rabbits ; Skin ; Subcutaneous Fat ; Transplants ; Triamcinolone ; Triamcinolone Acetonide ; Ulcer ; Veins

No abstract available.
Hemangioma* ; Liver* ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*

No abstract available.
Hemangioma* ; Liver* ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*

The term dilated(congestive) cardiomyopathy refers to a variety of cardiac disorders that have in common ventricular dilation and reduced myocardial contractility, and is derived from the common late clinical manifestation of congestive heart failure. Since echocardiography can evaluate several aspects of anatomical structures and cardiac function, it has provide a valuable contribution to the understanding of ventricular function and diagnosis of dilated cardiomyopathy. The purpose of this study is to perform the echocardiographic evaluation of left ventricular function in 44 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and to compare the patients with normal individuals. The patients, 24 males and 20 females, had a mean age of 53.0 and body surface area of 1.61m2. Normal individuals as a control group, 10 males and 10 females, had a mean age of 47.2 and body surface area of 1.67m2. Among 44 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy, 22 cases had a history of heart failure and in 15 cases systolic murmur was heard at the apex. The cardiothoracic ratio was 0.7+/-0.1 on chest X-ray which showed significant difference when compared to normal control group, being 0.4+/-0.1(p<0.01) One case showed left ventricular thrombus and in 8 cases small mounts of pericardial effusion were noted. Among the 44 patients two had uremia, one had a history of myocarditis, one patient was young female whose illness began during the peripartum period and one had a diabetes mellitus. Results obtained were as follows; 1) Mitral valve echocardiogram (1) DE amplitude and EF slope of mitral valve(16.5+/-3.3mm and 83.5+/-3.65mm/sec respectively) showed significant decrease when compared to normal control group (20.1+/-3.0 mm and 102.4+/-28.9 mm/sec respectively) (p<0.01 and p<0.05). (2) EPSS (25.5+/-7.6mm) and the distance between posterior cusp of mitral valve and left ventricular posterior wall (9.1+/-2.1mm) showed significant increase (p<0.01) when compared to normal control group (7.1+/-2.1mm and 5.9+/-1.2mm). The ratio of the separation of two mitral leaflets to the left ventrticular diastolic dimension (0.4+/-0.1) showed significant showed significant decrease in patients when compared to normal control group (p<0.01) (3) Among 44 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy, 12 cases showed B-notch in mitral valve. 2) Echocardiographic findings of aortic valve. Left atrial size was markedly increased (37.7+/-7.5mm) when compared to nomal control group (29.1+/-4.9) (p<0.01). The ratio of left atrial size to aortic dimension was 1.3+/-0.3, showing significant increase when compared to normal control group (0.99+/-0.3) (<0.01). And 4 cases showed systolic notch in aortic valves. 3) Echocardiographic findings of left ventrcle and ventricular septum. (1) Left ventricular diastolic and systolic dimensions (41.8+/-7.8mm/m2 and 36.7+/-7.2mm/m2) were markedly increased in patient with dilated cardiomyopathy, when compared to normal control group (30.4+/-2.6mm/m2 and 11.4+/-3.2mm/m2) (p<0.1, both). Left ventricular diastolic and systolic volume (181.5+/-91.0ml/m2 and 136.6+/-69.7ml/m2) were also significantly higher in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy when compared to normal control group (79.1+/-23.8mm/m2 and 19.4+/-2.5ml/m2) (p<0.01, both). (2) Ejection fraction (0.32+/-0.10) percent fractional shortening (12.3+/-4.6) and mVcf (0.5+/-0.2 cric/sec) showed significant decrease in patients when compared to normal control group (0.74+/-0.05, 34.6+/-6.7 and 1.4+/-0.2) (p<0.01, all). Thus, We could find the reduced myocardial contractility in dilated cardiomyopathy. (3) Systolic amplitudes of venticular septum (LSa) and ventricular posterior wall (Ena) were markedly decreased (p<0.01). The sum of both values (LSa+ENa) also showed significant decrease (12.0+/-4.2mm) when compared to normal control group (p<0.01) (4) Thickness of ventricular septum and ventricular posterior wall showed slight increase in patients, but there was no significant changes when compared to normal group. 4) Systolic time interval Echocardiograms showed significant increase in ratio of preejection period to ejection time, when compared to normal group (p<0.01). Thus, the author observed that in dilated cardiomyopathy the contractility of left ventricle was significantly reduced and the left ventricular diameter and diastolic volume of left ventricle showed marked increase. And also the decreased motions of ventricular septum and posterior wall of left ventricle were noted.
Aortic Valve ; Body Surface Area ; Cardiomyopathies ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated* ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography* ; Female ; Heart Failure ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Male ; Mitral Valve ; Myocarditis ; Pericardial Effusion ; Peripartum Period ; Systole ; Systolic Murmurs ; Thorax ; Thrombosis ; Uremia ; Ventricular Function ; Ventricular Function, Left* ; Ventricular Septum

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the usefulness of ultrasonography for lumbar anatomical structure measurement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2011 to April 2011, 41 patients (22 males, 19 females) with back pain who visited the outpatient department and underwent lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were selected. In each level of L4 and L5, we measured the longest distance and horizontal distance between each inferior articular process based off a spinous process. We also measured the distance between the spinous process tip and the vertebral body posterior surface and the thickness and width of the multifidus muscle. All distances were measured with ultrasonography and MRI and the two measurement results were compared. RESULTS: Using ultrasonography and MRI, we measured the distance between the spinous process tip and the posterior surface of the body. The distances were 39.16+/-8.71 mm/39.53+/-6.01 mm at L4 and 38.32+/-9.66 mm/37.74+/-10.54 mm at L5. The right multifidus muscle thickness measurements were 32.13+/-10.79 mm/33.84+/-9 mm at L4 and 31.32+/-10.04 mm/32.84+/-12.28 mm at L5. The measuring distance between the spinous process center to the posterior vertebral body surface and thickness of multifidus muscles by ultrasonography and MRI had significant correlations (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Limitations still exist in measuring the structure of lumbar anatomy with ultrasonography. However, measuring the distance between the spinous process center to the vertebral body posterior surface and multifidus muscle thickness was effective.
Back Pain ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Magnetics ; Magnets ; Male ; Muscles ; Outpatients ; Spine

Angiosarcomas are rare tumors that are derived from vascular endothelial cells. They may occur in various sites, including the skin, breast, visceral organs and deep soft tissues. The pleura usually a metastatic site from angiosarcomas. However, thirty one cases of primary pleural angiosarcomas have been reported worldwide. Here, we report a 61-year-old man with a primary angiosarcoma of the pleura with a brief review of the literature.
Breast ; Endothelial Cells ; Hemangiosarcoma* ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Pleura* ; Skin

The Wada test was performed for lateralization of language and memory function, using intracarotid injection of Sodium Amytal. But, the internal carotid artery(ICA) Wada test has some limitations for testing memory function. The posterior cerebral artery(PCA) Wade test has been designed to modify to modify the ICA Wada test for testing memory function selectively. In our study, 10 patients out of 12 patients with intractable seizure underwent only the ICA Wada test and the other 2 patients underwent both are ICA and the selective PCA Wada test In all 12 patients undergoing the ICA Wada test, we succesfully localized speech and language dominace. Four of 12 patients who underwent the ICA Wada test for evaluation of memory function displayed superior memory functions in one hemisphere, but the other hemisphere also significantly contributed to memory. The selective PCA Wada test, performed in 2 patients, showed successful results of memory function test in both patients. Four of 12 patients underwent temporal lobectomy and there was no major post-operative language or memory deficits. We conclude that the ICA and PCA Wada tests are useful for preoperative evaluation of medically intractable epilepsy, and the PCA Wada test is valuable in memory evaluation in some patients who have hight risk of postoperative global amnesia after temporal lobectomy following equivocal results of memory function by the ICA Wada test.
Amnesia ; Amobarbital ; Drug Resistant Epilepsy* ; Humans ; Memory Disorders ; Memory* ; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis ; Seizures