Cervical pregnancy is a rare form of ectopic gestation in which the blastocyst implants in the cervical mucosa below the histologic cervical os. Because of the serious vaginal bleeding, hysterectomy was usually done in the management of cervical pregnancy. Howerver, conservative treatment is desirable for women who want to be pregnancy in the future. Methotrexate has been utilized recently for conservative management of cervical pregnancy. We report a case of cervical pregnancy which was treated succesfully with intramuscular methotrexate injection.
Blastocyst ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Methotrexate* ; Mucous Membrane ; Pregnancy* ; Uterine Hemorrhage

Hyperreactio luteinalis(HL)referes to moderate to marked cystic bilateral enlargement of ovaries due to benign theca lutein cysts, usually related to hydatidiform mole or choriocarcinoma. After its first description by Berger in 1938, almost 53 cases of HL unassociated with trophoblastic disease have been reported in the literature. We encountered one such case in a 34 years old female which was incidentally diagnosed during cesarean section at term.
Adult ; Cesarean Section ; Choriocarcinoma ; Female ; Humans ; Hydatidiform Mole ; Lutein ; Ovary ; Pregnancy ; Trophoblasts

OBJECTIVE: Vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)-C is involved in lymphangiogenesis and spreading of cancer cells via lymphatic vessels. The aim of the present study is to investigate the relationship between the absence of cerebral lymphatic vessels and low metastatic rate of brain tumors. METHODS: Immunohistochemical stains were performed for VEGF-C and VEGF in surgically resected specimens from 57 patients with primary(38 cases, low grade : 10 cases, high grade : 28 cases) and metastatic(19 cases) brain tumor. RESULTS: The expression of VEGF-C was higher in metastatic carcinoma(68%) than in high-grade primary tumor(29%). There was no difference for VEGF expression between high grade brain tumor (71%) and metastatic carcinoma(58%). CONCLUSION: Low VEGF-C expression of primary brain tumors may play a role in low metastatic rate of brain tumors.
Brain Neoplasms* ; Brain* ; Coloring Agents ; Humans ; Lymphangiogenesis ; Lymphatic Vessels ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence and risk factors of clopidogrel resistance, and association between thromboembolic complications and clopidogrel resistance in patient with stent-assisted angioplasty for atherosclerotic cerebrovascular disease. METHODS: Between September 2006 and June 2008, clopidogrel resistance test was performed on 41 patients who underwent stent-assisted angioplasty for atherosclerotic cerebrovascular disease. It was performed before drug administration and about 12 hours after drug administration (loading dose : 300 mg, maintain dose : 75 mg). Two patients were excluded, and 41 patients were included (mean : 67.59+/-7.10 years, age range : 41-79). Among 41 patients, 18 patients had intracranial lesions, and 23 had extracranial lesions. We evaluated the prevalence, risk factors and complications related to clopidogrel resistance. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients (51.2%) showed clopidogrel resistance [intracranial : 10 patients (55.6%), extracranial : 11 patients (47.8%)] and no clopidogrel resistance was seen in 20 patients. Hypercholesterolemia was an indepedent risk factor of clopidogrel resistance. Stent-assisted angioplasty was technically successful in all patients, but acute in-stent thrombosis occurred in 5 patients with intracranial lesions (4 patients with clopidogrel resistance and 1 without clopidogrel resistance). Acute thrombi were completely lysed after intra-arterial infusion of abciximab. CONCLUSION: There was relatively high prevalence of clopidogrel resistance in patients with atherosclerotic cerebrovascular disease. Hypercholesterolemia was an independent predictive factor of clopidogrel resistance. Acute in-stent thrombosis was more frequently seen in the clopidogrel resistant group. Therefore, clopidogrel resistance test should be performed to avoid thromboembolic complications related to stent-assisted angioplasty for atherosclerotic cerebrovascular disease, especially patients with hypercholeterolemia and intracranial lesion.
Angioplasty ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Infusions, Intra-Arterial ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Stents ; Thrombosis ; Ticlopidine

No abstract available.
Humans ; Prevalence* ; Renal Dialysis*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Individual genetic susceptibilities to chemical carcinogens have been recognized as a major important host factors in human cancers. The cytochrome P450 family (CYPs) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) have been reported to be associated with risks to the smoking-related human cancers. The purpose of this study is to determine the frequencies of the genotypes of CYP1A1 and GSTM1 genes in healthy control of Koreans and to identify the high-risk genotypes of these metabolic genes in head and neck cancer patients. MAERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-six healthy controls and 93 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients are analysed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). RESULTS: The distributions of CYP1A1 and GSTM1 in healthy controls according to the MspI site and absence or presence of PCR products were as following: m1/m1:m1/m2:m2/m2=39.6%:47.9%:12.5%, GSTM1 (-):GSTM1 (+)=45%:55%. GSTM1 (-) type and CYP1A1 m2/m2 types were more frequent in cancer patients than healthy controls. Among the combined genotypes of CYP1A1 and GSTM1 genes, the relative risk of CYP1A1 m1/m2, GSTM1 (-) genotypes was 2.13 times of relative odds' ratio in head and neck cancer patients. According to the tumor location, CYP1A1 m2/m2, GSTM1 (-) genotypes of larynx and CYP1A1 m1/m2, GSTM1 (-) genotypes of oral and pharynx were the highest risk groups to cancers in their locations. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the genetic polymorphisms of CYP1A1 and GSTM1 were an important major factor to determine the individual susceptibility to head and neck cancers in Korean. And these polymorphisms and cancers susceptibile genotypes of CYP1A1 and GSTM1 in Korean population are very unique in comparison with the other ethinics.
Carcinogens ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System ; Cytochromes* ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease* ; Genotype ; Glutathione Transferase* ; Glutathione* ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; Head* ; Humans ; Larynx ; Neck* ; Pharynx ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic

Sturge Weber syndrome (SWS) is a rare, congenital neurocutaneous syndrome. We rarely experienced neurocutaneous disorders in forensic practice but there are unexpected sudden deaths of patients with SWS due to epilepsy, intracranial hemorrhage, thromboses and secondary accident. We introduce a case of drowning death probably due to an epileptic attack of a person diagnosed as a patient of SWS by an autopsy. We review some of the neurocutaneous syndromes and a discussion of autopsy approach is presented.
Autopsy ; Death, Sudden ; Drowning ; Epilepsy ; Humans ; Intracranial Hemorrhages ; Neurocutaneous Syndromes ; Sturge-Weber Syndrome ; Thrombosis

OBJECTIVE: Intrathecal methotrexate (MTX) therapy combined with whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) is one of the major treatment modalities for leukemia and lymphoma involving the central nervous system (CNS). The purpose of this study was to retrospectively determine the incidences of leukoencephalopathy and disseminated necrotizing leukoencephalopathy (DNL) following intrathecal MTX therapy for CNS lymphoma or leukemia and to assess the potential risk factors. METHODS: Between January 2000 and August 2009, 143 patients with CNS lymphoma or leukemia received intrathecal MTX therapy alone or in combination with WBRT at a single institution. Patients were followed up clinically and radiologically at regular two- or three-month intervals. Medical records were reviewed to obtain information regarding the patients' demographics, medical histories, radiologic characteristics, treatments, and clinical courses. RESULTS: On follow-up MR images, leukoencephalopathy was found in 95 of 143 patients (66.4%). The median time to develop leukoencephalopathy was 6.6 months. Among those with leukoencephalopathy, four patients showed seven extensive white-matter changes with strongly enhancing lesions demonstrating DNL. Histological confirmation was done in six lesions of three patients and radiological diagnosis alone in one patient. Four lesions spontaneously disappeared on MR images without any treatment, with a mean duration of 14 months before disappearance of DNL. CONCLUSION: Leukoencephalopathy is a common phenomenon that occurs following intrathecal MTX therapy; however, DNL occurs at a very low incidence. For newly developed enhancing lesions, consideration for the occurrence of DNL should be taken to avoid unnecessary invasive procedures or therapies.
Brain ; Central Nervous System ; Demography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Leukemia ; Leukoencephalopathies ; Lymphoma ; Medical Records ; Methotrexate ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: Meningioma is the second most common primary central nervous system neoplasm. In contrast, chordoid meningioma is rare; due to the paucity of cases, little is known about its clinical features or treatment outcomes. The objectives of this study were to describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes for patients with chordoid meningioma. METHODS: In total, 16 patients, with newly diagnosed chordoid meningioma who underwent surgical excision between 1999 and 2012 were included. We retrospectively evaluated the medical records, radiological findings, and pathological findings. The median follow-up period was 56.5 (range, 3-170) months. The MIB-1 labeling index ranged from 1 to 26.60% (median, 5.04). RESULTS: Simpson grade I, II, and III resections were performed in four, nine, and three patients, respectively. The overall recurrence rate was 37.5%. Overall progression-free survival (PFS) after resection was 94.7 months (95% CI=62.9-126.6). Of the 4 patients with Simpson grade I resection, recurrence occurred in one patient. Among the Simpson grade II and III resection groups, eight patients underwent adjuvant radiation therapy and they showed significantly longer PFS (121 months, 95% CI=82.1-159.9) than the patients who underwent surgery alone (40.5 months, 95% CI=9.6-71.3) by the log-rank test (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Chordoid meningiomas are difficult to manage and have a high rate of recurrence. Complete resection of the tumor is a key determinant of better outcomes. Adjuvant radiation therapy is recommended, eparticulary when Simpson grade I resection was not achieved.
Central Nervous System ; Disease-Free Survival ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Meningioma* ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome*

Aspirin hypersensitivity is a hallmark of aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD), a clinical syndrome characterized by the severe inflammation of the respiratory tract after ingestion of cyclooxygenase-1 inhibitors. We investigated the capacity of aspirin to induce interleukin-4 (IL-4) production in inflammatory cells relevant to AERD pathogenesis and examined the associated biochemical and molecular pathways. We also compared IL-4 production in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with AERD vs aspirin-tolerant asthma (ATA) upon exposure to aspirin. Aspirin induced IL-4 expression and activated the IL-4 promoter in a report assay. The capacity of aspirin to induce IL-4 expression correlated with its activity to activate mitogen-activated protein kinases, to form DNA-protein complexes on P elements in the IL-4 promoter and to synthesize nuclear factor of activated T cells, critical transcription factors for IL-4 transcription. Of clinical importance, aspirin upregulated IL-4 production twice as much in PBMCs from patients with AERD compared with PBMCs from patients with ATA. Our results suggest that IL-4 is an inflammatory component mediating intolerance reactions to aspirin, and thus is crucial for AERD pathogenesis.
Aspirin* ; Asthma ; Cyclooxygenase 1 ; Eating ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-4* ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; Negotiating ; Respiratory System ; T-Lymphocytes ; Transcription Factors