No abstract available

PURPOSE: Choroid Plexus papilloma is a rare intracranial neoplasm that is most commonly found in the trigone of the lateral ventricle in children or in the fourth ventricle in adult. Extraventricular extension of choroid plexus papilloma has been rarely reported within the cerebellopontine angle (CPA) cistern. Authors report two cases of choroid plexus papilloma in the posterior fossa seen on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: MRI findings of two cases of choroid plexus papilloma in posterior fossa were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: In the first case, the tumor was in the fourth ventricle and extended to the left CPA cistern via the foramen of Luschka. In the second case, the tumor presented as an expansile mass of the of fourth ventricle and right lateral recess. Multiple signal voids of low intensity due to prominent feeding vessels and calcifications within the tumors were noted. CONCLUSION: This report demonstrates MR findings of choroid plexus papilloma in the posterior fossa with the brief review of the literatures.
Adult ; Brain Neoplasms ; Cerebellopontine Angle ; Child ; Choroid Plexus* ; Choroid* ; Fourth Ventricle ; Humans ; Lateral Ventricles ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Papilloma, Choroid Plexus* ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: There are four possible explanations for the sexual dysfunction of schizophrenics. The first is the possibility or a real structural aspect. The second possibility is that sexual function changes secondary to the illness. The third possibility is that there are medical and sociocultural barriers to sexual expression for chronic schizophrenics. The fourth possibility is that sexual dysfunction due to antipsychotic medication. However, we didn't know the precise cause of sexual dysfunction in schizophrenics. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the mechanism of illness itself and antipsychotics on sexual dysfunction in male schizophrenics. METHODS: The serum prolactin(PRL), testosterone(TST), and the plasma serotonin(5-HT) concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay and high performance liquid chromatography method for 100 healthy male schizophrenics according to the DSM-IV. Concomitantly, the severity of psychotic symptoms using Clinical Global Impression(CGI), Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale(BPRS), Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS), and the severity of side effects for antipsychotics using Extrapyramidal Side Effects Scale(EPSE), Anticholinergic Side Effects Scale(ACSE), the cognitive function using PANSS-Cognitive Function(PANSS-CF), Mini Mental State Exam-Korean(MMSE-K), and sexual dysfunction using Sexual Functioning Questionnaire(SFQ), Questionnaire for Sexual Dysfunction in Men were assessed. The PRL, TST and 5-HT levels of 50 healthy male controls who had no medical, neurological, and psychiatric illnesses were evaluated The sexual function using SFQ(items FGa, FNa) were also assessed. Furthermore, the correlation with age, education, religion economic status, age at onset, duration of illnesses, duration of admission. levels of PRL, TST, 5-HT, antipsychotic dosages, potency, benztropine total duration of medication, EPSE, ACSE, CGI BPRS, PANSS, PANSS-CF MMSE-K and sexual dysfunctions were identified in male schizophrenics. RESULTS: 1) The frequencies of sexual dysfunctions for schizophrenics(80%) were significantly(p<0.001) higher than those for controls(42%). The sexual dysfunctions according to sexual response cycle were low sexual desire '76% 'impairment of achieving erection '75%, 'impairment of maintaining erection'75%, 'impairment of obtaining orgasm'32%, 'impairment in the quality of orgasm'61%, 'impairment of quantity of ejaculate'44%, premature ejaculation'15%, and 'delayed ejaculation'50%. 2) The PRL, 5-HT levels of schizophrenics(28.5+/-20.6ng/ml, 298.5+/-89.1ng/ml) were significantly(p<0.001) higher than those of controls(10+/-5.6ng/ml, 169.2+/-37.8ng/ml), while the TST levels of schizophrenics(4.3+/-1.5ng/ml) and controls(4.5+/-1.2ng/ml) were not significantly different. The sexual dysfunctions of schizophrenics who had abnormal 5-HT levels(4.7+/-1.3 scores) were significantly(p<0.05) higher than those of who had normal 5-HT levels(3.8+/-1.6 scores) on item D7. 3) The sexual dysfunctions of unmarried schizophrenics were significantly(p<0.01 : p<0.05) higher than those of married schizophrenics(6.1+/-2.8 scores, 4.7+/-1.3 scores on item FGa : beta=-0.211 on item FNa). The sexual dysfunctions we positively correlated with the rise of 5-HT levels (r=0.209, p<0.05 on item D4 and r=0.241, p<0.05 on item D7), the higher age at onset(r=0.275, p<0.01 on item FNa : r=-0.202, p<0.05 on item FDa), the longer duration of illesses(r=0.237, p<0.05 on item D6), the longer duration of admission(r=0.234, p<0.05 on item D4 : r=0.328, p<0.05 on item D6), the longer total duration of medication(r=0.237, p<0.05 in item D6). However, age, education, religion, economic status, PRL, TST levels, antipsychotics dosage, potency, benztropine, ACSE, CGI, BPRS, PANSS, PANSS-CF, MMSE-K scores were not correlated with increased sexual dysfunctions. CONCLUSIONS: Male schizophrenics have significantly more sexual dysfunction to compare with controls. The high frequencies of sexual dysfunctions were low sexual desire and erectile disorder. The unmarried, higher age at onset, are longer duration of diseases were positively correlated with increased sexual dysfunctions. Also high 5-HT levels were positively correlated with increased sexual dysfunctions. This means that studies of plasma 5-HT levels, albeit questionable indicators of central 5-HT function, offer some additional support for the association of sexual dysfunction with excess 5-HT activity as primary pathology of schizophrenia. Our findings suggest that excess 5-HT activity seems to affect the patient's sexual function.
Antipsychotic Agents ; Benztropine ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Education ; Humans ; Male* ; Pathology ; Plasma ; Prolactin ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Radioimmunoassay ; Schizophrenia ; Serotonin ; Single Person ; Testosterone

OBJECTIVES: The alcohol dependence in elderly people has been prevalent because of increase in geriatric population. However, it is difficult to find out alcohol dependence in the aged, because they have less specific clinical features as compared with adult alcoholics. The aims of this study were to screen alcohol dependence among elderly Koreans and to know the clinical characteristics of Korean delerly alcoholics. METHODS: The questionnaires translated into Korean such as Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test(MAST-K), the Brief MAST and the MAST-Geriatirc Version(MAST-KG) were used to screen alcohol dependence in the elderly alcoholic inpatients aged over 60(N=43), adult alcoholic inpatients within 20-59 Yrs of age(N=60), which were compared with age matched normal healthy aged(N=18) or adult controls(N=45). The demographic data such as sex, age, education, occupation, socioeconomic status, marital status, numbers of children, dwelling and religion as well as alcohol history such as duration of alcohol drinking, onset age, family history, impulsivity, somatic illness and motivation were also obtained to identify characteristic features of Korean aged alcoholics by structured interviews. RESULTS: 1) The aged alcoholics had the charateristic features of more in males, lower age, low education levels, more in blue-collar workers, lower socioeconomic class, more in single few babies, more living alone, having no religion without statistical significance. 2) The onset age of alcohol dependence was significantly higher in the aged alcoholics(45.3+/-13.6Yrs) than in the adult alcoholics(27.7+/-8.7Yrs)(p<0.0001). The duration of problematic alcohol drinking was significantly longer in the aged alcoholics(22.0+/-15.1Yrs) than in adult alcoholics(14.2+/-8.4Yrs)(p<0.01). Otherwise, there were no significant difference between aged and adult alcoholics in the family history, imulsivity, somatic illness and motivation. 3) The mean score of the MAST-K was significantly higher in the aged alcoholics(20.6 +/-5.4) than in the normal aged(6.7+/-4.4)(p<0.0001), which was significantly lower than in the adult alcoholics(26.2+/-8.0)and in normal adult controls(9.5+/-3.2)(p<0.05). The mean score of the Brief MAST was significantly lower in the aged alcoholics(9.3+/-3.5) than in the adult alcoholics(14.5+/-6.6)(p<0.0001). The mean score of the MAST-KG was significantly higher in the aged alcoholics(10.6+/-3.5) than in the normal aged(4.8+/-4.3)(9<0.0001). The former was significantly lower than in adult alcoholics(12.9+/-4.3)(p<0.005), and the mean score was 4.5+/-2.8 in normal adult controls. 4) The items which showed statistically significant differences between aged alcoholics and normal aged controls could be found in 10 items of the MAST-K(item 2, 3, 4, 5, 11, 14, 17, 21, 22 and 23). 2 items of the Brief MAST(items 2 and 9), and 7 items of the MAST-KG(items 6, 13, 18, 19, 22, 23 and 24)(p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The scores of the MAST-K, the Brief MAST and the MAST-KG were significantly lower in the aged alcoholics than those in the adult alcoholics(p<0.05). The statistically significant differences between aged alcoholics and normal aged controls could be found in 10 items of the MAST-K, 2 items of the Brief MAST and 7 items of the MAST-KG. Therefore, a briefer rating scales around 10 items are needed to screen alcohol dependence among Korean elderly people.
Adult ; Age of Onset ; Aged ; Alcohol Drinking ; Alcoholics ; Alcoholism* ; Child ; Education ; Humans ; Impulsive Behavior ; Inpatients ; Korea* ; Male ; Marital Status ; Mass Screening* ; Michigan* ; Motivation ; Occupations ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Social Class ; Weights and Measures

To understand a mechanism of underlying cognitive deficit in schizophrenia, the risk factors, cognitive function, blood dopamine concentrations and glutamate dehydrogenase activities of male schizophrenics with tardive dyskinesia(N=30) were compared with those of schizophrenics without tardive dyskinesia(N=30). The result were as following ; 1) The age, duration of illness and duration of medication were significantly more in schizophrenics with tardive dyskinesia than schizophrenics without tardive dyskinesia(respectively p<0.005, p<0.0001, p<0.0001). 2)The scores of MMSE, TIQ, VIQ and PIQ were significantly lower in schizophrenics with tradive dyskinesia than schizophrenics without tardive dyskinesia(respectively p<0.0001). 3) plasma dopamine concentrations were tended to be higher, and serum glutamate dehydrogenase activities were tended to be lower in schizophrenics with tardive dyskinesia than schizophrenics without tardive dyskinesia. 4) The cognitive deficit seemed to be negatively correlated with duration of illness and duration of illness and duration of medication(respectively gamma=-0.496, gamma=-0.615).
Dopamine ; Dyskinesias ; Glutamate Dehydrogenase ; Humans ; Male ; Movement Disorders* ; Plasma ; Risk Factors ; Schizophrenia*

Positron emission tomography (PET) with 2-[F-18]-Fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) was performed in ninteen patients who had benign musculoskeletal tumors in order to determine if there was a relationship between histologic grade of tumor and FDG uptake of tumor. These patients had been evaluated previously with computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance (MR) imaging or both. The diagnoses were confirmed with incisional or excisional biopsy or by radiographic follow-up. Generally high-grade tumors had significantly greater uptake of FDG than low-grade lesions . Benign lesions such as giant cell tumor, fibrous dysplasia, and osteofibrous dysplasia showed significant elevation of SUV (Standardized Uptake Value) above 4.0. On the contrary. The current studies suggest the utility of FDG-PET imaging as an adjunct to CT or MR imaging in the evaluation of benign tumors. And results of PET suggest benign tumors with high SUV are histologically active lesion and tend to be locally aggressive.
Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Electrons* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Giant Cell Tumors ; Glucose* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Positron-Emission Tomography

We report two cases of malignant lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue arising in the conjunctiva. Case 1, an 18-year-old girl, showed her left lower conjunctival swelling for four months and Case 2, a 29-year-old man, showed similar lesions on both his eyes for one year. Histologically, both cases revealed monomorphous dense lymphoid infiltrates invading the overlying conjunctival epithelium with diffuse patterns. The infiltrates were composed of small lymphocytes admixed with centrocyte-like cells within the conjunctival epithelium and stroma in association with B-cell lineage. No relapse was noted during the period of about 1½ years follow-up in case 1 treated by local excision only and in the follow-up period of 2 months in case 2 treated by local excision and subsequent chemotherapy.
Adolescent ; Adult ; B-Lymphocytes ; Conjunctiva* ; Drug Therapy ; Epithelium ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; Lymphoid Tissue* ; Lymphoma* ; Recurrence

No abstract available.
Diagnosis* ; Ectopia Cordis*

No abstract available.
Microvascular Decompression Surgery*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the inhibitory effect of tranilast on formation of corneal haze using the Pentacam(R) after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). METHODS: A prospective, randomized, paired eye study was performed. A total of 60 eyes from 30 patients were enrolled in the present study. Eyes were categorized as myopic eyes <-5 D and > or =-5 D. Patients undergoing PRK were randomized to receive tranilast in one eye and no medication in the contralateral eye. Three months postoperatively, corneal haze was measured with the Pentacam(R) and compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: Statistical differences were not found in preoperative data in the tranilast or control groups (all P > 0.05). There was a strong decreasing density trend from the apex to the 3 mm radius in both groups (P < 0.05). However, postoperative corneal haze in the tranilast group was similar to the control group (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The use of tranilast after PRK did not inhibit corneal opacity. Additionally, Pentacam(R) can provide a useful objective measure of corneal haze.
Corneal Opacity ; Humans ; Photorefractive Keratectomy* ; Prospective Studies ; Radius