A 31-year-old man presented with dull headache and memory disturbance lasting for one week. Computed tomographic scans revealed acute hydrocephalus. The cerebrospinal fluid contained 53 leukocytes/mm3, with a mononuclear preponderance and no erythrocytes. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed hydrocephalus and leptomeningeal enhancement. Magnetic resonance angiography and digital subtraction angiography showed supraclinoid occlusion of the right internal carotid artery, which resembled unilateral moyamoya disease. Neuroendoscopic biopsy of a lesion in the septum pellucidum revealed noncaseating granulomas, which was consistent with sarcoidosis. The patient was successfully managed with intravenous methylprednisolone and ventriculoperitoneal shunting. To our knowledge, this is the first case of moyamoya-like vasculopathy associated with neurosarcoidosis.
Adult ; Angiography, Digital Subtraction ; Biopsy ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Central Nervous System Diseases ; Erythrocytes ; Granuloma ; Headache ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Memory ; Methylprednisolone ; Moyamoya Disease ; Sarcoidosis ; Septum Pellucidum ; Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt

We describe a case of an unruptured basilar top aneurysm that was associated with early rupture after incomplete coiling. A 62-year-old woman with a history of several small infarctions has undergone coiling of unruptured basilar top aneurysm. Two weeks after initial coiling the patient presented with Hunt and Hess grade IV subarachnoid hemorrhage consistent with a ruptured basilar top aneurysm. Repeat angiography revealed a rupture of recanalized basilar top aneurysm. Second embolization with additional coils resulted in complete occlusion. However, her neurological status was not improved afterward and she was transferred to department of rehabilitation one month after hemorrhage with comatous state. To our knowledge, this is the first case of fatal early rupture after coiling of unruptured aneurysm. It has been speculated that coiling could cause injury to aneurysmal wall and facilitate rupture.
Aneurysm* ; Angiography ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Infarction ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Middle Aged ; Rehabilitation ; Rupture* ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

A 31-year-old man presented with right hemiparesis, and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a small infarct at left basal ganglia. Digital subtraction angiography showed left cervical internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion and severe stenosis of the ipsilateral external carotid artery (ECA) with collateral cerebral circulation fed by ECAs. Based on the results of a functional evaluation of cerebral blood flow, we performed preventive ECA angioplasty and stenting for advanced ECA stenosis to ensure sufficient blood flow to the superficial temporal artery. Eight weeks later, superficial temporal artery to middle cerebral artery (STA-MCA) anastomosis was performed. His postoperative course was uneventful and no additional transient ischemic attacks have occurred. To our knowledge, this is the first report of preventive angioplasty and stenting for advanced narrowing of an ECA before STA-MCA anastomosis for ipsilateral ICA occlusion.
Adult ; Angiography, Digital Subtraction ; Angioplasty ; Basal Ganglia ; Carotid Artery, External ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Dietary Sucrose ; Humans ; Ischemic Attack, Transient ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Paresis ; Stents ; Temporal Arteries

OBJECTIVE: The anatomy of middle cerebral artery (MCA) bifurcation aneurysms has been noted to be unfavorable for endovascular treatment. Our purpose was to analyze the clinical and angiographic results of coiling of the MCA bifurcation aneurysms. METHODS: From January 2004 to April 2007, 26 patients harboring 29 MCA bifurcation aneurysms were treated with coils. Of these patients, 16 had subarachnoid hemorrhages (SAH). The bleeding source was a ruptured MCA bifurcation aneurysm in 11 patients and a ruptured aneurysm in a different location in 5 patients, respectively. Treatment-related complications, clinical outcomes, and postprocedural and follow-up angiography results were retrospectively evaluated. RESULTS: 29 MCA bifurcation aneurysms (11 ruptured, 18 unruptured) were occluded with coils in 26 patients. Occlusion was complete for 24 (82.8%) of the 29 aneurysms, incomplete for 3 (10.3%), and partial for 2 (6.9%) aneurysms. Procedural complications included thromboembolism in 6, a small nonocclusive thrombus formation in 1, and intraprocedural aneurysmal rupture in 1. All of symptomatic complications were thromboembolic events that occurred 3 patients with unruptured aneurysm and they discharged with moderate disability state. Follow-up angiograms were available on 16 patients with 18 aneurysms and 1 patient with an initial complete occlusion had a slight neck recanalization. CONCLUSION: Coiling of MCA bifurcation aneurysm could be achieved without treatment-induced neurologic deficit in 88.5% (23/26) of the patients while at the same time obtaining favorable anatomic results. Improvements in device technology and technique will certainly greatly increase the safety of coiling of MCA bifurcation aneurysm, widening its indications.
Aneurysm ; Aneurysm, Ruptured ; Angiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Neck ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Retrospective Studies ; Rupture ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; Thromboembolism ; Thrombosis

A 26-year-old man was admitted to our department due to intermittent left hemiparesis for 3 months. Magnetic resonance image showed subacute infarction in the right precentral gyrus. Digital subtraction angiography and magnetic resonance angiography revealed an aneurysmal protrusion at the right middle cerebral artery (MCA) bifurcation. It was difficult to differentiate the aneurysm from the occlusion of the middle trunk of the MCA trifurcation. Brain single photon emission computerized tomography showed a decrease in perfusion in the right posterior frontal lobe without vascular reserve. Therefore, we planned a superficial temporal artery-MCA anastomosis with an exploration of the right MCA bifurcation. Intraoperatively, the aneurysmal opacification on preoperative angiography proved to be the proximal stump of the occluded middle trunk of the MCA trifurcation. An aneurysmal protrusion at the MCA bifurcation does not always indicate an aneurysm. In diagnosing protruding vascular lesions at the MCA bifurcation, the possibility of a vascular stump should be considered according to their angioanatomical appearance and the history of the patient.
Adult ; Aneurysm* ; Angiography ; Angiography, Digital Subtraction ; Brain ; Frontal Lobe ; Humans ; Infarction ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; Middle Cerebral Artery* ; Paresis ; Perfusion ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

Cerebral aneurysms associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are more likely to grow rapidly and rupture, comparedto those found in the general population. The main underlying pathology of intracranial aneurysm and its rupture is presumed tobe SLE-related intracranial vasculitis and fragility of blood vessels due to prolonged use of steroid. For these reasons, both surgicaland endovascular options are challenging. On the other hand, given the possibility that SLE may predispose to growth andrupture of intracranial aneurysm, early intervention for cerebral aneurysms associated with SLE may be more necessary andbeneficial than other cerebral aneurysms in the general population. Here we would like to report on the unexpected complicationsthat occurred during or after endovascular treatment of an SLE patient with multiple aneurysms. The complications includeintraprocedural rupture of unruptured aneurysm, coil stretching, contrast-induced encephalopathy, and delayed ipsilateral intraparenchymalhemorrhage after stent-assisted coiling. Our unique case highlights that the SLE patient with multiple intracranialaneurysms had a higher risk of endovascular procedure-related complications, which might be due to the increased bleedingtendency and fragility of blood vessels.

This study aims to evaluate the changes of flavonoid contents and antioxidants activity of Jeju native citrus fruits juice according to the harvest date. Flavonoids such as quercatagetin, narirutin, hesperidin and neohesperidin were contained most plentifully in the juice of Jigak (Citrus aur- antium) by 573.73 mg/100 mL, Sadoogam (C. pseudogulgul) by 393.99 mg /100 mL, Soyooja by 29.63 mg/100 mL and Jigak (C. aurantium) by 201.23 mg/100 mL in the late August, respectively. The highest contents of nob-iletin, sinensetin and tangeretin among polymethoxyflavones were found in the juice of Hongkyool (C. tachibana) by 7.39 mg/100 mL, 2.24 mg/100 mL, 0.63 mg/100 mL in the late August, respectively. 3,5,6,7,8,3',4'- Heptamet- hoxyflavone recorded the highest amount in Punkyool (C. tangerina) by 0.27 mg/100 mL in the late August, but the other polymethoxyflavones including 3',4',7,8-tetramethoxyflavone, 3',4'-dimethoxyflavone, 4'-methoxyflavone, 5,6,7,3',4',5'-hexamethoxyflavone, scutellarein tetramethylether were observed only trace amount in all the citrus fruits. Flavonoid contents in the citrus fruit juices were the highest during early maturation and decreased rapidly while ripening. Total polyphenol contents were the highest in the late August and decreased with ripening. However from the late December, the contents were increased again. Antioxidant activities of the fruits were evaluated as electron donating ability and were the lowest in the late September and increased with the fruit ripening. These results suggest that quercetagetin among all the flavonoids was most plentiful in Jigak and Dangyooja (C. grandis), so that the fruits could be used for industrial material of flavonoids and antioxidant agents.
Antioxidants ; Apigenin ; Chromones ; Citrus ; Disaccharides ; Electrons ; Flavanones ; Flavones ; Flavonoids ; Fruit ; Hesperidin

Due to the common use of alkaline disc batteries(e.g. watches, electronic toys and games, calculators, cameras) physicians and the general public should be more aware of this battery foreign body and the peculiarities in their management. Alkaline disc batteries as foreign bodies in the nasal cavities are extremely rare but dangerous because they can cause liquefaction necrosis with subsequent severe local tissue destruction. Batteries found in the nasal cavities should be removed immediately to prevent sequelae such as septal perforations or nasal stenosis. We recently experienced a case of 4-year-old boy who revealed necrotic perforation of nasal septum which was exposed directly to a alkaline disc battery for 20 hours and the special aspects of these foreign body is discussed.
Child, Preschool ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Foreign Bodies* ; Humans ; Male ; Nasal Cavity ; Nasal Septal Perforation* ; Nasal Septum ; Necrosis ; Play and Playthings

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the effect of Rapid Streptococcal Screening Test (RSST) results on the use of antibiotics for patients with sore throat in the ER setting and the effect of education about Centor criteria for primary physicians on the use of antibiotics. METHODS: Between June 2008 and January 2009, we recruited 786 patients with sore throat who visited our emergency center. Patients were classified into 2 groups according to the RSST. Centor scores and antibiotic usage were assessed. Primary physicians were educated about Centor scoring and RSST. We analyzed the use of antibiotics to evaluate the effect of education on Centor scoring and RSST. RESULTS: RSST results significantly correlated with antibiotic usage for the RSST done on a group of patients with sore throat (p<0.001). Education of primary physicians regarding Centor scoring reduced the use of antibiotics (p<0.001) for the low risk group of patients (Centor scores<3). The use of antibiotics for the high risk group (Centor scores> or =3) was not significantly reduced (p=0.6394) after education regarding Centor criteria. CONCLUSION: The use of an RSS test and education of primary physicians will reduce the unnecessary use of antibiotics by patients and will result in appropriate use of antibiotics for patients who need antibiotics.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Emergencies ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Pharyngitis ; Streptococcal Infections

A 49-year-old woman visited our hospital with dysphagia and chest pain. In another hospital, she was diagnosed as reflux esophagitis. Although she had taken proton pump inhibitor and prokinetics drugs for a long time, she was not relieved of any symptoms. On the basis of high resolution manometry and endoscopic ultrasonography findings, Jackhammer esophagus was diagnosed. In this patient, peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) was performed for long myotomy of thickened circular muscle. During the procedure, there were no significant complications and she was discharged uneventfully. Symptoms were completely improved during three months after POEM. Here, we report on a case of Jackhammer esophagus treated by POEM.
Endoscopy, Digestive System ; Endosonography ; Esophageal Motility Disorders/*diagnosis/surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Manometry ; Middle Aged