This study was carried out to investigate the direct neurotoxicity of alcohol on CNS and the effects of piracetam or vitamins on ultrastructural changes of the rat cerebellar and hippocampal neurons during long-term alcohol treatment. To evaluate the results, quantitative analysis were done for light and electronic microscopic findings. On the light microscopy, red degeneration of pyramidal cells and Purkinje cells was found more apparently in the alcohol only treated group than in the control group. On the electron microscopy, increased lipofuscin pigments wee found in cerebellum and hippocampus. In quantitative analysis, vitamins significantly reduced red degeneration in both hippocampus and cerebellum. However, piracetam significantly reduced red degeneration in cerebellum but not in hippocampus. Lipofuscin pigments in Purkinje cells and pyramidal cells were significantly reduced in the alcohol with piracetam treated group than the alcohol only treated group. However, vitamin had no significant reducing effect of lipofuscin pigments in Purkinje cells and pyramidal cells. According to the results, it is concluded that vitamins deficiency might cause red degeneration of pyramidal cell after long-term alcohol treatment, but increment of lipofuscin pigments in pyramidal and Purkinje cell may be caused by alcohol itself or its metabolite rather than vitamins deficiency. Piracetam seems to improve cognitive function impairment caused by alcohol consumption.
Alcohol Drinking ; Animals ; Cerebellum ; Hippocampus ; Lipofuscin ; Microscopy ; Microscopy, Electron ; Neurons* ; Piracetam* ; Purkinje Cells ; Pyramidal Cells ; Rats* ; Vitamins*

Phakomatosis pigmentova.scularis is a disease complex with dermal melanocyto sis such as nevus of Ota, nevus of Ito, or Mongolian spots and extensive hemangiomatous change such as nevus flammeus, which are associated with systemic organ involvement. We report a 23-year-old female, who showed bilateral nevus of Ota and nevus of Ito with widespread nevus flammeus and Mongolian spots since birth. She was also associated with megalocornea due to congenitol glaucoma and cataract.
Cataract ; Female ; Glaucoma ; Humans ; Mongolian Spot ; Neurocutaneous Syndromes* ; Nevus ; Nevus of Ota ; Parturition ; Port-Wine Stain ; Young Adult

No abstract available.
B-Lymphocytes* ; Immunoglobulin G*

The tibial plateau fracture is a fracture of the proximal end of the tibia, involving the weight bearing articular surface. This fracture often presents some problems in treatment and prognosis, because it is frequently accompanied by soft tissue injuries such as collateral ligament, cruciate ligament and menisci. During a period of 3 1/2 years, from Febuary 1980 to July 1983, We observed 78 cases of tibial plateau fractures at Gang Nam Sacred Heart Hospital. Of the above cases, 40 could be followed for a period of anywhere from 3 months to 3 years. They have been analysed according to the cause, classification, method of treatment and final result of treatment. Among these 21(52.5%) were treated by cast immobilization, 3(7.5%) by skeletal traction, 16 (40%) by open reduction and internal fixation. Thirty two cases (80% ) out of 40 indicated the result of the Acceptable group according to Hohl and Lucks criteria.
Classification ; Clinical Study ; Collateral Ligaments ; Heart ; Immobilization ; Ligaments ; Methods ; Prognosis ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; Tibia ; Traction ; Weight-Bearing

PURPOSE: Computed tomographic(CT), ultrasonographic(US) findings of solid and papillary epithelial neoplasm of the pancreas were correlated with pathologic findings for the better understanding of this disease entity. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A retrospective review of CT and US of 14 cases of solid and papillary epithelial neoplasm of the pancreas was carried out in terms of the margin, internal architecture, caicification and septation, and this was correlated with gross pathologic findings. RESULTS: CT and US findings were well defined round masses consisting of both solid and cystic components. Five cases were cystic, four cases were solid and five cases were mixed. Cystic portion of the tumor represented variable degree of hemorrhagic necrosis. Six cases contained foci of calcification, which were linear, marginal and amorphous. Marginal calcification interfered US examination of the mass in three cases. Internal septurn was demonstrated in four cases on CT, one case on US and three cases on gross specimen. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that calcification and internal septurn were considered as a part of radiologic findings in solid and papillary epithelial neoplasm of the pancreas.
Necrosis ; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial* ; Pancreas* ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: To evaluate the significance of T2-weighted MR imaging(T2WI) in the diagnosis of pituitarymicroadenoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the MR imaging findings of 30 cases of pituitarymicroadenoma. Diagnosis was made on the basis of surgery, serum hormonal level, and the presence of mass lesion onMR (T1WI and T2WI), and conventional as well as dynamic contrast enhanced T1WI images were obtained. In each MRsequence, signal intensity and detectability of the tumor were evaluated. We also determined whether diagnosis waspossible on both T1WI and T2WI. In eight cases, histopathologic findings (cellularity, fibrosis, and cysticchange) were correlated with T2 signal intensity of the tumor. RESULTS: T2WI, T1WI, and dynamic and conventionalenhanced T1WI detected the tumor in 21 cases (70%), 21 cases (70%), 28 cases (93.3%), and 22 cases (73.3%),respectively. On T2WI, pituitary microadenomas showed a high signal in 18 cases (60%), an iso-signal in nine(30%), and a low signal in three (10%) compared with normal pituitary gland. In 20 cases (66.7%), diagnosis ofpituitary microadenoma was possible on both T1WI and T2WI, but in one case, the tumor was detected only on T2WI.Three cases with fibrosis, as seen on histopathologic examination showed an iso or low signal on T2WI. CONCLUSION: T2WI is useful in the diagnosis of pituitary microadenoma Decreased signal intensity on T2WI may suggestfibrosis.
Diagnosis* ; Fibrosis ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Pituitary Gland ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: Soluble adhesion molecules including soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) are released during an infalmmatory process such as artherosclerosis. Elevated sVCAM-1 also has been reported in diabetic nephropathy. But, the clinical significance of elevated of sVCAM-1 is not certain. We measured serum sVCAM-1 for the purpose to validate the clinical usefulness in diabetic nephropathy. METHODS: In this study, we measured serum sVCAM-1 in 12 normal subjects and 64 type 2 diabetic patients with proteinuria over 300 mg/day [median 24-h urine protein (range): 2.2 (0.3-18.7) g/day]. We evaluated the relationship of serum sVCAM-1 with lipoproteins including total cholesterol, LDL, oxidized LDL (oxLDL), HDL, and lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)), with markers of inflammation including high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP), serum albumin and fibrinogen, and with renal parameters including 24-h urine protein, serum creatinine and homocysteine. RESULTS: In patients with diabetic nephropathy, median sVCAM-1 was 561 ng/mL (range 183-1304), which was significantly higher than that of normal subjects (324 ng/mL; 213-760, p< 0.05). In the diabetic nephropathy patients, sVCAM-1 was positively correlated with serum creatinine (r=0.34, p< 0.01), serum Lp(a) (r=0.27, p< 0.05) and 24-h urine protein (r=0.26, p< 0.05). In a multiple linear regression analysis, 24-h urine protein and serum Lp(a) were associated with an increased level of sVCAM-1 (r2=0.22, p=0.003). CONCLUSION: In summary, a positive correlation of sVCAM-1 with 24-h urine protein suggests that high sVCAM-1 may reflect increased production of sVCAM-1 due to more advanced renal injury. A positive association of sVCAM-1 and serum Lp(a) also suggests increased release of sVCAM-1 from associated atherosclerotic lesions in these patients. These results suggest that sVCAM-1 may be closely related with the renal function in patients with overt diabetic nephropathy.
Cholesterol, LDL ; Creatinine ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; Fibrinogen ; Homocysteine ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Linear Models ; Lipoprotein(a) ; Lipoproteins ; Proteinuria ; Serum Albumin ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1*

BACKGROUND: When it comes to wasting blood components, it usually means wastage before transfusion due to several reasons such as improvement of the patient's condition, death of the patient, delay of blood returning, etc. Yet blood components can sometimes can be wasted after a transfusion is started and this is referred as residual blood wastage. In this study, we analyzed the rate and causes of discarded blood components that are not used and the residual blood wastage in order to help reduce the rate of blood component wastage. METHODS: From January 2009 to December 2010, the number of and the reasons for discarded blood components without use and residual blood wastage were analyzed by reviewing the laboratory information system and wastage statements at Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital. RESULTS: The number of blood components issued during the study period was 24,001 units. Among them, the number of units discarded without use was 162 units (0.7%) and the number of units of residual blood wastage was 115 units (0.5%). Among the reasons for the discarded blood component without use, improvement of the patient's conditions ranked as 1st with 80 units (49.5%) and death of the patient ranked as 2nd with 42 units (25.9%). The biggest reason for the residual blood wastage was transfusion-related side effects with as many as 52 units (45.2%). Other than side effects, the wastage of residue from pediatric transfusion were 48 units (41.7%), followed by delay of surgery with 5 units (4.3%) and patients' refusal with 4 units (3.5%). CONCLUSION: The wastage of residue from pediatric transfusion was the second most common cause of residual blood wastage in our hospital. According to this, we should evaluate the routine use of pediatric transfusion bags and their cost-effectiveness in our hospital.
Clinical Laboratory Information Systems ; Disulfiram ; Humans ; Korea

The generally accepted taste pathway in an animal projects ipsilaterally from the solitary nucleus. However, the path-way of gustatory fibers in the human brainstem has not been sufficiently clarified. A 57-year-old hypertensive man was admitted with sudden dizziness and hemiageusia. A neurological examination revealed also a diminution of taste on the left half of his tongue. A MRI showed a high signal intensity in the right lower pontine area. This case suggests that the unilateral lesion of the pons may lead to contralateral taste disturbances.
Ageusia ; Animals ; Brain Stem ; Cerebral Infarction ; Dizziness ; Facial Nerve ; Humans ; Infarction* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Neurologic Examination ; Pons ; Solitary Nucleus ; Tongue

PURPOSE: To determine the usefulness of fat saturation fast spin-echo T2WI for patients with mild acute trauma of the spine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between July 1998 and June 2002, 36 patients with acute spinal trauma underwent MRI within four months of injury. One, whose clinal symptoms indicated neurological paralysis, was excluded form our study. A superconductive 1.0-T MRI scanner was used, and conventional T1W1, T2WI, and additional fat-saturation fast spin-echo T2WI were performed. Two radiologists compared conventional T2-weighted sagittal imaging and fat-saturation T2-weighted sagittal imaging in terms of the extension of increased high signal intensities in soft tissue and vertebral bodies, bone marrow signal change, disk herniation, and signal change of the disk. RESULTS: The detection rate of focal high signal intensities in soft tissue and bone marrow was significantly higher at fat-saturation fast spin-echo T2WI than at conventional T2WI. CONCLUSION: Fat-saturation fast spin-echo T2WI is useful for the evaluation of patients with mild acute spinal trauma without neurological impairment.
Bone Marrow ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Paralysis ; Spine