Many objects create penetrating cranial injuries. Metallic objects and low velosity missiles are the most common offenders. Wood as wounding agent of the brain, has some characteristics. It has profound risk of infection, a significant propensity to fragmentation that is virtually undetechable on routine X-ray screening and very low atteunation value in CT scan. Because of its characteristics and rarity, we report a case of penetrating cranial injury by a wooden foreign body with review of literature.
Brain ; Criminals ; Debridement ; Foreign Bodies* ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Wood ; Wounds and Injuries

No abstract available.
Humans* ; Ovarian Neoplasms* ; Tamoxifen*

Gadolinium contrast agents (CAs) are integral components of clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, safety concerns have arisen regarding the use of gadolinium CAs, due to their association with nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF). Furthermore, recently the long-term retention of Gd²⁺-based CAs in brains patients with normal renal function raised another possible safety issue. The safety concerns of Gd²⁺-based CAs have been based on the ligand structure of Gd²⁺-based CAs, and findings that Gd²⁺-based CAs with linear ligand structures showed much higher incidences of NSF and brain retention of CAs than Gd²⁺-based CAs with macrocyclic ligand structure. In the current study, we report the in vivo biodistribution profile of a new highly stable multifunctional Gd²⁺-based CA, with macrocyclic ligand structure (HNP-2006). MR imaging using HNP-2006 demonstrated a significant contrast enhancement in many different organs. Furthermore, the contrast enhanced tumor imaging using HNP-2006 confirmed that this new macrocyclic CA can be used for detecting tumor in the central nervous system. Therefore, this new multifunctional HNP-2006 with macrocyclic ligand structure shows great promise for whole-body clinical application.
Brain ; Central Nervous System ; Contrast Media ; Gadolinium ; Humans ; Incidence ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Nephrogenic Fibrosing Dermopathy

Hypopharyngeal perforation associated with traffic accident is a rare occurrence, which can cause serious morbidity and mortality if not diagnosed and treated early. We report an autopsy case of hypopharyngeal perforation following a traffic accident. A 32-year-old man hits his chin when his car hits highway guardrail. He complained continuous neck pain and died 5 days after the accident. Autopsy was performed, and death was due to undiagnosed retropharyngeal abscess with sepsis.
Accidents, Traffic ; Adult ; Autopsy ; Chin ; Humans ; Hypopharynx ; Neck Pain ; Retropharyngeal Abscess ; Sepsis

The incidence of sudden death due to undiagnosed primary intracranial tumor is very low in forensic autopsy practice. The ganglioglioma is a well differentiated, slow growing primary brain tumor that is encountered predominantly in childhood. We report a sudden, unexpected death in a 6-year-old girl from a ganglioglioma. On autopsy, there was an intraventricular tumor with recent hemorrhage, occupying the anterior aspect of the lateral ventricle and resulting in hydrocephalus. Acute intratumoral hemorrhage appears to be the mechanism of sudden death.
Autopsy ; Brain Neoplasms ; Child ; Death, Sudden ; Ganglioglioma ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Incidence ; Lateral Ventricles

A rare case of teratoma occuring in the posterior cranial fossa is reported. The tumor was partially encapsulated, and a surgical removal was accomplished. Teratoma is defined as a true tumor, composed of several types of tissues representing more than one germinal layer, which are foreign to the part in which it arises. The literature on teratomas located in the posterior cranial fossa is reviewed.
Cranial Fossa, Posterior* ; Teratoma*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the functional changes of the ventricles for 27 children with recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) therapy in short stature using echocardiography with tissue Doppler imaging. METHODS: The conventional Doppler echocardiography with tissue Doppler imaging were performed in 27 children with rhGH therapy for short stature and 13 healthy children. Peak velocities of systolic (S) and early (E'), late(A') diastolic wave of mitral annulus,septum and tricuspid annulus were obtained from apical 4 chamber view. RESULTS: There was no differences in left ventricle (LV) mass (72.948+/-11.825 m/s2 vs 73.931+/-12.093 m/s2, P=0.08), LV ejection fraction (66.778+/-5.441% vs 70.154+/-6.641%, P=0.095) and LV fractional shortening (36.737+/-4.265% vs 38.085+/-3.419, P=0.327) were observed between patients and controls. There was no significant differences in E and A measured at mitral and tricuspid annulus were observed between pateints and controls. There was no significant differences in S, E' and A' measured using tissue doppler imaging at mitral annulus, septum, and tricuspid annulus were observed between patients and controls CONCLUSION: No significant differences in parameters of cardiac function using tissue doppler imaging with conventional echocardiography were found between patients with rhGH therapy and controls. But, longer follow-up, involving at a larger number of patients, is required to confirm the safety of long-term rhGH treatment.
Child* ; Echocardiography* ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; Follow-Up Studies ; Growth Hormone* ; Heart Ventricles ; Human Growth Hormone ; Humans ; Ventricular Function, Left

The toxic effect of azalea extract, especially on cardiovascular system, in relatively unclear. The purpose of this study is to study the possible underlying mechanism and effect of toxic ingredient of azalea on cardiovascular system. The 71 healthy rabbits were divided into 10 groups: In group as preliminary study; 4 cc of normal saline was administered intravenously (N); 0.7 gm/kg and 1.0 gm/kg of azalea extract was administered respectively in the same route, volume (A1, A2); atropine was administered intravenously (A); after pretreatment with atropine (0.04 mg/kg) to block parasympathetic system, azalea extract was injected like the above groups (AA1, AA2); normal saline, 0.7 gm/kg and 1.0 gm/kg of azalea extract were administered respectively with 0.2 cc (1:1000) epinephrine (E0, E1, E2). We measured the following indices at I minute interval during first 10 minutes and then 10 minute interval during next 30 minutes: RR interval, QTc interval, maximal systolic and diastolic pressure drop with occurring time and presence of significant arrhythmia. The results were as follows: 1. The changes of RR interval, QTc interval were significantly increased in groups by Azalea extract. The blood pressure change was significantly decreased in groups by Azalea extract. There were no significant differences according to dosage of Azalea extract. 2. The changes of RR interval, blood pressure were significant differences between administration of atropine and Azalea extract after pretreatment with atropine, but not in the change of QTc interval. 3. There were no significant differences in the change of RR interval, ATc interval, blood pressure drop according to pretreatment with atropine. 4. The interaction between epinephrine and Azalea extract was not noted by the effect of epinephrine itself. 5. The ST change by 0.7 gm/kg, 1.0 gm/kg of Azalea extract was revealed in 1 case (14.0%), 7 case (100%), respectively. 6. Most of all cases with arrhythmia, ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, were noted in the group by epinephrine, except on case by Azalea extract (1.0 gm/kg). It was idioventricular rhythm. In conclusion, azalea extract has negative inotropic and chronotropic effect with arrhythmogenic potential possibly through direct myocardial ischemia or injury but we can't be absolutely exclusive of actions of autonomic nervous system, especially parasympathetic nervous system.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Atropine ; Autonomic Nervous System ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiovascular System* ; Epinephrine ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Parasympathetic Nervous System ; Rabbits ; Tachycardia, Ventricular ; Ventricular Fibrillation

A seaman died after a jet of compressed air directed to his anus while working with his colleagues in deck of the ship. He suffered from abdominal pain and distension, and died 5 hours later in the ship. Autopsy was performed and revealed rupture of the splenic flexure of the colon and partial seromuscular tearing in the rectosigmoidal region. We concluded that the cause of death was tension pneumoperitoneum by the pneumatic colonic rupture. The need for education of the workers handling compressed air appliances is emphasized.
Abdominal Pain ; Anal Canal ; Autopsy ; Cause of Death ; Colon ; Colon, Transverse ; Compressed Air ; Handling (Psychology) ; Pneumoperitoneum ; Rupture ; Ships

Since patients with intracranial neoplasms usually represent their neurological symptoms rather early in the course of the disease, sudden unexpected death due to intracranial neoplasms is an uncommon event seen only exceptionally in medicolegal autopsy practice. Although meningiom is one of the most common primary intracranial neoplasms, sudden death due to the tumor is an uncommon event. We report a sudden, unexpected death of a 56-year-old female with an undiagnosed olfactory groove meningioma. It is assumed that peritumoral edema is related to the sudden death among the several mechanisms.
Female ; Humans