Cryptococcosis is an acute, subacute or chronic infectian caused by the encap sulated yeast Cryptococcus neoformans. The case of Cryptococcosis is a 2 5/12 year-old boy with involvement of the skin, lungs, liver, spleen, lymph node and central nervous system is reported. He has suffered from fever, nausea., vomiting and multiple skin lesions for a month. Thcre were various cutaneous lesions consisting of papules, pustules, nodules, crusts and ulcers on the scalp, face, back, buttocks and both extremities. Diagnosis was confirmed by the clinical characteristics, histopathologic findings and culture of the C. neoformans from cerebrospinal fluid and marcerated skin tissue. He was successfully treated with combination of Amphotericin B and 5-fluorocytosine.
Amphotericin B ; Buttocks ; Central Nervous System ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Cryptococcosis* ; Cryptococcus neoformans ; Diagnosis ; Extremities ; Fever ; Flucytosine ; Humans ; Liver ; Lung ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Nausea ; Scalp ; Skin ; Spleen ; Ulcer ; Vomiting ; Yeasts

No abstract available.
Interleukin-2* ; Interleukins* ; Killer Cells, Natural*

STUDY DESIGN: A prospective clinical study with radiologic assessment was conducted. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the height changes of the intervertebral disc and neural foramen and width changes of the neural foramen after anterior lumbar interbody fusion and posterior fixation in the lumbar spine. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW : Anterior lumbar interbody fusion distracts the height of the intervertebral disc and neural foramen and the width of the neural foramen. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Minimal anterior lumbar interbody fusion and posterior fixation were performed in 20 cases from January 1999 to January 2001. The measuring factors were the height of the anterior and posterior discs, and the height and width of the neural foramen, measured with a caliper in 1mm reconstructive, computed tomography, sagittal images before and 6 months after anterior lumbar interbody fusion. The factors were independently measured by three different persons. RESULTS: The height of the anterior and posterior discs was increased by mean 32.2% and 40.5%, respectively. The height of the right and left neural foramen was increased by mean 15.7% and 18.3%, respectively. The width of the superior, middle and inferior neural foramen was increased by mean 20.6%, 30.3% and 38.6%, respectively. There were significant increases in all measuring factors after minimal anterior lumbar interbody fusion. CONCLUSIONS: Minimal anterior lumbar interbody fusion significantly increased the height of the anterior and posterior intervertebral discs, and the height and width of the neural foramen, and produced neural decompression.
Decompression ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc* ; Prospective Studies ; Spine*

PURPOSE: Primary pulmonary lymphoma(PPL) arising in the lung as the initial site is very rare. Authors experienced two cases of PPL and report the radiologic findings and clinical characteristics with a brief reviewof the literature. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Plain chest radiograph and enhanced axial CT scan of the chest were taken. We analyzed radiologic findings of the two cases and correlated with broncoscopic and pathologic findings. RESULTS: Plain chest radiograph showed a mass like consolidative lesion on RML without peripheral atelectasis. Chest CT scan revealed a mass like consolidation with airbronchogram and the absence of a hilar mass or thoracic adenopathy. Percutaneous needle aspiration and biopsy(PCNA and PCNB) of the RML mass confirmed B-cell lymphoma, in both cases. CONCLUSION: PPL must be included in the differential diagnosis of chronic alveolar consolidation such as bronchioloalveolar cell carcinoma.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Lung ; Lymphoma* ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; Needles ; Pulmonary Atelectasis ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND: To observe the clinical features and the outcomes from diagnostic work-up in definite multiple sclero-sis (MS) which was diagnosed by using a Poser's criteria. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 43 cases who were diagnosed as multiple sclerosis in Seoul National University Hospital by using Poser's criteria from January 1st, 1991 to December 30th , 1995. Among the 43 cases, 35 patients were classified to definite MS group, clinically or laboratory supported. We analyzed age, sex, initial symptom, age of onset, duration between initial symptom and definite MS diagnosis, total numbers of recurrence and symptoms, CSF profile, evoked potential study, follow-up duration and the MRI findings of the definite MS patients. RESULTS: Of 35 cases who were diagnosed as definite MS, 15 patients were male and 20 patients were female. The mean age of onset was 34.6 years, the mean duration between initial symptom onset and diagnosis of definite MS was 16.9 months, and the mean follow-up duration was 34.8 months. The most common site of initial involvement was spinal cord (24 cases), and then optic nerve (5 cases), brain stem (4 cases), and cerebrum (2 cases) were followed. Thoracic spinal cord (24 lesions) was more frequently involved than cervical cord (18 lesions). Moreover 32 cases (91.4%) had at least one time of spinal cord involvement and there is a tendency that the proportion of double spinal cord lesion is increasing with the number of spinal cord recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Spinal cord involvement in multiple sclerosis is the most common symptom and double spinal cord involvement in MRI is frequently observed. We think that it would be the characteristics of the multiple sclerosis in Korea.
Age of Onset ; Brain Stem ; Cerebrum ; Diagnosis ; Evoked Potentials ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Korea ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Multiple Sclerosis* ; Optic Nerve ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul ; Spinal Cord

BACKGROUND: To observe the clinical features and the outcomes from diagnostic work-up in definite multiple sclero-sis (MS) which was diagnosed by using a Poser's criteria. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 43 cases who were diagnosed as multiple sclerosis in Seoul National University Hospital by using Poser's criteria from January 1st, 1991 to December 30th , 1995. Among the 43 cases, 35 patients were classified to definite MS group, clinically or laboratory supported. We analyzed age, sex, initial symptom, age of onset, duration between initial symptom and definite MS diagnosis, total numbers of recurrence and symptoms, CSF profile, evoked potential study, follow-up duration and the MRI findings of the definite MS patients. RESULTS: Of 35 cases who were diagnosed as definite MS, 15 patients were male and 20 patients were female. The mean age of onset was 34.6 years, the mean duration between initial symptom onset and diagnosis of definite MS was 16.9 months, and the mean follow-up duration was 34.8 months. The most common site of initial involvement was spinal cord (24 cases), and then optic nerve (5 cases), brain stem (4 cases), and cerebrum (2 cases) were followed. Thoracic spinal cord (24 lesions) was more frequently involved than cervical cord (18 lesions). Moreover 32 cases (91.4%) had at least one time of spinal cord involvement and there is a tendency that the proportion of double spinal cord lesion is increasing with the number of spinal cord recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Spinal cord involvement in multiple sclerosis is the most common symptom and double spinal cord involvement in MRI is frequently observed. We think that it would be the characteristics of the multiple sclerosis in Korea.
Age of Onset ; Brain Stem ; Cerebrum ; Diagnosis ; Evoked Potentials ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Korea ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Multiple Sclerosis* ; Optic Nerve ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul ; Spinal Cord

The task of chromosome analysis is the classification of human chromosomes. The feature parameter of chromosome is very important information for chromosome analysis. The special preprocessing algorithm is required to extracting them. In this paper, we performed quantitative analysis for preprocessing algorithm of observation of chromosomal aberrations. Two algorithms is used MAT and reconstruction. The morphological feature parameters were centromeric index(C.I.), relative length ratio(R.L.), relative area ratio(R.A.) and chromosome length(C.L.), and the density and width profiles. The reconstruction of chromosome images by this reconstruction algorithm was appeared as effective algorithms to observe and extract chromosome parameter.
Chromosome Aberrations ; Chromosomes, Human ; Classification ; Humans

The task of chromosome analysis is the classification of human chromosomes. The feature parameter of chromosome is very important information for chromosome analysis. The special preprocessing algorithm is required to extracting them. In this paper, we performed quantitative analysis for preprocessing algorithm of observation of chromosomal aberrations. Two algorithms is used MAT and reconstruction. The morphological feature parameters were centromeric index(C.I.), relative length ratio(R.L.), relative area ratio(R.A.) and chromosome length(C.L.), and the density and width profiles. The reconstruction of chromosome images by this reconstruction algorithm was appeared as effective algorithms to observe and extract chromosome parameter.
Chromosome Aberrations ; Chromosomes, Human ; Classification ; Humans

V. parahaemolyticus was isolated from blood culture of a 34-year old female patient with HCV viral hepatitis and liver cirrhosis. V. parahaemolyticus is one of the frequent causative agents of gastrointestinal infection, but rarely causes septicemia. This case is thought to be the 3rd report of V. parahaemolyticus septicemia in Korea.
Adult ; Female ; Hepatitis ; Humans ; Korea ; Liver Cirrhosis* ; Liver* ; Sepsis* ; Vibrio parahaemolyticus* ; Vibrio*

STUDY DESIGN: A prospective radiological assessment was conducted. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the changes in the heights of the intervertebral disc and neural foramen, and the diameters and areas of the dural sac and lateral recess following anterior lumbar interbody fusion and posterior fixation in lumbar degenerative disease. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Anterior lumbar interbody fusion distracts from the height of the intervertebral disc and neural foramen and increase the area of the spinal canal. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A mini-open anterior lumbar interbody fusion and posterior fixation was performed on 40 cases between January 1999 and March 2002. The measured factors included the height of the intervertebral disc and neural foramen, the midsagittal and lateral diameters of the dural sac, the area of the dural sac and the diameter of the lateral recess. These were measured with calipers in 1mm reconstructive computed tomography images before and 6 months after the anterior lumbar interbody fusion. The measured factors were independently taken by three different orthopaedic surgeons. RESULTS: The heights of the intervertebral disc and neural foramen were increased by means of 39.1 and 18.7% respectively. The midsagittal diameter of the dural sac was increased by a mean of 11.6% and that of the lateral dural sac decreased by a mean of 3.7%. The area of the dural sac was increased by a mean of 8.1% and the diameter of lateral recess by a mean of 26.3%. There were statistically significant increases in all the measured factors, with the exception of the lateral diameter of the dural sac. CONCLUSIONS: Anterior lumbar interbody fusion significantly increases the heights of the intervertebral disc and neural foramen, the midsagittal diameter of the dural sac, the area of the dural sac and the diameter of the lateral recess, but not the lateral diameter of the dural sac.
Intervertebral Disc ; Prospective Studies ; Spinal Canal* ; Spine*