PURPOSE: The objective of the study was to evaluate the characteristic findings in tears of the anterior cruciate ligament(ACL) and associated injury at MR imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the findings of MR images and the corresponding arthroscopic results of 32 patients with ACL tears. we evaluated the signal intensity and contour of ACL surrounding bony structures, menisci and associated injury of the knee joint. RESULTS: Complete ACL tears were present in 25 patients and partial ACL tears were in 7 patients. Complete ACL tears showed heterogenously increased signal intensity with contour bulging of the ACL in 14 patients (56%) and without bulging or absence in 11 patients(44%). Most patients torn ACL with contour bulging(12/14) had bone bruise, but only one patient torn ACL without bulging contour had bone bruise. ACL with thin continuous low signal band surrounding heterogenously increased signal intensity suggests partial tear, which was seen in three patients of seven proved partial ACL tears. Combined bone injury in ACL tear were in 23 patients (73%) and most of these(22/23) were at midportion of lateral notch of femur and/or posterior portion of lateral tibial plateu. Deepening of lateral notch of femur were noted in 17 patients(53%). Associated injuries of the other ligaments of knee joint were buckling of the posterior cruciate ligament(16/32, 50%) and tears of the medial collateral ligament(11/32, 34%). Posterior horns of menisci were more frequent site of combined injury within menisci in patients with ACL tear. CONCLUSION: Acute tearing of ACL in MRI is seen as heterogenously increased signal intensity with contour bulging of ACL and combined bone bruises. Patients with torn ACL frequently have various combined injury. In patient with knee injury, these associated or ancillary findings suggest that ACL tear is present.
Animals ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament* ; Contusions ; Femur ; Horns ; Humans ; Knee Injuries ; Knee Joint* ; Knee* ; Ligaments ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the sensitivity of MR imaging in determining tear sites and degrees in acute anterior cruciate ligament tear. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MR imagings were undertaken in 19 patients who had trauma on their knee joints. All imaging studies were performed within 2 weeks after trauma and compared with operative findings. The degrees of ligament tear were divided into complete and incomplete, and sites of tears were divided into superior middle and inferior portions. MR findings were compared with operative findings. RESULTS: There were 14 cases of complete ligament tear and 5 cases of partial ligament tear. We could diagnose correctly in all 14 cases with complete tear and in 3 of 5 cases with partial tear. The tear sites were correctly predicted in 10 of 14 cases with complete tear(71%) and 1 of 5 cases with par In complete tears, MR findings were transversely or obliquely coursed band-like high signal intensity within the ACL or abrupt Switch over to as indistinct signal intensity. In partial tears, the tear sites could not be evaluated mostly and the tear appeared as linear low signal intensity lesions in posterolateral bundles of AC/. CONCLUSIONS: MR revealed higher sensitivity in determining the degree and sites of ACL tear in complete tear as compared with partial tear.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; Ligaments ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging*

PURPOSE: A number of drugs are capable of changing body weight as a side effect. A number of neurotransmitter systems acting in several hypothalamic nuclei are pivotal to the storage regulation of body fat. Leptin is a protein encoded by the ob gene that is expressed in adipocyte. It regulates eating behavior by activating the action to the satiety center in the hypothalmus. The purpose of this study is to investigate the changes of serum leptin in children with epilepsy. METHODS: Serum leptin levels were measured in 43 epileptic patients (30 males, 13 females) receiving valproate or carbamazepine by radioimmunoassay. Thirty patients (19 males, 11 females, 10.0+/-5.0 years of age) were treated with valproate (VPA group) and 13 patients (11 males, 2 females, 9.1+/-4.0 years of age) were treated with carbamazepine (CBZ group). Obesity index and body mass index were calculated before and during anticonvulsant medications. RESULTS: 1) Body mass indices were significantly increased after VPA or CBZ medication; from 17.24+/-2.74 to 18.47+/-2.60 in VPA group, from 16.77+/-1.69 to 17.43+/-3.01 in CBZ group. 2) Obesity indices were increased without statistical significance after medication in both group. 3) Serum leptin levels were significantly higher in VPA group (4.54+/-4.77ng/ml) than CBZ group (2.47+/-2.26ng/ml). CONCLUSION: Body weight gain after VPA medication in susceptible individual might be related to a certain mechanism that elevates serum leptin level.
Adipocytes ; Adipose Tissue ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Carbamazepine ; Child* ; Epilepsy ; Feeding Behavior ; Female ; Humans ; Leptin* ; Male ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Obesity ; Radioimmunoassay ; Valproic Acid ; Weight Gain

PURPOSE: This retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the value of adminstration of IV gadopentetate dimeglumine for MR imaging of tuberculous spondylitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors reviewed MR images both with and without contrast enhancement of 22 patients with tuberculous spondylitis. Evaluation of signal characteristics, enhancement patterns, and difference of delineation between pre- and postcontrast enhancement was made on 4 compartments the vertebral body, intervertebral disc, paravertebral space, and extradural space. RESULTS: The spinal tuberculous lesions revealed relatively low or isosignal intensity on T1-weighted image and high signal intensity on T2-weighted image. The tuberculous lesions of vertebral body showed enhancement of mixed pattern, and rim enhancement pattern was predominant in the other 3 compartment, suggesting abscess. The contrast enhanced MR image showed better demarcation of the extents of tuberculous lesions comparing with noncontrast image, especially at the vertebral body and intervertebral disc. The nature of tuberculous involvement was better visualized at the extradural space and paravertebral space on postcontrast image. CONCLUSION: We conclude Gd-DTPA enhanced MR image can give informations for more detailed delineation, extents, and nature of involvement in the tuberculous spondylitis.
Abscess ; Gadolinium DTPA ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Retrospective Studies ; Spondylitis*

A colonic pseudo-obstruction is a disorder that causes abdominal distension and abdominal pain similar to a mechanical obstruction, but there are no structural lesions that can obstruct the gastrointestinal tract. This condition can be acute or chronic. An acute colonic pseudo-obstruction, also called Ogilvie's syndrome, is believed to be a condition induced by other causes that are different from a chronic colonic pseudo-obstruction. The pathogenesis involves abnormalities in the autonomic nervous system induced by systemic diseases or medications, and it often improves when the primary causes are treated. On the other hand, a chronic colonic pseudo-obstruction can occur repeatedly without a particular cause. The authors encountered neuroleptic malignant syndrome that caused acute colonic pseudo-obstruction. This paper reports a case with a review of the relevant literature. This is the first case reported in Korea. This case shows that physicians should consider neuroleptic malignant syndrome as a cause of an acute colonic pseudo-obstruction.

A colonic pseudo-obstruction is a disorder that causes abdominal distension and abdominal pain similar to a mechanical obstruction, but there are no structural lesions that can obstruct the gastrointestinal tract. This condition can be acute or chronic. An acute colonic pseudo-obstruction, also called Ogilvie's syndrome, is believed to be a condition induced by other causes that are different from a chronic colonic pseudo-obstruction. The pathogenesis involves abnormalities in the autonomic nervous system induced by systemic diseases or medications, and it often improves when the primary causes are treated. On the other hand, a chronic colonic pseudo-obstruction can occur repeatedly without a particular cause. The authors encountered neuroleptic malignant syndrome that caused acute colonic pseudo-obstruction. This paper reports a case with a review of the relevant literature. This is the first case reported in Korea. This case shows that physicians should consider neuroleptic malignant syndrome as a cause of an acute colonic pseudo-obstruction.

Objectives: This study examined the current status of depression and related factors among children using community child center. Methods: A cross-sectional study selected children in grades 4-6 who used the Gwangju and Jeollanamdo community child center (n=224) using a convenience sampling method. General characteristics, family characteristics, children's emotional characteristics, children's school life environment and depression status were assessed using a self-reported questionnaire. Results: The average score of depression among children using community child center was 15.31±7.70 out of a total of 27. Fifty-eight (25.9%) children had depression above 22 points. Variables related to children's depression were shown as grade, subjective economic level awareness, after-school activities excluding local children's centers, presence of family members after school, and family structure. Conclusions The depression prevalence of children using community child center was higher. Policy support such as children's psychological support programs would be needed to reduce children's depression, and community child centers are expected to be effective in reducing children's depression if continuous child psychological support services are developed for children's mental health.

Hemangiomas are benign vascular tumors that result from the abnormal proliferation of vascular tissue. Thyroid hemangiomas can develop as a result of procedures such as fine needle aspiration or other secondary trauma.Primary thyroid cavernous hemangioma is an extremely rare condition, with only a few reported cases. In this report, we present the case of an 83-year-old woman who complained of progressively worsening symptoms of right neck obstruction. She was undergoing levothyroxine treatment for hypothyroidism, and there was no specific family history of thyroid issues. The patient presented with a goiter and obstructive symptoms, and denied any history of trauma or invasive procedures. Thyroid sonography revealed a 6.21 cm heterogeneous dominant solid nodule in the right lobe. Additionally, a large mixed cystic and 6 cm solid mass was identified in the right lobe on CT scan. Due to the significant size of the mass and the presence of obstructive symptoms, the patient underwent a right thyroid lobectomy without further evaluations. Histologic examination of the specimen revealed a cavernous thyroid hemangioma. This case report presents our experience in diagnosing cavernous thyroid hemangioma.

No abstract available.
Asphyxia* ; Brain* ; Humans ; Infant* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*

PURPOSE: We evaluated brain perfusion SPECT findings of MELAS syndrome and mitochondrial myopathy in correlation with MR imaging in search of specific imaging features. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subjects were five patients (four females and one male; age range, 1 to 25 year) who presented with repeated stroke-like episodes, seizures or developmental delay or asymptomatic but had elevated lactic acid in CSF and serum. Conventional non-contrast MR imaging and Tc-99m-ethyl cysteinate dimer (ECD) brain perfusion SPECT were performed and imaging features were analyzed. RESULTS: MRI demonstrated increased T2 signal intensities in the affected areas of gray and white matters mainly in the parietal (4/5) and occipital lobes (4/5) and in the basal ganglia (1/5), which were not restricted to a specific vascular territory. SPECT demonstrated decreased perfusion in the corresponding regions of MRI lesions. In addition, there were perfusion defects in parietal (1 patient), temporal (2), and frontal (1) lobes and basal ganglia (1) and thalami (2). In a patient with mitochondrial myopathy who had normal MRI, decreased perfusion was noted in left parietal area and bilateral thalami. CONCLUSION: Tc-99m ECD SPECT imaging in patients with MELAS syndrome and mitochondrial myopathy showed hypoperfusion of parieto-occipital cortex, basal ganglia, thalamus and temporal cortex, which were not restricted to a specific vascular territory. There were no specific imaging features on SPECT. The significance of abnormal perfusion on SPECT without corresponding MR abnormalities needs to be evaluated further in larger number of patients.
Basal Ganglia ; Brain* ; Female ; Humans ; Lactic Acid ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; MELAS Syndrome* ; Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathies ; Mitochondrial Myopathies* ; Occipital Lobe ; Perfusion ; Rabeprazole ; Seizures ; Thalamus ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*