Primary pulmonary plasmacytoma (PPP) is extremly rare. Because of its rarity, PPP may present a diagnos-ticchallenge to the radiologists and there is a little information on the diagnosis and treatment of this condi-tion.We report on a patient with PPP presenting with a left hilar mass on chest radiograph and CT scan. The diagnosiswas confirmed by immunohistochemical study of the resected specimen.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Plasmacytoma ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

The occurrence of atrial fibillation during an electrophysiologic study or catheter ablation in patients with accessory pathways is a common problem and sometimes complicates the localization and ablation procedure of accessory pathways. In patients with sustained atrial fibrillation, it is often time-consuming to terminate atrial fibrillation by drugs or electrical cardioversion. We performed successful radiofrequency catheter ablation in a patient with right-sided accessory pathway during atrial fibrillation requiring repeated electrical cardioversion. The target site was determined by activation mapping and morphology of unipolar electrogram at a site of early ventricular activation.
Atrial Fibrillation* ; Catheter Ablation ; Electric Countershock ; Humans

PURPOSE: To assess relative signal intensity changes in frontal and occipital white matter with age, as seenon T2 weighted axial MR images. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty eight normal adults (20-29 years old) and 114children (0-11 years old) were investigated. All had nonspecific neurologic symptoms and their MR images, obtainedusing a 1.5T system (Signa, GE Medical Systems, Milwaukee, U.S.A), appeared to be normal. The signal intensitiesof frontal and occipital white matter were evaluated on T2 weighted axial images at the level of the foramen ofMonro. When the signal intensity of white matter was higher than that of gray matter, grade 0 was assigned ; whenthe opposite situation pertained, this was graded I_III. Grade I indicated that the signal intensity of occipitalwhite matter was lower than that of frontal white matter ; grade II, that the signal intensity of white matter ofboth lobes was similar. When the signal intensity of frontal white matter was lower than that of occipital whitematter, grade III was assigned. We divided the children's age by six months before 2 years of age, and by one yearafter 2 years of age, and then determined grade according to age, age distribution according to grade, and theages at which signal intensities were similar to those of adults. RESULTS: All 38 adults showed a grade IIIpattern ; this grade was apparent as early as 1.5 years of age and by 3 years of age, it was seen in over 50% ofchildren. After 8 years of age, all children were grade III. The age distribution of grade 0 was 0-0.5 years ofage, for grade I this was 0.5-2 years of age, for grade II it was 1-7, and for grade III, it was 1.5-11. CONCLUSION: On T2-weighted MR images, the signal intensity of frontal white matter ultimately shows a lowersignal intensity than that of occipital white matter.
Adult ; Age Distribution ; Child ; Humans ; Neurologic Manifestations

The long QT syndrome is believed to result from abnormalities of cardiac sympathetic innervation and of myocardial repolarization. The therapeutic modalities for patients with ventricular arrhythmias due to the long QT syndrome include beta blocker, cardiac sympathetic denervation, pacemaker and ICD implantation. Recently, we underwent transvenous ICD implantation in a patient with this syndrome who had recurrent syncopal episodes due to rapid polymorphic ventricular tachycardia and strong family history of sudden death.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Death, Sudden ; Humans ; Long QT Syndrome* ; Sympathectomy ; Syncope ; Tachycardia, Ventricular

The long QT syndrome is believed to result from abnormalities of cardiac sympathetic innervation and of myocardial repolarization. The therapeutic modalities for patients with ventricular arrhythmias due to the long QT syndrome include beta blocker, cardiac sympathetic denervation, pacemaker and ICD implantation. Recently, we underwent transvenous ICD implantation in a patient with this syndrome who had recurrent syncopal episodes due to rapid polymorphic ventricular tachycardia and strong family history of sudden death.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Death, Sudden ; Humans ; Long QT Syndrome* ; Sympathectomy ; Syncope ; Tachycardia, Ventricular

To clarify the mechanism of the protective effect of hemodialysis on lipid peroxidation in RBC membrane structures, the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) which is the lipid peroxidation product, and the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were determined before and after hemodialysis in the RBCs from 20 patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD), and from 14 healthy subjects. Before dialysis, MDA levels in the RBCs from the patients with ESRD were higher than those from healthy controls. SOD and catalase activities in the RBCs were lower. After hemodialysis, MDA, SOD, and catalase in the RBCs from the patients with ESRD were normalized. These results indicate that hemodialysis treatment is helpful to protect the peroxidative darnage through normalizing the activities of antioxidant enzymes.
Catalase ; Dialysis ; Erythrocytes* ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Malondialdehyde* ; Membranes ; Renal Dialysis* ; Superoxide Dismutase

PURPOSE: Many clinical guidelines recommend apolipoprotein B (apoB) measurement, particularly in subjects with metabolic syndrome or type 2 diabetes. Recently, we developed a new equation to estimate serum apoB (apoBE). We validated the clinical relevance of apoBE and compared the performance of the equation with conventional lipid measurements and direct measurement of apoB. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Study subjects were recruited from patients who visited the Health Screening Center at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital between January and December 2009 for routine medical examinations (n=78125). For analysis of coronary calcium score, we recruited study subjects from the same institution between January 2007 and December 2010 (n=16493). RESULTS: apoBE was significantly correlated with serum high-sensitivity C-reactive level {r=0.18 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.18–0.19]} in partial correlation analysis adjusted for age, sex, and body mass index. apoBE was associated with a Framingham risk score indicating more than moderate risk (10-year risk ≥10%), the presence of microalbuminuria, and the presence of coronary artery calcium in multivariate logistic regression analysis. These associations were comparable to those of directly-measured serum apoB [odds ratio per 1 SD 3.02 (2.75–3.27) vs. 2.70 (2.42–3.02) for a Framingham risk score indicating more than moderate risk, 1.31 (1.21–1.41) vs. 1.35 (1.25–1.45) for the presence of microalbuminuria, and 1.33 (1.26–1.41) vs. 1.31 (1.23–1.38) for the presence of coronary calcium score respectively]. These findings were also consistently observed in subgroup analysis for subjects with type 2 diabetes. CONCLUSION: The associations between cardiovascular surrogate markers and apoBE were comparable to those of directly-measured apoB.
Apolipoproteins B ; Apolipoproteins* ; Biomarkers* ; Body Mass Index ; Calcium ; Cardiovascular Diseases* ; Coronary Vessels ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Mass Screening

STUDY DESIGN: We retrospectively reviewed the cervical myelopathy patients who underwent anterior or posterior surgery. OBJECTIVES: This study was undertaken to analyze the preoperative radiologic evaluation and the results of the treatment of cervical myelopathy. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: The surgical treatment of cervical myelopathy consisted of anterior/posterior or combined surgery according to lesion site, symptoms, number of involved sequents or prevalence of the surgeon. Material and METHODS: We reviewed the clinical and radiological aspects of 28 patients Preoperative plain radiographs and MRI were evaluated with clinical symptoms. Postoperative clinical evaluation was performed according to the Robinson's criteria. RESULTS: On plain lateral radiographs, spinal canal diameter were 13.4+/-2.6/12.5+/- 1.7mm, Pavlovratios were 0.78+/-0.09/0.66+/-0.08, spondylosis indices were 1.70/1.80mm, and the antero-posterior compression ration of spinal cord were 42.4+/-8/44.0+/-6% for anterior surgery and posterior surgery group each. The results of 15 patients who received anterior decompression and interbody fusion were excellent in 11, good in 2, and fair in 2 cases. The results of 13 patients who underwent laminoplasty were excellent in 9, good in 3, and fair in one case. CONCLUSIONS: The patients who have Pavlov ratio less than 0.8 and spondylosis index more than 1.5mm on plain radiograph are vulnerable to developing myelopathy. It is better to do anterior decom pression and interbody fusion in patients who have one or two segments involved and kyphotic deformity of the cervical spine. Otherwise, patients who involve more than 3 segments and narrow spinal canal can be managed using laminoplasty posteriorly.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Decompression ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Canal ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Cord Diseases* ; Spine ; Spondylosis