No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Spondylolisthesis*

Although it is commonly appreciated that there is an inordinately large number of anormalies associated with the excretory ducts of the liver, comparatively little attention has been paid to the position of the orfice of the common bile duct into the duodenum. But, obiviously the site of entrance of the common bile duct into the duodenum becomes of great importance to the endoscopist, radiologist, and surgeon in diseases of the extra-hepatic biliary tract diag-nostically and therapeutically. We report 'a case of anomalous termination of the common bile duct into the duodenal bulb with the gall bladder empyema.
Biliary Tract ; Cholecystitis* ; Common Bile Duct* ; Duodenum ; Liver

Neurocysticercosis (NCC) by Taenia solium is the most common parasitic infection of the central nervous system involving the cerebrum. However, spinal involvement of NCC is rare. Spinal NCC can cause radiculopathy, myelopathy, cauda equina syndrome, and even paraparesis, depending on its location and size. Spinal NCC may require surgical treatment as a first-line treatment because medical therapy can further aggravate the inflammation due to dead cysts, resulting in clinical deterioration. The current standard therapy for spinal NCC is surgical decompression followed by medical therapy. We experienced a case of widespread thoracolumbar intradural extramedullary cysticercosis involving the spinal canal with cerebral cysticercosis. We report this rare case with literature review.
Central Nervous System ; Cerebrum ; Cysticercosis* ; Decompression, Surgical ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Neurocysticercosis ; Paraparesis ; Polyradiculopathy ; Radiculopathy ; Spinal Canal* ; Spinal Cord Diseases ; Spine ; Taenia solium

STUDY DESIGN: Case report. OBJECTIVES: We report a case of widespread lumbosacral subdural abscess in a patient who underwent bee venom therapy. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Subdural abscess is rare, but has a poor prognosis. Therefore, prompt recognition and appropriate treatment are paramount. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 54-year-old woman was hospitalized due to severe back pain. Two days previously, she had undergone bee venom therapy. The patient then visited the emergency room because of severe back pain. However, a paraspinal infection was not detected on enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Six days after admission, the patient showed signs of meningeal irritation and an emergency cerebrospinal fluid analysis showed typical findings of bacterial meningitis. Although adequate antibiotic treatment was administered, 20 days after admission, the patient's symptoms became aggravated. Pachymeningeal enhancement, myelomeningitis, and subdural abscess compressing the cauda equina were found on enhanced MRI. Thus, laminectomy between L3–L4 and L5–S1 was performed, as well as subdural abscess drainage. Antibiotic agents were applied for 6 weeks after the operation, and resolution of the subdural abscess was identified on follow-up MRI. RESULTS: In this patient, lumbosacral subdural abscess occurred due to bee venom therapy. It was cured by adequate surgical and antibiotic treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Bee venom therapy can cause subdural abscess of the spinal cord. Even if it is a rare case, this possibility is worth consideration in the Korean medical context.
Abscess ; Back Pain ; Bee Venoms ; Bees ; Cauda Equina ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Drainage ; Emergencies ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Meningitis, Bacterial ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Spinal Cord ; Spine

OBJECTIVES: We report a case of widespread lumbosacral subdural abscess in a patient who underwent bee venom therapy.SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Subdural abscess is rare, but has a poor prognosis. Therefore, prompt recognition and appropriate treatment are paramount. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 54-year-old woman was hospitalized due to severe back pain. Two days previously, she had undergone bee venom therapy. The patient then visited the emergency room because of severe back pain. However, a paraspinal infection was not detected on enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Six days after admission, the patient showed signs of meningeal irritation and an emergency cerebrospinal fluid analysis showed typical findings of bacterial meningitis. Although adequate antibiotic treatment was administered, 20 days after admission, the patient's symptoms became aggravated. Pachymeningeal enhancement, myelomeningitis, and subdural abscess compressing the cauda equina were found on enhanced MRI. Thus, laminectomy between L3–L4 and L5–S1 was performed, as well as subdural abscess drainage. Antibiotic agents were applied for 6 weeks after the operation, and resolution of the subdural abscess was identified on follow-up MRI. RESULTS: In this patient, lumbosacral subdural abscess occurred due to bee venom therapy. It was cured by adequate surgical and antibiotic treatment. CONCLUSIONS Bee venom therapy can cause subdural abscess of the spinal cord. Even if it is a rare case, this possibility is worth consideration in the Korean medical context.

BACKGROUND: Formaldehyde (FA) and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are considered among the main causes of atopic aggravation. Their main sources include wallpapers, paints, adhesives, and flooring materials. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of environmentally friendly wallpaper and flooring material on indoor air quality and atopic dermatitis severity. METHODS: Thirty patients with atopic dermatitis were enrolled in this study. To improve air quality, the wallpaper and flooring in the homes of the subjects were replaced with plant- or silica-based materials. The indoor air concentration of FA and the total VOCs (TVOCs) were measured before remodeling and 2, 6, and 10 weeks thereafter. Pruritus and the severity of atopic eczema were evaluated by using a questionnaire and the eczema area and severity index (EASI) score before and at 4, 8, and 12 weeks after remodeling. The subjects were instructed to continue their therapy for atopic dermatitis. RESULTS: The houses of 24 subjects were remodeled; all subjects completed the study. The concentration of FA in ambient air significantly decreased within 2 weeks after remodeling. The TVOC level showed a decrease at week 2 but increased again at weeks 6 and 10. The reduction of pruritus and EASI score was statistically significant in patients whose baseline EASI score was >3. CONCLUSION: Replacing the wallpaper and flooring of houses with environmentally friendly material reduced FA in ambient air and improved pruritus and the severity of atopic eczema. The improvement of pruritus and eczema was statistically significant in patients whose baseline EASI score was >3.
Adhesives ; Air Pollution, Indoor* ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Eczema ; Formaldehyde ; Housing ; Humans ; Paint ; Pilot Projects* ; Pruritus ; Volatile Organic Compounds ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.
Lymphoma*

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the relationship of personality traits with dopamine D4 receptor(DRD4) exon III polymorphism in a Korean population. METHODS: We analysed DRD4 exon III 48-bp repeats polymorphism in 173 Korean healthy female adolescents(age=13.88+/-0.29 years) who also completed Temperament and Character Inventory(TCI). RESULTS: Novelty seeking score of the TCI was significantly higher in the subjects with DRD4 long alleles(>or=5 repeats) compared with the subjects without these(t=2.11, p=0.037). CONCLUSION: The present study supports the previous reports that long repeats of the DRD4-exon III polymorphism are related with Novelty Seeking personality.
Dopamine* ; Exons ; Female ; Humans ; Receptors, Dopamine* ; Temperament

A 68-year-old man was admitted due to abdominal pain. He was diagnosed as having recurrent pancreatitis with a pseudocyst, which is communicated through the main pan- creatic duct. An endoscopic pancreatic sphincterotomy and insertion of a nasopancreatic tube into the main pancreatic duct via transpapillary drainage were performed. As a result, the pseudocyst disappeared and the pain was relieved. Thus it was concluded that transpapillary drainage via the main pancreatic duct is a safe and effective treatment for pancreatic pseudocysts, which is communicated through the main pancreatic duct.
Abdominal Pain ; Aged ; Drainage* ; Humans ; Pancreatic Ducts* ; Pancreatic Pseudocyst* ; Pancreatitis