PURPOSE: To evaluate the findings and the role of CT in plexiform neuro-fibromatosis of the mediastinum. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retropectively reviewed the CT scans of five patients with plexiform neurofibromatosis of the mediastinum. The CT scans were reviewed with attention to the distribution of the lesions, appearance and attenuation of mediastinal lesions, enhancement pattern after intravenous contrast infusion and associated findingssuch as intercostal neurofibroma. RESULTS: In all five patients CT scans demonstrated fusiform low attenuated masses which were oriented longitudinally and extended over multiple contiguous scans along the distribution of major mediastinal nerves. In four patients, mediastinal lesions appeared infiltrative, obliterating adjacent mediastinal fat plane. One patient had well defined fusiform masses along the major mediastinal nerves. Postcontrast enhanced CT scans revealed slight central enhancement in two patient and no contrast enhancement in three patients. Associated findings such as neurofibromas of intercostal nerves and sympathetic trunk, or subcutaneous neurofibromas were detected on CTscans in all five patients. CONCLUSION: Characteristic CT findings of low attenuation masses along the major mediastinal nerves are helpful to differentiate plexiform neurofibromatosis from mediastinal lymphadenopathy and to prevent from misreading as a malignant disease.
Humans ; Intercostal Nerves ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Mediastinum* ; Neurofibroma ; Neurofibromatoses* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

No abstract available.
Castration ; Granuloma ; Granuloma, Foreign-Body

Background: Webtoon, a digital form of comics created in the Republic of Korea, has spread widely with advantages that anyone can become a cartoonist and that autonomy of creation is guaranteed. The purpose of this study is to identify the working conditions of webtoon writers and analyze the relationship between these conditions and depressive symptoms. Methods: A survey was carried out on webtoon writers and a survey data of 312 webtoon writers were analyzed. The questionnaire included basic socio-demographic characteristics, webtoon writers’ contractual type, fields of activity (webtoon creator, story writer, illustrator), and working environment (labor discretion etc.). We investigated depressive symptoms and analyzed its relation to the work environment of webtoon writers. Results: Webtoon writers were exposed to long working hours, high labor intensity, limited labor discretion, negative comments from readers, and had a high prevalence of depressive symptoms. Compared to story writers who contracted directly with platforms, story writers and the illustrators who contracted with content providers (CPs) were 9.51 times (OR = 9.51, 95% CI = 1.47 - 61.33) and 6.47 times (OR = 6.47, 95% CI = 1.08 – 38.75) more likely to have depressive symptoms, respectively. Conclusions This study emphasizes the urgent necessity to improve the overall working environment in the webtoon industry and implement measures to tackle the escalating mental health challenges faced by illustrators and story writers contracted with CPs, especially given the increasing popularity of novel comics.

OBJECTIVE: Closure of a low transverse cesarean incision with one layer and two layer, we compared operative time, hemostasis, blood loss and postoperative sonohysteroperitoneographic findings. Study design: At our hospital 103 women were randomized to closure of a low transverse cesarean incision with either one continuous layer of a locking No. 1 chromic suture or two continuous of No. 1 chromic suture with the first layer locked between Mar. 1, 1998 and Dec. 31, 1998. After three months later, sonhysteroperitoneography was taken and then we evaluated uterus indirectly. RESULTS: A one layer closure required less operative time, 16 versus 20.8 minutes (p<0.01), less hemoglobin change, 0.44 versus 1.3 (p<0.01) and less suture materials (p<0.01). But postoperative follow up sonohysteroperitoneography, a one layer closure shows slightly thinning of isthmic layer of myometrium, two layer closure shows more adhesional band and both are similar other findings. CONCLUSION: A one layer does not significantly affect the clinical course than traditional two layer closure. So we recommended a one layer closure when its use is anatomically feasible.
Animals ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemostasis ; Humans ; Mice ; Myometrium ; Operative Time ; Sutures ; Uterus

Parosteal lipoma is a rare and generally asymptomatic benign tumor of mature adipose tissue that is located in direct apposition to the external surface of the bone. These tumors are occasionally associated with reactive changes in the underlying bone. The reactive bone formation is generally restricted to the base of the tumor, that is, near the periosteum. We recently experienced a case of parosteal lipoma in the proximal femur, which displayed exuberant bone and cartilage formation, and this led us to a misdiagnosis of chondroblastic osteosarcoma on the initial biopsy. We report here on this case with a special emphasis on making the differential diagnosis from osteosarcoma.
Adipose Tissue ; Biopsy ; Cartilage ; Chondrocytes ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diagnostic Errors ; Femur* ; Lipoma* ; Osteogenesis ; Osteosarcoma ; Osteosarcoma, Juxtacortical ; Periosteum

BACKGROUNDS: The inflammatory reaction after cerebral ischemia involving adhesion molecules aggravates neurologic deficit. This study aimed to study the change of plasma level of the adhesion molecules after acute cerebral ischemia. METHODS: Nineteen patients with acute cerebral infarction and ten control subjects without a history of cerebrovascular disease were included in this study. The patient groups were subgrouped into large artery atherosclerosis and small artery occlusion groups according to TOAST classification. Plasma levels of sP-selectin, sE-selectin, sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 were measured within 24 hours and in 6 to 8 days after acute ischemic infarction. RESULTS: The plasma level of sP-selectin was elevated in acute stroke patients within 24 hours and in 6 to 8 days after stroke onset compared with control group(p<0.05). But plasma levels of sE-selectin, sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 were not different from those of control group. The plasma level of sP-selectin was significantly elevated in large artery artherosclerosis group compared with control group. CONCLUSION: This study suggest that P-selectin actively involves in inflammatory process after acute ischemic stroke, especially associated with atherosclerosis.
Arteries ; Atherosclerosis ; Brain Ischemia ; Cerebral Infarction ; Classification ; Humans ; Infarction ; Neurologic Manifestations ; P-Selectin ; Plasma* ; Stroke*

No abstract available.
*Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine/diagnosis/pathology ; Female ; Human ; *Liver Neoplasms/diagnosis/pathology ; Middle Aged

No abstract available.
Melanoma ; Nevus

We would like to correct the affiliation for the first author.

Since Green et al has introduced a new technique of retrograde intramedullary nail, the use of retrograde interlocking intramedullary nails has been recommended as one of the treatment options for the distal femoral fracture. However there are some disadvantages that an arthrotomy is required for insertion and the knee joint could often be violated. Authors present a simple, arthroscopically assisted method using the retrograde intramedullary nailing for distal femoral fractures with minimal invasiveness to the knee. From March 1995 to March 1997, the retrograde intramedullary nail was used to treat 9 distal femoral fractures. Five of 9 patients were fractured at the distal shaft of the femur and others were fractured at the supracondylar region of the femur. Only one of the fractures was open injury(Gustilo-Anderson grade II). Significant concomitant knee joint injuries were revealed through the arthroscopy in 3 patients. Eight of 9 fractures healed by 5 months, but one fracture was not healed and required bone grafting. Average knee range of motion was 130. Complications included 1 nonunion and 1 hardware failure. There were no patellofemoral problems and no posttraumatic arthritis of the knee joint. This arthroscope-assisted method have some potential benefits that include decreased risk of damage to the knee joint, early evaluation and treatment of the associated knee joint injuries, and accurate placement of the nail.
Arthritis ; Arthroscopy* ; Bone Transplantation ; Femoral Fractures* ; Femur ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary ; Humans ; Knee ; Knee Joint ; Range of Motion, Articular