STUDY DESIGN: Case report. OBJECTIVES: We report the case of a long, solitary, rosary-shaped neurofibroma that was misdiagnosed as another disease due to the patient's surgical history involving repetitive procedures and its abnormal appearance. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Neurofibroma is an intradural-extramedullary spinal tumor. It is generally not difficult to diagnose due to its frequent occurrence and specific magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings. However, to date, neurofibromatosis stigmata and long, solitary, rosary-shaped neurofibromas have rarely been reported. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 60-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital due to persistent pain, despite previous surgery and repetitive procedures. On physical examination, vision loss, hearing loss, skin discoloration, or subcutaneous nodules were not observed. A neurologic examination revealed normal motor and sensory function and voiding sensation. No pathologic reflexes such as the Babinski sign were observed. Previous sequential MRIs revealed intradural lesions that progressed from the thoracic vertebra 11 to the lumbar vertebra 3. She had no signs of neurofibromatosis stigmata, and the neurologic examination was unremarkable. The initial diagnosis was based on serial MRIs, which revealed a parasite infestation, a spinal cord tumor (myxopapillary-type ependymoma with hemorrhage), arachnoiditis, and vascular malformations. Total mass excision was performed, and the final diagnosis was neurofibroma. RESULTS: There were no signs of a tumor remnants or local recurrence in a 1-year follow-up MRI study. CONCLUSIONS: Although intradural spinal tumors are very rare, their clinical features are nonspecific and resemble other degenerative spinal diseases, including spinal stenosis and disc herniation. These diseases may easily be overlooked by physicians.
Arachnoid ; Arachnoiditis ; Christianity ; Diagnosis ; Diagnostic Errors ; Ependymoma ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hearing Loss ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Neurofibroma* ; Neurofibromatoses ; Neurologic Examination ; Parasites ; Physical Examination ; Recurrence ; Reflex ; Reflex, Babinski ; Sensation ; Skin ; Spinal Cord Neoplasms ; Spinal Diseases ; Spinal Stenosis ; Spine ; Vascular Malformations

PURPOSE: Wheezing following viral lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) in children <2 years of age is an important risk factor for the development of asthma later in life; however, not all children with viral LRTIs develop wheezing. This study investigated risk factors for the development of wheezing during viral LRTIs requiring hospitalization. METHODS: The study included 142 children <2 years of age hospitalized for LRTIs with at least one virus identified as the cause and classified them into children diagnosed with LRTIs with wheezing (n=70) and those diagnosed with LRTIs without wheezing (n=72). RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the viruses detected between the two groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that, after adjusting for potentially confounding variables including sex and age, the development of wheezing was strongly associated with parental history of allergic diseases (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 20.19; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.22-126.48), past history of allergic diseases (aOR, 13.95; 95% CI, 1.34-145.06), past history of hospitalization for respiratory illnesses (aOR, 21.36; 95% CI, 3.77-120.88), exposure to secondhand smoke at home (aOR, 14.45; 95% CI, 4.74-44.07), and total eosinophil count (aOR, 1.01; 95% CI, 1.01-1.02). CONCLUSION: Past and parental history of allergic diseases, past history of hospitalization for respiratory illnesses, exposure to secondhand smoke at home, and total eosinophil count were closely associated with the development of wheezing in children <2 years of age who required hospitalization for viral LRTIs. Clinicians should take these factors into consideration when treating, counseling, and monitoring young children admitted for viral LRTIs.
Asthma ; Child* ; Confounding Factors (Epidemiology) ; Counseling ; Eosinophils ; Hospitalization* ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Odds Ratio ; Parents ; Respiratory Sounds* ; Respiratory Tract Infections* ; Risk Factors* ; Tobacco Smoke Pollution

With the advancement of laparoscopic instruments and computer sciences, complex surgical procedures are expected to be safely performed by robot assisted telemanipulative laparoscopic surgery. The da Vinci system (Intuitive Surgical, Mountain View, CA, USA) became available at the many surgical fields. The wrist like movements of the instrument's tip, as well as 3-dimensional vision, could be expected to facilitate more complex laparoscopic procedure. Here, we present the first Korean experience of da Vinci robotic assisted laparoscopic cholecystectomy and discuss the introduction and perspectives of this robotic system.
Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic/*instrumentation/*methods ; Female ; Gallstones/*surgery ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; *Robotics ; Surgery, Computer-Assisted/*methods ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND: High sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) is more sensitive than standard CRP assay in evaluating a risk of coronary heart diseases and other atherosclerotic events. By this time, there are several reports that type 2 diabetic subjects have higher level of hsCRP than non-diabetic subjects. However, there are few reports about factors which have influence upon the level of serum hsCRP in type 2 diabetic subjects. We had evaluated the association of serum hsCRP level with risk factors of cardiovascular diseases, carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and microvascular complications in type 2 diabetic subjects. METHODS: 105 patients (59 men and 46 women) with type 2 diabetes were recruited, and subjects with severe cardiovascular diseases were excluded. All subjects were undergone carotid ultrasonography for evaluation of carotid IMT. Serum hsCRP concentrations were measured. For evaluation of microvascular complications, fundus photography, nerve conduction velocity test were performed, and 24-hour urine protein/albumin excretion amounts were measured. RESULTS: Serum hsCRP level was correlated with mean left IMT (r=0.366, p=0.003), maximal left IMT (r=0.370, p=0.002), mean right IMT (r=0.281, p=0.023) and maximal right IMT (r=0.370, p=0.002). Body mass index (r=0.377, p<0.001), waist circumference (r=0.342, p<0.001), waist-hip ratio (r=0.229, p=0.020), serum total cholesterol (r=0.202, p=0.024), serum triglyceride (r=0.292, p=0.022) and serum low density lipoprotein (r=0.133, p=0.044). There was no difference of serum hsCRP level between groups with or without retinopathy (1.26+/-0.83 vs 1.13+/-1.13 mg/L, p=0.704), neuropathy (1.30+/-1.27 vs 0.88+/-0.80 mg/L, p=0.203) or nephropathy (1.10+/-0.93 vs 1.06+/-1.06 mg/L, p=0.863). CONCLUSION: We conclude that serum hsCRP level is correlated with carotid IMT and the risk factors of cardiovascular diseases, and may be useful to predict accelerated atherosclerotic process in type 2 diabetic subjects. But, diabetic microvascular complications do not effect on the level of serum hsCRP.
Body Mass Index ; C-Reactive Protein* ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness* ; Cholesterol ; Coronary Disease ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Humans ; Lipoproteins ; Male ; Neural Conduction ; Photography ; Risk Factors ; Triglycerides ; Ultrasonography ; Waist Circumference ; Waist-Hip Ratio

BACKGROUND: Tibolone is a novel synthetic compound with tissue-specific effects in bone, breast tissue and the endometrium. Tibolone, and active vitamin D, effectively prevent bone loss, and the maintain skeletal integrity of postmenopausal women. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of tibolone, and active vitamin D (1-hydroxyvitamin D3), therapies given alone, or in combination, against bone loss in postmenopausal women. METHODS: One hundred and three postmenopausal women were treated with tibolone (n=40), alphacalcidol (n=27) or both drugs (n=36) for 12 months. All subjects took supplemental calcium carbonate (500 mg daily). The bone mineral densities (BMD) of the lumbar spine and proximal femur were measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at the baseline and after 12 months. RESULTS: Tibolone therapy produced significant increase of 4.1 and 1.8% in the BMD at the lumbar spine (p<0.001) and femoral neck (p=0.009), respectively. The combination of tibolone and active vitamin D increased the BMD by 8.0 and 4.4% (p<0.001) at the spine and femoral neck, respectively. The differences in the change of BMD from the baseline at the lumbar spine was significant (p=0.038) in the combination treatment group compared that in the tibolone alone group. CONCLUSION: Tibolone alone, and in combination with active vitamin D, effectively increased the BMD at all skeletal sites in postmenopausal women. Combination treatment for osteoporosis is emerging as a promising modality in Korean postmenopausal women.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Bone Density* ; Breast ; Calcium Carbonate ; Endometrium ; Female ; Femur ; Femur Neck ; Humans ; Osteoporosis ; Spine ; Vitamin D* ; Vitamins*

BACKGROUND: High sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) is more sensitive than standard CRP assay for evaluation of risk of coronary heart diseases and other atherosclerotic events. But, there were no data of association of serum hsCRP with risk factors of cardiovascular diseases and nonalcoholic fatty liver in Korean type 2 diabetic and nondiabetic subjects. METHODS : A hundred type 2 diabetic subjects (51 men and 49 women) from Severance Hospital and 200 nondiabetic subjects participating medical checkup in Health Promotion Center (105 men and 95 women) were recruited and subjects with acute illnesses and chronic inflammatory diseases such as upper respiratory infection, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, or viral hepatitis were excluded. A standardized interview was conducted by trained personnel; detailed information was collected on medical history, dietary habits and lifestyle characteristics, including smoking, alcohol and physical activity. Body mass index (BMI) was computed and biochemical study were undergone using fasting blood. All subjects were done abdominal ultrasonography for evaluation of fatty liver. Serum hsCRP concentration was measured by Nephelometer AnalyzerII (Behring Co.) and a lower detection limit of test was 0.18 mg/L. RESULTS : There was no difference in sex, BMI, presence of fatty liver, concentration of total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and uric acid between diabetic and nondiabetic subjects. Age, total colesterol/HDL-C ratio, fasting blood glucose and incidence of hypertension were higher in diabetic than nondiabetic subjects, but a rate of smoking was higher in nondiabetic than diabetic subjects. The mean concentration of serum hsCRP was remarkably increased in type 2 diabetic subjects than nondiabetic subjects (1.34 +/- 1.87 vs 0.71 +/- 0.80 mg/L, p<0.05). After adjustment of different variables between both groups, there was significantly difference of the concentration of serum hsCRP (p<0.05). In nondiabetic subjects, by univariate analysis, there was a positive correlation between hsCRP and age (r=0.26, p<0.05), BMI (r=0.34, p<0.05), systolic blood pressure (r=0.21, p<0.05), diastolic blood pressure (r=0.16, p<0.05), triglyceride (r=0.27, p<0.05), total cholesterol/HDL-C ratio (r=0.22, p<0.05), uric acid (r=0.15, p<0.05) and a negative correlation between serum hsCRP and HDL-C (r=-0.16, p<0.05). Interestingly, subjects with fatty liver had shown increased serum hsCRP concentration than subjects without fatty liver (0.99 +/- 0.96 vs 0.58 +/- 0.69 mg/L, p<0.05). But there were no correlation of serum hsCRP with the history of smoking, sex, physical activity, fasting plasma glucose and presence of hypertension. After multiple regression analysis, only BMI and age were associated with serum hsCRP. In diabetic subjects, there were significant correlation of serum hsCRP with HDL-C and fasting plasma glucose, but other risk factors of cardiovascular diseases and fatty liver were not. When we compared serum hsCRP according to numbers of risk factors of cardiovascular diseases in nondiabetic subjects, group without risk factors had 0.41 +/- 0.55 mg/L, group with one risk factor had 0.48 +/- 0.40 mg/L, group with two risk factors had 0.75 +/- 0.88 mg/L, group with three risk factors had 1.08 +/- 0.87 mg/L and group with four risk factors had 1.55 +/- 1.21 mg/L. There was significant difference of serum hsCRP according to numbers of risk factors of cardiovascular diseases (p<0.05). CONCLUSION : Serum hsCRP is correlated with risk factors of cardiovascular diseases and may be useful tool for prediction of accelerated, atherosclerotic process in nondiabetic subjects. Although there is association of serum hsCRP with few risk factors of cardiovascular diseases, serum hsCRP is elevated in diabetic subjects. Therefore it is necessary to evaluate usefulness of serum hsCRP using carefully selected diabetic subjects. In addition, our study had shown that subjects with nonalcoholic fatty liver have increased risk of cardiovascular events.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; C-Reactive Protein* ; Cardiovascular Diseases* ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Coronary Disease ; Fasting ; Fatty Liver ; Food Habits ; Health Promotion ; Hepatitis ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Life Style ; Limit of Detection ; Male ; Motor Activity ; Osteoarthritis ; Risk Factors* ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Triglycerides ; Ultrasonography ; Uric Acid

BACKGROUND: It is well known that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with metabolic syndrome such as obesity, type II diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is frequently found in non-obese adults, but the meaning of it is unknown. So we studied the association of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in non-obese adults and metabolic abnormalities. METHODS: We examined 779 Korean adults above 30 years old (274 men, 505 women) participating in medical check-up in Health Promotion Center. Hepatitis B and C serologies were negative, and average weekly alcohol intake was or=25 kg/m2, n=348) group (65.5 vs 32.3%, p<0.05). Compared with obese group, waist circumference, waist hip ratio, body fat, impaired fasting serum glucose, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol to HDL-cholesterol ratio, fasting insulin, proinsulin, HOMA-IR and HOMA-beta were significantly different in non-obese, non-alcoholic fatty liver group. After multiple regression analysis, waist circumference was associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in non-obese individuals. Odd ratios of insulin resistance in non-obese, non-alcoholic fatty liver group were 5.8 (CI: 3.1~10.9). CONCLUSION: The frequency of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease was very high in non-obese adults and well associated with central obesity and insulin resistance.
Adipose Tissue ; Adult* ; Blood Glucose ; Body Mass Index ; Cholesterol ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Dyslipidemias ; Fasting ; Fatty Liver* ; Female ; Health Promotion ; Hepatitis B ; Humans ; Insulin ; Insulin Resistance ; Liver ; Male ; Obesity ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Physical Examination ; Proinsulin ; Ultrasonography ; Waist Circumference ; Waist-Hip Ratio

Anthracyclines have been widely used in cancer therapy because of their efficacy in the treatment of various solid tumors and hem -atologic malignancy. Cumulative dose-related cardiotoxicity was a well-known toxicity of anthracyclines. Particularly, at total doses of more than 550 mg/m2, therapy with anthracyclines could produce irreversible cardiac injury. Anthracycline-induced cardiac toxicity was usually manifested by congestive heart failure or arrhythmia. In co- ntrast, acute myocardial infarction is a rare event of anthracycline-induced heart diseases. A 31-year-old man with non-Hodgkin lymphoma(NHL) and single cardiac risk factor, including smoking, was presented with chest pain after receiving 2nd CEOP-BLAM chemo-therapy. An electrocardiogram revealed ST segment elevation in inferior leads consistent with acute myocardial infarction. An echocardiogram revealed an ejection fraction of 60% and severe hypokinesia in inferior and anteroseptal wall. Three days later, coronary angiography revealed 50% of luminal stenosis of right coronary artery(RCA) and near total occlusion with large thrombi in m-RCA. After balloon angioplasty and stent insertion, the patient was transferred to coronary care unit and continuous intravenous heparin infusion was started. On the 10th days, the patient was discharged in good condition. Six months later, follow-up coronary angiography showed no significant lesion in right coronary artery. In a young man with NHL, we report an acute myocardial infarction after 2nd course of CEOP-BLAM chemotherapy with a review of relevant literatures.
Adult ; Angioplasty, Balloon ; Anthracyclines ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Chest Pain ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Care Units ; Coronary Vessels ; Doxorubicin* ; Drug Therapy* ; Electrocardiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Diseases ; Heart Failure ; Heparin ; Humans ; Hypokinesia ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin* ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Phenobarbital ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Stents

Anthracyclines have been widely used in cancer therapy because of their efficacy in the treatment of various solid tumors and hem -atologic malignancy. Cumulative dose-related cardiotoxicity was a well-known toxicity of anthracyclines. Particularly, at total doses of more than 550 mg/m2, therapy with anthracyclines could produce irreversible cardiac injury. Anthracycline-induced cardiac toxicity was usually manifested by congestive heart failure or arrhythmia. In co- ntrast, acute myocardial infarction is a rare event of anthracycline-induced heart diseases. A 31-year-old man with non-Hodgkin lymphoma(NHL) and single cardiac risk factor, including smoking, was presented with chest pain after receiving 2nd CEOP-BLAM chemo-therapy. An electrocardiogram revealed ST segment elevation in inferior leads consistent with acute myocardial infarction. An echocardiogram revealed an ejection fraction of 60% and severe hypokinesia in inferior and anteroseptal wall. Three days later, coronary angiography revealed 50% of luminal stenosis of right coronary artery(RCA) and near total occlusion with large thrombi in m-RCA. After balloon angioplasty and stent insertion, the patient was transferred to coronary care unit and continuous intravenous heparin infusion was started. On the 10th days, the patient was discharged in good condition. Six months later, follow-up coronary angiography showed no significant lesion in right coronary artery. In a young man with NHL, we report an acute myocardial infarction after 2nd course of CEOP-BLAM chemotherapy with a review of relevant literatures.
Adult ; Angioplasty, Balloon ; Anthracyclines ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Chest Pain ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Care Units ; Coronary Vessels ; Doxorubicin* ; Drug Therapy* ; Electrocardiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Diseases ; Heart Failure ; Heparin ; Humans ; Hypokinesia ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin* ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Phenobarbital ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Stents

Anomalies of the lumbosacral nerve roots, in which conjoined nerve roots are most common, are occasionally accompanied by herniated nucleus pulposus. Most of these anomalies were incidental findings from operations, and recent advances in diagnostic imaging techniques have increased the number of cases of lumbosacral root anomalies reported. All these anomalies are congenital, unilateral and almost exclusively situated at the L5-S1 segment. Diagnostic techniques, such as myelography, CT and MRI detect conjoined nerve root. Conjoined nerve root may be confused with a dumbbell tumor or extruded free disc fragment on CT scans. Surrounded by high-signal intensity epidural fat, a conjoined nerve root is more clearly depicted on MR images than on CT scans. Although the size of disc herniation was small, the symptom was magnified by a relatively fixed conjoined root. At surgery, it is necessary for a larger surgical exposure by means of hemi-laminectomy because of the fixation of the nerve roots, and difficulty in retraction. Recently, we experienced two cases of conjoined nerve root and presented them with a review of the literature.
Diagnostic Imaging ; Incidental Findings ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Myelography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed