• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.70-72
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• 2008

Nerogenic tumor of various histologic types may arise in the posterior mediastinum. Mediastinal schwannoma is a frequent paraspinal neurogenic tumor, but malignant mediastinal schwannoma is rare tumor which is derived from Schwann cells. Although there are some reports dealing with approach for screening patients with symptoms suggesting malignancy and the imaging criteria for distinguishing malignant from benign schwannoma but the results are not clearly defined. We present a case of hugh mediastinal schwannoma which was taken for malignancy in imaging studies because of its invasiveness.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetic Resonance Society
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.10-23
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• 2007

A new disintegrin protein named saxatilin was purified from Korean snake venom (Gloydius saxatilis). Saxatilin is a 73 residue small ploypeptide, which has a primary recognition motif in extracellular matrix, Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) sequence. Data from inhibition activity assay for the ${\alpha}_v{\beta}_3$ integrin showed that saxatilin showed about 5000-fold higher activity than those of RGD peptides, suggesting that RGD sequence may not be sufficient to induce full cellular function of this site. The solution structures calculated from NMR data were well converged for backbone atoms except RGD loop. The structure revealed that most of tight turns are stabilized by medium range NOE contacts and the RGD motif is located far from the rigid core of the C-terminal domain. The three-dimensional fold and biological function of saxatilin are discussed with those of salmosin, which is a disintegrin protein derived from Agkistrodon halys brevicaudus.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.78-87
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• 2024

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The prevalence of obesity, a worldwide pandemic, has been increasing steadily in Korea. Reports have shown that increased intermuscular adipose tissue (IMAT) is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, independent of body mass index. However, the relationship between dietary intake and IMAT accumulation in the Korean population remains undetermined. The objective of this study was to evaluate regional fat compartments using advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques. We also aimed to investigate the association between IMAT amounts and dietary intake, including carbohydrate intake, among Korean individuals with obesity. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This cross-sectional study, performed at a medical center in South Korea, recruited 35 individuals with obesity (15 men and 20 women) and classified them into 2 groups according to sex. Anthropometry was performed, and body fat distribution was measured using MRI. Blood parameters, including glucose and lipid profiles, were analyzed using commercial kits. Linear regression analysis was used to test whether the IMAT was associated with daily carbohydrate intake. RESULTS: Carbohydrate intake was positively associated with IMAT in all individuals, with adjustments for age, sex, height, and weight. No significant differences in blood indicators were found between the sexes. CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of sex and age, higher carbohydrate intake was strongly correlated with greater IMAT accumulation. This suggests the need to better understand sex differences and high carbohydrate diet patterns in relation to the association between obesity and metabolic risk, which may help reduce obesity prevalence.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.176-179
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• 2016

Delayed posttraumatic spinal epidural hematoma is an extremely rare disease, and it remains a challenge for surgical teams of trauma centers. Magnetic resonance imaging is an essential tool for early diagnosis, and emergent evacuation of the hematoma is the best choice of treatment. We report the case of a 33-year old man with posttraumatic epidural hematoma in the thoracic spine (T10 and T11 levels), who developed an abrupt-onset paraplegia 5 days after the trauma.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.674-676
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• 2009

Isolated stress fracture of the first rib is rare, and repeated muscular pulling and fatigue of bone is thought to be responsible for this fracture. The diagnosis can be made by taking a thorough history and performing chest roentgenography, computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. Conservative treatment generally cures this condition. We report here on a case of exercise-induced isolated stress fracture of the first rib in a non-athlete college student and we review the related articles.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.510-516
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• 2014

Background: Acute cerebral infarction is a major risk factor for postoperative neurologic complications in cardiac surgery. However, the outcomes associated with acute silent cerebral infarction (ASCI) have not been not well established. Few studies have reported the postoperative outcomes of these patients in light of preoperative Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI). We studied the postoperative neurologic outcomes of patients with preoperative ASCI detected by DWI. Methods: We retrospectively studied 32 patients with preoperative ASCI detected by DWI. None of the patients had preoperative neurologic symptoms. The mean age at operation was $68.8{\pm}9.5$ years. Five patients had previous histories of stroke. Four patients had been diagnosed with infective endocarditis. Single cerebral infarct lesions were detected in 16 patients, double lesions in 13, and multiple lesions (>5) in three. The median size of the infarct lesions was 4 mm (range, 2 to 25 mm). The operations of three of the 32 patients were delayed pending follow-up DWI studies. Results: There were two in-hospital mortalities. Neurologic complications also occurred in two patients. One patient developed extensive cerebral infarction unrelated to preoperative infarct lesions. One patient showed sustained delirium over one week but recovered completely without any neurologic deficits. In two patients, postoperative DWI confirmed that no significant changes had occurred in the lesions. Conclusion: Patients with preoperative ASCI showed excellent postoperative neurologic outcomes. Preoperative ASCI was not a risk factor for postoperative neurologic deterioration.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.7
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• pp.568-572
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• 2002

We present a case of a 47-year-old woman with benign solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura originated in the diaphragm which was discovered incidentally on a chest radiograph. Chest radiograph, sonograph, computed tomographic scan and magnetic resonance image studies proved a well circumscribed and lobulated fibrous tumor of the pleura. During the subsequent right thoracotomy, the tumor was found to be encapsulated and consisted of firm mass. It was connected to the diaphragm with $5{\times}4$cm area by pedicle. Most of the tumor was free of adhesion. It was excised completely together with attached diaphragm. The tumor measured $23.5{\times}13.5{\times}8.0$cm and the pathologic diagnosis was benign solitary fibrous tumor and the attached diaphragm was free of disease.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.187-192
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• 2015

Background: Aortic occlusion is rare catastophic pathology with high rates of mortality and severe morbidity. In this study, we aimed to share our experience in the management of aortic occlusion and to assess the outcomes of extra-anatomic bypass procedures. Methods: Eighteen patients who had undergone extra-anatomic bypass interventions in the cardiovascular surgery department of our tertiary care center between July 2009 and May 2013 were retrospectively evaluated. All patients were preoperatively assessed with angiograms (conventional, computed tomography, or magnetic resonance angiography) and Doppler ultrasonography. Operations consisted of bilateral femoral thromboembolectomy, axillo-bifemoral extra-anatomic bypass and femoropopliteal bypass and were performed on an emergency basis. Results: In all patients during early postoperative period successful revascularization outcomes were obtained; however, one of these operated patients died on the 10th postoperative due to multiorgan failure. The patients were followed up for a mean duration of $21.2{\pm}9.4$ months (range, 6 to 36 months). Amputation was not warranted for any patient during postoperative follow-up.. Conclusion: To conclude, acute aortic occlusion is a rare but devastating event and is linked with substantial morbidity and mortality in spite of the recent advances in critical care and vascular surgery. Our results have shown that these hazardous outcomes may be minimized and better rates of graft patency may be achieved with extra-anatomic bypass techniques tailored according to the patient.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.42-45
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• 2016

Thrombosis at the left ventricular outflow tract occurs without any detectable heart disease or predisposing factors only extremely rarely. A 48-year-old male visited Konkuk University Medical Center with loss of consciousness one month prior to presentation. Before he visited our hospital, he had been diagnosed with a cardiac tumor, which was located between the left atrium and posterior aortic root, and which was adjacent to both the aortic and mitral valves. Cardiac transplantation was recommended at the other hospital because of the high risk of cardiac dysfunction induced by both aortic and mitral valvular dysfunction after surgical resection. Based on preoperative transthoracic echocardiography, cardiac computed tomography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, and intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography, we considered it to be a benign tumor. Complete resection was achieved and the pathology confirmed organizing thrombus. We report a case of organizing thrombus mimicking a cardiac tumor, which was located at the mitral-aortic intervalvular fibrosa of the left ventricular outflow tract without any heart disease.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.141-153
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• 2020

Purpose: Myocardial T1 and T2 relaxation times are affected by technical factors such as cardiovascular magnetic resonance platform/vendor. We aimed to validate T1 and T2 mapping sequences using a phantom; establish reference T1, T2, and extracellular volume (ECV) measurements using two sequences at 3T in normal Koreans; and compare the protocols and evaluate the differences from previously reported measurements. Materials and Methods: Eleven healthy subjects underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using 3T MRI equipment (Verio, Siemens, Erlangen, Germany). We did phantom validation before volunteer scanning: T1 mapping with modified look locker inversion recovery (MOLLI) with 5(3)3 and 4(1)3(1)2 sequences, and T2 mapping with gradient echo (GRE) and TrueFISP sequences. We did T1 and T2 mappings on the volunteers with the same sequences. ECV was also calculated with both sequences after gadolinium enhancement. Results: The phantom study showed no significant differences from the gold standard T1 and T2 values in either sequence. Pre-contrast T1 relaxation times of the 4(1)3(1)2 protocol was 1142.27 ± 36.64 ms and of the 5(3)3 was 1266.03 ± 32.86 ms on the volunteer study. T2 relaxation times of GRE were 40.09 ± 2.45 ms and T2 relaxation times of TrueFISP were 38.20 ± 1.64 ms in each. ECV calculation was 24.42% ± 2.41% and 26.11% ± 2.39% in the 4(1)3(1)2 and 5(3)3 protocols, respectively, and showed no differences at any segment or slice between the sequences. We also calculated ECV from the pre-enhancement T1 relaxation time of MOLLI 5(3)3 and the post-enhancement T1 relaxation time of MOLLI 4(1)3(1)2, with no significant differences between the combinations. Conclusion: Using phantom-validated sequences, we reported the normal myocardial T1, T2, and ECV reference values of healthy Koreans at 3T. There were no statistically significant differences between the sequences, although it has limited statistical value due to the small number of subjects studied. ECV showed no significant differences between calculations based on various pre- and post-mapping combinations.