Cervicofacial Actinomycosis with Orbit Involvement

Actinomycosis is caused by filamentous Gram positive anaerobic bacteria from the Actinomycetaceae family, and known as a rare cause of the infection at the eyeball. We report magnetic resonance findings of a 60-year-old Korean man with cervicofacial actinomycosis, including cellulitis in the eye and central nervous system actinomycosis. On orbital magnetic resonance imaging, gadolinium-enhanced T1-weight images showed multiple abnormal enhancing lesions in head and neck including right eye, and some include low signal intensities which considered as abscesses. The lesions was diagnosed as actinomycosis by incisional biopsy, and since then was cured by using antibiotics of penicillin family.

Deep Sylvian Meningioma in a 43-Year-Old Man: A Case Report

Deep sylvian meningioma is a rare form of meningiomas. So far, only 4 cases including the present one have been reported in South Korea. A 43-year-old man without any previous medical history presented to our hospital with seizure. There was a rim enhancing mass in the right deep sylvian fissure without dural attachment on magnetic resonance images. Surgical resection of the mass revealed the lesion to be a meningioma in this patient.

Characterization of Gentamicin-Induced Apoptosis in a Cochlear Cell Model / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Aminoglycoside antibiotics are ototoxic. Understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the drug-induced ototoxicity, however, has been hampered by limited cell availability. Recently, HEI-OC1 cells, which are of an immortalized cochlear cell line sensitive to ototoxic drugs, have been derived from the auditory sensory organ. This study was performed to confirm whether cultured HEI-OC1 cells can be used to evaluate aminoglycoside-induced ototoxicity and the effect of antioxidants against aminoglycoside-induced colchlear cell damage. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Gentamicin was administered for 3 days in the media containing HEI-OC1 cells. RESULTS: Cell viability was decreased by gentamicin in a dose-dependent manner. The cell number was decreased by 50% 3 days after the exposure to 2 mM gentamicin. Penicillin did not have any significant effect. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that sub G1 arrest representing cellular apoptosis was accelerated by gentamicin treatment but not by penicillin. Expression of p27Kip1, the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, was exclusively increased by gentamicin. Reactive oxygen species were also increased by gentamicin when compared with those of the control or when penicillin was used. Caspase-3 activity became increased according to the elevation of gentamicin concentrations. N-acetyl cysteine, but not vitamin E or vitamin C, ameliorated cell survival dose-dependently against gentamicin. CONCLUSION:The present study reveals that the HEI-OC1 cell line is a good model to evaluate gentamicin-induced ototoxicity. The results suggest that gentamicin-induced apoptosis may be, at least partially, linked to the overproduction of a reactive oxygen species called. Nacetyl cysteine, a free radical scavenger, that decreases the gentamicin ototoxicity.

New Technique for Surgery of Petrous Apex Cholesterol Granuloma

The authors present a new technique for surgery of cholesterol granuloma (CG) at the petrous apex. An epidural middle fossa approach is used to expose and remove the cyst, with silicon tube drainage into the sphenoid sinus via the anterolateral cavernous sinus triangle between the first and second divisions of the trigeminal nerve. This novel method is less invasive skull base approach to the petrous apex and very effective for minimizing recurrence of CGs within the petrous apex.

Stent-assisted Angioplasty for Symptomatic Radiation-induced Carotid Stenosis

A 44-year-old woman presented with recurrent, transient episodes of left-side hemiparesis. She had received a radiation dose of 6120 cGy to her cervical region for parotid gland carcinoma 13 years previously. Cerebral angiography revealed a long, irregular tight stenosis involving the right extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) and common carotid artery (CCA), measuring approximately 90% at the most severe narrowing according to North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial criteria. Endovascular stent placement resulted in restoration of the carotid lumen to about 80% of its original diameter. She showed no further ischemic events during the follow-up period of 48 months. Our clinical and angiographic findings suggest that carotid stenting is considered a safe and effective treatment option in patients with radiation-induced carotid stenosis.