Acute Cerebral Infarction Following Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy Associated With Pneumothorax

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is a transient condition characterized by acute left ventricular dysfunction without evidence of significant coronary artery obstruction. Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is not an uncommon complication of subarachnoid hemorrhage or acute cerebral infarction, but acute cerebral infarction is a rare thromboembolic complication in patients with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. We present a patient with acute cerebral infarction following Takotsubo cardiomyopathy associated with pneumothorax.

Acute Zonal Occult Outer Retinopathy Mimicking Retrobulbar Optic Neuritis

A 27-year-old woman suffered a sudden visual disturbance in the right eye. The right eye had a visual acuity of 0.02 and a relative afferent pupillary defect. A visual-field examination revealed an inferotemporal field defect in the right eye. A fundus examination revealed no abnormalities that were responsible for the visual-field defect. Multifocal electroretinography showed decreased responses in the right eye at the corresponding area with the visual-field defect. She was diagnosed as acute zonal occult outer retinopathy.

Changes in Semen Parameters After Varicocelectomy: a Comparative Study of the Laparoscopic and Microsurgical Inguinal Approach / 대한남성과학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the surgical outcomes of two different surgical methods for varicocelectomy, and to assess the effects of varicocelectomy on semen parameters in subinfertile men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 63 patients with clinically palpable varicocele and abnormal semen parameters who underwent varicocelectomy. Thirty-three patients underwent laparoscopic varicocelectomy, and 30 received microsurgical inguinal varicocelectomy. Semen analyses were performed 5.3 months later, and compared with the pre-operative data. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 32.1+/-1.3 years old. Comparison of the semen parameters between pre and post-varicocelectomy revealed significant improvement in the sperm count (p<0.05). In laparoscopic and microsurgical inguinal varicocelectomy, the sperm counts were increased from 16.2+/-4.3 to 30.6+/-7.5 and from 15.4+/-3.8 to 37.5+/-7.7, respectively. Sperm motility also tended to improve. CONCLUSIONS: Varicocelectomy enhanced semen parameters after both laparoscopic and microsurgical methods. In subfertile men, early varicocelectomy is recommended.

Changes in Semen Parameters After Varicocelectomy: a Comparative Study of the Laparoscopic and Microsurgical Inguinal Approach / 대한남성과학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the surgical outcomes of two different surgical methods for varicocelectomy, and to assess the effects of varicocelectomy on semen parameters in subinfertile men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 63 patients with clinically palpable varicocele and abnormal semen parameters who underwent varicocelectomy. Thirty-three patients underwent laparoscopic varicocelectomy, and 30 received microsurgical inguinal varicocelectomy. Semen analyses were performed 5.3 months later, and compared with the pre-operative data. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 32.1+/-1.3 years old. Comparison of the semen parameters between pre and post-varicocelectomy revealed significant improvement in the sperm count (p<0.05). In laparoscopic and microsurgical inguinal varicocelectomy, the sperm counts were increased from 16.2+/-4.3 to 30.6+/-7.5 and from 15.4+/-3.8 to 37.5+/-7.7, respectively. Sperm motility also tended to improve. CONCLUSIONS: Varicocelectomy enhanced semen parameters after both laparoscopic and microsurgical methods. In subfertile men, early varicocelectomy is recommended.

A Case of Cryptococcal Meningitis Presenting as Bilateral Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Bilateral sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is a relatively well-recognized complication of bacterial meningitis, but is a rare initial manifestation in acute cryptococcal meningitis. We report a case of cryptococcal meningitis initially presenting with bilateral SNHL. Cryptococcal meningitis should be included in the differential diagnosis of abrupt-onset bilateral SNHL.

A Case of Congenital Fiber Type Disproportion Associated with External Ophthalmoplegia

Congenital fiber type disproportion (CFTD) is a form of congenital myopathy characterized by histologic findings of the smallness of type 1 fiber and type 1 fiber predominance. It is usually associated with hypotonia and motor weakness of the limb muscles at birth or the neonatal period. We report a 6-year-old girl with limb weakness and ophthalmoplegia, whose muscle pathology showed the classic pattern of CFTD without any other abnormality.

A Case of Paraneoplastic Limbic Encephalitis Associated with Immature Ovarian Teratoma

Paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis is commonly associated with small cell lung carcinoma. A 31-year-old female presented with amnesia and bizarre behavior for 1 month. Brain T2-weighted MRI showed high signal intensity in right medial temporal region. Abdominal CT revealed a mass in right lower abdomen, and subsequent excisional biopsy disclosed immature ovarian teratoma. Most symptoms improved after resection of the tumor. Our case demonstrates that immature ovarian teratoma also can be associated with paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis with good prognosis.