No abstract available.
Hernia, Diaphragmatic*

No abstract available.
Periosteum* ; Transforming Growth Factors*

The Ross operation, a procedure of replacement of the diseased aortic valve with an autologous pulmonary valve, has many advantages such as no need for anticoagulation therapy and similar valve function and growth potential as native valves. However secondary aortic disease has emerged as a significant complication and indication for reoperation. We report a 48-year-old woman who had Ross operation in 1997 for a damaged bicuspid aortic valve and severe aortic regurgitation due to subacute bacterial endocarditis complicated by aortic root abscess. In 2009, 12 years later, progressive severe aortic regurgitation with incomplete coaptation and mild dilatation of the aortic root was shown on echocardiography and contrasted CT, while the pulmonary homograft retained normal function. She subsequently underwent aortic valve replacement. Histopathological examination of the explanted neo-aortic valve and neo-arterial wall revealed pannus formation at the nodulus Arantii area of the three valve cusps, ventricularis, and arterialis. The amount of elastic fibres in the neo-aorta media was less than usual for an aorta of this patient's age but was similar to a pulmonary artery. The pathological findings were not different from other studies of specimens removed between 7 to 12 years after Ross operation. However, the pathophysiology and long-term implications of these findings remain debatable. Considering the anatomical and physiological changes induced by the procedure, separate mechanisms for aortic dilatation and regurgitation are worthy of consideration.
Aorta/*pathology ; Aortic Valve/*surgery ; Aortic Valve Insufficiency/*etiology ; Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures/*adverse effects ; Dilatation, Pathologic ; Heart Valve Diseases/*surgery ; Prostheses and Implants ; Pulmonary Valve/*transplantation

No abstract available.
Atrophy ; Pityriasis* ; Tinea Versicolor*

PURPOSE: This study analyzes the factors influencing anatomical failure of the primary operation for simple rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. METHODS: The patients in this study were diagnosed with simple rhegmatogenous retinal detachment and operated on by a single physician. The success group comprised 251 eyes and the failure group comprised 29 eyes. The factors analyzed between the two groups were the type of primary procedure, the type of retinal defect; the numbers of retinal defects; the extent of retinal detachment; the duration of retinal detachment; the existence of peripheral degeneration; carrying out of subretinal fluid drainage; the type of tamponade material used and the position of retinal defects. RESULTS: The anatomical success rate of the primary operation for simple rhegmatogenous retinal detachment was 89.64%. Patient sex, the type of tamponade material used and the position of the retinal defect showed significant differences between the success and failure groups. There was a higher percentage of male patients in the failure group than in success group (p=0.034). Silicone oil used as the tamponade material resulted in a greater chance of failure than success (p=0.017). Analysis of the position of the retinal defect showed that, defects distributed in the inferior retina or through multiple area led to a greater likelihood of anatomical failure (p=0.036). CONCLUSIONS: Due ti the greater possibility of anatomical failure of the primary operation when retinal defects are distributed in the inferior retina or through multiple area, clinicians should consider intensive treatment for such cases.
Drainage ; Humans ; Male ; Retina ; Retinal Detachment* ; Retinaldehyde* ; Silicone Oils ; Subretinal Fluid

No abstract available.
Brain* ; Hydrocephalus*

PURPOSE: Cerebral contusion is often associated with delayed edema, ischemia, demyelination, and secondary impairment in the neurological function. Early prediction of the outcome for patients with diverse critical illnesses has long been a concern of intensive care unit physicians. Recently, the systemic release of host-derived inflammatory mediators has been used for prognosis assessment in patients with multiple infections, burn injury, and systemic infection. Experimental investigations have revealed the importance of free radicals and calcium currents in cellular damage. Also experimental injuries have caused an early production of cytokines. This study was undertaken to analyze the production of interleukin-6 in the brain and in plasma following a brain contusion. METHODS: Sixty male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, each weighing 300-350 g were used in an experimental group following brain contusion, and 18 SD rats were used as a control group following a sham operation. Intracerebral IL-6 and plasma IL-6 were measured by using the ELISA method with a rat IL-6 kit at 3, 6, 24, 48, and 72 hours after the brain contusion. After contusion, the brains were fixed by perfusion via the carotid artery with 40% formaldehyde, glacial acetic acid, and 100% ethanol (1:1:8) at a flow rate of 25 ml/min and stained with hematoxylin and eosin for histologic examination. RESULTS: Brain IL-6 levels increased to reach a maximum of 160.23 pg/ml, at 6 hour after brain trauma. Plasma IL-6 levels increased to 70.02 pg/ml at 3 hour following brain contusion. CONCLUSION: The elevated brain IL-6 level in the injured rat does not seem to reflect a systemic inflammation. Although plasma IL-6 is detected in the sham-operated and the traumatized rats, the levels are too low to account for the increase observed in the brain cortex. This finding shows that the increase in brain IL-6 is related to the dynamics of brain contusion.
Acetic Acid ; Animals ; Brain Injuries* ; Brain* ; Burns ; Calcium ; Carotid Arteries ; Contusions ; Critical Illness ; Cytokines ; Demyelinating Diseases ; Edema ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Ethanol ; Formaldehyde ; Free Radicals ; Hematoxylin ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Intensive Care Units ; Interleukin-6* ; Ischemia ; Male ; Perfusion ; Plasma ; Prognosis ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

PURPOSE: To evaluate clinical outcomes of silicone tube intubation according to the site of resistance to lacrimal duct probing in complete or partial nasolacrimal duct obstruction patients. METHODS: This study included 102 eyes of 72 patients who were diagnosed with complete or partial nasolacrimal duct obstruction and who underwent silicone tube intubation. According to the site of resistant to nasolacrimal duct probing, eyes were divided into proximal resistance (Group I), distal resistance (Group II) and both side resistance (Group III). The success rate was estimated based on functional (symptom relief) and anatomical (normalization of tear meniscus) success. RESULTS: The success rates in Group I, Group II, and Group III were 53.1%, 78.8%, and 27.0%, respectively, showing that Group II attained the highest success rate (Pearson chi-square test, p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In cases of only distal resistance to lacrimal probing without dacryocystography, silicone tube intubation should be performed with expectation of good clinical outcomes, even if complete nasolacrimal obstruction was suspected on syringing.
Humans ; Intubation* ; Nasolacrimal Duct ; Silicones*

PURPOSE: To evaluate clinical outcomes of silicone tube intubation according to the site of resistance to lacrimal duct probing in complete or partial nasolacrimal duct obstruction patients. METHODS: This study included 102 eyes of 72 patients who were diagnosed with complete or partial nasolacrimal duct obstruction and who underwent silicone tube intubation. According to the site of resistant to nasolacrimal duct probing, eyes were divided into proximal resistance (Group I), distal resistance (Group II) and both side resistance (Group III). The success rate was estimated based on functional (symptom relief) and anatomical (normalization of tear meniscus) success. RESULTS: The success rates in Group I, Group II, and Group III were 53.1%, 78.8%, and 27.0%, respectively, showing that Group II attained the highest success rate (Pearson chi-square test, p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In cases of only distal resistance to lacrimal probing without dacryocystography, silicone tube intubation should be performed with expectation of good clinical outcomes, even if complete nasolacrimal obstruction was suspected on syringing.
Humans ; Intubation* ; Nasolacrimal Duct ; Silicones*