The tension lowering effects of Diamox and other carbonic anhydrase inhibitors are well known and they are widely used against a various forms of glaucomas. This paper deals with the clinical experiences in normal and glaucomatous human eyes with Diamox-Sequels, kindly supplied by Lederle Laboratories and Yuhan Corp. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Normal healthy persons, 15 females and 20 males, were studied on their 45 eyes. Glaucomatous disease had been ruled out by careful examinations of intraocular pressure, visual fields and fundus. They had been also checked for the diurnal variations of intraocular pressure during the daytime. One capsule (500mg) of Diamox Sequels was given to each individual and the changes in the intraocular pressure were studied at various time intervals up to 53 hours after the administration. Tonometry was carried out by the Goldmann's applanation tonometer. The effects of Diamox Sequels on the glaucomatous eyes were studied in the same way. The glaucomatous eyes included 10 eyes of 7 chronic simple glaucoma patients, 5 eyes of 3 chronic narrow-angle glaucoma patients and 5 eyes of 5 secondary glaucoma subjects. They received one capsule of Diamox Sequels and the intraocular pressure was measured one or two times daily. The results of long-term treatment were also studied by daily administration of one capsule of Diamox Sequels, follow-up periods being from 3 to 19 days. No medication, oral or local, of antiglaucomatous drugs were allowed for at least 3 days prior to this study. The differences due to age, sex and type of glaucoma were not considered here. At the same time, the effects of a single 500mg of ordinary Diamox tablet were studied in normal ~md glaucomatous eyes. RESULTS: (1) Normal eyes. The intraocular pressure began to fall 1 hour after the administration. The tension gradually fell and the maximal reduction of tension occurred after 9.8 hours and the extent of maximal fall was 4.5mm Hg on the average, 29.4 % of the original intraocular pressure. The tension gradually rose and returned to the original level between 23~50 hours (average 43 hours). Side effects were noted in 4 cases, e.g., 11.4 %. (2) Glaucomatous eyes. The effects were noted within the first 1~2 hours and became maximal after 13 hours, the extent of the maximal fall 40.1 % of the original pressure, e.g., 16.2 mmHg. The original tension was restored after 30 hours. By long-term administration of Diamox Sequels, 8 eyes(40 %) showed excellent results, their intraocular pressure maintained below 21 mmHg. Sede-effects were noted in 3 cases(20.0 %). COMMENTS: The effects of Diamox Sequels and Diamox tablet on normal and glaucomatous subjects were summarized in table 1. As shown, Diamox Sequels has the longer duration of hypotensive actions and the time of maximal fall of intraocular pressure delayed considerably, as compared with Diamox tablet. In almost all cases, its action continued for more than 24 hours. In glaucomatous eyes, the time of maximal reduction of ocular tension was slightly later and the maintenance of low tension was slightly shorter than those in normal eyes. The extent of the maximal fall, however, was almost the same after administration of Diamox Sequels and Diamox. Side effects were encountered in 11~20% of cases by Diamox Sequels, and in 40-60% of cases by Diamox. This is one of the most striking advantages of Diamox Sequels over Diamox. Thus it is concluded that Diamox Sequels has the longer hypotensive actions and fewer side effects.
Acetazolamide* ; Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glaucoma ; Glaucoma, Angle-Closure ; Glaucoma, Open-Angle ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Male ; Manometry ; Strikes, Employee ; Visual Fields

Alpha-chymotrypsin solutions, 200 unit/ml and 1,000 unit/ml, were injected into the anterior chamber of albino rabbit eyes fonowed by irrigation with normal saline after 3 minutes. Intraocular pressure was recorded by pressure transducer and pressure decay curve analysis was made to calculate the outflow facility according to the method of Eisenlohr and Langham. The follow-up periods were 30 days after the injection of the enzyme solution. By the injection of 0.25 ml of 200 unit/ml solution in 7 eyes, intraocular pressure showed almost no changes throughout the observation period. Outflow facility showed transient decrease during the first 3 to 5 days in some eyes. After the injection of 0.25 ml of 1,000 unit/ml solution in 3 eyes, transient elevation of the intraocular pressure was noted associated with decrease in outflow facility. In one eye, a marked rise in ocular pressure was found All the changes in intraocular pressure and outflow facility returned to the pre-treatment level within 30 days. It was concluded that high concentration of the alpha-chymotrypsin solution injected into the anterior chamber might cause disturbances in trabecular function causing elevation in intraocular pressure.
Anterior Chamber ; Follow-Up Studies ; Intraocular Pressure ; Transducers, Pressure

PURPOSE: The transobturator adjustable tape (TOA) sling operation is a new procedure that allows for the adjustment of tension after surgical intervention, thus permitting correction of postoperative incontinence or obstruction. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of TOA with that of the transobturator tape (TOT) procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 2008 and 2009, women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) underwent TOT (n=63) or TOA (n=40). The preoperative evaluation included history taking, physical examination, voiding diary, stress and 1-hour pad tests, and a comprehensive urodynamic examination. Postoperative evaluation was performed at the 1-week and 3-month postoperative follow-up visits. RESULTS: The overall cure rate was 90.0% for the TOA group and 85.7% for the TOT group. The rate of satisfaction was higher in the TOA group than in the TOT group (95.0% vs. 85.6%). Four patients in the TOA group needed reduced tension as the result of urinary obstruction. The tension of the mesh was tightened in 1 patient because of a certain degree of continuing incontinence. The residual urine volume was significantly lower in the TOA group than in the TOT group (7.8 ml vs. 43 ml, p=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: TOA allowed postoperative readjustment for a number of days after surgical intervention, which allowed for good short-term treatment outcomes. These data suggest that better subjective and objective results and residual urine volume can be obtained in the TOA group than those achieved with the traditional non-adjustable mesh and without significant postoperative complications.
Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Physical Examination ; Postoperative Complications ; Suburethral Slings ; Treatment Outcome ; Urinary Incontinence ; Urodynamics

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Before introducing transnasal endoscopic sinus surgery, surgical repair of the blowout fracture includes the transorbital approach with an external incision and/or the maxilloethmoidal approach. The advantages of the transnasal endoscopic technique include magnified direct visualization and easy access to the medial orbital walls. Gelfoam is a slowly absorbable material and is rigid enough to provide support where Silastic sheet is to be placed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate outcomes of transnasal endoscopic reconstruction with Gelfoam and Silastic sheet of medial orbital wall fracture. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: This study was a retrospective analysis 27 patients who underwent transnasal endoscopic reduction of blowout fracture from February 1999 to April 2004. The follow-up period was at least over than 12 months. RESULTS: The study population included 18 males and 9 female patients ranging from 13 to 54 years (mean, 33.3 years) of age. Twenty of 23 patients with diplopia showed a complete improvement of diplopia and 3 patients showed an incomplete improvement. All of 13 patients with limitation of ocular movement and 2 patients with enophthalmos revealed a complete resolution of their symptoms. There were no significant complications in all patients although ocular pain and epiphora were observed temporally after operation. CONCLUSION: Transnasal endoscopic reconstruction with Gelfoam and Silastic sheet for medial orbital wall fracture is a very successful technique that does not accompany major complications and has definite cosmetic advantage of causing no external scarring.
Cicatrix ; Diplopia ; Enophthalmos ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gelatin Sponge, Absorbable ; Humans ; Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases ; Male ; Orbit* ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in expressions of neuregulin (NRG)1 and erbB2 tyrosine kinase (ErbB2) in bladders of rats with cyclophosphamide (CYP)-induced interstitial cystitis (IC). METHODS: Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into the IC group (n=16) and the control group (n=8). After inducing IC with intraperitoneal CYP injection, expressions of NRG1 and ErbB2 were analyzed using western blotting and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: In Western blotting, relative intensities and distributions of both NRG1 and ErbB2 were approximately 1.5- and 3.2-fold higher, respectively, in the IC group than in the control group (mean+/-standard deviation: 1.42+/-0.09 vs. 0.93+/-0.15 and 0.93+/-0.16 vs. 0.29+/-0.08, P<0.05). In the rat bladder samples, mRNA expression levels of NRG1 and ErbB2 were higher in the IC group than in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our study has demonstrated significant changes in mRNA expression and immunoreactivity of NRG1 and ErbB2 receptors in the urinary bladder after CYP-induced IC. These results suggest that the up-regulated NRG1 may play a role in inducing an overactive bladder and promoting regeneration in the inflammatory bladder with CYP-induced IC.
Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Cyclophosphamide ; Cystitis, Interstitial* ; Neuregulin-1* ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptor, erbB-2 ; Regeneration ; RNA, Messenger ; Tyrosine* ; Urinary Bladder* ; Urinary Bladder, Overactive

No abstract available.
Ultrasonography*

PURPOSE: We have performed both open partial nephrectomy (OPN) and laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation (RFA) on selected patients since January 2007 and have been following these patients through serial laboratory assessments and computed tomography (CT). The purpose of the present study was to evaluate long-term oncologic outcomes and renal function status for laparoscopic RFA versus OPN at a minimum follow-up of 3 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 55 patients with exophytic, single small renal masses were treated with either OPN (n=14) or laparoscopic RFA (n=41) by a single surgeon. The indications for laparoscopic RFA were as follows: 1) cases with the greatest dimension of the renal mass <3 cm, and 2) cases in which the collecting system, renal calyx, and great vessels were free from the tumor margins by 1 cm. RESULTS: The estimated blood loss (EBL), the operation time, and the mean number of hospital days was significantly lower in the laparoscopic RFA group than in the OPN group. Oncologic data did not differ significantly between the two groups. Creatine clearance levels did not differ significantly compared with those before the operation in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest excellent therapeutic outcomes with laparoscopic RFA with achievement of effective operative times, hospital stays, and EBL compared with OPN. According to our indications for laparoscopic RFA, laparoscopic RFA is an effective minimally invasive therapy for the treatment of small renal masses, yielding oncologic outcomes and renal function equivalent to those of OPN.
Catheter Ablation ; Creatine ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; Length of Stay ; Nephrectomy ; Operative Time

Lack of hygiene and puerperal mastitis are common causes of bacterial diseases in nursing neonates. The aim of this study was to isolate microorganisms from milk samples of healthy female Jindo dogs with suckling puppies and to investigate antimicrobial susceptibility against the isolated bacteria. Milk samples were collected from 120 udders of 12 lactating Jindo dogs that were 2~4 years old without any clinical diseases including mastitis. Bacteria were isolated from 64 milk samples (53.3%), either singly (76.6%) or in combination (23.4%). Staphylococcus (S.) spp. was the most common microorganisms (74.7%) isolated from canine milk, followed by Haemophillus spp. (10.9%), Streptococcus spp. (9.6%), Gardnerella spp. (2.4%) and Moraxella spp. (2.4%). The most frequently isolated organism was S. warneri (31.3%). Antimicrobial susceptibility of these bacteria was tested with 17 antimicrobial agents by Kirbyand Bauer standardized disc diffusion method. Results indicated that bacteria isolated from healthy canine milk were mostly susceptible to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, cephalothin and ceftiofur, but were resistant to erythromycin, neomycin and tetracycline.
Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination ; Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents ; Bacteria ; Cephalosporins ; Cephalothin ; Diffusion ; Dogs ; Erythromycin ; Female ; Gardnerella ; Humans ; Hygiene ; Infant, Newborn ; Mammary Glands, Animal ; Mastitis ; Milk ; Moraxella ; Neomycin ; Staphylococcus ; Streptococcus ; Tetracycline

We present two cases of symptomatic lower pole moiety ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) in a partially duplicated collecting system that were successfully treated with minimally invasive endourologic procedures. In the first case, we performed retrograde endopyelotomy with the Acucise(R) ureteral cutting balloon device, and in the latter case, we performed percutaneous nephrolithotomy and antegrade endopyelotomy because of the presence of multiple renal stones. Subsequent intravenous pyelography confirmed marked resolution of the obstruction, and both patients remained asymptomatic during 1 year of follow-up.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Nephrolithiasis ; Nephrostomy, Percutaneous ; Surgical Procedures, Minimally Invasive ; Ureter ; Urography

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) can cause various complications involving lung, liver, intestine and other organs. Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) may injure the cells in the intestinal mucosa of HSCT recipients. Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis (PI) is a condition that presence of air in the bowel wall is demonstrated by radiologic or pathologic tests. It is one of the infrequent complications after HSCT and is associated with several medical and surgical conditions. However its pathogenesis and definite etiologic factors are still unknown. Here, we present a case of PI in a HSCT recipient, who was diagnosed of bronchiolitis obliterance accompanied with chronic GVHD and pulmonary disease caused by Mycobacterium abscessus.
Bronchiolitis ; Bronchiolitis Obliterans ; Graft vs Host Disease ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Intestinal Mucosa ; Intestines ; Liver ; Lung ; Lung Diseases ; Mycobacterium ; Pneumatosis Cystoides Intestinalis ; Stem Cells ; Transplants