After the intraocular bleeding was inuced by amputation of the rabbit retinal artery, the level and duration of the level of the intraocular pressure to control the bleeding was studied. Then, the eyes were enucleated and evaluated for the effect of the increased intraocular pressure. In 3 of 4 eyes studied, the bleeding is controlled at the height of 140-145 cm of the infusion bottle for 10 seconds. And the maintenance of the height of 125 cm for 15 seconds was effective in one eye. Although the expanded intercellular space in the outer nuclear layer, destruction of the photoreceptors and formation of the vacuoles appeared in the first week, they were only the temporary findings for they disappeared after second week. In the rebbit, the retinal arterial bleeding is able to be controlled at the level of about 100 mmHg of the IOP for about 10 seconds effectively and safely.
Amputation ; Extracellular Space ; Hemorrhage ; Intraocular Pressure ; Retina* ; Retinal Artery ; Retinaldehyde ; Vacuoles

Primary urethral carcinoma in females is a relatively rare disease representing only 0.02% of all types of cancer in women. Primary transitional cell carcinoma of the female urethra is about 20% of all female urethral cancer. We report a case of primary transitional cell carcinoma of the female urethra treated with anterior pelvic exenteration in an 80-year-old woman.
Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell* ; Female* ; Humans ; Pelvic Exenteration* ; Rare Diseases ; Urethra* ; Urethral Neoplasms

The paper by Lee YJ et al. [1] was printed with spelling errors.

Here, we examined the effect of melting point of drug carriers on drug release of dexamethasone (Dex)-loaded microspheres. We prepared poly(L-lactide-ran-ε-caprolactone) (PLC) copolymers with varying compositions of poly(εcaprolactone) (PCL) and poly(L-lactide) (PLLA). As the PLLA content increased, the melting points of PLC copolymers decreased from 61 to 43 ℃. PLC copolymers in vials solubilized at 40–50 ℃ according to the incorporation of PLLA into the PCL segment. Dexamethasone (Dex)-loaded PLC (MCxLy) microspheres were prepared by the oil-in-water (O/W) solvent evaporation/extraction method. The preparation yields were above 70%, and the mean particle size ranged from 30 to 90 µm. The MC(x)L(y) microspheres also showed controllable melting points in the range of 40–60 ℃. Dex-loaded MC(x)L(y) microspheres showed similar in vitro and in vivo sustained release patterns after the initial burst of Dex. The in vitro and in vivo order of the Dex release was MC₈₀L₂₀>MC₉₀L₁₀>MC₉₅L₅, which agreed well with the melting point order of the drug carrier. Using in vivo fluorescence imaging of fluorescein (FI)-loaded microspheres implanted in animals, we confirmed the sustained release of FI over an extended period. In vivo inflammation associated with the PLC microsphere implants was less pronounced than that associated with Poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA). In conclusion, we successfully demonstrated that it is possible to control Dex release using Dex-loaded MC(x)L(y) microspheres with different melting points.
Animals ; Dexamethasone ; Drug Carriers* ; Drug Liberation* ; Fluorescein ; Freezing* ; In Vitro Techniques ; Inflammation ; Methods ; Microspheres* ; Optical Imaging ; Particle Size ; Polyglactin 910

Many studies have recently reported reactivation in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-negative subjects with the use of biologic agents such as rituximab. However, occult hepatitis B virus infection itself has little clinical impact. We experienced a case of acute exacerbation caused by occult hepatitis B infection without HBsAg seroconversion. No mutation was found on the major hydrophilic loop of the S protein. The patient recovered from acute exacerbation after antiviral therapy. In conclusion, acute exacerbation can be induced by occult hepatitis B virus infection itself without reactivation. In such a case, antiviral therapy should be considered.
Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived ; Hepatitis ; Hepatitis B ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B virus ; Humans ; Rituximab

Since localized amyloid deposits of the ureter were first described by Lehmann in 1937, approximately 90 cases have been reported. Isolated primary amyloidosis of the ureter is a rare disease, and its diagnosis cannot be made by radiologic findings. Because of radiographic similarity to transitional cell carcinoma, these lesions are often clinically mistaken for malignancies, and nephroureterectomy is usually performed. Here, we report a case of localized ureteral amyloidosis with osseous metaplasia, which was managed successfully by renal sparing segmental resection with the bladder Boari flap.
Amyloidosis* ; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell ; Diagnosis ; Metaplasia* ; Plaque, Amyloid ; Rare Diseases ; Ureter* ; Urinary Bladder

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The present study investigated the hypothesis that a highly pure linear β-1,3-glucan produced by Agrobacterium sp. R259 enhances human natural killer (NK) cell activity and suppresses pro-inflammatory cytokines. SUBJECTS/METHODS: In an eight-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 83 healthy adults with white blood cell counts of 4,000-8,000 cells/µL were participated and randomly assigned to take two capsules per day containing either 350 mg β-1,3-glucan or placebo. Six participants withdrew their study consent or were excluded due to NK cell activity levels outside the normal range. NK cell activity and serum levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and cytokines, such as interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were measured. RESULTS: NK cell activity and the serum levels of IL-10 were significantly higher from baseline to week 8 in the β-glucan group compared with the placebo group (P = 0.048, P = 0.029). Consumption of β-1,3-glucan also significantly increased NK cell activity compared with placebo after adjusting for smoking and stress status (P = 0.009). In particular, the effect of β-1,3-glucan on NK cell activity was greater in participants with severe stress than in those experiencing mild stress. However, the administration β-1,3-glucan did not significantly modulate the levels of IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-12, TNF-α and IgG compared with the placebo. CONCLUSION: The results showed that supplementation with bacterial β-1,3-glucan significantly increased NK cell activity without causing any adverse effects. Additionally, the beneficial effect of β-1,3-glucan on NK cell activity was greater in participants experiencing severe stress.
Adult* ; Agrobacterium* ; Capsules ; Cytokines ; Glucans ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Interferons ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-12 ; Interleukin-2 ; Interleukin-4 ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukins ; Killer Cells, Natural* ; Leukocyte Count ; Reference Values ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

OBJECTIVES: To associate work in the semiconductor industry, including silicon wafer fabrication, with cancer risks or mortality and other adverse health effects, the operation of wafer fabrication should initially be understood. A detailed study on the fabrication operation allows retrospective exposure to be assessed and wafer fabrication workers to be classified into similar exposure groups. Therefore, the objective of this study was to comprehensively review silicon wafer fabrication operations and related hazardous materials and agents. METHODS: The literatures related to semiconductor industry processes were reviewed from an occupational health viewpoint based on wafer manufacturing, wafer fabrication and packaging. The focus was especially related to the hazardous materials used in wafer fabrication industries. RESULTS: During the fabrication of silicon wafers, many toxic chemicals, a strong electric field and hazardous equipment are used. The process allows the integration of a three-dimensional array of electric circuits onto a silicon wafer substrate. Wafers are sliced from single crystal silicon and subject to a series of steps during the fabrication process, which alternatively adds and then selectively removes materials in layers from the surface of the wafer to create different parts of the completed integrated circuit. There are four major steps in this process; patterning, junction formation, thin film and metallization. CONCLUSIONS: In order to associate exposure to the hazard agents generated during wafer fabrication operations with adverse health effects the details of the operation should be completely studied, which will be helpful in both exposure assessments and epidemiological studies.
Hazardous Substances ; Occupational Health ; Product Packaging ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Semiconductors ; Silicon

A lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma is a tumor with morphological features identical to an undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma that occurs outside the nasopharynx. This kind of tumor has been found in the salivary gland, stomach, lung, thymus, bladder, prostate, vagina and skin, but is particularly rare in the urinary tract. We report a case of a lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma, which are usually found simultaneously in the kidneys and ureter. This is the first case of multiorgan involvement of this tumor.
Kidney* ; Lung ; Nasopharynx ; Prostate ; Salivary Glands ; Skin ; Stomach ; Thymus Gland ; Ureter* ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Tract ; Vagina

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an ongoing pandemic infection associated with high morbidity and mortality. The Korean city of Daegu endured the first large COVID-19 outbreak outside of China. Since the report of the first confirmed case in Daegu on February 18, 2020, a total of 6,880 patients have been reported until May 29, 2020. We experienced five patients with ischemic stroke and COVID-19 during this period in four tertiary hospitals in Daegu. The D-dimer levels were high in all three patients in whom D-dimer blood testing was performed.Multiple embolic infarctions were observed in three patients and suspected in one. The mean time from stroke symptom onset to emergency room arrival was 22 hours. As a result, acute treatment for ischemic stroke was delayed. The present case series report raises the possibility that the coronavirus responsible for COVID-19 causes or worsens stroke, perhaps by inducing inflammation. The control of COVID-19 is very important; however, early and proper management of stroke should not be neglected during the epidemic.