PURPOSE: To evaluate antioxidative and preventive effects of sea tangle extract on selenite-induced cataract formation. METHODS: Eighty SD rat pups were randomized into 8 groups. Group 1 received no injection of reagent (normal); Group 2 to 8 received injection of selenite (15 micromol/Kg, s.c.) was injected. In group 2 (control) and group 3, normal saline (i.p.) and ascorbic acid (i.p.) was injected on days 3~31. In groups 4~8, sea tangle extract (i.p.) was injected at a concentration of 12.5, 25, 50, 100, 200 mg/kg, respectively. Development of cataract was assessed and photographed weekly under slit lamp. Rat lenses were analyzed for antioxidant enzymes, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase and malondialdehyde. Furthermore, an amino acid analysis of sea tangle extract was performed. RESULTS: Significant differences (p<0.05) were seen in cataract development in group 7. Dense nuclear cataracts developed in 8 of 10 of the control group (group 2); Group 4~8 developed nuclear cataract with proportion of 6/10, 3/10, 2/10, 1/10, and 6/10 rats. In sea tangle injected group, levels of GPx were higher than in the ascorbic acid and control groups. In particular, group 7, injected with 100 mg/kg of sea tangle extract, showed significantly high level of enzyme. Results of the amino acid analysis showed sea tangle includes glutamate-glycine-cysteine, major constituents of glutathione (GSH). CONCLUSIONS: The glutamate-glycine-cysteine in sea tangle is supposed to increase the level of lens GSH and this may contribute to lowering cataract development. This study strongly supports the activity of sea tangle as an endogenous antioxidant and anticataract agent.
Animals ; Antioxidants ; Ascorbic Acid ; Cataract ; Glutathione ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; Malondialdehyde ; Rats ; Sodium Selenite ; Superoxide Dismutase

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of TGF-beta inhibitor on the wound healing process after corneal laceration, and its inhibitory effect on corneal scar formation. METHODS: Forty Lewis rats were randomly divided into one control and three experimental groups (groups I, II, and III). After partial-thickness vertical linear corneal incision, a diluted solution with 10, 25, and 50 microgram of TGF-beta inhibitor was instilled into each eye of groups I, II, and III respectively. Corneal haze was measured by using slit-lamp biomicroscopic examination. Using histopathologic examination, we compared the number of stromal keratocytes and the arrangement of regenerated collagen fibers. We also performed immunohistochemistry to confirm the differential expression of fibronectin and alpha-smooth muscle actin in each group. RESULTS: Group III showed less corneal haze and more regular arrangement of regenerated collagen fibers than the other groups. The number of stromal keratocytes and immunoreactivity to fibronectin and alpha-smooth muscle actin decreased as the dose of TGF-beta inhibitor increased. CONCLUSIONS: TGF-beta inhibitor effectively reduced corneal haze during corneal healing processes after corneal laceration.
Actins ; Animals ; Cicatrix ; Collagen ; Corneal Opacity ; Eye ; Fibronectins ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lacerations ; Muscles ; Rats ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; Wound Healing

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy between intravitreal bevacizumab and combination treatment (bevacizumab and macular photocoagulation) for the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME). In addtion, changes of DME type were researched using optical coherence tomography. METHODS: The present study included 90 eyes with bevacizumab injection and 38 eyes with combination treatment. Using chart records, patients were reviewed until 6 months after treatment. The present study compared changes of visual acuity (VA) and macular thickness at each follow up. DME was classified into 4 types and the morphologic pattern was compared. RESULTS: In patients with the bevacizumab injection only, VA improved from 0.29 +/- 0.18 to 0.48 +/- 0.26 at 1 month and returned to 0.32 +/- 0.20 at 6 months after treatment. In the combination treatment, VA improved from 0.32 +/- 0.22 to 0.52 +/- 0.26 at 1 month and returned to 0.36 +/- 0.18 at 6 months after treatment. There was no significant improvement of VA at the final follow-up with either treatment. There was significant decrease of macular thickness except in the mixed DME type. CONCLUSIONS: The combination treatment did not yield better VA or macular thickness reduction at 6 months than bevacizumab injection alone. By classifying and observing the change of DME type, determining the treatment objectively and predicting the effectiveness of treatment can be helpful.
Angiogenesis Inhibitors/administration & dosage ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized/*administration & dosage ; Diabetic Retinopathy/*complications/diagnosis/therapy ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Fluorescein Angiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fundus Oculi ; Humans ; Intravitreal Injections ; Laser Coagulation/*methods ; Macular Edema/diagnosis/etiology/*therapy ; Male ; Microscopy, Acoustic ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Treatment Outcome ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/antagonists & inhibitors ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy between intravitreal bevacizumab and combination treatment (bevacizumab and macular photocoagulation) for the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME). In addtion, changes of DME type were researched using optical coherence tomography. METHODS: The present study included 90 eyes with bevacizumab injection and 38 eyes with combination treatment. Using chart records, patients were reviewed until 6 months after treatment. The present study compared changes of visual acuity (VA) and macular thickness at each follow up. DME was classified into 4 types and the morphologic pattern was compared. RESULTS: In patients with the bevacizumab injection only, VA improved from 0.29 +/- 0.18 to 0.48 +/- 0.26 at 1 month and returned to 0.32 +/- 0.20 at 6 months after treatment. In the combination treatment, VA improved from 0.32 +/- 0.22 to 0.52 +/- 0.26 at 1 month and returned to 0.36 +/- 0.18 at 6 months after treatment. There was no significant improvement of VA at the final follow-up with either treatment. There was significant decrease of macular thickness except in the mixed DME type. CONCLUSIONS: The combination treatment did not yield better VA or macular thickness reduction at 6 months than bevacizumab injection alone. By classifying and observing the change of DME type, determining the treatment objectively and predicting the effectiveness of treatment can be helpful.
Angiogenesis Inhibitors/administration & dosage ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized/*administration & dosage ; Diabetic Retinopathy/*complications/diagnosis/therapy ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Fluorescein Angiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fundus Oculi ; Humans ; Intravitreal Injections ; Laser Coagulation/*methods ; Macular Edema/diagnosis/etiology/*therapy ; Male ; Microscopy, Acoustic ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Treatment Outcome ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/antagonists & inhibitors ; Visual Acuity

Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) surgery has become a more prevalent in recent years, as it is less invasive and requires a shorter hospital stay and recovery time, in addition to resulting in lower mortality. However, EVAR has the disadvantage of increased numbers of reintervention incidents, need of regular follow up, and uncertainty of long-term stability. Type II endoleak is the most common endoleak, but it mostly seals without intervention. Type I endoleak is a sealing failure around the graft and proximal neck or distal landing zone and usually occurs during the initial procedure, which can be corrected by ballooning, an additional stent (bare or graft), or surgery. Late type I endoleak can develop by migration of the graft or shrinkage or progression of aneurysm. Here we report a case of distal type I endoleak found 5 years after EVAR which was corrected by additional endovascular grafts.
Aneurysm ; Aortic Aneurysm ; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal ; Endoleak ; Follow-Up Studies ; Length of Stay ; Neck ; Postoperative Complications ; Stents ; Transplants ; Uncertainty

BACKGROUND: The aim of the current study was to investigate the factors related to the non-practice of cancer screening in cancer survivors, who are at high risk of developing second cancers. METHODS: This study is a cross-sectional analysis of 1,125 cancer survivors > or =19 years old who participated in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys IV and V (2007-2012). A Rao-scott chi-square test and a survey logistic regression analysis were employed respectively to analyze the difference of cancer survivors in cancer screening by each characteristic and the factors related to the non-practice of cancer screening in cancer survivors. RESULTS: Among total subjects, 33.5% did not participate in cancer screening in the last two years. Results from a fully adjusted logistic model showed that the non-practice of cancer screening in cancer survivors was significantly associated with variables such as sex, age, marital status, education level, monthly income, and drinking a alcoholic beverage Specifically, the odds ratio of non-practice of cancer screening was higher in males than in females, in the younger group than in older group, in the group with no spouse than in the group with a spouse; in a group with a low level of education than in a group with a high level of education; in a group with the lowest income level than in a group with the other levels of income; or in non-drinkers than in drinkers. CONCLUSION: Health policies to reduce the non-practice rate of cancer screening in cancer survivors should be designed and implemented with close attention to cancer survivors\' socio-economic characteristics such as sex, age, marital status, education, and income, along with a health behavioral characteristic as drinking.
Alcoholic Beverages ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Drinking ; Early Detection of Cancer* ; Education ; Female ; Health Behavior ; Health Policy ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Marital Status ; Neoplasms, Second Primary ; Nutrition Surveys* ; Odds Ratio ; Spouses ; Survivors*

Hypercarbia is a potential complication during laparoscopic surgery. However, is more likely to occur in extraperitoneal surgery than in intraperitoneal surgery because insufflated CO2 gas can diffuse easily into the surrounding tissues. We report the anesthetic course and complications encountered during endoscopic harvesting of a saphenous vein with CO2 insufflation in coronary artery bypass surgery. Although the surgery was successful, the patient developed signs and symptom of CO2 absorption: tachycardia, hypertension, hypercarbia and acidosis. Possible mechanisms are presented, along with a discussion of the prompt diagnosis and treatment. For the management of laparoscopic extraperitoneal surgery, care must be taken to monitor the CO2 insufflation pressure, perform a routine examination and palpation of the chest wall, use of N2O with caution, increase the level of ventilation to eliminate CO2, and excluding other causes of subcutaneous emphysema and hypercarbia.
Absorption ; Acidosis ; Coronary Artery Bypass* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Diagnosis ; Endoscopy ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Insufflation ; Laparoscopy ; Palpation ; Saphenous Vein* ; Subcutaneous Emphysema ; Tachycardia ; Thoracic Wall ; Ventilation

PURPOSE: This paper compares a RSS (Rapid Streptococcal Screening) detection test with a throat culture. The RSS detection kit is an easier and faster way to identify the infection of Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus (GABHS), the most common causal agent of acute bacterial pharyngitis. We also examine the clinical symptoms that are associated with bacterial pharyngitis. METHODS: A throat culture and a RSS detection test were performed simultaneously to all 239 patients who were suspected of having acute pharyngitis, and visited the emergency department between September 1st, 2002, and June 30th, 2003. Then the values of the RSS detection test were analyzed comparatively on a chi square test. The correlation between Centor criteria clinical features and bacterial pharyngitis was examined through a logic regression test. RESULTS: Comparative analysis of the results of a throat culture and RSS detection test showed a test sensitivity of 83.6%, specificity was 97.2%, and the kappa coefficient was 0.83 (95% C.I: 0.75~0.91). This suggests that the RSS detection test is valuable statistically. CONCLUSION: The RSS detection test is more accurate than the diagnosis of bacterial pharyngitis based on clinical features. Assuming that all patients with acute pharyngitis take antibiotics, an RSS detection test reduce of unnecessary antibiotics use.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Emergencies ; Humans ; Logic ; Pharyngitis ; Pharynx ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Streptococcal Infections ; Streptococcus

OBJECTIVE: To compare plasma protein expression between patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the cervix and normal controls. METHODS: Plasma samples from patients with benign gynecological disease (normal cervix, n=6) and cervical cancer (SCC, n=6) were subjected to plasma proteomic analysis using two dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectroscopy (MALDI-MS). Western blotting and immunoturbidimetric assay were performed to validate the results of 2-DE. RESULTS: Eight proteins showed differential expression between controls and SCC patients; six (ceruloplasmin, complement C3, afamin precursor, alpha-1-B-glycoprotein, transferrin, alpha-fibrinogen precursor) were up-regulated, while two (chain A, crystal structure of antithrombin and apolipoprotein A-IV precursor) were down-regulated in the plasma of SCC patients. Western blotting analysis revealed significant elevation of ceruloplasmin, complement C3, afamin, and alpha-1-B-glycoprotein in the plasma of SCC patients in comparison to controls. Immunoturbidimetric assay of a larger group confirmed the results of 2-DE and Western blotting, and showed that ceruloplasmin and complement C3 were significantly elevated in the plasma of SCC patients in comparison with controls and patients with carcinoma in situ (CIS) of the uterine cervix. CONCLUSION: Plasma protein expression determined using 2-DE and MALDI-MS will give a chance to identify tumor-specific biomarkers for SCC of the cervix.
Apolipoproteins ; Apolipoproteins A ; Biomarkers ; Blood Proteins ; Blotting, Western ; Carcinoma in Situ ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Ceruloplasmin ; Cervix Uteri ; Complement C3 ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Female ; Humans ; Mass Spectrometry ; Plasma ; Proteins ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; Transferrin ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The presence of leukocytosis in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has been reported to be related to the extent of MI and with the prognosis. However, whether the leukocytosis itself is a cause or result of the myocardial injury has not been determined. The relationship between the leukocyte count and the extent of myocardial injury was investigated in patients with AMI that had undergone reperfusion therapy. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Patients with AMI that had undergone thrombolysis (n=60) or primary PCI (n=36) were included. The initial leukocyte counts were analyzed with regard to the peak and initial CK-MB levels. The relationship between leukocytosis and the time elapsed from the onset of symptoms, infarct related coronary arteries and the proximity of the lesions were also investigated. RESULTS: In both groups, the initial leukocyte count did not show a significant relationship with the initial CK-MB level or the time elapsed from symptoms onset, which could be an indication of the extent of early myocardial injury. Furthermore, no significant relationship was shown with the infarct related coronary artery or proximity of the lesion. However, a relationship was shown with the maximum CK-MB level, which could be an indication of the extent of myocardial injury following reperfusion therapy in both groups (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the initial leukocyte count in patients with AMI might is an important prognostic factor that determines the extent of myocardial injury following reperfusion therapy, rather than being a simple indicator of the extent of early myocardial injury.
Coronary Vessels ; Humans ; Leukocyte Count* ; Leukocytes* ; Leukocytosis ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Myocardial Reperfusion ; Prognosis ; Reperfusion*