No abstract available.
Hidrocystoma* ; Syringoma*

PURPOSE: To elucidate the mechanism of neoangiogenesis in human retinal pigment epithelium under oxidative stress. METHODS: Paraquat was added to cultured human retinal pigment epithelium (HRPE) for 72 hours to induce oxidative stress milieu. Expression and production of angiogenic factors, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and pigment epithelial derived factor (PEDF), was checked by RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. The induction of neoangiogenesis was monitored by both tube formation in ECV 304 cell and migration assay of human fetal dermal microvascular endothelial cells. RESULTS: Competitive RT-PCR showed that PEDF gene in paraquat-treated HRPE was expressed at a significantly lower level than in non-treated HRPE. However, Western blot showed a significant increase of VEGF production (p<0.05) and a decrease of PEDF production (p<0.05). Moreover, angiogenesis was dose-dependently increased when the various concentrations of paraquat were added to HRPE. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, oxidative stress by addition of paraquat caused HRPE to produce more VEGF and less PEDF, thereby leading to neoangiogenesis, and suggesting that the neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is caused by destroying the balance of angiogenic factors in HRPE such as VEGF and PEDF; that is, in oxidative stressed HRPE, more VEGF is released and less PEDF, as compared to normal HRPE.
Angiogenesis Inducing Agents ; Blotting, Western ; Endothelial Cells ; Humans* ; Macular Degeneration ; Oxidative Stress* ; Paraquat ; Retinal Pigment Epithelium ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

PURPOSE: To elucidate the mechanism of neoangiogenesis of human retinal pigment epithelium (HRPE) under hypoxia. METHODS: HRPE cells were cultured for 2 and 24 hours in a hypoxic chamber. Expression and production of the angiogenic factor, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the anti-angiogenic factor, pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) were analyzed by RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. Neoangiogenesis was induced by adding culture supernatant harvested from cells exposed to hypoxic conditions. Neoangeogenesis was measured with a tube formation assay that uses ECV 304 cells and with a migration assay that uses human dermal microvascular endothelial cells. RESULTS: Competitive RT-PCR showed that the expression of the PEDF gene in HRPE cells under hypoxic state decreased compared to normoxic state (p<0.01) but the expression of the VEGF gene increased (p<0.01) when exposed to hypoxic conditions. These results corresponded to those of the Western blot analysis which revealed a significant increase of VEGF production (p<0.01) and a decrease of PEDF production (p<0.01). Moreover, the tube formation and migration assays demonstrated that angiogenesis was increased by exposure to hypoxic stress. Taken together, HRPE cells under hypoxic stress produce more VEGF and less PEDF, which lead to neoangiogenesis. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the subretinal neovascularization that occurs under hypoxic stress might be caused by an imbalance of angiogenesis-related factors in HRPE cells.
Angiogenesis Inducing Agents ; Anoxia* ; Blotting, Western ; Endothelial Cells ; Epithelial Cells* ; Humans ; Retinal Pigment Epithelium ; Retinaldehyde* ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

The levels of pH,pCO,bicarbonate, and base excess in umbillical venous blood were measured at birth of life in 30 normal term infant and 27 high risk infants. The study group was divided into two categories by clinical evaluation: first group of normal term infant without high risk indication and second group of high risk infants. Following results were obiained. 1) The average level of umbilical venous blood pH in normal group was 7.3260.001 and high risk group was 7.3180.002(7.326 versus 7.318,respecitvely,p>0.05) 2) The average Apgar Score in normal group was 9.30.95 and more acidotic high risk group was 7.42.54 3) The average level of pCO in normal group was 43.361.36mmHg and high risk group was 43.952.36mmHg(43.36 respecitively, p>0.05) 4) The average level of pCo in normal group was 21.550.85mmEq/L and high risk group was 20.030.78mEq/L(21.55 versus 20.03mEq/L respectively,p>0.05) 5) The average level of base excess in normal group was -2.610.76mEq/L and high risk group was -3.060.91mEq/L(-2.61 versus -3.06mEq/L respecitively,p?0.05) 6) Relationship between hP and Apgar Score in normal group was False normal (6.7%),False abnormal(10%) and high risk group was False normal (14.8%) False abonromal(7.4%).
Apgar Score ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration* ; Infant* ; Parturition

PURPOSE: Functional and structural alterations of retinal pigment epithelial cells were observed in experimental and clinical diabetes. To investigate the effects of high glucose on free radical-induced injury in retinal pigment epithelial cells, we determined the effects of high glucose on activities of antioxidant enzymes and paraquat-induced cytotoxicity in cultured human retinal pigment epithelial (HRPE) cells. METHODS: Human retinal pigment epithelial (HRPE) cell line (ATCC:CRL-2302) was cultured with high glucose (22.4 mM)-and normoglucose (5.6 mM)-contained DMEM for 3 days. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and GSHPx were assayed by Crapo's method, Aebi's method and GUnzler's method, respectively. Paraquat-induced cytotoxicity was determined by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) method. RESULTS: CuZn-SOD activity of HRPE cells was decreased by 32% in high glucose (25.4 mM) media compared to normoglucose (5.6 mM) media. But the activities of catalase and GSHPx were not changed by high glucose. The paraquat-induced HRPE cells toxicity was increased by high glucose. Diethydithiocarbamate (DDC), as inhibitor of CuZn-SOD, also potentiated paraquat-induced HRPE cell CONCLUSIONS: Paraquat-induced HEPE cells injury was potentiated by high glucose and decreased CuZn-SOD activity by high glucose may be some roles in free radical-induced HRPE cell injury.
Catalase ; Cell Line ; Epithelial Cells* ; Glucose* ; Humans* ; Paraquat ; Retinaldehyde* ; Superoxide Dismutase

Branch retinal vein occlusion(BRVO) is the most frequent entity of retinal vascular abnormality following diabetic retinopathy; a review of diagnosis for all our new outpatients verifies this, Sudden loss of visual acuity occur in the vast majority of BRVO patients. Other complications are macular edema, capillary nonperfusion, neovascularization, vitreous hemorrhage and so on. We did a clinical analysis of 71 patients with BRVO(71 eyes), who were considered to be treated with laser photocoagulation to prevent vitreous hemorrhage. We confirmed the fact that laser photocoagulation could prevent vitreous hemorrhage to a significant degree, but we were unable to demonstrate any statistical correlation between the occurrence of vitreous hemorrhage and the time of laser photocoagulation.
Argon* ; Capillaries ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Light Coagulation* ; Macular Edema ; Outpatients ; Retinal Vein ; Retinaldehyde ; Visual Acuity ; Vitreous Hemorrhage*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to review our recent experiences with deep neck abscesses in children and adolescents and to provide helpful information in treatment and diagnosis by comparing them with those in other available literatures. METHODS: Medical records of 36 children and adolescents admitted for deep neck abscess at two hospitals from January 2000 to October 2010 were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: Male to female ratio was 1.4 : 1 and the mean age was 6.5 years. Painful neck swelling and fever were the most frequent symptoms in patients under thirteen years of age whereas trismus and headache were frequent symptoms in patients over fourteen years of age. Submandibular space was the most common site of deep neck abscess in patients under thirteen years of age, whereas peritonsillar space was the most common site in patients over fourteen years of age. The results of bacterial cultures were positive in 61.5% of drained cases. Staphylococcus aureus was the most commonly identified bacteria in 6 patients (37.5%) and 5 of them were under 2 years of age. Twenty six patients received surgical drainage while the others were treated with antibiotics only. There were no statistically significant differences in the durations of admission, fever after admission, and antibiotic treatment between surgical and medical treatment groups. CONCLUSION: The common sites of deep neck abscess, associated symptoms, and causative organisms were different between children and adolescents. As there were no differences in durations of admission, fever, or antibiotics treatments between surgical and medical treatment groups, surgical drainage may be avoided by early recognition and suspicion. However, if there is no improvement of symptoms or size of abscesses within 48-72 hours of antibiotic treatment, surgical drainage should be considered.
Abscess ; Adolescent ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacteria ; Child ; Drainage ; Female ; Fever ; Headache ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Male ; Medical Records ; Neck ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Trismus

BACKGROUND: The survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has recently been improved by the advancement in the early detection of HCC. Among the various treatment modalities, the surgical resection has been considered as the most effective for small HCC, and the clinical course of patients with small HCC who underwent curative resection is known to be dependent on the etiology of HCC. Since the differences in the etiology of HCC depend on the different geographical area, it is necessary to verify the clinical outcomes and their affecting factors in patients with small HCC after curative resection in Korea, one of the hepatitis- B-virus(HBU)-endemic areas. METHODS: A total of 89 patients with small HCC (or=50 years old), Child's classification and vascular invasion were factors affecting the rate of recurrence. CONCLUSION: These results verify that the clinical outcomes of patients with small HCC after curative resection in Korea are similar to those of patients with different etiology of HCC in other geographic areas. To improve the prognosis of patients with small HCC after curative resection, strict preoperative evaluation of the presence of vascular invasion and postoperative preservation of liver function are necessary as well as the close postoperative follow-up for the early detection of recurrence.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Classification ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Humans ; Korea ; Liver ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Mortality ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul ; Survival Rate

We experienced two suspected cases of hereditary cerebellar ataxia of ten years and right years aged boys who brothers. The patients manifested progressive wide base ataxic gait, incordination, intention tremor, impaired balance and dysarthria. A bries review of related literature is also presented.
Cerebellar Ataxia* ; Dysarthria ; Gait ; Humans ; Siblings* ; Tremor

We experienced one suspected case of chondrodystrophic calcificans congenita of 2 days aged newborn infant. The patient manifested short stature, articular contracture on both lower and upper extremities, moderate jaundice and irritabilities. A brief review of related literature is also presented.
Contracture ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Jaundice ; Upper Extremity