Herpes zoster oticus (Ramsay Hunt syndrome) is characterized by facial nerve paralysis associated with vesticular eruptions and cochleovestibular symptoms. Many evidences have supported that it is caused by the reactivation of latent varicella-zoster virus in the geniculate ganglion. Recently we experienced a case 49-year-old man presented severe vertigo and a vesicular eruptions of auricle and external ear canal. It is an unusual variant of herpes zoster oticus that involves only vestibular nerve without facial nerve palsy and hearing loss. We believe this case results from reactivation of latent varicella zoster virus in the vestibular ganglion and report with a review of literatures.
Dizziness ; Ear Canal ; Facial Nerve* ; Ganglion Cysts ; Geniculate Ganglion ; Hearing Loss ; Herpes Zoster Oticus* ; Herpes Zoster* ; Herpesvirus 3, Human ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Paralysis* ; Vertigo ; Vestibular Nerve*

PURPOSE: Although the process by which intravitreal perfluorocarbon gas is absorbed is incompletely understood, it is known that considerable absorption of intravitreal perfluorocarbon gas occurs through the aqueous humor. The aim of the study was to evaluate experimentally the effect of topical aqueous humor suppressants on the intravitreal perfluorocarbon gas bubble duration. METHODS: After sulfur hexafluoride and perfluoropropane were injected intravitreally in ten rabbits, we measured the time of gas bubble disappearance in eyes treated with topical aqueous humor suppressants and in those not treated. RESULTS: The mean time(+/-SD) to disappearance of 0.4 cc of sulfur hexafluoride was 6.0+/-0.71 days, which was prolonged to 8.0+/-0.71 days with topical aqueous humor suppressants. The mean time(+/-SD) to disappearance of 0.2 cc perfluoropropane was 14.8+/-0.84 days, while it was prolonged to 22.0+/-1.58 days with topical aqueous humor suppressants. CONCLUSIONS: Sulfur hexafluoride and perfluoropropane intravitreal gas bubbles last longer in rabbit eyes treated with aqueous humor suppressants than in fellow control eyes.
Absorption ; Aqueous Humor* ; Rabbits* ; Sulfur Hexafluoride

We documented the histopathologic findings of an eye with Molteno implant that was nonfunctional at 3 years after implantation.In 1995,a 62-year-old woman developed neovascular glaucoma in her right eye,and installation of a Molteno implant was performed.However,she was lost to follow-up until 1998,when she presented with a blind eye that have to be enucleated with molteno implant because of painful phthisis bulbi.On external examination the implant plate was located in the superotemporal equatorial region of the globe,8 mmposterior to the limbus and 9 mm anterior to the optic nerve.There were adhesions between the plate and surround-ing fibrous tissue.The drainage tube into the anterior chamber left in situ. On microscopic examination the adjacent bleb wall consisted of multilayer, degenerated collagenous connective tissue,maximal 0.7 mmin thickness.Its inner portion mainly consisted of paucicellular,hyalinized and sclerotic col-lagen fibers and outer portion was relatively fibrovascular tissues with a few vascular endothelial cells and fibroblasts.And,there were chronic lym-phocytic infiltrates around a silicone tube insertion site into the anterior chamber.
Anterior Chamber ; Blister ; Collagen ; Drainage ; Endothelial Cells ; Female ; Glaucoma, Neovascular ; Humans ; Lost to Follow-Up ; Middle Aged ; Silicones

No abstract available.
Diagnosis* ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms* ; Liver Transplantation* ; Liver* ; Neoplasm Metastasis*

No abstract available.
Diagnosis* ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms* ; Liver Transplantation* ; Liver* ; Neoplasm Metastasis*

No abstract available.
Adult* ; Humans ; Technetium Tc 99m Dimercaptosuccinic Acid* ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon* ; Urinary Tract Infections* ; Urinary Tract*

OBJECTIVE: Dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS), the major steroidal product of the human adrenal, is abnormally low in patients with SLE. Moreover, a recent study confirms a positive effect of the precursor DHEA on the disease course in SLE, which supports an etiologically important role of the hormone on SLE. The aim of this study is to search for an interrelation between clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, and disease activities and DHEAS in patients with SLE. METHOD: DHEAS were measured by radioimmunoassay kit using 125I-labeled DHEA-SO4 antibody-coated tube in the serum of 48 patients with SLE and in 46 control subjects. Laboratory findings, clinical symptoms, signs and SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) in SLE patients were evaluated at blood sampling time. RESULTS: DHEAS was lower in patients with SLE compared to controls (45.60+/-42.62 mug/dL vs 101.55+/-56.54 mug/dL, p<0.005). The serum DHEAS levels were significantly negative correlation with SLEDAI (r=-0.333, p<0.05). There were significantly negative correlations between daily steroid dose and DHEAS (r=-0.384, p=0.012), and the amount of steroid used during previous 2 months and DHEAS (r=-0.011, p=0.011). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with SLE have low levels of DHEAS and significant negative correlation between SLEDAI, steroid dose and DHEAS.
Dehydroepiandrosterone* ; Female ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Radioimmunoassay

131I-6beta-iodomethyl-19-norcholesterol(NP-59) has an advantage to assess adrenal dysfunction caused by adrenal cortical disorders. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical usefulness of NP-59 scintigraphy in each adrenral disease. Ten patients who did eleven NP-59 adrenal scintigraphies at Dong-A University Hospital from March 1990 to December 1996 were selected as the subject. Among the subject there were 5 cases of Cushing's syndrome, 2 cases of incidentaloma, 1 case of metastatic adrenal tumor, liver cirrhosis with hirsutism and hypertension respectively. Among 5 case of Cushing's syndrome, there were 2 cases of Cushing's disease, 2 cases of adrenal adenoma and 1 case of adrenal carcinoma. There are no disagreement between clinical diagnosis and scan finding in Cushing's syndrome. In 2 incidentaloma cases, even though one is interpretated as a functioning tumor, both of 2 cases could avoid unnecessary biopsy according to scintigraphy result. One case of hirsutism, clinically adrenal originated, revealed the normal scintigraphic hirsutism was extra-adrenal origin. One case of hypertension took the study to exclude the possibility of primary aldosteronism. Normal suppression scan finding revealed that primary aldosteronism did not exist in this case. In conclusion, NP-59 scintigraphy was very useful in diagnosis and differential diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome and it could avoid unnecessary biopsy in the incidental adrenal tumor.
Adenoma ; Adosterol ; Biopsy ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic* ; Cholecystography* ; Cushing Syndrome ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Hirsutism ; Humans ; Hyperaldosteronism ; Hypertension ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Radionuclide Imaging*

A 77-year-old female patient underwent aortic valve replacement (AVR) with concomitant septal myectomy and tricuspid annuloplasty. Her symptoms did not improve after a successful operation. Echocardiogram demonstrated the presence of an iatrogenic ventricular septal defect (VSD). It was muscular in location and not the usual AVR with membraneous type of VSD, suggesting a complication from the myectomy. Percutaneous closure of the VSD remained the only feasible option due to her poor overall medical status. A 14-mm Amplazter VSD occluder was deployed successfully, by means of the trans-septal technique. She has improved very well postoperatively.
Aged ; Aortic Valve* ; Female ; Heart Septal Defects ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular* ; Humans ; Septal Occluder Device

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Because the mechanisms of the biological effects of statin and antiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor therapies differ, the vascular responses to these therapies were studied in hypercholesterolemic patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Simvastatin, 20 mg, placebo or ramipril, 10 mg, were administered daily for 2 months, with a 2 month washout, to 32 hypercholesterolemic patients. This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover in design study. RESULTS: Simvastatin alone, or in combination with ramipril, significantly changed the lipoproteins, and improved the percentage of the flow-mediated dilator response to hyperemia by 46+/-48% and by 59+/-66%, respectively, relative to the baseline measurements (both p<0.001). The plasma malondialdehyde levels were reduced, relative to baseline measurements, by 6+/-57% (p=0.045) and 13+/-47% (p=0.045 and p<0.001, respectively) and plasma levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 by 3+/-27% and by 9+/-16%, respectively (p=0.113 and p=0.001, respectively). The C-reactive protein were also reduced, relative to baseline measurements, by 17+/-75% and by 17+/-37%, respectively (p=0.003 and p=0.001, respectively). However, simvastatin combined with ramipril changed, to a greater extent, but was statistically insignificant, the percentage of the flow-mediated dilator response to hyperemia, and the plasma monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 levels, than simvastatin alone. CONCLUSION: Compared with simvastatin alone, the addition of ramipril improved the endothelial function to greater extent, but was statistically insignificant, in hypercholes-terolemic patients.
C-Reactive Protein ; Chemokine CCL2 ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ; Hyperemia ; Inflammation* ; Lipoproteins ; Malondialdehyde ; Nitric Oxide* ; Plasma ; Ramipril* ; Simvastatin*