PURPOSE: To assess the effect of the remnants after lens extraction on posterior capsular opacification with lens epithelial cell culture through in vitro capsular bag model. METHODS: After isolating porcine lens capsules, sterile non-toxic PMMA (polymethyl- mathacrylate) tension ring was inserted into the capsule. These were placed in organ culture medium up to 6 weeks. The grade of cell coverage of the posterior lens capsule was recorded to check the proliferative activity. RESULTS: In the process of cell culture, outgrowth of the epithelial cells was observed across the posterior capsule after a lag period. The rate of cell coverage was dependent upon the added factors. The proliferative activity was the greatest in the group where lens cortical and nuclear materials were added, and other groups showed no difference from a control group. CONCLUSIONS: To reduce posterior capsular opacification, it is important that we should not leave the lens cortical material behind during cataract surgery.
Capsules ; Cataract Extraction* ; Cataract* ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Epithelial Cells* ; Organ Culture Techniques ; Polymethyl Methacrylate

The diagnosis of breast lymphoma is a prime consideration when a breast mass develops in a patient with a history of lymphoma either in lymphatic system or at other anatomic sites, with bilateral axillary lymph nodes enlargment. However, the radiologic findings of lymphoma in breast are known as non-specific. Breast lymphoma is extremely rare and it has never been reported in this country. We report two cases of breast lymphoma with mammographic and sonographic findings.
Breast* ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic System ; Lymphoma* ; Ultrasonography

Patient with compalints of swelling, pain in the maxillary region and discomfort visited Seoul National University Dental Hospital in August last year. Clinical examination and diagnostic imagings implied he was suffered from fungal h yphal infection but no causative fungus was found by the histopathologic and microbiologic investigation. Therefore he w as diagnosed with nonspecific inflammation. But as yet, we do think this case is very similar to some kinds of mucomycos is. So we presented this case for more thorough discussion. Following are founded in the examination. 1. Patient had sufferd from Diabetes mellitus and complained of stuffness, headache, swelling in buccal cheeks and pare sthesia. And we found more maxillary bony destruction and ulcer with elevated margin in the palate by clinical examinati on. 2. In the first visit, Plain films revealed general bony destruction of the maxilla, radiopaqueness in the sinonasal ca vities. CT and MRI showed soft tissue mass filled in the paranasal sinus except frontal sinus and bony destruction in in volved bones. 3. No causative bacteria and fungus was found in the biopsy and microbiologic cultures. 4. Caldwell-Luc operation and curettage were carried and antibiotics were taken for 4 months. But now he was worse than in the past. 5. In the second visit, involvement of orbit, parapharyngeal sinus, clivus, cavernous sinus and middle cranial fossa we re seen clearly in the CT and MRI.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacteria ; Biopsy ; Cavernous Sinus ; Cheek ; Cranial Fossa, Middle ; Cranial Fossa, Posterior ; Curettage ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Frontal Sinus ; Fungi ; Headache ; Humans ; Inflammation* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Maxilla ; Orbit ; Palate ; Seoul ; Ulcer

Patient with compalints of swelling, pain in the maxillary region and discomfort visited Seoul National University Dental Hospital in August last year. Clinical examination and diagnostic imagings implied he was suffered from fungal h yphal infection but no causative fungus was found by the histopathologic and microbiologic investigation. Therefore he w as diagnosed with nonspecific inflammation. But as yet, we do think this case is very similar to some kinds of mucomycos is. So we presented this case for more thorough discussion. Following are founded in the examination. 1. Patient had sufferd from Diabetes mellitus and complained of stuffness, headache, swelling in buccal cheeks and pare sthesia. And we found more maxillary bony destruction and ulcer with elevated margin in the palate by clinical examinati on. 2. In the first visit, Plain films revealed general bony destruction of the maxilla, radiopaqueness in the sinonasal ca vities. CT and MRI showed soft tissue mass filled in the paranasal sinus except frontal sinus and bony destruction in in volved bones. 3. No causative bacteria and fungus was found in the biopsy and microbiologic cultures. 4. Caldwell-Luc operation and curettage were carried and antibiotics were taken for 4 months. But now he was worse than in the past. 5. In the second visit, involvement of orbit, parapharyngeal sinus, clivus, cavernous sinus and middle cranial fossa we re seen clearly in the CT and MRI.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacteria ; Biopsy ; Cavernous Sinus ; Cheek ; Cranial Fossa, Middle ; Cranial Fossa, Posterior ; Curettage ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Frontal Sinus ; Fungi ; Headache ; Humans ; Inflammation* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Maxilla ; Orbit ; Palate ; Seoul ; Ulcer

We report a rare case of robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RARP) in a patient with a preexisting penile prosthesis. In this case, we completed RARP without removing the reservoir by using a deflation-inflation technique, and there were no complications related to the prosthesis. The patient had a negative surgical margin. The preserved three-piece inflatable penile prosthesis continued to function properly in 1 month. Reservoir-preserving RARP is technically feasible and safe. However, it is important to be aware of device-related complications. Long-term studies on the mechanical survival rate and patient satisfaction should be also performed.
Humans ; Patient Satisfaction ; Penile Prosthesis ; Prostatectomy ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Prostheses and Implants ; Robotics ; Survival Rate

Severe complications associated with EV71 infections are a common cause of neonatal death. Lack of effective therapeutic agents for these infections underlines the importance of research for the development of new antiviral compounds. In the present study, the anti-EV71 activity of norwogonin, oroxylin A, and mosloflavone from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi was evaluated using a cytopathic effect (CPE) reduction method, which demonstrated that all three compounds possessed strong anti-EV71 activity and decreased the formation of visible CPEs. Norwogonin, oroxylin A, and mosloflavone also inhibited virus replication during the initial stage of virus infection, and they inhibited viral VP2 protein expression, thereby inhibiting viral capsid protein synthesis. However, ribavirin has a relatively weaker efficacy compared to the other drugs. Therefore, these findings provide important information that will aid in the utilization of norwogonin, oroxylin A, and mosloflavone for EV71 treatment.
Capsid Proteins ; Enterovirus* ; Methods ; Perinatal Death ; Ribavirin ; Scutellaria baicalensis ; Virus Replication

BACKGROUND: Recent evidence demonstrates that high doses of epoetin-alpha (EPO-alpha) can be administrated at extended intervals, despite its relatively short serum half-life. However, no prospective randomized trials on the effects of extended dosing intervals of EPO-alpha compared with darbepoetin-alpha (DA-alpha) have been performed. This study was designed to investigate whether a single biweekly (Q2W) administration of a high dose of EPO-alpha is as effective as DA-alpha for anemia in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients not receiving dialysis. METHODS: Sixty non-dialysis CKD patients were equally randomized to either Q2W subcutaneous EPO-alpha (10,000 unit) or DA-alpha (50microg) therapy groups for the first 6 weeks. After a 6-week washout period, the participants of the EPO-alpha and DA-alpha treatment groups switched to the alternate regimen for 6 weeks. The mean hemoglobin (Hb) levels after erythropoiesis stimulating agent (ESA) therapy and percentage change in Hb levels from baseline to the end of the study were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean Hb levels of postESA therapy increased significantly compared with those of preESA therapy in both ESA regimens. The percentage increase in Hb levels and erythropoietin resistance index did not show a significant difference between the different ESA regimens. No difference was observed between the regimens regarding mean Hb levels after ESA therapy. Additionally, there were no serious adverse effects leading to withdrawal from treatment. CONCLUSION: Biweekly high doses of EPO-alpha therapy may be equally as effective as Q2W DA-alpha therapy in maintaining target Hb levels in non-dialysis CKD patients.
Anemia ; Cross-Over Studies* ; Dialysis* ; Erythropoiesis ; Erythropoietin ; Half-Life ; Humans ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic*

Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is characterized by lymphocytic infiltration of the exocrine glands resulting in decreased saliva and tear production. It uncommonly involves the kidneys in various forms, including tubulointerstitial nephritis, renal tubular acidosis, Fanconi syndrome, and rarely glomerulonephritis. Its clinical symptoms include muscle weakness, periodic paralysis, and bone pain due to metabolic acidosis and electrolyte imbalance. Herein, we describe the cases of two women with pSS whose presenting symptoms involve the kidneys. They had hypokalemia and normal anion gap metabolic acidosis due to distal renal tubular acidosis and positive anti-SS-A and anti-SS-B autoantibodies. Since one of them experienced femoral fracture due to osteomalacia secondary to renal tubular acidosis, an earlier diagnosis of pSS is important in preventing serious complications.
Acid-Base Equilibrium ; Acidosis ; Acidosis, Renal Tubular* ; Autoantibodies ; Diagnosis ; Exocrine Glands ; Fanconi Syndrome ; Female ; Femoral Fractures ; Glomerulonephritis ; Humans ; Hypokalemia ; Kidney ; Muscle Weakness ; Nephritis, Interstitial ; Osteomalacia ; Paralysis ; Saliva ; Tears

The syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH) is a potential cause of hyponatremia of the central nervous system (CNS). Although SIADH has been reported to be associated with many other central nervous disorders, its association with neuromyelitis optica (NMO) or NMO spectrum disorders are rare. NMO is a demyelinating disorder characterized by optic neuritis and transverse myelitis. Aquaporin-4 (AQP4), which is the target antigen for a NMO autoantibody, is the predominant CNS water channel. However, some NMO patients show seronegative AQP4 antibody results. The spectrum of NMO has been changed, and new findings about the disease have been reported. Here, we report a case of seronegative NMO spectrum disorder associated with SIADH.
Central Nervous System ; Demyelinating Diseases ; Humans ; Hyponatremia ; Inappropriate ADH Syndrome ; Myelitis, Transverse ; Neuromyelitis Optica* ; Optic Neuritis ; Water

Primary mediastinal nonseminomatous germ cell tumor associated with Klinefelter's syndrome is a rare disorder. We experienced a case of recurred primary mediastinal nonseminomatous germ cell tumor developed in a 24-year-old patient with Klinefelter's syndrome. The patient had been treated with surgery and combination chemotherapy under the diagnosis of primary mediastinal nonseminomatous germ cell tumor before. A round mass was found on the right lower lung field in the chest X-ray during follow up. The patient was diagnosed as recurred primary nonseminomatous germ cell tumor and Klinefelter's syndrome through tumor markers, peripheral blood karyotyping, and other tests including hormonal assay and was treated with combination chemotherapy and surgery again. When the patient is diagnosed as primary mediastinal nonseminomatous germ cell tumor, Klinefelter's syndrome and hematologic malignancies should be considered to be associated diseases and vice versa.
Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Follow-Up Studies ; Germ Cells* ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; Humans ; Karyotyping ; Klinefelter Syndrome* ; Lung ; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal* ; Thorax ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; Young Adult