No abstract available.
Animals ; Cricetinae* ; Macrophage Activation* ; Macrophages* ; Macrophages, Peritoneal* ; Mice* ; Nitric Oxide ; Phagocytosis

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical features and therapeutic effects of unilateral ptosis in patients who respond to the phenylephrine (PE) test. METHODS: Patients who presented with unilateral ptosis from January 2010 to December 2014 and underwent a PE test were included in the analysis. A 2.5% ophthalmic solution of phenylephrine hydrochloride was instilled at the superior conjunctival fornix in the ptotic eye. After 10 minutes of instillation, the patients' eyelid heights were evaluated. Underlying systemic diseases were examined based on previous medical history, a blood test, neurologic examination, and radiologic imaging findings. RESULTS: Twenty-six of 44 patients who underwent a PE test showed positive results. Fourteen (53.8%) patients with positive PE test had systemic disease, and 2 (11.2%) patients had systemic disease with negative PE test. In the positive PE test group, the associated systemic disease frequency was remarkably high (p = 0.004). Myasthenia gravis (MG) was found more frequently in the positive PE test group than in the negative PE test group (p = 0.031). After 6 months, the interpalpebral fissure height increased by 2.20 mm in the positive PE test group and 2.38 mm in the negative PE test group. Patients receiving medication treatment experienced an increase in interpalpebral fissure height of 2.00 mm in the positive PE test group and 2.50 mm in the negative PE test group. In patients undergoing observation alone, the interpalpebral fissure height increased by 1.50 mm in the positive PE test group and 0.80 mm in the negative PE test group. There was no significant difference in treatment methods (respectively, p = 0.147, p = 0.228 and p = 0.112). CONCLUSIONS: The PE test can be considered to help with differential diagnosis when examining patients with mild to moderate ptosis. If the PE test is positive, underlying comorbidity including MG should be considered.
Comorbidity ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Eyelids ; Hematologic Tests ; Humans ; Myasthenia Gravis ; Neurologic Examination ; Phenylephrine* ; Therapeutic Uses

PURPOSE: To compare the biomechanical properties of keratoconus, keratoconus suspect, and normal subjects measured by ocular response analyzer. METHODS: A total of 72 patients were divided into 3 groups: keratoconus, suspected keratoconus, and normal control subjects. The 3 age-matched groups were evaluated according to age, sex, and visual acuity. Slit lamp examinations, Pentacam, and ocular response analyzer (ORA) examinations were performed. Mean corneal refractive power, central corneal thickness, corneal hysteresis (CH), and corneal resistance factor (CRF) were evaluated and analyzed. RESULTS: Twenty-four eyes were included in each group. The mean age was 23.8 years in keratoconus, 26.0 years in suspected keratoconus and 26.1 years in normal subject groups. Mean corneal refractive power was significantly higher in keratoconus (p < 0.001) and suspected keratoconus (p = 0.001) groups than in the normal subject group. Mean central corneal thickness showed significant differences among the 3 groups (p < 0.05). CH was significantly lower in keratoconus than suspected keratoconus (p = 0.025) and normal subject groups (p = 0.005), but showed no significant difference between suspected keratoconus and normal subject groups. CRF showed significant differences among all 3 groups (p < 0.05). CH and CRF had negative correlations with mean corneal refractive power and positive correlations with central corneal thickness. CONCLUSIONS: CH and CRF measured by ORA were significantly different between keratoconus and normal subject groups and had significant correlations with mean corneal refractive power and central corneal thickness. CRF may be a useful method to differentiate between suspected keratoconus and normal cornea patients.
Cornea ; Eye ; Humans ; Keratoconus ; Visual Acuity

Objective: The number of patients suffering from dysphagia is increasing in line with societal aging. However, preparing dysphagia diets at home or in welfare facilities is challenging due to the lack of commercially specifically designed products. The thickening agents used to prepare dysphagia meals can be difficult due to changes in viscosity and homogenization. Therefore, this study was performed to prepare dysphagia meals using commercially available foods following the classification system outlined by the International Dysphagia Diet Standardization Initiative (IDDSI). Methods: Commercial foods were categorized as main dishes, side dishes, and snacks. Selected foods were ground or minced, and 1-3 g of thickening agent was added. Following the IDDSI framework, fork flowability, spoon tilt, and gravity flow tests were conducted using a syringe, and based on these evaluations, texture-modified foods were classified as general, minced, ground, or liquid foods. Results: Commercial foods used in the experiment could be used in IDDSI Level 2-7 dysphagia diets after adjusting their structures. Food size and viscosities were appropriately controlled, and an usage manual was developed. Conclusion This study successfully demonstrated the easy incorporation of commercial food products into the dysphagia diets for personal care and welfare facilities. By adopting the described approach, dysphagia patients could be provided various meal options with improved service. In addition, this study suggests possibilities for developing and producing diverse products designed specifically for dysphagia patients.

Objective: The number of patients suffering from dysphagia is increasing in line with societal aging. However, preparing dysphagia diets at home or in welfare facilities is challenging due to the lack of commercially specifically designed products. The thickening agents used to prepare dysphagia meals can be difficult due to changes in viscosity and homogenization. Therefore, this study was performed to prepare dysphagia meals using commercially available foods following the classification system outlined by the International Dysphagia Diet Standardization Initiative (IDDSI). Methods: Commercial foods were categorized as main dishes, side dishes, and snacks. Selected foods were ground or minced, and 1-3 g of thickening agent was added. Following the IDDSI framework, fork flowability, spoon tilt, and gravity flow tests were conducted using a syringe, and based on these evaluations, texture-modified foods were classified as general, minced, ground, or liquid foods. Results: Commercial foods used in the experiment could be used in IDDSI Level 2-7 dysphagia diets after adjusting their structures. Food size and viscosities were appropriately controlled, and an usage manual was developed. Conclusion This study successfully demonstrated the easy incorporation of commercial food products into the dysphagia diets for personal care and welfare facilities. By adopting the described approach, dysphagia patients could be provided various meal options with improved service. In addition, this study suggests possibilities for developing and producing diverse products designed specifically for dysphagia patients.

Objective: The number of patients suffering from dysphagia is increasing in line with societal aging. However, preparing dysphagia diets at home or in welfare facilities is challenging due to the lack of commercially specifically designed products. The thickening agents used to prepare dysphagia meals can be difficult due to changes in viscosity and homogenization. Therefore, this study was performed to prepare dysphagia meals using commercially available foods following the classification system outlined by the International Dysphagia Diet Standardization Initiative (IDDSI). Methods: Commercial foods were categorized as main dishes, side dishes, and snacks. Selected foods were ground or minced, and 1-3 g of thickening agent was added. Following the IDDSI framework, fork flowability, spoon tilt, and gravity flow tests were conducted using a syringe, and based on these evaluations, texture-modified foods were classified as general, minced, ground, or liquid foods. Results: Commercial foods used in the experiment could be used in IDDSI Level 2-7 dysphagia diets after adjusting their structures. Food size and viscosities were appropriately controlled, and an usage manual was developed. Conclusion This study successfully demonstrated the easy incorporation of commercial food products into the dysphagia diets for personal care and welfare facilities. By adopting the described approach, dysphagia patients could be provided various meal options with improved service. In addition, this study suggests possibilities for developing and producing diverse products designed specifically for dysphagia patients.

Objective: The number of patients suffering from dysphagia is increasing in line with societal aging. However, preparing dysphagia diets at home or in welfare facilities is challenging due to the lack of commercially specifically designed products. The thickening agents used to prepare dysphagia meals can be difficult due to changes in viscosity and homogenization. Therefore, this study was performed to prepare dysphagia meals using commercially available foods following the classification system outlined by the International Dysphagia Diet Standardization Initiative (IDDSI). Methods: Commercial foods were categorized as main dishes, side dishes, and snacks. Selected foods were ground or minced, and 1-3 g of thickening agent was added. Following the IDDSI framework, fork flowability, spoon tilt, and gravity flow tests were conducted using a syringe, and based on these evaluations, texture-modified foods were classified as general, minced, ground, or liquid foods. Results: Commercial foods used in the experiment could be used in IDDSI Level 2-7 dysphagia diets after adjusting their structures. Food size and viscosities were appropriately controlled, and an usage manual was developed. Conclusion This study successfully demonstrated the easy incorporation of commercial food products into the dysphagia diets for personal care and welfare facilities. By adopting the described approach, dysphagia patients could be provided various meal options with improved service. In addition, this study suggests possibilities for developing and producing diverse products designed specifically for dysphagia patients.

BACKGROUND: Umbilical cord (UC) is a promising source of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). We compared the characteristics of MSCs from cryopreserved UC with those from fresh tissues, and demonstrated the possibility of UC cryopreservation for acquisition of MSCs from cryopreserved UC. METHODS: Each UC was sliced into two types (1~2 mm3 vs. 0.5 cm), and cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen using different media (autologous cord blood plasma, aCBP vs. RPMI 1640). A fresh aliquot of 1~2 mm3-sized UC was used as control tissue. After one week, the cryopreserved tissues were thawed and cultured. For the 0.5 cm UC, a slicing step into 1~2 mm3 was needed. Cell count, viability, proliferative activity, and surface antigens were determined from harvested MSCs. Several growth factors (EGF, IGF-1, PDGF, TGF-beta, bFGF, and VEGF), were measured from the culture supernatant. RESULTS: Eleven UC were enrolled in the study. Efficiencies of obtaining MSCs were higher in cryopreserved UC using RPMI 1640, compared with use of aCBP; the same result was observed for 0.5 cm sized UC, compared with 1~2 mm3 sized UC. No difference in proliferative activity was observed between MSCs from fresh and cryopreserved UC. The amount of growth factors in culture supernatant using RPMI 1640 was larger than that of fresh tissues. CONCLUSION: We obtained growth factors from the supernatant as well as MSCs from cryopreserved UC. As with a cord blood bank, in the future, cryopreservation of UC for acquisition of both MSCs and growth factors would be possible in a time of need.
Antigens, Surface ; Cell Count ; Cryopreservation ; Fetal Blood ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Nitrogen ; Plasma ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; Umbilical Cord

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is a rare but potentially lethal outcome caused by sudden discontinuation or dose reduction of dopaminergic agents. We report an extremely rare case of NMS after deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery in a cerebral palsy (CP) patient without the withdrawal of dopaminergic agents. A 19-year-old girl with CP was admitted for DBS due to medically refractory dystonia and rigidity. Dopaminergic agents were not stopped preoperatively. DBS was performed uneventfully under monitored anesthesia. Dopaminergic medication was continued during the postoperative period. She manifested spasticity and muscle rigidity, and was high fever resistant to anti-pyretic drugs at 2 h postoperative. At postoperative 20 h, she suffered cardiac arrest and expired, despite vigorous cardiopulmonary resuscitation. NMS should be considered for hyperthermia and severe spasticity in CP patients after DBS surgery, irrespective of continued dopaminergic medication.
Anesthesia ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Cerebral Palsy* ; Deep Brain Stimulation* ; Dopamine Agents ; Dystonia ; Female ; Fever ; Globus Pallidus* ; Heart Arrest ; Humans ; Muscle Rigidity ; Muscle Spasticity ; Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome ; Postoperative Period ; Young Adult