Percutaneous catheter drainage (PCD) of pancreatic pseudocyst has been reported to have good therapeutic results, low complications, and short hospital course. To find the clinical and radiological findings which can predict the treatment period for PCD, we retrospectively correlated the clinical data (presence of invection, initial and 1 week follow-up serum and aspirate amylase level, daily drainage amount) and radiological findings (evidence of fistula, PCD route, inital size of pseudocyst) with the treatment period in each case. The age ranged from 20 to 64 years(mean:39.8 years) and male to female ratio was nine to one. When the cavity was obliterated after PCD and did not recur after tube removal without a surgical treatment, we regarded the patient to be cured. Mean treatment period was 20.2 days and nine patients(90%) were cured. We think that the factors shortening treatment period are the presence of superimposed infection and the abrupt decrease of the amount of daily drainage for the first week. But the presence of fistula to the pancreatic duct may prolong the treatment period. In conclusion, PCD is safe and effective in the treatment of pancreatic pseudocyst, and the clinical ad radiological findings are expected to be able to predict the treatment period of PCD.
Amylases ; Catheters* ; Drainage* ; Female ; Fistula ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Pancreatic Ducts ; Pancreatic Pseudocyst* ; Retrospective Studies

No abstract available.
Angiocardiography* ; Contrast Media* ; Electrolytes* ; Osmolar Concentration* ; Plasma* ; Renin*

Experimental melanin-induced uveitis[EMIU]was induced in Lewis rats to investigate the mechanisms of the tissue destruction and spontaneous turning off of the endogenous uveitis. The eyes were enucleated serially, and immunohistochemistry, TUNEL stains, and flow cytometry were performed. The major infiltrating inflammatory cells were CD4 T cells in the uveal tissue of EMIU. Apoptosis of these cells has occurred and progressed throughout the inflammatory period in EMIU eyes. Most TUNEL positive cells revealed CD4 positive. These results suggest that apoptotic cell death occurred primarily in the infiltrating inflammatory cells not in the tissue cells of the eye and the apoptosis of CD4 T cells may play a key role in the spontaneous turning off mechanism of intraocular inflammation in EMIU.
Animals ; Apoptosis* ; Cell Death ; Coloring Agents ; Flow Cytometry ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Inflammation ; Rats ; T-Lymphocytes ; Uveitis*

The authors investigated macular circulation in a group of 27 patients(54 eyes) with diabetes melitus to evaluate the change of macular blood flow according to the grade of retinopathy, the status of glucose control and the duration of diabetes. Blood volume, flow and velocity on macular area were measured by Heidelberg Retinal Flowmeter(HRF, Heidelberg Engineering). Paticents with moderate or severe diabetic retinopathy showed a significant increase in macular blood flow than patients with less degree of diabetic retinopathy(502.45+/-223.58 AU vs, 355.19+/-123.84 AU, p=0.003). Both blood volume and velocity were also significantly increased in the patients with more advanced diabetic retinopathy. Macular blood flow was increased in the patients with higher fasting blood glucose, although the statistical significance was in borderline(473.12+/-238.57 AU vs, 362.14+/-103.22 AU, p=0.066). These results show that macular blood flow increases in the diabetic patients with more advanced diabetic retinopathy, suggesting that the increase in the macular blood flow may play a role in the development of diabetic macular microangiopathy.
Blood Glucose ; Blood Volume ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Fasting ; Glucose ; Humans ; Retinaldehyde

The minor fissure is an important anatomical landmark in the localization of the pulmonary diseases. For the evaluation of the normal feature of the minor fissure, we analyzed the high-resolution computed tomography (CT) scans in 51 normal patients. The purposes of this study are to evaluate the normal appearance of the minor fissure on high-resolution CT scans and to compare it with that on the coventional CT and chest radiographs. We analysed the morphologic feature of the minor fissure on the high-resolution CT scans in 51 normal patients, and compared it with that on the conventional CT scans. On the high-resolution CT scans, we particularly paid attention to the completeness and types according to Berkmen classification. And finally, we compared the types determined by the high-resolution CT scans with those by the plain radiographs. In most patients (n=47), the minor fissure was seen as a hyperattenuating line or hand on the high-resolution CT scans. In contrast, it was mostly seen as a lucent zone on the conventional CT scans (n=44). Of 47 patients having a hyperattenuating line or band on the high resolution CT scans, the minor fissure was considered to be complete in 17 patients (36%), and incomplete in 30 patients (64%), who had defect at medial portion of the minor fissure. The most common type of the minor fissure seen on the high-resolution CT scans was type I variety (n=23), followed by type IIa (n=10) and type II (n=8). We could not determine the type in six patients. The type determined by the high resolution CT scans was highly well correlated with that determined by the plain radiographs (p<0.05). In conclusion, the minor fissure was seen on CT studies as variable appearances and high-resolution CT scans were superior to the conventional CT scans in the evaluation of the minor fissure. The type of the minor fissure determined by the high-resolution CT scans were well correlated with those seen on the radiographs.
Classification ; Hand ; Humans ; Lung Diseases ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

The minor fissure is an important anatomical landmark in the localization of the pulmonary diseases. For the evaluation of the normal feature of the minor fissure, we analyzed the high-resolution computed tomography (CT) scans in 51 normal patients. The purposes of this study are to evaluate the normal appearance of the minor fissure on high-resolution CT scans and to compare it with that on the coventional CT and chest radiographs. We analysed the morphologic feature of the minor fissure on the high-resolution CT scans in 51 normal patients, and compared it with that on the conventional CT scans. On the high-resolution CT scans, we particularly paid attention to the completeness and types according to Berkmen classification. And finally, we compared the types determined by the high-resolution CT scans with those by the plain radiographs. In most patients (n=47), the minor fissure was seen as a hyperattenuating line or hand on the high-resolution CT scans. In contrast, it was mostly seen as a lucent zone on the conventional CT scans (n=44). Of 47 patients having a hyperattenuating line or band on the high resolution CT scans, the minor fissure was considered to be complete in 17 patients (36%), and incomplete in 30 patients (64%), who had defect at medial portion of the minor fissure. The most common type of the minor fissure seen on the high-resolution CT scans was type I variety (n=23), followed by type IIa (n=10) and type II (n=8). We could not determine the type in six patients. The type determined by the high resolution CT scans was highly well correlated with that determined by the plain radiographs (p<0.05). In conclusion, the minor fissure was seen on CT studies as variable appearances and high-resolution CT scans were superior to the conventional CT scans in the evaluation of the minor fissure. The type of the minor fissure determined by the high-resolution CT scans were well correlated with those seen on the radiographs.
Classification ; Hand ; Humans ; Lung Diseases ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: This study aimed to find out the difference in between the anatomic properties children with intermittent exotropia and children with orthophoria. METHODS: The intermittent exotropia group consisted of 35 patients who had an angle of deviation of more than 15 prisms. The control group consisted of 35 orthophoric children with comparable age and sex ratio. From the view of skull AP, we compared the diameter, interlateral wall distance, and intermedial wall distance of the orbital rim. Also we compared the intercanthal distance, interlateral canthal distance of eyelids, and interpupillary distance. RESULTS: The average values of interpupillary distance, intercanthal distance, and interlateral canthal distance of exotropic group were 54.23+/-1.85 mm, 34.75+/-1.66 mm, and 78.25+/-4.21 mm, respectively. Compared to those of control group, which were 53.59+/-1.21 mm, 33.56+/-1.54 mm, and 76.68+/-3.23 mm, respectively, there was no significant difference (P>0.05). The average values of the diameter, interlateral wall distance and the intermedial wall distance of the orbital rim were not significantly different between two groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that the anatomic properties including orbital rim size and orbital exodeviation did not seen to influence the development of intermittent exotropia.
Child ; Exotropia* ; Eyelids ; Humans ; Orbit ; Sex Ratio ; Skull

PURPOSE: To assess the clinical outcomes of cyclosporine treatment for noninfectious uveitis. METHODS: A retrospective review of medical records was completed for 182 noninfectious uveitis patients who were treated with cyclosporine between January 2001 and August 2010. Data was obtained relevant to demographic characteristics, anatomic classification, and laterality of uveitis, associated systemic disorder, dosage of cyclosporine and prednisolone, usage of other immunosuppressive drugs, visual acuity (VA), control of uveitic activity, and adverse effects during the cyclosporine use. RESULTS: Uveitic activity was controlled to a level of minimal inflammation in 89.0% and completely in 78.6% of patients by the median duration of 49 and 98 days, respectively. Prednisolone-sparing (dose < or =10 mg) control of inflammation equal to or less than the minimal activity was achieved in 75.3% of patients. VA was aggravated more than 0.2 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution in 17.3% of eyes in spite of cyclosporine treatment for the mean follow-up of 698.4 days. Dose reduction and cessation of cyclosporine was required only in 3.3% and 9.3%, respectively, due to the intolerable toxicity, although 44.0% of patients experienced mild to moderate adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS: Cyclosporine combined with corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive drugs as needed is an effective treatment for noninfectious uveitis, thus minimizing the adverse effects of corticosteroids and other toxic drugs. However, careful monitoring for the toxicity of cyclosporine is needed, because a small group of patients cannot tolerate its toxicity.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cyclosporine/administration & dosage/*therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents/administration & dosage/*therapeutic use ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prednisolone/administration & dosage/therapeutic use ; Republic of Korea ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Uveitis/*drug therapy ; Visual Acuity

The visual results of laser photocoagulation for subfoveal choroidal neovascular membrane (CNVM) has not always been satisfactory. The surgical removal of the neovascular membrane may be another treatment option. To investigate the prognosis and risk factors of this surgery, we analyzed the results of surgical removal of subfoveal CNVM (23 eyes), subfoveal hemorrhage with CNVM (6 eyes), and subfoveal hemorrhage alone (6 eyes). The mean follow-up period was 17.7 months (range 2 to 47 months). The mean preoperative membrane size was 0.89 disc diameter and the mean postoperative retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) defect size was 1.33 disc diameter. Visual improvement was observed in 13 out of the 23 eyes (56.5%) with sufoveal CNVM, four out of the six eyes (66.6%) with subretinal hemorrhage and CNVM, and five out of the six eyes (83.3%) with subretinal hemorrhage only. The visual outcome of subfoveal CNVM surgery was related to the presence of a subfoveal RPE defect (p = 0.005) rather than to the size of the RPE defect. No recurrence of neovascular membrane was observed during the follow up period. In conclusion, surgical removal may be a good alternative treatment for subfoveal CNVM.
Choroidal Neovascularization/surgery* ; Choroidal Neovascularization/diagnosis ; Choroidal Neovascularization/complications ; Comparative Study ; Female ; Fluorescein Angiography ; Fovea Centralis/surgery ; Fovea Centralis/pathology ; Fundus Oculi ; Human ; Laser Coagulation* ; Male ; Middle Age ; Pigment Epithelium of Eye/pathology ; Prognosis ; Retinal Hemorrhage/surgery ; Retinal Hemorrhage/diagnosis ; Retinal Hemorrhage/complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Visual Acuity

It is well known that renal cell carcinoma shows poor responses upon chemotherapy, and a multidrug-resistance has been suggested as one of the possible mechanisms of their resistances to chemotherapeutics of renal cell carcinoma as well as other malignancies. In our previous study, MDR was expressed relatively high in A-498 cell line, low in Caki-2 cell line. From these observation A-498 was selected as the MDR positive cell line and Caki-2 as the MDR negative cell line and then a study was performed to evaluate the effect of verapamil and cyclosporin A on the cytotoxicity of vinblastine, which are known as the most effective chemotherapeutic agent on human renal cell carcinoma, upon these cell lines. And we tried to evaluate the effect of combination of verapamil and cyclosporin A on the cytotoxicity of vinblastine. Verapamil, in concentration of 0.1 uM, did not enhance the anticancer effect of vinblastine on A-498 cells but with the concentration of 1uM and 10uM, it decreased IC50 of vinblastine from 0.4 ug/ml when only vinblastine was used to 0.05 and 0.08, showing the dose modification effect of 8.40 and 5.25 respectively (p<0.05, by Mann Whitney test) Cyclosporin A, in all the concentration of 0.3, 1, 3uM, also decreased IC of vinblastine on A-498 cells to 0.08, 0.05, 0.08 ug/ml respectively, showing the dose modification effect of 5.25 to 8.40 (p<0.05, by Mann Whiney test). In caki-2 cells in which MDR1 and p-glycoprotein expression were barely detected, verapamil and cyclosporin A did not show any effect upon the cytotoxicity of vinblastine. Combination of 0.3uM of cyclosporin A and 0.1uM or 1uM of verapamil did not resistance modulating agents to enhance the cytotoxicity of vinblastine in renal cell carcinoma with enhanced multidrug resistance, but the combination of these drugs did not show any synergistic effect. And further studies including in vivo study and combination of cyclosporin A are needed before clinical trials to improve chemotherapeutic effect upon renal cell carcinoma.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Cell Line* ; Cyclosporine* ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; Drug Therapy ; Humans* ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; P-Glycoprotein ; Verapamil* ; Vinblastine*