No abstract available.
Humans ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory* ; Peritonitis*

PURPOSE: To investigate the effectiveness of infliximab as treatment for refractory uveitis that recurred in spite of immunosuppressive agents. METHODS: Thirty patients who were treated for refractory uveitis from 2002 to 2011 were included in this study. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 15 patients who were treated with Infliximab and 15 patients not treated with Infliximab. Infliximab was injected intravenously (5 mg/kg) 3 times every 4 weeks, and the patients were followed-up at 1 week, 2 weeks, and every month thereafter. Anterior chamber cell reaction with a score greater than 0.5+ was defined as recurrence of uveitis. RESULTS: Among 15 patients treated with Infliximab, only one showed no response to the medication. The recurrence rate was significantly higher in patients receiving Infliximab treatment (1.1 +/- 0.2 times) than in those not receiving Infliximab treatment (3.1 +/- 0.3 times) (p=0.022). CONCLUSIONS: Infliximab can be used effectively on patients with refractory uveitis. However, a future prospective randomized study is needed to demonstrate the effectiveness of Infliximab and to determine an accurate protocol regarding dosage and number of injections.
Anterior Chamber ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Medical Records ; Prospective Studies ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Uveitis* ; Infliximab

PURPOSE: To report a case of migraine attacks with aura that occurred after percutaneous closure of an atrial septal defect (ASD) with the Amplatzer septal occluder device. CASE SUMMARY: A 58-year-old female presented with glare and scintillation that lasted 3 days. She had a history of percutaneous ASD intervention 3 weeks prior. Because ophthalmologic examination revealed nothing remarkable, the patient underwent observation. However, two months later, she revisited our department, presenting with aggravated glare, scintillation, and severe photophobia. Also, she presented with scintillation followed by a headache starting from the right temporal area extending to the occipital area. The patient was diagnosed with migraine with aura, which was newly developed after percutaneous ASD closure. After switching medication from acetylsalicylic acid to clopidogrel, the frequency and intensity of the headaches were reduced. No recurrence of ophthalmic symptoms or headache was observed during the 1-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous closure of ASD can be complicated by the appearance of migraine attacks with aura. When patients present with glare and scintillation, ophthalmologists must consider the possibility of migraine with aura and migraine induced by secondary causes. Thus, detailed history taking should be taken in order to make an early diagnosis of migraine.
Aspirin ; Early Diagnosis ; Epilepsy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glare ; Headache ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial* ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Migraine Disorders* ; Migraine with Aura* ; Photophobia ; Recurrence ; Septal Occluder Device

Noise is not only affecting the ear and the auditory cortex locally, but its influence is widely spread throughout the brain structures, e. g., the reticular formation, the brain stem nuclei or the subcortical forebrain area. Hence, any of the organism's activities can be hindered or stimulated by noise. High noise is a stressor and the catecholamine level can be used both as a stress marker and as an indicator of modified sympathetic nervous system activity. Several recent studies have found that the urinary excretion of catecholamines is increased due to high noise intensity, especially unexpectedly high and long lasting noise. The present study was conducted in order to examine the effects of noise stress on urinary excretion of catecholamines in rats and humans. Rats were exposed to 90 dB noises for 10, 30, and 60 minutes, 3 and 12 hours. 24 hour urinary samples were collected and the catecholamines were extracted by alumina and analyzed by HPLC-ECD. Catecholamine levels increased with time of exposure up to 60 minutes: norepinephrine concentration at 60 min of noise=1.038 ng/ml, epinephrine=0.636 ng/ml. Urine catecholamines of blue collar workers exposed to 90 dB of noise at the workplace were collected between 2 and 4 p.m. and compared to that of white collar workers exposed to 70 dB. Mean norepinephrine level of the blue collar workers was 0.89 ng/ml(+/-0.25), epinephrine 0.24 ng/ml(+/-0.09), and that of the white collar workers 0.48 ng/ml(+/-0.12), epinephrine 0.19 ng/ml(+/-0.05). It was concluded that noise acts as a stressor and increases the catecholamine levels in both rats and humans.
Aluminum Oxide ; Animals ; Auditory Cortex ; Brain ; Brain Stem ; Catecholamines ; Ear ; Epinephrine ; Humans ; Noise* ; Norepinephrine ; Prosencephalon ; Rats ; Reticular Formation ; Sympathetic Nervous System

No abstract available.
Cerebral Infarction* ; Craniocerebral Trauma* ; Head* ; Humans ; Oxygen*

Purpose: We performed intra-arterial thrombolysis within 6 hours of presentation in Korean patients with acute retinal artery occlusion. The treatment outcomes of our patients were compared with those from a literature review of this procedure. Methods: Visual acuity, intraocular pressure, fundus photo, and fluorescein angiography were examined in five Korean patients who ultimately underwent intra-arterial thrombolysis due to central retinal artery occlusion. The visual acuity of patients was evaluated after the procedure. The treatment outcomes of our patients were compared with those presented in six foreign intra-arterial thrombolysis studies with respect to age, sex, and visual acuity before and after intra-arterial thrombolysis. Results: In our five cases (three males and two females), the average age was 63.4 years and the average time to the procedure of intra-arterial thrombolysis was 4.8 hours. In the five cases, the visual acuity before intra-arterial thrombolysis were hand movements, 0.1, finger counting at 30 cm, hand movements, and 0.08. Visual acuity after intra-arterial thrombolysis were 0.9, 0.5, finger counting at 30 cm, 0.7, and 1.2. The average age of patients in the six studies from the literature was 60 years, and the most common visual acuity before intra-arterial thrombolysis was light perception and hand movements. A slight improvement in visual acuity (>0 to 0.1) was common in most of the studies; however, three studies showed a partial recovery (from 0.2 to 0.4). Conclusions For retinal artery occlusion, intra-arterial thrombolysis within 6 hours should be considered as a treatment option.

Purpose: We performed intra-arterial thrombolysis within 6 hours of presentation in Korean patients with acute retinal artery occlusion. The treatment outcomes of our patients were compared with those from a literature review of this procedure. Methods: Visual acuity, intraocular pressure, fundus photo, and fluorescein angiography were examined in five Korean patients who ultimately underwent intra-arterial thrombolysis due to central retinal artery occlusion. The visual acuity of patients was evaluated after the procedure. The treatment outcomes of our patients were compared with those presented in six foreign intra-arterial thrombolysis studies with respect to age, sex, and visual acuity before and after intra-arterial thrombolysis. Results: In our five cases (three males and two females), the average age was 63.4 years and the average time to the procedure of intra-arterial thrombolysis was 4.8 hours. In the five cases, the visual acuity before intra-arterial thrombolysis were hand movements, 0.1, finger counting at 30 cm, hand movements, and 0.08. Visual acuity after intra-arterial thrombolysis were 0.9, 0.5, finger counting at 30 cm, 0.7, and 1.2. The average age of patients in the six studies from the literature was 60 years, and the most common visual acuity before intra-arterial thrombolysis was light perception and hand movements. A slight improvement in visual acuity (>0 to 0.1) was common in most of the studies; however, three studies showed a partial recovery (from 0.2 to 0.4). Conclusions For retinal artery occlusion, intra-arterial thrombolysis within 6 hours should be considered as a treatment option.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Attic cholesteatoma which develops from the papillary or retracted from progresses through various anatomic sites such as the mesotympanium, the mastoid process and the epitympanium. Although the most common site for attic cholesteatoma is the lateral attic space, it has also been found frequently in the medial attic space. We hoped to understand the pathogenesis of attic cholesteatoma through clinical analyses in order to contribute to the cholesteatoma treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We chose 60 attic cholesteatoma patients showing attic retraction or perforation. These cases of attic cholesteatomas were classified into either the lateral or the medial types depedning on the main site of occurence. They were further classified into anterior, posterior and inferior types according to the direction of cholesteatomatic progression. CONCLUSION: The accurate assessment and clear understanding of the pathogenesis of different forms of cholesteatoma enabled a successful operation and helped to minimize the operative field.
Cholesteatoma* ; Hope ; Humans ; Mastoid

The authors surveyed on 154 color deficient workers among 6,023 industrial workers that had undergone a physical examination at Soon Chun Hyang Gumi Hospital but had good visual acuity and no retinal disease. They were examined with 3 kinds of test including AO pseudoisochromatic plate, Ishihara's plate and Han's color vision test. So, results were obtained as follow; 1. AO pseudoisochromatic plate was used only as distinguishable method of existence of color defect. 2. With the Ishihara plate, frequencies as to types of defect were protanopia 19(12.3%), deuteranopia 71(46.1%), protanomaly and deuteranomaly 15(9.7%), and unclassified 48(31.2%). The most frequent type of color defect was deuteranopia. 3. With the Hahn's color vision test, frequencies as to types of defect were protan 33(21.4%), deutan 72(46.7%), and unclassified 48(31.2%). Also in this test, deutan was the most frequent type. 4. Extent of color defect by the Hahn's test was mild(Grade I) 38.3%, medium(Grade II) 23.4%, and strong(Grade III) 38.3%.
Color Vision ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Physical Examination ; Retinal Diseases ; Visual Acuity

14 supratentorial and 6 infratentorial arachnoid cysts, diagnosed and treated at Kangnam St Mary's Hospital from 1983 to 1988, are reported. The most common presenting symptoms in children were craniomegaly, delayed development, increased ICP and neurological focal signs. Neuroradiological examination included plain skull X-ray, brain CT and metrizamide CT or isotope study. Therapeutic criteria according to the clinical and radiological findings were reviewed. The results were as follows; 1) The patient below age of 2 yrs who's brain had a potent ability of growth should be operated in any cases for reducing mass effect. 2) In sylvian lesion, Type II and III according to the classification of Galassi were well treated with C-P snunt. 3) In infratentorial lesion, all patients had hydrocephalus and the patient who had communicated with subarachnoid space in metrizamide CT were well treated with V-P shunt and who not communicated with subarachnoid space was well treated with Y-shunt. 4) We had good results by fenestration above the age of 3 yrs and by C-P shunt under the age of 2 yrs in supratentorial lesion.
Arachnoid Cysts* ; Brain ; Child* ; Classification ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Metrizamide ; Skull ; Subarachnoid Space