Opacification of the cornea due to the deposition of lipids may be primary without evidence of previous corneal vascularization, or secondary to either preexisting corneal disease or systemic disturbances of lipid metabolism. If the deterioration of vision continues, penetrating keratoplasty may be needed. We evaluated a 19 year-old female patient referred to our department due to progressive corneal opacity in the left eye. She did not have significant past or family histories of corneal diseases. Ocular examinations revealed the whitish corneal deposits with deep stromal vascularization in her left eye. For confirmation of the diagnosis, lamellar keratectomy with amniotic membrane transplantation was performed and deep stromal vessels were photocoagulated using an argon laser. Histologic findings were compatible with lipid degeneration. The corneal opacities reduced markedly and did not show any evidence of recurrence during the follow up period of six months. Therefore, we report this case with the review of the literature.
Amnion* ; Argon ; Cornea ; Corneal Diseases ; Corneal Opacity ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Keratoplasty, Penetrating ; Light Coagulation* ; Lipid Metabolism ; Recurrence ; Young Adult

Isometric tension was recorded in uterine arterial ring preparation contracted by potassium (60 mM) and norepinephrine(1.8 X 10(-7) M). With pretreatment of various concentrations of nifedipine(2.9 x 10(-9) ~2.9 X10(-7) M) and verapamil(2.2 X 10(-7) -2.2 X 10(-5) M), the relaxation was dose-dependent and inhibitory effects of both agents were more marked on the potassium than norepinephrine-evoked contraction. After immersion of the arterial preparation in calcium-free solution, the potassium-evoked contraction was decreased to 21+/-4.1%(mean+/-SEM) of the response in normal Krebs solution and norepinephrine-evoked contraction to 26+/-3.8%. The responses to both agents were completely restored when the calcium concentration was increased to 4.0 mM. Pretreated nifedipine(2.9 x 10(-7) M) in calcium-free solution depressed the potassium-evoked contraction to 7.3+/-1.6% and norepinephrine-evoked contraction to 12+/-3.7%. In addition of calcium(0-4.0mM), the potassium-evoked contraction increased to 30+/-4.6% and that by norepinephrine to 45+/-5.4%. Pretreated verapamil(2.2 X 10(-5) M) in calcium-free solution depressed the potassium-evoked contraction to 14+/-3.6% and norepinephrine-evoked contraction to 18+/-3.3%. In addition of calcium(0-4.0mM), the potassium-evoked contraction increased to 41+/-4.2% and that by norepinephrine to 57+/-4.7%. It was concluded that nifedipine and verapamil relaxed KC1 contracted ring in the presence of external calcium and relaxed norepinephrine contracted ring in both the presence and absence of external calcium. These findings suggest that calcium antagonists interfere with the release of calcium from intracellular sites as well as with the slow inward current of calcium.
Calcium ; Humans* ; Immersion ; Nifedipine* ; Norepinephrine ; Potassium ; Relaxation ; Uterine Artery* ; Verapamil*

Most proximal humeral fractures respond satisfactorily to simple conservative treatment, but operative treatment is recommended in cases where poor results are anticipated by prolonged immobilization, or because of severe displacement and comminution. We used a minimal internal fixation and tension band technique in severely displaced and comminuted cases to achieve firm fixation and avoid subacromial impingement. Passive range of motion of the involved shoulder began within the first postoperative day and active range of motion exercise was encouraged as soon as possible within the first postoperative week. Between February 1996 and November 1997, we operated using this technique on 15 patients ranging in age from 16 to 71 years (average 52). Follow-up averaged 13 months. During the follow-up period, all patients except one patient, had a active full range of motion on the affected limb. According to the evaluation on the 10 patients who had follow- up periods over 12 months by Hawkins rating scale of shoulder function, 6 patients had achieved a good result and 4 patients had achieved a fair result at the last follow up. In conclusion, tension band technique with minimal internal fixation could afford sufficient fracture stability to allow early, aggressive rehabilitation. As a method of internal fixation on a proximal humerus fracture, this technique may have particular advantages in elderly osteoporotic patients.
Aged ; Extremities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Humerus ; Immobilization ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Rehabilitation ; Shoulder ; Shoulder Fractures*

Calcific tendinitis of the longus colli is an inflammatory disease caused by calcium hydroxyapatite crystal deposition in the longus colli tendon of the prevertebral space. It is also known as retropharyngeal calcific tendinitis or prevertebral tendinitis. The typical imaging characteristics of this entity are calcifications on the superior insertion of the longus colli tendons at the C1-2 level and fluid collection in the retropharyngeal space. However, we introduce a case of acute longus colli tendinitis without definite calcification deposition on image findings.
Durapatite ; Tendinopathy* ; Tendons

Central diabetes insipidus caused by pineal gland neoplasm is rare. Here, we describe a case of central diabetes insipidus and pineal germinoma with seeding to pituitary stalk along CSF pathway. A 27 year-old male patient was admitted due to polyuria, polydipsia, headache, vomiting, diplopia, and decreased visual acuity for recent two months. Urine osmolality measured after water deprivation was below 100mOsm/kg. However, urine osmolality increasd above 300 mOsm/kg with pitressin administration. Brain MRI showed a 2cm sized mass with seeding into pituitary stalk along CSF in pineal region. Surgical biopsy revealed pineal germinoma. Two cycles of chemotherapy with etoposide and cis-platin were done followed by brain irradiation(2,500cGy). Follow up brain MRI after second chemotherapy showed complete remission. The patient had no neurologic and endocrinologic deficit after the treatment.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Brain ; Diabetes Insipidus* ; Diabetes Insipidus, Neurogenic ; Diplopia ; Drug Therapy ; Etoposide ; Follow-Up Studies ; Germinoma ; Headache ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Osmolar Concentration ; Pineal Gland ; Pinealoma ; Pituitary Gland ; Polydipsia ; Polyuria ; Vasopressins ; Visual Acuity ; Vomiting ; Water Deprivation

BACKGROUND: Hemodilution is known to increase cerebral blood flow, but it is not known why it is. We tried to investigate about these question like above. METHODS: Blood flow were checked on carotid artery after hemodilution by using electromagnetic blood flow-meter in 10 rabbits. Hemodilution was induced as 15 ml of lactated Ringers solution (LR) was infused after removing 5 ml of blood. Hemodilution was done 5 times in each rabbit. At 15 minutes after each hemodilution procedure, blood flow was checked and arterial blood gas analysis, and they compared with control data. The Sigma STAT and one way repeated measured ANOVA in Bonfferoni correction and regression analysis with DBSTAT PC application were used for statical analysis. RESULTS: Hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit in blood according to each hemodilution step decreased. At the same time, carotid blood flow increased following hemodilution. Though PaO2 level was not changed, CaO2 and pH, bicarbonate, and base excess in accordance with hemodilution were decreased. Also carotid blood flow calculated as increase 2.5 ml/min whenever hematocrit decreased 1%. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded as follow. Carotid blood flow increased to 2.5 ml/min (4.7%) whenever hematocrit decreased 1% by hemodilution. Whenever 15 ml of L/R solution was infused for acute hemodilution, carotid blood flow increased, on the contrary, hematocrit and arterial oxygen content decreased. Metabolic acidosis was induced by the large amount of L/R solution and it may be affected to carotid blood flows.
Acid-Base Equilibrium* ; Acidosis ; Blood Gas Analysis* ; Carotid Arteries ; Hematocrit ; Hemodilution* ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Magnets ; Oxygen ; Rabbits*

Immune responses of periodontal tissue may be regulated by products of sensory afferent nerve endings such as neuropeptides. Substance P(SP), a tachykinin neuropeptide, has been previously reported to stimulate the activities of T lymphocyte. Therefore, I examined the role of SP in IL-2 production and cell proliferation by using a homogeneous line of T lymphocytes(Jurkat and HuT78). Cell proliferation rate was determined by [3H]-thymidine incorporation test, and IL-2 was quantitated by the growth rate of CD4+ IL-2-dependent T lymphocyte line CTLL-2. SP stimulated cell proliferation of T lymphocytes at the concentration of 10(-12) and 10(-8)M in a biphasic bell-shape dose-dependent manner. However, SP alone did not induce IL-2 release at the concentration range of 10(-6) to 10(-14)M. The upregulation of IL-2 release was observed when 10(-12)M SP was applied together with mitogens such as Con A or PHA+PMA on T cell lines, especially on Jurkat. Con A or PHA+PMA demonstrated to increase the rate of cell proliferation of Jurkat, which had shown to produce much amount of IL-2 indicating that mitogen-induced cell proliferation might be partially influenced by released IL-2. It was concluded that regulatory effects of SP on the immune/inflammatory response could be mediated through the costimulatory upregulation of IL-2 production and increase of cell proliferation of T lymphocyte.
Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation* ; Interleukin-2* ; Lymphocytes* ; Mitogens ; Nerve Endings ; Neuropeptides ; Substance P* ; T-Lymphocytes ; Tachykinins ; Up-Regulation

No abstract available.
Hair* ; Hypopigmentation* ; Scalp* ; Ureter*

PURPOSE: This study was performed to find out the natural history of lung cancer in Pusan-Kyungnam area and changing of that in previous report. MATERIALS AND METHOD: We studied retrospectively 508 patients with pathologically proven lung cancer from January 1991 to December 1995. We analysed age and sex distribution, initial symptoms before diagnosis, first method yielding histologic diagnosis, cell types of lung cancer, initial stage of lung cancer, schema of overall patients, survivial of lung cancer patients, and prognostic factors affecting survival of lung cancer patients.. RESULTS: The overall male to female ratio was 4.5: 1 and the age distribution ranged from 20 to 86 years, and the median age of overall patients was 60 years. Histologic classification revealed that the most prevalent type was squamous cell carcinoma (251 cases, 49.4%), followed by adenocarcinoma (141 cases, 27.8%), small cell carcinoma (91 cases, 17.9%), and large cell carcinoma (3 cases, 0.6%). In non-smali cell lung cancer 56.8% were stage IIIb and IV, therefore curative operation was done in 18.7% of all cases, but in small cell lung cancer 65.6% were extended disease. Meidan survival of overall patients was 11.8 months. There was a quite difference in survival among the stages. In non-small cell lung cancer, median survival was 59.7 months, 27.3 months, 18.5 months, 12.7 months, 5.9 months in stage I, II, IIIa, IIIb, IV in each. In small cell lung cancer, median survival of limited disese was 12.2 months and median survival of extended disease was 6.7 months. The stage and the performance status were independent prognostic factors in both small cell and non-small cell lung cancer. CONCLUSION: The prognosis of patients with lung cancer was still grave, but the survival was better than that of a previous report. This may be accorded to increase in early diagnosis and operation and advance in supportive care.
Adenocarcinoma ; Age Distribution ; Busan* ; Carcinoma, Large Cell ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; Carcinoma, Small Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Classification ; Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Gyeongsangnam-do* ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Male ; Natural History ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Sex Distribution ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma

The purpose of this study was to evaluate in vitro the effects during subgingival calculus removal using Nd:YAG laser. The study group was consisted of 30 teeth with advanced periodontal disease extracted before the start of periodontal therapy. The specimens were divided into 8 different groups : 1) untreated control 2) scaling and root planing only 3) laser treated using 150mJ/pulse, 1sec, 5sec, contact mode 4) laser treated using 200mJ/pulse, 5sec, contact mode 5) laser treated using 150mJ/pulse, 1sec, non-contact mode 6) laser treated using 200mJ/pulse, 5sec, non-contact mode 7) laser treated using 150mJ/pulse, 1sec, contact mode with water irrigation 8) laser treated using 200mJ/pulse, 5sec, contact mode with water irrigation. All specimens were prepared for evaluation by scanning electron microscopy(SEM). Specimens from Group 2 exhibited a smear layer of scale like texture with parallel instrument tracks resulting from curet use. Specimens treated by contact mode, Group 3 and 4 featured surface changes not observed in controls such as charring, randomly distributed pitting and crater formation, and melting down of the tooth material and calculus. Specimens treated by noncontact mode, Group 5 and 6 featured similar surface changes observed in contact mode. However, the differences between contact and non-contact groups not significant. Specimens treated by contact mode with water irrigation, Group 7 and 8 featured slight surface change compared to other groups. The results suggested that Nd: YAG laser did not completely remove the subgingival calculus but was possible the application as adjunctive method.
Calculi* ; Freezing ; Lasers, Solid-State ; Periodontal Diseases ; Root Planing ; Smear Layer ; Tooth ; Trout ; Water