Malakoplakia of the bladder is an extremely rare condition in which there are multiple round or oval, plaque like or occasionally polypoid projections of the mucosa and submucosa which may be mistaken for cancer. It is believed to be infectious in origin, secondary to a deficiency of intracellular lysosomal digestion. There is often a clinical history of urinary tract infection, and the condition is considered to be an atypical form of granulomatous response to Gram negative coliform infection. We report a case of malakoplakia of the bladder clinically simulating malignant tumor, which was treated successfully with transurethral resection and antibiotics.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Digestion ; Malacoplakia* ; Mucous Membrane ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms* ; Urinary Bladder* ; Urinary Tract Infections

No abstract available.
Varicocele*

PURPOSE: To report a case of herpes simplex keratitis after descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK). CASE SUMMARY: A 66-year-old male underwent DSAEK in his right eye due to bullous keratopathy after cataract surgery. The corneal epithelium which was removed during surgery was healed, but the patient was experiencing pain and decreased visual acuity in his right eye 1 month after surgery. Increasing corneal epithelial defects and corneal edema were observed on slit-lamp examination. Therapeutic soft contact lenses and artificial tears were used for treatment but were not effective, thus amniotic membrane transplantation was performed. Three months after transplantation, the epithelial defect appeared as a geographic ulcer suspecting to be herpes simplex keratitis; therefore, ganciclovir ophthalmic ointment and oral acyclovir were administered. Six months after antiviral therapy, the epithelial lesion of herpes simplex keratitis completely disappeared, leaving only mild corneal opacity. CONCLUSIONS: If corneal epithelial defects are persistent after DSAEK in patients even with no past history of herpes simplex keratitis, herpes simplex keratitis should be considered in the differential diagnosis.
Acyclovir ; Aged ; Amnion ; Cataract ; Contact Lenses, Hydrophilic ; Corneal Edema ; Corneal Transplantation ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Epithelium, Corneal ; Eye ; Ganciclovir ; Herpes Simplex ; Humans ; Keratitis, Herpetic ; Male ; Methylmethacrylates ; Ophthalmic Solutions ; Polystyrenes ; Transplants ; Ulcer ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: The present study was performed to evaluate the changes in tear film and ocular surface parameters after using sodium hyaluronate (SH) 0.1% alone or in combination with cyclosporine A (CsA) 0.05% in patients with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy accompanied by dry eye. METHODS: A total of 72 eyes from 36 patients were divided into two groups; 36 eyes of 18 patients were treated with 0.1% SH alone (group 1), and 36 eyes of 18 patients were treated with SH 0.1% and CsA 0.05% (group 2). Tear break-up time (BUT), basal tear secretion test (BST), tear clearance rate (TCR), fluorescein staining (FS) and corneal sensitivity test (CST) were evaluated at pre-treatment and one, three and six months post-treatment. Conjunctival impression cytology was performed and tear CXCL11 (Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand) levels were measured pre-treatment and three months post-treatment. RESULTS: BUT, BST, TCR, KEP and CST were significantly improved at six months in group 1 (p < 0.05) and at three months in group 2 (p < 0.05). The degree of conjunctival squamous cell metaplasia, goblet cell density and tear CXCL11 levels were significantly changed at three months in group 2 (p < 0.05). However, there were no significant changes in group 1 after 3 months. CONCLUSIONS: Combined use of topical 0.1% SH and 0.05% CsA can result in early improvement in tear films and ocular surface parameters in patients with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy accompanied by dry eye.
Cyclosporine ; Dry Eye Syndromes ; Eye ; Fluorescein ; Goblet Cells ; Graves Ophthalmopathy ; Humans ; Hyaluronic Acid ; Metaplasia ; Tears ; Thyroid Gland

PURPOSE: To evaluate clinical effects of intracameral voriconazole injection in fungal keratitis refractory to conventional therapy. METHODS: Thirty-eight eyes of 38 patients with fungal keratitis were included in this study. The patients were divided into 3 groups: 13 patients with intracameral voriconazole injection (50 microg/0.1 ml; group A), 11 patients with intracameral amphotericin B injection (10 microg/0.1 ml; group B), and 14 patients with conventional therapy only (group C). Clinical factors including treatment success rate and time to successful treatment were evaluated. RESULTS: Treatment success was accomplished in 12 eyes in group A (92.3%), 10 eyes in group B (90.9%), and 12 eyes in group C (85.7%). Time to treatment success in group A, B, and C was 36.1 +/- 10.4 days (p = 0.04), 34.2 +/- 7.8 days (p = 0.03), and 49.5 +/- 16.7 days, respectively. Patients who had received intracameral voriconazole injection or amphotericin B showed faster fungal keratitis improvement than patients who received conventional treatment. Time to re-epithelialization and time to disappearance of hypopyon showed a similar clinical course. CONCLUSIONS: Intracameral voriconazole injection, which has a similar therapeutic effect as intracameral amphotericin B injection in the management of fungal keratitis, can be helpful in the treatment of intractable fungal keratitis.
Amphotericin B ; Eye ; Humans ; Keratitis ; Pyrimidines ; Re-Epithelialization ; Time-to-Treatment ; Triazoles

Lung cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers and it has the highest mortality of all forms of cancers. Although surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are routinely used for the treatment of lung cancer treatment, little progress has been made in the treatment of this condition over the past 20 years. The histological subtype of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) accounts for approximately 30% of all lung cancer patients. Spontaneous regression of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCL) is an extremely rare phenomenon. Spontaneous regression of cancer (SR) is defined as a complete or partial, temporary or permanent disappearance of all or at least some the relevant parameters of soundly diagnosed malignant disease without any medical treatment or with treatment that is considered inadequate to produce the resulting regression.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Humans ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms

PURPOSE: The present study investigated the therapeutic effects of periocular triamcinolone acetonide injections to treat inflammatory signs in patients with severe acute thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy. METHODS: Twenty-two patients with symptoms of severe acute thyroid ophthalmopathy were enrolled in the present study. The patients received four doses of 20 mg of triamcinolone acetonide via periocular injection into the inferotemporal orbital quadrant every 2 weeks. The changes in visual acuity, intraocular pressure, eye ball motility, exophthalmos, thickness of extraocular muscles, clinical activity score and NOSPECS score were measured. RESULTS: Eighteen of 22 patients (81.8%) showed improvement in soft tissue swelling, ten patients (45.5%) showed improvement in conjunctival hyperemia and one patient showed improvement of ocular motility. Clinical activity score and NOSPECS score had significant improvements. No patient had changes in visual acuity, intraocular pressure, diplopia, proptosis or thickness of extraocular muscles. An ocular adverse effect was found in one patient, who had subcutaneous fat atrophy at the injection site. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with severe acute thyroid ophthalmopathy, periocular triamcinolone acetonide injection can be effective to improve acute inflammatory symptoms, without significant adverse effects.
Atrophy ; Diplopia ; Exophthalmos ; Eye ; Graves Ophthalmopathy ; Humans ; Hyperemia ; Injections, Intraocular ; Intraocular Pressure ; Muscles ; Orbit ; Subcutaneous Fat ; Thyroid Gland ; Triamcinolone ; Triamcinolone Acetonide ; Visual Acuity

BACKGROUND: Firemen are directly exposed to various harmful chemicals, physical factors and mental stress during rescue and fire-fighting. In fire extinguishing, unstable posture, poisonous gas, dust, high temperature and weighty equipments are possible hazardous factors. The alertness for emergency, shift work, job strain and stress are also possibly hazardous. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence of musculo-skeletal symptoms and job stress and to determine risk factors in firemen. METHODS: This study was carried out in a group of 226 firemen in Busan, Korea. Standardized Nordic Questionnaire was used to investigate the prevalence of musculo-skeletal symptoms and Psycho-social Well-being Index (abbreviated PWI) was used to investigate the prevalence of job stress. General and occupational characteristics included education, marital status, alcohol and smoking history, working duration, and work shift system. Body mass index (BMI) scores were calculated by physical examination including height and weight. RESULTS: Concerning musculo-skeletal complaints, the commonest site was neck, and shoulder, lower back, upper back were the next. Complaint site above one area of body was about 80%. From multiple logistic regression analysis, working duration was significant variable in musculo-skeletal symptoms. Odds ratio were 15.4 in working duration. About 16.8% was high risk stress group. From multiple logistic regression analysis, shift work and alcohol drinking were significant variables in PWI scores. Odds ratios were 2.25 in shift work. CONCLUSION: Accordingly, interventions are needed for health promotion of long term and shift worker.
Alcohol Drinking ; Body Mass Index ; Busan ; Dust ; Education ; Emergencies ; Firefighters ; Fires ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Marital Status ; Neck ; Odds Ratio ; Physical Examination ; Posture ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Shoulder ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: Firemen are directly exposed to various harmful chemicals, physical factors and mental stress during rescue and fire-fighting. In fire extinguishing, unstable posture, poisonous gas, dust, high temperature and weighty equipments are possible hazardous factors. The alertness for emergency, shift work, job strain and stress are also possibly hazardous. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence of musculo-skeletal symptoms and job stress and to determine risk factors in firemen. METHODS: This study was carried out in a group of 226 firemen in Busan, Korea. Standardized Nordic Questionnaire was used to investigate the prevalence of musculo-skeletal symptoms and Psycho-social Well-being Index (abbreviated PWI) was used to investigate the prevalence of job stress. General and occupational characteristics included education, marital status, alcohol and smoking history, working duration, and work shift system. Body mass index (BMI) scores were calculated by physical examination including height and weight. RESULTS: Concerning musculo-skeletal complaints, the commonest site was neck, and shoulder, lower back, upper back were the next. Complaint site above one area of body was about 80%. From multiple logistic regression analysis, working duration was significant variable in musculo-skeletal symptoms. Odds ratio were 15.4 in working duration. About 16.8% was high risk stress group. From multiple logistic regression analysis, shift work and alcohol drinking were significant variables in PWI scores. Odds ratios were 2.25 in shift work. CONCLUSION: Accordingly, interventions are needed for health promotion of long term and shift worker.
Alcohol Drinking ; Body Mass Index ; Busan ; Dust ; Education ; Emergencies ; Firefighters ; Fires ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Marital Status ; Neck ; Odds Ratio ; Physical Examination ; Posture ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Shoulder ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Since an exact ABO blood type match is essential for transfusion therapy, any ABO discrepancies should be resolved prior to the issuing of blood. The authors confirmed the ABO blood group of a 50-year-old male using genotyping. On a routine blood group test, the cell type was A+; however, anti-B was undetected in his serum. To determine the cause of this ABO discrepancy, an adsorption elution test and saliva test were performed. The presence of a weak B substance was suspected despite no evidence of the B antigen on red blood cells. Polymerase-chain-reaction restriction-fragment-length-polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and sequencing analysis of exons 6 and 7 demonstrated that his blood type was A1Bweak (the A allele tested as the A105 subtype, while the B allele was most similar to the B302 subtype). Again, using genotyping, we subsequently confirmed the A1Bweak blood type in a leukemic patient who was in complete remission.
Adsorption ; Alleles ; Erythrocytes ; Exons ; Humans ; Leukemia ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Saliva