No abstract available.
Hepatitis* ; Immunoglobulins* ; Plasmapheresis*

Seven patients with aortic valve vegetation were examined by M-mode and two dimensional echocardiography. Underlying cardiac abnormalities were found in 6 patients, four had rheumatic heart disease, one had congenital bicuspid aortic valve, one had coexistence of asymmetrical septal hypertrophy and aortic regurgitation. Aortic regurgitation were found in all patients. One of seven patients had cerebral embolization and all patients had overt congestive heart failure. Of 5 patients medically treated, three became moribund, one died and one improved clinically. One patient underwent cardiac surgery, the aortic cusps were congenital bicuspid with vegetation, aortic valve replacement was successful. Echocardiogram of 7 patients with aortic valve vegetation showed characteristic shaggy, irregular mass of echoes produced by vegetation in the aortic valve during systole and diastole. Two of seven patients had abnormal mass of echoes in the left ventricular outflow tract. During systole, two had vegetation on the right coronary cusp and one had vegetation on the noncoronary cusp by M-mode echocardiography. In other patients we could not localize invoving aortic cusps by M-mode echocardiogram. All patients had left ventricular volume overload. For of seven patients had fluttering of anterior mitral valve. Two had fluttering of interventricular seputm. Five had premature mitral valve closure before QRS complex.
Aortic Valve Insufficiency ; Aortic Valve* ; Bicuspid ; Diastole ; Echocardiography* ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Mitral Valve ; Rheumatic Heart Disease ; Systole ; Thoracic Surgery

No abstract available.
Leukemia, Plasma Cell* ; Plasma Cells* ; Plasma*

No abstract available.
Myelodysplastic Syndromes*

Parathyroid hormone(PTH), a major bone hormone, inhihits DNA and collagen syntheses in osteohlast-like cells in vitro, but increase the proliferation of osteoblast in vivo as secn in hyperparathyroidism. On the other hand, insulin is known to increase DNA and collagen syntheses and modify the effects of PTH in osteoblast-like cells. We have examined the effects of PTH and insulin in rat osteosarcoma UMR-l06-01 cells and whether PTH plays a role in the insulin-mediated bone formation. When 1 nM PTH and 10 nM insulin were administered to VMR-l06-01 ceils, the rates of DNA synthesis were 124% and 136% of the untreated control, respectively. When the two hormones were administered serially by exposing to 1 nM PTH for 7 days followed by 10 nM insulin lor 24h, the largest increase was observed. The protein synthesis was also increased remarkahly when the two hormones were aclministered serially: the[3H]-leucine incorporation rates, compared to the control group, were 75% and l62% with PTH ancl insulin administration, respectively, but the rate was 297% with the serial administration of the two. The collaeen synthesis, as measured by the (3H)-proline incorporation rates were 60% and l64% with PTH and insulin administration, respectively, but 351% with serial administration, again showing a dramatic effect. These results showed that 1 nM PTH decreased DNA and collagen syntheses in UMR-l06-01 cells after both a 24h and a more prolonged exposure. Similar exposures to insulin tended to increase the syntheses. The comhination of PTH and insulin tended to increase the syntheses. hut not beyond the effect of insulin alone. However, the sequential administration of PTH and insulin markedly increases ihose rales relative to the simultaneous adminstration of these two hormones. Thus, it is possihle that sequential stimulation of PTH and insulin in hone matrix exerts an synergistic effect on hone formation in vivo.
Animals ; Collagen ; DNA ; Hand ; Hyperparathyroidism ; Insulin* ; Osteoblasts ; Osteogenesis ; Osteosarcoma* ; Parathyroid Hormone* ; Rats ; Respiratory Sounds

The Stellate ganglion block (SGB) could be used to treat sympathetic dependent circulatory insufficiency. We report a 36-year-old female patient with burn-induced refractory ischemic ulcer in distal phalanges. The patient admitted in department of plastic surgery for second degree burn wound in the right second through fifth fingertips. Continuous dressing treatment was conducted. However digital burn wounds were not healed but seems to be refractory. The upper extremity angiography revealed decreased perfusion and the fingertip wounds were diagnosed as ischemic ulcer. Despite of botulinum toxin injection into the perineural tissue and aspirin prescription, burn wounds showed ulcerative necrotic change. The SGBs were performed twice a week for 3 weeks to restore vasoconstriction of the upper extremity arteries. The follow-up angiography showed significant improvement of fingertip perfusion. Consequently, wounds were completely healed. In conclusion, SGB could be a rational option to overcome burn-induced digital ischemia refractory to other medical therapy.
Adult ; Angiography ; Arteries ; Aspirin ; Bandages ; Botulinum Toxins ; Burns ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Ischemia ; Perfusion ; Prescriptions ; Stellate Ganglion ; Surgery, Plastic ; Ulcer ; Upper Extremity ; Vasoconstriction ; Wounds and Injuries

Phase and Amplitude Image were developed to overcome the subjective nature of interpretation for cinematic endless loop display of radionuclide gated blood pool scan. To evaluate the usefulness of color coded phase image in coronary artery disease, we conducted a clinical study with coronary angiography and phase image in 23 patients, and compared the results of those studies. 1) The results of coronary angiography revealed normal coronary artery in 6, 1 vessel disease in 11, 2 vessel disease in 4, and 3 vessel disease in 2 patients. 2) Color-coded Phase Image revealed abnormal phase area in 2/2(100%) of 3 vessel disease patients and in 3/4(75%) of 2 vessel disease patients, in 5/11(45%) of 1 vessel disease patients, and only 1/6(16%) of normal coronary artery. 3) Among the patients who disclosed abnormal phase image, 5 patients of 2-or3-vessl disease revealed abnormal phase through whole left ventricular area, but 3 patients with right coronary artery lesion and 2 patients with left antrior descending artery lesion showed localized abnormal phase area, infero-apical and anterior portion respectively, which were in accord with each coronary lesion. We concluded that the phase image may be useful in evaluation of the regional wall motion abnormalities in the patients of coronary artery disease. Further studies seem to be neccessary to clarify the sensitivity and specificity of the phase image in the each disease entity group.
Arteries ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Humans ; Sensitivity and Specificity

A magnetic resonance imaging test was performed on a 56-year-old male patient, who visited with a one-month history of painless swelling at the popliteal area of the left knee. A popliteal cyst and non-calcified loose body in the cyst were identified. Synovial chondromatosis was diagnosed from a histology examination by excision and biopsy. This paper reports this case of extra-articular synovial chondromatosis of the knee with a review of the relevant literature.

PURPOSE: To report a case of multicentric Castleman disease that presented with scleritis. CASE SUMMARY: A 42-year-old male presented with decreased visual acuity in the left eye. Castleman disease had been diagnosed 21 months before and treated with systemic steroids and combined chemotherapy. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of the left eye was 0.02 and the intraocular pressure was 42 mmHg. Scleral edema and corneal edema were noted using a slit lamp examination. The anterior chamber cell was 2+ according to Standardization of Uveitis Nomenclature criteria. The fundus was invisible due to the anterior segment lesion. After one month, scleritis developed in the right eye and the patient complained of ocular pain. Topical steroids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were prescribed. Due to recurrent scleritis and anterior uveitis, cataract extraction and laser iridectomy were performed on the left eye, and systemic steroids and the antimetabolite methotrexate were started. After 9 years of follow-up, all medications were stopped and there was no recurrence of inflammation, with a BCVA of 1.0 in both eyes. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of a patient with scleritis accompanied with Castleman disease using systemic steroids and methotrexate resulted in a good prognosis.
Adult ; Anterior Chamber ; Cataract Extraction ; Corneal Edema ; Drug Therapy ; Edema ; Follow-Up Studies ; Giant Lymph Node Hyperplasia ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Intraocular Pressure ; Iridectomy ; Male ; Methotrexate ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Scleritis ; Slit Lamp ; Steroids ; Uveitis ; Uveitis, Anterior ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: To investigate differences in the clinical features of post-traumatic intraocular foreign bodies (IOFBs) according to their entrance locations, specifically, those penetrating the cornea and those not penetrating the cornea. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed of patients with an IOFB from January 2011 to July 2016. The patients were divided into two groups: those in whom the IOFB entered through the cornea (“corneal entrance” group) and those in whom the IOFB did not penetrate the cornea (“non-corneal entrance” group), and compared. Damage to the anterior and posterior capsule, retinal tear, and retinal detachment were analyzed, and differences in surgical techniques including the IOFB extraction route and intraocular lens implantation were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 43 eyes (43 patients) were included, with 33 (76.7%) in the corneal entrance group and 10 (23.3%) in the non-corneal group. The posterior capsule was preserved in 24.2% (eight) of eyes in the corneal group and 80% (eight) of eyes in the non-corneal group. The corneal group had significantly more posterior capsule ruptures but dramatically fewer retinal tears (39.4%) than the non-corneal group (80% retinal tears). CONCLUSIONS: The location of IOFB entrance is a predictable factor of lens capsule and retinal injuries.
Cornea ; Foreign Bodies ; Humans ; Lens Implantation, Intraocular ; Retinal Detachment ; Retinal Perforations ; Retinaldehyde ; Retrospective Studies ; Rupture