We present two cases of cerebral paragonimiasis in a 23-year-old Korean army soldier and in a 18-year-old Korean girl, respectively. The diagnosis was made on the basis of clinical, laboratory and x-ray findings, and was confirmed by the histopathological examination of the excised cyst. P.W. skin test showed positive reaction, whereas C.S. test negative. X-ray study on skull revealed multiple globulated round cystic formations in occipital region. Two months after surgical removal of cysts, visual field were not improved. Pertinent literatures are reviewed.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Blindness* ; Choroid* ; Coloboma* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Hemianopsia* ; Heredity ; Humans ; Iris* ; Membranes ; Military Personnel ; Optic Nerve* ; Paragonimiasis* ; Skin Tests ; Skull ; Visual Fields ; Young Adult

A case of iridocyclitis due to cysticercus cyst in the anterior chamber and exophthalmos due to in the orbit. A case of iridocycleitis due to cysticercus cyst in the anterior chamber of the left eye, bilateral exophthalmos due to in the orbit and generalized multiple cysticercus cyst in the subcutaneous tissue, brain and the internal organs is reported in a twenty one year old Korean male. To watch characteristic heaving and undulatory movements of the live cysticercus cyst in the anterior chamber of the eye is fascinating. Iridocyclitis was improved fairly after subconjunctival injection of hydrocortisone acetate 5mg and with general treatment for iridocyclitis. Regarding to literature, ocular cysticercosis is known as a very rare case in Korea. A brief review of the related literatures is presented.
Anterior Chamber ; Brain ; Cysticercosis ; Cysticercus* ; Exophthalmos ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Iridocyclitis ; Korea ; Male ; Orbit ; Subcutaneous Tissue

PURPOSE: We analyzed the gene status of p16INK4A, p15INK4B and MTAP (methylthio adenosine phophorylase) in Korean hepatdegrees Cellular carcinoma (HCC) to investigate whether the inactivation of these genes participated in hepatdegrees Carcinogenesis, and evaluated MTAP-targeted chemotherapy in MTAP-deficient cell lines. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We examined eleven primary HCC and 8 SNU cell lines using PCR, Southern blot analysis, PCR-SSCP, DNA sequencing, methylation-specific PCR, Western blot analysis, MTT assay, and crystal violet staining. RESULTS: Mutations or deletion of the p16INK4A, 15INK4B, and MTAP genes were rare, but methylation of the p16INK4A promoter region was common in HCC. The base alterations of 3' untranslated region of p16INK4A exon 3 were also detected in 3 samples. In SNU cells, p16INK4A was not detectable, when treated with demethylating agent, high levels of re-expressed p16INK4A protein were detected. In MTAP-targeted chemotherapy experiment, methylthioadeno sine (MTA) was able to rescue MTAP positive cell lines but not MTAP negative cell lines from growth inhibition by depletion of methionine and MTX treatment. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that de novo methylation of the p16INK4A promoter region seems to play an important role in the pathogenesis of HCC. And treatment of MTX, combined with methionine depletion in the presence of MTA, may be a high selective treatment for MTAP negative HCC.
3' Untranslated Regions ; Adenosine ; Blotting, Southern ; Blotting, Western ; Carcinogenesis ; Cell Line ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 ; Drug Therapy ; Exons ; Gentian Violet ; Methionine ; Methylation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Pemetrexed

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is an important marker for the diagnosis of heart failure and is useful towards predicting morbidity and mortality after non-cardiac surgery. Nevertheless, information on the relationship between postoperative BNP levels and perioperative prognosis after non-cardiac surgery is scarce. The purpose of the study was to assess whether postoperative BNP levels could be used as a predictor of prolonged hospitalization in elderly hypertensive patients after non-cardiac surgery. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Ninety-seven (97) patients, aged 55 years or older (mean age: 73.12+/-10.05 years, M : F=24 : 73) were enrolled in a prospective study from May 2005 through August 2010. All patients underwent total knee or hip replacement. Postoperative BNP and other diagnostic data were recorded within 24 hours of surgery. Patients that required a prolonged hospital stay due to operative causes, such as wound infection and re-operation, were excluded. RESULTS: The length of hospital stay was significantly correlated with postoperative BNP levels (p=0.031). Receiver operating characteristic curves demonstrated postoperative BNP levels as predictors of hospital stay > or =30 days with areas under the curve of 0.774 (95% confidence interval: 0.679-0.87, p<0.0001). A BNP cut-off value above 217.5 pg/mL had a sensitivity of 80.6% and a specificity of 66.7% for predicting postoperative hospital stays of 30 days or more. CONCLUSION: Postoperative BNP levels may predict the length of hospital stays after non-cardiac surgery in hypertensive patients. Elevated BNP levels were associated with prolonged hospitalization after elective orthopedic surgery.
Aged ; Heart Failure ; Hip ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Knee ; Length of Stay ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; Orthopedics ; Postoperative Period ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Wound Infection

A 56-year old female underwent total aortic arch replacement March 1995, because of an expanding chronic Debakey type I aortic dissection. This aortic dissection had an intimal tear at the origin of the right carotid artery. Retrograde and antegrade propagation of dissection resulted in aortic arch blood flow separation and expanding pseudolumen to the abdominal aorta. Sudden anuria (ARF) developed 3 hours later postoperatively and renal doppler ultrasonography and aortography showed diminished blood flow of renal arteries. We performed balloon aortic dilatation but failed. She could be restored good renal flow after intimal flap fenestration resection and thrombectomy of the abdominal aorta. This patient could be discharged in a state of mild CRF after 2 months of ICU care for respiratory and renal failure.
Acute Kidney Injury* ; Anuria ; Aorta, Abdominal ; Aorta, Thoracic* ; Aortography ; Carotid Arteries ; Dilatation ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Renal Artery ; Renal Insufficiency ; Thrombectomy ; Ultrasonography, Doppler

Coronary involvement of polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is rarely identified at premortem. Herein, we report a case of PAN presenting as acute myocardial infarction (MI). A 66-year-old man without previous history of heart disease presented with excruciating substernal chest pain of 3 hours duration. On admission, cardiac enzyme and ECG changes were compatible with acute MI of inferior wall. Emergency coronary angiography showed multiple aneurysmal dilatations of both left and right coronary arteries (RCA) and total occlusion with large thrombi at mid-RCA. After balloon angioplasty and intracoronary urokinase, huge coronary aneurysm was defined at mid-RCA and coronary flow partially improved. The patient was transferred to coronary care unit and continous intravenous heparin infusion was started. On the 7th hospitalization day, the patient was discharged in good condition. Two months later, follow-up coronary angiography showed no significant luminal narrowings in RCA with multiple aneurysmal dilatation, but abdominal angiography revealed multiple aneurysms in right renal and superior mesenteric arteries. These findings were compatible with the diagnosis of PAN. The patient was started on prednisone 60mg once daily and cytoxan 125mg bid. At follow-up 8 month later, there was no recurrence of symptoms.
Aged ; Aneurysm ; Angiography ; Angioplasty, Balloon ; Chest Pain ; Coronary Aneurysm ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Care Units ; Coronary Vessels ; Cyclophosphamide ; Diagnosis ; Dilatation ; Electrocardiography ; Emergencies ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Diseases ; Heparin ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Phenobarbital ; Polyarteritis Nodosa* ; Prednisone ; Recurrence ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator

From May 1, 1993 to May 31 1995, the authers studied retrospectively 211 patients who underwent cardiovascular operation with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Because we were interested in new development of ARF (prevalence, mortality rate, and main risk factors), we performed a multivariate statistical analysis about data of patients with preoperative serum creatinine values of less than 1.5 mg/dL. Normal renal function before operation (serum creatinine level less than 1.5 mg/dL) was registered in 198 (74%) patients. Of these, 27 (14%) patients showed postoperative renal complication, including 20 (10%) patients classified as renal dysfunction (serum creatinine level between 1.5 and 2.5 mg/dL) and 7 (4%) patients as acute renal failure (serum creatinine level higher than 2.5 mg/dL). The mortality rate was 5.8% in normal patients, 5% in patients with renal dysfunction, and 43% when acute renal failure developed (p=0.036). Indeed, the renal impairment proved to be an independent predictor of mortality (odd ratio 2.52~11.25), along with cardiovascular (odd ratio 4.20) and respiratory (odd ratio 2.18) complications. Multivariate analysis identified the following variables as independent risk factors for postoperative renal impairment : advanced age (odd ratio 1), need for emergency operation (odd ratio 3.78), low-output syndrome (odd ratio 3.66), respiratory complication (odd ratio 1.30), need for deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (odd ratio 1.4). The 13 patients (7%) with preoperative renal failure showed a significantly higher morbidity and mortality rate than those without renal complications before operation. We concluded that the likelihood of severe renal complications is resonably low in the patients undergoing cardiac operation without preexisting renal dysfunction, but associated mortality remains high. A prominant role of hemodynamic factor in the development of postoperative acute renal failure must be recognized during preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative periods.
Acute Kidney Injury* ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Circulatory Arrest, Deep Hypothermia Induced ; Creatinine ; Emergencies ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Mortality ; Multivariate Analysis ; Postoperative Period ; Renal Insufficiency ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

Communication between coronary arteries and cardiac chambers or large vessels is unusual type of congenital malformation. Aneurysmal formation of a coronary arteriovenous fistula is even rare. We report a case of 83-year-old women with giant aneurysm of the coronary arteriovenous fistula from the left anterior descending coronary artery treated by percutaneous deployment of embolization coil.
Aged, 80 and over ; Aneurysm* ; Arteriovenous Fistula* ; Coronary Vessels ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Female ; Humans

No abstract available.
Interleukin-6* ; Myxoma*

Little is known about the prevalence of atopic dermatitis and food allergy outside North America and Europe. We evaluated the prevalence of atopic dermatitis and food allergy with the comparison of prevalence between 1995 and 2000 in Korea and evaluated the correlation of prevalence between atopic dermatitis and food allergy. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted on random samples of schoolchildren 6 to 14 yr at two time points, 1995 and 2000 throughout Korea. The last twelve months prevalence of atopic dermatitis in Korean school-aged children was increased from 1995 to 2000. The twelve-month prevalence of atopic dermatitis and food allergy were higher in Seoul than in any other provincial cities in 1995, but the prevalence of both diseases in Seoul and Provincial Centers became to be similar in 2000. The rate responded to food allergy of children with atopic dermatitis (9.5%) was lower than that of the western countries (60%). And our data demonstrated paternal and maternal allergy history is very significantly correlated to developing atopic dermatitis in their offspring. The further objective evaluations are required to confirm these outcomes because the environmental and risk factors may be different among the countries according to their living cultures.
Adolescent ; Child ; Dermatitis, Atopic/*epidemiology ; Female ; Food Hypersensitivity/*epidemiology ; Humans ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Prevalence ; Questionnaires ; Risk Factors ; Rural Population/statistics & numerical data ; Urban Population/statistics & numerical data