No abstract available.
Female ; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced* ; Lipoprotein Lipase* ; Lipoproteins* ; Pregnancy

PURPOSE: To evaluate the ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) thickness after internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling with or without intravitreal gas injection (IVGI) or surgical induction of posterior vitreous detachment (PVD). METHODS: Eighty patients who were diagnosed with epiretinal membrane (ERM) or macular hole and who received surgical intervention were retrospectively reviewed. Forty patients were treated with ILM peeling and forty patients were treated with ERM removal, but not with ILM peeling. The patients were categorized according to ILM peeling, IVGI, and surgical induction of PVD. The GCIPL thickness was measured using optical coherence tomography, and the average and sectorial thickness of GCIPL were compared. RESULTS: The GCIPL thickness in the ILM peeling group significantly decreased (-13.80 ± 22.63 µm; p < 0.001), but was not significantly different in the ERM removal without ILM peeling group, compared with the preoperative GCIPL thickness (+1.21 ± 22.53 µm; p = 0.546). The difference was statistically significant between the two groups (p = 0.038). In the ILM peeling group, GCIPL thickness was not significantly different in the IVGI group (-17.41 ± 23.92 µm vs. -7.25 ± 19.05 µm; p = 0.109) and was significantly decreased in the surgical induction of the PVD group (-23.06 ± 23.92 µm vs. -7.25 ± 19.05 µm; p = 0.020). On sectorial analysis, reduction of the temporal GCIPL thickness was the largest and was significantly different compared with the nasal GCIPL thickness in ILM peeling group (-19.73 ± 28.55 µm vs. -7.42 ± 19.90 µm; p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: ILM peeling and surgical induction of PVD may damage ganglion cells. Therefore, gentle ILM peeling and surgical induction of PVD may be needed to minimize ganglion cell damage, especially when ILM peeling is performed in glaucomatous patients.
Epiretinal Membrane ; Ganglion Cysts* ; Humans ; Membranes* ; Retinal Perforations ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Vitreous Detachment

This is a case study of a 22-year-old National Serviceman presenting with the main complaint of insomnia. This case demonstrates possible gaps in the integration of care between public and National Service healthcare. We illustrate a pathway which primary physicians may use to improve communication with National Service healthcare.

PURPOSE: To report a case of bilateral branch retinal vein occlusion development after taking long-term tamoxifen adjuvant therapy. CASE SUMMARY: A 72-year-old female breast cancer patient with a 10-year history of tamoxifen intake presented with decreased visual acuity that began 5 years prior. The patient had no other past history. The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.3 in the right eye and 0.04 in the left eye. There was no specific finding of anterior segment on slit lamp examination. On fundus examination, sheathed branch retinal veins were observed in the inferotemporal area of the right eye and superotemporal and inferotemporal areas of the left eye. Microangiopathies were observed around the occluded branch retinal veins in both eyes and macular edema was present in the left eye. Laser photocoagulation was performed at the non-perfusion area in both eyes and an intravitreal injection of bevacizumab and 3 intravitreal injections of triamcinolone were administered into the left eye. The BCVA did not change after 3 years and remained relatively stable. CONCLUSIONS: If a patient presents with decreased visual acuity after taking tamoxifen, fundus examination and fluorescein angiogram should be performed due to the possibility of branch retinal vein occlusion.
Aged ; Bevacizumab ; Breast Neoplasms ; Female ; Fluorescein ; Humans ; Intravitreal Injections ; Light Coagulation ; Macular Edema ; Retinal Vein Occlusion* ; Retinal Vein* ; Retinaldehyde* ; Slit Lamp ; Tamoxifen* ; Triamcinolone ; Visual Acuity

Methods: Patients aged 65 years who had undergone either multilevel ACDF, LP, or PCF for the treatment of DCM were analyzed. Additional analysis was performed by standardizing the data for the American Society of Anesthesiologists classification scores and preoperative functional status. Results: A total of 23,129 patients were identified. Patients with ACDF were younger, more often female, and preoperatively healthier than those in the other two groups. The estimated postoperative mortality and morbidity, mean operation time, and length of hospital stay were the lowest for ACDF, second lowest for LP, and highest for PCF. The readmission and reoperation rates were comparable between ACDF and LP; however, both were significantly lower than PCF. Conclusions PCF is associated with the highest risk of mortality, morbidity, unplanned reoperation, and unplanned readmission in the short-term postoperative period in patients aged 65 years. In contrast, ACDF carries the lowest risk. However, some disease-specific factors may require posterior treatment. For these cases, LP should be included in the preoperative discussion when determining the ideal surgical approach for geriatric patients.

No abstract available.

PURPOSE: To investigate the hypothesis that resuscitation with hypertonic saline (HTS) in hemorrhagic shock (HS) will improve the pulmonary function and inflammatory changes in post-hemorrhage induced acute lung injury. METHODS: HS was induced in anesthetized Swiss-Webster mice by removing 0.025cc blood/g. body weight via the carotid artery while under blood pressure monitoring. Mice were divided into 5 groups: Group I (n=12) were cannulated but not bled (sham); Group II (n=12) were bled and received 4mL/kg 7.5% HTS; Group III (n=10) were bled and received 3 times their shed blood (SB) volume of normal saline (NS); Group IV (n=11) were bled and received SB and 4mL/kg 7.5% HTS; Group V (n=9) were bled and received SB and two times their SB volume of NS after 30 minutes shock. Serum lactates (LA) were evaluated at the end of the shock period and after resuscitation. Pulmonary function was measured by whole-body plethysmography prior to any instrumentation and again 24hr, 48hr and 72hr after resuscitation. Pulmonary inflammation was assessed by quantifying bronchoalveolar lavage neutrophil infiltration (BALN) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity after 72hr of observation. RESULTS: There were no differences in baseline BP, shock BP, shock LA and LA after resuscitation in each shock group. The survival rates were as follows: Group I, 75.0%; Group II, 33.3%; Group III, 60%; Group IV, 81.8%; and Group V, 88.8% (p=0.046). There were no significant differences in the changes of airway resistance after resuscitation in each group. BALN and MPO activity in Group III were increased. CONCILUSION: HTS resuscitation alone was associated with higher mortality. HTS was decreased pulmonary inflammation but it did not alter respiratory function.
Acute Lung Injury* ; Airway Resistance ; Animals ; Blood Pressure Monitors ; Body Weight ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage ; Carotid Arteries ; Lactates ; Mice ; Mortality ; Neutrophil Infiltration ; Peroxidase ; Plethysmography ; Pneumonia ; Resuscitation* ; Shock ; Shock, Hemorrhagic* ; Survival Rate

Cholangioarcinoma is a rare but dreadful malignancy which poses much difficulties in the management. If detected early with only localized disease, curative resection is possible. However, most patients present in the late stages of the disease, which are managed with endoscopic biliary drainage and/or chemoradiation. Liver transplantation offers a possibility for cure in the distal and the perihilar tumors for selected candidates. Local treatments, such as hepatic artery-based therapies, brachytherapy, and photodynamic therapy, may offer some benefit in cases of the advanced disease. In this review, we will assess the role of preoperative biliary drainage, how best to drain biliary obstruction, and the intricate details of various treatments that are currently available.
Brachytherapy ; Cholangiocarcinoma* ; Cholestasis ; Drainage ; Endosonography ; Humans ; Liver Transplantation ; Photochemotherapy ; Self Expandable Metallic Stents

Cholangiocarcinoma is the second most common primary hepatic malignancy and its incidence is increasing worldwide. Classification and staging of intrahepatic, perihilar, and distal cholangiocarcinomas provide useful prognostic information and further guide in their management. Establishing diagnosis is frequently challenging and may require a multi-modality approach that includes advanced radiological imaging studies and procedures for tissue acquisition; the endoscopic procedures that have been utilized in the management of cholangiocarcinoma comprise endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with brushing and biopsy, endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration, cholangioscopy with targeted biopsy, and intraductal confocal endomicroscopy. In this review, we will examine the strengths and limitations of each diagnostic tool and assess the serum and bile tumor markers.
Bile ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; Biopsy ; Cholangiocarcinoma* ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cholestasis ; Classification ; Diagnosis* ; Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration ; Endosonography ; Incidence ; Positron-Emission Tomography

Patients with chronic pancreatitis may develop complications such as chronic debilitating abdominal pain related to neuropathy, pancreatic duct leaks, pseudocysts, pancreatic carcinoma, pancreatic duct calcifications and strictures. Management of mechanical complications of chronic pancreatitis may pose a significant challenge to the interventional endoscopist. The purpose of this manuscript is to explore the latest developments in interventional techniques and to set the stage for future investigations.
Abdominal Pain ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Endosonography ; Humans ; Pancreatic Ducts ; Pancreatic Pseudocyst ; Pancreatitis, Chronic*