Purpose: To evaluate the relationship between the position and direction of a silicone tube in the nasal cavity after silicone tube intubation and clinical features. Methods: This study included 70 eyes of 52 patients who were diagnosed with nasolacrimal duct obstruction and had silicone intubation surgery. The position and direction of the silicone tube were compared after tube intubation and before extubation. An intranasal swap culture was performed before tube intubation, and the removed silicone tubes were cultured. Results: The length of the silicone tube decreased from 8.7 ± 3.1 mm after intubation to 7.3 ± 3.1 mm before extubation, and the direction of the tube moved backward in the nasal cavity (p < 0.05). The bacterial culture rate changed from 94.3% before intubation to 75.7% before extubation. The most common Gram-positive bacteria (both preoperative and postoperative) was coagulase- negative Staphylococcus aureus. The most common Gram-negative bacteria were converted from Klebsiella aerogenes to Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. The fungal culture rate changed from 7.1% to 51.4%, and the culture rate increased when the silicone tube direction was moved backward (p < 0.05). The length and direction of the silicone tubes were not correlated with clinical symptoms or changes in eyelid height. Conclusions The length of the silicone tube in the nasal cavity decreased, and the tube tended to move in a posterior direction after silicone tube intubation. Considering the increase in the intra-nasal fungal culture rate, it is better to place the silicone tube in the anterior part of the nasal cavity from the inferior meatus. To clarify further the fungal infection and its clinical findings, a study of cultures with respect to location in the lacrimal system would be required.

Penile metastases are rare, and usually secondary to other genitourinary primary tumors. Bladder, prostate and renal tumors are the main sources of penile metastasis. Rectal and respiratory neoplasms also metastasize to the penis. However, metastatic penile cancer originating from the pancreas is extremely rare. Here, a case of pancreatic cancer, with penile metastasis, is reported.
Male ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pancreas* ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; Penile Neoplasms* ; Penis ; Prostate ; Urinary Bladder

A lymphoma of the prostate is very rare, and is usually incidentally discovered. Malignant lymphomas can be divided into either primary or secondary according to their origin. Secondary involvement of the gland is the most common presentation. Most non-Hodgkin's lymphomas that affect the prostate are of the B-cell type, and present with non-specific obstructive symptoms. A variety of methods have been used for their, including prostatectomy, radiotherapy or combinations of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. However, the prognosis remains poor, regardless of the patient's age, histological type, treatment or clinical stage at presentation. Here, the case of a patient with a B-cell lymphoma, who presented with symptoms of a bladder outlet obstruction, is reported. The patient has been in complete remission following the completion of 6 cycles of doxorubicin-based chemotherapy and accompanying radiotherapy.
B-Lymphocytes* ; Drug Therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination* ; Humans ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, B-Cell* ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; Prognosis ; Prostate* ; Prostatectomy ; Radiotherapy* ; Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction

PURPOSE: To report a patient with asteroid hyalosis, which induced reduction of the visual acuity after cataract surgery.CASE SUMMARY: A 79-year-old female with no ophthalmic history visited our clinic with decreased vision. Her best-corrected visual acuity in both eyes was 20/100 in the right eye and 20/60 in the left eye. She had senile cataract in both eyes, and asteroid hyalosis in the left eye. After cataract surgery, her visual acuity in the left eye decreased to finger count. There were no specific findings that could have caused the visual disturbance, except dense asteroid bodies on fundus examination. After removal of the asteroid bodies by vitrectomy, the best-corrected visual acuity of the left eye recovered to 20/20.CONCLUSIONS: In patients with asteroid hyalosis, it is possible that decreased vision may be affected by changes of asteroid body properties in the vitreous gel after cataract surgery. The vision should improve after vitreous surgery.
Aged ; Cataract ; Female ; Fingers ; Humans ; Visual Acuity ; Vitrectomy

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the muscle fiber conduction velocity and histopathologic changes in skeletal muscle after 7% phenol solutions intramuscular injection. METHOD: Forty-five Sprague Dawley rats were divided into two groups: Experimental group, 30; Control group, 15. Experimental and control groups were injected with 0.1 cc of 7% phenol solution and 0.9% saline in right gastrocnemius, respectively. The histopathologic findings and muscle fiber conduction velocity were evaluated at 0, 1, 5, 14, and 28 days after each injection. RESULTS: In the light microscopic examination of experimental groups, vacuolar change, atrophy of myofibers, and intermyofiber cell proliferation were shown. The expression of synaptophysin began to be seen at 5 days and S-100 protein was increased 14 days after injection. In the electron microscopic examination of experimental groups, vacuolar change and denuded postsynaptic membrane were shown. In muscle fiber conduction study of experimental groups, the mean velocity were significantly slowed at 1, 5, 14, and 28 days after injection than those of control groups (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: On the basis of histopathologic findings, it is presumed that the mechanisms of paralysis following intramuscular injection of 7% phenol solutions were both myogenic and neurogenic. The slowing of muscle fiber conduction velocity tended to be related with the histopathologic changes of skeletal muscles after intramuscular injection with 7% phenol solution.
Animals ; Atrophy ; Cell Proliferation ; Injections, Intramuscular* ; Membranes ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Paralysis ; Phenol* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; S100 Proteins ; Synaptophysin

Bochdalek hernia through Bochdalek foramen, defect at the posterolateral side of the diaphragm is one of the congenital diaphragmatic hernias. It usually occurs in infants, but very rare in old age and also on the right side. We experienced the right-side Bochdalek hernia including kidney herniation in 68 years old man man ifested by hemoptysis. CT scan revealed diaphragmatic defect and herniated liver, colon and kidney. Thoracotomy was performed and the 10 cm-sized large defect was closed with patch. After then, the patient has been well without symptom.
Aged ; Colon ; Diaphragm ; Hemoptysis ; Hernia* ; Hernia, Diaphragmatic ; Humans ; Infant ; Kidney* ; Liver ; Thoracotomy ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is characterized by disturbances in epidermal barrier functions and the hyperactive immune response. Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) can be cultured from 90% of AD skin lesions and can exacerbate or contribute to the persistent skin inflammation in AD by secreting toxins with superantigenic properties. Superantigens can induce mast cell (MC) degranulation after penetrating the epidermal barrier. The role of MCs in AD is suggested by the increase in the MC number and MC activation. MCs are activated for degranulation and mediator release by allergens that cross-link IgE molecules or by microbial products. Therefore, MCs may be critically involved in the pathogenesis of AD. However, the understanding mechanisms of MC degranulation by S. aureus in relation to AD have still not been fully elucidated. In this study, we found that live S. aureus or methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) but not heat-killed bacteria induced MC degranulation. The heat-treatment partially inhibited MC degranulation by conditioned media (CM) of S. aureus or MRSA. The calcium chelator ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid (EGTA) did not block MC degranulation induced by live S. aureus or MRSA, but EGTA-treatment partially inhibited MC degranulation by CM from S. aureus or MRSA. These results suggest that live S. aureus and MRSA can degranulate MCs via direct interaction which may be important role in AD.
Allergens ; Bacteria ; Calcium ; Culture Media, Conditioned ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Egtazic Acid ; Humans* ; Immunoglobulin E ; Inflammation ; Mast Cells ; Methicillin Resistance ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Skin ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Superantigens

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is characterized by disturbances in epidermal barrier functions and the hyperactive immune response. Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) can be cultured from 90% of AD skin lesions and can exacerbate or contribute to the persistent skin inflammation in AD by secreting toxins with superantigenic properties. Superantigens can induce mast cell (MC) degranulation after penetrating the epidermal barrier. The role of MCs in AD is suggested by the increase in the MC number and MC activation. MCs are activated for degranulation and mediator release by allergens that cross-link IgE molecules or by microbial products. Therefore, MCs may be critically involved in the pathogenesis of AD. However, the understanding mechanisms of MC degranulation by S. aureus in relation to AD have still not been fully elucidated. In this study, we found that live S. aureus or methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) but not heat-killed bacteria induced MC degranulation. The heat-treatment partially inhibited MC degranulation by conditioned media (CM) of S. aureus or MRSA. The calcium chelator ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid (EGTA) did not block MC degranulation induced by live S. aureus or MRSA, but EGTA-treatment partially inhibited MC degranulation by CM from S. aureus or MRSA. These results suggest that live S. aureus and MRSA can degranulate MCs via direct interaction which may be important role in AD.
Allergens ; Bacteria ; Calcium ; Culture Media, Conditioned ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Egtazic Acid ; Humans* ; Immunoglobulin E ; Inflammation ; Mast Cells ; Methicillin Resistance ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Skin ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Superantigens

PURPOSE: The study was done to define complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among primary brain tumor patients and factors influencing use. METHODS: The study was conducted with convenience sampling in 5 neuro-oncology centers in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province. Data were collected using a 25-item questionnaire developed by the researchers. RESULTS: Of 250 patients approached, 231 (92.4%) agreed to participate. Overall, 26.8% of the respondents used CAM and the average cost for CAM use was 300,000 KRW. More than 72% of CAM users did not disclose CAM use to their health care professionals. The most frequently used therapy was natural products including mushrooms. Logistic regression analysis revealed that an education level of university or higher (OR=2.92, 95% CI=1.56-5.44, p=.001), unemployment (OR=1.99, 95% CI=1.04-3.80, p=.037), and WHO grade III & IV tumors (OR=2.18, 95% CI=1.07-4.72, p=.048) were significant factors influencing CAM use. CONCLUSION: Three out of ten brain tumor patients spend substantial sum of money for CAM. In these situations, health care professionals should be aware of this phenomenon and provide adequate information and consultation to the patients.
Agaricales ; Biological Agents ; Brain ; Brain Neoplasms ; Complementary Therapies ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Delivery of Health Care ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Unemployment

Medial femoral cutaneous nerve(MFCN), a sensory branch of the femoral nerve, supplies the skin over the anteromedial aspect of the thigh and knee. Posterior femoral cutaneous nerve(PFCN), comprised of fibers originating from the anterior and posterior divisions of the first three sacral segments, supplies the skin over the posterior aspect of the thigh. Forty nerves of twenty healthy adults, ages from 20 to 58, were tested. The onset and peak latencies of MFCN were 2.3+/-0.2 ms and 2.9+/-0.2 ms respectively. The baseline to peak amplitude was 6.5+/-2.3 V. The onset and peak latencies of PFCN were 2.4+/-0.2 ms and 2.9+/-0.2 ms respectively. The baseline to peak amplitude was 7.1+/-1.7 V.
Adult ; Equipment and Supplies ; Femoral Nerve ; Humans ; Knee ; Skin ; Thigh