Purpose: To present the case of a patient with localized orbital granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) characterized by a significant ocular motility disorder, increased eosinophilia, and hyper-immunoglobulin E (hyper-IgE).Case Summary: A 61-year-old male, with no previous history of allergy, atopy, asthma, sinonasal disease, respiratory disease, or renal disease, came to our hospital due to a 2-day history of binocular diplopia. His left eye exhibited inward and upward deviation, along with gaze limitation. His vision was 20/20 in both eyes, and the pupillary light reflex and color test were normal. He had severe eyelid swelling and conjunctival injection without tenderness in his left eye, and retinal vessel congestion around the optic nerve, without proptosis. Laboratory tests revealed a positive cytoplasmic antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (cANCA), a normal WBC count, elevated eosinophils at 28.3% (2,462/mm3), and high serum levels of IgE (400 KU/L). Magnetic resonance imaging showed an inferolateral orbital mass with an enlarged lacrimal gland and myositis of the extraocular muscles. A biopsy of the lacrimal gland revealed nonspecific chronic inflammation with an eosinophilic infiltrate. The presence of cANCA, in combination with clinical and pathological findings, led to the diagnosis of an eosinophilic variant of localized orbital GPA. This variant was primarily confined to the orbital tissue, marked by elevated eosinophil and IgE levels, and was treated with oral steroids without requiring surgery for the ocular motility disorder. Conclusions GPA may present as acute strabismus with orbital inflammation, even in the absence of systemic signs. Therefore, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of unexplained acute orbital syndromes.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the expression of TSP-1 and -2 in eutopic endometrium of advanced endometriosis and control patients. METHODS: The 33 endometriosis patients and 32 controls were enrolled. Endometrial samples were obtained from 65 premenopausal women aged 29-44 years, undergoing laparoscopic surgery or hysterectomy for non-malignant lesions. Sufficient samples were collected from 33 patients with endometriosis stage III and IV and 32 controls without endometriosis confirmed by laparoscopic surgery. The mRNA expression from eutopic endometrium for TSP-1 and -2 were analyzed by RT-QC PCR. RESULTS: The mRNAs of TSP-1 and -2 were expressed in eutopic endometrium from endometriosis and normal controls throughout the menstrual cycle. There were no significant differences in expression of TSP-1 and TSP-2 in eutopic endometrium between controls and endometriosis patients. CONCLUSION: Our results indicated that TSP-1 and -2 had no crucial role compared to other molecules in the regulation of angiogenesis. These findings also suggest that dysregulation of other angiogenic regulators would be concerned in pathophysiologic role in endometriosis development.
Endometriosis* ; Endometrium ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Laparoscopy ; Menstrual Cycle ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Messenger* ; Thrombospondin 1 ; Thrombospondins

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the expression of uPA and uPAR in eutopic endometrium of advanced stage endometriosis and control patients. METHODS: The 33 endometriosis patients and 32 controls were enrolled. Endometrial samples were obtained from 65 premenopausal women aged 29~44 years, undergoing laparoscopic surgery or hysterectomy for non-malignant lesions. Sufficient samples were collected from 33 patients with endometriosis stage III and IV and 32 controls without endometriosis confirmed by laparoscopic surgery. The mRNA expression of uPA and uPAR from eutopic endometrium were analyzed by RT-QC PCR. RESULTS: The mRNAs of uPA and uPAR were expressed in eutopic endometrium from endometriosis and normal controls throughout the menstrual cycle. Uterine endometrium from women with endometriosis expresses significantly (p<0.05) higher levels of u-PA mRNA than endometrium from normal women without endometriosis in the proliferative phase. There were no significant differences in expression of uPAR in eutopic endometrium between controls and endometriosis patients. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that eutopic endometrium from endometriosis patients may be more invasive and prone to peritoneal implantation because of greater u-PA mRNA expression than endometrium from women without endometriosis. Thus, increased proteolytic activity may be one etiology for the invasive properties of the endometrium resulting in the development of endometriosis.
Endometriosis* ; Endometrium* ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Laparoscopy ; Menstrual Cycle ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Proteolysis ; RNA, Messenger* ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator

BACKGROUND: Skeletal muscle is well established as a major target organ of insulin action, and is associated with the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. Therefore, we attempted to determine whether a variation in serum creatinine is related to the development of type 2 diabetes and other risk factors for diabetes. METHODS: A total of 2,676 nondiabetic subjects with stable and normal renal function (estimated glomerular filtration rate >60 mL/min/1.73 m2) were followed up for approximately 4.5 years. New onset diabetes was defined as fasting plasma glucose (FPG) > or =7.0 mmol/L, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) > or =6.5%, or subjects taking antidiabetic agents. Variation of serum creatinine (DeltaCre) was defined as a difference between follow-up and baseline creatinine. In subgroup analysis, body composition was examined by bioelectric impedance analysis method. RESULTS: A total of 106 subjects were diagnosed with new-onset diabetes during the follow-up period. Baseline serum creatinine was not different between the new-onset diabetes and no diabetes groups. Negative DeltaCre (DeltaCre <0) showed an association with increased risk of type 2 diabetes after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, FPG, HbA1c, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (odds ratio, 1.885; 95% confidence interval, 1.127 to 3.153). Serum creatinine level demonstrated positive correlation with muscle mass and negative correlation with percentage of body fat in body composition analysis. CONCLUSION: Serum creatinine reflected body muscle mass and the decrease of serum creatinine might be regarded as a risk factor for type 2 diabetes.
Adipose Tissue ; Blood Pressure ; Body Composition ; Body Mass Index ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Creatinine ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Electric Impedance ; Fasting ; Follow-Up Studies ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Glucose ; Hemoglobins ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; Insulin ; Lipoproteins ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Muscles ; Plasma ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to test the reliability and validity of the Korean version of Interpersonal Reactivity Index (K-IRI). METHODS: A total of 484 participants were included in this study. Internal consistency and test/retest reliability (n=35) were examined. Criterion validity of the K-IRI was assessed against Affective Dimension of the 3D-Wisdom Scale. Factor analyses were also performed using principal component analysis with varimax rotation. RESULTS: The internal consistency of the K-IRI was 0.80, and test-retest reliability was 0.76. Criterion validity was evaluated by correlating the K-IRI with the Affective Dimension of 3D-Wisdom Scale (r=0.31). Factor analyses revealed factor structures similar to the original IRI. CONCLUSION: The K-IRI appeared to be a reliable and valid instrument for assessing empathy in the Korean population. This suggests that this scale may be applicable in clinical trials, research, and clinical practice.
Empathy ; Principal Component Analysis ; Reproducibility of Results

PURPOSE: This study examined the relationship between job stress, attributes of health functional food (HFF) selection, and consumption values for information technology (IT) workers, and analyzed the factors influencing the selection of HFF to improve health by making the right choice of HFFs. METHODS: Three hundred forty IT workers in Gyeonggi area participated in the study. The participants were divided into low or high job stress group. The differences in participants' general characteristics, attributes of HFF selection, and HFF consumption values were investigated, and the mediating effects of HFF consumption values on the relationship between job stress levels and the HFF selection attributes were analyzed. RESULTS: Job stress levels were high in those IT workers with a length of service < 5 years (p = 0.013). The group with lower job stress levels had a higher tendency to consider the ingredients contained in HFF products (p < 0.001), and their efficacy (p = 0.047). They also showed greater emotional value for a sense of security from consuming HFFs to stay healthy (p = 0.047). The group with higher job stress levels had greater epistemic value in that their choice of HFFs differentiated them from the other workers (p = 0.036). Higher job stress was associated with less consideration of the intrinsic attributes such as ingredients and efficacy of the HFF selection attributes (p = −0.113), emotional value of the HFF consumption values (p = −0.136), and the functional value such as practicality, price, and safety (p = −0.134). The job stress level influenced the intrinsic attributes through the functional and emotional values, demonstrating that the functional and emotional values had appropriate mediating effects on the relationship between job stress levels and intrinsic attributes. CONCLUSION Education needs to be provided for workers to relieve job stress and improve the functional and emotional values, which contributes to choosing the appropriate HFFs.

PURPOSE: To assess the correlation between retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT, Cirrus HD-OCT®) and visual acuity in optic neuritis, ischemic optic neuropathy and traumatic optic neuropathy. METHODS: Thirty-eight patients were recruited. RNFL thickness and visual acuity in optic neuritis, ischemic optic neuropathy and traumatic optic neuropathy were measured at least 6 months after the event. The correlation between log MAR best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and retinal nerve fiber thickness in each quadrant was analyzed. RESULTS: log MAR BCVA and RNFL thickness of each quadrant in optic neuropathy exhibited a statistically significant correlation. In optic neuritis, RNFL thickness of the superior quadrant was significantly thicker than in ischemic optic neuropathy and traumatic optic neuropathy (p = 0.009, 0.003). In addition, RNFL thickness of the inferior quadrant in optic neuritis was significantly thicker than in traumatic optic neuropathy (p = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS: There was a statistically significant correlation between log MAR BCVA and RNFL thickness by OCT in patients with optic neuropathies. The RNFL thickness may predict visual acuity after an optic neuropathy attack and help to differentiate malingering patients with impaired vision loss.
Humans ; Malingering ; Nerve Fibers* ; Optic Nerve Diseases* ; Optic Nerve Injuries ; Optic Neuritis ; Optic Neuropathy, Ischemic ; Retinaldehyde* ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Visual Acuity*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the change in multifocal visual evoked potential (mfVEP) in unilateral anisometropic amblyopia before and after occlusion treatment. METHODS: The mfVEP was performed using RETIscan(R) (Roland,Brandenburg, Germany) for patients with unilateral anisometropic amblyopia before and after occlusion treatment. Amplitude and latency values of mfVEP were analyzed according to the field divided by 6 rings or 4 sectors. RESULTS: The each amplitude of values of all 6 rings were not significantly different before treatment (p = 0.077) in amblyopic eyes. However, the value of ring 1 (p = 0.00) was significantly higher than the value of other rings after treatment. In fellow eyes, the values of ring 1 was consistently significantly higher than the value of other rings before (p = 0.014) and after (p = 0.049) occlusion treatment. Additionally, the amplitudes of ring 1 (p = 0.005) and ring 3 (p = 0.007) were significantly increased in amblyopic eyes after occlusion treatment. In fellow eyes, the values of all rings did not change significantly. The analysis of amplitudes with 4 sectors revealed no significant result. The analysis of latencies with 6 rings and 4 sectors revealed no significant result. CONCLUSIONS: The change in amplitude on the central field (ring 1) in amblyopic eyes can be a useful objective monitoring method observing the improvement progress in visual acuity.
Amblyopia ; Evoked Potentials, Visual ; Eye ; Humans ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: To evaluate the change in multifocal visual evoked potential (mfVEP) in unilateral anisometropic amblyopia before and after occlusion treatment. METHODS: The mfVEP was performed using RETIscan(R) (Roland,Brandenburg, Germany) for patients with unilateral anisometropic amblyopia before and after occlusion treatment. Amplitude and latency values of mfVEP were analyzed according to the field divided by 6 rings or 4 sectors. RESULTS: The each amplitude of values of all 6 rings were not significantly different before treatment (p = 0.077) in amblyopic eyes. However, the value of ring 1 (p = 0.00) was significantly higher than the value of other rings after treatment. In fellow eyes, the values of ring 1 was consistently significantly higher than the value of other rings before (p = 0.014) and after (p = 0.049) occlusion treatment. Additionally, the amplitudes of ring 1 (p = 0.005) and ring 3 (p = 0.007) were significantly increased in amblyopic eyes after occlusion treatment. In fellow eyes, the values of all rings did not change significantly. The analysis of amplitudes with 4 sectors revealed no significant result. The analysis of latencies with 6 rings and 4 sectors revealed no significant result. CONCLUSIONS: The change in amplitude on the central field (ring 1) in amblyopic eyes can be a useful objective monitoring method observing the improvement progress in visual acuity.
Amblyopia ; Evoked Potentials, Visual ; Eye ; Humans ; Visual Acuity

The chest radiographs and angiograms were retrospectively evaluated in 47 patients with pulmonary atresia (PA) and ventricular septal defect (VSD) to determine the characteristic findings of major aortopulmonary collateral arteries (MAPCSs) on the chest radiographs. Of 47 patients, 23 had MAPCAs and 24 had only PDA for blood supply of whole right and left lung. Chest radiographs enabled identification of 16 of 23 patients with MAPCAs. The most common finding of MAPCAs was inappropriately large peripheral pulmonary vasculature (n=16, 69.6%). The other findings were tortuosity of pulmonary vasculature (n=12, 52.2%), focal unevendistribution of pulmonary vasculature (n=12, 52.2%), and two descending pulmonary arteries (n=4, 17.4%). When chest radiographs showed two or more findings of MAPCAs, MAPCAs could be differentiated from PDA with statistical significance (p<0.005). It is concluded that chest radiographs may help to identify MAPCAs before angiography if two-dimensional echo ardiography suggests PA with VSD.
Angiography ; Arteries* ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular* ; Humans ; Lung ; Pulmonary Artery ; Pulmonary Atresia* ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Retrospective Studies ; Thorax*