PURPOSE: To report a case of retinopathy in a patient with chronically resistant idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) associated with a poor prognosis. CASE SUMMARY: A 52-year-old female presented with a complaint of decreased visual acuity, which was 0.63 in both eyes. The patient had received a splenectomy, was receiving systemic treatment for chronic ITP, and had a history of diabetes mellitus and hypertension. Multiple retinal and subretinal hemorrhages and Roth spots were found on fundus examination. Fluorescein angiography revealed microaneurysms and hemorrhages in all four quadrants of the retina. The patient's platelet count was 38,000/µL. The patient was diagnosed with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy and ITP-associated retinopathy, and underwent panretinal photocoagulation. Sudden visual loss was noted 4 months later, at which time the patient's visual acuity was 0.1 in both eyes, and her platelet count was 7,000/µL. For 2 years, the patient's platelet count was not controlled, and remained between 12,000–19,000/µL despite active medical treatment. Macular edema did not improve with intravitreal triamcinolone, dexamethasone, and bevacizumab. Retinal hemorrhages were not absorbed and visual acuity decreased to light perception in the right eye and counting fingers in the left eye. CONCLUSIONS: ITP-associated retinopathy was associated with a poor prognosis when the systemic disease was not controlled.
Bevacizumab ; Dexamethasone ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Female ; Fingers ; Fluorescein Angiography ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Light Coagulation ; Macular Edema ; Middle Aged ; Platelet Count ; Prognosis ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic ; Retina ; Retinal Hemorrhage ; Retinaldehyde ; Splenectomy ; Triamcinolone ; Visual Acuity

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma is an uncommon lesion that accounts for approximately 1% of primary malignant bronchial gland tumors and less than 0.2% of all lung neoplasm. This tumor presents with symptoms of bronchial irritation or obstruction. Distant metastasis is uncommon, therefore complete surgical resection is the treatment of choice. The prognosis of tumor correlates with on the histologic grade of tumor. We experienced mucoepidermoid carcinoma in a 15 year-old girl with symptoms of cough and blood tinged sputum. The patient underwent successful removal of tumor by bilobectomy via explorothoracotomy after chest CT and bronchoscopic biopsy.
Adolescent ; Biopsy ; Bronchi* ; Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid* ; Cough ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Sputum ; Tolnaftate ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: This study was performed to investigate the epidemiologic characteristics of human bocavirus (HBoV)-associated lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) in children. METHODS: Nasopharyngeal aspirate samples were obtained from 658 children who had been hospitalized for LRTIs in Seoul National University (SNU) Children's Hospital and SNU Bundang Hospital from March 2000 to September 2005. Multiplex RT-PCR was performed to detect 11 respiratory viruses including respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus, rhinovirus, parainfluenza viruses 1 and 3, influenza viruses A and B, human metapneumovirus, HBoV, human coronavirus (HCoV) OC43/229E, and HCoV-NL63. Clinical data were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: Overall, respiratory viruses were detected in 325 (49.4%) among 658 patients. HBoV was detected in 62 cases (9.4%) and was responsible for 19.1% of virus-positive cases. HBoV was prevalent among infants and young children aged from 3 months to 5 years with the mean age of 25.3 months. Co-detection of HBoV and other respiratory viruses was observed in 37.1% which is significantly higher than average co-detection rate (12.3%) among overall virus-positive cases (P=0.000). HBoV was identified mainly in late spring and early summer from May to July. CONCLUSION: This study describes epidemiologic features of HBoV in Korean children compared with those associated with other respiratory viruses. HBoV was prevalent among LRTIs in childhood, especially in late spring and early summer season in Korea.
Adenoviridae ; Aged ; Bronchiolitis ; Child ; Coronavirus ; Coronavirus NL63, Human ; Human bocavirus ; Humans ; Infant ; Korea ; Metapneumovirus ; Orthomyxoviridae ; Paramyxoviridae Infections ; Pneumonia ; Respiratory Syncytial Viruses ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; Rhinovirus ; Seasons

PURPOSE: To report a case of rapid progression of the epiretinal membrane following intravitreal aflibercept injection in a patient with exudative age-related macular degeneration. CASE SUMMARY: An 82-year-old female presented with a complaint of decreased visual acuity in her left eye for 1 month. The initial best-corrected visual acuity was 0.2 in the left eye. Fundus examination and optical coherence tomography revealed soft drusen with retinal hemorrhage of the macula and a transparent epiretinal membrane in the left eye. Fluorescein angiography and indocyanine green angiography showed retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP) of the left eye, so intravitreal aflibercept injection was performed. One month after the first injection, intraretinal cystic macular edema decreased, while transparency of the epiretinal membrane decreased and reflectivity and thickness of the membrane increased. After two additional injections of aflibercept, RAP showed improvement, whereas the epiretinal membrane progressed. Visual acuity of the left eye decreased to 0.1 and vitrectomy of the membrane was performed. CONCLUSIONS: Careful observation for potentially rapid progression of epiretinal membrane is needed after intravitreal aflibercept injection in the management of exudate age-related macular degeneration accompanied by epiretinal membrane.
Aged, 80 and over ; Angiography ; Epiretinal Membrane ; Exudates and Transudates ; Female ; Fluorescein Angiography ; Humans ; Indocyanine Green ; Macular Degeneration ; Macular Edema ; Membranes ; Retinal Hemorrhage ; Retinaldehyde ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Visual Acuity ; Vitrectomy

Purpose: To evaluate the one-year efficacy of intravitreal aflibercept injection in polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) with best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 20 / 40 or better. Methods: This was a multicenter retrospective study. The medical records of patients diagnosed with treatment-naïve PCV were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with an initial BCVA of 20 / 40 or better and who had undergone intravitreal aflibercept injection were included. Patients were treated with three consecutive monthly injections, followed by pro re nata regimen according to the clinician’s discretion at variable interval visits. The proportions of eyes for which BCVA was maintained (≤ 0.2 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution change) or improved at 12 months were evaluated. The changes of BCVA, central subfield macular thickness (CSMT), pigment epithelial detachment, and subretinal fluid also were assessed. Results: A total of 86 eyes were included. The mean number of injections for 12 months of treatment was 5.4 ± 1.7. BCVA was maintained or improved in 94.2% (81 / 86) of cases. Mean BCVA (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution) had changed from the baseline (0.23 ± 0.09) at 3 months (0.21 ± 0.14), 6 months (0.24 ± 0.22), and 12 months (0.20 ± 0.18), but with no statistical significance. CSMT had improved significantly from the baseline (336.1 ± 97.3 μm) at 3 months (223.6 ± 47.22 μm), 6 months (239.6 ± 64.2 μm), and 12 months (223.8 ± 47.9 μm). Pigment epithelial detachment was observed in 93% of cases at the baseline, 72.1% at 3 months, and 69.8% at 12 months, showing a significant decrease at all observation points. Subretinal fluid was observed in 91.9% of cases at the baseline, 20.9% at 3 months, and 29.1% at 12 months, showing a significant decrease at all observation points. Conclusions In cases of PCV with good visual acuity, intravitreal aflibercept injections decreased CSMT and were effective in maintaining visual acuity.

Purpose: To report a modified rectangular loop suture technique for patients with refractory pupillary optic capture after intraocular lens scleral fixation. Methods: A modified rectangular loop suture was performed in four patients with persistent pupillary capture despite medication and laser iridotomy. A loop suture pattern was designed in the two quadrants without the scleral fixation knot. A 2 mm loop suture point was marked 2 mm away from the corneal limbus. The suture point was similarly marked in the opposite quadrants. Small conjunctival incisions were made at a marked point and a non-absorbable 10-0 prolene long needle was passed. The needle was inserted at the 1 o’clock position through the conjunctival incision and passed between the intraocular lens and the iris plane. Then it was withdrawn using a 26-gauge (G) syringe from the 8 o’clock position in the opposite quadrant. Similarly, the needle was passed from the 7 o’clock position under the conjunctiva, and pulled out of the sclera at the 2 o’clock position. It was then passed to the 1 o’clock position under the conjunctiva and a knot was made and buried. The operation was completed without closure of the conjunctival incision. Results: In all four eyes, pupillary optic capture was corrected and remained stable without recurrence for an average of 7.25 months. Conclusions The modified rectangular loop suture may be useful for refractory pupillary capture cases. The procedure is relatively simple and minimizes scleral exposure to the conjunctival suture. It is expected that this may reduce patient discomfort.

Open heart surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in patients with liver cirrhosis is prone to the development of various complications associated with high mortality rates. According to recent studies, patients with advanced cirrhosis (Child-Pugh class B or C cirrhosis) have a significantly higher mortality rate (50-100%) after open heart surgery under CPB. We report the anesthetic management of cardiac surgery using CPB of 61-year-old man with aortic valve regurgitation, tricuspid regurgitation and ventricular septal defect (VSD) who had complicated by liver cirrhosis of Child-Pugh class B. The patient underwent successfully aortic valve replacement, tricuspid valvuloplasty and VSD closure. The use of tranexamic acid and transfusion of fresh whole blood appears to produce beneficial effects for outcome.
Aortic Valve ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Fibrosis ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; Humans ; Liver ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Middle Aged ; Thoracic Surgery ; Tranexamic Acid ; Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency

Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a systemic necrotizing vasculitis affecting medium- or small-sized arteries. Its diagnosis may be delayed because it is a rare disease, and patients presenting with PAN demonstrate variable clinical manifestations and non-specific laboratory abnormalities. Gastrointestinal involvement occurs in 14~65% of patients with PAN and is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Thus, early diagnosis is very important in PAN with gastrointestinal involvement. We report two cases of rapidly progressive PAN presenting with abdominal pain, having failed conservative treatment.
Abdominal Pain* ; Arteries ; Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior* ; Mortality ; Polyarteritis Nodosa* ; Rare Diseases ; Vasculitis

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Despite the importance of a low-iodine diet (LID) for thyroid cancer patients preparing for radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy, few studies have evaluated dietary intake during LID. This study evaluated the amount of dietary iodine intake and its major food sources during a typical diet and during LID periods for thyroid cancer patients preparing for RAI therapy, and examined how the type of nutrition education of LID affects iodine intake. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A total of 92 differentiated thyroid cancer patients with total thyroidectomy were enrolled from Seoul National University Hospital. All subjects completed three days of dietary records during usual and low-iodine diets before 131I administration. RESULTS: The median iodine intake was 290 µg/day on the usual diet and 63.2 µg/day on the LID. The major food groups during the usual diet were seaweed, salted vegetables, fish, milk, and dairy products and the consumption of these foods decreased significantly during LID. The mean energy intake on the LID was 1,325 kcal, which was 446 kcal lower than on the usual diet (1,771 kcal). By avoiding iodine, the intake of most other nutrients, including sodium, was significantly reduced during LID (P < 0.005). Regarding nutritional education, intensive education was more effective than a simple education at reducing iodine intake. CONCLUSION: Iodine intake for thyroid cancer patients was significantly reduced during LID and was within the recommended amount. However, the intake of most other nutrients and calories was also reduced. Future studies are needed to develop a practical dietary protocol for a LID in Korean patients.
Dairy Products ; Diet Records ; Diet* ; Education ; Energy Intake ; Humans ; Iodine* ; Milk ; Seaweed ; Seoul ; Sodium ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms* ; Thyroidectomy ; Vegetables

PURPOSE: Pneumococcus is one of the most important causes of invasive infection through the childhood period. In January 2008, the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) published revised penicillin breakpoints for Streptococcus pneumoniae and penicillin susceptibility rates of S. pneumoniae increased in Korea. This study was performed to determine the probability of oral amoxicillin for the empirical treatment achieving bactericidal exposure against pneumococcus using pharmacodynamics model. METHODS: Twenty-three isolates of pneumococci were subjected to determine minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for beta-lactams and macrolide. For the beta-lactams, exposure of fT >MIC (time that free drug concentrations remain above the MIC) for 50% of the administration interval have determined the probability of target attainment (PTA), and regimens that had a PTA >90% were considered optimal. An analysis was performed by applying MIC of 23 isolates to a 5000-patient Monte Carlo simulation model. RESULTS: Among 23 isolates from healthy children, 7 (30.4%) isolates were MIC < or =1.0 microg/mL and 19 (82.6%) were MIC < or =2 microg/mL for amoxicillin. Amoxicillin 40 mg/kg/day achieved PTA >90% at MIC < or =1.0 microg/mL but PTA decreased to 52% at MIC 2 microg/mL, whereas amoxicillin 90 mg/kg/day can predict 97% of PTA at MIC 2 microg/mL. Overall, oral amoxicillin 90 mg/kg/day for the empirical treatment against pneumococcus can expect more successful response in Korean children. CONCLUSION: Considering the resistantce pattern of pneumococci in Korean children, we estimate that oral amoxicillin 90 mg/kg/day will provide a pharmacodynamic advantage for the empirical treatment against pneumococcus. And low dose amoxicillin or macrolide are expected to have higher chance of treatment failure than high dose oral amoxicillin.
Amoxicillin ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; beta-Lactams ; Child ; Humans ; Imidazoles ; Korea ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Nitro Compounds ; Penicillins ; Pharynx ; Pneumonia ; Streptococcus ; Streptococcus pneumoniae ; Treatment Failure