No abstract available.
Acne Vulgaris* ; Hair Removal* ; Pigmentation Disorders*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical features of retinopathy in chronic hepatitis B patients treated with peginterferon. METHODS: Chronic hepatitis B patients treated with peginterferon were evaluated during regular routine ophthalmic examinations including fundus examination before and during the 1-year follow-up after treatment. A total of 88 patients were included in the study. RESULTS: Retinopathy developed in 11 (12.5%) out of 88 patients at a mean of 7 weeks after initiation of treatment. Peginterferon treatment was continued in all patients and retinal abnormalities including cotton wool spot, retinal hemorrhage and microaneurysm resolved without visual impairment. The incidence of hypertension between the retinopathy group and the group without retinopathy was significantly different (P = 0.020). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of retinopathy with peginterferon in chronic hepatitis B patients was low and the prognosis was benign. Thus, routine screening for peginterferon retinopathy is not necessary.
Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; Hepatitis, Chronic ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Mass Screening ; Prognosis ; Retinal Hemorrhage ; Retinaldehyde ; Vision Disorders ; Wool

PURPOSE: We investigate the effect of osteoprotegerin (OPG) on activation of osteoclastogenesis and NF-kappaB activation by PMMA (Polymethyl methacrylate) particles in osteoclast precursor cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Osteoclast precursor cells (CSF-1 dependent) were obtained from whole bone marrow of C57BL mouse. Four experiments included 1) different dose of RANKL (Receptor Activator of NF-kappaB ligand) treatment (0, 1, 10, 40 ng/ml) 2) PMMA treatment +/- RANKL 3) PMMA treatment with different dose of RANKL 4) PMMA treatment +/- OPG. After treatments, cultured cells were stained with TRAP (Tartrate resistant alkaline phosphatase). The activity of NF-kappaB DNA nuclear translocation was detected by EMSA (electrophoretic mobility shift assay). RESULTS: The experiments with RANKL on osteoclast precursors differentiation demonstrated a dose-dependent stimulation of osteoclastogenesis (p<0.05). Control cultures without RANKL had no osteoclasts, while maintenance in 1 ng/ml of RANKL results in low level osteoclast formation. PMMA particles activated osteoclastogenesis in RANKL-primed osteoclast precursor cells. And the effect of particles on osteoclastogenesis were dependent on RANKL concentration (p<0.03). OPG treatment significantly decreased osteoclast formation and NF-kappaB DNA binding activity by PMMA particles in osteoclast precursor cells. CONCLUSION: OPG inhibits activation of osteoclast formation and NF-kappaB DNA binding activity by PMMA particles through RANK-RANKL pathway.
Animals ; Bone Marrow ; Cells, Cultured ; DNA ; Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; NF-kappa B* ; Osteoclasts* ; Osteoprotegerin ; Polymethyl Methacrylate*

BACKGROUND: Severe iron deficiency anemia (IDA) can cause developmental and growth problems in children and disease severity is more than cognitive disorder or diabetic neuropathy according to the disability weight (DW).METHODS: Severe IDA is defined as serum hemoglobin (Hb) level less than 7.0 g/dL in younger than 4 years of age and less than 8.0 g/dL in older than 5 years, which has been caused by iron deficiency. Among 2,336 patients with IDA, 130 (5.6%) were diagnosed as severe IDA. The exclusion criteria were other hematologic diseases, history of preterm birth or low birth weight and acute blood loss due to trauma.RESULTS: The rate of severe IDA among IDA patients was higher in female than male. Patients from age 1 to 6 and adolescents over the age of 13 outnumbered others, and the majority of adolescent patients were female. Among weight groups, low weight-for-ages (less than 3rd percentile) was prevail (20%). There were no statistical differences between laboratory results of symptomatic patients and those of asymptomatic ones (25.4%). The common causes of severe IDA were; long-term exclusive breast feeding (13.0%), menorrhagia (10.0%), H. pylori gastritis (9.2%), upper GI bleeding (9.2%) and malnutrition (8.5%). All were treated with oral or intravenous iron replacement therapy and after 3 months, laboratory results were significantly improved. In cases of H. pylori gastritis, iron replacement therapy in conjunction with H. pylori eradication showed better efficacy in treatment.CONCLUSION: The importance of severe IDA should not be underestimated. Especially with female adolescents, H. pylori gastritis patients, and athletes, it is still more important to make prompt diagnosis and early treatment.
Adolescent ; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency ; Athletes ; Breast Feeding ; Child ; Diabetic Neuropathies ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Gastritis ; Hematologic Diseases ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Iron ; Male ; Malnutrition ; Menorrhagia ; Premature Birth

We experienced a case of arteriovenous hemangioma showing Dariers sign on the forehead of a 43-year-old man. He presented with a single, 1 * 1.5cm sized, violaceous, asymptomatic nodule with a history of an intermittent wheal at the lesional site. This skin lesion showed Dariers sign clinically and proliferation of mast cells histopathologically with the punch biopsy specirnen suggesting urticaria pig- mentosa. Howerer, we could diagnose it as a arteriovenous hemangioma on complete excision, as the specimen showed arteriovenous proliferation with increased mast cells in a perivascular pattern. This case showed confusing clinical signs and showed the importance of complete excision for the diagnosis of a small skin tumor especially when a vascular proliferating tumor is suspected.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Forehead ; Hemangioma* ; Humans ; Mast Cells ; Skin ; Urticaria

PURPOSE: To evaluate the glaucoma discrimination ability of visual field index (VFI), a new perimetric index of Humphrey field analyzer II, in glaucoma patients with central and peripheral visual field defects (VFD). METHODS: Humphrey visual field test and OCT were performed in 204 glaucomatous eyes and 70 healthy eyes. The associations of VFI with mean deviation (MD), pattern standard deviation (PSD), and average retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) were analyzed using Pearson's correlation. The diagnostic abilities of the parameters were analyzed using the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROC). The AUROC were compared between MD-matched patients with central VFD (at least one point with p < 1% within the central most 16 points of 30-2 SITA standard automated visual field) and peripheral VFD (VFD beyond the central most 16 points of 30-2 SITA standard automated visual field). RESULTS: The associations between analyzed parameters and VFI were statistically significant. The MD, RNFLT, age, intraocular pressure, and central cornea thickness were not different between the two groups (p > 0.05). The AUROC value of VFI was greater than those of the MD and average RNFLT but was not different from that of PSD (p = 0.332) in the central VFD group. However, there were no significant differences between AUROC value of VFI and those of other parameters in the peripheral VFD group (all, p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results from the present study suggest that VFI may be more useful than MD in diagnosing glaucoma, especially in patients with central VFD.
Cornea ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Eye ; Glaucoma ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Nerve Fibers ; Retinaldehyde ; ROC Curve ; Visual Field Tests ; Visual Fields

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between vaginal cytology and bone mineral density in postmenopausal women. METHODS: In 93 postmenopausal women, vaginal cytology smears were taken for maturation index, serum estradiol level and bone mineral density were also taken. the percentage of each cell type found By vaginal cytology was multiplied to its specific value:superficial cells, 1.0; intermediate cell, 0.6; parabasal cell, 0.2 and modified to maturation value. Bone mineral density was measured at lumbar spine using DEXA. RESULTS: The mean bone mineral density was 0.88+/-0.14g/cm2. Mean maturation value was 50.53+/-20.74 and it was related with age and bone mineral density. CONCLUSION: Maturation value of vaginal epithelial cell represents the influence of estrogen on bone mineral density.
Bone Density* ; Epithelial Cells ; Epithelium* ; Estradiol ; Estrogens ; Female ; Humans ; Spine

PURPOSE: To report a case of lacrimal gland stone initiated by an eyelash. CASE SUMMARY: A 31-year-old woman presented with foreign body sensation, pain, and conjunctival injection in the lateral palpebral conjunctiva of her right eye over 6 months in duration. The physical examination revealed a small, firm nodule at the lateral canthal area. The excisional biopsy was performed, and the mass was a concretion that contained an eyelash in the center. During one-year follow-up, the patient showed no signs of recurrence or complication after excision. CONCLUSIONS: Although rare in occurence, eyelashes may be the initial nidus for lacrimal gland stone formation.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Conjunctiva ; Eye ; Eyelashes ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Foreign Bodies ; Humans ; Lacrimal Apparatus ; Physical Examination ; Recurrence ; Sensation

A button battery inserted in the nose of children is an unusual foreign body which is capable of causing extensive tissue damage, resulting from electrical and chemical burns. We report a case of button battery in the nose of a 4-year-old boy presenting with unilateral nasal discharge, and necrosis in the septum and turbinate of the right nasal cavity. Mercury level in concentrated urine was within normal limit. Microscopic examination disclosed extensive liquefaction necrosis with calcification and fibrosis. Numerous dark brown to black granules were noted in the elastic and collagen fibers and interstitium. Dark-field examination of the section revealed brilliantly refractile granules. Polarized microscopy failed to show the granules. Most brown pigments reacted to prussian blue. Tissue mercury analysis yielded a mercury content of 8.01 ppm. We report this case to emphasize the hazards of button battery impaction and to draw attention to the significance of the problem through histopathologic examination.
Child, Preschool ; Human ; Male ; Nasal Cavity/pathology* ; Nasal Cavity/immunology ; Power Sources/adverse effects*

No abstract available.
Lymphoma* ; Stomach Ulcer*