PURPOSE: While the principles of eyelid reconstruction are well established, the rapid choice of a method of upper and lower eyelid defect reconstruction is difficult. The authors present a successful case of simultaneous reconstruction of upper and lower eyelid defects with a modified paramedian forehead flap resulting from a dog bite. CASE SUMMARY: The authors report a case of a 77-year-old woman with total hyphema and extensive skin defects involving the forehead, cheek, and upper and lower eyelid resulting from a dog bite. The wound on the left periorbital area was treated with microimplantation and skin grafts from the left thigh and groin. In the weeks following, sequential failure of the flap and skin graft was observed, and exposed keratitis worsened, resulting in corneal perforation. Evisceration with hydroxyapatite implantation and paramedian forehead flap was performed. After 3 weeks, division of the pedicle, transverse division of the flap, and socket reconstruction were performed. CONCLUSIONS: Reconstruction of large, full thickness defects of both upper and lower eyelids with a paramedian forehead flap is associated with a good cosmetic outcome. Paramedian forehead flap should be considered as an effective choice for simultaneous upper and lower eyelid reconstruction.
Aged ; Animals ; Bites and Stings ; Cheek ; Corneal Perforation ; Cosmetics ; Dogs ; Durapatite ; Eyelids ; Female ; Forehead ; Groin ; Humans ; Hyphema ; Keratitis ; Skin ; Thigh ; Transplants

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the safety and effectiveness of tadalafil 5 mg once daily (quaque die [everyday], QD) among Korean men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)/lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in a real-world clinical setting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a single-country, prospective, observational cohort study in which patients newly prescribed tadalafil 5 mg QD for the treatment of BPH/LUTS were followed-up for 12±2 or 24±2 weeks, or to the last treatment, during post-marketing surveillance. Safety was evaluated in terms of the frequency of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) and serious adverse events (SAEs). Effectiveness was assessed by changes in the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) from baseline to each endpoint. RESULTS: All patients receiving ≥1 dose of tadalafil 5 mg QD (N=637) were included in the safety population. Two percent of patients (n=13) experienced 15 TEAEs of mild (n=10; 66.7%) or moderate (n=5; 33.3%) severity. No severe TEAEs and no SAEs were reported. Effectiveness evaluations included all patients receiving tadalafil who had both baseline and endpoint observations (12-week, N=265; 24-week, N=44). Compared with baseline, the mean IPSS total score (±standard error) significantly improved by 4.7±0.3 and 6.4±0.7 points at the 12- and 24-week endpoints, respectively (p<0.0001), with significant improvements also observed on the storage, voiding, and quality of life subscores. In total, 69.1% of the patients had a clinically meaningful ≥3-point improvement in the IPSS total score. CONCLUSIONS: Tadalafil 5 mg QD was well tolerated and effective in Korean men with BPH/LUTS in a real-world clinical setting.
Cohort Studies ; Humans ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms ; Male ; Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors ; Prospective Studies ; Prostate ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Quality of Life ; Tadalafil* ; Urinary Tract*

OBJECTIVETo study the epidemiology of human metapneumovirus (hMPV) infection in children and its relations with meteorological conditions in Suzhou.

METHODSamples obtained from 6655 children hospitalized with acute respiratory tract infections (ARIs) during the period from 2006 to 2009, were tested for virus pathogens. Nasopharyngeal aspirates were obtained from the children according to a standard protocol and were tested for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza viruses (IFV) A and B, parainfluenza virus (PIV) types 1, 2, and 3 and adenovirus (ADV) with direct immunofluorescence assay. Samples were tested for hMPV with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Meteorological conditions including mean temperature, relative humidity, rainfall amount, sum of sunshine and mean wind velocity were collected monthly. The relationship between activity of the virus and meteorological conditions was analyzed by linear regression and stepwise regression analysis.

RESULTViral pathogens were identified in 32.2% of 6655 specimens. The positive rate of hMPV was 8.9%, RSV was 15.7%, IFV, PIV and ADV detection rates were less than that of hMPV. The annual positive rate of hMPV from 2006 to 2009 was 8.2%, 8.1%, 12.7%, 7.4% respectively (χ(2) = 33.23, P < 0.05). The hMPV positive rate of the four seasons was 11.6%, 7.6%, 4.7% and 11.7%, respectively, detection rate in winter and spring was significantly higher than those in summer and autumn (χ(2) = 74.67, P < 0.001). The positive rate of hMPV and the monthly mean temperature was moderately correlated (r = -0.43), and the monthly average rainfall (r = -0.29), monthly mean relative humidity (r = -0.27), monthly average sunshine duration (r = -0.11), the monthly average wind speed (r = -0.13) had low correlations.

CONCLUSIONhMPV was the second most common viral pathogen of acute respiratory tract infection in children in Suzhou, which prevailed predominantly in the winter and spring. Climatic factors, especially temperature and rainfall may affect the prevalence of hMPV.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Climate ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Metapneumovirus ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; epidemiology ; virology ; Seasons

Rupture limited to the lobar bronchus from blunt trauma is especially rare, and the symptoms are light so diagnosis is difficult. In a patient who visited the hospital complaining of shortness of breath after falling down, atelectasis continued in the chest x-ray. Four days after visiting the hospital, a left upper lobar bronchial rupture was diagnosed through a bronchoscopy and 3 dimensional chest computerized tomography. When diagnosis is delayed in the case of a rupture limited to the lobar bronchus, bronchial obstruction can occur from the formation of granulation tissue, so regular monitoring is important. Therefore, when atelectasis continues after blunt trauma, it is important to differentially diagnose a lobar bronchial rupture through tests such as bronchoscopy.
Bronchi ; Bronchoscopy ; Diagnosis ; Dyspnea ; Granulation Tissue ; Humans ; Lung Injury ; Pulmonary Atelectasis* ; Rupture* ; Thorax

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Zinc is an essential, mostly intracellular, trace element which participates in many oxidative or deoxidative reactions and in a protective action on liver cell activity. Plasma zinc levels are known to decrease in patients with liver disease including chronic viral hepatitis. The aim of this study was to reveal whether hepatic zinc concentrations have a correlation with grades of necroinflammation or stages of fibrosis in the patients with chronic viral hepatitis. METHODS: This study consisted of 50 subjects (43 chronic hepatitis B, 4 chronic hapatitis C, and 3 cirrhosis). Each specimen of liver tissue was classified with the grade of lobular inflammation, portal/periportal inflammation, and stage of fibrosis according to Scheuer's method. Hepatic zinc concentration was determined by ICP-Atomic Emission Spectrometry. RESULTS: The mean hepatic zinc concentration in the 50 chronic viral hepatitis patients was 233.66 g/g dry weight of liver tissue. The hepatic zinc levels were significantly correlated with the grades of portal/periportal inflammation (rs=-0.385, p=0.006), and grades of lobular inflammation(rs=-0.342, p=0.015). The stages of fibrosis were also negatively related (rs=-0.423, p=0.002). The zinc concentrations differed significantly among grades of lobular inflammation (p=0.013) and among stages of fibrosis (p=0.044). CONCLUSIONS: Hepatic zinc concentrations showed negative correlation with grades of portal/periportal inflammation, lobular inflammation, and stage of fibrosis in the patients of chronic viral hepatitis. These results suggest that decreased hepatic zinc concentration might be associated with severe hepatic injury and reflect decreased protective activity on liver cell injury.
Fibrosis ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Liver ; Liver Diseases ; Plasma ; Spectrum Analysis ; Zinc*

OBJECTIVETo assess the effectiveness and safety of non-permanent filter in preventing pulmonary embolism (PE) caused by deep venous thromboembolism (DVT).

METHODSThe clinical data of 12 patients who were implanted with non-permanent filter for documented deep venous thromboembolism in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from September 2003 to June 2006 were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSAmong these 12 patients, 10 were implanted with temporary filters, and 2 with retrievable filters. All the 12 operations were successful without major complications. In the 10 patients who received temporary filters, filters were smoothly removed after 4 weeks in 9 patients, while one patient was further treated with anticoagulation therapy for 12 weeks because large emboli were entrapped by filter. In the 2 patients who received retrievable filters, filter were smoothly removed 2 weeks later in one patient; however, in another patient, the filter was left inside because large emboli were entrapped by filter. In all the 12 patients, emboli were entrapped in 6 filters (50%), in which the emboli were larger than 2 cm in 2 patients, larger than 1 cm but less than 2 cm in 1 patient, and less than 1 cm in 3 patients. PE scanning was performed in 10 patients before primary implantation, and PE was found in 5 patients. PE scanning was performed in 8 patients 6 months after implantation, and minor PE was found in 4 patients, whose symptoms and affected pulmonary artery were obviously improved. All patients received regular follow-up (ranged from 3 months to 2 years), 1 patient died of malignant tumor 4 months after operation, 1 patient suffered inferior vena cava occlusion due to large emboli entrapped by the temporary filter, and 1 patient experienced the recurrence of symptomatic DVT. Symptoms were improved in all the 5 patients with PE.

CONCLUSIONSNon-permanent filter can safely and effectively protect patients from PE. More standardized criteria for placement and protocols to ensure timely removal should be developed and implemented.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; blood supply ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Embolism ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Retrospective Studies ; Vena Cava Filters ; Vena Cava, Inferior ; Venous Thrombosis ; complications

OBJECTIVETo study the role of a pathologic niche inducing mouse embryonic stem cells (ESC) to express hepatic cell functions in vitro.

METHODSEmbryoid bodies were developed from 5 to 7 day hanging-drop culture of mouse ESC, and their dissociated cells were planted in three differential systems: nothing added; with 20 ng/ml hepatocyte growth factor (HGF); and 5% rat cholestatic serum plus 20 ng/ml HGF added. Their differentiation was observed with inverted microscopes daily, and their hepatic functions were analyzed against their synthesis of glycogen, triglycerides, albumin, and urea nitrogen, and by their staining of indocyanine green (ICG) and fluorescein diacetate (FDA).

RESULTSESC spontaneous differentiation was hardly being controlled to form three germ layers. HGF prompted the ESC to develop further into visceral endoderm and mesoderm (myocardium), but both of them only expressed a low level of hepatocyte-specific metabolic functions. With cholestatic serum added into the HGF-induced system, differentiated cells grew into similar angular cells, and had a higher level synthesis of glycogen, triglycerides, albumin and urea nitrogen with positive ICG and FDA staining.

CONCLUSIONSSpontaneous or HGF-induced ESC differentiation has only limited hepatic functions expressed. A pathologic niche in vitro induces ESC to develop into hepatic lineages, with a higher level of hepatic metabolic functions.

Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Cholestasis ; blood ; Culture Media ; pharmacology ; Embryo, Mammalian ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; Mice ; Serum ; Stem Cells ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo study the cultural method and identification of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), and investigate the expression of tyrosine kinase-2 with immunoglobulin-like and epidermal growth factor homology domains(Tie-2) in HUVECs.

METHODSHUVECs were isolated from umbilical veins by the technique of irrigative digestion, and were cultivated in plates. The cells were identified by VIII monoclonal antibody. Tie-2 mRNA and protein were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and SABC immunocytochemistry.

RESULTSHUVECs could adhere to the plates completely after 24 hours, and confluence a monolayer 4-5 days later. The band of Tie-2 mRNA was obviously and the expression of Tie-2 protein was strongly positive by immunocytochemistry in HUVECs. The positive rate was over 85%.

CONCLUSIONHighly purified endothelial cells were isolated. And there were overexpression of Tie-2 in HUVECs.

Cells, Cultured ; EGF Family of Proteins ; Endothelial Cells ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; TYK2 Kinase ; Umbilical Veins

OBJECTIVETo prepare ITP plasma IgG and its F(ab')2 fragments and investigate their immunoreactivity to platelet GPIIb/IIIa and/or GPIb/IX and their effects on platelet aggregation function.

METHODSThe ITP patients having inhibitory autoantibody to the platelet aggregation were selected by modified MAIPA and platelet aggregation test with turbidimetry. Plasma IgG and its F(ab')2 fragments were prepared by streptococcal protein A affinity column and pepsin digestion. The immunoreactivity and the effects on platelet aggregation function of the whole antibody and its fragments were detected by modified MAIPA and platelet aggregation test, respectively.

RESULTS(1) Anti-platelet GPIIb/IIIa and/or GPIb/IX autoantibodies were detected in 34 of 68 (53.6%) ITP patients' plasmas and that from 5 patients significantly inhibited the platelet aggregation induced by ADP or ristocetin. (2) By using protein A column combined with protease digestion, pure IgG and its F(ab')2 fragments were successfully obtained. (3) The purified IgG and its F(ab')2 fragments retained the ability to bind to their respective glycoproteins and inhibited the platelet aggregation function, whereas the IgG depleted plasma lost the ability of binding to the platelet GPs.

CONCLUSIONSF(ab')2 fragment of the IgG antibody is a functional fragment, which not only has the binding ability to the platelet GPs but also inhibits the platelet aggregation function in a dose-dependent manner.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments ; immunology ; Immunoglobulin G ; immunology ; Integrin beta3 ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Platelet Aggregation ; Platelet Membrane Glycoprotein IIb ; immunology ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic ; immunology ; physiopathology ; Young Adult

Capsule endoscopy is being increasingly recognized as a gold standard for diagnosing small bowel disease, but along with the increased usage, capsule retention is being reported more frequently. We report a case of capsule endoscopy retention in a diverticulum of the duodenal proximal third portion, which we treated by esophagogastroduodenoscopy. A 69-year-old male visited hospital with hematochezia. He had hypertension and dyslipidemia for several years, and was taking aspirin to prevent heart disease. CT and colonoscopy revealed a diverticulum in the third portion of the duodenum, rectal polyps, and internal hemorrhoids. Capsule endoscopy was performed but capsule impaction occurred. The capsule was later detected by CT in the diverticulum. Endoscopy was performed a day later and the capsule was removed using a net. A small bowel series was conducted after capsule removal, and no stenosis was found. The patient fully recovered and no recurrence of hematochezia was observed at his one month exam. This is the first case in Korea of capsule retention in a duodenal diverticulum, with successful removal by endoscopy.
Abdomen/diagnostic imaging ; Aged ; Capsule Endoscopy ; Diverticulum/*diagnosis/diagnostic imaging ; Endoscopy, Digestive System ; Humans ; Male ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed