A variety of disease states are marked by prolonged and profound eosinophilia associated with localized or widespread eosinophilic infiltrates. Cardiac involvement maybe a major cause of morbidity and mortality of this disease. We report a case of acute peri-myocarditis with eosinophilia, which was confirmed as eosinophilic myocardilic myocarditis by endomyocardial biopsy.
Biopsy ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils* ; Mortality ; Myocarditis*

PURPOSE: Preoperative concurrent chemoradiation for locally advanced rectal cancer can reduce tumor volume and can eliminate viable tumor cells at surgical margin (lateral or posterior margin). It also achieve a rate of high resectability, and negative margin and also have been known to be a safe treatment modality even though its fatal complication was reported as 4%. The aim of this study is to analyze its efficacy and complications after concurrent chemoradiation treatment for advanced rectal cancer. METHODS: We recruited a total thirty three patients with locally advanced rectal cancer, which were staged preoperatively as T3 or T4 and multiple enlarged lymph nodes by Transrectal Ultrasonography or pelvic Magnetic Resonance Image between march 1996 and June, 1998. 5 Fluorouracil 450 mg/m2 and leucovorin 30 mg infused intravenously during the first and fifth weeks of radiation therapy (4500~5040 cGy). Surgical resection was performed after four or six weeks after completing radiation therapy. To follow up tumor response, digital rectal examination and transrectal ultrasonography were done every two weeks. RESULTS: Tumor level was distal (N=16, 48.4%), middle (N=9, 27.2%) and upper (N=8, 24.4%). mean age was fifty two years old. Overall resectability was 91%. Types of operations were abdominoperineal resection (N=10, 30.3%), Low anterior resection (N=8, 24.2), Hartmann (N=8, 24.2%), Posterior exenteration (N=2. 6.1%), Total pelvic exenteration (N=2, 6.1%), colostomy only (N=3, 9.1%). Tumor response was Complete remission (N=3,10%), Partial response (N=17, 57%), Non-response (N=10, 33%), progressive disease (N=3). Pathological status was No residual tumor (N=3, 10%), T2N1 (N=5, 16.6%), T3N0 (N=6, 20%), T4N0 (N=4, 13.3%), T2N1 (N=1, 3.3%), T3N1 (N=11, 36.6%). Downstaging status was as follows: from T3 to T0 (N=2), to T2 (N=3) and From T4 to T0 (N=1), to T2 (N=3), to T3 (N=3). Postoperative morbidity was noted in 2 patients (1 case of anastomotic leakage, 1 case of wound infection). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative concurrent chemoradiation therapy for locally advanced rectal cancer can be performed safely and show high tumor response and resectability.
Anastomotic Leak ; Chemoradiotherapy* ; Colostomy ; Digital Rectal Examination ; Fluorouracil ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Leucovorin ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm, Residual ; Pelvic Exenteration ; Rectal Neoplasms* ; Tumor Burden ; Ultrasonography ; Wounds and Injuries

Liver transplantation for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) within the Milan criteria generally yields a 4-year overall survival rate of 75% and 4-year recurrence free survival rate of 83%. But, many HCC patients present with the disease beyond the Milan criteria. On the other hands, the overall survival of patients with advanced HCC with portal vein invasion is very poor. We report a case of successful living donor liver transplantation for advanced HCC with portal vein invasion by down-staging through radioembolization, hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy, and stereotactic body radiation therapy.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Drug Therapy* ; Hand ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; Liver Transplantation* ; Liver* ; Living Donors* ; Portal Vein ; Recurrence ; Survival Rate

PURPOSE: To examine the effect of simvastatin on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in cultured human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells under oxidative stress. METHODS: RPE cell viability was measured using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay after 24 hours of incubation with various concentrations of simvastatin or H2O2. Cultured human RPE cells were pretreated with various concentrations of simvastatin and then incubated with 100 microm H2O2. After 24 hours of incubation, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to evaluate the expression of VEGF. RESULTS: Simvastatin showed no toxicity up to 10 microm, but cell viability gradually decreased with increased concentration of simvastatin. Human RPE cells showed increased VEGF expression when exposed only to H2O2. When RPE cells were preincubated with simvastatin and later exposed to H2O2, VEGF expression was relatively lower. CONCLUSIONS: Simvastatin downregulated the expression of VEGF in human RPE cells under oxidative stress. Simvastatin may have some clinical benefits in preventing retinal diseases associated with VEGF.
Cell Survival ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epithelial Cells ; Humans ; Macular Degeneration ; Oxidative Stress ; Retinal Diseases ; Retinaldehyde ; Simvastatin ; Tetrazolium Salts ; Thiazoles ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical outcomes of single frozen-thawed blastocyst transfer cycles according to the hatching status of frozen-thawed blastocysts. METHODS: Frozen-thawed blastocysts were divided into three groups according to their hatching status as follows: less-than-expanded blastocyst (≤EdB), hatching blastocyst (HgB), and hatched blastocyst (HdB). The female age and infertility factors of each group were evaluated. The quality of the single frozen-thawed blastocyst was also graded as grade A, tightly packed inner cell mass (ICM) and many cells organized in the trophectoderm epithelium (TE); grade B, several and loose ICM and TE; and grade C, very few ICM and a few cells in the TE. The clinical pregnancy and implantation rate were compared between each group. The data were analyzed by either t-test or chi-square analysis. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in average female ages, infertility factors, or the distribution of blastocyst grades A, B, and C in each group. There was no significant difference in the clinical pregnancy and implantation rate of each group according to their blastocyst grade. However, there was a significant difference in the clinical pregnancy and implantation rate between each group. In the HdB group, the clinical pregnancy and implantation rate were similar regardless of the blastocyst quality. CONCLUSION: There was an effect on the clinical outcomes depending on whether the blastocyst hatched during single frozen-thawed blastocyst transfer. When performing single frozen-thawed blastocyst transfer, the hatching status of the frozen-thawed blastocyst may be a more important parameter for clinical outcomes than the quality of the frozen-thawed blastocyst.
Blastocyst* ; Embryo Transfer* ; Epithelium ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility ; Pregnancy ; Retrospective Studies* ; Single Embryo Transfer ; Vitrification

It is known that cases of osteomyelitis are less common than 5% in deep burn cases. This research presents a case of chronic osteomyelitis, presented 7 years after initial electrical burn injury. A 43-year-old male patient was admitted to the Department of Plastic Surgery, suffering from an 22900-voltage electrical burn on right medial malleolus in 2010. There was no postoperative complication for five years observation. In November 2016, he was admitted to the Plastic Surgery department, suffering from the skin and soft tissue defect on right medial malleolus without trauma history. The osteomyelitis on the right medial malleolus was found in bone scintigraphy. The medial malleolus was covered with a local flap two days after admission. Dehiscence was found after surgery and exudate was emerged continuously from the flap site. We decided to cover the raw surface with a perforator based propeller flap 22 days after admission considering reconstructive ladder. The flap survived successfully, and partial epidermal sloughing was healed completely by daily dressing at 51 days after the surgery. It is advisable to establish and access the prudent plan before surgery through many kinds of radiological tests and physical examinations considering vascular stability and delayed wound healing.
Adult ; Bandages ; Burns* ; Exudates and Transudates ; Humans ; Male ; Osteomyelitis* ; Physical Examination ; Postoperative Complications ; Radionuclide Imaging ; Skin ; Surgery, Plastic ; Wound Healing

Maxillary sinus mucocele can occur due to many medical factors such as chronic infection, allergic sinonasal disease, trauma, and previous surgery. However, it occurs mainly after Caldwell-Luc operation, usually more than 10 years after surgery. There are a few cases of maxillary sinus mucocele with ocular symptoms. Also, a case causing ocular symptoms because of invasion to the orbital floor is rare. Therefore, we report a case of a 55-year-old male patient who underwent Caldwell-Luc operation about 30 years ago. Then, symptoms such as exophthalmos, diplopia, and visual disturbance developed suddenly 3 months prior to admission. Computed tomography showed a cyst invading the orbital floor which resulted in eyeball deviation. The orbital floor defect measured approximately 2.5×3.3 cm. Maxillary sinus mucocele was removed through an endoscopic approach. After this, we reconstructed the orbital floor through a subciliary incision. Observation was carried out after three years, and ocular symptoms such as diplopia and exophthalmos did not recur.
Diplopia ; Exophthalmos ; Humans ; Male ; Maxillary Sinus* ; Middle Aged ; Mucocele* ; Orbit*

BACKGROUND: Since better understanding of the associations between blood pressure and blood lipids may provide insight into the mechanisms by which hypertension is associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease, this study is aimed to explore the associations of blood pressure with serum lipids, BMI, age, FBS and life style factors. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this study, 20,826 men and 10,209 women were included for the assessment of the cross-sectional relations of blood lipids, BMI, Blood pressure and Life style factors. Stratified analyses and multivariable methods were used to control for potential confounding anthropometric and lifestyle variables. Total cholesterol and Triglyceride levels increased significantly with increasing systolic or diastolic blood pressure in both sexes. Men of 20-29 years old had steeper regression slopes for blood pressure by total cholesterol level than did women of similar age. In men, the association between blood pressure and total cholesterol level decreased with age, whereas in women, no change was observed regarding age. Body mass index modified the relation, whereas smoking, exercise, and alcohol consumption had little influence on the association. HDL cholesterol level had little influence on blood pressure. In the group of age <40, age accounted more than BMI for hypertension, whereas in group of age > or =40, BMI accounted more. In the group of age < 40, other variables ,besides age and BMI, are suggested to influence more on male hypertension than female hypertension. CONCLUSION: These results provides evidence that there are interrelations between blood pressure, blood lipids and life style factors that may influence the mechanisms of coronary heart disease.
Adult* ; Alcohol Drinking ; Blood Pressure* ; Body Mass Index ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Coronary Disease ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Life Style ; Male ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Triglycerides

Volume deficiency and poorly defined cupid's bow of the upper lip are frequently encountered problems in secondary cleft lip deformities. In this report, we present the method of a periumbilical dermal graft for correcting secondary cleft lip deformity. A 17-year-old male patient presented with a poorly defined notching cupid's bow and volume deficiency of the upper lip. He had undergone cleft lip surgery when he was 2 years old. We planned to perform a periumbilical dermal graft. There were sufficient amount of periumbilical subdermis and fat tissue thickness to obtain abundant volume. The periumbilical contour was similar to the natural contour of the lip. Less scarring was expected. There was no need to change the posture during operation, making it easy to harvest. Postoperative evaluations showed vermilion symmetry. Ideal cupid's bow shape and position were achieved without color mismatch. As a result, we obtained an ideal volume of the upper lip. Therefore a periumbilical dermal graft is a good option for correcting volume deficiency of the lip with good aesthetic outcomes.
Adolescent ; Cicatrix ; Cleft Lip* ; Congenital Abnormalities* ; Dermis ; Humans ; Lip ; Male ; Methods ; Posture ; Transplants* ; Umbilicus

It is known that radiation can induce various kind of mutations, cancers and congenital malformations. Day 9 rats embryos were cultured by whole embryo culture method and irradiated 0.1, 0.5, 2 and 5 Gy at day 10 to study the effect of radiation on the development of rat embryos. Haversting after 48 hours culture, the morphological changes and apoptosis were investigated. In addition, we assessed the expression patterns of p53, WAF1, Bcl -2, Bcl -x and Bax. Compared to the control group, no remarkable morphological changes were observed in the low dosage group (0.1 and 0.5 Gy). But at high dosage group (2 and 5 Gy), growth was retarded and the heart beats were weak. The crown rump length, the number of somites, and branchial arch were decreased and the rotation of embryo and development of otic pit and lens pit, and upper limb bud was delayed significantly. Especially in the 5 Gy group the most of external morphology were difficult to discriminate. In histological observations, high dosage group showed marked increase in the number of apoptotic bodies in the optic cup, trigeminal ganglion, pharyngeal arches, heart and small intestine. In western blot analysis, Bcl -x and Bax were not expressed in all groups. Expression level of Bcl -2 was constant regardless of the amount of radiation. Expression level of p53 and WAF1 increased significantly in accordance with the increasing amount of radiation. Especially, WAF1 was expressed 7.2, 6.3, 9.9 and 11.3 folds more than the control groups when embryos were exposed to 0.1, 0.5, 2 and 5 Gy, respectively. Considering WAF1 arrests cell cycle, we concluded that cell cycle was affected most sensitively to radiation injury. From these results, radiation showed growth retardation, decrease in protein synthesis, increase in apoptosis and expression of related genetic materials. These results may be used as a standard to test the effect of drugs for reducing and protecting agents against deterious effect of radiation in developing embryo and fetus.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Blotting, Western ; Branchial Region ; Cell Cycle ; Crown-Rump Length ; Embryonic Structures* ; Fetus ; Heart ; Intestine, Small ; Radiation Injuries ; Rats ; Somites ; Trigeminal Ganglion ; Upper Extremity