In order to investigate the clinical results of clear lens extraction for high myopia, the effects of 5.5mm sutureless corneoscleral procedure with low power IOL insertion on 21 patients (31 eyes) who were followed up averagely for 9.43 months were analyzed retrospectively. Prophylactic retinal treatment with argon laser was performed in 23 eyes to prevent retinal detachment. Eighty-seven percent (25/31 eyes) of eyes were within +/-1D of targeted refractive error and all eyes were within +/-2D of targeted refractive error. The postoperative corrected visual acuities were increased in 96.8% (30/31 eyes) and 80.7% (25/31 eyes) among them gained two or more lines. the corrected visual acuity of 20/40 or better were increased from 35.5%(11/31 eyes) preoperatively to 93.6% (29/31 eyes) postoperatively. Posterior capsular opacification was developed in two eyes and YAG laser posterior capsulotomy was performed at 2 and 7 months postoperatively. No retinal break, no cystoid macular edema were developed during the follow up period. In conclusion, the clear lens extraction was effective method for correction of severe high myopia but longer follow-up is needed to evaluate it`s complications.
Argon ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lasers, Solid-State ; Macular Edema ; Myopia* ; Posterior Capsulotomy ; Refractive Errors ; Retinal Detachment ; Retinal Perforations ; Retinaldehyde ; Retrospective Studies ; Visual Acuity

One hundred and ten patients with carcinoma of the nasopharynx were treated by radiation therapy in Deoartment of Therapeutic Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital between 1979 and 1985. Among these, one hundred and five patients were treated with curative intent and 5 patients with palliative aim. Excluding 16 patients who did not receive a full coarse of radiation therapy, the remaining 89 patients were reviewed for this analysis. Minimum follow-up period of survivors was 36 months. Forty-three percent of the patients had T4 primary lesions and 72% had stage IV disease. The histology was squamous cell carcinoma in 46% of the patients. undifferentiated carcinoma in 49%, and lymphoepithelioma in 5%. Total radiation dose to the primary site averaged 6,500 cCY for T1, T2 lesions and 7,500 cCY for T3, T4 lesions. Neck node were given boost treatment to a maximum 7,500 cCY depending on the extent of disease. Early primary lesion(T1, T2) and neck nodes were successfully controlled in most cases when dose of greater than 6,500 cGy was delievered. Forty two patients(47%) had recurred, 16 of whom(38%) recurred at the primary site and 24(57%) developed distant metastases. Of these, 9 patients received re-irradiation with or without chemotherapy and local control was obtained in 2 patients(22%). Actuarial overall survival and disease-free survival rate was 42% and 38% at 5 years. T-stage and histotogic subtype were not correlated with survival. However, N-stage was related to survival significantly(p=0.043).
Carcinoma ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Disease-Free Survival ; Drug Therapy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Nasopharynx ; Neck ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Radiation Oncology ; Seoul ; Survivors

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) is malignant tumor frequently occurring in Koreans. There have been few reports regarding the cytologic findings of fine needle aspiration(FNA) of HCC. Most have suggested a diagnostic problem in the cytology distinguishing HCC from some benign hepatic lesion-for example, a regeneration nodule in cirrhosis and liver cell adenoma. In spite of its high frequency in Korea, no cytologic study has been reported, concerning the FNA of HCC. In an attempt to achieve cytologic criteria for the diagnosis of HCC, the authors studied retrospectively cytopathologic findings of 247 cases of HCC. These cases were confirmed either by histologic examination including lobectomy, biopsy, or cell block material, or, when tissue diagnosis was unavailable, by a high serum alpha-fetoprotein level(over 400 I. U.). All aspiration smears were stained by the Papainicolaou method. In each case, the smears were analyzed for cell patterns and various cytomorphology of the tumor cells. The smear background was assessed for the presence of tumor cell necrosis and inflammatory components and compared to that of metastatic carcinomas. The cell patterns were classified as trabecular, acinar, dispersed, and irregular. The cytologic parameters analyzed included the degree of nuclear atypia and the presence of mitoses, intranuclear cytoplasmic inclusions, nucleolar prominency, endothelial lining, multinucleated giant cells, eosinophilc, globules bile and Mallory body. Most of the FNA of HCC showed markedly cellular smears. The tumor cells were most frequently arranged in a trabecular pattern(80.3%). The irregular(12.6%), the acinar(5.5%), and the dispersed patterns(1.7%) followed in decreasing frequency. Individual hepatoma cells were larger than normal liver cells. However, they had morphologic features characteristic of the hepatic cells : the cells were round or polygonal, their cytoplasm was abundant and granular with eosinophilic or amphophilic stainability, and their nuclei were round to oval, located centrally, and tended to have prominent nucleoli. Anaplasia and pleomorphism of tumor cells were generally mild to moderate. These findings existed even in very well differentiated cases. Mitotic figures were present in about 85% of the cases. Prominent nucleoli were observed only in about half the cases. The frequency of other cytologic features was as follows : intranuclear cytoplasmic inclusion in 86.8% ; endothelial lining in 56.1% ; bile in 19.8% ; and giant cells in 60.1%. Clear cells were often present in 11.7%, Most aspiration smears of HCC displayed clean background without necrosis or inflammatory material in contrast to the dirty, necrotic background of metastatic cancers and cholangiocarcinomas. Based on the above mentioned features, it is suqqested that the cytologic critieria most important for the diagnosis of HCC include a markedly cellular smear, trabecular pattern. hepatocytoid appearance of tumor cells, endothelial lining, the presence of bile, giant cells, intranuclear cytoplasmic inclusions, and prominent nucleoli, Among these, trabecular pattern, endothelial lining, giant cells and clean smear background are points to be considered in differentiating HCC from metastatic and cholangiocellular carcinoma.
Adenoma, Liver Cell ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; Anaplasia ; Bile ; Biopsy ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle* ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; Cytoplasm ; Diagnosis ; Endothelial Cells ; Eosinophils ; Fibrosis ; Giant Cells ; Hepatocytes ; Inclusion Bodies ; Korea ; Liver ; Mitosis ; Necrosis ; Needles ; Regeneration ; Retrospective Studies

Computerized tomography(CT) have been available for diagnosis and localization of intracerebral hematoma. CT-guided stereotactic evacuation of spontaneous intracerebral hematoma was performed in 34 cases; 25 basal ganglionic hematomas with or without ventricular perforation, 4 subcortical, 3 thalamic, 1 cerebellar and 1 pontine. The biplane CT image were taken to determine the coordinates of the target point, which was the center of the hematoma. The liquefied or solid portion of the hematoma was aspirated through a burr-hole under local anesthesia. And a silastic tube(3.3mm in outer diameter and 2.0mm in inner diameter) was then inserted into the center of the hematoma. Immediately after the first trial of hematoma aspiration, urokinase(6000IU/5ml saline) was administered through the tube. Subsequently, aspiration and infusion of urokinase were repeated every 6 or 12 hours until the hematoma was almost completely evacuated. The follow-up results indicate that this procedure was more superior over the conventional craniotomy. This CT-guided stereotactic operation has the following advantages; 1) the procedure is simple and safe; 2) the procedure can be performed under local anesthesia; and 3) the hematoma can be completely drained with the aid of urokinase. This procedure can be used as a standard treatment for intracerebral hematoma. We have draw the following conclusions; As a result of the above study 1) Stereotactic surgery is more effective in the patients with neurologic grade 3 than conservative one (p<0.05). 2) To use urokinase or perform the early surgery within 24 hours did not seem to be the cause of rebleeding. 3) In the case of pons or cerebellar hemorrhage, stereotactic surgery had definite benefit in the recovery of consciousness even if recovery of motor function was dismal. 4) In patients with spontaneuous ICH, the favorable prognostic indicatiors were as follows: the size of hematoma less thas 50ml, no signs of transtentorial herniation and patient's age under 60.
Anesthesia, Local ; Consciousness ; Craniotomy ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Ganglion Cysts ; Hematoma* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Pons ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator

OBJECTIVES: The early detection of ectopic tubal pregnancy in unruptured state is increased as the transvaginal sonography and sensitive serum hCG test are available. For this unruptured tubal pregnancy, the medical treatment using methotrexate via various routes and dosage is being tried. Our study was to evaluate the efficacy of single systemic injection of methotrexate in the treatment of unruptured tubal pregnancies. Material and METHODS: From the January 1997 to July 1999, of 152 ectopic pregnancy patients, 22 patients who were diagnosed as unruptured tubal pregnancies were treated with single-dose systemic methotrexate injection (50 mg/m2/IM). Exclusion criteria were unstable vital signs with hemoperitoneum, adnexal mass > 5-6 cm. Serum hCG titers were checked before injection and 4, 7 day after injection. If serum hCG titer declined more than 15% on 7 day after injection compared with titer on 4 day, the weekly hCG titer was followed until it was <10 mIU/ml .If the hCG titer did not decline more than 15 %, a second dose was given. If hCG titer was not decreased or vital signs became unstable after 1-2 injections, the treatment was considered failure and surgery was done. RESULTS: 18 cases (82%) of 22 were successfully treated with single-dose methotrexate. The mean size of ectopic mass and initial serum hCG titers were 2.7+/-1.3 cm (range, 1.5-5.4 cm) and 3,298+/-1,007 mIU/ml (range, 132-12,239), respectively. Of 22, 6 cases (28%) needed second dose of methotrexate. The mean time to resolution of serum beta-hCG titer was 27.5+/-13.6 days (range, 8-53 days). Elevation of liver enzyme did not occurred in all cases during treatment. Initial hCG titer was more important prognostic factor than ectopic mass size for successful medical treatment. CONCLUSION: Single-dose methotrexate appears to be an effective medical treatment for the unruptured tubal pregnancy. However, patients selection using strict criteria is needed to increase its success rate.
Female ; Hemoperitoneum ; Humans ; Liver ; Methotrexate* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic ; Pregnancy, Tubal* ; Vital Signs

PURPOSE: To gain insight on transcriptional repression of Topo II a in HL-60 cells arrested to G2/M and M phase, the levels of Topo IIa mRNA and the binding activity of ATF have been investigated with Northern blot hybridization and DNA mobility shift assay, respectively. MATERIALS AND METHODS: HL-60 cells were grown in RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with 10% heat-mactivated fetal bovine serum and antibiotics in a humidified 5% CO2 at 37C degree. Total RNA was prepared by a modification of the method of Karlinsey et al. Northern blot hybridization was performed by the method of Virca et al. A Xho I-Mlu I fragment of phTOP2 was used as probe for Northern blot analysis of Topo II a mRNA. DNA mobility shift assay was performed by the method of Lim et al. End labeled DNA oligomer (upper strand, 5-TCTCCGCTATGACGCCGAGTGGTG-3) for ATF binding activity was mixed with nuclear extracts in a 20 pl reaction volume containing 60 mM KC1, 12 mM HEPES, pH 7.9, 5 mM MgCl2, 0.2 mM EDTA, 0.2 mM DTT, 12% glycerol, and 2 ug of poly [dI-dC]. RESULTS: HL-60 cells were arrested at G2/M phase and M phase after taxol or nocodazole treatment. The levels of Topo II a mRNA were reduced at 24 hours after exposure with nocodazole or taxol but the unknotting activities were not changed. DNA mobility shift assay using oligonucleotide containing the ATF binding site showed that ATF binding activity was reduced after pretreatment of nododazole or taxol. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the reduction of ATF binding activity may be important to transcriptional repression of Topo II a gene by nocodazole and taxol in HL- 60 cells.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Binding Sites ; Blotting, Northern ; Cell Division* ; DNA Topoisomerases, Type I* ; DNA Topoisomerases, Type II* ; DNA* ; Edetic Acid ; Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay ; Genes, vif ; Glycerol ; HEPES ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Magnesium Chloride ; Nocodazole ; Paclitaxel ; Repression, Psychology ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger

CNS prophylaxis with 18 or 24 Gy cranial irradiation plus intrathecal methotrexate was given to 134 childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients who had got bone marrow remission(M1) after remission induction chemotherapy from August 1979 to December 1986. The rate of initial total CNS relapse was 14.2%(19/134), the rate of isolated CNS relapse was 5.2%(7/134), and the rate of CNS relapse concomittantly combined with bone marrow relapse or testicular relapse was 9%(12/134). Male sex or older age was accociated with higher CNS relapes and the initial peripheral leukocyte count over 50,000/ul had higher relapse rate. Relapse with radiation dose of 18 Gy was somewhat lower than that with 24 Gy. Within 4 years after CNS prophylaxis occurred 89% of the total CNS relapses, 100% of the isolated CNS relapses, and 83% of the combined CNS relapses. Adjusted to exposed cases to risk of CNS relapse, the total CNS relapse rate was 11.9% during maintenance chemotherapy and 4.9% after maintenance chemotherapy.
Bone Marrow ; Child* ; Cranial Irradiation* ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Leukocyte Count ; Maintenance Chemotherapy ; Male ; Methotrexate ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma* ; Recurrence ; Remission Induction

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a developmental neuropathology resulting from in utero exposure to ethanol; many of ethanol's effects are likely to be mediated by the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). We studied modulation of the neurotransmitter receptor GABABR and its capacity for intracellular signal transduction under conditions of ethanol treatment (ET) and RNA interference to investigate a potential role for GABA signaling in FAS. ET increased GABAB1R protein levels, but decreased protein kinase A-alpha (PKA-alpha), calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) and phosphorylation of cAMP-response element binding protein (p-CREB), in cultured hippocampal neurons harvested at gestation day 17.5. To elucidate GABAB1R response to ethanol, we observed the effects of a GABABR agonist and antagonist in pharmacotherapy for ethanol abuse. Baclofen increased GABABR, CaMKII and p-CREB levels, whereas phaclofen decreased GABABR, CaMKII and p-CREB levels except PKA-alpha. Furthermore, when GABAB1R was knocked down by siRNA treatment, CaMKII and p-CREB levels were reduced upon ET. We speculate that stimulation of GABAB1R activity by ET can modulate CaMKII and p-CREB signaling to detrimental effect on fetal brain development.
Animals ; Baclofen ; Brain ; Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2 ; Carrier Proteins ; Ethanol ; Fetal Alcohol Syndrome ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; Hippocampus ; Neurons ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Phosphorylation ; Pregnancy ; Protein Kinases ; Rats ; Receptors, Neurotransmitter ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Signal Transduction

BACKGROUND: Many ophthalmic procedures can be performed using a retrobulbar regional anesthetic technique. However, retrobulbar block is painful and most of patients express anxiety about the procedure. In addition, several life-threatening complications may occur. We compared the effects of midazolam and midazolam-ketamine as a sedative during retrobulbar block in cataract surgery. METHODS: Thirty patients undergoing cataract surgery were randomly allocated into two groups, group I (n=15) was received midazolam and group II (n=15), midazolam-ketamine. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), and peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) were compared before administration of drugs and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 20, and 30 min after administration of drugs. Patients' movement requiring restraint were also checked. In the recovery room, postoperative nausea and vomiting, recall, delirium and/or hallucinations, and ocular complications were recorded. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in MAP and SpO2 between groups but heart rates were significantly increased at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 min than baseline in group II. Movement score was significantly lower in Group II than in Group I during the block (p<0.05). Recall during performance of the nerve block occured more often in Group I than in Group II (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Low-dose midazolam-ketamine sedation sequence was superior to a midazolam technique regarding patients' movement and recall.
Anxiety ; Arterial Pressure ; Cataract* ; Delirium ; Hallucinations ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Midazolam* ; Nerve Block ; Oxygen ; Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting ; Recovery Room

A 26-year-old man with intermittent lower, abdominal, cramping pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea was found to have intussusception by computed tomography. Whole emergency laparotomy was performed, intus-susception reduced spontaneously. Postoperately, familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) was diagnosed by colonoscopy and barium enema. Innumerous polyps were found in the entire colon and one of these was presumed to have caused sigmoid invagination. If is believed that FAP is quite a rare cause of colonic intus-susception. This case of a 26-year-old man with an intussusception of the colon due to FAP is herein reported. It is important that surgeons and internists are aware of this rare cause of intussusception due to FAP because of the therapeutic implications.
Adenomatous Polyposis Coli* ; Adult ; Barium ; Colon* ; Colon, Sigmoid ; Colonoscopy ; Diarrhea ; Emergencies ; Enema ; Humans ; Intussusception* ; Laparotomy ; Muscle Cramp ; Nausea ; Polyps ; Vomiting