In order to evaluate contamination of the topical eye drugs, 112(36 kinds) medications used over 1 month by the patients and 80(25 kinds) medications used at OPD(outpatient department) were studied by culturing the caps, the tips and the contents. Coagulase-negative staphylococcus was mainly isolated from the caps and the tips(p<0.05). But the other gram-positive bacteria, gram-negative bacteria and fungi were isolated from all medication sites. The most frequent site of contamination was the tips of the medications. Frequency of contamination based on detail of medications and preservatives of medications was not statistically significant(p>0.05). The medications used by the patients for a long time in comparison with the medications used at OPD were significantly more likely to be contaminated(p<0.0001). Therefore, we think that the topical eye durgs should be used with proper instillation and storage for a short period because of increase risk of contamination.
Fungi ; Gram-Negative Bacteria ; Gram-Positive Bacteria ; Humans ; Staphylococcus

To evaluate croneal haze related to amount of correction, age and sex following excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy(PRK) in myopic eyes, 39months follow-up study on 358 eyes was performed prospectively. The preoperative spherical equivalent refraction ranged from -1.0D to 11.25D(mean -6.18D). The subjective corneal haze grading showed a maximum with mean grading of 0.92 at 2 months and a gradual decrease to 0.14 at 24 months after PRK. The degree of haze was statistically greater with higher amount of correction(p<0.05). No difference was found related to age and sex(p>0.05). Clinically significant corneal haze and scarring was frequent in higher myopia group(p<0.05). Individual variation in corneal haze after PRK was found. However, high myopia is a risk factor of the corneal haze following PRK, and further study to decrease the corneal haze after PRK is necessary.
Cicatrix ; Follow-Up Studies ; Lasers, Excimer* ; Myopia* ; Photorefractive Keratectomy* ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors

PURPOSE: This study was to observe whether the apoptotic function of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) is induced in human gastric epithelial dysplasia and gastric adenocarcinoma according to the role of FasL expression. MATENRIALS AND METHODS: A total of 56 gastric epithelial dysplasia and gastric adenocarcinoma patients were enrolled in this study: 9 cases of gastric epithelial dysplasia, 18 cases of early gastric carcinomas (EGC) and 29 cases of advanced gastric carcinomas (AGC). Immunohistochemical staining was performed for FasL and CD45, and the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) method was used to detect cell death in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. RESULTS: 1) Positive reactions of FasL to neoplastic cells were 88.9% (8/9) in gastric epithelial dysplasia, 83.3% (15/18) in EGC, and 75.9% (22/29) in AGC. 2) Expression of TIL was decreased in the FasL positive region and was increased in the FasL negative region, and significant expression of TIL was observed in the AGC group (P=0.001). 3) Expression of apoptotic TIL was very similar to the FasL expression, and 100% expression was observed in gastric epithelial dysplasia group. 4) Expression of apoptotic TIL was increased in the FasL positive region and decreased in the FasL negative region, and significant apoptotic expression was observed in the gastric epithelial dysplasia and EGC groups (P=0.0420, P=0.0263, respectively). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that FasL is a prevalent mediator of immune privilege in epithelial dysplasia and cancer of the stomach.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Apoptosis* ; Cell Death ; DNA Nucleotidylexotransferase ; Humans ; Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating ; Stomach Neoplasms

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection (ESD) is a new endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) technique which enables en bloc resection even in large and depressed lesions. The aims of this study were to assess the therapeutic efficacy and the safety of ESD in gastric adenoma and in early gastric cancer (EGC). METHODS: We analyzed 101 lesions in 101 patients. ESD with insulated-tipped (IT) knife were performed in 52 adenomas and 49 EGCs from January 2003 to December 2005 in Dong-A University Hospital. RESULTS: The mean size of the lesion was 2.58 cm (0.7-4.5 cm). En bloc resection rate was 90.1% which was influenced by size (p>0.05). Complete resection rate was 83.2% even in large or in malignant tumors (p>0.05). Bleeding after ESD occurred in 41.6%. Tumor recurrence rate was 2.0%. CONCLUSIONS: ESD with IT knife is effective for the treatment of EGC and gastric adenoma even in large or in malignant lesions without definite increased risk of complications.
Adenoma/pathology/*surgery ; Adult ; Aged ; Dissection/instrumentation ; Female ; Gastric Mucosa/pathology/*surgery ; *Gastroscopy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms/pathology/*surgery ; Surgical Procedures, Minimally Invasive

The aim of the study was to investigate pig reference families, generated from Korean native pigs (KNP) that were crossed with Yorkshire (YS) breeds, which were used to evaluate genetic markers to select breeding animals with superior pork quality. A set of five candidate genes (PRKAG3, MC4R, CAST, ESR, and PRLR) was analyzed for association with pork quality traits. PRKAG3 (I199V) SNP genotypes were significantly associated with muscle moisture, protein, and fat contents. The MC4R D298N polymorphism was significantly associated with meat tenderness and color traits. The CAST polymorphism was significantly associated with muscle moisture and crude protein traits. These three genes have been associated with pork quality traits in other pig populations, and some of our results are consistent with earlier studies. In addition, two reproductive candidate genes (ESR and PRLR) did not have significant associations. These results suggest that further study is warranted to investigate and develop more DNA markers associated with pork quality in our KNP-crossed pig families.
Animals ; Breeding ; DNA ; Genetic Markers ; Genotype ; Humans ; Meat ; Muscles ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Swine

The intensive use of chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of cancer has resulted in the cure or improved survival of many patients. But unfortunately, many cancers including human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) don't respond to chemotherapy. One of the major mechanisms for the drug resistance in the HCC is an elevated MDR1 RNA expression which makes cells become multidrug resistant. To overcome the multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype, a high dose of verapamil is required both clinically and experimentally. Accordingly we have examined the MDR modulating effects with combinations of tamoxifen, cyclosporin A, and verapamil in vitro with the physiologically achievable concentrations of each agent, i.e., 2.0 microM/L for tamoxifen, 1.6 microM/L for cyclosporin A, and 2.5 microM/L for verapamil respectively in HCC lines. As expected, verapamil alone with the physiologically achievable concentration at which we tested didn't enhance the doxorubicin cytotoxicity in the HCC lines. Furthermore, any verapamil combination with cyclosporin A or tamoxifen was not effective in overcoming the doxorubicin resistance in the high MDR1 expressor (Hep-G2) line. However tamoxifen reduced the IC50 of doxorubicin by a factor of 1.9 in the low MDR1 expressor (SK-Hep1) and 1.1 in the high MDR1 expressor line (p< 10(-5) respectively). Of interest, combinations of tamoxifen and cyclosporin A showed a significant reduction in the IC50 of doxorubicin in both HCC lines. The IC50 of doxorubicin was reduced by a factor of 3.9 and 1.3, i.e., from 0.023943 micrograms/ml to 0.006157 micrograms/ml (p< 10(-5)) in the SK-Hep1 cell line, and 0.068819 micrograms/ml to 0.052442 micrograms/ml (p< 10(-5)) in Hep-G2 respectively when tamoxifen and cyclosporin A were administered together. Both the estrogen and progesterone receptors in the SK-Hep1 and Hep-G2 lines were less than 0.01 fmol/mg of cytosol protein, respectively. It is therefore suggested that the reversal of doxorubicin resistance is unrelated to their anti-estrogenic activity in the HCC lines. Three modulator combinations of tamoxifen, cyclosporin A, and verapamil were not more effective than the combination of tamoxifen and cyclosporin A on the sensitivity to doxorubicin. MDR modulators of tamoxifen, cyclosporin A, and verapamil didn't reduce the IC50 of cisplatin to the clinically achievable concentration range in HCC lines. In summary, the combination of tamoxifen and cyclosporin A at the concentrations normally seen after clinical administration of these modulators showed significant synergism on the sensitivity to doxorubicin in both low and high MDR1 expressor HCC lines. These data indicate the need for in vivo trials.
Antineoplastic Agents/*pharmacology ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/*physiopathology ; Cyclosporine/*pharmacology ; Drug Resistance ; Human ; Liver Neoplasms/*physiopathology ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Tamoxifen/*pharmacology ; Tumor Cells, Cultured/drug effects ; Verapamil/*pharmacology

We present an unusual case of a penile cavernosal abscess. This patient did not improve clinically despite repeat percutaneous aspiration of the abscess and administration of oral fluoroquinolone. Surgical drainage was required. Culture of pus and infected tissues were negative. Three months postoperatively, penile deviation to the left side and erectile dysfunction occurred but the patient was able to have sexual intercourse by using the medication of oral vardenafil. Colchicine was administered orally to the patient for 9 months and the penile curvature was improved.
Abscess* ; Coitus ; Colchicine ; Drainage ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Humans ; Male ; Penis ; Suppuration ; Vardenafil Dihydrochloride

Adenomatoid tumors arising in the tunica vaginalis are relative rare neoplasms, and usually benign in nature. An appropriate treatment of an adenomatoid tumor is local excision. Herein, a case of an adenomatoid tumor of the tunica vaginalis, in a 40-year-old man, is described. An orchiectomy was performed to excise the mass, and pathologic evaluation revealed an adenomatoid tumor of the tunica vaginalis.
Adenomatoid Tumor* ; Adult ; Humans ; Orchiectomy ; Scrotum ; Testis*

Adenomatoid tumors arising in the tunica vaginalis are relative rare neoplasms, and usually benign in nature. An appropriate treatment of an adenomatoid tumor is local excision. Herein, a case of an adenomatoid tumor of the tunica vaginalis, in a 40-year-old man, is described. An orchiectomy was performed to excise the mass, and pathologic evaluation revealed an adenomatoid tumor of the tunica vaginalis.
Adenomatoid Tumor* ; Adult ; Humans ; Orchiectomy ; Scrotum ; Testis*

Thoracic aortic aneurysms are potentially life-threatening. They are caused by atherosclerosis, most commonly of the descending aorta. Clinical manifestations are due to the compression or erosion of adjacent structures, dissection, or rupture. Thoracic aortic aneurysms account for 50 to 60 percent of aortobronchopulmonary fistulas. Symptoms of aortobronchopulmonary fistulas include constant chest or back pain, cough, and dyspnea, as well as hemoptysis, which occurs in over 95 percent of cases. Recently, aortobronchial fistula, caused by thoracic aortic aneurysms, has been successfully treated with an endovascular stent graft. We report a patient with aortobronchial fistula presenting with hemoptysis, who was successfully treated with an endovascular stent graft.
Aorta, Thoracic ; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic* ; Atherosclerosis ; Back Pain ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis* ; Cough ; Dyspnea ; Fistula* ; Hematemesis ; Hemoptysis ; Humans ; Rupture ; Stents* ; Thorax