A purpose of present study is to provide basic information evaluating the utility of Magnetic Resonance imaging as a biological marker estimating manganese effects to central nervous system among welders, which is conducted by comparing urinary and blood manganese concentrations and signal intensities of brain MR images between exposed group and non-exposed group, evaluating the objectivity of subjective grading estimated by correlations between Pallidal signal intensity index (P. I) and subjective grades among exposed group, and comparing the difference of signal intensities according to presence of neurologic symptoms, signs and exposure variables among the exposed group. The exposed group is composed of 11 welders complaining severe symptoms or showing neurological signs, and the non-exposed group is composed of 5 patients who admitted a hospital. Urinary manganese concentrations and signal intensities in T1-weighted MR images among exposed group were higher than those of the non-exposed group significantly, which exhibits that increased signal intensities in T1-weighted MR image represent the effect of manganese exposure. P. Is among the exposed group revealed relatively high correlations with subjective grades ( gamma =0.63, p=0.037) , which suggests the objectivity of subjective grade. Signal intensity in globus pallidus was a suitable single variable representing the effect of manganese accumulation in C.N.S system appropriately, which was verified as follows ; Increased signal intensities among the exposed group had the highest frequency and intensity in the globus pallidus, and the P.I. had a relatively high correlation coefficient ( gamma 0.62, p=0.044) with total score of subjective grades. Signal intensity with subjective grading in globus pallidus represented very high correlation gamma =0.97, p=0.00) with total score of subjective grades, and had a similar correlation coefficient with many variables. It is hard to argue that signal intensities are markers representing pathologic change in C.N.S system or can be used as a diagnostic tool for manganese intoxication, because signal intensities had no difference between the exposed group and the non-exposed group according to presence of neurological signs.
Biological Markers ; Brain ; Central Nervous System ; Globus Pallidus ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Male* ; Manganese ; Neurologic Manifestations

PURPOSE: To report a case of multiple eyelid trichilemmomas associated with Cowden syndrome. CASE SUMMARY: A 27-year-old woman presented with multiple upper and lower eyelid skin masses that developed over several years. The masses were as large as whitish millet, and were around the upper and lower eyelid margin and the face. The patient had previously undergone subtotal thyroidectomy for a thyroid mass and a mass excision for extremity hemangioma. Excisional biopsy was performed for the diagnosis, and trichilemmoma was diagnosed based on histopathologic examination. Consequently, multiple trichilemmoma associated with Cowden syndrome was diagnosed, and breast evaluations for existence of further masses were recommended. On breast examinations, intraductal papilloma and fibroadenoma were detected. CONCLUSIONS: The trichilemmoma was a hair-follicle benign tumor that also appeared on the skin around the eyelid. If multiple trichilemmoma is diagnosed, an association with Cowden syndrome should be considered as well as presence of masses in other organs.
Biopsy ; Breast ; Extremities ; Eyelids ; Female ; Fibroadenoma ; Hamartoma Syndrome, Multiple ; Hemangioma ; Humans ; Panicum ; Papilloma, Intraductal ; Skin ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroidectomy

BACKGROUND: To access the accuracy and clinical usefulness of microplate identification (ID) system for the identification of Enterobacteriaceae, we compared microplate ID system with API 20E(bioMerieux, Etoile, France). METHODS: Ninety-two cultures of Enterobacteriaceae and one isolate of Aeromonas species were simultaneously identified by microplate ID system and the API 20E. Twenty biochemical tests used in microplate ID system were lactose, sucrose, and H2S in Kligler's iron agar media; indole, sucrose, raffinose, arabinose, trehalose, adonitol, dulcitol, sorbitol, cellibiose, methy-red, phenylalanine deaminase, ornithine decarboxylase, lysine decarboxylase, arginine dihydrolase, urease, and citrate in microplate; and oxidase test. The identification was obtained by considering percent likelihood(% ID), modal frequency and ID score method. RESULTS: Among the 92 cultures of Enterobacteriaceae and one isolate of Aeromonas species, agreement rate of identification according to the % ID between microplate ID system and API 20E were 90.3% to the species level and 97.8% to the genus level. CONCLUSIONS: For the identification of clinical Enterobacteriaceae isolates, the microplate ID system compares favorably with API 20E in identification accuracy and have the advantage of costsaving and easy to use.
Aeromonas ; Agar ; Arabinose ; Arginine ; Citric Acid ; Enterobacteriaceae* ; Galactitol ; Iron ; Lactose ; Lysine ; Ornithine Decarboxylase ; Oxidoreductases ; Phenylalanine ; Raffinose ; Ribitol ; Sorbitol ; Sucrose ; Trehalose ; Urease

PURPOSE: To report a case of treating a patient with intralesional cidofovir injection who had frequently recurring lacrimal sac squamous papilloma after several excision surgeries. CASE SUMMARY: A 59-year-old man who had mass excision surgery at a different clinic nine months previously, visited our clinic to treat a recurring erythematous protruding mass near his left medial canthus that developed two months prior. Orbit CT showed a 15 x 25 mm-sized large mass located on the lacrimal sac adherent to medial orbital wall. An excision biopsy was performed and the histopathologic examination showed typical findings of squamous papilloma. Because the tumor recurred six months after the second surgery, we decided to perform adjuvant therapy using the antiviral agent cidofovir. The patient was treated with a 5 mg/mL intralesional cidofovir injection every three weeks. A transient recurrence presented on the upper lid at the third intralesional cidofovir injection site two months after the surgery, but the recurrent lesion improved after repeated injections. During the 12 months of follow-up, there were no complications and no evidence of recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Intralesional cidofovir injections can be a safe and effective treatment for the management of recurrent squamous papilloma of the orbit, especially after total excision.
Biopsy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Injections, Intralesional ; Middle Aged ; Orbit ; Papilloma* ; Recurrence

Purpose: To present the first case of severe upper and lower tarsal ectropion associated with immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-relatedophthalmic disease.Case summary: A 37-year-old male presented with relapsed eyelid swelling and periocular inflammation in the left eye for7 years. He had severe upper and lower tarsal ectropion and a thickened upper eyelid with prolapsed conjunctival fornix. Orbitalcomputed tomography showed a poorly defined anterior orbital mass involving the lacrimal gland and upper and lower eyelids onthe left eye. The severe upper and lower eyelid ectropion was corrected by a modified spindle procedure and lateral tarsal strip.Hard, ill-defined fibrotic tissue and a mass around the lateral upper tarsal plate were discovered that required excision of themass and a biopsy. Hematologic and histopathologic findings of the orbital mass indicated IgG4-related ophthalmic disease withsevere upper and lower ectropion caused by the disease. Conclusions In cases of severe upper and lower eyelid ectropion caused by chronic inflammation, as seen in this case, not onlyeyelid tightening with excision of the causative mass but also a modified spindle procedure is required to prevent rotation of theeyelid.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The combination of an aging population with a chronic diseased population is leading to an increase in the mortality rate due to cardiovascular diseases. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in the Korean population and to evaluate its related factors for sex differences. METHODS: From April 2007 to December 2008, a total of 2,729 volunteers aged 40-69 years living in Changwon city underwent a clinical examination at a hospital in Changwon, Korea. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed following the criteria defined in Circulation 2009. The clinical examination included measuring anthropometric variables and cardiovascular risk factors, while lifestyle factors were assessed through a questionnaire. RESULTS: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in our sampling pool was 25.2% with a break down by sex showing a rate of 30.2% in men and 22.2% in women. Related factors associated with metabolic syndrome common to both sex were age, self-health assessment, and alcohol consumption. Sleep duration seemed to be a related factor in men, while income, education, and menstruation status played significant roles in women. CONCLUSIONS: To better manage metabolic syndrome, men need to be educated on alcohol use and women of low socioeconomic status require particular attention as do the aging population and postmenopausal women.
Adult ; Aged ; Aging ; Alcohol Drinking ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Life Style ; Male ; Menstruation ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Sex Characteristics ; Social Class

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of mitomycin-C (MMC) on osteotomy site as an adjunctive therapy for dacryocystorhinostomy, the effect of MMC on cultured human osteoblasts was tested. METHODS: Cultured osteoblasts which was obtained from the human iliac crest, were treated with four different concentrations of MMC (0 mg/ml, 0.2 mg/ml, 0.02 mg/ml, 0.002 mg/ml) and cultured for 24hours. To observe the effect of exposed time dependency, cells were treated with MMC during 5, 30minutes, and 24hours and washed and changed with fresh osteogenic media, and then cultured for 24 hours. The effect of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and transforming growth factor-beta(TGF-beta) on the MMC-treated cells was evaluated. Cell viability was measured using trypan blue staining method and MTT assay. RESULTS: As compared with control group, the lowest growth rate of osteoblasts was 6.8% in 0.2 mg/ml MMC-treated cells. There were no significant differences in the growth rate between 5 minutes and 30 minutes MMC treatment groups, but in case of 24 hours treatment group with MMC (0.2 mg/ml) the growth rate was suppressed to 77.5% of control group with statistical significance. Both growth factors had promotive effect on the growth of in 0.02 mg/ml MMC-treated osteoblasts, but not in 0.2 mg/ml MMC-treated cells. CONCLUSIONS: Osteoblasts which were treated for longer time and with higher concentration of MMC showed more suppression in growth rate. These results suggest that intraoperative application of MMC during dacryocystirhinostomy could have a positive effect of mucosal ostium with suppression of osteoblasts proliferation.
Cell Survival ; Dacryocystorhinostomy ; Fibroblast Growth Factors ; Humans* ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Mitomycin* ; Osteoblasts* ; Osteotomy ; Trypan Blue

PURPOSE: To study the results of intravitreal tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and expansile gas injection for the treatment of submacular hemorrhage in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS: Eleven consecutive patients (11 eyes) with submacular hemorrhage in AMD were included in this study. All patients were treated with intravitreal injections of tPA and C3F8 gas. Postoperatively, patients' follow-up period were at least 3 months. Outcome measures included early and final visual acuity, age, disc areas of hemorrhage, duration of symptoms, displacement of blood from the fovea, and final macular status. RESULTS: The maximum diameter of the hematoma ranged from 2 to 10 disc diameters. The mean duration of submacular hemorrhage was 7.5 days. Submacular blood was completely displaced in 7 patients (64%) and partially in four (36%). Best postoperative visual acuity improved in 7 eyes; in 6 eyes (55%), the improvement was two or more lines. Final visual acuity improved in 7 eyes (64%), remained stable in 2 eyes (18%), and worsened in 2 eyes (18%). Choroidal neovascularization positioned at subfovea in 7 eyes (64%) and juxtafovea in 4 eyes (36%). No significant difference was found between postoperative visual recovery and these factors. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that intravitreal tPA and expansile gas injection are safe and of useful for displacing hemorrhages secondary to age-related macular degeneration. Final visual acuity was limited by the underlying choroidal neovascularization of AMD.
Choroidal Neovascularization ; Displacement (Psychology) ; Eye ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematoma ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Intravitreal Injections ; Macular Degeneration ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Tissue Plasminogen Activator ; Visual Acuity

The purpose of this stdudy was to evaluate the effect of maxillary protraction and the relapse of hard and soft tissue after maxillary protraction. For this study 29 patients who were treated with maxillary protractor and labiolingual archwire were selected. Their mean age was 9 years 4 months and mean treatment period was 8.5 months. Lateral cephalograms were taken at pretreatment, immediately after treatment and one to three months after removal of the maxillary protractor. They were traced on skeletodental and soft tissue structures based on Burstone's analysis and analyzed by QuickCeph Image Digitizing System(ORTHODONTIC PROCESSING). The mean and standard deviation between pretreatment and posttreatment and between posttreatment and retention period for each cephalometric variable were calculated. Student t-test was used to determine the statistical significance of the changes in each variable. Correlation coefficients between hard tissue and soft tissue I were used to determine interrelationship. The results were as follows: 1. After maxillary protraction, the maxilla and maxillary dentition moved antero-inferiorly, the mandibld and mandibular dentition moved postero-inferiorly and palatal plane rotated antem-superiorly by 0.59degrees. 2. After maxillary protraction, the soft tissue of upper lip moved antero-inferiorly with the movement of hard tissue but the antero-posterior position of lower lip was stable in spite of the change of hard tissue. The thickness of upper lip was decreased and that of lower lip was increased after maxillary protraction. 3. During the retention period, the position of jaws was relatively stable but upper and lower anterior teeth and antero-superiorly rotated palatal plane relapsed to original position. 4. During the retention period, the soft tissue of lips was stable antero-posteriorly and moved more inferiorly than posttreatment 5. The correlation coefficients between the postion of upper and lower incisal edge and that position of lips were high, especially in horizontal change.
Dentition ; Humans ; Jaw ; Lip ; Maxilla ; Recurrence* ; Tooth

During the long-term COVID-19 pandemic, wearing a mask is inevitable for protecting individuals from airborne infection. In this case, we found out that mask may exacerbate atopic dermatitis and it can be treated simply and effectively using silicone tape. We suggest that throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, silicone tape can be beneficial in both preventing and treating eczema caused by mask-wearing, especially in patients with atopic dermatitis.