No abstract available.
Humans ; Spinal Cord Injuries* ; Spinal Cord* ; Urinary Bladder*

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis is a rare disease of unknown etiology. It is characterized by the infiltration of the gastrointestinal tract by mature eosinophils, and increased peripheral eosinophil count and associated with various food allergies. Clinical manifestations were related to the site of histologic infiltration in the wall and the segment of the involved gastrointestinal tract. Recently, the authors experienced one case of eosinophilic gastroenteritis of the small bowel with spontaneous rupture that was managed by segmental resection of ileum and end to end anastomosis. Four years previous, he has undergone segmental resection of the ileum due to ileum perforation of unknown etiology. The peripheral blood eosinophil count of this case was normal but the IgE level was elevated. Microscopically, there was a dense infiltration of eosinophils throughout the entire thickness of the ileal wall, particularly in the muscle layer. The patient recovered well, but had one episode of abdominal pain with diarrhea and those symptoms were improved following the administration of corticosteroids. A brief review of the etiology, pathology, clinical features, diagnosis and management of this disease is presented.
Abdominal Pain ; Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Diagnosis ; Diarrhea ; Eosinophils* ; Food Hypersensitivity ; Gastroenteritis* ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Ileum ; Immunoglobulin E ; Pathology, Clinical ; Rare Diseases ; Rupture* ; Rupture, Spontaneous

Strongylodiasis is universal in distribution but is most abundant in countries with a tropical climate. Although infestation by Strongyloides stercoralis is usually limited to the intestines, dessemination of this helminth in debilitated host can be lead to death with various clinical disorders. characterized by profound malabsorption, diarrhea, electrolyte imbalance, gram negative or opportunistic fungal sepsis, coma and death. Cell-mediated immunity contributing significantly to the control of helminthic infections, may be suppressed by carcinoma, immunosuppressive chemotherapy and use of corticosteroids. Diagnosis of Strongyloidiasis is achieved by an examination of samples of feces, duodenal aspirates and sputum of patients for Strongyloides stercoralis. Treatment of strongyloidiasis is twofold : correction of the immunosuppressive state by withdrawal of immunosuppressive drug, if possible, and vigorous treatment with thiabendazole. Testing for strongyloidiasis is especially recommanded before treating a patients should be monitored for infection by Strongyloides stercoralis and other opportunistic infection. We are reporting a case patient with Strongyloides stercoralis hyperinfection and pulmonary tuberculosis who had been. used corticosteroid for persisting polyarthritis.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Arthritis ; Coma ; Diagnosis ; Diarrhea ; Drug Therapy ; Feces ; Helminths ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; Intestines ; Opportunistic Infections ; Sepsis ; Sputum ; Strongyloides stercoralis* ; Strongyloides* ; Strongyloidiasis ; Thiabendazole ; Tropical Climate ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

PURPOSE: We report the results of replantations which was intentionally delayed for a certain period of time in patients with an amputation of multiple digits, both hands or the single digit presented at night. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two staged intentianlly delayed replantations were performed in twenty patients. Three patients had amputations of four or more fingers, two had bilateral hand amputations and fifteen had a single digit amputation. RESULTS: The mean warm ischemic time was 3 hours and 58 minutes. The mean cold ischemic time was 2 hours and 36 minutes for the first operation, and 15 hours and 13 minutes for the second operation. Twenty digits out of 28 digits (85%) survived completely. At the mean follow-up of months, functional results according to Chen's criteria were rated as excellent in six patients, good in eight, and fair in five. CONCLUSION: When the patients had multiple finger amputations, bilateral hand amputations or presented late at night, intentional delay of the replantation also provide satisfactory outcomes.
Amputation ; Cold Ischemia ; Fingers ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hand ; Humans ; Intention ; Replantation ; Warm Ischemia

PURPOSE: To report a case of double-layered conjunctival autograft and amniotic membrane transplantation for the effective treatment of esotropia and hypotropia after removal of the recurrent pterygium. CASE SUMMARY: A 58-year-old male who had pterygium surgery of the right eye twice presented with diplopia on right gaze for 3 months. At the first visit, he had orthotropia in the primary position and right esotropia of 12 prism diopters (PD) on right gaze with limited abduction of -1 in the right eye. Fourteen months later, deviation was aggravated by esotropia of 30 PD and 12 PD of right hypotropia in the primary position at distance, and esotropia of 35 PD and 12 PD of right hypotropia at near with limited abduction of -2 and supraduction of -3 in the right eye. The patient complained of diplopia at all gazes and demonstrated chin-up posture. The conjunctival edge was recessed near the medial canthus and fornix, preventing conjunctival autograft after removal of subconjunctival scar tissue. Thus, 5 mm right medial rectus recession and additional half-sized conjunctival autograft were performed after amniotic membrane transplantation. The patient than showed no diplopia and orthotropia at both distance and near, with limited adduction of -1 in the right eye. He experienced no recurrence during 7 months of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: To prevent poor epithelial regeneration and dehiscence of graft in the patients with severe restrictive strabismus and very extensive conjunctival defect, double-layered conjunctival autograft and amniotic membrane transplantation may be effective for the treatment of severe esotropia and hypotropia.
Amnion* ; Autografts* ; Cicatrix ; Diplopia ; Esotropia* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Posture ; Pterygium ; Recurrence ; Regeneration ; Strabismus ; Transplants

STUDY DESIGN: Case Report. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to report 2 cases of calcified spinal meningioma that displayed differences in appearance during resection, and to review the current literature on calcified and ossified spinal meningiomas. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Calcified and ossified spinal meningiomas are rare, and tumor calcification is a risk factor for poor neurological outcomes resulting from the additional manipulations required to dissect the tumor. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We describe the clinical course and intraoperative findings of 2 female patients who presented with symptoms of myelopathy. Magnetic resonance imaging showed calcified spinal meningiomas of the thoracic spine. The type of tumor resection performed was dependent on the solidity and texture of the individual tumors. RESULTS: Pathologic evaluation revealed psammoma bodies, which suggested calcified meningioma. The patients' neurologic symptoms resolved with no neurologic sequelae. CONCLUSIONS: Although there are a few pathologic differences regarding the main type and pathogenesis of ossified and calcified meningioma, both are thought to have a poor prognosis. For these tumors, adequately accounting for the expected poor prognosis and performing a wide laminectomy in order to ensure an adequate surgical margin are important factors for achieving a favorable outcome.
Female ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Meningioma* ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Prognosis ; Risk Factors ; Spinal Cord Diseases ; Spine

Mitochondria are key organelles involved in energy production, functioning as the metabolic hubs of cells. Recent findings emphasize the emerging role of the mitochondrion as a key intracellular signaling platform regulating innate immune and inflammatory responses. Several mitochondrial proteins and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species have emerged as central players orchestrating the innate immune responses to pathogens and damaging ligands. This review explores our current understanding of the roles played by mitochondria in regulation of innate immunity and inflammatory responses. Recent advances in our understanding of the relationship between autophagy, mitochondria, and inflammasome activation are also briefly discussed. A comprehensive understanding of mitochondrial role in toll-like receptor-mediated innate immune responses and NLRP3 inflammasome complex activation, will facilitate development of novel therapeutics to treat various infectious, inflammatory, and autoimmune disorders.
Autophagy ; Immunity, Innate* ; Inflammasomes ; Inflammation* ; Ligands ; Mitochondria ; Mitochondrial Proteins ; Organelles ; Reactive Oxygen Species

OBJECTIVES : Presently there exist conflicting results in terms of the relationship between hypnotic susceptibility and the dissociation experience in college-aged populations. The present investigation sought to explore the relationship among dissociation, coping style and hypnotizability using structural equation modeling (SEM). METHODS : 288 Korean undergraduates completed the Dissociation Experience Scale-Korean version (DES-K), Coping style assessment, and assessment of the eye roll sign which is a suggested biological marker of hypnotizability according to Spiegel. We divided the students into two groups (DES> or = 20, N=81; DES <20, N=207) to evaluate differences in these variables. The Pearson correlation test was used to investigate the relationship among the variables. We used SEM to investigate the mediating process in the relationship among hypnotizability coping style and dissociation. RESULTS : In the high DES-K group, scores of passive coping strategies (emotionally focused and wishful thinking) were higher than low DES-K group. There were statistically significant but weak correlations between hypnotizability and wishful thinking and between passive coping strategies and dissociation. The mediating role of passive coping style between hypnotizability and dissociation was confirmed in university students. CONCLUSION : These results suggested there was no direct relationship between hypnotizability and dissociation and passive coping strategies mediating the relationship between hypnotizability and dissociation. This study cautions against equating dissociative capacity with hypnotizability.
Biomarkers ; Dissociative Disorders ; Eye ; Humans ; Negotiating ; Thinking

OBJECTIVES : Presently there exist conflicting results in terms of the relationship between hypnotic susceptibility and the dissociation experience in college-aged populations. The present investigation sought to explore the relationship among dissociation, coping style and hypnotizability using structural equation modeling (SEM). METHODS : 288 Korean undergraduates completed the Dissociation Experience Scale-Korean version (DES-K), Coping style assessment, and assessment of the eye roll sign which is a suggested biological marker of hypnotizability according to Spiegel. We divided the students into two groups (DES> or = 20, N=81; DES <20, N=207) to evaluate differences in these variables. The Pearson correlation test was used to investigate the relationship among the variables. We used SEM to investigate the mediating process in the relationship among hypnotizability coping style and dissociation. RESULTS : In the high DES-K group, scores of passive coping strategies (emotionally focused and wishful thinking) were higher than low DES-K group. There were statistically significant but weak correlations between hypnotizability and wishful thinking and between passive coping strategies and dissociation. The mediating role of passive coping style between hypnotizability and dissociation was confirmed in university students. CONCLUSION : These results suggested there was no direct relationship between hypnotizability and dissociation and passive coping strategies mediating the relationship between hypnotizability and dissociation. This study cautions against equating dissociative capacity with hypnotizability.
Biomarkers ; Dissociative Disorders ; Eye ; Humans ; Negotiating ; Thinking

This study was conducted to evaluate the accuracy of the official death registry in rural area. The base data used for the study was 379 deaths registered during the period of 1993 and 1994 in 4 rural townships of Chonnam Province. The interview survey for cause-of-death was performed on the next of kin and/or neighbor. Additional medical informations were collected from hospitals and medical insurance associations for the purpose of verification. The underlying cause-of-death of 278 cases presumed by the survey was compared to the cause on official death registry. There was a prominent disagreement of cause-of-death between the survey data and the registry data(agreement rate: 38.9~44.6%%, according to disease classification method). These results may be caused by extremely low rates of physicians' certification, which were mostly confined to the poisoning and injury. Symptoms, signs, and ill defined conditions on death registry could be classified into circulatory disease(32.3%), neoplasm(21.2%), digestive disease(7.l%), injury and poisoning(7.l%) and so on. These results suggest that careful attention and verification be required on utilization of death registry data in rural area.
Cause of Death ; Certification ; Classification ; Insurance ; Jeollanam-do ; Poisoning