No abstract available.
Gastric Mucosa* ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter*

The majority of ptients with ischemic heart disease such as angina pectoris and myocardial infarction have coronary atherosclerosis as a underlying cause. However, in unusual conditions such as variant angina, aortic valvular heart disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, vasculitis, hypercoagulable states, coronary atherosclerosis is not the cause. Polycythemia vesa is a myeloproliferative disease characterized by infrequent thromboembolic complications such as ischemic heart disease. We report a case of polycythemia vera presenting with angina pectoris without coronary artery stenosis with the review of the literature.
Angina Pectoris* ; Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Stenosis* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Heart Valve Diseases ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Polycythemia Vera* ; Polycythemia* ; Vasculitis

BACKGROUND: Viral myocarditis is considered as a cause of dilated cardiomyopathy. At present, two pathogenic mechanisms may be involved in the pathogenesis of viral myocarditis and subsequent cardiomyopathy. First, the virus infection of myocyte may directly lead to either cell death or persistent metabolic dysfunction. Second, virus-induced immune or autoimmune mechanism may play a role. METHODS: To test the therapeutic efficacy of immunosuppression with cyclophophamide(CYP) on coxsackievirus B3(CB3) myocarditis, 10-14 week-old Balb/c mice were inoculated with 4000 plaque-forming units of CB3. In experiment 1, CYP (100mg/kg/day subcutaneous injection, s.c) was administrated daily on days 1-7(group 2, n=16). In experiment 2, CYP 30mg/kg/day s.c(group 3, n=32) or CYP 100mg/kg/day s.c(group 4, n=32) were administrated on days 8-14. The animals of infected controls(group 1, n=26) and group 2, 3, 4 were dissected at days 4, 7, 15, 22 and spleen, heart, thymus and body weights were measured. RESULTS: In experiment 1. survival rate in group 2 on day 7, 15 were low compared with group 1(85%, 0% vs 100%, p<0.05). and myocardial virus titers in group 2 on day 4 was 50 times, and on day 7, 1000 times higher compared with group 1, Histologically, on day 7, focal cellular infiltrations were prominent findings in group 1, but diffuse myocardial necrosis without cellular infiltration were observed in group 2. In experiment 2, survival rate, cardiac histopathology myocardial virus titer and serum neutralizing antibody titers did not differ among groups 1, 3 and 4. In experiment 1 and 2, the spleen-to-body-weight and thymus-to-body-weight ratios were significantly lower in CYP treated groups than those in controls and marked cellular depletions in spleens and thymus were observed in CYP treated groups. CONCLUSIONS: As the results of above, it can be concluded that the immunosuppression during viremic phase of murine viral myocarditis aggravated the myocardial necrosis, and during aviremic phase, the administration of CYP didnot affect the process of viral myocarditis. Thus, direct viral mechanisms in the production of cardiomyocyte injury in CB3-infected mice appear to bo more important than cell mediated immune mechanism. To understand relevant pathogenic mechanisms of clinical myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy resulting from viral infection, the experimental study expanding into nonmurine animals and into various models using other infectious agents may be required.
Animals ; Antibodies, Neutralizing ; Body Weight ; Cardiomyopathies ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated ; Cell Death ; Cyclophosphamide* ; Heart ; Immunosuppression ; Injections, Subcutaneous ; Mice ; Muscle Cells ; Myocarditis* ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; Necrosis ; Spleen ; Survival Rate ; Thymus Gland ; Viral Load

PURPOSE: The study was conducted to determine if there is a corneal astigmatic changes after upper eyelid surgery by using corneal topography and if these changes are the reason why some patients note a decrease in visual acuity. METHODS: Twenty four eyes of 12 patients with dermatochalasis who had undergone upper eyelid blepharoplasty, and 24 eyes of 12 patients who had undergone aesthetic double fold formation were included. We performed corneal topography during the postoperative 3 months and also evaluated the corneal refractive index change on thirteen points of the central cornea, which were located in the center of the corneal apex and apart from it by 1.5, 2.5, 3.5 mm along each axis corresponding to the 0 degrees, 90 degrees, 180 degrees, 270 degrees respectively. RESULTS: Corneal topography demonstrated increase in with-the-rule astigmatism by 38, 33, and 12% for dermatochalasis patients at 1week, 1month, and 3months after surgery, and by 25%, 17%, and 13% for double fold patients. However the increase in with-the-rule astigmatism seemed to be temporary, showing gradual regression. The refractive index change of thirteen points of central cornea was not significant except a few eyes with astigmatic changes greater than 1D until 1 month after surgery. There was alsoincreased astigmatism after surgery in vector-corrected analysis. CONCLUSIONS: There was a tendency of increase in with-the-rule astigmatism and those changes were temporary and regressed gradually. No patient showed significant refractive index change on the 13 points of central cornea but some showed changes greater than 1 D in the early postoperative period, causing visually significant astigmatic changes temporarily.
Astigmatism ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Blepharoplasty ; Cornea ; Corneal Topography* ; Eyelids* ; Humans ; Postoperative Period ; Refractometry ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: To compare the axial lengths, anterior chamber depths, and keratometric measurements and to predict postoperative refractions of AL-Scan(R), IOL master(R), and ultrasound. METHODS: A total of 40 eyes in 30 patients who received cataract surgery were included in the present study. The axial length, anterior chamber depth, and keratometry were measured by 2 types of partial coherence interferometry (AL-Scan(R) and IOL master(R)) and ultrasound. The SRK/T formula was used to calculate IOL power, and the predictive error which subtracts predictive refraction from postoperative refraction was compared among the ocular biometry devices. RESULTS: Axial lengths were 23.08 +/- 0.62 mm, 23.09 +/- 0.62 mm, and 22.99 +/- 0.62 mm measured by AL scan(R), IOL master(R), and ultrasound, respectively. Axial length measured by ultrasound was statistically significantly shorter than AL scan(R) and IOL master(R) (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively). The anterior chamber depth and keratometry were 3.11 +/- 0.06 mm and 44.82 +/- 1.34 D measured by AL scan(R), and 3.13 +/- 0.06 mm and 44.85 +/- 1.26 D measured by IOL master(R), respectively. The differences of anterior chamber depth and keratometry between the 2 devices were not statistically significant (p = 0.226, p = 0.331, respectively). The mean absolute prediction errors were 0.44 +/- 0.35 D, 0.40 +/- 0.34 D, and 0.39 +/- 0.30 D in AL-Scan(R), IOL master(R) and ultrasound, respectively, and were not statistically significantly different (p = 0.843, p = 0.847, p = 1.000, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The ocular biometric measurements and prediction of postoperative refraction using AL-Scan(R) were as accurate as IOL master(R) and ultrasound.
Anterior Chamber ; Biometry* ; Cataract* ; General Surgery ; Humans ; Interferometry ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: This study was designed to evaluate the postoperative changes of astigmatism and corneal refractive power after surgical correction of epiblepharon using computerized topography. METHODS: The surgical data were investigated retrospectively before surgery and 1 month, 3 month after surgery in 23 patients who had undergone surgery for epiblepharon. We evaluated 8 points of the corneal refractive index, the corneal center and nasal, temporal, inferior 1.0 and 2.0 mm and superior 1.0 mm respectively. And the incidences and types of astigmatism were evaluated before and after surgery. RESULTS: After surgery, we observed corneal flattening at all points according to corneal topography, but corneal refractive changes were statistically insignificant except for inferior 1.0mm point (P< 0.05). Mean astigmatism was decreased after surgery and statistically significant 3 month after surgery (P< 0.05). Mean corneal refractive change on vetical meridian was prominent compared to horizontal meridia and statistically significant 3 month after surgery (P< 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In epiblepharon, children corneal topographic changes were observed due to reduction of corneal irritation and pressure by cilia and lower eyelid after surgery. Astigmatic changes were progressed 3 month after surgery and with-the-rule astigmatism was observed mainly before and after surgery. But corneal refractive changes were prominent on vertical meridian, and therefore there was a tendency toward improvement of with-the-rule astigmatism.
Astigmatism ; Child* ; Cilia ; Corneal Topography ; Eyelids ; Humans ; Incidence ; Refractometry ; Retrospective Studies

No abstract available.
Cheilitis ; Lip ; Sialadenitis

PURPOSE: We evaluated the prevalence and characteristics of breakthrough cancer pain (BTcP) in Korean patients admitted with cancer pain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In-hospital patients with cancer pain completed a questionnaire concerning severity of background cancer pain (BCP), prevalence and treatment for BTcP, sleep disorders, and satisfaction with cancer pain treatment. Medical records showing medications for BCP and BTcP were also evaluated. RESULTS: Total 609 patients with controlled BCP enrolled. Mean age of the patients was 59.5 years old, and 59% were male. Of all patients, 177 (29%) complained of BTcP. No clinical characteristic predicted BTcP. Of the 177 patients with BTcP, 56% did not receive treatment for BTcP. Patients with BTcP showed significant association with a sleep disorder and dissatisfaction with pain control, compared to those without BTcP (p < 0.0001 and p=0.0498, respectively). Oxycodone-immediate release was the most commonly used short-acting analgesic, followed by intravenous morphine. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of BTcP was 29% in patients admitted with controlled BCP. Although the patients had well-controlled BCP, BTcP showed association with a lower quality of life in patients with cancer. More medical attention is needed for detection and management of BTcP.
Humans ; Inpatients* ; Male ; Medical Records ; Morphine ; Prevalence ; Quality of Life ; Sleep Disorders

Primary xanthoma of the bone is a rare benign neoplasm, and it is extremely rare to find this in the ribs. It is most commonly reported in soft tissue and it associated with hyperlipoproteinemia. A 54-years-old male who complained of left chest pain had an X-ray taken. It revealed a left 3rd rib tumor. The blood examinations for lipid and protein were normal. A resection was done for tissue examination. The mass was histolopathologically diagnosed as a xanthoma.
Chest Pain ; Humans ; Hyperlipoproteinemias ; Male ; Ribs ; Thoracic Wall ; Xanthomatosis

Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease involving multiple-organs with an unknown cause. The new onset of sarcoidosis associated with therapeutic agents has been observed in 3 clinical settings; tumor necrosis factor antagonists in autoimmune rheumatologic diseases, interferon alpha with or without ribavirin in patients with chronic hepatitis C or melanoma, and antineoplastic agent-associated sarcoidosis in patients with hematologic malignancies. Here, we report a female patient who developed sarcoidosis after capecitabine treatment as an adjuvant chemotherapy for sigmoid colon cancer. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a capecitabine-induced sarcoidosis.
Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Deoxycytidine ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; Melanoma ; Ribavirin ; Sarcoidosis ; Sigmoid Neoplasms ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Capecitabine