Cardiac arrest associated with hyperkalemia during red blood cell transfusion is a rare but fatal complication. Herein, we report a case of transfusion-associated cardiac arrest following the initiation of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support in a 9-month old infant. Her serum potassium level was increased to 9.0 mEq/L, soon after the newly primed circuit with pre-stored red blood cell (RBC) was started and followed by sudden cardiac arrest. Eventually, circulation was restored and the potassium level decreased to 5.1 mEq/L after 5 min. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) priming is a relatively massive transfusion into a pediatric patient. Thus, to prevent cardiac arrest during blood-primed ECMO in neonates and infants, freshly irradiated and washed RBCs should be used when priming the ECMO circuit, to minimize the potassium concentration. Also, physicians should be aware of all possible complications associated with transfusions during ECMO.
Blood Transfusion ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; Erythrocyte Transfusion ; Erythrocytes ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation* ; Heart Arrest* ; Humans ; Hyperkalemia* ; Infant* ; Infant, Newborn ; Potassium

PURPOSE: To evaluate the associations between components of metabolic syndrome and retinal vascular changes in a Korean population based on data collected at health check-ups. METHODS: Fundus photographs of 381 patients participating in a health check-up were examined to identify central retinal artery equivalent (CRAE), central retinal vein equivalent (CRVE), and arteriovenous ratio (AVR) by IVAN software. Retinal hemorrhage, arteriovenous nicking, and retinal exudate were also noted. The association between metabolic syndrome and each component was then analyzed. RESULTS: Significant associations were shown between metabolic syndrome and CRAE (p = 0.032), central obesity and CRAE (p = 0.037), triglyceride and CRAE (p = 0.011), and triglyceride and AVR (p = 0.005), in addition to central obesity and arteriovenous nicking (odds ratio [OR] = 2.68, p = 0.013), central obesity and retinal exudate (OR = 2.30, p = 0.038), serum glucose and retinal hemorrhage (OR = 8.06, p = 0.030), and blood pressure and arteriovenous nicking (OR = 2.78, p = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Metabolic syndrome showed a significant relationship with retinal artery diameter. Central obesity showed the greatest relationship with retinal vascular changes among each of the components of metabolic syndrome.
Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Exudates and Transudates ; Humans ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Retinal Artery ; Retinal Hemorrhage ; Retinal Vein ; Retinaldehyde* ; Triglycerides

Bochdalek hernia through Bochdalek foramen, defect at the posterolateral side of the diaphragm is one of the congenital diaphragmatic hernias. It usually occurs in infants, but very rare in old age and also on the right side. We experienced the right-side Bochdalek hernia including kidney herniation in 68 years old man man ifested by hemoptysis. CT scan revealed diaphragmatic defect and herniated liver, colon and kidney. Thoracotomy was performed and the 10 cm-sized large defect was closed with patch. After then, the patient has been well without symptom.
Aged ; Colon ; Diaphragm ; Hemoptysis ; Hernia* ; Hernia, Diaphragmatic ; Humans ; Infant ; Kidney* ; Liver ; Thoracotomy ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: To report a case involving an unexpected increase in intraocular pressure (IOP) and acute angle closure after oral administration of methazolamide. CASE SUMMARY: A 38-year-old male visited the emergency department complaining of decreased visual acuity (VA) and ocular pain. These symptoms developed after he took two tablets of 50 mg methazolamide because his IOP was above normal after a short course of systemic steroid treatment. His uncorrected VA dropped to 0.04 and the refractive error was −6.5 diopters in both eyes. The anterior chamber was very shallow, and the IOPs were 46 mmHg in the right eye and 42 mmHg in the left eye. Macular retinal folds were observed in both eyes in infrared fundus images. The patient was instructed not to take methazolamide, which was suspected as the cause of this idiosyncratic drug reaction. He was prescribed topical anti-glaucoma medications and cycloplegics to relieve the acute angle closure, and all symptoms disappeared after these treatments. CONCLUSIONS: Methazolamide is a sulfa derivative like topiramate, which can cause acute angle closure involving edema of the ciliary body and anterior displacement of the lens-iris diaphragm. Clinicians should consider this possible IOP increase before prescribing methazolamide.
Administration, Oral ; Adult ; Anterior Chamber ; Ciliary Body ; Diaphragm ; Edema ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure* ; Male ; Methazolamide* ; Mydriatics ; Refractive Errors ; Retinaldehyde ; Tablets ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of radioiodine treatment for metastatic thyroid carcinoma, we reviewed results of radioactive iodine treatment in patients with functional lung or bone metastases. MATERIALS ANF METHODS: Of 760 patients who were treated for differentiated thyroid cancer between 1984 and 1998, we detected pulmonary metastases and bone metastases in 76 patients (10.0%) and 20 patients (2.6%), respectively. Among them, we could evaluate the effectiveness of I-131 therapy in 53 patients with lung metastases and 15 patients with bone metastases. RESULTS:Of 53 patients who received I-131 therapy with a mean cumulative dose of 26.2 GBq (1.1-84.4 GBq) for pulmonary metastases, metastatic lung lesions completely resolved in 19 patients (35.8%) and improved in 22 patients (41.5%). In 13 of 19 patients with complete remission of pulmonary metastases, the total accumulated dose of I-131 was less than 18.5 GBq. We found 43 sites of metastatic bone lesions in 15 patients with bone metastases. Of 29 lesions which received I-131 therapy, metastatic lesions improved in 14 sites (48.3%), but did not change or progress in 15 sites (51.7%) despite the I-131 therapy. Three lesions were completely cured with a combination treatment of surgery(+/- external radiotherapy) and I-131 therapy, and the other 11 lesions improved. CONCLUSION: Radioactive iodine treatment gives favorable results for pulmonary metastases. However, for bone metastases, there might be a need to use combination therapy including I-131 and surgery or external irradiation.
Atrial Natriuretic Factor ; Humans ; Iodine ; Lung ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms*

PURPOSE: Using a visual analogue scale, patients pain was compared according to injection site during intravitreal injection. METHODS: A prospective, clinical trial was conducted on 171 eyes of patients experiencing age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusion, or central serous chorioretinopathy. After determining the anatomic quadrant of the injection site, patients were randomized to receive intravitreal bevacizumab, aflibercept, ranibizumab, or dexamethasone injection. Fifteen minutes after the injection, patients completed a survey about pain using a visual analogue scale from 0 (no pain) to 10 (unbearable pain). RESULTS: According to the visual analogue scale, pain score was 3.20 at the superotemporal site, 3.03 at the superonasal site, and 2.35 at the inferonasal site. Pain was lowest when injected in an inferotemporal site (p = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS: Intravitreal injection at an inferotemporal site can help reduce patient pain.
Bevacizumab ; Central Serous Chorioretinopathy ; Dexamethasone ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Humans ; Intravitreal Injections* ; Macular Degeneration ; Pain Measurement ; Prospective Studies ; Ranibizumab ; Retinal Vein Occlusion

In accordance with the aged society, oral health care for the elderly is considered important to maintain general health. Although the role of dental hygienists is essential for proper health management of the oral cavity, research on the care system for the elderly people's oral health and on the role of dental hygienists in the field of elderly welfare is still insufficient. Hence, the aim of this study is to investigate the status of Korean elderly welfare system and dental hygienists by comparing them with those in Japan, a precedent of aged society. First, we compared and investigated the Japanese long-term insurance system, which provides an institutional basis for a long-term care system for the elderly in Korea. Second, the elderly welfare law and care system, focusing on oral care, were examined. Lastly, in elderly care, we analyzed the distinctions between Korea and Japan regarding dental hygienists' role and scope of work. Taken together, as a precedent of aged society, Japan has shown well-specialized and systematic welfare for the elderly compared with Korea. With the development of the welfare system for the elderly in Japan, the role and the workscope of dental hygienists have been expanded to improve quality of life of elderly people, as a key professional for elderly oral care. Therefore, we should perceive the need for improvement of long-term care insurance and the expansion of dental hygienists' work in Korea. In conclusion, these results could be used as basic data for improving the elderly welfare system and developing dental hygienists in Korea.
Aged* ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Dental Hygienists* ; Humans ; Insurance ; Insurance, Long-Term Care ; Japan* ; Jurisprudence ; Korea* ; Long-Term Care ; Mouth ; Oral Health ; Quality of Life

Cardiac arrest associated with hyperkalemia during red blood cell transfusion is a rare but fatal complication. Herein, we report a case of transfusion-associated cardiac arrest following the initiation of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support in a 9-month old infant. Her serum potassium level was increased to 9.0 mEq/L, soon after the newly primed circuit with pre-stored red blood cell (RBC) was started and followed by sudden cardiac arrest. Eventually, circulation was restored and the potassium level decreased to 5.1 mEq/L after 5 min. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) priming is a relatively massive transfusion into a pediatric patient. Thus, to prevent cardiac arrest during blood-primed ECMO in neonates and infants, freshly irradiated and washed RBCs should be used when priming the ECMO circuit, to minimize the potassium concentration. Also, physicians should be aware of all possible complications associated with transfusions during ECMO.
Blood Transfusion ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; Erythrocyte Transfusion ; Erythrocytes ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation ; Heart Arrest ; Humans ; Hyperkalemia ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Potassium

PURPOSE: Recently, a mobile ultracongruent polyethylene insert was used to increase joint stability in the posterior cruciate ligament sacrificed total knee arthroplasty with non-posted mobile bearing. However, as yet there have been no reports about this implant. In this study, the clinical and radiological results of surgery using the implant were analyzed through a navigation system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The subjects included 95 cases of 70 patients to whom the rotating tibial implant was applied after posterior cruciate ligament resection among the patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty from September 2006 to December 2008. The follow-up duration was at least 24 months, and 40 months on average. For clinical evaluation, the knee score and functional scores were measured preoperatively and at the time of final follow-up. With reference to a 5 mm joint line change measurement recorded by the navigation system, which can affect the clinical result, the comparison and evaluation were performed by dividing the subjects into group I (< or =5 mm) and group II (>5 mm). Radiological evaluation was performed by measuring the angle of the mechanical axis of the lower extremities and the patella tilting angle preoperatively and at the time of final follow-up using plain radiographs. RESULTS: Seventy subjects (95 cases) were followed up for at least 24 months. According to the clinical results, the mean KSS knee score improved from a preoperative score of 43.4 to a final follow-up score of 90.6 (p<0.0001). In addition, the mean functional score improved from a preoperative score of 51 to a final follow-up score of 88.4 (p<0.0001). Finally, the mean joint line change, which can affect the clinical result, was 5.82 mm, ranging from -1 to 12 mm. The clinical and radiological evaluations were performed by dividing the subjects into two groups in relation to the reference value of 5 mm, but no significant difference was found. The mechanical axis angles of the lower extremities improved from the preoperative value of varus 10.01degrees to the final follow-up value of varus 1.89degrees, and the difference was significant (p<0.0001). The mean patella tilting angles were 8.8degrees and 9.3degrees, respectively, at the time before the operation and after the final follow-up; this difference was not significant (p=0.89). CONCLUSION: Good clinical and radiological results were observed after at least two years of follow-up subsequent to total knee arthroplasty, in which a rotating ultracongruent polyethylene insert was applied after posterior cruciate ligament resection using a navigation system.
Arthroplasty ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Joints ; Knee ; Lower Extremity ; Patella ; Polyethylene ; Posterior Cruciate Ligament ; Reference Values ; Ursidae

BACKGROUND: Topoisomerase II (TOPO II) is an enzyme that separates intertwined chromosomes during DNA synthesis by transiently breaking and joining DNA strands. The level of TOP II is one of the determinants of cellular sensitivity to anti-tumor drugs in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients. The alpha form of TOPO II has been recently used as a marker of cellular proliferation. High levels of TOPO IIalpha are expressed in aggressive and proliferative tumors. METHODS: This study was designed to evaluate the relationship between TOPO IIalpha expression and clinicopathological parameters including age, gender, the serum LDH level, the serum beta2-microglobulin level and stage, or expressions, of Ki-67, p53 and p27, in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. We analyzed forty-one biopsied tissue specimens from patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. RESULTS: The expression of TOPO IIalpha increased with the clinical stage and it was correlated with Ki-67 and p53 expressions. However, TOPO IIalpha expression did not have any significant correlation with age, gender, the serum LDH level, the serum 2-microglobulin level and the p27 expression. CONCLUSIONS: TOPO IIalpha expression is a useful marker of cellular proliferation and it may serve as a prognostic factor of a tumor's progression and aggressiveness in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.
Cell Proliferation ; DNA Topoisomerases, Type I* ; DNA Topoisomerases, Type II ; DNA* ; Humans ; Ki-67 Antigen ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin*