The subconjuctival sparganosis is rare tissue helminthiasis which develops frequently in. orbital, abdominal, urethral, ureteral and vertebral cases. Authors reported a case of sparganosis which complained conjuntival hyperemia, chemosis, subconjuntival mass in the right eye for 10 months. The patient was a 37 years old male who had a history of having eaten raw snake in the So-Re Gun. Gyeonggi Do for the purpose of tonics 3 years ago. In the winter of 1977, he had experienced edematous changes in the right cheek intermittently. A few months later, he noticed the apperence of the congestion and a mass on the right eye. On surgical exploration, one larvae (5.8 cm in length and 5 m min width) was extracted from the right upper temporal subconjunctiva. It was actively motile in the bottle filled with saline, so this larvae was consulted to parasitology department of Korea University from our clinic under the impression of subconjunctival sparganosis. The sources of infection of some formely reported sparganosis in Korea were discussed. It is most probable that human sparganosis is acquired by consuming of raw snakes and frogs in this country.
Adult ; Cheek ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Gyeonggi-do ; Helminthiasis ; Humans ; Hyperemia ; Korea ; Larva ; Male ; Orbit ; Parasitology ; Snakes ; Sparganosis* ; Ureter

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Combined esophageal variceal ligation and sclerotherapy has been hypothesized to be more effective for the control of bleeding esophageal varices than ligation alone. The present study was to compare the combined therapy with ligation alone in terms of variceal eradication, rebleeding, complication and survival rates in patients with bleeding esophageal varices. METHODS: Thirty-eight patients with bleeding esophageal varices were randomly assigned to receive ligation alone in 20 patients or the combined therapy in 18 patients. The clinical and endoscopic characteristics of patients in the ligation group were similar to those of patients in the combination group. In the combination group, 1-3 mL of ethanolamine was injected proximal to each ligated site. Treatments were repeated every 2- to 3-month until varices were eradicated. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between the ligation and combination groups in variceal eradication rates (70% vs. 72%), numbers of endoscopic sessions required to achieve eradication (3.5+/-0.33 vs. 3.3+/-0.31), rebleeding rates (30% vs. 28%) or 2-yr cumulative survival rates (95% vs. 75%). There were significantly more complications in the combination group (25% vs. 89%, p=0.001). CONCLUSION: Ligation alone is recommended rather than the combined ligation and sclerotherapy because of its lower complication rates.
Esophageal and Gastric Varices* ; Ethanolamine ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Ligation* ; Sclerotherapy* ; Survival Rate ; Varicose Veins

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Combined esophageal variceal ligation and sclerotherapy has been hypothesized to be more effective for the control of bleeding esophageal varices than ligation alone. The present study was to compare the combined therapy with ligation alone in terms of variceal eradication, rebleeding, complication and survival rates in patients with bleeding esophageal varices. METHODS: Thirty-eight patients with bleeding esophageal varices were randomly assigned to receive ligation alone in 20 patients or the combined therapy in 18 patients. The clinical and endoscopic characteristics of patients in the ligation group were similar to those of patients in the combination group. In the combination group, 1-3 mL of ethanolamine was injected proximal to each ligated site. Treatments were repeated every 2- to 3-month until varices were eradicated. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between the ligation and combination groups in variceal eradication rates (70% vs. 72%), numbers of endoscopic sessions required to achieve eradication (3.5+/-0.33 vs. 3.3+/-0.31), rebleeding rates (30% vs. 28%) or 2-yr cumulative survival rates (95% vs. 75%). There were significantly more complications in the combination group (25% vs. 89%, p=0.001). CONCLUSION: Ligation alone is recommended rather than the combined ligation and sclerotherapy because of its lower complication rates.
Esophageal and Gastric Varices* ; Ethanolamine ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Ligation* ; Sclerotherapy* ; Survival Rate ; Varicose Veins

Ovarian Pregnacy is a rare form of ectopic pregnacy. Its estimated overall incidence is highly variable, but improved diagnosis of acute hemoperitoneum of ovarian pregnancy may reveal a high incidence than reported earlier. Ovarian pregnancy occurs in the corpus luteum, and is usually accompanied with the rupture of the ovary and massive hemoperitoneum. It presents as a hemorragic ovary and frequently misdiagnosed as a ruptured corpus luteum. Risk facters to ovarian pregnacy include a history of pelvic inflammatory disease(PID), prior pelvic surgery, and use of an intrauterine contraceptive device(IUD). We have experienced two cases of ovarian pregnancy and reviewed it briefly.
Corpus Luteum ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Hemoperitoneum ; Incidence ; Ovary ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic* ; Rupture

Macrophage infiltration has been observed in the renal biopsy specimens of diabetic nephropathy (DN), and hyperglycemic state stimulates the renal expression of RANTES (regulated upon activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted) and MCP-1 (monocyte chemoattractant protein-1). Upregulation of RANTES and MCP-1 with infiltrating macrophages may play a crucial role in the development and progression of DN. Genetic polymorphisms of RANTES and its receptors were reported to be independent risk factors for DN. We genotyped single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) in the MCP-1 G-2518A, CCR2 G46295A, RANTES C-28G and G-403A in 177 diabetic end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients and 184 patients without renal involvement (controls) in order to investigate the effects of these SNPs on DN in Korean patients with type 2 DM. There were no differences in the frequencies of SNPs and the distribution of haplotypes of RANTES promoter SNPs between two groups. In conclusion, there were no associations of MCP-1, CCR2 and RANTES promoter SNPs with diabetic ESRD in Korean population. Prospective studies with clearly-defined, homogenous cohorts are needed to confirm the effect of these genetic polymorphisms on DN.
Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group/*genetics ; Chemokine CCL2/*genetics ; Chemokine CCL5/*genetics ; Chi-Square Distribution ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/complications ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic/ethnology/etiology/*genetics ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Promoter Regions, Genetic

OBJECTIVES: We report a case of n-hexane-induced occupational peripheral polyneuropathy. The patient had been cleaning mobile phone cases using n-hexane for 3 years without proper protection in the workplace. Method : Physical examinations, detailed history taking, laboratory studies and electrophysiological study were done. The n-hexane concentration in the ambient air of the workplace was analysed. RESULTS: The findings of the electrophysiological study revealed that the worker's neurologic symptoms were due to peripheral polyneuropathy. The average n-hexane concentration in the ambient air sampled at the workplace for 59 minutes was 1411.24ppm, from which the 8 hour time-weighted-average(TWA) was estimated as 882ppm. Because other alternative causes for peripheral polyneuropathy were ruled out by laboratory findings and detailed history taking, this TWA level strongly suggested that the disease was caused by n-hexane exposure. Conclusion : Although the neuro-toxicity of n-hexane is relatively well known, many problems have been identified in the management of this toxic material in terms of preventing toxic diseases in the workplace. We expect that this case will help in the planning of health management strategies for using n-hexane in the workplace.
Cellular Phone* ; Humans ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Physical Examination ; Polyneuropathies*

PURPOSE: Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare but fatal disorder characterized by fever, splenomegaly, pancytopenia, and hemophagocytosis in the bone marrow and other tissues. In this study, we investigated the clinical manifestations and prognostic factors in patients with HLH. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the data from 29 patients who were diagnosed whit HLH in the Severance Children's Hospital from Jan. 1996 to Feb. 2007. RESULTS: The median age at diagnosis was 3.8 years (range 0.1-12.2). The ratio of male to female patients was 1.1:1. The 5-year overall survival rate was 55.2% with a median follow-up duration of 32 months. In a multivariate analysis, the duration of fever before admission (survival vs. non-survival, 6.5 days vs. 14 days, P=0.010), the interval from the day of fever onset to the day of initiation of etoposide (survival vs. non-survival, 10 days vs. 35 days, P=0.002) and the presence of neurologic symptoms (survival vs. non-survival, 1 case vs. 7 cases, P=0.010) were independent, poor prognostic factors of HLH. EBV infection, gender, and the level of serum ferritin had no relations to the poor prognosis of the disease. CONCLUSION: This study showed that the presence of neurologic symptoms and a longer duration of fever were related to a poor prognosis. Therefore, if a patient develops neurologic symptoms and the duration of fever is prolonged, a prompt diagnostic approach and aggressive treatment for HLH are necessary.
Bone Marrow ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; Etoposide ; Female ; Ferritins ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Pancytopenia ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Splenomegaly ; Survival Rate

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), previously called Churg-Strauss syndrome, is an anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody associated vasculitis, accompanied by asthma, hypereosinophilia, nonfixed pulmonary infiltrates, and sinusitis. Peripheral neuropathy is common in patients with EGPA; however, a few cases of EGPA with central nervous system (CNS) involvement have been reported. A 45-year-old female referred for right side weakness and posterior neck pain was diagnosed as EGPA with subarachnoid hemorrhage and mononeuritis multiplex. She was effectively treated with a high dose glucocorticoid, cyclophosphamide, and intravenous immunoglobulin. EGPA with CNS involvement is uncommon and causes significant morbidity and mortality. Therefore more rapid and accurate diagnostic evaluation may be required. EGPA should be considered in patients with neurological symptoms and hypereosinophilia.
Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic ; Asthma ; Central Nervous System ; Churg-Strauss Syndrome ; Cyclophosphamide ; Eosinophils* ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; Middle Aged ; Mononeuropathies* ; Mortality ; Neck Pain ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; Sinusitis ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage* ; Vasculitis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to develop a subculturing technique that allows the formation of large amounts of normal human nasal epithelial (NHNE) cells without compromising the cells' ability to differentiate into secretory and ciliated cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Freshly isolated nasal epithelial cells, collected from normal inferior turbinates, were subcultured repeatedly in a serum-free medium on plastic culture dishes. The subcultured cells were tested for growth curve and electromicroscopic characteristics in air-liquid interface (ALI) cultures and for mucous secretory differentiation. RESULTS: The cultures grew rapidly during the first three passages, demonstrating a 20- to 40-fold expansion with each subculture. Ciliogenesis usually started on day 12 and the cultured cells formed cellular sheets exhibiting microvilli in the apical membrane, intracytoplasmic secretory granules, electron lucent, scant endoplasmic reticulum and complex tight junctions on the basolateral side. Passage-1 (P-1) and passage-2 (P-2) cells maintained their potential to differentiate into mucin-secretory and ciliated epithelial cells, and this potential was confirmed by immunocytochemistry with H6C5 and transmission electron microscopy. Although the number of NHNE cells on day 16 of culture decreased as the passage progressed from P-1 to P-3, the relative number of secretory cells did not significantly change. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, P-2 NHNE cell cultures retain the features of normal epithelium and are suitable for conducting many studies on upper airway cell biology.
Cell Culture Techniques ; Cells, Cultured ; Endoplasmic Reticulum ; Epithelial Cells* ; Epithelium ; Humans* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Membranes ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Microvilli ; Mucins ; Plastics ; Secretory Vesicles ; Tight Junctions ; Turbinates

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The acute effect of alcohol is well known. However, although many authors have studied the effect of alcohol on equilibrium and found a deteriorated balancing capacity, objective studies of deteriorated balancing capacity have rarely been reported. The object of this study is to assess the effect of alcohol on vestibular function impairment by dynamic posturography. MAERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve healthy male volunteers aged 23-27 years (mean 25years) were assessed by dynamic posturography 30 min, 60 min and 90 min before and after the ingestion of alcohol. Alcohol levels were measured by blood samples 30, 60 and 90 min before, at and after ingestion. The samples were analyzed for alcohol by chromatography (SIGMA diagnostics). Each condition in SOT and latencies in MCT were used to estimate the effect of alcohol. RESULTS: The obtained results were as follows: 1) The time when serum alcohol concentration reach the maximum was 60 minute (50%). 2) Conditions 4, 5, 6 and composite scores showed statistically significant lower equilibrium scores (p<0.05). 3) Fourty-one percent showed normal SOT pattern, 33.3% showed generalized lower scores for all the conditions, 16.7% showed lower scores for the conditions 4, 5, and 6, and 8.3% showed lower scores for the conditions 5 and 6. 4) No significant effects were found for the latencies of MCT (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Acute alcohol ingestion influences impairment of vestibular and visual input on equilibrium.
Chromatography ; Eating ; Humans ; Male ; Volunteers