Retinal arteriovenous crossing sites are important because they are generally the points at which. in branch retinal obstruction, a blockage of venous blood flow occurs. We evaluated retrospectively the cases of 54 patiens wIth a recent temporal branch retinal vein occlusion to determine the relative anatomic position of the obstructed vein in relation to its crossing artery. In 54 (100%) of 54 eyes, the artery lay antenor to the vein, toward the vitreous cavity. In the control corssing site, the artery lay anterior to the vein 41.3% (J9/46) of the time (p<0.01) The second control group, which was obtained by examining all of the first-and second-order, without BRVO, consisted of 103 crossing sites. In this second control group's artenovenous crossmgs, the arteries were situated anteriorly in 83 (80.6%) of 103 crossing sites (p<0.005). Our observation that the artery lies anterior to the vein at the all of BRVO crossing sites contributes further evidence that mechanical factors play a prominent role in the causing BRVO.
Arteries ; Retinal Vein Occlusion* ; Retinal Vein* ; Retinaldehyde* ; Retrospective Studies ; Veins

We observed a case of sebaceous epithelioma associated with a nevus sebaceus in a 25-year-old male. The tumor was bean-sized, dome-shaped nodule on the slightly yellowish plaque of nevus sebaceus. Histopathological finding shows undifferentiated cells which are arranged in a palisade fashion at the periphery of a cell mass and a fairly large number of transitional cells and groups of mature sebaeeous cells.
Adult ; Carcinoma* ; Humans ; Male ; Nevus* ; Nevus, Sebaceous of Jadassohn*

OBJECTIVES: The previous studies have suggested genetic vulnerability to restless legs syndrome (RLS) development. The occurrence of antipsychotic-related RLS could also be attributable to differences in genetic susceptibility. This study aimed to investigate whether Retinoid-related orphan receptor A (RORA) gene polymorphism is associated with antipsychotic-related RLS in schizophrenia. METHODS: We assessed symptoms of antipsychotic-induced RLS in 190 Korean schizophrenic patients and divided the subjects into two groups according to the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group diagnostic criteria : 1) subjects that met all of the criteria (n=44) and 2) the remaining subjects who were not considered to be RLS patients (n=146). Single-nucleotide polymorphism in the RORA gene was genotyped by PCR in 190 individuals. The chi2-test was conducted to compare differences between two groups. RESULTS: The frequencies of genotype (chi2=0.066, p=0.968) of the RORA gene (rs11071547) did not differ significantly between schizophrenic patients with and without RLS. The difference of allele frequencies (chi2=0.008, p=0.927) of the RORA gene (rs 11071547) between the schizophrenic patients with and without RLS were not significant. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that RORA gene polymorphism does not play a major role in susceptibility to antipsychotic-related RLS in schizophrenia.
Child ; Child, Orphaned ; Circadian Rhythm ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Restless Legs Syndrome* ; Schizophrenia*

BACKGROUND: Hyperhomocysteinemia as a risk factor for cerebrovascular disease is well known. Our aim of this study was to demonstrate positive association between elevated homocysteine levels and cerebrovascular diseases in Koreans. METHODS: With a case-control design, 186 stroke (infarction 134, hemorrhage 52) patients, diagnosed by brain CT or MRI and 359 control patients were evaluated. We used multiple logistic regression analyses conditioned on the matching variables (sex, age, hypertension, DM, smoking, hyperlipidemia, hyperhomocysteinemia) and calculated odds ratio and 95% CIs. RESULTS: Multivariated adjusted odds ratios (OR) for cerebrovascular diseases associated with hypertension compared with normal blood pressure were 2.45 (95% CI, 1.16 to 5.15) in prehypertension and 3.33 (95% CI, 1.56 to 7.10) in stage 1 hypertension and 3.77 (95% CI, 1.32 to 10.74) in stage 2 hypertension. OR for cerebrovascular diseases associated with hyperhomocysteinemia compared with <10micromol/L were 2.06 (95% CI, 1.09 to 3.91) in 13.0 to 16.9micromol/L and 3.17 (95% CI, 1.70 to 5.90) in > or =17 micromol/L. CONCLUSION: Not only hypertension but also hyperhomocysteinemia was a significant risk factor for cerebrovascular diseases in Koreans.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Blood Pressure ; Brain ; Case-Control Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Homocysteine ; Humans ; Hyperhomocysteinemia* ; Hyperlipidemias ; Hypertension ; Logistic Models ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Odds Ratio ; Prehypertension ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Stroke

There have been few description of spontaneous epidural hematoma of spinal cord in the young. Duration of symptoms in previous cases has varied from hours to days. We recently evacuated a 16-year-old boy with cord compression from an extradural clot, who complained of abdominal pain & diarrhea before becoming spinal epidural hematoma occurred in the young.
Abdominal Pain ; Adolescent ; Diarrhea ; Hematoma ; Hematoma, Epidural, Spinal* ; Humans ; Male ; Spinal Cord

Primary vesical actinomycosis is an extremely rare disease. In most cases it is misdiagnosed as vesical or urachal tumor and usually diagnosed through post-operative pathologic confirmation. Here we report a case of primary vesical actinomycosis confirmed by preoperative repeated multiple transabdominal biopsies. The patient was a 49-yr-old woman who presented with frequency, dysuria, and intermittent gross hematuria for 2 months. Computed tomography and cystoscopic examination showed broad-based, edematous, and protruding mass at the dome and anterior portion of the bladder. The clinical and imaging findings of the patient initially suggested vesical malignancy. Transurethral resection and multiple biopsies of the mass were performed. Pathologic examination demonstrated fibrosis with chronic inflammation. We performed repeated transabdominal multiple needle biopsies for further pathologic confirmation. Histopathologic examination demonstrated typical sulfur granules, which were consistent with actinomycosis.
Abdomen ; Actinomycosis/drug therapy/*pathology/surgery/ultrasonography ; Biopsy, Needle/methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Penicillins/therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Urinary Bladder/*pathology/surgery/ultrasonography ; Urinary Bladder Diseases/drug therapy/*pathology/surgery/ultrasonography

Sixty-six patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the cropharynx were treated with radiation therapy and retrospectively analyzed to evaluate the treatment result in the Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Korea Cancer Center Hospital between January 1980 and December 1986. There were 42 patients with carcinoma of the tonsil including the fossa and pillar, 9 patients with carcinoma of the base of tongue, 12 patients with carcinoma of the soft palate, and 3 patiens with carcinoma of the posterior and lateral pharyngeal walls. Considering all oropharyngeal sites of involvement together, response rates for T1, T2, T3, and T4 were 80%, 77%, 73%, and 40%, respectively, with a overall response rate of 70%. The response rate for N1, N2, and N3 were 69%, 63% and 40%, respectively, with the overall regional response rate of 70%. In lower T status, undifferentiated carcinoma and primary tumor arising from the soft palate, higher response rates were obtained. The 5 year overall and disease-free survival rate were 56%, 55%, respectively. A better prognosis was obtained in early T tage(T1+T2)(p<0.01) and in patients without tumor extension into adjacent structures in carcinomas arising from tonsillar area(p<0.01). Though this study we suggest that, in terms of anatomical and functional preservation, radiation therapy seems to be an effective method for the primary treatment of patients with radiation therapy seems to be an effective method for the primary treatment of patients with oropharyngeal carcinoma.
Carcinoma ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Disease-Free Survival ; Humans ; Korea* ; Oropharynx ; Palate, Soft ; Palatine Tonsil ; Prognosis ; Radiation Oncology ; Radiotherapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Tongue

BACKGROUND: Lipo-prostaglandin E1 (Lipo-PGE1) has vasodilating and platelet aggregation inhibitory characteristics and it has been used as a treatment for patients with blood flow dysfunction disease. Based on the mechanisms of lumbar spinal stenosis, including veno congestion, neuro-ischemia and mechanical compression, we aimed to study whether intravenous Lipo-PGE1 injection has any therapeutic effect on hyperalgesia in a rat foraminal stenosis model. METHODS: In this study, twenty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into the control (n = 10) and Lipo-PGE(1)(n = 10) groups. A small stainless steel rod was inserted into the L5-6 intervertebral foramen to induce intervertebral foramen stenosis and chronic DRG compression. In the Lipo-PGE1 group, 0.15micron g/kg of Lipo-PGE(1) were injected intravenously via a tail vein for 10 days starting from the 3rd day after operation. Behavioral testing for mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia was performed for 3 weeks after the injections. RESULTS: From the 10th day after Lipo-PGE(1) injection, the rats in the experimental group showed significant recovery of their mechanical threshold, and this effect was maintained for 3 weeks. No significant differences of the thermal hyperalgesia were observed between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that intravenously injected Lipo-PGE1 may be effective for alleviating neuropathic pain, which isthe main symptom of spinal stenosis, by improving the blood flow dysfunction.
Alprostadil ; Animals ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Diagnosis-Related Groups ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Humans ; Hyperalgesia ; Male ; Neuralgia ; Platelet Aggregation ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spinal Stenosis ; Stainless Steel ; Veins

PURPOSE: Delayed treatment of congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is a common cause of mental retardation. The aim of the present study was to evaluate intellectual outcomes in preschool children with treated CH. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of 43 children (age range: 13 to 60 days of life; 22 girls and 21 boys) diagnosed with CH. Children aged 5 to 7 years were examined using the Korean Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children or the Korean Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence. RESULTS: The patients started treatment between 13 and 60 days of age. The mean intelligence quotient (IQ) of patients tested at age 5 to 7 years was 103.14±11.68 (IQ range: 76–126). None had intellectual disability (defined as an IQ <70). Twenty-one subjects were treated with a low dose (6.0–9.9 µg/kg/day) and 22 with a high dose of levothyroxine (10.0–16.0 µg/kg/day). There was no significant difference in the mean full-scale IQ (FSIQ), verbal IQ (VIQ), and performance IQ (PIQ) scores between the 2 groups. FSIQ, PIQ, and VIQ scores were not significantly correlated with initial dose of L-T4, initial fT4, age at treatment in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: IQ scores of subjects with early treated CH diagnosed through a neonatal screening test were within normal range, regardless of etiology, thyroid function, initial dose of levothyroxine, and age at start of treatment.
Child ; Child, Preschool* ; Congenital Hypothyroidism* ; Female ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism ; Infant, Newborn ; Intellectual Disability ; Intelligence ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neonatal Screening ; Reference Values ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroxine

OBJECTIVES: Exposure to light at night has become pervasive in modern society. The impact of dim artificial light at night (dALAN) exposure on sleep and fatigue is not well recognized. We aim to study the impact of dALAN exposure during sleep on human fatigue. METHODS: 30 healthy young male volunteers from 21 to 29 years old were enrolled in the study. They were randomly divided into two groups depending on light intensity (Group A : 5 lux and Group B : 10 lux). Data were gathered from each participant after each night with no light (Night 1) followed by the next night (Night 2) with two different dim light conditions (5 or 10 lux) by means of self-reported fatigue scale. RESULTS: Exposure to dALAN during sleep was significantly associated with increased overall fatigue (F = 19.556, p < 0.001) and ocular discomfort (F = 5.671, p = 0.028). CONCLUSION: We found that dALAN during sleep likely affects human fatigue in some aspects. These findings indicate that dALAN during sleep exerts a negative effect on human fatigue.
Fatigue* ; Humans* ; Male ; Volunteers