It is reported that the recurrence rate in intermittent exotropia is 20-50%. In this study, we evaluated whether the recurrence is reduced with asymmetric recession of bilateral lateral recti(LROU) in intermittent exotropia.Twenty-nine patients underwent the asymmetric LROU recession for intermittent exotropia with follow-up of 6-54 months. The amount of recession of lateral rectus muscle in deviating eye was 2mm more than in the fixating eye. Immediate postoperative overcorrection, the rate of orthophotia, and the occurrence of consecutive esotropia(ET) were analysed.The mean amount of immediate postoperative esodeviation was 16.5+/-7.4PD(0-34PD); four patients showed 0-4PD, 18 patients 11-20PD, and 7 patients showed considerable amount of ET as high as 21-30PD. Consecutive EToccurred in 6.8% of patients despite large amounts of postoeprative ET. The outcome of orthophoria was favorable, in 93.1% of patients in follow up of 6 months, 85.1% in 12 months and 78.5% in 24 months.This study suggests that asymmetric LROU recession is an effective procedure for the correction of intermittent exotropia.
Esotropia ; Exotropia* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Recurrence

We report an autopsy case of secondary hemochromatosis associated with multiple frequent blood transfusion for the treatment of aplastic anemia. A 23-year-old man had been diagnosed as having aplastic anemia at the age of 13. He received a whole blood transfusion, about 1280 ml, every month during the past 10 years. Recently he developed diabetes mellitus and a congestive heart failure. The autopsy revealed that multiple organs were affected by secondary hemochromatosis, including the liver, heart, pancreas, spleen, bone marrow, stomach, thyroid gland, adrenal glands, and testes. The lungs and liver showed gross and microscopic findings consistent with a congestive heart failure in addition to hemochromatosis. The details are presented. This is a case of rare secondary hemochromatosis occurring in a young man and presenting the classic histopathologic changes indistinguishable from those of primary hemochromatosis.
Adrenal Glands ; Anemia ; Anemia, Aplastic* ; Autopsy* ; Blood Transfusion ; Bone Marrow ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Heart ; Heart Failure ; Hemochromatosis* ; Humans ; Liver ; Lung ; Pancreas ; Spleen ; Stomach ; Testis ; Thyroid Gland ; Young Adult

Phellinus strains were collected from different areas in Korea. Of them, the fast mycelial growing strains were artificially cultivated on the oak logs to produce fruiting body. The varieties, Phellinus linteus ASI26099 (Korea Sanghwang) and P. baumii PBJS (Jangsoo Sanghwang) were grown under the same conditions as controls. Their cultivating characteristics including mycelial colonization, pinhead formation, and fruiting body formation rate were investigated on the logs. Basidiocarps of Phellinus strains HN00K9, HN6036, and ASI26099 were concentrically zonate and shallowly sulcate, and dark chestnut showing typical characteristics of Tropicoporus linteus (synonyum: P. linteus, Inonotus linteus, polyporus linteus), which is distinguishably different to PBJS. HN00K9 showed the highest yield of fruiting body among the mushroom strains. The β-glucan content in fruiting bodies of HN00K9 was 20% higher than those of other strains. Bioactive effects of polysaccharide samples from fruiting bodies of Phellinus strains, HN00K9, HN6036, ASI26099, and PBJS were assessed on cell viability and cytokine (IL-6 and TNF-α) inhibition and finally on anticancer to different human cancer cells.

Phellinus strains were collected from different areas in Korea. Of them, the fast mycelial growing strains were artificially cultivated on the oak logs to produce fruiting body. The varieties, Phellinus linteus ASI26099 (Korea Sanghwang) and P. baumii PBJS (Jangsoo Sanghwang) were grown under the same conditions as controls. Their cultivating characteristics including mycelial colonization, pinhead formation, and fruiting body formation rate were investigated on the logs. Basidiocarps of Phellinus strains HN00K9, HN6036, and ASI26099 were concentrically zonate and shallowly sulcate, and dark chestnut showing typical characteristics of Tropicoporus linteus (synonyum: P. linteus, Inonotus linteus, polyporus linteus), which is distinguishably different to PBJS. HN00K9 showed the highest yield of fruiting body among the mushroom strains. The β-glucan content in fruiting bodies of HN00K9 was 20% higher than those of other strains. Bioactive effects of polysaccharide samples from fruiting bodies of Phellinus strains, HN00K9, HN6036, ASI26099, and PBJS were assessed on cell viability and cytokine (IL-6 and TNF-α) inhibition and finally on anticancer to different human cancer cells.

We present an adult female patient who developed irreversible paraplegia and areflexia four days post intrathecal chemotherapy with methotrexate, cytosine arabinoside and hydrocortisone. On magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the lumbar spine, diffuse gadolinium enhancement of the anterior spinal nerve roots (ventral roots) was detected. Methylprednisolone was intravenously administered at a daily dose of 30mg/kg for three days. Despite this treatment, flaccid weakness in the lower extremities and urinary retention persisted. Following consolidation chemotherapy, no improvement in neurologic status was noted. Six months later, a follow-up MRI revealed severe atrophy of the thoracic spinal cord.
Adult ; Antineoplastic Agents/administration & dosage/*adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Paraplegia/*chemically induced/*pathology ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/*drug therapy

PURPOSE: Angiogenesis, playing a critical role in tumor growth, development, and metastatic process, is alleged to be related to the prognostic factors and patient's survival of the colo-rectal cancer. The p53 gene, present in short arm of chromosome 17, is involved in multistep colo-rectal carcinogenesis. The correlation of p53 gene and angiogenesis has been recently reported. So, we designed to assess (1) the rate of p53 overexpression, (2) the prognostic significance of microvessel count, and (3) the relationship of p53 overexpression and angiogenesis in early colo-rectal cancer(ECC) patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study material included 68 ECC from 65 patients, 40 mucosal (m-ECC) and 28 submucosal ECCs (sm-ECC). Immunostainings against p53 and factor VIII-related antigen were done and the results were analyzed with respect to tumor depth, site, and differentiation. And also the correlation between p53 overexpression and microvessel counts(MVC) was performed. RESULT: The rate of p53 overexpression was higher in sm-ECC than in m-ECC (p < 0.05). The rate of p53 overexpression was highest in sigmoid colon and statistically significantly different compared with other sites. The differentiation of the tumor was closely correlated with p53 overexpression and the poorer the differentiation, the more overexpression of p53 (p<0.05). There was no significant difference between MVCs of m-ECC and sm-ECC (27.2+/-5.5 and 29.8 +/-6.0,respectively). However, MVC were higher in sigmoid colon than in any other sites (p<0.05). MVC did not show significant correlation with tumor differentiation or p53 overexpression. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that p53 overexpression is correlated with tumor depth and differentiation but not MVC. The significance of higher MVC and p53 overexpression in sigmoid colon are reserved for further studies.
Arm ; Carcinogenesis ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17 ; Colon, Sigmoid ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Genes, p53 ; Humans ; Microvessels* ; von Willebrand Factor

PURPOSE: Finasteride, a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, has recently been used as a treatment for men with benign prostate hyperplasia(BPH). This study was undertaken to determine whether free-to-total(f/t) PSA ratio changed during the finasteride therapy in patient with BPH and whether it is possible to use this new discriminant ratio after prolonged treatment with finasteride. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study comprised 31 men (mean age 66 years) with finasteride therapy for BPH. Blood samples were taken before and after 3-13months of therapy with finasteride and f/t PSA ratio is determined using radioimmunometric assay. RESULTS: Although the mean t-PSA, f-PSA are significantly decreased after the treatment with finasteride, f/t PSA ratio remained unchanged. The duration of treatment and the level of initial t-PSA did not affect the f/t PSA ratio. CONCLUSIONS: The f/t PSA ratio is unchanged among the patients with finasteride therapy for BPH.
Finasteride* ; Humans ; Hyperplasia* ; Male ; Oxidoreductases ; Prostate* ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Prostatic Neoplasms

Percutaneous iliosacral screw fixation is commonly practiced to treat unstable posterior pelvic ring injuries. The number of reported cases of iatrogenic complications is increasing. We present a case of superior gluteal artery injury during bilateral percutaneous iliosacral screw fixation in a patient with sacral fracture of spino-pelvic dissociation. This complication was managed by arterial embolization. We discussed the cause, prevention and treatment of arterial injury along with a review of literature.
Arteries* ; Humans

Metformin has been reported to increase the expression of the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor in pancreatic beta cells in a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-alpha-dependent manner. We investigated whether a PPARalpha agonist, fenofibrate, exhibits an additive or synergistic effect on glucose metabolism, independent of its lipid-lowering effect, when added to metformin. Non-obese diabetic Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats were divided into four groups and treated for 28 days with metformin, fenofibrate, metformin plus fenofibrate or vehicle. The random blood glucose levels, body weights, food intake and serum lipid profiles were not significantly different among the groups. After 4 weeks, metformin, but not fenofibrate, markedly reduced the blood glucose levels during oral glucose tolerance tests, and this effect was attenuated by adding fenofibrate. Metformin increased the expression of the GLP-1 receptor in pancreatic islets, whereas fenofibrate did not. During the intraperitoneal glucose tolerance tests with the injection of a GLP-1 analog, metformin and/or fenofibrate did not alter the insulin secretory responses. In conclusion, fenofibrate did not confer any beneficial effect on glucose homeostasis but reduced metformin's glucose-lowering activity in GK rats, thus discouraging the addition of fenofibrate to metformin to improve glycemic control.
Animals ; Blood Glucose/metabolism ; Body Weight/drug effects ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/*drug therapy/*metabolism ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Feeding Behavior/drug effects ; Fenofibrate/*pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Glucagon-Like Peptide 1/agonists/metabolism ; Glucose/*metabolism ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Homeostasis/*drug effects ; Immunohistochemistry ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Insulin-Secreting Cells/drug effects/metabolism/pathology ; Lipid Metabolism/drug effects ; Male ; Metformin/*pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Peptides/administration & dosage/pharmacology ; Rats ; Receptors, Glucagon/metabolism ; Venoms/administration & dosage/pharmacology

Leptin, which is a plasma protein produced by the obese gene, is expressed and secreted by adipocytes. The clearance of lepdn from the circulation is unknown. But, markedly elevated serum leptin concentrations have recently been reported in patients with chronic renal failure. The purpose of the present study was to investigate plasma leptin concentration of patients with chronic renal failure and evaluate the factors affecting plasma leptin levels. Plasma leptin, insulin, and body mass index were determined in 34 patients with chronic renal failure and 55 control subjects. The plasrna leptin concentrations were not significantly different between patients with chronic renal failure and control subjects (9.4+/-11.8 vs 4.9+/-4.2ng/ml, P>0.05). The serum leptin concentrations were not significantly higher in both male and female CRF patients compared with control subjects (3.96+/-5.72 vs 2.48+/-1.65, P=0.1947, 17.07+/-14.02 vs 7.49+/-4.63ng/ml, P=0.07, respectively). And, there was no significant correlation between serum creatinine and plasma leptin. However, there was significant correlation between plasma leptin concentration and insulin level (P<0.05). We fit a multiple linear regre- ssion analysis with plasma leptin level as the dependent variable in CRF. Sex (male vs female) (P< 0.001) and insulin (P=0.004) were independently associated with plasma leptin level in CRF. These results suggested that plasma leptin level was regulated or affected by multiple factors inclu- ding sex and insulin resistance. Additional study is required to evaluate relationship between plasma leptin and insulin resistance in chronic renal failure.
Adipocytes ; Body Mass Index ; Creatinine ; Female ; Humans ; Insulin ; Insulin Resistance ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Leptin* ; Male ; Plasma*