PURPOSE: To report a case of a macular hole resulting from accidental exposure to tattoo removal by the Q-Switched Nd:YAG laser, which was treated successfully by vitrectomy and silicone oil infusion. CASE SUMMARY: A 33-year-old man presented with decreased visual acuity after accidental exposure to a Q-Switched Nd:YAG laser. According to fundus examination, vitreous hemorrhage and macular edema were observed. After 21 days, a macular hole had developed which was treated by standard pars plana vitrectomy and gas tamponade. Unfortunately, closure was not obtained on the first attempt. Therefore, a second attempt using silicone oil infusion was performed. Four months after the initial visit, BCVA had increased to 20/50, and anatomical occlusion was achieved. CONCLUSIONS: The authors of the present study experienced an unusual case of macular hole developed from the Q-Switched Nd:YAG laser used to remove a tattoo. A satisfactory visual acuity was achieved after silicone oil infusion despite failure in the first surgery.
Adult ; Humans ; Macular Edema ; Retinal Perforations ; Silicone Oils ; Visual Acuity ; Vitrectomy ; Vitreous Hemorrhage

PURPOSE: To report the first domestic case of choroidal neovascularization in a choroideremia patient treated with intravitreal bevacizumab injection. CASE SUMMARY: A 29-year-old male presented with a sudden decline in vision in the left eye. Fundus examination revealed areas of choriocapillaries and retinal pigment epithelium atrophy with macular hemorrhage. Fluorescein angiogram revealed vascular hyperfluorescence in the juxtafoveal area. Neurosensory detachment around the macula and increased central macular thickness was also observed using optical coherence tomography. Upon the diagnosis of choroideremia with choroidal neovascularization, the patient was treated with 1.25 mg intravitreal bevacizumab. Visual acuity improved after four injections of intravitreal Bevacizumab with improvement in both detachment and fluorescein leakage. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with choroideremia presenting sudden decline in vision, ophthalmologists should detect for possible choroidal neovascularization. The results from the present study show that judicious use of intravitreal Bevacizumab may be effective in such cases. Further studies with a large sample size and sufficiently long follow-up periods are required.
Adult ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized ; Atrophy ; Choroid ; Choroidal Neovascularization ; Choroideremia ; Eye ; Fluorescein ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Male ; Retinal Pigment Epithelium ; Sample Size ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Vision, Ocular ; Visual Acuity ; Bevacizumab

Reports of systemic candidiasis in neonates have been noted with major advances in neonatal care permitting the frequent survival of low birth weight infants. We experienced 2 cases of systemic candidiasis associated with skin involvement in very low birth weight infants. One case presented with abdominal distension and an erythematous maculopapular eruption on trunk, buttock, and lower extremities. Culture of peritoneal fluid grew Candida of albicans. In another case, a diffuse erythematous patch was noted on the back and buttock. Culture of blood sample grew Candida of albicans. Despite the treatment with intravenous fluconazole, clinical status of the patients continued to remain unstable, and they died.
Ascitic Fluid ; Buttocks ; Candida ; Candidiasis* ; Fluconazole ; Humans ; Infant* ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight* ; Lower Extremity ; Skin

No abstract available.
Hypothyroidism* ; Myasthenia Gravis*

PURPOSE: This study was to identify the effectiveness of high-intensity laser therapy on pain and function of a frozen shoulder. METHODS: Thirty patients were assigned to two groups: the experimental group (n=15) and the control group (n=15). Both groups received traditional therapy for 4 weeks, 3 days a week. The experimental group, however, received an additional high intensity laser therapy. Pain was measured using the visual analogue scale (VAS). The functional ability was measured using the patient specific functional scale (PSFS). A paired t-test was used to determine any differences before and after the treatment, and an independent t-test was used to determine any differences between treatment groups. RESULTS: Both groups showed a statistically significant difference for VAS and PSFS score (p<0.05). In comparison between two groups, more experimental group than control group statistically significant difference (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: There seems to be a positive effect on pain and function of frozen shoulder from using high intensity laser therapy.
Bursitis* ; Humans ; Laser Therapy*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of spinal decompression therapy on pain and disability in patients with chronic low back pain. METHODS: Twenty patients with chronic low back pain were divided into an experimental group (spinal decompression therapy, n=10) and a control group (conservative physical therapy, n=10). Both groups were treated three times a week over a four-week period. RESULTS: The comparison of between-group changes post-treatment revealed statistically significant lower levels of pain and disability in the experimental group than the control group. The comparison of within each group changes before and after the treatment showed statistically significant declines in pain and disability indexes of both groups. CONCLUSION: Spinal decompression therapy may be an effective intervention for improving pain and disability in patients with chronic low back pain.
Decompression* ; Humans ; Low Back Pain*

Valproic acid (VPA) is a well-known anti-epileptic and mood stabilizing drug. A growing number of reports demonstrate that VPA is neuroprotective against various insults. Despite intensive efforts to develop new therapeutics for stroke over the past two decades, all treatments have thus far failed to show clinical effect because of treatment-limiting side effects of the drugs. Therefore, a safety-validated drug like VPA would be an attractive candidate if it has neuroprotective effects against ischemic insults. The present study was undertaken to examine whether pre- and post-insult treatments with VPA protect against brain infarct and neurological deficits in mouse transient (tMCAO) and permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO) models. In the tMCAO (2 hr MCAO and 22 hr reperfusion) model, intraperitoneal injection of VPA (300 mg/kg, i.p.) 30 min prior to MCAO significantly reduced the infarct size and the neurological deficit. VPA treatment immediately after reperfusion significantly reduced the infarct size. The administration of VPA at 4 hr after reperfusion failed to reduce the infarct size and the neurological deficit. In the pMCAO model, treatment with VPA (300 mg/kg, i.p.) 30 min prior to MCAO significantly attenuated the infarct size, but did not affect the neurological deficit. Western blot analysis of acetylated H3 and H4 protein levels in extracts from the ischemic cortical area showed that treatment with VPA increased the expression of acetylated H3 and H4 at 2 hrs after MCAO. These results demonstrated that treatment with VPA prior to ischemia attenuated ischemic brain damage in both mice tMCAO and pMCAO models and treatment with VPA immediately after reperfusion reduced the infarct area in the tMCAO model. VPA could therefore be evaluated for clinical use in stroke patients.
Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Brain ; Brain Ischemia ; Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors ; Humans ; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Ischemia ; Mice ; Neuroprotective Agents ; Reperfusion ; Stroke ; Valproic Acid

The seropositivity of measles antibodies among 261 autologous stem cell transplant recipients (ASCTs) in Korea, assessed approximately 1–2 years after transplant (median, 11 months; interquartile range, 9–14), was significantly lower than age- and sex-matched control healthcare workers (83.1% [217/261] vs. 90.3% [539/597], P = 0.002). The findings underscore the vulnerability of adult ASCT recipients to measles. Clinicians should prioritize testing for measles IgG after ASCT and consider vaccination for ASCT recipients who remain seronegative 2 years after ASCT.

The seropositivity of measles antibodies among 261 autologous stem cell transplant recipients (ASCTs) in Korea, assessed approximately 1–2 years after transplant (median, 11 months; interquartile range, 9–14), was significantly lower than age- and sex-matched control healthcare workers (83.1% [217/261] vs. 90.3% [539/597], P = 0.002). The findings underscore the vulnerability of adult ASCT recipients to measles. Clinicians should prioritize testing for measles IgG after ASCT and consider vaccination for ASCT recipients who remain seronegative 2 years after ASCT.

The seropositivity of measles antibodies among 261 autologous stem cell transplant recipients (ASCTs) in Korea, assessed approximately 1–2 years after transplant (median, 11 months; interquartile range, 9–14), was significantly lower than age- and sex-matched control healthcare workers (83.1% [217/261] vs. 90.3% [539/597], P = 0.002). The findings underscore the vulnerability of adult ASCT recipients to measles. Clinicians should prioritize testing for measles IgG after ASCT and consider vaccination for ASCT recipients who remain seronegative 2 years after ASCT.