Laser assisted in situ keratomileusis(LASIK) is a widely used technique for correcting high myopia. Its technical methods and excellent clinical results are well known, but its potential risk on the corneal endothelium are poorly known. We used specular microscope to underwent LASIK for the correction of myopia. The mean preoperative refraction was ?4.5 diopters (range, -10.00 to -23.50 diopters.). The average endothelial cell densities were 2,817+/-205 cells/mm2 (mean +/-SD) preoperatively and 2,789+/-211 cells/mm2 3 months postoperatvely, corresponding to fall of 28 cells/mm2. This fall in endothelial cell density was not statistically significant (P>0.05). But significant correlation between the change in cell density and the residual corneal thickness was found(P>0.05). These results suggest that LASIK is a predictable and safe method for correcting high myopia, but care is recommended when doing deep corneal ablation. Long term follow-up may be needed to confirm its safety.
Cell Count ; Endothelial Cells ; Endothelium, Corneal ; Follow-Up Studies ; Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ ; Myopia

This study was designed to investigate the effects of mulberry leaf powder supplementation on lead (Pb) status and mineral (Ca, Fe, Cu and Zn) content in Pb-administered rats for 4 weeks. Thirty two male rats were divided into 4 groups: a control, Pb, Pb5M (500 ppm Pb + 5% mulberry leaf powder), and Pb10M (500 ppm Pb + 10% mulberry leaf powder). There were no significant differences in food intake and initial body weight among groups. Mulberry leaf powder treatments showed significant decreases in food efficiency ratio and body weight gain. But FER of Pb5M% and Pb10M were significantly increases than that of Pb group. The levels of serum aspartate transaminase (AST) and creatinine were decreased by mulberry leaf powder treatment. Minerals content of liver and kidney were significantly decreased in the Pb groups than that of control group. Whereas, fecal minerals content were significantly increased in the Pb5M and Pb10M than those of control group. Pb content of serum, liver and kidney was significantly increased in the Pb group than those of control group. However, by mulberry leaf powder administration (Pb5M and Pb10M), Pb level of serum, liver and kidney were lowered than that of Pb group. And fecal Pb excretion was significantly increased in the Pb5M and Pb10M than that of Pb group. These results showed mulberry leaves were effective for lowing Pb accumulation in serum, organs, which may have potential to prevent Pb toxicity.
Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Body Weight ; Creatinine ; Eating ; Humans ; Kidney ; Liver ; Male ; Minerals* ; Morus* ; Rats*

This study evaluated the quality characteristics of jelly prepared with different levels (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25%) of wild carrot (WC, Daucus carota L.) juice as a care food for the elderly. The lightness, redness, yellowness, and delta (Δ) values of the jelly (Control, WCJ5, WCJ10, WCJ15, WCJ20, and WCJ25) decreased with increasing amounts of wild carrot juice added. The mechanical properties, such as hardness, springiness, chewiness, and gumminess, of the jelly were decreased with increasing amounts of wild carrot juice added. The total polyphenol and total flavonoid contents of the jelly increased with increasing amounts of wild carrot juice added. The DPPH radical scavenging activity (IC50) also increased with increasing amounts of wild carrot juice added. The α-glucosidase inhibitory effects of wild carrot (WC) and WCJ25 were 71% and 54.4%, respectively, compared to the positive control (acarbose). The lipase inhibitory effects of WC and WCJ25 were 44.2% and 14.4%, respectively, compared to the positive control group (orlistat). On the other hand, the sensory evaluation score was the best at WCJ20, which contained 20% wild carrot juice. In conclusion, WCJ20 or WCJ25 is expected to be a care food for the elderly with respect to texture as well as the antioxidant and enzymatic activity (α-glucosidase inhibitory and lipase inhibitory activities).
Aged ; Daucus carota* ; Hand ; Hardness ; Humans ; Lipase

A rare manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST), in which early diagnosis and aggressive therapy are of prime importance for favorable outcome. The pathogenesis of CVST is largely unknown, but it is thought to be caused by cerebral vasculitis, antiphospholipid antibodies or other conditions associated with enhanced coagulability. We describe two cases of SLE with CVST which were not associated with antiphospholipid antibodies. Both cases were treated with immunosuppressants (intravenous methylprednisolone and cyclophosphamide pulse therapy) and anticoagulant drugs (heparin and subsequent maintenance therapy with warfarin). There was a marked improvement of neurologic symptoms with the disappearance of thrombus in a follow-up MRI. The possibility of CVST should be considered in any patients with SLE who show neuropsychiatric manifestations.
Adult ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Steroidal/therapeutic use ; Anticoagulants/therapeutic use ; Brain/radiography ; Cyclophosphamide/therapeutic use ; Female ; Glucocorticoids, Synthetic/therapeutic use ; Heparin/therapeutic use ; Human ; Immunosuppressive Agents/therapeutic use ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/*complications ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Methylprednisolone/therapeutic use ; Middle Age ; Sinus Thrombosis, Intracranial/*complications/drug therapy/physiopathology/radiography ; Treatment Outcome ; Warfarin/therapeutic use

Our study focused on the antioxidant activities of Mosidae leaf ethanol extract (MLE) and included measurements of reducing power, total phenolic compounds, DPPH radical scavenging activity, and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity. In order to determine whether or not MLE evidences any chemopreventive activities, experimental lung metastasis was induced via the i.v. inoculation of colon26-M3.1 carcinoma cells into BALB/c mice. Additionally, we attempted to characterize any possible cytotoxic effects in murine normal splenocytes and tumor cells (B16-BL6 and colon26-M3.1). The total phenolic content and reducing capacity were measured at 39 mg/100 mL and 1.24, respectively, whereas the DPPH and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities of MLE were measured to be 88.89% and 22.10%, respectively. Prophylactic i.v. treatment with MLE resulted in a dose-dependent and significant inhibition of lung metastasis. Specifically, a MLE dose of 200 ug per mouse resulted in an 88.90% inhibition of lung metastasis. For the cytotoxicity assay, MLE doses up to 100 ug/mL were not shown to affect the growth of normal murine splenocytes. Additionally, the survival of normal cells was not affected at MLE doses below 500 ug/mL. However, MLE doses up to 500 ug/mL reduced the percentage of tumor cell growth for B16BL6 (67% alive) and colon26-M3.1 (62% alive) cells.
Animals ; Ethanol ; Hydroxyl Radical ; Lung ; Mice ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Phenol

Behcet's disease is a multisystemic disease, in which vascular involvement occurs in 7. 7-60% of patients. There are three forms of vascular involvement such as venous occlusion, arterial occlusion and arterial aneurysm. Venous lesions are more common than arterial lesions and the common sites of venous thrombosis are inferior vena cava, superior vena cava, and superficial or deep veins of extremities. Thrombosis of cerebral venous sinus is an infrequent complication of Behcet's disease and it seems to be rare that both deep vein thrombosis and cerebral venous sinus thrombosis occured at the same time. We experienced a case of Behcet's disease complicated with thromboses of left common femoral vein and right transverse sinus. A 29-year-old man presented with persistent dull nature headache, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision and left lower leg swelling. Duplex ultrasonography of lower extremity showed thrombus in the left common femoral vein. Magnetic resonance imaging of brain showed isodense signal intensity lesions in right transverse sinus on Tl weighted image. On magnetic resonance angiography, the right transverse, sigmoid sinus and right internal jugular vein were not visualized. The patient showed substantial improvement after treatment with steroid, cyclosporine A and anticoagulants.
Adult ; Aneurysm ; Anticoagulants ; Brain ; Colon, Sigmoid ; Cyclosporine ; Extremities ; Femoral Vein ; Headache ; Humans ; Jugular Veins ; Leg ; Lower Extremity ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Nausea ; Sinus Thrombosis, Intracranial* ; Thrombosis ; Ultrasonography ; Veins ; Vena Cava, Inferior ; Vena Cava, Superior ; Venous Thrombosis* ; Vomiting

The objectives of this study was to determine whether a new physically modified cornstarch by ultra-fine- or nanoscale pulverizer to reduce particle size offers better bioactive function than native cornstarch in weanling Sprague-Dawley rats. Male weaning Sprague-Dawley rats were fed diets containing native cornstarch (NAC), ultra fine pulverized cornstarch (UFC) or nano-scale pulverized cornstarch (NSC) for 4 weeks. In vitro rate of starch hydrolysis, growth performance, organ weight, intestine length intestinal proliferation and the fermentation by Bifidobacterium of rat cecum were evaluated. The diet with reduced particle size (UFC or NSC) significantly increased body weight gain and organ weight. Feed efficiency was increased in NSC fed rats and was not affected in UFC fed rats. Intestinal proliferation was decreased in NSC group. Reduction of particle size also increased cecal short chain fatty acid concentration and the growth and acidifying activity of Bifidobacterium. It is concluded that a reduction of particle size of starch granules by physically modification may increase growing performance and gut function.
Animals ; Bifidobacterium ; Body Weight ; Cecum ; Diet ; Fermentation ; Humans ; Hydrolysis ; Intestines ; Male ; Organ Size ; Particle Size ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Starch ; Weaning

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (previously named Xanthomonas maltophilia) is an aerobic, non-fermentive, Gram-negative bacillus that is wide spread in the environment. It was considered to be an organism with limited pathogenic potential, which was rarely capable of causing diseases in human other than those who were in debilitated or immunocompromised state. More recent studies have established that Stenotrophomonas maltophilia can behave as a true pathogen. Endocarditis due to this organism is rare, and only 24 cases of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia endocarditis have been reported in the medical literature. Most cases were associated with risk factors, including intravenous drug abuse, dental treatment, infected intravenous devices, and previous cardiac surgery. We present a case with two episodes of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia endocarditis after mitral valve prosthesis implantation, which was treated with antibiotics initially, and a combination of antibiotics and surgery later. To our knowledge, this is the first case of repetitive endocarditis due to Stenotrophomonas maltophilia.
Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*therapeutic use ; Bioprosthesis/adverse effects/*microbiology ; Endocarditis, Bacterial/*drug therapy/physiopathology ; Gentamicins/therapeutic use ; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections/*drug therapy/physiopathology ; Heart Valve Prosthesis/adverse effects/*microbiology ; Humans ; Male ; Mitral Valve ; Recurrence ; Stenotrophomonas maltophilia/*drug effects ; Treatment Outcome ; Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole Combination/*therapeutic use ; Vancomycin/therapeutic use

BACKGROUND: To the best of our knowledge, the report on Amanita subjunquillea poisoning has not been found in the medical literature. We investigated the clinical aspects of Amanita subjunquillea poisoning. METHODS: Sixteen subjects who had ingested the mushroom (A. subjunquillea) were examined for clinical features, laboratory and radiologic findings prospectively. RESULTS: The mean incubation period was 11.5 hours(range: 3 to 17 hours). The initial presentations were gastrointestinal symptoms which persisted for 2 to 4 days. The transaminase levels were elevated in all subjects and peaked on day 3 after ingestion of the mushrooms (mean AST/ALT levels : 3241 IU/L and 3741 IU/L, respectively). Biochemical evidence of pancreatitis and disseminated intravascular coagulation were frequent (83.3% and 62.5%, respectively). Liver ultrasonography and scintigraphy revealed abnormalities in most cases. Massive hepatic necrosis was confirmed by liver biopsy in one subject. The overall mortality was 12.5%. CONCLUSION: Clinical manifestations of A. subjunquillea poisoning were similar to those of other poisonous Amanitaceae intoxication. However, the mortality rate was lower in A. subjunquillea poisoning. Our data showed strong evidence that A. subjunquillea should be classified in the group of poisonous mushrooms.
Agaricales ; Amanita* ; Biopsy ; Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation ; Eating ; Liver ; Massive Hepatic Necrosis ; Mortality ; Pancreatitis ; Poisoning* ; Prospective Studies ; Radionuclide Imaging ; Ultrasonography

Of the various endocrine tumors affecting the pancreas, insulinomas and gastrinomas are the most common. In order to facilitate surgery, the localization of tumor is important. However, at the first time of presentation, the localization of tumor was often difficult by CT or ultrasonography because the tumor was relatively too small. The introduction of endoscopic ultrasonography has allowed high-resolution imaging of the pancreas that distinguishes structures as small as 2 to 3 mm in diameter. Thus, it has became easier to detect the lesion site of pancreatic endocrine tumor by endoscopic ultrasonography. We report the 5 patients who had pancreatic insulinoma which were detected and localized by endoscopic ultrasonography.
Endosonography* ; Gastrinoma ; Humans ; Insulinoma* ; Pancreas ; Ultrasonography