No abstract available.
DNA* ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization*

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to measure macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (mGC-IPL) thickness in patients with a history of unilateral single attack of acute primary angle closure (APAC) and to compare it with that of unaffected fellow eyes 8 weeks after resolution using spectrum domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). METHODS: Medical records of 24 patients with history of first episode of unilateral APAC were reviewed retrospectively. Eight weeks after APAC, mGC-IPL thickness and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness were measured with SD-OCT and analyzed in eyes affected by APAC (group 1) and fellow eyes (group 2). RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the groups with regard to best corrected visual acuity, spherical equivalent, central corneal thickness, or axial length (p > 0.05). There were no significant differences in mGC-IPL thickness in the superotemporal, superior, or superonasal sectors (p > 0.05). However, average, inferonasal, inferior, and inferotemporal sectors of group 1 were significantly thinner than those of group 2 (p = 0.002, 0.002, 0.001, 0.001, respectively). In addition, average mGC-IPL difference between affected eyes and fellow eyes showed a statistically significant correlation with attack duration (correlation coefficient = 0.249, p = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS: Normalization of elevated intraocular pressure as soon as possible after APAC onset is recommended in order to reduce mGC-IPL loss, and measurements of mGC-IPL thickness can be helpful for follow-up of APAC patients.
Follow-Up Studies ; Ganglion Cysts ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Medical Records ; Nerve Fibers ; Retinaldehyde ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Visual Acuity

No abstract available.
Acneiform Eruptions ; Bevacizumab

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Current therapy for acute ischemic stroke is highly focused on neuroprotective agents, and many ion channel blockers have been challenged for experimental models. In this study, we tried to reveal the neuroprotective effect of lamotrigine, a voltage-sensitive sodium channel blocker, for transient global ischemia of Mogolian gerbil. METHODS: Lamotrigine (50mg/kg) was administered via gastric tube 30 minutes before and after global ischemia (for 10 min) under body temperature monitoring. Sham-operated and non-treated ischemia group were compared. Seven days after reperfusion, gerbils were killed with perfusion/fixation technique and representative sections were cut through the hippocampus. Hematoxylin-Eosin staining was done for microscopic examination and number of viable neurons in CA1 area was counted. RESULTS: Neuronal density was different between sham-operated (n=11), non-treated ischemic (n=11), and lamotrigine-treated (n=26) group (107.8+13.1/mm vs. 21.5+23.0/mm vs. 82.0+13.1/mm, p<0.01). Both pre-(n=17) and post-treated group (n=9) showed significant neuroprotective effect compared with non-treated group. Neuronal density of pre-treated group was slightly higher than in post-treated group, though statistically not significant (84.6+13.0/mm vs. 77.3+12.7/mm, p=0.13). CONCLUSION: These results show that lamotrigine may have some effects reducing the delayed neuronal death in transient global ischemia. Considering the mechanism of action, we suggest that activation of voltage-sensitive sodium channel and release of glutamate at early phase of ischemia may be related to the delayed neuronal death.
Body Temperature ; Cerebral Infarction ; Gerbillinae ; Glutamic Acid ; Hippocampus ; Ion Channels ; Ischemia* ; Models, Theoretical ; Neurons ; Neuroprotective Agents* ; Reperfusion ; Sodium Channels ; Stroke

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the patency, procedure related complications and effectiveness of Wallstent application to the malignant biliary obstruction as a palliative treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical results, duration of survival, patency rate and complication of the Wallstent application on 33 patients who had had obstructive jaundice by the malignant lesion in recent 3 years. One or two step procedures. were mainly taken with 10mm diameter Wallstents. Grouping according to place the stent at the hilum or not, and grouping according to place the stent through the ampulla or not were done to evaluate the difference of the patency and survival rate between the groups. RESULTS: Biliary endoprosthesis with Wallstent were successfully placed in all patients without difficulty. Procedure related short-term complication rate was about 18.1% (n=6/33). Complications were fever(n=4), cholecystitis(n=1) and sepsis(n=l). Long-term complications were mainly obstruction(n=9/31) of the Wallstent during the follow-up period. Also cholecystitis occurred in one patient 3 months later. Mean survival duration was 139.72 (46-237)days ormong those who expired. Mean patency duration of stents was 139.67 (26-310) days. Survival rates were 93.5% at the second month, 68.8% at the third month, 61.2% at the 4th month, 53.5% at the 5th month, 49.1% at the 7th month and 35.7% at the 9th month. Patency rates were 93.7% at the second month, 84.2% at the 4th month, 66.9% at the 5th month, 59.5% at the 7th month and 39.6% at the 10th month. The application was repeated in the 6 patients with stent occlusion. Significant statistical difference could not be found between the groups according to placing the stent at the hilum and according to placing the stent through the ampulla. Patency rates were higher than survival rates in the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Wallstent application provides good palliation with little discomfort and few complications in the patients with malignant obstructive jaundice.
Cholecystitis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Jaundice, Obstructive ; Palliative Care ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents ; Survival Rate

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Basal Cell* ; Dermoscopy*

Transient ischemic attack (TIA) often precede cerebral infarcts as a warning symptom. But the studies revealing the frequency and the correlation between preceding TIAs and following infarcts are rare. According to the western data, about one-quarter of the patients with cerebral infarct have been supposed to have the previous history of TIAs. We prospectively studied the exact frequency, clinical presentation, and presumed causes of TIAs preceding cerebral infarct. Ninety five patients diagnosed as acute cerebral infarction were interviewed whether they had had previous episodes of TIA. 4 check-list using ordinary language was used, and NINDS diagnostic criteria was applied on the consensus between several neurologists. Seventeen patients (18%) had history of preceding TIAs. Carotid territory was affected in 11 patients (65%), while vertebrobasilar in 4(24%) and undetermined in 2. Duration was less than an hour in 10 patients(59%), and attacks were multiple in about half. Time interval between the last attack and infarction was less than one week in 10 cases(59%). Incidence of recent TIA ((1 month) was 22% in large artery disease(LAD), 11% In cardioembolism(CE), 9% in small-artery disease(SAD), and 7% in mixed etiology. Conclusion, TIAs preceding cerebral infarcts are not rare, but seems to be less common in Koreans than in Caucasians. As expected, atherothrombosis of large artery is supposed to be the leading cause of TIAs.
Arteries ; Cerebral Infarction ; Consensus ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infarction ; Ischemic Attack, Transient* ; National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke ; Prospective Studies

BACKGROUND: Chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CCLE) is a well-known autoimmune cutaneous disease that is part of the lupus erythematosus (LE) spectrum. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to elucidate the clinical and laboratory features and the possible factors that are relevant to the aggravation of CCLE, as well as the possible precipitating factors for the transformation of cutaneous LE into multi-organ systemic disease. METHODS: A total of forty Korean patients with CCLE were selected for the study. We performed clinical examinations for the lesion-morphology and topographic distribution, as well as tests for the LE-related laboratory abnormalities, the precipitating factors for aggravation and the factors relevant to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). RESULTS: Among these forty CCLE patients, thirty-two patients (80.0%) had discoid erythema (DLE) lesions and 39 patients (97.5%) had cutaneous CCLE lesions that appeared on the head and neck areas. Twenty-nine patients (72.5%) had more than 3 CCLE lesions. All of the laboratory and clinical features of SLE were observed more frequently in the patients with widespread DLE with multiple lesions than in those patients with localized DLE. The most frequent aggravating factors that were recognized among these forty patients with CCLE were UV light, cold-exposure, physical trauma, pregnancy and smoking. Transformation into SLE developed in three patients (7.5%) during a 4-year period, and the most relevant findings related to the transformation into SLE were positive findings for leukopenia, antinuclear antibodies, anti-DNA antibodies and an increase of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. CONCLUSION: Among these forty Korean cases of CCLE, multiple lesions of DLE on the head and neck areas were the most frequent clinical form, and this pattern is similar to the pattern seen in Caucasian people. The most frequent aggravating factor observed in individual patients was UV light. Patients with a widespread form of CCLE may have some laboratory findings of SLE such as leukopenia, antinuclear antibodies, anti-DNA antibodies or an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate. These patients should be observed closely because their disease might be transformed to SLE.
Antibodies, Antinuclear ; Blood Sedimentation ; Erythema ; Head ; Humans ; Leukopenia ; Lupus Erythematosus, Cutaneous ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Neck ; Precipitating Factors ; Pregnancy ; Skin ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Ultraviolet Rays

No abstract available.
Flow Cytometry* ; Humans* ; Leukocytes* ; Microscopy* ; Phagocytosis* ; Staphylococcus aureus* ; Staphylococcus*

No abstract available.
Flow Cytometry* ; Humans* ; Leukocytes* ; Microscopy* ; Phagocytosis* ; Staphylococcus aureus* ; Staphylococcus*