PURPOSE: Angiogenin is involved in tumor angiogenesis, an important process for the growth and metastatic potential of solid tumors. This study was performed to evaluate the expression of angiogenin in the tumor tissues of patients with bladder tumors. The correlations of angiogenin with the tumor grade and stage were also evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The quantification for the expression of angiogenin mRNA was assessed in 106 human bladder tumor tissues, 19 normal mucosae surrounding the bladder tumor and 17 normal bladder mucosae, using a quantitative competitive polymerase chain reaction (QC-PCR). We compared the levels of angiogenin mRNA expression between the bladder tumors and the normal bladder mucosae of the controls, the bladder tumors and the normal bladder mucosae surrounding the tumors, and with regard to the tumor grades and stages. RESULTS: The levels of angiogenin mRNA expression in the bladder tumor tissues were significantly higher than in the normal bladder mucosae of the controls and the normal bladder mucosae surrounding the tumors. The angiogenin expression levels in the bladder tumors at stages T1 or above T2 were significantly higher than in the bladder tumors at stage Ta. There was no significant difference in angiogenin expressions with regard to the tumor grade. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that angiogenesis, mediated by angiogenin, may be involved in the tumorigenesis of the urinary bladder and the invasiveness of bladder tumors.
Carcinogenesis ; Humans* ; Mucous Membrane ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Messenger ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms* ; Urinary Bladder*

PURPOSE: Both the development and progression of a tumor are angiogenesis dependent, the induction of which is mediated by several angiogenic factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). This study was performed to evaluate the expression of VEGF in the tumor tissues of patients with bladder tumors. The correlation of VEGF with the tumor grade and stage was also evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The quantification for the VEGF mRNA expression was assessed in 117 human bladder tumor tissues and 17 normal bladder mucosae of controls, using a quantitative competitive polymerase chain reaction (QC-PCR). We compared the levels of VEGF mRNA expression between the bladder tumors and the normal bladder mucosae of the controls, the bladder tumors and the surrounding normal bladder mucosae, and according to tumor grades and stages. RESULTS: The VEGF mRNA expression in the bladder tumor tissues was significantly higher than in the normal bladder mucosae of the controls and the surrounding normal bladder mucosae. The VEGF expression was significantly higher in the grade III than the grade I bladder tumors. There was no significant difference in VEGF expression with regard to the tumor stage. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that angiogenesis, mediated by VEGF, may be involved in the neoplastic growth of bladder tumors and the tumor's aggressiveness.
Angiogenesis Inducing Agents ; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell* ; Humans* ; Mucous Membrane ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Messenger ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*

PURPOSE: To compare the two transscleral fixation (TSF) techniques of intrascleral pocket and conventional scleral flap with conjunctival division techniques in terms of short-term clinical effects. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included all consecutive patients with aphakia in Gyeongsang National University Hospital in Jinju, Korea, who underwent TSF between January 2012 and December 2014. The medical records of all patients were retrospectively reviewed, and the endothelial cell count (ECC), refraction, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure, slit lamp, and fundus examination results before and 1 day and 6 months after surgery were recorded. The postoperative complications and visual outcomes were also recorded. RESULTS: The intrascleral pocket and conventional-flap groups did not differ significantly in terms of demographics, presurgical BCVA, or ECC. However, the intrascleral pocket group had a significantly lower BCVA at 1 day and 6 months after surgery compared to the conventional-flap group. The two groups did not differ in terms of ECC 6 months after surgery. The intrascleral pocket group had no postoperative complications, but five patients in the conventional-flap group complained of irritation. In both groups, the intraocular lens was well positioned without tilting or subluxation, and astigmatism was significantly reduced at 1 day and 6 months after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The intrascleral pocket technique of TSF does not involve conjunctival dissection and is a successful method of sulcus fixation. It stably corrects the intraocular lens and is easy to perform, which helps to reduce operation time. It also reliably yields rapid visual acuity recovery without complications.
Aphakia ; Astigmatism ; Cohort Studies* ; Demography ; Endothelial Cells ; Gyeongsangnam-do ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Korea ; Lenses, Intraocular ; Medical Records ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies* ; Visual Acuity

Purpose: To report a squamous cell carcinoma in the lacrimal sac of a young patient.Case summary: A 30-year-old female patient who had a history of conjunctival squamous papilloma resected at 15 years of age complained of pain and a mass around the right lacrimal sac that had occurred 1 week prior. Antibiotic treatment for 10 days under suspicion of dacryocystitis did not relieve her symptoms. After being diagnosed with lacrimal sac obstruction after dacryocystography, a 1.7 × 1.7 cm round mass was found on orbit non-contrast computed tomography. Endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy and excisional biopsy were performed. Histopathological examination revealed the initial invasive squamous cell carcinoma. An additional resected tissue biopsy was performed later. The mass diagnosed as carcinoma was completely resected and it was confirmed that there were no malignant cells around the resected area. Conclusions Squamous cell carcinoma of the lacrimal sac is rare and is known to be less common in young patients. It is believed that this case should not exclude the possibility of malignant tumors of the lacrimal sac regardless of age. Given that squamous cell carcinoma of the lacrimal sac is associated with a high-risk of human papillomavirus, this disease should be considered if there is a history of papilloma.

Purpose: To report a squamous cell carcinoma in the lacrimal sac of a young patient.Case summary: A 30-year-old female patient who had a history of conjunctival squamous papilloma resected at 15 years of age complained of pain and a mass around the right lacrimal sac that had occurred 1 week prior. Antibiotic treatment for 10 days under suspicion of dacryocystitis did not relieve her symptoms. After being diagnosed with lacrimal sac obstruction after dacryocystography, a 1.7 × 1.7 cm round mass was found on orbit non-contrast computed tomography. Endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy and excisional biopsy were performed. Histopathological examination revealed the initial invasive squamous cell carcinoma. An additional resected tissue biopsy was performed later. The mass diagnosed as carcinoma was completely resected and it was confirmed that there were no malignant cells around the resected area. Conclusions Squamous cell carcinoma of the lacrimal sac is rare and is known to be less common in young patients. It is believed that this case should not exclude the possibility of malignant tumors of the lacrimal sac regardless of age. Given that squamous cell carcinoma of the lacrimal sac is associated with a high-risk of human papillomavirus, this disease should be considered if there is a history of papilloma.

Purpose: Here, we report a case of a fungal corneal ulcer caused by Talaromyces allahabadensis (T. allahabadensis).Case summary: A 69-year-old male was admitted to our hospital with pain and hyperemia in his left eye after 2 months of treatmentat a local clinic for herpetic keratitis. The patient had a previous history of trauma to his left eye caused by a persimmon treebranch. He had a peripheral epithelial defect, stromal infiltration, and severe corneal edema in his left eye. Gram staining, a KOHsmear, and a culture were performed using corneal specimens; the results were all negative. With the assumption of herpetickeratitis, antiviral and empirical antibiotic treatments were started. After 2 weeks, the stromal infiltrations on his left eye increased,so we again conducted staining and culture studies. T. allahabadensis was isolated from a specimen, so treatment wasstarted using antifungal agents, and a conjunctival flap graft was performed due to the risk of a corneal perforation. Conclusions A case of corneal ulcer caused by T. allahabadensis in a patient with posttraumatic herpetic keratitis was successfullytreated with antifungal agents and conjunctival flap surgery.

No abstract available.
Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Thyroid Diseases* ; Thyroid Gland*

PURPOSE: To report a case of Epstein-Barr virus-related corneal endotheliitis accompanied by secondary glaucoma.CASE SUMMARY: A 73-year-old male presented with blurred vision in his right eye. In the ophthalmic evaluation, there were dispersed keratic precipitates overlying corneal edema. The anterior chamber showed trace ~1+ graded inflammation and an endothelial density decrease. His best-corrected visual acuity and intraocular pressure in the right eye were 0.2 and 34 mmHg, respectively. Paracentesis was performed on the anterior chamber of the right eye to confirm the diagnosis under the suspicion of corneal endotheliitis with trabeculectomy for the intraocular pressure control. Epstein-Barr virus was confirmed using a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and oral and eye drops of Acyclovir were used to treat the patient. There was no evidence of a recurrence over 2 years and his intraocular pressure was 12 mmHg and best-corrected visual acuity was maintained at 0.5.CONCLUSIONS: A case of Epstein-Barr virus-related corneal endotheliitis was diagnosed using PCR of the aqueous humor. The patient was treated with an oral antiviral agent and eyedrops without a recurrence.
Acyclovir ; Aged ; Anterior Chamber ; Aqueous Humor ; Corneal Edema ; Diagnosis ; Glaucoma ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Intraocular Pressure ; Male ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Ophthalmic Solutions ; Paracentesis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Recurrence ; Trabeculectomy ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: To assess the quantitative accuracy and the clinical utility of 3D volumetric PET imaging with FDG in brain studies, 24 patients with various neurological disorders were studied. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Each patient was injected with 370 MBq of 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose. After a 30 min uptake period, the patients were imaged for 30 min in 2 dimensional acquisition (2D) and subsequently for 10 min in 3 dimensional acquisition imaging (3D) using a GE AdvanceTM PET system. The scatter corrected 3D (3D SC) and non scatter-corrected 3D images were compared with 2D images by applying ROIs on gray and white matter, lesion and contralateral normal areas. Measured and calculated attenuation correction methods for emission images were compared to get the maximum advantage of high sensitivity of 3D acquisition. RESULTS: When normalized to the contrast of 2D images, the contrasts of gray to white matter were 0.75+/-0.13 (3D) and 0.95+/-0.12 (3D SC). The contrasts of normal area to lesion were 0.83+/-0.05 (3D) and 0.96+/-0.05 (3D SC). Three nuclear medicine physicians judged 3D SC images to be superior to the 2D with regards to resolution and noise. Regional counts of calculated attenuation correction was not significantly different to that of measured attenuation correction. CONCLUSION:: 3D PET images with the scatter correction in FDG brain studies provide quantitatively and qualitatively similar images to 2D and can be utilized in a routine clinical setting to reduce scanning time and patient motion artifacts.
Artifacts ; Brain* ; Humans ; Nervous System Diseases ; Noise ; Nuclear Medicine ; Positron-Emission Tomography

Purpose: To report a case of bilateral congenital cataract in a patient with triple X syndrome.Case summary: A 9-month-old female was referred to our clinic because of poor fixation and white pupils in both eyes. The patient underwent a performed chromosomal study in the pediatric department due to developmental delay and torticollis. As a result, she was diagnosed with triple X syndrome (47, XXX). Under general anesthesia, the patient underwent lens aspiration with intraocular lens insertion and anterior vitrectomy was performed followed by posterior capsulotomy with optic capture. Intraoperatively, remnant pupillary membrane, posterior embryotoxon, and anterior lenticonus with anterior capsular defect in both eyes were observed. But there was no specific finding on fundus examination. Conclusions We report the first case of bilateral congenital cataract in a patient with triple X syndrome. It is recommended that clinicians check for cataracts as soon as possible when this chromosome abnormality is confirmed.