Some patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have pulmonary hypertension (PH) that adversely affects survival. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess whether PH-specific therapies have an effect for stable COPD. Data sources were Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Korea med and references from relevant publications. Randomized prospective trials that compared PH specific therapy in COPD for more than 6 weeks with placebo were included. The outcomes were the exercise capacity and adverse events. Four randomized controlled trials involving 109 subjects were included in the analysis. Two trials involved bosentan, one sildenafil and one beraprost. The studies varied in duration of treatment from 3 to 18 months. In a pooled analysis of four trials, exercise-capacity was not significantly improved with PH-specific treatment for COPD (risk ratio, -5.1; 95% CI, -13.0 to 2.8). COPD with overt PH significantly improved the exercise capacity (mean difference, 111.6; 95% CI, 63.3 to 159.9) but COPD with PH unknown did not (mean difference, 26.6; 95% CI, -24.3 to 77.5). There was no significant difference in hypoxemia (mean difference, 2.6; 95% CI, -3.7 to 8.8). PH specific treatments have a significant effect in improving exercise capacity in COPD with overt PH.
Anoxia ; Antihypertensive Agents/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Clinical Trials as Topic ; Databases, Factual ; Epoprostenol/adverse effects/analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary/complications/*drug therapy ; Piperazines/adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/*etiology ; Purines/adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Questionnaires ; Risk Factors ; Sulfonamides/adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Sulfones/adverse effects/therapeutic use

PURPOSE: To develop methods for the objective measurement of ocular fatigue. METHODS: Fifteen patients were enrolled in the present study. Subjects performed visual tasks on a computer for one hour. A survey of ocular fatigue was conducted with a questionnaire. Tear break-up time, blinking rate, ocular protection index, conjunctival injection, maximal blinking interval, temperature of the ocular surface, and visual evoked potential were evaluated before and immediately after the task. Surface electromyography of the orbicularis oculi muscle was performed before and during the task. RESULTS: The survey showed increases in subjective ocular fatigue in all subjects. Tear break-up time, ocular protection index and maximal blinking interval decreased, while temperature of the ocular surface increased after the task. Conjunctival injection showed a tendency to increase. Electromyography, and visual evoked potential did not change significantly. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, tear break-up time, ocular protection index, maximal blinking interval, and temperature of the ocular surface changed as ocular fatigue increased. Therefore, these measures can be objectively used for the evaluation of ocular fatigue.
Asthenopia ; Blinking ; Electromyography ; Evoked Potentials, Visual ; Fatigue ; Humans ; Muscles ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Amyloidosis is a heterogenous group of often fatal disorders characterized by extracellular deposition of a proteinaceous material with a unique fibrillar form in various tissues and organs. Deposition of amyloid may cause widespread dysfunction of the involved organs. Recently, we experienced a case of 40-year-old male patient with nephrotic syndrome, uncontrolled ascites and jaundice, which developed after cholecystectomy. We confirmed systemic amyloidosis involving kidney, liver and peritoneum by kidney and liver and peritoneum biopsy. The case that, having about a month of incubation period after cholecystectomy, amyloidosis occurred in a healthy man before the operation, and that amyloid was deposited in the peritoneum site incised during the operation provides grounds that amyloidosis may be triggered by cholecystectomy. Given the rarity of this case, the following is a report of this case and a review of the relevant literatures.
Adult ; Amyloid ; Amyloidosis* ; Ascites ; Biopsy ; Cholecystectomy* ; Humans ; Jaundice ; Kidney* ; Liver* ; Male ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; Peritoneum*

BACKGROUND: It is widely believed that Graves' disease is an autoimmune disorder characterized by the presence of the circulating TSH receptor antibody (TRAb). The majority of the activity of TRAb is of the immunoglobulin G (IgG) class. However, other immunoglobulin such as immunoglobulin E (IgE), may play a role in the activity. IgE accumulation has been reported to occur in the thyroid gland and ocular muscles of subjects with Graves' disease. Furthermore, it has been noted that recurrence of Graves' disease can be induced by an allergy to pollen. Because an allergy to pollen is commonly associated with IgE, IgE might play a role in the induction of Graves' disease. Therefore, investigated whether IgE was elevated in Graves' disease, and evaluated the potential relationship between the levels of TRAb and IgE Graves' disease. METHODS: Forty-six patients with Graves' disease, and 6 with chronic thyroiditis, diagnosed at the Kosin Medical Center between April, 2000 and July, 2000 were included in this study. Thirty-five persons without thyroid disease or a history of allergic rhinitis were used as normal controls. The level of TRAb was measured using thyrotropin binding inhibitory immunoglobulin (TBII). Serum total IgE was measured using an enzymeimmunoassay method. Test for thyroid function, TBII and total IgE were performed in all cases, and the results statistically analyzed. RESULTS: TBII, as IgG, and the serum IgE level were higher in the patients with Graves' disease, and the levels of the latter were 598.1+/-1112.9U/mL, 98.5+/-79.7U/mL and controls 161.7+/-194.4U/mL in the Graves' patients, those with thyroiditis and the controls, respectively (p<0.05). The prevalence of allergic rhinitis in Graves' disease was 10.9%. The serum IgE level in Graves' disease with, and without, allergic rhinitis were 903.1+/-1152.2U/mL and 560.8+/-1117.0U/mL, respectively, although there was no significancant difference between the two groups. According to the clinical stage, the serum TBII level was higher in the untreated Graves', and relapsed patients 49.9+/-23.9% and 21.1+/-3.1%, respectively, than in the treated group, 7.4+/-18.6% (p<0.05). The serum IgE level was higher in the untreated Graves' and relapsed patients 758.6+/-1250.2U/mL and 1198.5+/-1952.1U/mL, respectively, than in the treated group 233.8+/-432.7U/mL, although this was not significant. According to the duration of treatment, the serum TBII levels were higher in the untreated Graves' patients, and those treated for less than 1 year, than in those treated for more than 1 year, with values of 49.9+/-23.9, 24.8+/-3.8 and 2.22+/-1.97%, respectively (p<0.05). The serum IgE level was higher in the untreated Graves' disease (758.6+/-1250.2U/mL) than in the groups treated for less than 12 months (158.3+/-91.5U/mL) and more than 12 months (252.7+/-483.4U/mL), but the differences were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: The concentration of IgE was high in Graves' patients, and although not statistically significant, the serum IgE level in Graves' patients with allergic rhinitis was higher than those without. With regard to the clinical stage of Graves' disease, the change in the IgE level tended to follow that of the TBII. Further study will be required to define the possible role of IgE in the pathogenesis in Graves' disease.
Graves Disease* ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulins ; Muscles ; Pollen ; Prevalence ; Receptors, Thyrotropin ; Recurrence ; Rhinitis ; Thyroid Diseases ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroiditis ; Thyrotropin

Intracranial epidermoid cysts usually show homogeneous hypodensity on CT scans, hypointensity on T1-weighted MR images and hyperintensity on T2-weighted MR images. Most of them arise in the cerebellopontine angle and parasellar areas. We report a case of middle cranial fossa epidermoid tumor with unusual image findings. The entire tumor mass showed inhomogeneous low density, without any enhancing solid portion on the CT scans. The lateral portion of the tumor showed homogeneous T1 low signal intensity and T2 high signal intensity. The medial portion of the tumor showed heterogeneous T1 and T2 intermediate to high signal intensity. On the gadolinium enhanced MR images, enhancement of the thickened dura was observed behind the tumor. Surgery and pathologic examination revealed the presence of an extradural epidermoid cyst.
Cerebellopontine Angle ; Cranial Fossa, Middle* ; Epidermal Cyst* ; Gadolinium ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Background: Topical corticosteroids (TCs) are available both as over-the-counter drugs and prescription medicines at pharmacies.Although they are generally safe drugs, inappropriate and excessive use could result in potential side effects. Thus, it is important to have appropriate knowledge regarding the use of TCs. We performed a cross-sectional survey to assess public knowledge and the potential misuse or overuse of TCs. Methods: A cross-sectional and nationwide online survey was conducted among participants who were aware of TCs. The survey items included sources of information, indications, potential side effects, and methods of application of TCs. A comparative analysis was conducted between those with (TC users) and without (TC non-users) an experience of using TCs. Results: Among 3,000 participants, 74.4% were TC users. The mass media was the most common information source of TCs, and only one-third of the surveyed people relied on pharmacists or doctors for information. Regarding indications and application methods, incorrect answer rate was high in some items, but respondents showed adequate knowledge. However, awareness of the safety of TCs was low. Overall, the TC users showed a higher knowledge of TCs than TC non-users. Conclusions Public knowledge of the use of TCs appears to be appropriate. However, we found potential misuse or overuse of some items and a lack of awareness of the side effects concerning TCs. Thus, healthcare professionals’ significant role is required.

In the present study, we investigated anti-cancer effect of snake venom activated NK cells (NK-92MI) in lung cancer cell lines. We used snake venom (4 microg/ml) treated NK-92MI cells to co-culture with lung cancer cells. There was a further decrease in cancer cell growth up to 65% and 70% in A549 and NCI-H460 cell lines respectively, whereas 30-40% was decreased in cancer cell growth by snake venom or NK-92MI alone treatment. We further found that the expression of various apoptotic proteins such as that Bax, and cleaved caspase-3 as well as the expression of various death receptor proteins like DR3, DR4 and Fas was also further increased. Moreover, consistent with cancer cell growth inhibition, the DNA binding activity of NF-kappaB was also further inhibited after treatment of snake venom activated NK-92MI cells. Thus, the present data showed that activated NK cells could further inhibit lung cancer cell growth.
Caspase 3 ; Cell Line ; Coculture Techniques ; DNA ; Killer Cells, Natural* ; Lung Neoplasms* ; NF-kappa B* ; Snake Venoms*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Adipose tissue is an active endocrine organ that secretes various metabolically important substances including adipokines, which represent a link between insulin resistance and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The factors responsible for the progression from simple steatosis to steatohepatitis remain elusive, but adipokine imbalance may play a pivotal role. We evaluated the expressions of adipokines such as visfatin, adipocyte-fatty-acid-binding protein (A-FABP), and retinol-binding protein-4 (RBP-4) in serum and tissue. The aim was to discover whether these adipokines are potential predictors of NASH. METHODS: Polymerase chain reaction, quantification of mRNA, and Western blots encoding A-FABP, RBP-4, and visfatin were used to study tissue samples from the liver, and visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue. The tissue samples were from biopsy specimens obtained from patients with proven NASH who were undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy due to gallbladder polyps. RESULTS: Patients were classified into two groups: NASH, n=10 and non-NASH, n=20 according to their nonalcoholic fatty liver disease Activity Score. Although serum A-FABP levels did not differ between the two groups, the expressions of A-FABP mRNA and protein in the visceral adipose tissue were significantly higher in NASH group than in non-NASH group (104.34 vs. 97.05, P<0.05, and 190.01 vs. 95.15, P<0.01, respectively). Furthermore, the A-FABP protein expression ratio between visceral adipose tissue and liver was higher in NASH group than in non-NASH group (4.38 vs. 1.64, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: NASH patients had higher levels of A-FABP expression in their visceral fat compared to non-NASH patients. This differential A-FABP expression may predispose patients to the progressive form of NASH.
Adipose Tissue/metabolism/pathology ; Adult ; Aged ; Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Fatty Liver/metabolism/*pathology ; *Gene Expression Regulation ; Humans ; Intra-Abdominal Fat/*metabolism ; Liver/metabolism/pathology ; Middle Aged ; Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase/genetics/metabolism ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism ; Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma/genetics/metabolism

Pheochromocytoma is usually associated with a combination of various clinical manifestations caused by the overproduction of catecholamines. It is frequently accompanied by impaired glucose tolerance operating through 2-and-adrenergic mechanisms. A 41-year-old-woman was admitted to the hospital because of poorly-controlled diabetes mellitus and hypertension. She had suffered intermittent paroxysmal attacks of headache and chest discomfort and had been treated intermittently over a 2 year period for diabetes mellitus and hypertension. At admission, the levels of serum epinephrine, norepinephrine urinary excretion of total metanephrine, and VMA were all abnormally elevated. Adrenal CT showed a well-defined, homogenous mass in the right adrenal region and the tumor was diagnosed as pheochromocytoma. After tumor resection, the increased blood level of catecholamines, the urinary excretion of total metanephrine, and VMA were normalized, as was the hyperglycemia state. Diabetes mellitus of the patient was considered permanently resolved after tumor removal by the result of glucose tolerance in 75g oral glucose tolerance test.
Catecholamines ; Diabetes Mellitus* ; Epinephrine ; Glucose ; Glucose Intolerance ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Headache ; Humans ; Hyperglycemia ; Hypertension ; Metanephrine ; Norepinephrine ; Pheochromocytoma* ; Thorax

The vast majority of patients with metastatic prostate cancer present with bone metastases and high prostate specific antigen (PSA) level. Rarely, prostate cancer can develop in patients with normal PSA level. Here, we report a patient who presented with a periureteral tumor of unknown primary site that was confirmed as prostate adenocarcinoma after three years with using specific immunohistochemical examination. A 64-year old man was admitted to our hospital with left flank pain associated with masses on the left pelvic cavity with left hydronephrosis. All tumor markers including CEA, CA19-9, and PSA were within the normal range. After an exploratory mass excision and left nephrectomy, the pelvic mass was diagnosed as poorly differentiated carcinoma without specific positive immunohistochemical markers. At that time, we treated him as having a cancer of unknown primary site. After approximately three years later, he revisited the hospital with a complaint of right shoulder pain. A right scapular mass was newly detected with a high serum PSA level (101.7 ng/ml). Tissues from the scapular mass and prostate revealed prostate cancer with positive immunoreactivity for P504S, a new prostate cancer-specific gene. The histological findings were the same as the previous pelvic mass; however, positive staining for PSA was observed only in the prostate mass. This case demonstrates a patient with prostate cancer and negative serological test and tissue staining that turned out to be positive during progression. We suggest the usefulness of newly developed immunohistochemical markers such as P504S to determine the specific primary site of metastatic poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma in men.
Adenocarcinoma ; Flank Pain ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Male ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Nephrectomy ; Prostate ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Reference Values ; Serologic Tests ; Shoulder Pain ; Biomarkers, Tumor