Catecholamine-induced cardiomyopathy associated with neuroblastoma is rarely reported. We report a case of catecholamine-induced cardiomyopathy associated with neuroblastoma in a 33-month-old female that was treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). She was tentatively diagnosed with acute myocarditis and presented with hypertension. Because of rapid patient deterioration despite pharmacological treatments, ECMO was applied. ECMO can be helpful in cases of catecholamine-induced cardiomyopathy associated with neuroblastoma.
Cardiomyopathies* ; Catecholamines ; Child, Preschool ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation* ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Myocarditis ; Neuroblastoma*

From May 1, 1993 to May 31 1995, the authers studied retrospectively 211 patients who underwent cardiovascular operation with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Because we were interested in new development of ARF (prevalence, mortality rate, and main risk factors), we performed a multivariate statistical analysis about data of patients with preoperative serum creatinine values of less than 1.5 mg/dL. Normal renal function before operation (serum creatinine level less than 1.5 mg/dL) was registered in 198 (74%) patients. Of these, 27 (14%) patients showed postoperative renal complication, including 20 (10%) patients classified as renal dysfunction (serum creatinine level between 1.5 and 2.5 mg/dL) and 7 (4%) patients as acute renal failure (serum creatinine level higher than 2.5 mg/dL). The mortality rate was 5.8% in normal patients, 5% in patients with renal dysfunction, and 43% when acute renal failure developed (p=0.036). Indeed, the renal impairment proved to be an independent predictor of mortality (odd ratio 2.52~11.25), along with cardiovascular (odd ratio 4.20) and respiratory (odd ratio 2.18) complications. Multivariate analysis identified the following variables as independent risk factors for postoperative renal impairment : advanced age (odd ratio 1), need for emergency operation (odd ratio 3.78), low-output syndrome (odd ratio 3.66), respiratory complication (odd ratio 1.30), need for deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (odd ratio 1.4). The 13 patients (7%) with preoperative renal failure showed a significantly higher morbidity and mortality rate than those without renal complications before operation. We concluded that the likelihood of severe renal complications is resonably low in the patients undergoing cardiac operation without preexisting renal dysfunction, but associated mortality remains high. A prominant role of hemodynamic factor in the development of postoperative acute renal failure must be recognized during preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative periods.
Acute Kidney Injury* ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Circulatory Arrest, Deep Hypothermia Induced ; Creatinine ; Emergencies ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Mortality ; Multivariate Analysis ; Postoperative Period ; Renal Insufficiency ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

PURPOSE: To improve our understanding of the pharmacokinetics of triamcinolone acetonide (TA) and TA concentration in ocular tissue, TA concentration was measured in ocular tissue after intravitreal and subtenon injection. METHODS: Fifteen rabbit eyes underwent subtenon TA injection (40 mg/1 ml), and another 15 rabbit eyes underwent intravitreal TA (4 mg/0.1 ml) injection. All eyes were enucleated at 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks after subtenon and intravitreal injection, and TA concentration in the aqueous and vitreous humor and the retina-choroid were measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). RESULTS: In cases of subtenon's TA injection, TA concentrations were 0 ng/ml, 136.7 ng/ml, 178.7 ng/ml, 0 ng/ml, and 0 ng/ml in the aqueous humor; 99.1 ng/ml, 125.7 ng/ml, 726.8 ng/ml, 0 ng/ml, and 0 ng/ml in the vitreous humor; 72.7 ng/ml, 304.6 ng/ml, 459.0 ng/ml, 0 ng/ml, and 0 ng/ml in the retina-choroid after 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks, respectively. In cases of intravitreal TA injection, the measured values were 0 ng/ml, 0 ng/ml, 0 ng/ml, 654.1 ng/ml, and 0 ng/ml in the aqueous humor; 28152.2 ng/ml, 13646.4 ng/ml, 11388.8 ng/ml, 10297.2 ng/ml, and 183.0 ng/ml in the vitreous humor; and 0 ng/ml, 27.9 ng/ml, 108.3 ng/ml, 0 ng/ml, and 0 ng/ml in the retina-choroid at each time point. CONCLUSIONS: Intravitreal TA injection may be more effective for drug delivery than subtenon TA injection, but subtenon TA injection seems to be an effective and safe technique.
Chromatography, Liquid ; Eye ; Intravitreal Injections ; Rabbits ; Triamcinolone ; Triamcinolone Acetonide ; Vitreous Body

As molecular size of the most major allergens of house dust mite(HDM) are known to be less than 30 kD, allergic immune reactions may be different according to the molecular fractions of HDM allergens. In this study, we fractionated D. pteronyssinus (D. pt) antigen according to its molecular weights, fraction I(FI), II(FII, more than 30 kD), III( FIII, less than 30 kD), and evaluated the differences of allergic immune responses in 40 atopic patients. FIII(A/H ratio-2.44+/-0.61) elicited stronger response on intradermal skin test than FI (0.76 +/-0.10, p<0.001) and FII(0.88+/-0.12, p<0.001). The immunoblot analysis revealed that the nine out of 10 atopics had IgE binding bands with 15 kD protein of FIII which were not found in FI and FII. The geometric mean of absorben value of specific IgE to FIII was 0.067, which was higher than that of FII(0.013, p<0.001), with no difference from that of FI(0.042). The skin reactivity to whole D. pt antigen correlated with FIII- specific IgE(r=0.3862, p<0.01), not with FI-(r=0.2605, p=0.07) and FII-specific IgE(r=0. 1103, p=0.45). FI-specific IgG levels in atopic sera(n=40) were significantly higher than that of FII and FIII in all IgG subclasses (p<0.001). Both atopic(n=4) and nonatopic (n=4) groups showed multiple IgG, IgG1, and IgG2 binding bands at high molecular proteins in immunoblot analysis. The prevalence and density of the IgG and IgG1 binding bands to 15 kD were higher and more intense in atopics than those of nonatopics. In conclusion, we suggest that fractionated antigens of D. pteronyssinus had different antigenicities and that the allergic immune responses to HDMs in atopics and nonatopic are different according to molecular fractions of HDM.
Allergens ; Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus* ; Dust ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulin G ; Molecular Weight ; Prevalence ; Pyroglyphidae* ; Skin ; Skin Tests

No abstract available.
Heart Neoplasms* ; Myxoma*

No abstract available.
Heart Neoplasms* ; Myxoma*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Ischemic colitis (IC) usually occurs in the elderly population and has a various clinical presentations from mild to severe forms. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical outcomes according to the involved sites and colonoscopic findings in IC. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 77 patients who had diagnosed with IC between January 2000 and July 2010. The clinical outcomes were compared according to numbers of the involved segments, location and endoscopic findings. RESULTS: Mean age of the patients was 70+/-11 years and male to female ratio was 1:1.26. Hematochezia (67.5%) and abdominal pain (63.6%) were the most common associated symptoms. The colonoscopic examination was performed at mean 4.6+/-3.7 days after the symptom onset. The most common involved segment was the sigmoid colon (72.7%). Duration of fasting, antibiotics therapy, hospital stay and mortality were significantly increased in the patients group with more involved segments (p<0.001, p=0.004, p<0.001, p<0.001, respectively). Duration of antibiotics therapy and hospital stay were significantly longer in the right colon involvement group (p=0.038, p=0.002, respectively). The time taken until the alleviation of symptoms and the white blood cells count were significantly longer and higher in the ulcer or gangrenous group (p=0.001, p=0.022, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Evaluating the involved sites, the degree and severity of mucosal damage by colonoscopy may be important in predicting the clinical course and prognosis of the patients with IC. Early detection, careful monitoring and prompt treatment are crucial especially in the patients with ulcer or necrosis in colonscopic findings.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Colitis, Ischemic/*diagnosis/drug therapy/mortality ; Colon, Ascending/pathology ; Colon, Sigmoid/pathology ; Colonoscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Leukocyte Count ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to evaluate the clinical significance of ASCUS and AGUS in routine Papanicolaou smears. METHOD: A review of retrospective medical records was conducted on 267 women whose Papanicolaou smears yielded diagnoses of either ASCUS or AGUS from March, 1998 to December, 2000 at Youngdong Severance Hospital. RESULT: The incidences of ASCUS and AGUS on PAP smears are 1.3%(258 cases) and 0.1%(23 cases). Of these, 89 cases with ASCUS and 9 cases with AGUS had subsequent cervical biopsies. The biopsy cases with ASCUS showed 68(74.4%) cervicitis, 2(2.2%) hyperkeratosis, 1(1.1%) condyloma, 9(9.9%) CIN 1, 5(5.5%) CIN 2, 1(1.1%) CIN 3, 2(2.2%) microinvasive squamous cell carcinoma and 1(1.1%) adenocarcinoma. Those with AGUS showed 6(6.6%) cervicitis, 1(1.1%) CIN 2, 1(1.1%) CIN 3, 1(1.1%) endometrial cancer. Women under 35 year-old(P=0.012) or who had coital history in younger periods(before 20 years old, P=0.014) had much higher frequency of high grade lesion. The overall incidence of HSIL was higher in the group with ASCUS favoring SIL than in the group with unqualified ASCUS. (P=0.042) The group with AGUS also had much higher frequency of high grade lesion than the group with ASCUS. (P=0.043) CONCLUSION: Immediate colposopic evaluation should be performed for AGUS and ASCUS favoring SIL. Regarding ASCUS, high risk patients who are under 35 years old or who have early coital history(< 20 yrears old) also should undergo colposcopic examination. With the exception of the aboves, we propose HPV screening and HPV DNA testing for intermediate screening test.
Adenocarcinoma ; Adult ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Diagnosis ; Endometrial Neoplasms ; Female ; Human Papillomavirus DNA Tests ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mass Screening ; Medical Records ; Papanicolaou Test ; Retrospective Studies ; Uterine Cervicitis ; Young Adult

Bacterial endophthalmitis is a very difficult ophthalmic disease to treat because of the consistently poor results with conventional therapy. lntravitreal injection of antibiotics is increasingly gaining the acceptance as a method of producing high vitreal concentrations that may be useful in the treatment of bacterial endophthalmitis. The author performed this experiment to determine the clerance rare of intravitreal gentamicin in the rabbit eyes. We observed the clearance of gentamicin in phakic and aphakic rabbit eyes into which 20 micro gram/0.1 ml of gentamicin was injected. In phakic eyes, about 52% of gentamicin was cleared at 24 hours after injection. In aphakic eyes with intact posterior capsule, 64% of gentamicin was cleared at 24 hours after injection. In aphakic eyes with incised posterior capsule, the clearance rate at 24 hours after injection was about 70%. Intravitreal gentamicin was cleared more rapidly from the aphakic eyes than from that of phakic eyes.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Endophthalmitis ; Gentamicins*

Subclavian artery occlusion after blunt trauma is an extremely rare injury. This has been attributed to its wellprotected location deep in the scalene triangle, bounded by the first rib and clavicle. A case of post-traumatic occlusion of the subclavian artery with clavicle fracture was reported by Sodhi et al in 2006 and in Korea was reported by Han et al in 2001. We believe that is the first report of post-traumatic occlusion of the subclavian artery without clavicle and first rib fracture in Korea.
Clavicle ; Korea ; Rib Fractures ; Ribs ; Subclavian Artery ; Wounds, Nonpenetrating