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*

We experienced a case of thoracic aortic aneurysm combined with coronary artery disease. A 68-year-old man complained of anginal pain in the left anterior chest and nonspecific pain in the posterior chest. The aneurysm was extending from left subclavian artery to the diaphragm and sign of impending rupture was noted in the chest CT. Coronary angiograms revealed significant obstruction of left circumflex coronary artery(>95%) and left anterior descending artery(>50%). Exposure was obtained through the left posterolateral thoracotomy incision in the 4th intercostal space and then partial femoro-femoral cardio- pulmonary bypass was established. After aortic cross clamping, the aneurysmal sac was opened and repaired with interposition of 26 mm Hemashield graft. Under the beating heart with femoro-femoral cardiopulmonary bypass, aorto-left circumflex coronary bypass with autogenous saphenous vein used as conduit was performed. Postoperatively multiple cerebral infarction ensued due to intraoperative hypovolemic shock and hypoxic brain damage during cardiopulmonary bypass. Currently, the patient's mental status is drowsy and in an improving state.
Aged ; Aneurysm ; Aneurysm, Dissecting ; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic* ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Cerebral Infarction ; Constriction ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Diaphragm ; Heart ; Humans ; Hypoxia, Brain ; Rupture ; Saphenous Vein ; Shock ; Subclavian Artery ; Thoracotomy ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Transplants

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

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

Oseltamivir has been used as a worldwide preparation for treatment of influenza A and B including H1N1. Gastrointestinal discomforts as like nausea, vomiting are commonly reported but acute hemorrhagic colitis is a very rare adverse effect. We report a case of a 17-year-old male who showed abdominal pain, diarrhea and hematochezia after the second administration of oseltamivir. Computed tomography revealed continuous, circumferential and edematous wall thickening involving ascending to descending colon with pericolic infiltration. Colonoscopic examination revealed diffuse mucosal edema, congestion and friability, suggesting hemorrhagic colitis. Histopathological examination showed ischemia and focal loss of the crypts. It also showed hyalinization and minimal inflammatory cell infiltration in the lamina propria, consistent with acute to subacute ischemic colitis. This report is the first case of oseltamivir-related ischemic colitis proved by both endoscopic examination and pathologic findings in the patient who had no risk factor of ischemic colitis in Korea.
Abdominal Pain ; Administration, Oral* ; Adolescent ; Colitis* ; Colitis, Ischemic ; Colon, Descending ; Diarrhea ; Edema ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hyalin ; Influenza, Human ; Ischemia ; Korea ; Male ; Mucous Membrane ; Nausea ; Oseltamivir* ; Risk Factors ; Vomiting

In children and young adults, secondary epiretinal membranes after ocular trauma, pars planitis, ocular toxocariasis, and Coat's disease are common and spontaneous separation occurs in a relatively higher rate with improvement in visual acuity than elderly patients. In a 31-year-old man with pars planitis, diffuse epiretinal membrane in the macula became thinner during systemic and topical steroid therapy. Two years after treatment, the preretinal membrane spontaneously separated from the macula to the inferior temporal arcade, and visual acuity improved from 0.15 to 1.0. The authors reviewed the available literatures regarding the possible mechanisms for the spontaneous separation ofepiretinal membrane.
Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Epiretinal Membrane* ; Humans ; Membranes ; Pars Planitis ; Toxocariasis ; Visual Acuity ; Young Adult*

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

The anomaly which the right pulmonary artery originates from the ascending aorta is a rare and usually fatal form of congenital heart disease. This lesion is often associated with a patent ductus arteriosus. Death frequently occurs in early infancy. Anomalous origin of the right pulmonary artery is much more common than anomalous origin of the left pulmonary artery. The anomalous right pulmonary artery usually arise from the posterior aspect of the ascending aorta close to the aortic valve. We report a 1 month-old infant with right pulmonary artery arising from the ascending aorta, which was corrected successfully by direct anastomosis to the main pulmonary artery.
Aorta* ; Aortic Valve ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Pulmonary Artery*

Mucormycosis is a rare, fulminating, opportunistic fungal infection that occurs almost exclusively in immunocompromised hosts such as patients with diabetes, leukemia, lymphoma. These fungi are ubiquitous in nature, and can be found on decaying vegetation and in the soil. So they are relatively frequent contaminants in the clinical microbiology laboratory. Recently the incidence of mucormycosis is rising associated with the increasing use of immunosuppressive agents, antibiotics. Though mucormycosis is frequently fatal, there has been a significant improvement in the outcome by early diagnosis and aggressive treatment. Mucormycosis can be categorized as rhinocerebral, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, cutaneous, widely disseminated and miscellaneous; gastro-intestinal involvement is extremely rare. We report a patient with gastric mucormycosis who had diabetes mellitus and alcoholic hepatitis. His chief complaint was an epigastric pain, and the gastroscopy showed huge multiple ulcers, coated with exudates. The histologic examination revealed multiple broad, nonseptate hyphae with right angle branchings, diagnosed as mucormycosis.
Alcoholics* ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Diabetes Mellitus* ; Early Diagnosis ; Exudates and Transudates ; Fungi ; Gastroscopy ; Hepatitis, Alcoholic* ; Humans ; Hyphae ; Immunocompromised Host ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Incidence ; Leukemia ; Lymphoma ; Mucormycosis* ; Soil ; Ulcer