Authors compared surgical results of neurologic impaired esotropes(n=23, group I) and normal infantile esotropes(n30, groups II) following bilateral medialrecti recession. Inclusion criterias were earlier onset of esotropia than 6 months of age, more than 25 PD with comitant strabismus, and follow-up time more than 6 months. The mean age of each group was 26.3months in group I. 32.5 months in group II and mean preoperative deviation was 42.4PD, 43.2PD and mean follow-up was 20.6 months, 20.2 months respectively. We defined success as alignment maintained within 10 PD of orthophoria. Success rate was 78.3% and overcorrection was 21.7% in group I while success rate was 83.3%, with undercorrection of 16.7% in group II at the one month postoperatively(p=0.006). Success rate was 30.8% and overcorrection was 53.9% in group I and success rate 66.7% in group II at the 24 months postoperatively(p=0.013). We conclude that neurologic impaired esotropic patients showed more overcorrection and more poor long-term success rate than infantile esotropes following bilateral media recti recession.
Esotropia ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Strabismus

We compared Healon which is widely used as a viscoelastic with Hyal 2000, recently produced in Korea. We evaluated anterior chamber reaction, intraocular pressure, and specular microscopy after injection of 0.2ml Healon and Hyal 2000, respectively, into anterior chamber of 20 cats, and performed light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy 8 weeks later. We calculated the corneal swelling rate after 0.2ml Healon and Hyal 2000 were coated on the corneal endothelium of 10 rabbits and GBR solution with 0.5mM H2O2 was perfused. Anterior chamber reaction disappeared after 2 days of injections, and intraocular pressure(IOP) increased after 6 hours of infection but normalized after 24 hours in both 2 groups. Corneal endothelial cell count was 4956cells/mm2 in the Healon group and 5021cell.mm2 in the Hyal 2000 group on the first post-injection day. and 4827cells/mm2 and 4810cell/mm2, 1 week later, without a statistical difference. The histologic abnormality was not detectable in light microscopy or scanning electron microscopy in both groups. The corneal swelling rate with Healon was 15.85micrometer/hr and 12.72micrometer/hr with Hyal 2000, while it increased to 69.29micrometer/hr and 67.51micrometer/hr in controls(p<0.05), respectively. The clinical findings showed no difference and histologic findings appeared normal in both the Healon and the Hyal 2000 groups. The inhibitory effect on the corneal swelling was similar during in vitro perfusion in both groups.
Animals* ; Anterior Chamber ; Cats ; Endothelial Cells ; Endothelium, Corneal ; Hyaluronic Acid* ; Intraocular Pressure ; Korea ; Microscopy ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Perfusion ; Rabbits

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to investigate the correlations of various kinetic parameters derived from the time intensity curve in a xenograft mouse model injected with a prostate cancer model (PC-3 and LNCaP) using an ultrasound contrast agent with histopathologic parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty nude mice were injected with human prostate cancer cells (15 PC-3 and five LNCaP) on their hind limbs. A bolus of 500 microL (1 x 10(8) microbubbles) of second-generation US contrast agent (SonoVue) was injected into the retroorbital vein. The region of interest was drawn over the entire tumor. The time intensity curve was acquired and then fitted to a gamma variate function. The maximal intensity (A), time to peak (Tp), maximal wash-in rate (washin), washout rate (washout), area under the curve up to 50 sec (AUC50), area under the ascending slope (AUC(in)), and area under the descending slope (AUC(out)) were derived from the parameters of the gamma variate fit. Immunohistochemical staining for VEGF and CD31 was performed. Tumor volume, the area percentage of VEGF stained in a field, and the count of CD31 (microvessel density, MVD) positive vessels showed correlation with the parameters from the time intensity curve. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed between the kinetic and histopathological parameters from each group. MVD showed positive correlation with A (r=0.625, p=0.003), washin (r=0.462, p=0.040), AUC50 (r=0.604, p=0.005), and AUC(out) (r=0.587, p=0.007). Positive correlations were also observed between tumor volume and AUC50 (r=0.481, p=0.032), washin (r=0.662, p=0.001), and AUC(out) (r=0.547, p=0.012). Washout showed negative correlations with MVD (r=-0.454, p=0.044) and tumor volume (r=-0.464, p=0.039). The area percentage of VEGF did not show any correlation with calculated data from the curve. CONCLUSION: MVD showed correlations with several of the kinetic parameters. CE-US has the potential for prediction of tumor vascularity in a prostate cancer animal model.
Animals ; Extremities ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Models, Animal ; Prostate ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Transplantation, Heterologous ; Tumor Burden ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; Veins

Endothelial cell have been shown to play an active role in many phases of immunologic process, including binding of T lymphocytes, neutrophils, platelets, and monocytes to the endothelium, as well as phagocytosis. Endothelial cells can also serve as targets that undergo cell injury. The most prominent mediators of endothelial cell activation are IL-1beta and TNF-alpha. VLA-4 was first identified as an endothelial cell surface receptor. We performed the culture of endothelial cells derived from human glomerular capillaries and studied the cytokine-regulated expression of VCAM-1, and the effect of dexamethasone and TGF-beta on the cytokine induced VCAM-1 expression using ELISA method. Expression of VCAM-1 was not detectable above background level in the basal unstimulated state. However, VCAM-1 was rapidly induced after exposure to IL-1beta (5ng/ml) or TNF-alpha (1, 10ng/ml) (O.D.=1.76+/-0.15, 1.95+/-0.35, 1.88+/-0.17, mean+/-S.E., control=0.36+/-0.028, n=8-24, P<0.05). But IFN-gamma did not increase the expression of VCAM-1. Addition of dexamethasone (10 micrometer) and TGF-beta1 (1ng, 10ng/ml) blunted IL-1beta and TNF-alpha induced expression of VCAM-1. Therefore, VCAM-1 could be inducible in human glomerular endothelial cells, and it was regulated by dexamethasone and TGF-beta1. The negative findings in histopathology may reflect the transience of VCAM-1 expression and does not necessarily exclude an important role of this molecule in the early stages of renal disease.
Capillaries ; Dexamethasone* ; Endothelial Cells* ; Endothelium ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Integrin alpha4beta1 ; Monocytes ; Neutrophils ; Phagocytosis ; T-Lymphocytes ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1*

BACKGROUND: In the presence of anticipated or established acute tubular necrosis (ATN) immediately after cadaveric kidney transplantation, induction with monoclonal or polyclonal antibody is recommended in preparation of increased risk of acute rejection caused by ATN. Tacrolimus is a potent immunosuppressive agent than cyclosporine. In this study, we analyzed retrospectively the clinical outcome of patients who had taken tacrolimus as a replacement of cyclosporine in the period of delayed graft function(DGF) to determine the eligibility of tacrolimus instead of antilymphocyte antibody in this situation. METHODS: Between March 1, 1991 and August 31, 2000, DGF developed in eighteen first cadaveric renal transplant recipients in our center. During DGF period, twelve patients received tacrolimus based immunosuppression without OKT3. We reviewed the complete clinical course of the 12 patients. RESULTS: Among the 12 patients, 1 patient underwent graft nephrectomy at postoperative 27 days, because of poor renal function and concomitant aspergillosis infection. In the remaining 11 patients, however, for whom tacrolimus was maintained continuously without OKT3 therapy, renal function was recovered successfully. One acute rejection developed at postoperative 15 months. One patient died at postoperative 5 months with functioning graft. One-year graft survival rate was 83%. CONCLUSION: Tacrolimus could be used in replacement of cyclosporine for the prevention of acute rejection in DGF. This could provide a graft survival comparable to that by the monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies without the potential risk of life- threatening side effects in this situation.
Antibodies ; Antilymphocyte Serum ; Aspergillosis ; Cadaver* ; Cyclosporine ; Delayed Graft Function* ; Graft Survival ; Humans ; Immunosuppression ; Kidney Transplantation* ; Muromonab-CD3 ; Necrosis ; Nephrectomy ; Retrospective Studies ; Tacrolimus* ; Transplantation ; Transplants

Mature cystic teratoma of the ovary are often diagnosed in women of reproductive age and account for 5-25% of all ovarian tumors. Due to continuous growth and possible complications, namely rupture, torsion, infection and malignancy, teratoma should be removed surgically. More complications are occurred in huge teratoma. We present here a case of a delayed operated huge mature cystic teratoma without any complication with a brief review of the literature.
Female ; Humans ; Ovary* ; Rupture ; Teratoma*

Ischemic colitis generally develops in the elderly patients with concomitant cardiovascular condition, diabetes mellitus, and renal insufficiency. This disease predominently occurs in the left colon, particularly splenic flexure and sigmoid colon. The most frequent symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, alteration in bowel functions and hematochezia. Blood loss is usually minimal in most patients. Herein, we report a case of ischemic colitis which developed on ascending colon with massive bleeding. A 48-year-old man was admitted because of massive lower gastrointestinal bleeding for 7 days. He has underwent hemodialysis for thirteen years. Colonoscopy showed a circular ulcer on the ascending colon with partial stenosis and mass-like oozing lesion distal to the stenotic area. We performed right hemi-colectomy. Grossly, colon showed shallow ulceration and congested ileocecal valve coated with hemorrhage. Microscopically, ulcer bed showed thickened and fibrotic submucosa which had nearly obliterated atherosclerotic vessels.
Abdominal Pain ; Aged ; Colitis, Ischemic* ; Colon ; Colon, Ascending ; Colon, Sigmoid ; Colon, Transverse ; Colonoscopy ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diarrhea ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Ileocecal Valve ; Middle Aged ; Renal Dialysis ; Renal Insufficiency ; Ulcer

No abstract available.
Adipose Tissue* ; Bone Density* ; Female ; Humans

In order to study the functions of migration inhibitory factor (MIF) as macrophage activating cytokine and to investigate the possibility of MIF cDNA as gene therapeutic agent or adjuvant, we produced recombinant MIF (rMIF), anti-MIF antibody and pcDNA I plasmid containing mMIF cDNA (mMIF plasmid). We have investigated the effects of recombinant mMIF or mMIF plasmid on the expression of immune response-related gene in the mouse peritoneal macrophage or splenocyte. Recombinant mMIF produced by Baculovirus expression system was biologically active; it increased mRNA expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a, Interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, granulocyte monocyte-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), nitric oxide synthase (NOS), Fas and Bcl-x when applied to the cultures of mouse peritoneal macrophage. Anti-mMIF antibody blocked these effects of mMIF on macrophage. Plasmid DNA carrying MIF cDNA inoculated into mouse peritoneal cavity also increased mRNA transcriptions from TNF, IL-1, IL-6, IL-12, GM-CSF, NOS genes of peritoneal macrophage. It enhanced proliferation of splenocyte stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate and IL-2 mRNA expression of splenocytes. Frorn these results, we conclude that rMIF is a strong macrophage activating factor and especially MIF plasmid can be used as an immune potentiating DNA drug in gene therapy for cancer or DNA adjuvant in vaccination in future.
Animals ; Baculoviridae ; DNA ; DNA, Complementary* ; Genetic Therapy ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Granulocytes ; Interleukin-1 ; Interleukin-12 ; Interleukin-2 ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukins ; Macrophages* ; Macrophages, Peritoneal ; Mice ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Peritoneal Cavity ; Plasmids ; RNA, Messenger* ; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Vaccination

The risk factors related to hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection showed geographic and temporal differences. We investigated HCV-related risk factors in Korea where intravenous drug use (IVDU) is uncommon. The HCV-related risk factors were investigated in a prospective, multicenter chronic HCV cohort (n = 711) using a standardized questionnaire in four university hospitals. The results were compared with those of 206 patients with chronic liver diseases not related to either of HCV or hepatitis B virus infection (comparison group). The IVDU was found in 3.9% and remote blood transfusion (> or = 20 yr ago) in 18.3% in HCV cohort group, while that in comparison group was in none and 5.3%, respectively. In a multivariate logistic analysis, transfusion in the remote past (odds ratio [OR], 2.99), needle stick injury (OR, 4.72), surgery (OR, 1.89), dental procedures (OR, 2.96), tattooing (OR, 2.07), and multiple sexual partners (2-3 persons; OR, 2.14, > or = 4 persons; OR, 3.19), were independent risk factors for HCV infection. In conclusion, the major risk factors for HCV infection in Korea are mostly related to conventional or alterative healthcare procedures such as blood transfusion in the remote past, needle stick injury, surgery, dental procedure, and tattooing although multiple sex partners or IVDU plays a minor role.
Adult ; Aged ; *Attitude to Health ; Blood Transfusion ; Case-Control Studies ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; *Health Behavior ; Hepatitis C, Chronic/*etiology ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Injections, Intravenous ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Needlestick Injuries/complications ; Odds Ratio ; Prospective Studies ; Questionnaires ; Republic of Korea ; Risk Factors ; Sexual Partners ; Tattooing ; Tooth Diseases/complications