Identifying and preventing modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease is very important. Vascular calcification has been studied clinically as an asymptomatic preclinical marker of atherosclerosis and a risk factor for cardio-cerebrovascular disease. It is known that higher homocysteine levels are associated with calcified plaques and the higher the homocysteine level, the higher the prevalence and progression of vascular calcification. Homocysteine is a byproduct of methionine metabolism and is generally maintained at a physiological level. Moreover, it may increase if the patient has a genetic deficiency of metabolic enzymes, nutritional deficiencies of related cofactors (vitamins), chronic diseases, or a poor lifestyle. Homocysteine is an oxidative stress factor that can lead to calcified plaques and trigger vascular inflammation. Hyperhomocysteinemia causes endothelial dysfunction, transdifferentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells, and the induction of apoptosis. As a result of transdifferentiation and cell apoptosis, hydroxyapatite accumulates in the walls of blood vessels. Several studies have reported on the mechanisms of multiple cellular signaling pathways that cause inflammation and calcification in blood vessels. Therefore, in this review, we take a closer look at understanding the clinical consequences of hyperhomocysteinemia and apply clinical approaches to reduce its prevalence.

We describe here a case of minimal deviation endometrioid adenocarcinoma (MDEA) of the uterine cervix that was initially suspected according to the abnormal cytologic findings in a 39-year-old woman. The Papanicolaou (pap) smear showed many neoplastic glandular cells in monolayered sheets, rosettes, and clusters with palisading and feathering borders. The tumor cells had oval, hyperchromatic nuclei, with chromatin clumping and small nucleoli. Histologic examination disclosed endometrial-type glands with a bland, isolated, mainly rounded appearance and these glands were widely scattered deep into the cervical stroma with only scant stromal reaction. An association of MDEA with tubo-endometrioid metaplasia or cervical endometriosis has been suggested by identifying the tubo-endometrioid glands in the vicinity of the MDEA.
Female ; Humans ; Adenocarcinoma

We here in report a case of bilateral endogenous endophthalmitis caused by Pantoea agglomerans (P. agglomerans) in a patient who had interstitial lung disease and was treated with oral corticosteroids. A 72-year-old man presented with decreased visual acuity in both eyes nine days after he received oral corticosteroids. He had marked uveitis, cataracts, and vitreous opacities. Cultures were taken of blood, aqueous humor, and vitreous. We initially suspected a fungal etiology and treated him with antifungal drugs; however, the intraocular disease progressed without improvement. Vitreous culture was positive for P. agglomerans. The patient underwent pars plana vitrectomy with cataract surgery bilaterally, followed by a 2-week course of antibiotics. The final visual acuity was 20/25 in the right eye and 20/200 in the left eye. This is the first report of bilateral endogenous endophthalmitis caused by P. agglomerans in Korea; it is also the first case reported outside of the United States.
Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Endophthalmitis/complications/*microbiology/therapy ; Enterobacteriaceae Infections/complications/*microbiology/therapy ; Eye Infections, Bacterial/complications/*microbiology/therapy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial/*complications ; Male ; Pantoea/*isolation & purification ; Visual Acuity ; Vitrectomy

Postoperative pyoderma gangrenosum (PPG) is rare, and its diagnosis is often delayed because of its wound infection-mimicking course. A 53-year-old breast cancer patient who underwent breast-conserving surgery of the right breast presented with fever, leukocytosis, C-reactive protein elevation, and redness of the right breast on postoperative day (POD) 3. The breast wound showed desquamation with painful ulcerative changes from POD 6, and fever was sustained under antibiotic administration. Wound irrigation was attempted; however, inflammatory skin damage progressed to involvement of the entire skin overlying the breast. With clinical suspicion of PPG, skin biopsy and systemic corticosteroid initiation were performed on POD 12. Wound damage progression ceased, and the systemic inflammation subsided. The patient underwent split-thickness skin grafting under intravenous corticosteroid administration, and the wound healed after 30 days. PPG is a rare clinical scenario. Early diagnosis is critical to avoid unnecessary treatment and aggravation of the surgical wound.

Postoperative pyoderma gangrenosum (PPG) is rare, and its diagnosis is often delayed because of its wound infection-mimicking course. A 53-year-old breast cancer patient who underwent breast-conserving surgery of the right breast presented with fever, leukocytosis, C-reactive protein elevation, and redness of the right breast on postoperative day (POD) 3. The breast wound showed desquamation with painful ulcerative changes from POD 6, and fever was sustained under antibiotic administration. Wound irrigation was attempted; however, inflammatory skin damage progressed to involvement of the entire skin overlying the breast. With clinical suspicion of PPG, skin biopsy and systemic corticosteroid initiation were performed on POD 12. Wound damage progression ceased, and the systemic inflammation subsided. The patient underwent split-thickness skin grafting under intravenous corticosteroid administration, and the wound healed after 30 days. PPG is a rare clinical scenario. Early diagnosis is critical to avoid unnecessary treatment and aggravation of the surgical wound.

PURPOSE: This study retrospectively evaluated the clinical outcomes and complications of proton beam therapy (PBT) in a single institution in Korea and quantitatively analyzed the change in tumor volume after PBT using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four treatment-naïve patients who underwent PBT for choroidal melanoma between 2009 and 2015 were reviewed. Dose fractionation was 60-70 cobalt gray equivalents over 5 fractions. Orbital MRIs were taken at baseline and 3, 6, and 12 months after PBT and annually thereafter. The tumor volume was reconstructed and evaluated by stacking the tumor boundary in each thin-sliced axial T1-weighted image using MIM software. RESULTS: The median follow-up duration was 36.5 months (range, 9 to 82 months). One patient had suspicious local progression and two patients had distant metastasis. The 3-year local progression-free survival, distant metastasis-free survival, and overall survival rates were 95.8%, 95.8%, and 100%,respectively. Five Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Event ver. 4.03 grade 3-4 toxicities were observed in four patients (16.7%), including one with neovascular glaucoma. The mean tumor volume at the baseline MRI was 0.565±0.084 mL (range, 0.074 to 1.610 mL), and the ratios of the mean volume at 3, 6, and 12 months to that at baseline were 81.8%, 67.3%, and 60.4%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The local controlrate and complication profile after PBT in patientswith choroidal melanoma in Korea were comparable with those reported in a previous PBT series. The change in tumor volume after PBT exhibited a gradual regression pattern on MRI.
Choroid* ; Cobalt ; Disease-Free Survival ; Dose Fractionation ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glaucoma, Neovascular ; Humans ; Korea* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Melanoma* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Orbit ; Proton Therapy* ; Protons* ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome ; Tumor Burden