No abstract available.

To evaluate the effect of trabeculectomy on glaucoma following penetrating keratoplasty, we analyzed surgical results of patients who had taken trabeculectomy because of glaucoma associated with penetrating keratoplasty during the last two years. We evaluated success rate of trabeculectomy and possible causative factors which evoked filtering surgery failure. Mean follow-up period was about one year (11.98+/-3.2months) after trabeculectomy. Among the eyes with trabeculectomy, 61.9% maintained their intraocular pressure below 21 mmHg until last visit. Early elevation of increased intraocular pressure after keratoplasty was the only risk fator of filtering surgery which was stastically significant (P<0.05). However, aphakic or pseudophakic eyes, eyes with inflammatory disease and large donor trephine size were also estimated for possible risk factors. Corneal graft failure was single most common complicagion (5 eyes, 23.9%) after trabeculectomy. In conclusion, we think that early filtering surgery on the glaucomatous eyes associated with keratoplasty possible improved the surgical results. However, further studies to increase success rate of filtering sugery and to reduce graft failure rate, were warranted.
Corneal Transplantation* ; Filtering Surgery ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glaucoma* ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Keratoplasty, Penetrating ; Risk Factors ; Tissue Donors ; Trabeculectomy* ; Transplants

No abstract available.
Chemokine CCL2* ; Endometriosis* ; Endometrium* ; Female ; Humans ; Monocytes*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cardiac troponins are associated with increased mortality, even among patients with no coronary artery disease. Elevated cardiac troponin levels are frequently observed in patients without significant coronary lesions, although the mechanism underlying this finding is unclear. The aim of our study was to evaluate the association between the levels of cardiac troponin and coronary flow reserve (CFR). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We evaluated serum cardiac troponin-I in 19 patients (9 female; age 61.9+/-10.9 year-old). All patients had an ejection fraction >40% and angiographically normal coronary arteries. Simultaneous measurements of fractional flow reserve (FFR), the index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR), and CFR measurements using an intracoronary temperature- and pressure-sensing guidewire under basal conditions and during maximal hyperemia were performed in three vessels: the left anterior descending artery (LAD), left circumflex artery (LCX) and right coronary artery (RCA). RESULTS: All patients were followed for a median of 13 months. FFR, IMR, and CFR measurements were performed successfully in all subjects. Mean CFRs of LAD, LCX, and RCA were 1.98+/-1.20, 2.75+/-2.11, and 4.44+/-2.51, respectively. Mean IMRs of LAD, LCX and RCA were 33.28+/-18.78, 29.11+/-26.70, and 30.55+/-23.65, respectively. There was a poor correlation between CFR and troponin-I values in each vessel. In selecting the lowest value of CFR in each patient as the corresponding value, the lowest CFR was not associated with troponin-I levels (r=-0.219, p=0.367). CONCLUSION: In patients without significant coronary lesions, the correlation between CFR and troponin-I level was not significant using a thermodilution technique. Further study of a larger population with longer-term follow-up may be needed to more fully understand microvascular dysfunction.
Arteries ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Vessels ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hyperemia ; Microvessels ; Mortality ; Thermodilution* ; Troponin I ; Troponin* ; Vascular Resistance

Various venous approaches are available for chemoport insertion. The subclavian vein and jugular vein are commonly used. The cephalic vein has several advantages for chemoport insertion. The authors introduce chemoport insertion using cephalic vein. Operation methods were as follows: patient was placed in supine position. Under local anesthesia, the incision was made in the infraclavicular portion, dissection was performed along the deltopectoral groove and the cephalic vein was identified and isolated. Dissection was performed between the subcutaneous fat layer and the muscle layer to make space for chemoport placement. The cephalic vein was incised and the catheter was introduced to the cephalic vein directly and examined by fluoroscopy. Chemoport insertion using cephalic vein is a useful method of chemoport insertion.
Anesthesia, Local ; Catheters ; Fluoroscopy ; Humans ; Jugular Veins ; Muscles ; Subclavian Vein ; Subcutaneous Fat ; Supine Position ; Veins

A 38-year-old woman with twin pregnancy was referred after detection of hydrocephalus in one fetus at 23+1 weeks' gestation. Sonography showed hydrocephalus, a scalloping of the frontal bone giving a lemon-like configuration, and meningocele. The affected twin was terminated by ultrasonographically guided intracardiac injection of 4 ml (8 mEq/L) potassium chloride solution at 24+5 weeks' gestation. Chromosomal analysis of the other fetus showed normal findings (46, XX). Serial ultrasound scans and coagulopathy tests were unremarkable. Preterm premature rupture of the membrane was developed at 33+3 weeks' gestation, and emergency Cesarian section was done. A healthy 1360 g female was born, with Apgar scores of 7 and 8 at one and five minutes, respectively.
Adult ; Arnold-Chiari Malformation* ; Emergencies ; Female ; Fetus ; Frontal Bone ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Membranes ; Meningocele ; Pectinidae ; Potassium Chloride ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second* ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnancy, Twin ; Rupture ; Twins, Dizygotic* ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVE: To find out how many causes constitute hemiplegic shoulder pain (HSP) and how they distribute in an individual patient. METHOD: Twenty-three consecutive patients with HSP which had newly developed within 3 months after stroke were enrolled from January 2008 till July, 2008. They all performed a passive range of motion test for adhesive capsulitis, modified Ashworth test for spasticity, simple x-ray for subluxation, ultrasonography for rotator cuff problems and three-phase bone scintigraphy for complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). The causes of HSP were analyzed in number and distribution. RESULTS: Average 2.26 causes constituted with HSP in an individual patient. Most common causes were adhesive capsulitis and CRPS (respectively 14 patients). Two patients had 4 and eight patients had 3 types of shoulder pathology. CONCLUSION: More than two types of shoulder pathology existed in a patient with HSP. These findings shoulde be carefully considered when treating the patients with HSP.
Bursitis ; Humans ; Muscle Spasticity ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Rotator Cuff ; Shoulder ; Shoulder Pain ; Stroke

The results of treatment for 248 patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage are described. Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhages are classified into primary(215 patients) and secondary(33 patients) hemorrhages. Most of the secondary hemorrhages were located in the subcortical area(64%). In the Non-treated group, eighty patients died immediately after diagnosis. In the treated group, the overall mortality was 5% in primary hemorrhages and 15% in secondary hemorrhages, and the percentages of hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage patients returning to full-time work or independent life without disability or with minimal disability were 30% in putaminal hemorrhages, 86% in caudate hemorrhages, 44% in thalamic hemorrhages, 61% in subcortical hemorrhages, 78% in cerebellar hemorrhages and 40% in brainstem hemorrhages respectively. This study showed that surgical treatment did not give better result over conservative treatment in the management of hypertensive supratentorial and brainstem hemorrhage. However hypertensive caudate and cerebellar hemorrhage were associated with favorable outcomes regardless of the mode of therapy chosen. In severe hemorrhages, surgery may improve the length of survival, but the quality of life remains poor. The authors have shown again that aspiration surgery for hypertensive cerebellar hemorrhage is a valuable alternative to craniotomy.
Brain Stem ; Cerebral Hemorrhage* ; Craniotomy ; Diagnosis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Intracranial Hemorrhage, Hypertensive ; Mortality ; Quality of Life

Dendrobium moniliforme (L.) Sw., an herb of the Orchidaceae family, has long been used in traditional medicine to strengthen bones, nourish the stomach, and promote the production of bodily fluid. Recently, polysaccharides isolated from Dendrobium have been used in functional foods and nutraceutical products. A traditional method to process Dendrobium is to soak fresh stems in an ethanol solution, which is the most important factor to ensure high yields of aqueous-extractable polysaccharides. The present study was carried out to investigate the potential acute toxicity of D. moniliforme aqueous extract (DMAE), by a single oral dose in Sprague-Dawley rats. The test article was orally administered once by gavage to male and female rats at doses of 0, 2,500, and 5,000 mg/kg body weight (n=5 male and female rats for each dose). Throughout the study period, no treatment-related deaths were observed and no adverse effects were noted in clinical signs, body weight, food consumption, serum biochemistry, organ weight, or gross findings at any dose tested. The results show that a single oral administration of DMAE did not induce any toxic effects at a dose below 5,000 mg/kg in rats, and the minimal lethal dose was considered to be over 5,000 mg/kg body weight for both sexes. With respect to cytotoxicity, the cell viability of human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells was less than 50% when the cells were treated with 10 mg/mL aqueous extract for 24 h.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Biochemistry ; Body Weight ; Cell Survival ; Dendrobium* ; Dietary Supplements ; Ethanol ; Female ; Functional Food ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques* ; Kidney ; Male ; Medicine, Traditional ; Methods ; Orchidaceae ; Organ Size ; Polysaccharides ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stomach

BACKGROUND: Uncomplicated myocardial infarction is often the harbinger of future cardiac events such as unstable angina, recurrent myocardial infarction or death. The prognostic utility of exercise test(pre-discharge low level exercise test) in patients recovering from acute myocardial infarction(AMI) has been documented by many studies. However there are few data of the safety and value of a symptom-limited exercise test early after AMI. We performed this study to assess the safety of test and the prevalence of abnormal response to symptom-limited exercise test and to determine the ability to predict future cardiac events. METHODS: The study group comprised 91 patients(male ; 73, Anterior infarction ; 43, Q-wave infarction ; 68, Thrombolysis ; 58, Age ; 57+/- years) with uncomplicated AMI. Symptom-limited exercise tests were performed before discharge(8.7+/-0.5 days after infarction) using modified Bruce protocol. Exercise test was considered positive if there was new > or =1mm horizontal or downsloping ST segment depression at 0.08sec after J point compared with baseline. The patients were followed for the development of new cardiac events. RESULTS: 1) The mean duration of exercise test was 14.2 min(range 4.3 - 21.5)and the mean workload(Metabolic Equivalents : METs) was 6.0 METs(range 2.1 - 17.0). There were no complications during exercise test and post-recovery phase. 2) There were positive test in 31 patients(34%), ST segment elevation in 10(11%), and inadequate blood pressure(BP) response in 10 patients(11%). 3) During the follow-up period(1-50 months, mean 12.5 months), 9 patients experienced post-myocardial infarction angina and revascularization therapy, respectively, and 1 patient had cardiac death and recurrent myocardial infarction, respectively. 4) The patients with cardiac events had a significantly higher degree in stenosis of infarct-related artery(90+/-3 vs 78+/-3, p<0.05) and lower systolic BP on peak exercise(136+/-7 vs 156+/-4, p<0.05). 5) The positive exercise test was associated with cardiac events in the follow-up period but ST-segment elevation, inadequate BP response, the use of thrombolytic agents, and non-Q wave infarction did not predict future cardiac events. CONCLUSIONS: The symptom-limited exercise tests early after acute myocardial infarction appear to be safe and will identify more patients with inducible myocardial ischemia relatively. The posive test can predict cardiac events and the prognosis of patients of this group can be improved with aggressive management and careful follow-up.
Angina, Unstable ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Death ; Depression ; Exercise Test* ; Fibrinolytic Agents ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infarction ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Prevalence ; Prognosis