The Teller acuity card procedure, which is a form of the preferential looking test, is a way of assessing visual acuity in preverbal patients. It has been shown to be rapid and easy test to perform. Teller acuity cards were used to detect amblyopia in 100 patients(from 2 months to 9 years) and the result was compared to the clinical judgement of amblyopia. The sensitivity, specificity and efficiency of Teller acuity card procedure compared to the clinical judgement of amblyopia were 71.43%, 94.94% and 90.00%, respectively. The authors found that the acuity cards could be used to detect amblyopia. However, the clinical judgement of amblyopia of the ophthalmologist was more sensitive in diagnosing amblyopia than the Teller acuity cards in the presence of various ocular disorders.
Amblyopia* ; Humans ; Sensitivity and Specificity* ; Visual Acuity

The Teller acuity card procedure, which is a form of the preferential looking test, is a way of assessing visual acuity in preverbal patients. It has been shown to be rapid and easy test to perform. Teller acuity cards were used to detect amblyopia in 100 patients(from 2 months to 9 years) and the result was compared to the clinical judgement of amblyopia. The sensitivity, specificity and efficiency of Teller acuity card procedure compared to the clinical judgement of amblyopia were 71.43%, 94.94% and 90.00%, respectively. The authors found that the acuity cards could be used to detect amblyopia. However, the clinical judgement of amblyopia of the ophthalmologist was more sensitive in diagnosing amblyopia than the Teller acuity cards in the presence of various ocular disorders.
Amblyopia* ; Humans ; Sensitivity and Specificity* ; Visual Acuity

urpose: Misonidazole is a radiosensitizer that binds in hypoxic cells. The purpose of this study was to find out the feasibility of I-131-Iodomisonidazole (IMISO) for imaging of tumor hypoxia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Tosyl precursor was dissolved in acetonitrile and I-131-NaI was added to synthesize IMISO. Balb/c mice inoculated with CT-26 adenocarcinoma were injected with IMISO. Mice were sacrificed at 1,2,4,24 hr and % of injected dose per gram of tissue (%ID/g) was determined. For scintigraphy and MRI, mouse bearing CT-26 adenocarcinoma was administered with IMISO and imaging was performed 4 hr after. Then, mouse body was fixed and microtomized slice was placed on radiographic film for autoradiography. RESULTS: %ID/g of tumor was 1.64 (1h), 0.98 (2h), 0.85 (4h) and 0.20 (24h), respectively. At 24h, %ID/g of tumor was higher than that of all other tissues except thyroid. Tumor to muscle ratio increased with time and tumor to blood ratio also increased with time and reached 1.53 at 24 hr. On autoradiogram, tumor was well visualized as an increased activity in central hypoxic area of the tumor which corresponds to the area of high signal intensity on T2-weighted MR image. On scintigraphy, tumor uptake was visualized. CONCLUSION:: This RESULTS suggest that IMISO may have a potential for tumor hypoxia imaging in mouse model. However, further study is needed to improve it's localization in tumor tissue and to achieve acceptable images of tumor hypoxia.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Animals ; Anoxia* ; Autoradiography ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Mice* ; Misonidazole ; Radionuclide Imaging ; Thyroid Gland ; X-Ray Film

PURPOSE: I-131 labeled (2'-deoxy-2-iodo-p-D-arabinofuranosyl) adenine (IAD) may be involved in DNA synthesis during active proliferation of tumor cells. We conducted this study to find out the biodistribution of IAD and its feasibility for scintigraphic tumor imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Tosyl acetyl-adenosine was dissolved in acetonitrile, and I-131-NaI was added and heated to synthesize IAD. Female Fisher 344 rats innoculated with breast tumor cells were injected witb 0.27 MBq of IAD. Rats were sacrificed at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 24h and the % of injected dose per gram of tissue (%ID/g) was determined. For scintigraphy, rats bearing breast cancer were administered with 1.11 MBq of IAD and imaging was perforrned after 2 and 24h. Then, rat body was fixed and rnicrotomized slice was placed on radiographic film for autoradiography, RESULTS: %ID/g of tumor wa.' 0.74 (0.5h), 0.73 (1h), 0.55 (2h), 0.38 (4h), and 0.05 (24h), respectively. At 1h after injection, %ID/g of tumor was higher than that of heart (0.34), liver (0.42), spleen (0.47), kidney (0,69), muscle (0.14), bone (0.33) and intestine (0.51). However, %1D/g of tumor was lower than blood (1.06), lung (0.77), and thyroid (177.71). At 4h, %ID/g of tumor in comparison with other tissue did not change. Tumor contrast expressed by tumor to blood ratio was 0.69 and tumor to muscle ratio was 5.11 at 1h. However, these ratios did not improve through 24h. On autoradiogram and scintigraphy at 2 and 24 hour, the tumor was well visualized. CONCLUSION: This results suggest that Ial) may have a potential for tumor scintigraphy. However, further work is needed to improve localization in tumor tissue.
Adenine ; Animals ; Autoradiography ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; DNA ; Female ; Heart ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Intestines ; Kidney ; Liver ; Lung ; Radionuclide Imaging* ; Rats* ; Spleen ; Thyroid Gland ; X-Ray Film

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate uterine and ovarian cancer mortality trends in East Asian countries. METHODS: For three Asian countries and one region (Japan, Korea, Singapore, and Hong Kong), we extracted number of deaths for each year from the World Health Organization (WHO) mortality database, focusing on women > or =20 years old. The WHO population data were used to estimate person-years at risk for women. The annual age-standardized, truncated rates were evaluated for four age groups. We also compared age-specific mortality rates during three calendar periods (1979 to 1988, 1989 to 1998, and 1999 to 2010). Joinpoint regression was used to determine secular trends in mortality. To obtain cervical and uterine corpus cancer mortality rates in Korea, we re-allocated the cases with uterine cancer of unspecified subsite according to the proportion in the National Cancer Incidence Databases. RESULTS: Overall, uterine cancer mortality has decreased in each of the Asian regions. In Korea, corrected cervical cancer mortality has declined since 1993, at an annual percentage change (APC) of -4.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], -5.3 to -4.4). On the other hand, corrected uterine corpus cancer mortality has abruptly increased since 1995 (APC, 6.7; 95% CI, 5.4 to 8.0). Ovarian cancer mortality was stable, except in Korea, where mortality rates steadily increased at an APC of 6.2% (95% CI, 3.4 to 9.0) during 1995 to 2000, and subsequently stabilized. CONCLUSION: Although uterine cancer mortality rates are declining in East Asia, additional effort is warranted to reduce the burden of gynecologic cancer in the future, through the implementation of early detection programs and the use of optimal therapeutic strategies.
Adult ; Age Distribution ; Aged ; Databases, Factual ; Far East/epidemiology ; Female ; Genital Neoplasms, Female/*mortality ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Mortality/trends ; Ovarian Neoplasms/mortality ; Uterine Neoplasms/mortality ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to compare the clinical effects of preoperative and postoperative dexamethasone on pain after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for early gastric neoplasm. METHODS: Forty patients with early gastric neoplasm who were scheduled for ESD were randomized into two groups according to the timing of steroid administration: preoperative ("pre", n=20) and postoperative ("post", n=20) steroid administration. The pre group received 0.15 mg/kg dexamethasone before ESD and placebo after, and the post group received pre-ESD placebo and post-ESD dexamethasone. The present pain intensity (PPI) index and the short-form McGill pain (SF-MP) questionnaire were evaluated. RESULTS: The primary outcome was PPI score at 6 hours after ESD. There was a greater reduction in 6-hour PPI in the pre group than in the post group (2.1±0.8 vs 3.0±1.1, respectively; p=0.006). The immediate PPI was also significantly lower in the pre group than in the post group (1.6±0.6 vs 2.9±0.6, respectively; p<0.001), and the total SF-MP scores were significantly lower in the pre group than in the post group both immediately and at 6 hours after the operation. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative administration of dexamethasone may produce a superior analgesic effect in patients who undergo ESD compared with the postoperative administration of dexamethasone.
Dexamethasone* ; Humans ; Stomach Neoplasms*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Levofloxacin resistance is increasing rapidly, and widely limits its application in Helicobacter pylori eradication. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a clarithromycin- versus gemifloxacin-containing triple therapy regimen in first-line eradication of H. pylori infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was an open-label, prospective, non-randomized two-armed pilot study in which treatment-naïve subjects with active H. pylori infection received a seven-day triple therapy with rabeprazole 20 mg bid (twice daily), gemifloxacin 320 mg qd (once daily), and amoxicillin 500 mg bid (n=70) or seven-day triple therapy with rabeprazole 20 mg bid (twice daily), clarithromycin 500 mg bid (twice daily), and amoxicillin 500 mg bid (n=83). H. pylori infection status was checked in all patients at enrollment and at least 8 weeks after the end of therapy by the urea breath test. RESULTS: Intention-to-treat eradication rates were 71.1% and 74.3% for clarithromycin-containing triple therapy and gemifloxacin- containing triple therapy, respectively (P=0.398). The corresponding per-protocol eradication rates were 76.6% and 76.1% (P=0.624). The gemifloxacin-containing triple therapy was associated with a lower incidence of adverse events (2.9% vs. 18.5%, P=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Although the seven-day gemifloxacin-containing triple therapy regimen showed a more favorable safety profile, there was no significant difference in eradication rates between the gemifloxacin-containing and clarithromycin-containing triple regimens, and both regimens had eradication rates slightly lower than acceptable efficacy for the Korean population. Therefore, the gemifloxacin-containing regimen might be useful as an alternative regimen for patients showing severe side effects of clarithromycin due to poor tolerance. Further studies on the efficacy of gemifloxacin in the Korean population are warranted.
Amoxicillin ; Breath Tests ; Clarithromycin ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Levofloxacin ; Pilot Projects* ; Prospective Studies ; Rabeprazole ; Treatment Outcome* ; Urea

Schwannomas are rare tumors derived from the cells of Schwann which form the neural sheath. Some patients with gastrointestinal schwannoma have been previously reported in the literature. However, schwannomas of the colon are extremely rare. We herein describe a case of schwannoma of the colon. A 49-year-old woman was admitted with complaint of abdominal pain and investigations revealed the presence of a 4 cm sized mass in the ascending colon. Following right hemicolectomy, histopathology and immunohistochemistry confirmed the colonic lesion to be a benign schwannoma. There was no evidence of specific complication or recurrence until now.
Colon, Ascending/*pathology ; Colonic Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology/ultrasonography ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neurilemmoma/*diagnosis/pathology/ultrasonography ; S100 Proteins/analysis/immunology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

The predictive role of lactate in patients with nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (NVUGIB) has been suggested. This study evaluated several lactate parameters in terms of predicting outcomes of bleeding patients and sought to establish a new scoring model by combining lactate parameters and the AIMS65 score. A total of 114 patients with NVUGIB who underwent serum lactate level testing at least twice and endoscopic hemostasis within 24 hours after admission were retrospectively analyzed. The associations between five lactate parameters and clinical outcomes were evaluated and the predictive power of lactate parameter combined AIMS65s (L-AIMS65s) and AIMS56 scoring was compared. The most common cause of bleeding was gastric ulcer (48.2%). Lactate clearance rate (LCR) was associated with 30-day rebleeding (odds ratio [OR], 0.931; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.872–0.994; P = 0.033). Initial lactate (OR, 1.313; 95% CI, 1.050–1.643; P = 0.017), maximal lactate (OR, 1.277; 95% CI, 1.037–1.573; P = 0.021), and average lactate (OR, 1.535; 95% CI, 1.137–2.072; P = 0.005) levels were associated with 30-day mortality. Initial lactate (OR, 1.213; 95% CI, 1.027–1.432; P = 0.023), maximal lactate (OR, 1.271; 95% CI, 1.074–1.504; P = 0.005), and average lactate (OR, 1.501; 95% CI, 1.150–1.959; P = 0.003) levels were associated with admission over 7 days. Although L-AIMS65s showed the highest area under the curve for prediction of each outcome, differences between L-AIMS65s and AIMS65 did not reach statistical significance. In conclusion, lactate parameters have a prognostic role in patients with NVUGIB. However, they do not increase the predictive power of AIMS65 when combined.
Hemorrhage* ; Hemostasis, Endoscopic ; Humans ; Lactic Acid* ; Mortality ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Ulcer

BACKGROUND/AIMS: DA-9701 significantly improved gastric accommodation by increasing the postprandial gastric volume. In this study, we investigated how DA-9701 affects the rat gastric fundus relaxation. METHODS: Gastric fundus muscle strips (9 longitudinal and 7 circular muscles) were obtained from rats. Electrical field stimulation (EFS) was performed at various frequencies (1, 5, 10 and 20 Hz) and train durations (1, 5, 10 and 20 seconds) to select optimal condition for experiments. Isometric force measurements were performed in response to EFS. Peak and nadir were observed during the first 1 minute after initiation of EFS in control state and after sequential addition of atropine (1 microM), DA-9701 (0.5, 5, 25 and 50 microg), N-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA, 100 microM), MRS2500 (1 microM) and tetrodotoxin (TTX, 1 microM) to the organ bath. RESULTS: The optimal frequency and duration of EFS to evoke nerve-mediated relaxation was determined as 5 Hz for 10 seconds. Addition of L-NNA in the presence of atropine and DA-9701 (50 microg) decreased nadir by inhibiting relaxation from -0.054 +/- 0.021 g to -0.022 +/- 0.015 g (P = 0.026) in longitudinal muscles. However, subsequent application of MRS2500 in the presence of atropine, DA-9701 (50 microg) and L-NNA did not affect nadir. In circular muscles, subsequent addition of L-NNA and MRS2500 in the presence of atropine and DA-9701 (50 microg) did not show significant change of nadir. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that the effect of DA-9701 on the rat gastric fundus relaxation is mainly mediated by nitrergic rather than purinergic pathway.
Animals ; Atropine ; Baths ; Gastric Fundus* ; Muscles ; Rats* ; Relaxation* ; Tetrodotoxin