This is a report of attempts to compare the growth yields of various species of fastidious mycobacterium inch1ding human pathogens and non-pathogens in the conventional Dubos liquid medium and two simple media formulated recently; one is a medium containing 0.1% hyaluronic acid and 6.0% bovine serum albumin and the other is a semisyntheic medium made of umbilical cord extract supplemented with 10% sheep serum as a final concentration. All mycobacterial strains employed in experiments gave the heaviest growth yields in the hyaluronic acid-bovine serum albumin medium (HAS medium), among the three media. Dubos liquid medium seemed to be inferior to a medium made of umbilical cord extract (UCE medium) in supporting mycobacterial growth. There were three-to seven-fold increases in dry weight of the bacteria grown in the HAS medium as compared with those in the Dubos liquid medium. We also looked for the possible effect of bovine serum albumin (BSA)in the HAS medium on mycobacterial growth. As a result, we found that the amount of BSA in the HAS medium, ranging from zero to 6.0% in the medium, showed no substantial effect on the mycobacteria1 growth.
Comparative Study ; Culture Media/standards* ; Female ; Human ; Hyaluronic Acid/isolation & purification ; Hyaluronic Acid/pharmacology* ; Mycobacterium/growth & development* ; Pregnancy ; Tissue Extracts* ; Umbilical Cord*

PURPOSE: To describe a low-grade infection of hydroxyapatite orbital implant diagnosed by 99mTc-labeled leukocyte scintigraphy. METHODS: A 34-year-old man diagnosed as phthisis bulbi due to corneoscleral laceration on left eye had been treated with evisceration and hydroxyapatite orbital implant insertion. After drilling for ocular prosthesis, the patient did not have any symptom for 3 years and 5 months. He presented with socket pain, erythematous lid swelling, severe conjunctival discharge. There was no improvement of symptom despite conservative treatment for 3 weeks. MRI revealed no abnormalities so 99mTc-labeled leukocyte scintigraphy was performed. RESULTS: Scintigraphy showed a dense accumulation of labeled leukocyte at the implant site. After diagnosed as hydroxyapatite orbital implant infection, orbital implant was removed and silicon sphere implantation was done. After operation, the inflammation signs disappeared. CONCLUSIONS: 99mTc-labeled leukocyte scintigraphy is a useful technique in diagnosing low-grade infection of hydroxyapatite orbital implant undetected using conventional imaging method such as MRI.
Adult ; Durapatite* ; Eye, Artificial ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Lacerations ; Leukocytes* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Orbital Implants ; Radionuclide Imaging* ; Silicones ; Technetium*

OBJECTIVE: Elective surgical approaches and trauma cause changes in the production of different cytokines. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of laparoscopic surgery on the immune system of patients with gynecologic diseases. METHODS: We recruited the open surgery group (n=20) and laparoscopic surgery group (n=33). In a prospective study we examined the C-reactive protein (CRP) level, the production of the cytokines Interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Interleukin-8 (IL-8), Interleukin-10 (IL-10) and TNF-alpha concentrations by ELISA. In addition the fibrinogen, transferrin, albumin, hemoglobin and hematocrit were measured. Statistical analysis was made by Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis test. RESULTS: There were significant statistical differences in the CRP, IL-6 and IL-8 between the open surgery group and laparoscopic surgery group after surgery. The CRP and IL-8 showed a more distinct increase in open surgery group 24 hours after surgery, the differences between the two surgical approaches were significant (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Elective surgical approaches cause changes in the immune system, which can be evaluated by the reaction of cytokines. Laparoscopic surgery cause less activation of the CRP and IL-8 than open surgery.
C-Reactive Protein ; Cytokines ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Fibrinogen ; Genital Diseases, Female* ; Hematocrit ; Humans ; Immune System* ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-1beta ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukin-8 ; Laparoscopy* ; Prospective Studies ; Transferrin ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the concentration of serum VEGF and its relationship with the clinical parameters and the tumor markers in ovarian diseases. METHODS: We measured the serum VEGF concentrations by ELISA in 76 patients with benign ovarian disease, as well as 9 normal volunteers, 4 patients with ovarian borderline malignancy and 53 patients with ovarian cancer. RESULTS: There is a significant statistical difference between the serum VEGF levels in patients with benign ovarian disease (157.7+/-197.8 pg/ml) and ovarian cancer (344.7+/-372.2 pg/ml) (p<0.005). CONCLUSION: Serum VEGF may help in the differential diagnosis between benign and malignant ovarian disease. We suggest that serum VEGF may be useful as a diagnostic tool in ovarian disease.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Ovarian Diseases* ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*

BACKGROUND: Alopecia areata is marked by autoimmune assault on the hair follicle resulting in hair loss. T helper 17 cell subset has important roles in protecting the host against extracellular pathogens, however, also promotes inflammatory pathology in autoimmune disease, and it expresses both interleukin (IL)-17A and IL-17F, which can signal via the IL-17 receptor A. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the significance of IL17A and IL17RA gene polymorphisms in the susceptibility to alopecia areata. METHODS: We conducted case-control association study of 238 alopecia areata patients and 270 matched healthy controls. Allele frequency of total 2 single nucleotide polymorphims in the IL17A gene and 4 single nucleotide polymorphims in the IL17RA gene were studied. The statistical analyses were performed according to onset age, the presence of familyhistory, clinical subtypes, and presence of nail involvement or body hair involvement. RESULTS: One single nucleotide polymorphim (rs879577) of IL17RA gene showed significant difference between alopecia areata patients group and controls group (p= 0.0288). One single nucleotide polymorphim (rs4819554) of IL17RA gene showed significant difference between the early onset and late onset alopecia areata (p=0.0421). CONCLUSION: IL17RA gene polymorphism might contribute to the increased susceptibility to alopecia areata in Korean population, and IL17RA gene polymorphism may be associated with onset age.
Age of Onset ; Alopecia ; Alopecia Areata ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Case-Control Studies ; Gene Frequency ; Hair ; Hair Follicle ; Humans ; Interleukin-17 ; Interleukins ; Nails ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

Renal cell carcinoma is extremely uncommon in children. But this neoplasm should be considered in the differential diagnosis of hematuria and/or abdominal mass in children. We present a case of renal cell carcinoma in an 11-year-old girl which was confirmed pathologically.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Child ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Hematuria ; Humans

No abstract available.
Alopecia Areata ; Alopecia ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; Genes, erbB-1

Robot-assisted surgery is evolving to incorporate a higher number of minimally invasive techniques. There is a growing interest in robotic breast reconstruction that uses autologous tissue. Since a traditional latissimus dorsi (LD) flap leads to a long donor scar, which can be an unpleasant burden to patients, there have been many attempts to decrease the scar length using minimally invasive approaches. This study presents the case of a patient who underwent a robot-assisted nipple-sparing mastectomy followed by immediate breast reconstruction with an LD flap using a single-port robotic surgery system. With the assistance of a single-port robot, a simple docking process using a short and less visible incision is possible. Compared to multiport surgery systems, single-port robots can reduce the possibility of collision between robotic arms and provide a clear view of the medial border of the LD where the curvature of the back restricts the visual field. We recommend the use of single-port robots as a minimally invasive approach for harvesting LD flaps.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical presentations of focal choroidal excavation and to report long-term outcomes of cases without retinal disorders at the initial presentation. METHODS: A retrospective review of medical records was performed for patients diagnosed with focal choroidal excavation. Concomitant retinal disorders at the initial presentation were identified. In cases without retinal disorders, the development of retinal disorders during follow-up was also evaluated. RESULTS: Forty-five eyes in 45 patients were examined in this study. Focal choroidal excavation was accompanied with retinal disorders in 16 eyes (35.6%). In the remaining 29 eyes, only focal choroidal excavation was noted without any accompanying retinal disorders. The accompanying retinal disorders included choroidal neovascularization (n = 8), central serous chorioretinopathy (n = 4), epiretinal membrane (n = 1), macular hole (n = 1), branch retinal vein occlusion (n = 1), and uveitis (n = 1). Of the 29 eyes without retinal disorders, 22 were followed up for a mean period of 33.5 ± 18.2 months. Consequently, choroidal neovascularization was found to have developed in one eye at 59 months, and subretinal fluid had developed in two eyes at 17 and 28 months, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Focal choroidal excavation was accompanied by retinal disorders in 35.6% of the included patients. In patients without retinal disorders, the development of a retinal disorder was noted in some eyes, suggesting the need for long-term regular follow-up in patients diagnosed with focal choroidal excavation.
Central Serous Chorioretinopathy ; Choroid ; Choroidal Neovascularization ; Epiretinal Membrane ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Retinal Perforations ; Retinal Vein Occlusion ; Retinaldehyde ; Retrospective Studies ; Subretinal Fluid ; Uveitis

PURPOSE: To report the clinical manifestations of intravitreal triamcinolone injection as a primary treatment method for patients with cystoid macular edema after cataract surgery. METHODS: The present retrospective study was comprised of patients diagnosed with cystoid macular edema after cataract surgery performed between March 2006 and March 2008. To treat the edema, intravitreal triamcinolone injection was administered. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central macular thickness were measured, and complications as well as efficacy of the treatment were evaluated. RESULTS: Twelve eyes were selected for the present study with a mean patient age of 67.3 years. The average period between cataract surgery and diagnosis of cystoid macular edema was 7.6 weeks. All 12 eyes received an intravitreal triamcinolone injection, and the patients were followed up for an average of 6.7 months. BCVA (log MAR) was changed from 0.29 +/- 0.12 to 0.11 +/- 0.09, showing statistically significant improvement (p = 0.000). The OCT showed that the average CMT was statistically decreased from 390.58 +/- 94.98 microm to 165.17 +/- 39.95 microm (p = 0.001). No complications were reported after the procedure, and vision and edema improved after one month in all 12 eyes. CONCLUSIONS: After performing intravitreal triamcinolone injection as a primary treatment method for cystoid macular edema which developed after cataract surgery, rapid recovery and improvement of vision and macular thickness were confirmed in all 12 eyes.
Cataract ; Edema ; Eye ; Humans ; Intravitreal Injections ; Macular Edema ; Pseudophakia ; Retrospective Studies ; Triamcinolone ; Vision, Ocular ; Visual Acuity