Thanatophoric dysplasia is the most common lethal congenital chondrodysplasia with characteristic features of narrow thorax, short rib, severe platyspondyly, short bowed limbs and skull deformity, etc. It is not a hereditary disorder and there is usually no family history of dysplasia. We experienced a case of thanatophoric dysplasia at 38 weeks of gestation with antenatal sonographic and abdominal radiographic findings of small thorax, short bowed extremities with surrounding thickened soft tissues and marked platyspondyly. Soon atter delivery, the baby died and post-mortem radiographs showed the characteristic findings of thanatophoric dysplasia.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Extremities ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Ribs ; Skull ; Thanatophoric Dysplasia* ; Thorax ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy of ancillary CT findings other than the obstructive lesion per se for the differential diagnosis of extrahepatic biliary obstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS:CT findings of 49 patients with extrahepatic bile duct obstruction(22 benign and 27 malignant lesions) were assessed with emphasis on the patterns of ductal dilatation, contrast enhancement, and diffuse thickening of the extrahepatic ductal wall. Degree of central and peripheral intrahepratic ductal dilatation was graded by comparing with the adjacent portal radicles and hepatic parenchymal thickeness. RESULTS: Diffuse circumferential thickening and contrast enhancement of the extrahepatic ductal wall were more frequent in benign cases, but only thickening was statistically significant(p < 0.01). Peripheral intrahepatic ducts were more severely dilated by malignant causes(p < 0.01). With the same degrees of extrahepatic and central ductal dilatations, peripheral intrahepatic ducts were more severely dilated in malignant than in benign cases. CONCLUSION: These results may help to interpret the CT findings of extrahepatic biliary obstruction, particularly when the cause of biliary obstruction is uncertain.
Bile Ducts, Extrahepatic ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Dilatation* ; Humans

Purpose: To compare the accuracy of nine intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation formulas. Methods: This study is retrospective consecutive case series. A total of 228 eyes of 228 patients who underwent uncomplicated cataract surgery between October 2015 and March 2021 were included. The accuracy of nine IOL calculation formulas (Kane, Emmetropia verifying optical version, Hill-radial basis function, Olsen, Barrett Universal II [Barrett II], Haigis, Holladay, Hoffer, and SRK/T) was compared and analyzed using differences between the predicted refractive power and actual refractive power at 2 months after cataract surgery. Mean prediction error (ME), mean absolute error (MAE), median absolute error (MedAE), and the percentage of eyes that were within ± 0.50 diopters (D), ± 0.75 D, and ± 1.00 D of the target refraction were calculated for each formula. Results: For all eyes, Haigis formula was the most accurate in MAE, followed by Barrett II formula. Comparing the probability of MAE within 0.50 D, Haigis formula showed the highest accuracy. A total of 20 eyes of 20 patients had more than 25 mm axial length. Regarding MAE, Hoffer Q was the most accurate, followed by the Olsen formula. Comparing the probability of MAE within 0.50 D, the Hoffer Q formula was the most accurate. A total of 24 eyes of 24 patients had more than 46 D keratometry. Regarding MAE and MedAE, Haigis was the most accurate, followed by the Barrett II formula. Comparing the probability of MAE within 0.5 D, Holladay formula was the most accurate. Conclusions Barrett II and Haigis formulas showed greater accuracy for all patients when we determined IOL power before cataract surgery. Hoffer Q, Olsen, and Barrett II formulas showed higher accuracy for long axial length. And Haigis and Barrett II were the most accurate for steep keratometry.

BACKGROUND: Sepsis is a clinical syndrome characterized by a systemic inflammatory and hemodynamic response to severe bacterial infections that involve various mediators. Endothelin (ET)-1, a potent vasocon strictor is associated with multiple organ failure, and interleukin (IL)-8, a proinflammtory cytokine, plays a major role in neurophil activation. Both have been reported to be useful parameters in the clinical assessment of sepsis. The levels of ET-1 and IL-8 in the blood were measured in patients with sepsis, and the correlation of both parameters and their relationship with the clinical data was assessed. METHODS: 19 sepsis patients and 17 controls were studied. Blood samples of the sepsis patients were drawn in day 1, 3, 7, and 14. the APACHE III scores were calculated in concurrent days. The ET-1 and IL-8 levels were measured using immunoassay methods. RESULTS: The ET-1 levels of patients with sepsis were significantly higher than in the controls. In patients with sepsis, non-survivors had higher ET-1 levels than survivors on day 1 and 7, and patients with shock also had higher ET-1 levels than normotensive patients on admission. The ET-1 levels were significantly correlated wit the creatinine levels in day 1, 7, and 14. The IL-8 levels showed a significant correlation with the ET-1 levels on day 14. CONCLUSION: ET-1 was found to be closely related with the clinical outcome, shock, and renal failure, and showed a correlation with IL-8. these mediators can be considered not only to play pathophysiologic roles but also as useful parameters in the clinical assessment of sepsis.
APACHE ; Bacterial Infections ; Creatinine ; Endothelin-1* ; Endothelins ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Immunoassay ; Interleukin-8* ; Interleukins ; Multiple Organ Failure ; Naphazoline ; Renal Insufficiency ; Sepsis* ; Shock ; Survivors

Correction of the text.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the characteristics of parotid gland tumors to help in the differentiation between benign and malignant lesions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The CT findings of 22 patients with surgically proven parotid gland tumors were reviewed. Analysis was focused on the density and margin characteristics of the tumors, and the relationahip between the tumor and surrounding structures. RESULTS: Those tumors were pleomorphic adenoma (n=8), Warthin's tumor (n=5), basal cell adenoma (n=l), lipoma (n=l), dermold cyst (n=l), adenold cystic carcinoma (n=2), mucoepidermoid carcinoma (n=l), epidermold carcinoma (n=l), and carcinoma in pleomorphic adenoma (n=l). Most of benign and malignant tumors were heterogeneous in denstiy on contrast enhanced CT scans. In 5 of 6 malignant cases, the tumors had irregular or ill-defined margin and a tendancy to involve or cross the superficial layer of deep cervical fascia with obliteration of subcutaneous fat. Two malignant tumors invaded surrounding structures. CONCLUSION: Although the heterogeneous density of tumor is not a specific finding for malignancy at CT, following findings, such as, irregular or blurred margin of the lesion, the involvement of fascial plane, and the infiltration of surrounding structures may suggest the possibility of malignant parotid tumor.
Adenoma ; Adenoma, Pleomorphic ; Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid ; Fascia ; Humans ; Lipoma ; Parotid Gland* ; Subcutaneous Fat ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: The widely used chemotherapeutic agents exert their anti-cancer effects by the inducing of apoptosis in sensitive tumor cells. Recently, the protective effect of zinc ion on apoptosis has been reproted. However, it is not well understood about the effects of zinc ion on the anticancer drug-induced apoptosis. In general, zinc inhibits a nuclear endonuclease, thereby causing inhibition of apoptosis. In addition, there is other possibility that zinc can prevent apoptosis at earlier stage such as the activation of caspase-3 than that of the activation of endonuclease. Therefore, we investigated the effects of zinc ion on the apoptosis of HL-60 cells caused by adriamycin (ADR). METHODS: HL-60 cells were cultured in RPMI 1640 and treated with various concentrations and time periods of ADR with or without pretreatment of zinc ion. Cellular DNA was extracted and analyzed by electrophoresis on a 1.5% agarose gel to detect DNA fragmentation. The activity of caspase-3 was measured by the proteolytic cleavage of the fluorogenic substrate DEVD-AMC. Poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) cleavage was analyzed by western blotting using anti-PARP antibody. RESULTS: ADR induced the apoptotic death of HL-60 cells in a dose and time dependent manner, which was characterized by increasing ladder-pattern DNA fragmentation. Pretreatment of HL-60 cells with zinc ion caused potent inhibition of ADR-induced apoptosis. Consistent with apoptotic death of HL-60 cells, ADR induced the catalytic activation of caspase-3. After pretreatment of zinc ion, the activation of caspase-3 and the proteolysis of PARP induced by ADR were markedly inhibited. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that zinc ion prevents the ADR-induced apoptosis of HL-60 cells through an inhibition of caspase-3 activity, which occurs upstream from the activation of endonuclease.
Apoptosis* ; Blotting, Western ; Caspase 3 ; DNA ; DNA Fragmentation ; Doxorubicin ; Electrophoresis ; Fluorescent Dyes ; HL-60 Cells* ; Humans ; Proteolysis ; Sepharose ; Zinc*

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical significance of the internal lens signal measured using dual Scheimpflug anterior segment analyzer (Galilei(TM), Ziemer, Switzerland) in patients receiving cataract surgery. METHODS: The present study included 151 eyes of 148 patients who received surgery for senile cataracts from February 2012 to January 2013. Preoperative internal lens signals were measured preoperatively. The depth of anterior chamber and anterior angles were measured using dual Scheimpflug anterior segment analyzer preoperatively and 1 month postoperatively. Preoperative and postoperative best-corrected visual acuities (BCVAs) were measured. The relationships between preoperative internal lens signal and the changes in BCVA or anterior angles were evaluated. RESULTS: Internal lens signal and preoperative BCVA (log MAR) or preoperative anterior chamber depth were highly correlated (r = 0.287, p = 0.001 and r = -0.271, p = 0.004, respectively). Anterior angles increased 1 month after surgery compared with the preoperative values (p < 0.001). The amount of change between preoperative and postoperative anterior angles correlated with preoperative anterior angles (p < 0.001). However, no statistically significant correlation was observed between internal lens signal and preoperative anterior angles or postoperative BCVA. Internal lens signal correlated with changes in postoperative anterior angles (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Internal lens signal correlated with preoperative visual acuity and may help evaluate the cataract severity quantitatively and objectively. Internal lens signal may aid in understanding the structure of anterior segments by predicting the lens volume. Knowing the effect of visual impairment due to cataracts and predicting visual improvement after cataract surgery is necessary.
Anterior Chamber ; Cataract ; Humans ; Vision Disorders ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: To compare central corneal thickness (CCT) as measured by dual rotating Scheimpflug camera (Galilei), anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT), and ultrasound pachymetry (USP). METHODS: The measurements of CCT using a dual rotating Scheimpflug camera, AS-OCT, and USP in 40 eyes of 20 healthy subjects were compared. RESULTS: The average measurements of CCT by dual rotating Scheimpflug camera, AS-OCT, and USP were 538.10 +/- 31.36 microm, 536.20 +/- 31.21 microm, and 541.93 +/- 34.93 microm, respectively. The CCT measurement by USP was statistically significantly thicker than by the dual rotating Scheimpflug camera and AS-OCT (p = 0.017, p = 0.001, respectively). There was no significant difference between the dual rotating Scheimpflug camera and AS-OCT (p = 0.054). A significant linear correlation was observed between the dual rotating Scheimpflug camera, the AS-OCT, and the USP (r > 0.900, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the 3 methods have significant correlation with each other, but the measurement by USP was significantly thicker than the dual rotating Scheimpflug camera and AS-OCT. Therefore, CCT should be interpreted in the context of the instrument used.
Eye ; Tomography, Optical Coherence

Multiple primary cancer is relatively rare disease. But its study revealed a aspect of carcinogenesis and has changed our concept in second primary cancer. It is not a metastasis or recurrent cancer. Multiple primary cancer associated with gastric cancer is most common in Korea. Now we report two cases of multiple primary cancer in esophagus and stomach, successfully treated.
Carcinogenesis ; Esophagus* ; Korea ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasms, Second Primary ; Rare Diseases ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Stomach*