Objective: We aimed to evaluate the long-term efficacy of consolidation hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for patients with primary epithelial ovarian cancer. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients who underwent second-look surgery either with or without HIPEC after having complete or partial response to primary cytoreductive surgery and adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy between January 1991 and December 2003 at Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital. The 10-year progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and toxicity within postoperative 28 days were investigated. Results: A total of 87 patients were identified, 44 (50.6%) received second-look surgery with HIPEC whereas 43 (49.4%) received only second-look surgery. The 10-year PFS and OS were significantly longer in the HIPEC group compared with the control group (PFS, 53.6% vs. 34.9%, log-rank p=0.009; OS, 57.0% vs. 34.5%, log-rank p=0.025). Multivariable analysis identified HIPEC as an independent favorable prognostic factor for PFS (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]=0.42; 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.23–0.77; p=0.005) but not for OS (adjusted HR=0.58; 95% CI=0.32–1.07; p=0.079). The more common adverse events in the HIPEC group were thrombocytopenia (90.9% vs. 68.3%, p=0.005), elevated liver enzymes (65.9% vs. 29.3%, p=0.002), and wound complications (18.2% vs. 2.4%, p=0.032). However, these adverse events were reversible and did not delay subsequent consolidation chemotherapy. Conclusion The consolidation HIPEC demonstrated a significant improvement in 10-year PFS but not OS, with acceptable toxicity in patients with primary epithelial ovarian cancer. Further randomized controlled trials are warranted to confirm these results.

Purpose: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a useful tool for evaluating brain injury and maturation in preterm infants and often requires sedation to acquire images of sufficient quality. Infant sedation is often associated with adverse events, despite extreme precautions. In this study, the swaddling technique was investigated as an alternative non-pharmacological strategy to obtain brain MRIs of sufficient quality. Methods: We applied the feed and swaddle technique during routine brain MRI as a quality improvement project and compared its morbidity with that of sedation in a historic age-matched group. Seventy-nine very low birth weight infants in the neonatal intensive care unit of Ajou University Hospital (Suwon, Korea) were enrolled. Thirty-two (40.5%) infants were in the feed and swaddling group, and 47 (59.5%) were in the sedation group. Results: The morbidity associated with the cardiopulmonary system (swaddling group vs. sedation group: 53.13% [n=17] vs. 63.83% [n=30], P=0.723) and central nervous system (40.63% [n=13] vs. 29.79% [n=14], P=0.217) were not significantly different between groups. The MRI failure rate was not significantly different (swaddling group vs. sedation group: 12.5% [n=4] vs. 4.3% [n=2], P=0.174). The MRI scanning time was longer in the swaddling group than in the sedation group (76.5±20.3 minutes vs. 61.5±13.6 minutes, P=0.001). Cardiopulmonary adverse events were significantly less common in the swaddling group than in the sedation group (3.13% [n=1] vs. 34.04% [n=16], P=0.002). Conclusion The success rate of MRI was comparable between the swaddling technique and sedation. Furthermore, despite the drawback of prolonged scan time, cardiopulmonary adverse events are fewer with swaddling than with sedative agents. Therefore, swaddling can be an alternative to sedation or anesthesia when performing neonatal MRI scans.

Purpose: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a useful tool for evaluating brain injury and maturation in preterm infants and often requires sedation to acquire images of sufficient quality. Infant sedation is often associated with adverse events, despite extreme precautions. In this study, the swaddling technique was investigated as an alternative non-pharmacological strategy to obtain brain MRIs of sufficient quality. Methods: We applied the feed and swaddle technique during routine brain MRI as a quality improvement project and compared its morbidity with that of sedation in a historic age-matched group. Seventy-nine very low birth weight infants in the neonatal intensive care unit of Ajou University Hospital (Suwon, Korea) were enrolled. Thirty-two (40.5%) infants were in the feed and swaddling group, and 47 (59.5%) were in the sedation group. Results: The morbidity associated with the cardiopulmonary system (swaddling group vs. sedation group: 53.13% [n=17] vs. 63.83% [n=30], P=0.723) and central nervous system (40.63% [n=13] vs. 29.79% [n=14], P=0.217) were not significantly different between groups. The MRI failure rate was not significantly different (swaddling group vs. sedation group: 12.5% [n=4] vs. 4.3% [n=2], P=0.174). The MRI scanning time was longer in the swaddling group than in the sedation group (76.5±20.3 minutes vs. 61.5±13.6 minutes, P=0.001). Cardiopulmonary adverse events were significantly less common in the swaddling group than in the sedation group (3.13% [n=1] vs. 34.04% [n=16], P=0.002). Conclusion The success rate of MRI was comparable between the swaddling technique and sedation. Furthermore, despite the drawback of prolonged scan time, cardiopulmonary adverse events are fewer with swaddling than with sedative agents. Therefore, swaddling can be an alternative to sedation or anesthesia when performing neonatal MRI scans.

OBJECTIVE: To study the anti-inflammatory action and cellular mechanism of Oplopanax elatus. METHODS: A hot water extract of OE (WOE) was prepared and a major constituent, syringin, was successfully isolated. Its content in WOE was found to be 214.0 µg/g dried plant (w/w). Their anti-inflammatory activities were examined using RAW 264.7 macrophages and a mouse model of croton oil-induced ear edema. RESULTS: In lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW 264.7 cells, a mouse macrophage cell line, WOE was found to significantly and strongly inhibit cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)-induced prostaglandin E (PGE) production [half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC)=135.2 µg/mL] and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)-induced NO production (IC=242.9 µg/mL). In the same condition, WOE was revealed to inhibit NO production by down-regulating iNOS expression, mainly by interrupting mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPKs)/activator protein-1 (AP-1) pathway. The activation of all three major MAPKs, p38 MAPK, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and c-Jun N-terminal kinase, was inhibited by WOE (50-300 µg/mL). On the other hand, WOE reduced PGE production by inhibiting COX-2 enzyme activity, but did not affect COX-2 expression levels. In addition, WOE inhibited the production of proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α. In croton oil-induced ear edema in mice, oral administration of WOE (50-300 mg/kg) dose-dependently inhibited edematic inflammation. CONCLUSION Water extract of OE exhibited multiple anti-inflammatory action mechanisms and may have potential for treating inflammatory disorders.

The stems of Oplopanax elatus (OE) have long been used to treat inflammatory disorders in herbal medicine, and in the previous investigation, OE was found to possess anti-inflammatory activity in lipopolysaccharide-treated macrophages, RAW 264.7 cell. OE reduces inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase-induced NO production, and interferes with mitogen-activated protein kinase activation pathways. In the present study, the pharmacological action of the water extract of OE was examined to establish anti-arthritic action, using a rat model of adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA). The water extract of OE administered orally inhibited AIA-induced arthritis at (100 – 300) mg/kg/day. The paw edema was significantly decreased, in combination with reduced production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. The action mechanism includes an inhibition of MAPKs/nuclear transcription factor-κB activation. These new findings strongly suggest that OE possesses anti-arthritic action, and may be used as a therapeutic agent in inflammation-related disorders, particularly in arthritic condition.
Animals ; Arthritis ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Cytokines ; Edema ; Herbal Medicine ; Macrophages ; Models, Animal ; Nitric Oxide ; Oplopanax ; Protein Kinases ; Rats ; RAW 264.7 Cells ; Water

PURPOSE: We report a case of acute visual loss with ophthalmoplegia after prone position spinal surgery who had blood supply dependence on collateral circulation due to occlusion of the Internal carotid artery. CASE SUMMARY: A 74-year-old man was referred to the department of ophthalmology for acute visual loss and ophthalmoplegia after lumbar spine surgery performed in prone position. On the initial visit, his right visual acuity was 0.8 and the left visual acuity was negative light perception. Intraocular pressure was normal. There was a relative afferent pupillary defect and ophthalmoplegia of all directions in the left eye. Because of the ptosis of the upper eyelid in the left eye, it was impossible to tune the eye voluntarily. The cherry red spot and pale retina were observed on the fundus examination. On brain magnetic resonance imaging angiography, we found complete obstruction of the left internal carotid artery. He had intravenous injection of 1 g methylprednisolone for 3 days, and discharged with per oral medicine. After 1 month of treatment, the ophthalmoplegia was slightly improved, but visual acuity was not recovered. CONCLUSIONS: In this case, unlike previous reports, acute visual loss and ophthalmoplegia occurred after spinal surgery the patient who had collateral circulation for ocular blood supply because of complete obstruction of the left internal carotid artery. This report highlights the importance of being aware of the anatomical variant in possible complications of external ocular compression after non-ocular surgery.
Aged ; Angiography ; Brain ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Collateral Circulation ; Eyelids ; Humans ; Injections, Intravenous ; Intraocular Pressure ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Methylprednisolone ; Ophthalmology ; Ophthalmoplegia ; Oral Medicine ; Prone Position ; Pupil Disorders ; Retina ; Retinal Artery Occlusion ; Spine ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: We present four cases of welding arc maculopathy as observed using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT).CASE SUMMARY: Four patients, who performed welding without wearing protective eye gear, presented to the hospital due to poor visual acuity. The mean visual acuity of the patients was 0.6. Fundus photographs of the four patients revealed a yellowish retinal scar at the fovea. SD-OCT images of the four patients showed photoreceptor inner segment/outer segment junction (IS/OS junction) disruption and retinal pigment epithelium injury. We diagnosed the patients with welding arc maculopathy, and three of them were treated with oral steroids or antioxidants. The IS/OS junctions were restored in two patients, who had short welding arc exposures. The disrupted IS/OS junction recovered partially in one of the other two patients, who had a longer duration of exposure, and the IS/OS junction disruption remained in another patient. CONCLUSIONS We report four cases of welding arc maculopathy caused by welding light exposure evaluated using SD-OCT and treated with oral steroids and antioxidants.

PURPOSE: To report a case of anterior segment ischemia after superior and inferior rectus muscle surgery in a patient with superior rectus muscle enlargement. This is the first report in the Republic of Korea of anterior segment ischemia after two rectus muscles surgery. CASE SUMMARY: An 80-year-old male was referred to our clinic with a 3 years history of diplopia. The patient had 30 prism diopters right eye hypertropia in the primary position and downgaze limitation. The orbital computed tomography scan revealed enlargement of the right superior rectus muscle. He underwent right superior rectus recession and inferior rectus resection. On postoperative day 2, slit lamp examination revealed diffuse corneal edema, Descemet's membrane folding, an aqueous flare and a dilated pupil. Treatment with 45 mg oral steroid was initiated, and 1% prednisolone acetate and 0.5% Levofloxacin eye drops were administered. At postoperative 1 month, the patient was orthophoric in the primary position, and there was no corneal edema, pupil abnormality or aqueous flare. CONCLUSIONS: Base on the present case, the possibility of anterior segment ischemia should be considered after even two muscles surgery, and older patients with vertical muscle surgery should be considered more carefully.
Aged, 80 and over ; Aqueous Humor ; Corneal Edema ; Descemet Membrane ; Diplopia ; Humans ; Ischemia ; Levofloxacin ; Male ; Muscles ; Oculomotor Muscles ; Ophthalmic Solutions ; Orbit ; Prednisolone ; Pupil ; Republic of Korea ; Slit Lamp ; Strabismus

PURPOSE: To investigate the change of refractive error between the full-correction and under-correction treatment groups of myopic anisometropic patients. METHODS: This study included 36 patients who had no amblyopia with myopic anisometropia > 3.00 diopters (D) and less than 6.00 D using the cycloplegic refraction test. The patients were divided into two groups involving the full-correction of both eyes (group 1) or full-correction on the less myopic eye and under-correction with −0.50 D of the more myopic eye (group 2). We monitored refractive changes every 6 months for 24 months. RESULTS: At the first visit, the mean refractive error of the less myopic eye was −0.68 ± 0.54 D and that of the more myopic eye was −4.22 ± 0.77 D in group 1. The mean refractive error of the less myopic eye was −0.75 ± 0.58 D and that of the more myopic eye was −4.36 ± 0.73 D in group 2. There was no significant difference between the groups (p = 0.713 and p = 0.585, respectively). At 24 months, the mean refractive errors of group 1 were −1.27 ± 0.54 D and −4.88 ± 0.81 D, respectively, and that of group 2 were 1.38 ± 0.54 D and −5.59 ± 1.01 D, respectively. The mean refractive error of the less myopic eyes showed no significant difference between both groups (p = 0.555), but that of the more myopic eyes was significantly different (p = 0.027). Between both groups, the degree of anisometropia at 24 months was 3.61 ± 0.60 in group 1 and 4.20 ± 0.86 in group 2. Group 2 showed a significant difference and more severe anisometropic changes (p = 0.022). CONCLUSIONS: Full correction of myopic anisometropia without amblyopia is a better method for reducing the progression of anisometropia.
Amblyopia ; Anisometropia ; Humans ; Methods ; Myopia ; Refractive Errors