Objective: To evaluate the impact of adding CT to ultrasound (US) for nodal assessment in patients with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC), particularly in those with US-node-negative disease. Materials and Methods: This single-center retrospective study included consecutive patients with PTMC (≤1 cm on US) who underwent both US and CT for PTMC staging between August 2016 and January 2020, and subsequently underwent surgery including neck dissection. The number of patients with clinical N1 and pathological N1 disease was assessed. The diagnostic performance of US, CT, and combined US + CT (positive if either was positive) for macroscopic lymph node metastasis (LNM) (i.e., metastatic tumor foci >2 mm) was evaluated. Cases with discordant nodal staging between US and CT were identified.The diagnostic utility of CT was also assessed in a subgroup of patients with node-negative findings on US. Results: Among 982 patients (mean age ± standard deviation, 47.3 ± 11.5 years; 774 female), pathological analysis confirmed cervical LNM in 377 patients, including macroscopic, microscopic, and size-unknown LNM in 187, 175, and 15 patients, respectively. The addition of CT to US improved sensitivity for detecting macroscopic LNM compared to US alone (68.4% [128/187] vs. 26.7% [50/187]; P < 0.001), while maintaining high specificity despite a significant decrease (90.9% [709/780] vs. 97.2% [758/780]; P < 0.001). Discordant nodal staging between US and CT regarding macroscopic LNM was observed in 149 cases (15.2% [149/982]), with 131 patients (87.9% [131/149]) being upstaged by CT. In patients with node-negative US findings, CT detected US-undetected macroscopic LNM in 78 patients (8.7% [78/895]) and exhibited a sensitivity of 56.9% (78/137) and specificity of 93.5% (709/758) for macroscopic LNM. Conclusion The integration of CT with US improved sensitivity for detecting macroscopic LNM in patients with PTMC, identifying those who would otherwise be inappropriately considered candidates for active surveillance based solely on US findings. This may assist in refining patient management.

Schizandra chinensis Baillon is a traditional folk medicine plant that is used to treat and prevent several inflammatory diseases and cancer in Korea, but the underlying mechanisms involved in its anti-allergic activity are not fully understood. This study was designed to investigate mechanisms of anti-allergic activity of a Schizandra chinensis Baillon water extract (SCWE) in immunoglobulin E (IgE)-antigen complex-stimulated RBL2H3 cells and to assess whether gastric and intestinal digestion affects the anti-allergic properties of SCWE. Oxidative stress is an important consequence of the allergic inflammatory response. The antioxidant activities of SCWE increased in a concentration-dependent manner. RBL-2H3 cells were sensitized with monoclonal anti-dinitrophenol (DNP) specific IgE, treated with SCWE, and challenged with the antigen DNP-human serum albumin. SCWE inhibited beta-hexosaminidase release and expression of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-13, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) mRNA and protein in IgE-antigen complex-stimulated RBL2H3 cells. We found that digested SCWE fully maintained its antioxidant activity and anti-allergic activity against the IgE-antigen complex-induced activation of RBL-2H3 cells. SCWE may be useful for preventing allergic diseases, such as asthma. Thus, SCWE could be used as a natural functional ingredient for allergic diseases in the food and/or pharmaceutical industries.
Asthma ; beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases ; Digestion ; Drug Industry ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulins ; Interleukin-13 ; Interleukins ; Korea ; Medicine, Traditional ; Oxidative Stress ; Plants ; RNA, Messenger ; Schisandra ; Serum Albumin ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Water

The funding acknowledgment in this article was omitted as published.

A 63-year-old man with a history of liver transplantation presented to our clinic complaining of visual disturbance. He had been receiving tacrolimus (FK 506) for 30 months (6 mg/day for 2 years and 3 mg/day for 6 months); he reported that the visual disturbance began while taking tacrolimus. A full ophthalmologic examination and electrophysiologic and imaging studies were performed. The best corrected visual acuity was 0.1 in both eyes. There were no abnormal finding in the anterior segment, pupillary reflexes were normal and, there was no swelling in either optic disc. Although the foveal reflex was slightly decreased, fluorescein angiography revealed non-specific signs, with the exception of a window defect. A multifocal electro-retinogram revealed decreased amplitude of the central ring. A Swedish interactive threshold algorithm-standard 10-2 visual field test revealed a central scotoma. These findings suggest that tacrolimus may result in maculopathy. Therefore, careful ophthalmologic examination is necessary in the patients taking tacrolimus.
Electroretinography ; Evoked Potentials, Visual ; Fundus Oculi ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents/*adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Liver Transplantation ; Macula Lutea/*drug effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Care ; Reaction Time ; Retinal Diseases/*chemically induced/diagnosis ; Scotoma/chemically induced/diagnosis ; Tacrolimus/*adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Tomography, Optical Coherence

PURPOSE: To report the case of delayed suprachoroidal hemorrhage after Ahmed valve implantation in a neovascular glaucoma (NVG) patient. CASE SUMMARY: A 74-years-old male visited the hospital with ocular pain in the left eye. He had a history of vitrectomy and Intraocular lens (IOL) scleral fixation due to trauma in the left eye. NVG was diagnosed and Ahmed valve was implanted in his left eye. Three days later, hypotony occurred with all quadrant choroidal detachment. Next day, raised intraocular pressure (IOP) was checked and anterior chamber was flat on slit lamp examination. Vitreous hemorrhage and suprachoroidal hemorrhage were suspected. We performed anterior chamber formation with viscoelastics. The anterior chamber became deeper and hemorrhage gradually decreased. A month later, the patient visited us with severe ocular pain. Raised IOP and shallow anterior chamber due to moderate hyphema and anteriorly placed IOL were found. Retinal detachment was suspected on B-scan. Vitrectomy, IOL removal, silicone oil insertion, and Ahmed valve removal were performed. CONCLUSIONS: We report we experienced one patient of delayed suprachoroidal hemorrhage after Ahmed valve implantation and he had poor prognosis.
Anterior Chamber ; Choroid ; Eye ; Glaucoma, Neovascular ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hyphema ; Intraocular Pressure ; Lenses, Intraocular ; Male ; Prognosis ; Retinal Detachment ; Silicone Oils ; Vitrectomy ; Vitreous Hemorrhage