PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the influence of gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) treatment on the weight and body mass index (BMI) of girls who were diagnosed with idiopathic central precocious puberty (CPP) or early puberty (EP). METHODS: Patients who were younger than 8 years of age at diagnosis were classified as CPP and patients aged between 8 and 9 years at diagnosis were classified as EP. Of 129 patients, 34 were diagnosed with CPP and 95 were diagnosed with EP. The patients were divided according to pretreatment weight status into normal weight group, an overweight group, or an obese group. RESULTS: No significant changes were observed with respect to the weight standard deviation score (SDS) before and after 1 year, 2 years of treatment, respectively (P>0.05, P>0.05) in all patient groups. No significant changes were observed in relation to the BMI SDS before and after 1 year, 2 years of treatment, respectively (P>0.05, P>0.05) in all patient group. Depending on the degree of obesity, differences with respect to the weight SDS and BMI SDS were observed. CONCLUSION: BMI SDS increased in the GnRHa-treated patients as a whole group, but was not statistically significant. But BMI SDS increased significantly in the normal weight group after 2 years of GnRHa treatment. So, GnRHa treatment may affect the change of BMI SDS depending on degree of obesity.
Adolescent ; Body Mass Index* ; Body Weight* ; Diagnosis ; Female* ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone* ; Gonadotropins* ; Humans ; Obesity ; Overweight ; Puberty* ; Puberty, Precocious*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Retinal Artery ; Retinal Artery Occlusion ; Risk Factors ; Stroke

PURPOSE: To report an unusual case of anterior ischemic optic neuropathy and choroidal ischemia after injection of autologous fat into the periorbital region due to embolism of the short posterior ciliary artery without involving the retinal artery. CASE SUMMARY: A 39-year-old female presented with sudden blurred vision, diplopia and ptosis of her left eye immediately after receiving an autologous fat injection into the periorbital area. The first ophthalmologic examination revealed that the patient s left eye had decreased visual acuity, relative afferent pupillary defect, exotropia, and hypertropia. Fundus examination of the left eye showed disc edema. Fluorescein angiography showed multiple choroidal vascular filling defects at the early phase and wedge-shaped or geographic fluorescein staining at the superior, inferior, and temporal peripheral areas at late phase. Humphrey visual field test results disclosed an inferior visual field defect. On the follow-up visit after oral steroid therapy (prednisolone 30 mg) for 7 days, diplopia disappeared and visual acuity recovered to 1.0. The inferior visual field defect and relative afferent pupillary defect were still present.
Adult ; Choroid ; Ciliary Arteries ; Diplopia ; Edema ; Embolism ; Exotropia ; Eye ; Female ; Fluorescein ; Fluorescein Angiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Ischemia ; Optic Neuropathy, Ischemic ; Pupil Disorders ; Retinal Artery ; Strabismus ; Vision, Ocular ; Visual Acuity ; Visual Field Tests ; Visual Fields

PURPOSE: We present a case of endogenous endophthalmitis in which the patient presented with an overall clinical picture suggestive of bacterial endophthalmitis but was subsequently found to have Candida endophthalmitis. CASE SUMMARY: A 50-year-old man with hepatic encephalopathy and alcoholic liver cirrhosis who was treated in gastroenterology presented with reduced vision in both eyes. Indirect ophthalmoscopy showed bilateral massive submacular abscesses and surrounding retinal hemorrhage. In view of the initial fundal picture of a submacular abscess lesion, the subacute course of the disease, and a medical history of diabetes and liver cirrhosis, a provisional diagnosis of bacterial endophthalmitis was made. Treatment with topical and systemic empirical antibiotics was immediately initiated. CONCLUSIONS: Candida albicans should be considered in the differential diagnosis of endogenous endophthalmitis when massive submacular abscesses and hemorrhage are seen.
Abscess ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Candida ; Candida albicans ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Endophthalmitis ; Eye ; Gastroenterology ; Hemorrhage ; Hepatic Encephalopathy ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic ; Middle Aged ; Ophthalmoscopy ; Retinal Hemorrhage ; Vision, Low

OBJECTIVE: To report our clinical experience with 763 cases of laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) and to evaluate the efficacy and advantage of LAVH. METHODS: From Jan. 2000 to Feb. 2006, 763 cases of LAVH were performed at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. we analyzed the results regard to the age, parity, surgical indication, previous abdominal surgery, operation time, weight of uterus, change of hemoglobin, hospital stay, concomitant procedures, and complication. RESULTS: The mean age was 45.7+/-7.1 years. The mean parity was 2.5+/-1.2. The average weight of patients was 58.59+/-9.5 kg. Leiomyoma was the most common surgical indication. Tubal ligation was the most common previous surgery. The mean operation time was 87.5+/-45.7 minutes. The mean hemoglobin change was 1.1+/-0.7 g/dL. The mean uterine weight was 251.34+/-131.5 gm. The mean hospital stay was 6.15+/-0.94 days. The complication rate was 3.4% (26 cases); bladder injury (7 cases), ureter injury (3 cases), vault bleeding (3 cases), trochar site bleeding (13 cases). CONCLUSIONS: LAVH is safe and effective surgical procedure for hysterectomy. The improvement of surgical skill and laparoscopic instrument can make more replace Total abdominal hysterectomy with LAVH.
Female ; Gynecology ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Hysterectomy, Vaginal* ; Leiomyoma ; Length of Stay ; Obstetrics ; Parity ; Sterilization, Tubal ; Ureter ; Urinary Bladder ; Uterus

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Aminoglycosides, a commonly used antibiotic agent, destroys the sensory hair cells in the cochlear and vestibular system leading to irreversible hearing loss and balance problem. Minocycline, a second-generation tetracycline antibiotic, has been known to possess anti-apoptotic properties in addition to its antimicrobial action. We hypothesized that minocycline would attenuate aminoglycosides induced vestibulotoxicity in rat utricles. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Utricular maculae prepared from postnatal day 3-4 rats were treated with neomycin alone or in combination with minocycline. For hair cell count, utricles were stained with phalloidin-FITC. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) was assessed using the fluorescent probe, hydrofluorescent diacetate acetyl ester (H2DCFDA). Caspase-3 activity was also examined using the fluorescent caspase-3 substrate. RESULTS: Neomycin induced dose-dependent loss of utricular hair cells. Minocycline reduced ROS production and caspase-3 activation in neomycin treated utricular hair cells. CONCLUSION: Minocycline has protective effect in neomycin induced ototoxicity in rat utricle by inhibiting ROS production and caspase-3 activity.
Aminoglycosides ; Animals ; Caspase 3* ; Cell Count ; Hair ; Hair Cells, Vestibular* ; Hearing Loss ; Minocycline* ; Neomycin ; Rats ; Reactive Oxygen Species* ; Saccule and Utricle ; Tetracycline

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Electrical dyssynchronicity (Dsyn) appears to be prognostic of survival in congestive heart failure (CHF). Recent study has shown some discrepancy between the electrical Dsyn and the Doppler tissue image (DTI) assessed mechanical Dsyn. The aim of our study was to evaluate the relationship between the QRS duration and DTI assessed Dsyn. SUBJCETS AND METHODS: One hundred and forty patients, with CHF and left ventricular ejection fractions < or =40%, were enrolled. DTI was performed on 5-basal and 5-mid segments to assess the time from the R-wave to the peak systolic velocity (RS time). A QRS duration >130 msec, standard deviation (SD) of the RS time >40 msec, or a difference in the maximal and minimal RS times (RS time-diff) >100 msec were indicators of'Dsyn'. RESULTS: The prevalence of myocardial Dsyn, by QRS duration, SD of the RS time and the RS time-diff were 19, 43 and 47%, respectively. The SD of the RS time (49.8+/-23.6 vs. 36.6+/-20.7, p<0.01) and the RS time-diff (139.2+/-63.2 vs. 98.0+/-54.3, p<0.01) were prolonged in the wide (>130 msec) compared with the narrow QRS group. There was also a weak positive correlation between the QRS duration and the SD of the RS time (R=0.34, p<0.001) and the RS time-diff (R=0.38, p<0.001). However, from a cross-tabulation analysis, more than one third of patients had a discrepancy between QRS duration and DTI assessed mechanical Dsyn. From a multivariate analysis, a major determinant of the SD of the RS time was the QRS duration. CONCLUSION: Although a major determinant of the DTI assessed Dsyn was the QRS duration, more than one-third of patients had a discrepancy between electrical and mechanical Dsyn. Therefore, not only the QRS duration, but the DTI assessed Dsyn, should be measured when considering cardiac resynchronization therapy.
Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy ; Diagnosis* ; Electrocardiography* ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP)* ; Heart Failure* ; Humans ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prevalence ; Stroke Volume

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Electrical dyssynchronicity (Dsyn) appears to be prognostic of survival in congestive heart failure (CHF). Recent study has shown some discrepancy between the electrical Dsyn and the Doppler tissue image (DTI) assessed mechanical Dsyn. The aim of our study was to evaluate the relationship between the QRS duration and DTI assessed Dsyn. SUBJCETS AND METHODS: One hundred and forty patients, with CHF and left ventricular ejection fractions < or =40%, were enrolled. DTI was performed on 5-basal and 5-mid segments to assess the time from the R-wave to the peak systolic velocity (RS time). A QRS duration >130 msec, standard deviation (SD) of the RS time >40 msec, or a difference in the maximal and minimal RS times (RS time-diff) >100 msec were indicators of'Dsyn'. RESULTS: The prevalence of myocardial Dsyn, by QRS duration, SD of the RS time and the RS time-diff were 19, 43 and 47%, respectively. The SD of the RS time (49.8+/-23.6 vs. 36.6+/-20.7, p<0.01) and the RS time-diff (139.2+/-63.2 vs. 98.0+/-54.3, p<0.01) were prolonged in the wide (>130 msec) compared with the narrow QRS group. There was also a weak positive correlation between the QRS duration and the SD of the RS time (R=0.34, p<0.001) and the RS time-diff (R=0.38, p<0.001). However, from a cross-tabulation analysis, more than one third of patients had a discrepancy between QRS duration and DTI assessed mechanical Dsyn. From a multivariate analysis, a major determinant of the SD of the RS time was the QRS duration. CONCLUSION: Although a major determinant of the DTI assessed Dsyn was the QRS duration, more than one-third of patients had a discrepancy between electrical and mechanical Dsyn. Therefore, not only the QRS duration, but the DTI assessed Dsyn, should be measured when considering cardiac resynchronization therapy.
Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy ; Diagnosis* ; Electrocardiography* ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP)* ; Heart Failure* ; Humans ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prevalence ; Stroke Volume

OBJECTIVE: To set up the methodology for PCR analysis of XbaI/intron 22 polymorphism of the factor VIII gene, and to identify the usefulness of XbaI/intron 22 polymorphism analysis for carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis of hemophilia A in the Korean population. DESIGN: A laboratory analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A XbaI/intron 22 polymorphism of the factor VIII gene was analyzed in 56 unrelated Korean mothers of patients with severe hemophilia A, using polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Analysis of XbaI/intron 22 polymorphisms of the factor VIII gene were feasible by PCR method. The expected heterozygosity rates of XbaI/intron 22 polymorphism of the factor VIII gene were 44.8%. Analysis of XbaI/intron 22 polymorphism revealed heterozygous patterns in 22 (39.3%) of 56 mothers studied. Using linkage analysis with XbaI/intron 22 polymorphism, we have attempted one case of carrier detection and two cases of prenatal diagnosis in two families of patients with severe hemophilia A. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that PCR analysis of the XbaI/intron 22 polymorphism within the factor VIII gene is very useful in the carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis of hemophilia A in the Korean population.
Diagnosis* ; DNA* ; Factor VIII ; Hemophilia A* ; Humans ; Molecular Biology* ; Mothers ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Prenatal Diagnosis

BACKGROUND: To reduce side effects (hyperlipidemia, pain on injection, etc.) of the present formation of propofol, many attempts to change the emulsifying agent for propofol have been tried. This study was designed to examine the poloxamer-407 as an emulsifying agent for propofol compared to soybean oil regarding histamine release and plasma lipid levels. METHODS: Twelve Beagle dogs weighing 12 - 16 kg were randomly assigned to one of two groups according to the formulation of propofol. Group 1 received Diprivan propofol 1% (AstraZeneca Co. UK), and group 2 received poloxamer-407 formulated propofol by a continuous intravenous infusion at 30 mg/kg/h for 3 hours. Three, 6, 9 and 12 hours after discontinuing the propofol infusion, venous blood samples from the cranial tibial vein were analysed by an ELISA kit for the histamine level. Also, blood lipid levels were checked 3 hours after the infusion and blood propofol concentration were checked every hour during the infusion. RESULTS: Group 2 showed significantly less histamine release than group 1 at 3, 6 and 9 hours after the infusion (P < 0.05). In the plasma lipid study, there was no difference in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) between the two groups, but triglyceride and cholesterol were significantly higher in group 2 (P < 0.05). There was no difference in propofol concentrations between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Poloxamer-407 as an emulsifying agent for propofol showed no advantage compared to a present formulation regarding hyperlipidemia, and even decreased the histamine level.
Animals ; Cholesterol ; Dogs ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Histamine Release* ; Histamine* ; Hyperlipidemias ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Lipoproteins ; Plasma* ; Propofol* ; Soybean Oil* ; Soybeans* ; Triglycerides ; Veins