Association between Microperimetric Parameters and Optical Coherent Tomographic Findings in Various Macular Diseases

PURPOSE: To analyze the correlation between microperimetric parameters and optical coherent tomographic findings in the eyes of patients with macular diseases. METHODS: A total of 64 eyes were included in this retrospective cross-sectional study. Differences in the macular integrity index and microperimetric parameters were analyzed according to types of outer retinal band defects. Correlations between average threshold values and retinal thickness in the corresponding areas were analyzed. Finally, microperimetric parameters were compared between inner and outer retinal lesions. RESULTS: Measures of best-corrected visual acuity, macular integrity index, and average threshold values were significantly worse in eyes with defects in the ellipsoid portion of the photoreceptor inner segment (ISe), the cone outer segment tip (COST), and the external limiting membrane (ELM) than in eyes without ISe, COST, and ELM defects. Also, visual functionality is more significantly impacted by ELM defects than by other hyper-reflective band defects. There was a significant negative correlation between retinal thickness and the average threshold of the corresponding area in the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study grid. Microperimetric parameters in the eyes of patients with inner retinal lesions were better than in the eyes of patients with outer retinal lesions. CONCLUSIONS: The macular integrity index may be a useful factor for reflecting the functional aspects of macular diseases. Specifically, ELM, ISe, and COST defects are significantly associated with poor retinal sensitivity and macular integrity index values that suggest abnormalities. Among eyes with these particular defects, the visual functionality of patients is most sensitively impacted by ELM defects. This finding suggests that microperimetric parameters are sensitive and useful for evaluating functional abnormalities in the eyes of patients with macular disease, particularly in patients with outer retinal pathology.

Changes in the Lacrimal Excretory System Depending on the Administration Mode of Brimonidine Tartrate: Spray vs. Irrigation

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of 0.15% brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution spray on the luminal changes in the nasolacrimal excretory system. METHODS: A prospective study was performed on 52 eyes in 26 patients complaining of epiphora in both eyes. The randomly-assigned 26 test eyes (cases) received spray of the solution through the nasal cavity, and the other 26 eyes (controls) were irrigated with the same drug through the inferior calnaliculus. Dacryocystography was then performed to observe the luminal changes jn the nasolacrimal excretory system, patient symptoms and physiologic drainage functions. RESULTS: The changes in lumen width of the nasolacrimal duct (NLD) were noted, and the changes in lumen width of the lacrimal sac were not significant in either mode. The upper and middle parts of the NLD were widened more in the irrigation group, and the lower part of the NLD was widened more in the spray group. Though there was no significant difference in the physiologic drainage functions, the patients in both groups reported reduced symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Brimonidine tartrate spray altered the width of the NLD and improved the subjective symptoms of patients. Therefore, the spray can be applied in functional NLD obstruction patients before the surgical procedure.

Reactivation of Herpetic Keratitis in a Patient after Using Two Different Prostaglandin Analogues

PURPOSE: To report a case of herpetic keratitis after administration of two different prostaglandin analogues. CASE SUMMARY: A 68-year-old female with a history of herpetic keratitis in her right eye after using latanoprost seven years previous presented with redness, mild ocular pain and tearing in the same eye. She had also been prescribed travoprost eye drops for both eyes for uncontrolled glaucoma one month earlier. The cornea in her right eye showed a dendritic epithelial defect with focal epithelial erosions. Travoprost treatment was discontinued, and the herpetic keratitis recovered completely in ten days with acyclovir ointment and oral agent. No further recurrence was observed in the following six months.

A case of ischemic colitis in ascending colon mimicking colon cancer / 대한내과학회지

Ischemic colitis is recognized as the most common vascular disorder of the intestines in the elderly. Correct diagnosis is usually made after the ischemic episide is over and ischemic colitis is frequently misdiagnosed. A case is presented in which an initial diagnosis of appendicitis was made. On operation, a tumor like mass was found in ascending colon. Pathological examination revealed ischemic colitis. We report a case of ischemic colitis in ascending colon mimicking colon cancer.

A case of cervical lymphadenitis by toxoplasmosis / 대한내과학회지

Toxoplasma lymphadenitis is the most common clinical manifestation of toxoplasmosis in an immunocompetent host. The cervical lymph nodes are the most commonly involved, whereas systemic manifestations are rare. The most common clinical presentations are asymptomatic or subclinical, with fever, maculopapular rash, and general malaise. In immunocompromised patients, the presentations may be devastating with disseminated disease resulting in encephalitis, myocarditis, and pneumonia. We are reporting a case of toxoplasma lymphadenitis in an immunocompetent host diagnosed by histologic and serologic evaluation.

A case of small intestinal obstruction due to phytobezoar, revealed after operation in elderly / 대한내과학회지

The major causes of small bowel obstruction are postoperative adhesion, hernia, intussusception and malignancies. However, in cases of uncommon causes of small bowel obstruction, surgeons are in a dilemma because the preoperative diagnosis and making a decision to operate are frequently difficult and delayed. Phytobezoars are unusual cause of small bowel obstruction. They are mostly due to ingestion of stringent immature fruits following gastric surgery. They are usually formed in stomach and do not migrate to the other intestinal tract, but can lead to the serious complication of acute small bowel obstruction. We are reporting a case of acute small bowel obstruction due to phytobezoar about 2x2x3 cm3 size in a 90 year old female.

Results from the Types of Surgical Treatment for Hepatic Cyst

PURPOSE: Symptomatic and/or malignant changes in hepatic cysts require surgical treatment, but there are few comparative studies with respect to the safety and long-term effectiveness. We compared the resection and non-resection of hepatic cysts from the view point of recurrence and complications. METHODS: We reviewed 24 patients who underwent surgery for hepatic cysts between 1990 and 2001 at a single institution. There included 15 resections and 9 non-resections. RESULTS: The median age was 59 years, with a male to female sex ratio of 9: 15. The median size of the dominant cyst was 12 cm, and 22 patients presented with symptoms. We treated 12 simple cysts, 3 polycystic liver diseases (PCLD), 3 cystadenomas, 1 cystadenocarcinoma, 2 hamartomas, 1 hydatid cyst, 1 traumatic cyst and 1 other. The causes requiring an operation were peritoneal irritation in 7, a mass effect such as early satiety or jaundice in 5, possible malignancy in 4, associated hepatobiliary diseases in 3, increase of cyst sizes in 2 and another disease in 2. We performed 5 right lobectomies, 2 left lobectomies, 1 left lateral segmentectomy, 3 non-anatomical resections, 3 cyst excisions, and 1 total hepatectomy for liver transplantation in the resection group. 6 unroofings and 3 fenestrations were performed in the non-resection group, in which a laparoscopic approach was applied in 3 cases. The incidence of postoperative complications were uncommon in both groups, whereas resection decreased the recurrence rate significantly (P=0.003). CONCLUSION: Resection is a safe and effective procedure to lower the recurrence of all cystic lesions in the liver.

Recurrence and Management of Hepatitis C after Liver Transplantation / 대한간학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: End-stage liver disease caused by viral hepatitis C has been increasing recently in Korea. In this study, we investigated the clinical progress, recurrence, and management of hepatitis C patients who underwent liver transplantation. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical progress and management of 16 patients (2.7%) with hepatitis C among 587 liver transplant patients from August 1992 to August 2002. RESULTS: Eleven cases among 16 patients were males. The median age was 56 +/- 6 (42-62) years and the median follow-up period was 6 +/- 13 (1-41) months. Thirteen cases underwent living donor liver transplantation and three had cadaveric whole liver transplantation. Clinical recurrence occurred in nine cases (56.3%) and mean time of recurrence was 5.2 months. Histological recurrence cases were eight (50%). A positive result of HCV RNA PCR was found in 90.9%, and all cases of clinical and histological recurrence in groups in the same periods were PCR-positive. Among eight cases showing histological recurrence, five patients were managed by ribavirin monotherapy, two patients received interferon and ribavirin combination therapy, and one patient was not treated at all. The serum aminotransferase level was normalized in six cases (75%) of them. CONCLUSIONS: We observed that the HCV reinfection rate of a transplanted liver was high in this study, as in other reports in the literature. The prevention of HCV recurrence and the management of post-recurrent cirrhotic change are crucial for graft and patient survival. We think customized protocols are needed for every situation of recurrent hepatitis C.

Clinical Analysis of the New Handling Method of Pancreatic Cut Surface in Pancreatoduodenectomy / 한국간담췌외과학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Pancreatoduodenectomy is a common procedure for benign or malignant periampulary diseases. But the morbidity and mortality of the procedure are usually high. Being related with morbidity and mortality, the most important procedure of pancreatoduodenectomy is how handle the remnant pancreas. We analysed retrospectively the efficiency of the new method for low morbidity and low mortality in handling of the remnant pancreas in the procedures of pancreatoduodenectomy. METHODS: 118 consecutive patients who had undergone a pancreatoduodenectomy and pancreaticojejunostomy performed by one surgeon, between September 1994 and June 1999, were evaluated retrospectively. The cases were analysed by age, sex, pathologic dianosis, operation time, the amount of transfusion during operation, the hospital stay, postoperative complications and state of survival. RESULTS: The average age of 118 patients was 57.6 years, and the male and female ratio was 1.19:1. The classification by patholoic diagnoses were distal common bile duct cancers (29%), the ampulla of Vater cancers (23%), the pancreas head cancers (14%), the duodenal cancers (1.7%) and the others (32%) including benign diseases. The average operation time was 8 hours 3 minutes, the average amount of transfusion was 0.84 unit and the average hospital stay was 26.1 days. There are 12 (10.2%) postoperative complications. The most were 6(5%) cases of delayed gastric emptying, and the others were 2 (1.7%) cases of leakage of pancreaticojejunostomy, 1 (0.8%) case of ARDS, 1 (0.8%) case of gastroduodenal artery bleeding, 1 (0.8%) case of remnant pancreas bleeding, and 1 (0.8%) case of pseudoaneurysmal bleeding of gastroduodenal artery. The 2 cases of leakage of pancreaticojejunostomy developed at the patients of duodenal cancer and ampulla of Vater cancer. The patient who diagnosed by ampulla of Vater cancer died for sepsis due to leakage of the pancreaticojejunostomy (1/118, 0.8%). CONCLUSION: We had good results in pancreatoduodenectomy and pancreaticojejunostomy by a new method that protect the anastomotic leakge from pancreaticojejunostomy site. This method include pancreas transection by elctrocoagulation, not doing sutures of remnant pancreas to prevent ischemic change of pancreatic cut surface and complete drainage of pancreatic juice using stent that was inserted at remnant pancreatic duct and externally ligated by vicryl with keeping the lumen.