PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of optical coherence tomography (OCT) on diagnosis and follow-up in patients with ethambutol-induced optic neuropathy and to evaluate the prognosis of ethambutol-induced optic neuropathy. METHODS: Seven patients (14 eyes) with a history of ethambutol-induced optic neuropathy underwent best corrected visual acuity measurement (BCVA), visual field exam, fundus exam, and OCT at their first visit and again six months later. RESULTS: There was an overall statistically significant improvement in vision (p=0.001); however, two patients (four eyes) showed no improvement. A decrease in RNFL thickness was observed in all eyes. Additionally, there was a statistically significant decrease of 6.4 +/- 5.37 micrometer (6.8%) in the mean RNFL thickness (p=0.003), with the greatest decrease in the temporal quadrant, which showed a mean decrease of 6.1 +/- 5.31 micrometer (9.2%) (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Optical coherence tomography may be not only a valuable tool in the quantitative and structural analysis of RNFL thickness in patients with ethambutol-induced optic neuropathy, but may also provide objective information on diagnosis and follow-up. Toxicity from ethambutol is reversible with discontinuation of the drug, and vision recovers gradually. However, impaired vision can remain even with cessation of ethambutol due to retinal nerve fiber damage.
Ethambutol ; Eye ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Nerve Fibers ; Optic Nerve Diseases ; Prognosis ; Retinaldehyde ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Vision, Ocular ; Visual Acuity ; Visual Field Tests

Although abundant biology data have been accumulated in public biology databases, such as GenBank and PIR, few easy-interface services are provided for users to access or update them. We have developed a system, named BioStore, that is composed of several programs to aid users to not only access public data but also share their own data easily. The service can be used for maintaining a local database as a repository of raw data files of several public databases and distributing the data files to other users. Currently, BioStore manipulates major bio-databases and will expand to include more databases and more useful interfaces.
Biology ; Databases, Nucleic Acid ; Formycins ; Ribonucleotides ; Information Storage and Retrieval

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the combination of cataract surgery and intravitreal bevacizumab injection in patients with cataract and diabetic macular edema. METHODS: Patients received an intravitreal injection of bevacizumab(1.25 mg) combined with phacoemulsification and implantation of a posterior chamber intraocular lens. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA, LogMAR) and, central macular thickness (CMT) were measured using OCT at baseline and at one week, one, three, and six months after surgery, and adverse events were recorded. RESULTS: The mean baseline LogMAR BCVA was 0.84+/-0.50 and mean CMT was 337.1+/-57.50 micrometer. At one week, one, three, and six months after surgery, the mean BCVAs were 0.52+/-0.40, 0.51+/-0.42, 0.52+/-0.34, and 0.46+/-0.37, and the mean CMTs were 356.4+/-86.44 micrometer, 338.8+/-138.4 micrometer, 349.0+/-122.9 micrometer, and 334.2+/-100.4 micrometer, respectively. No adverse events associated with cataract surgery or intravitreal bevacizumab injection were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The short-term results from the present study suggest the combination of cataract surgery and intravitreal bevacizumab injection are safe and effective for the prevention of macular edema aggravation for one month, but has little effect on prevention of macular edema aggravation three months after surgery for diabetic macular edema patients.
Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized ; Cataract ; Humans ; Intravitreal Injections ; Lenses, Intraocular ; Macular Edema ; Phacoemulsification ; Visual Acuity ; Bevacizumab

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of the surgical treatment through the comparison of MIPPO vs open plate fixation in the treatment of the distal tibia fracture retrospectively. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 30 patients with distal tibia fracture from Jun. 2001 to Jun. 2004 were divided into two groups depending on the surgical method. Minimum follow up was 12 months. Group A consisted of 15 patients treated with MIPPO, Group B was 15 patients treated with open plate fixation. The clinical outcomes were evaluated retrospectively from operation time, rehabilitation, ROM, interval change of postoperative CRP to assess postoperative inflammatory reaction, postoperative complications and clinical result with the use of McLennan and Ungersma criteria. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in clinical result by McLennan and Ungersma criteria in both groups. The postoperative 3 days and 7 days CRP were 4.0mg% (0.9~7.2)/0.5 mg% (0.1~1.5) in group A and 7.97mg% (2.8~14.6)/1.0mg% (0.3~1.6) in group B, shows more minimal tissue injury and early recovery in group A. Operation time in group A was shorter than group B. Normal recovery of ROM was quicker in Group A. In complications, group A showed one superficial infection and one angular deformity and group B showed one superficial infection, one infected nonunion and two ankle stiffness. CONCLUSION: There were no significant differences in clinical result and bony union. MIPPO technique is superior to group B in view of the minimal tissue injury, complications, operation time and postoperative rehabilitation.
Ankle ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Postoperative Complications ; Rehabilitation ; Retrospective Studies ; Tibia*

PURPOSE: To compare retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness obtained with Stratus optical coherence tomography (OCT) and Cirrus OCT. METHODS: Sixty-one normal eyes were evaluated with Stratus and Cirrus OCT on the same day, and the RNFL thicknesses measured by the two OCT machines were compared. The correlation between the two data sets was obtained using Pearson's correlation coefficient. The correlation between RNFL thickness and the difference in data measured by the two OCT machines was then assessed. RESULTS: The average RNFL thickness was significantly higher with Stratus OCT by 6.54+/-4.48 micrometer (p=0.0008). A strong correlation was present between the two RNFL thickness data sets (r=0.883), and the difference between Stratus and Cirrus values tended to increase as RNFL thickness increased. CONCLUSIONS: RNFL thickness measurements in normal eyes scanned with Cirrus OCT correlate well with Stratus OCT measurements. Average RNFL thickness was significantly higher with Stratus OCT, and as the RNFL thickness increased, the difference between Stratus and Cirrus values increased.
Eye ; Nerve Fibers ; Retinaldehyde ; Tomography, Optical Coherence

PURPOSE: Painful plantar callosities under the second, third or fourth metatarsal head have been controverted about its treatment mordalities. We performed the vertical chevron osteotomy in patients with painful callosities on the second and third metatarsal head, and evaluated the outcome clinically. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourteen cases from 10 patients who had plantar keratosis were operated by vertical chevron osteotomy from March 2005 to October 2008. We used K-wire fixation for all cases. We evaluated the clinical results by the patients' satisfaction and disappearance of plantar lesion. RESULTS: The plantar keratosis was completely disappeared in 8 cases and partially in 5 cases. In 2 cases, patients expresses their pain caused by constant metatarsalgia that was suspected to be dorsal incisional pain and joint capsulitis. Transmetatarsalgia was not appeared. CONCLUSION: We consider vertical chevron osteotomy as a good surgical method for treatment of plantar keratosis.
Callosities ; Head ; Humans ; Joints ; Keratosis ; Metatarsal Bones ; Metatarsalgia ; Osteotomy

PURPOSE: Painful plantar callosities under the second, third or fourth metatarsal head have been controverted about its treatment mordalities. We performed the vertical chevron osteotomy in patients with painful callosities on the second and third metatarsal head, and evaluated the outcome clinically. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourteen cases from 10 patients who had plantar keratosis were operated by vertical chevron osteotomy from March 2005 to October 2008. We used K-wire fixation for all cases. We evaluated the clinical results by the patients' satisfaction and disappearance of plantar lesion. RESULTS: The plantar keratosis was completely disappeared in 8 cases and partially in 5 cases. In 2 cases, patients expresses their pain caused by constant metatarsalgia that was suspected to be dorsal incisional pain and joint capsulitis. Transmetatarsalgia was not appeared. CONCLUSION: We consider vertical chevron osteotomy as a good surgical method for treatment of plantar keratosis.
Callosities ; Head ; Humans ; Joints ; Keratosis ; Metatarsal Bones ; Metatarsalgia ; Osteotomy

We have experienced multiple fractures of forearm both bones, which revealed the following fractures: comminuted fracture of olecranon, short oblique fracture of proximal ulnar shaft, transverse fracture of ulna mid-shaft, comminuted fracture of radial head, comminuted fracture of distal radius.
Forearm* ; Fractures, Comminuted ; Head ; Olecranon Process ; Radius ; Ulna

Many bioinformatics sites have managed local bio-databases, including major databases such as GenBank and PIR with update load. We have developed several programs to monitor the update status of these databases and to FTP them automatically. These programs can be used for maintaining local bio-databases as recent versions and providing up-to-date databases through FTP sites. Currently, the program serves major bio-databases and will extend to accommodate many more bio-databases.
Computational Biology ; Databases, Nucleic Acid ; Formycins ; Organothiophosphorus Compounds ; Ribonucleotides

Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty remains a controversial subject, but it has gained popularity recently as a minimally invasive surgery for the treatment of isolated medial compartmental osteoarthritis of the knee. However, surgeons must be aware of the severe complications that require a repeat operation. We report on 3 cases of early major complications after unicompartmental knee arthroplasties.
Arthroplasty* ; Knee* ; Osteoarthritis ; Surgical Procedures, Minimally Invasive