We studied changes of b-wave and oscillatory potential in ERG test during dark adaptation in white rats for the purpose of using it in experimental disease-group and studying difference in man. For this we performed ERG test on normal 14 S-D (Sprague-Dawley) rats (28 eyes) during dark adaptation. The implicit time of a-wave and b-wave was shortend during dark adaptation. The b-wave and oscillatory potential rapidly increased by 20 and 30 minutes during dark adaptation: in b-wave, these values were 425.89 +/- 141.15 micro v, 473.65 +/- 130.35 micro v respectively, and in oscillatory potential, 110.56 +/- 54.82 micro v, 126.27 +/- 48.24 micro v respectively. After then, these were slightly increased. This results reveal that dark adaptatin in ERG test using rats needs sufficient time from 20 minutes to 30 minutes in similar to man. The oscillatory potential in white rat had three components with 1] light stimulus and the increase of amplitude of oscillatory potential was similar to that of b-wave during dark adaptation. But we should consider that the decreased cone function of white rat was different from that of man, that amplitude of b-wave was continously increased without the break point of early 6 minutes, and that the implicit time of b-wave was continously decreased after 10 minute during dark adaptation, when we use rat.
Animals ; Dark Adaptation* ; Rats*

Before VEP use in clinics, we studied in statistical significance between borh eyes, intrasubject varciabilty intersubject variability (between incdividul) and changes of VEP cmponents between ignorance and attention in losujects (20eyes). There was no statistically significant difference between both eyes in each component of VEP and the variability of intersubjects was larger than that of intrasubjects. The smallest variability of intersubject was N1, P1 latency and that of intrasubject was PI latency in each component of VEP. When subjects were ignored, N1-P1, P1-N2 and steady VEP amplitude decreased significantly but N1, P1 and N2 latency were no significant difference.

Trephination was performed for the purpose of correction of undercorrection after epikeratoplasty. We classified two group-Delayed regression group represented regression toward myopia more than 3D again after spherical equivalant become stable. Undercorrection group represented remained myopia after epikeratoplasty. Thirteen trephinations were performed on eleven eyes. Mean follow-up period was 22.4 weeks. In skiascopy, totally 1.15D myopia was decreased. In delayed regression group myopia was increased 0.5D, while in undercorrection group, myopia was dereased 3.5D, The results of three eyes in eleven eyse were satisfactory. Those 3 cases were from undercorrection group. The results suggest that trephination might be effective method for correction of remained myopia in undercorrection group.
Epikeratophakia* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Myopia ; Retinoscopy ; Trephining*

Adult gnathostomes were discovered in the stomach of the Jeju weasel, Mustela sibilica quelpartis, road-killed in Jeju-do (Province). Their morphological characters were examined to identify the species. Total 50 gnathostome adults were collected from 6 out of 10 weasels examined. In infected weasels, 4-6 worms were grouped and embedded in each granulomatous gastric tumor, except 1 weasel. Male worms were 25.0x1.4 mm in average size, and had a tail with pedunculate papillae, a spicule, and minute tegumental spines. Females were 40.0x2.5 mm in average size, and had a tail without tegumental spines. Pointed and posteriorly curved hooklets were arranged in 8-10 rows on the head bulb. Tegumental spines were distributed from behind the head bulb to the middle portion of the body. The spines were different in size and shape by the distribution level of the body surface. Fertilized eggs were 65.5x38.9 microm in average size, and had a mucoid plug at 1 pole. These gnathostomes from Jeju weasels were identified as Gnathostoma nipponicum Yamaguti, 1941. By the present study, it was confirmed for the first time that G. nipponicum is distributed in Jeju-do, the Republic of Korea, and the Jeju weasel, M. sibilica quelpartis, plays a crucial role for its definitive host.
Animals ; Female ; Gnathostoma/anatomy & histology/classification/*isolation & purification/*pathogenicity ; Male ; Mustelidae/*parasitology ; Republic of Korea ; Stomach/parasitology

No abstract available.
Histiocytoma, Malignant Fibrous* ; Lung*

A survey was performed to find out the intermediate hosts of Gnathostoma nipponicum in Jeju-do (Province), the Republic of Korea. In August 2009 and 2010, a total of 82 tadpoles, 23 black-spotted pond frogs (Rana nigromaculata), 7 tiger keelback snakes (Rhabdophis tigrinus tigrinus), 6 red-tongue viper snakes (Agkistrodon ussuriensis), and 2 cat snakes (Elaphe dione) were collected in Jeju-do and examined by the pepsin-HCl digestion method. Total 5 gnathostome larvae were detected in 3 (50%) of 6 A. ussuriensis, 70 larvae in 3 of 7 (42.9%) R. tigrinus tigrinus, and 2 larvae in 2 of 82 (8.7%) frogs. No gnathostome larvae were detected in tadpoles and cat snakes. The larvae detected were a single species, and 2.17x0.22 mm in average size. They had characteristic head bulbs, muscular esophagus, and 4 cervical sacs. Three rows of hooklets were arranged in the head bulbs, and the number of hooklets in each row was 29, 33, and 36 posteriorly. All these characters were consistent with the advanced third-stage larvae of G. nipponicum. It has been first confirmed in Jeju-do that R. nigromaculata, A. ussuriensis, and R. tigrinus tigrinus play a role for intermediate and/or paratenic hosts for G. nipponicum.
Animals ; Gnathostoma/*isolation & purification/ultrastructure ; Gnathostomiasis/parasitology/*veterinary ; Host Specificity ; Humans ; Larva ; Ranidae/*parasitology ; Republic of Korea ; Snakes/*parasitology

BACKGROUND: The main cause of atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease is known to be atherosclerotic processing. In patients with atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease, other atherosclerotic diseases are frequently combined, especially coronary artery disease. There were some suggestions that the risk factors of the atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease be different from the those of the coronary artery disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the independent risk factors for the atheroslerotic peripheral vascular disease(PVD) without influence of coronary artery disease(CAD). METHODS: The study population was male patients with atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease(n=66) documented by peripheral angiogram form February 1991 to Octobor 1993, and during their abmission all patients with suspected atherosclerotic peripheral vascular diaease underwent both peripheral angiogram and coronary angiogram. Careful history taking and physical examination and lipid battery sampling after at least 14 hours of fasting were also performed. RESULTS: 60% of patients with peripheral vascular disease also had coronary artery disease. There was no significant difference in total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholestrerol, triglyceride between patients with peripheral vascular disease and age-matched control. The prevalence of hypertension was higher in patients with peripheral vascular disease but with no statistical significance. Smoking(p<0.0001) and diabetes(p<0.05) were strongly associated with peripheral vascular disease. When patients without coronary artery disease were compared to control from the viewpoint of risk factors again, the results were the same, that is, smoking and diabetes were also associated with periperal vascular diseaes. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of associated coronary artery disease was relatively high in patients with atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease. And smoking and diabetes seem to be important risk factors of atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease.
Cholesterol, HDL ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vessels ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Fasting ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Male ; Peripheral Vascular Diseases ; Physical Examination ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors* ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Triglycerides

The relationship between anti-Plasmodium vivax circumsporozoite protein (CSP) antibody levels and the prevalence of malaria in epidemic areas of South Korea was evaluated. Blood samples were collected from inhabitants of Gimpo-si (city), Paju-si, and Yeoncheon-gun (county) in Gyeonggi-do (province), as well as Cheorwon-gun in Gangwon-do from November to December 2004. Microscopic examinations were used to identify malaria parasites. ELISA was used to quantitate anti-circumsporozoite protein (CSP) antibodies against P. vivax. A total of 1,774 blood samples were collected. The overall CSP-ELISA-positive rate was 7.7% (n=139). The annual parasite incidences (APIs) in these areas gradually decreased from 2004 to 2005 (1.09 and 0.80, respectively). The positive rate in Gimpo (10.4%, 44/425) was the highest identified by CSP-ELISA. The highest API was found in Yeoncheon, followed by Cheorwon, Paju, and Gimpo in both years. The positive rates of CSP-ELISA were closely related to the APIs in the study areas. These results suggest that seroepidemiological studies based on CSP may be helpful in estimating the malaria prevalence in certain areas. In addition, this assay can be used to establish and evaluate malaria control and eradication programs in affected areas.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Antibodies, Protozoan/*blood ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Malaria, Vivax/*blood/*epidemiology/parasitology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Plasmodium vivax/*immunology/physiology ; Prevalence ; Protozoan Proteins/immunology ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to assess long-term clinical outcome and restenosis rate after percutaneous mitral commissurotomy(PMC) and to identify the predictable factors influencing the clinical outcome and restenosis. METHOD: Patients underwent PMC at Seoul National University Hospital between August, 1988 and January, 1999(total 394 cases, mean follow-up duration: 75+/-32months) were enrolled. Successful PMC is defined as post-PMC mitral valve area(MVA) > or =1.5cm2 or > or =25% increase and MR < or =moderate. Restenosis is defined as MVA <1.5cm2 with > 50% reduction of initial gain. Major clinical events include repeated PMC, mitral valve replacement, stroke, and death. RESULTS: After PMC mitral valve area increased from 1.01+/-0.33cm2 to 2.23+/-0.89cm2. The 9-year event-free survival rate is 78%. The independent predictors of event-free survival rate are echocardiographic score(p=.0068) and post-PMC pulmonary artery systolic pressure(p=.0255). The 9-year restenosis-free survival rate is 44%. The independent predictors of restenosis-free survival are age(p=.0000), echocardiographic score(p=.0052) and post-PMC left atrial volume(p=.0445). For 10-year follow-up, average MVA loss is 0.24cm2: 0.17cm2 in patent group and 0.34cm2 in restenosis group. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous mitral commissurotomy as a treatment for patients with mitral stenosis is safe and achieves good long-term results.
Disease-Free Survival ; Echocardiography ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Mitral Valve ; Mitral Valve Stenosis ; Pulmonary Artery ; Seoul ; Stroke ; Survival Rate

BACKGROUND: Endothelin, a very potent vasoconstricting substance released from the endothelium, has been known to be elevated in various cardiovascular disorders, however, the sites of endothelin porduction as well as the influence of acute hemodynamic changes upon plasma endothelin-1 concentration remains elucidated. METHODS: In order to evaluate the probable site of endothelin production and relationship between levels of plasma endothelin and hemodynamic variables, six patients with moderate to severe mitral stenosis underwent percutaneous mitral commissurotomy(PMC) were included. Measurement of mean pulmonary arterial pressure, cardiac output as well as plasma endothelin-1 concentration of renal vein, main pulmonary artery, and ascending aorta were performed before and 20 minutes after PMC. RESULTS: After PMC, cardiac output increased significantly, whereas mean pulmonary artery pressure and transvalvular pressure gradient were reduced significantly(both p<0.05). Before PMC, plasma endothelin-1 concentration tended to be higher in renal vein(6.12+/-3.7pg/ml) and pulmonary artery(5.07+/-1.7) than that in aorta(3.05+/-1.2pg/ml). After hemodynamic improvement with PMC, plasma endothelin-1 concentration decreased at all the site, however the change at pulmonary artery was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that endothelin-1 may be produced mainly somewhere in systemic venous circulation such as kidney rather than pulmonary circulation, and plasma endothelin-1 concentration tends to decrease in response to the acute hemodydnamic im provement.
Aorta ; Arterial Pressure ; Cardiac Output ; Endothelin-1* ; Endothelins ; Endothelium ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Kidney ; Mitral Valve Stenosis ; Plasma* ; Pulmonary Artery ; Pulmonary Circulation ; Renal Veins