We analyzed the optic nerve head of 100 normal eyes with a confocal scanning laser tomograph(Heidelberg Retina Tomograph: HRT), and got the mean value of each parameter in HRT. We also examined 84 eyes of glaucoma patients. Glaucoma patients were divided into 3 groups according to decibel(dB) loss of mean defect on Humphrey visual field test(Central 30-2 program; Group 1:less than 5dB, group 2:between 5dB and 10dB. group 3:greater than 10dB). The mean value of the parameter in HRT are as follows: disk area, 2.35mm2; cup area, 0.48mm2; C/D ratio, 0.20; rim area, 1.86mm2; cup volume, 0.10mm2; rim volume, 0.55mm2; mean cup depth, 0.19mm; maximal cup depth, 0.59mm; cup shape measure, -0.23; height variation contour, 0.42; mean retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, 0.28mm; retinal nerve fiber layer cross sectional area, 1.52mm2. Comparing with normal subjects, group 1 patients had significant difference in cup area, C/D ratio, rim area, cup volume, rim volume, mean cup depth, maximal cup depth, cup shape measure, height variation contour, and mean retinal nerve fiber layer thickness. All glaucoma patients had significantly different value in all parameters. The comparison among each group of glaucoma patients showed significant difference in cup area, C/D ratio, rim area, cup volume, rim volume, cup shape measure, and mean retinal nerve fiber layer thickness.
Glaucoma* ; Humans ; Nerve Fibers ; Optic Disk* ; Optic Nerve* ; Retina ; Retinaldehyde ; Visual Fields

We analyzed the optic nerve head of 100 normal eyes with a confocal scanning laser tomograph(Heidelberg Retina Tomograph: HRT), and got the mean value of each parameter in HRT. We also examined 84 eyes of glaucoma patients. Glaucoma patients were divided into 3 groups according to decibel(dB) loss of mean defect on Humphrey visual field test(Central 30-2 program; Group 1:less than 5dB, group 2:between 5dB and 10dB. group 3:greater than 10dB). The mean value of the parameter in HRT are as follows: disk area, 2.35mm2; cup area, 0.48mm2; C/D ratio, 0.20; rim area, 1.86mm2; cup volume, 0.10mm2; rim volume, 0.55mm2; mean cup depth, 0.19mm; maximal cup depth, 0.59mm; cup shape measure, -0.23; height variation contour, 0.42; mean retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, 0.28mm; retinal nerve fiber layer cross sectional area, 1.52mm2. Comparing with normal subjects, group 1 patients had significant difference in cup area, C/D ratio, rim area, cup volume, rim volume, mean cup depth, maximal cup depth, cup shape measure, height variation contour, and mean retinal nerve fiber layer thickness. All glaucoma patients had significantly different value in all parameters. The comparison among each group of glaucoma patients showed significant difference in cup area, C/D ratio, rim area, cup volume, rim volume, cup shape measure, and mean retinal nerve fiber layer thickness.
Glaucoma* ; Humans ; Nerve Fibers ; Optic Disk* ; Optic Nerve* ; Retina ; Retinaldehyde ; Visual Fields

In glaucoma, we need an accurate, highly reproducible analysis method for the purpose of early detection of fine glaucomatous optic nerve head change. Nowadays many investigations using confocal laser tomographic scanner (Heidelberg Retinal Tomograph ; HRT) are actively undertaken. We analyzed the optic nerve head of 479 normal eyes(male:308, female:171) with HRT, and got the mean value of each parameter in HRT. We compared the difference between men and women. We also observed the distribution of the value of each parameter in normal adult. In addition, for the parameter of rim/disc area ratio, we got the mean value in 6 divisions of optic nerve head. The range of distribution of disc area was from 1.139 mm2 to 4.512 mm2, cup area ranged from 0.104 mm2 to 2.667 mm2, and rim area was from 0.760 mm2 to 2.925 mm2. The parameter which showed difference between men and women was height variation contour. For rim/disc area ratio, the mean value of each 6 divisions were as follows: nasal inferior, 0.909; nasal, 0.908; nasal superior, 0.860; temporal inferior, 0.763; temporal 0.519; temporal superior 0.738. We can make good use of the normal parameters of HRT in Koreans for diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma.
Adult ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Glaucoma ; Humans ; Male ; Optic Disk* ; Optic Nerve* ; Retinaldehyde

Diffusion blur, caused by liquid crystal windows, reduces contrast sensitivity and luminance, so visual acuity is decreased. Moreover, the windows' optical characteristics are similar to those of the cataractous lens. We measured the effect of liquid crystal window on central and peripheral visual acuity using Snellen and grating visual acuity charts. The subjects were 10 normal adults, therefore 20 eyes. We measured the voltage of the liquid crystal window at which the subjects could read the visual acuity chart through the liquid crystal window. In central vision, visual acuity was overestimated according to the Snellen chart, when compared to the results measured by those grating chart. But in peripheral vision, there were no differences between the two visual acuity charts. These results suggested that grating acuity has some limitations when used as a visual acuity test for cataractous patient. The ability of liquid crystal windows to cause diffusion blur suggests they could be used for foUowup observation in treatment of amblyopia or macular diseases.
Adult* ; Amblyopia ; Cataract ; Contrast Sensitivity ; Diffusion* ; Humans ; Liquid Crystals ; Visual Acuity

Although chronic sinusitis is more often caused by the blockage of sinus ostia or the presence of an oroantral fistula, the disease is generally caused by dental problems. Although chronic maxillary sinusitis of dental origin is a rare entity when compared to sinus diseases of rhinogenic origin, it is extremely important to identify a dental etiology when it occurs. Chronic maxillary sinusitis of dental origin may be caused by the followings; chronic oroantral fistula (OAF), foreign bodies (dental fillings, teeth roots, parts of broken instruments, or packing materials) pushed through the root canal or OAF into the sinus, periapical granulomas or small inflammatory cysts of the molars and bicuspids, or large odontogenic cysts occupying total or subtotal space of the maxillary sinus. We report a case of unilateral subacute maxillary sinusitis associated with foreign body in the maxillary sinus. The foreign body in the maxillary sinus was dental Nu gauze. Dental Nu gauze helps to control bleeding and prevent pooling of wound fluid. Although endoscopic approach to chronic maxillary sinusitis of dental origin is a new, reliable method associated with less morbidity and lower incidence of complications, the operation was conducted mainly according to the Caldwell-Luc's method. Based on the findings of our case, we suggest that patient's dental problem history and dental state must be taken into consideration in cases where maxillary sinusitis is suspected.
Bicuspid ; Dental Materials* ; Dental Pulp Cavity ; Foreign Bodies ; Hemorrhage ; Incidence ; Maxillary Sinus* ; Maxillary Sinusitis* ; Molar ; Odontogenic Cysts ; Oroantral Fistula ; Periapical Granuloma ; Sinusitis ; Tooth ; Wounds and Injuries

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the surgical outcomes of two different surgical methods for varicocelectomy, and to assess the effects of varicocelectomy on semen parameters in subinfertile men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 63 patients with clinically palpable varicocele and abnormal semen parameters who underwent varicocelectomy. Thirty-three patients underwent laparoscopic varicocelectomy, and 30 received microsurgical inguinal varicocelectomy. Semen analyses were performed 5.3 months later, and compared with the pre-operative data. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 32.1+/-1.3 years old. Comparison of the semen parameters between pre and post-varicocelectomy revealed significant improvement in the sperm count (p<0.05). In laparoscopic and microsurgical inguinal varicocelectomy, the sperm counts were increased from 16.2+/-4.3 to 30.6+/-7.5 and from 15.4+/-3.8 to 37.5+/-7.7, respectively. Sperm motility also tended to improve. CONCLUSIONS: Varicocelectomy enhanced semen parameters after both laparoscopic and microsurgical methods. In subfertile men, early varicocelectomy is recommended.
Humans ; Male ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Varicocele

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the surgical outcomes of two different surgical methods for varicocelectomy, and to assess the effects of varicocelectomy on semen parameters in subinfertile men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 63 patients with clinically palpable varicocele and abnormal semen parameters who underwent varicocelectomy. Thirty-three patients underwent laparoscopic varicocelectomy, and 30 received microsurgical inguinal varicocelectomy. Semen analyses were performed 5.3 months later, and compared with the pre-operative data. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 32.1+/-1.3 years old. Comparison of the semen parameters between pre and post-varicocelectomy revealed significant improvement in the sperm count (p<0.05). In laparoscopic and microsurgical inguinal varicocelectomy, the sperm counts were increased from 16.2+/-4.3 to 30.6+/-7.5 and from 15.4+/-3.8 to 37.5+/-7.7, respectively. Sperm motility also tended to improve. CONCLUSIONS: Varicocelectomy enhanced semen parameters after both laparoscopic and microsurgical methods. In subfertile men, early varicocelectomy is recommended.
Humans ; Male ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Varicocele

BACKGROUND: Although idiopathic cardiomyopathies(i-CMP) are very important in all age groups, the epidemiology of i-CMP in children has not been well defined. A retrospective study in Korean children was performed in 1998 to obtain basic data on i-CMP. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The medical records of all patients aged birth to 15 years from the hospitals where pediatric cardiologists worked were reviewed to obtain information on i-CMP. Pediatric cardiologists from a total of 22 hospitals were participated in reviewing the medical records of their patients and filling up the protocol. The data were pooled to the study committee and reviewed. RESULTS: Of the 278 cases with i-CMP, there were dilated cardiomyopathy (d-CMP) in 182 (65.4%): hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (h-CMP) in 74 (26.6%): restrictive cardiomyopathy (r-CMP) and unclassified in 17 (6.1%) and 5 (1.9%) each. The average annual occurrence of new cases as a whole was 2.65 per 100,000 (95% CI: 1.5-3.7): d-CMP, 1.73/100,000/year (95% CI: 0.73-2.73): h-CMP, 0.71/100,000/year (95% CI: 0.35-1.07): r-CMP, 0.16/100,000/year (95% CI: 0.02-0.3). The median age at the time of diagnosis was 11 months in d-CMP: 3.0 years in h-CMP: 6.9 years in r-CMP. The survival rate in d-CMP was 76% at 1 year, 72.5% at 2 year, 70% at 5 year. There was no difference in survival rate according to age (in d-CMP, between children less than 2 years of age and over 2 years of age (74% vs. 79% at 1 year: 67% vs. 76% at 5 year, p=NS): in h-CMP, between children less than 1 year of age and over 1 year of age (84% vs. 96% at 1 year: 63% vs. 81% at 5 year, p=NS)). R-CMP showed the worst survival rate (72% at 1 year, 30.2% at 5 year). CONCLUSION: In spite of the inherent defects of retrospective analysis, this study provides the useful epidemiological data in children with i-CMP. However, more systemic approach is needed to define the nature of the i-CMP in children.
Cardiomyopathies* ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated ; Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic ; Cardiomyopathy, Restrictive ; Child* ; Diagnosis ; Epidemiology ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Parturition ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate