PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the stability and sterility of bevacizumab (Avastin, Genentech, Inc., San Francisco, CA, USA) after withdrawal into multiple doses from single-use vials. METHODS: Bevacizumab was repeatedly and aseptically drawn from new vials into 1 cc plastic syringes and refrigerated in the dark at 4degrees C for 0, 3, 6, 12, 28, 38, 46, 52, or 63 weeks or at -10degrees C for 0, 3, 6, 12, 38, 46, or 52 weeks. The stability of bevacizumab was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and compared with that of controls (0 weeks). The contents of the fractionated bevacizumab syringes were analyzed for microbial growth. RESULTS: When we assessed the relative stability of the bevacizumab stored at 4degrees C, there was no concentration change for up to 12 weeks. However, concentration decreased by less than 2% between 28 weeks and 46 weeks. Samples stored at -10degrees C were stable up to 52 weeks. All of the fractionated syringes maintained >90% stability compared with controls for up to one year in both the refrigerated group and the frozen group. The microbial study showed no significant positive results for up to 12 weeks. After intravitreal bevacizumab injection, the statuses of all patients improved, with no signs of intraocular infection. We observed no cases of intraocular infection or complications among the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Fractionating and storing smaller amounts from single-use vials is a safe method for intravitreal bevacizumab injection.
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Freezing* ; Humans ; Infertility* ; Intravitreal Injections ; Plastics ; Refrigeration* ; Syringes* ; Bevacizumab

PURPOSE: To identify the correlation between final visual outcome after at least 6 months of follow-up and the extent of macular ischemia on the first visit. METHODS: We performed a retrospective clinical analysis of macular ischemia using clinical records, fundus examinations, and fluorescein angiographies in 83 patients (86 eyes) diagnosed with retinal vein occlusion from January 1998 to July 2012 and followed up for over 6 months. We evaluated the extent and the location of macular ischemia, macular edema, initial and final visual acuities and systemic disease based on fluorescein angiography and optical coherence tomography performed within 2 weeks of the first visit. The patients were divided into the following 4 groups based on the extent and location of macular ischemia and edema: superotemporal, superonasal, inferotemporal, and inferonasal. RESULTS: Retinal vein occlusions (RVOs) consisted of 24 central RVOs (CRVOs) and 62 branch RVOs (BRVOs). Mean initial acuity (log MAR) was 0.35 +/- 0.31 (36 eyes) in the no macular ischemia group, 0.40 +/- 0.21 (11 eyes) in the 1-quadrant macular ischemia group, 0.71 +/- 0.32 (26 eyes) in the 2-quadrant macular ischemia group and 0.73 +/- 0.36 (13 eyes) in the over 3 quadrants macular ischemia group. Mean final acuity (log MAR) was 0.23 +/- 0.23 in the no macular ischemia group, 0.40 +/- 0.30 in the 1-quadrant macular ischemia group, 0.51 +/- 0.32 in the 2-quadrant macular ischemic group and 0.73 +/- 0.31 in the over 3 quadrants macular ischemia group. CONCLUSIONS: The initial and final visual outcomes were worse when more quadrants were affected by macular ischemia. The extent of macular ischemia was correlated with initial visual acuity and final visual outcome but not with macular edema.
Angiography ; Edema ; Fluorescein ; Fluorescein Angiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Ischemia* ; Macular Edema ; Retinal Vein Occlusion* ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: We investigated structural changes in the retina by using optical coherence tomography (OCT) in a feline model of retinal degeneration using iodoacetic acid (IAA).METHODS: We examined 22 eyes of 11 felines over 2 years of age. The felines had fasted for 12 hours and were intravenously injected with IAA 20 mg/kg of body weight. OCT (Spectralis OCT) was performed at the point where the ends of the retinal vessels collected in the lateral direction from the optic nerve head and area centralis. Similarly, OCT was performed four times at 1-week intervals following injections, at which point the felines were sacrificed and histologic examinations were performed. Using OCT, the thickness of each layer of the retina was measured.RESULTS: The average body weight of the three male and eight female felines investigated in this study was 1.61 ± 0.19 kg. The mean total retinal thickness of the felines before injection was 221.32 ± 9.82 µm, with a significant decrease in the retinal thickness at 2, 3, and 4 weeks following injections of 186.41 ± 35.42, 174.56 ± 31.94, and 175.35 ± 33.84 µm, respectively (p = 0.028, 0.027, and 0.027, respectively). The thickness of the outer nuclear layer was 57.49 ± 8.03 µm before injection and 29.26 ± 17.87, 25.62 ± 13.88, and 31.60 ± 18.38 µm at 2, 3, and 4 weeks, respectively, after injection (p = 0.028, 0.028, 0.046, respectively).CONCLUSIONS: In a feline model of retinal degeneration using IAA, the total retinal thickness and the thickness of the outer nuclear layer were shown to decrease significantly on OCT.
Angiography ; Body Weight ; Female ; Humans ; Iodoacetic Acid ; Male ; Optic Disk ; Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate ; Retina ; Retinal Degeneration ; Retinal Vessels ; Retinaldehyde ; Tomography, Optical Coherence

Purpose: We report surgical repair of an abnormally attached lateral rectus muscle in a sensory exotropia patient.Case summary: A 21-year-old man visited our hospital with lateral deviation in the right eye. The patient had a history of trauma (11 years previously) to the right eye, which showed 30 prism diopters of exotropia. In accordance with a diagnosis of sensory exotropia, 7.5-mm lateral rectus muscle recession and 6-mm medial rectus muscle resection were planned in the right eye. During surgery, the lateral rectus muscle was inserted into the sclera at a distance of 12 mm from the corneal limbus. To compensate for this, the lateral rectus muscle was recessed with an adjustable suture. After surgery, the patient showed 8-10 prism diopters of exotropia. A 2-mm recession was achieved by suturing. After surgery, the patient did not show exotropia, while after 3 months of follow-up the patient showed about 4 prism diopters of esotropia. Conclusions Despite abnormal attachment of an extraocular muscle, it is possible to obtain a good cosmetic result if the surgery is performed according to the preoperative plan. Suturing can be helpful if the surgical field is difficult to secure during the surgery.

PURPOSE: It is controversial whether indoor pet exposure is either a risk or protective factor developing sensitization to pet allergens or asthma. Therefore, we investigated whether indoor pet ownership entails a risk for the development of asthma and sensitization in childhood. METHODS: The Panel Study of Korean Children (PSKC) is a general-population-based birth cohort study that recruited 2,078 mother-baby dyads in Korea between April and July of 2008. Among 1,577 children who were followed up in 2015, 559 underwent skin prick tests, spirometry and bronchial provocation tests using Provocholine. Having a cat or a dog and the prevalence of asthma were evaluated by using self-reported questionnaires and physicians’ medical records. RESULTS: During infancy, the rate of dog ownership was 4.5% (71 of 1,574) and that of cat ownership was 0.5% (8 of 1,574). Of the subjects, 7.9% (n=109) currently had at least 1 dog and 2.5% (n=34) had at least 1 cat. Pet ownership during infancy was associated with sensitization to cats or dogs (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 4.24; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.29–13.98), wheezing within 12 months (aOR, 5.56; 95% CI, 1.65–18.75) and current asthma (wheezing episode in the last 12 months+diagnosed asthma by physicians) (aOR, 6.36; 95% CI, 1.54–26.28). In contrast, pet ownership during the last 12 months was not associated with sensitization to cats or dogs or current asthma. CONCLUSION: Indoor pet exposure during infancy can be critical for developing sensitization to cats or dogs and asthma in childhood. Avoidance of pet exposure in early life may reduce sensitization to cats or dogs and development of asthma.
Allergens ; Animals ; Asthma ; Bronchial Provocation Tests ; Cats ; Child ; Cohort Studies ; Dogs ; Humans ; Infant ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Methacholine Chloride ; Odds Ratio ; Ownership ; Parturition ; Pets ; Prevalence ; Protective Factors ; Respiratory Sounds ; Risk Factors ; Skin ; Spirometry