The exact etiology and pathogenesis of myopia are not known yet, although various studies of the development of myopia in experimental animals have been made. Authors attemtped whether rabbits developed axial myopia by fusing their lids at birth in one eye, or not. The monocular vision was deprived by suture of upper and lower lids in 12 rabbits which were 5 day-old. The other eye was unsutured as the control. Ten months later, we assessed refractive error, corneal curvature, axial length, and intraocular pressure and enucleation was done. We observed the histologic change of sclera with light microscope. The eyes with lid suture were more myopic(-3.35 +/- 0.99D) than the controlled eyes(-0.21 +/- 0.46D) (p<0.01). The corneal curvature and intraocular pressure were not significantly different between two groups. The axial lengths of the sutured eves were increased(21.27 +/- 1.70mm) in comparison with those of the controlled(17.39 +/- 1.83mm)(p<0.01). We conclude the difference in axial length was caused by the elongation of the posterior segment of eyeball. since lens thickness, depth of anterior chamber, and corneal curvature were identical in both groups. These were correlated with histologic change that showed thinner posterior parts of sclera of the sutured eyes than those of the controlled eyes. The results of this study demonstrate that monocular lid fusion in rabbits produced an expenmental axial myopia.
Animals ; Anterior Chamber ; Eyelids* ; Intraocular Pressure ; Myopia* ; Parturition ; Rabbits* ; Refractive Errors ; Sclera ; Sutures* ; Vision, Monocular

No abstract available.
Esophageal and Gastric Varices* ; Hemorrhage*

We evaluated the role of endoseopic balloon dilatation for esophageal strictures caused by postoperative anastomosis in 5 cases, sclerotherapy in 4 cases, caustic injury in 6 cases, and malignancy in 16 cases. The success rate of balloon dilatation was 100% in postoperative anastomotic and post-scle- rotherapy strictures, 16.7% in caustic stricture, and 62.5% in malignant stricture. The addition of bougienage increased the final success rate of dilatation therapy from 16.7 to 66.7% in caustic stricture, and 62.5 to 93.8% in malignant stricture. The overall one-year recurrence rate in benign stricture was 34.5%. All of the recurrent strictures were successfully retreated by balloon dilatation. In conclusion, endoscopic balloon dilatation is a safe, effective, and easy method for the management of benign esophageal strictures except longstanding caustic stricture, and can be used as an auxiliary therapy prior to more definitive treatments such as esophageal intubation in malignant stricture.
Constriction, Pathologic* ; Dilatation ; Esophagus ; Intubation ; Recurrence ; Sclerotherapy

BACKGROUND: Obesity is linked to a wide range of respiratory diseases. Several studies have shown that body weight at baseline and weight change were related to pulmonary function. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between change in body mass index (BMI) and pulmonary function in adults. METHODS: Of those aged 40-64 years at baseline who had initially visited the health promotion center at one university-level hospital from January 2000 to December 2002, 499 (men: 309, women: 190) patients revisited the center over a 5-year period up to December 2009 and were enrolled in the study. Subjects were classified into 4 groups- group 1: normal-normal, group 2: normal-obese, group 3: obese-normal, and group 4: obese-obese, based on their BMI at baseline and follow-up. Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) and FEV1/FVC were measured by spirometry. RESULTS: Change in FEV1/FVC was significantly associated with change in BMI for men in all 4 groups. Change in FEV1/FVC was significantly different between group 1 and 3 and between group 1 and 4. Changes in FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC were significantly associated with change in BMI for women in all 4 groups. Change in FEV1 was significantly different between group 3 and 4, and change in FVC was significantly different between group 1 and 3. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that a change in BMI is negatively associated with change in pulmonary function. Obesity itself can be a risk factor for pulmonary dysfunction, and a decrease in BMI through weight reduction could reduce pulmonary dysfunction or improve pulmonary function in adults.
Adult ; Aged ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Male ; Obesity ; Risk Factors ; Vital Capacity ; Weight Loss

No abstract available.
DNA, Recombinant* ; Hepatitis B Vaccines* ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Yeasts*

Gastritis cystica superficialis (GCS) is a rare lesion which is characterized by glandular hyperplasia with regeneration and degeneration in the mucosa and muscularis mucosa. Recently, GCS is revealed as precancerous lesion, but most report has been associated with those found at the site of a gastroenterostomy. So, we report two cases with GCS who had not previous gastric surgery. A 45-year-old woman visited for epigastric discomfort and another 4Q-year-old woman for epigastric pain. They had not undergone any gastric surgery. The gastroscopy discovered one polyp on anterior wall of greater curvature, upper body and another polyp in the center of the fold of greater curvature, lower body. We removed it by snare polypectomy and the histologic finding showed the character of GCS.
Female ; Gastritis* ; Gastroenterostomy ; Gastroscopy ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Middle Aged ; Mucous Membrane ; Polyps ; Regeneration ; SNARE Proteins

We have experienced a 14 year old female patient who had suffered from headache, dizziness, exertional dyspnea and chest pain during 6 months. She was diagnosed as primary pulmonary hypertension by ultrasonogram and cardiac cathererization. On the cardiac catheterization, there was elevated pulmonary artery pressure and normal pulmonary wedge pressure. We report this case with related literature review.
Adolescent ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Chest Pain ; Dizziness ; Dyspnea ; Female ; Headache ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary* ; Pulmonary Artery ; Pulmonary Wedge Pressure ; Ultrasonography

No abstract available.
Hypothyroidism* ; Thyroid Gland*

No abstract available.
Hypothyroidism* ; Thyroid Gland*

No abstract available.
Cisterna Magna*