AC/A ratio of alternating fixation metbod(AF) using Major Amblyoscope was compared with that of simultaneous fixation method(SF). Under SF, AC/A ratio was greater than that of AF and standard deviation of both method was not significantly different. This indicates tbat AC/A ratio of SF was not accurate, because fusional convergence was invariably participated. Therefore, when we measure the AC/A ratio by tbe gradient method using the Major Amblyoscope, AF was desirable.

AC/A ratio of alternating fixation metbod(AF) using Major Amblyoscope was compared with that of simultaneous fixation method(SF). Under SF, AC/A ratio was greater than that of AF and standard deviation of both method was not significantly different. This indicates tbat AC/A ratio of SF was not accurate, because fusional convergence was invariably participated. Therefore, when we measure the AC/A ratio by tbe gradient method using the Major Amblyoscope, AF was desirable.

Central serous chorioretinopathy is a relatively good prognosis. But certain patients present poor visual outcome. To clarify the courses and factors that affect final visual outcome, 36 patients who did not receive any treatment were studied respectively. The smoke stack type of leakage was more frequently noted in fresh cases. The courses of the disease were similar in spite of difference of type of leakage. The type of leakage did not affect both the initial and final visual acuity. And among the cases with poor visual outcome, there were noted other lesions such as pigment epithelial decompensation, choroidal atrophy and subretinal neovascular membrane.
Atrophy ; Central Serous Chorioretinopathy* ; Choroid ; Humans ; Membranes ; Prognosis ; Smoke ; Visual Acuity

Branch retinal vein occlusion is a disease of relatively good prognosis concerning visual acuity. We have studied 33 patients with temporal branch retinal vein occlusion who have not been treated to investigate the cause of branch retinal vein occlusion and poor visual outcome. The possible causes were as follow; Hypertension was found in 25 patients, hyperlipidemia in two, adiposity in one, Diabetes Mellitus in one and unknown causes in 4 patients. Among those twenty five patients who have hypertension, 6 of them showed eleveted systolic blood pressure, while diastolic blood pressure remains normal, suggesting that high systolic pressure might be a more significant factor than diastolic pressure. Poor visual outcome has been found in eight patients. Four as chronic macular edema. Two has preretinal membrane and remaining two has vitreous opacity and macular hole, respectively. In overall, better prognosis has been observed in inferotemporal branch retinal vein occlusion than insuperotemporal branch retinal vein occlusion. Also, patients who did not have macular hemorrhage had better visual outcome than those who had.
Adiposity ; Blood Pressure ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; Hypertension ; Macular Edema ; Membranes ; Prognosis ; Retinal Perforations ; Retinal Vein Occlusion* ; Retinal Vein* ; Retinaldehyde* ; Visual Acuity

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Optimal international normalized ratio (INR) in elderly atrial fibrillation (AF) patients at higher risk of hemorrhagic events remains unclear. We investigated the efficacy and safety of low-intensity warfarin therapy (target international normalized ratio [INR], 1.6-2.6) in elderly Korean patients with nonvalvular AF (NVAF). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We enrolled 528 NVAF patients (mean age, 67±9 years; 361 men) who were actively taking warfarin. Major events were defined based on the annual rates of ischemic stroke, systemic embolism, and major bleeding events requiring blood transfusion or hospitalization. Time in therapeutic range (TTR) was 45±19% for all patients. RESULTS: Ischemic stroke and systemic embolism occurred in 20 patients with INR between 1.00 and 2.44 (16 ischemic strokes and 4 systemic embolisms) and major bleeding in 37 patients with INR between 1.74 and no coagulation (exceed laboratory detection capability, more than 10 [7 intracranial hemorrhages, 21 gastrointestinal bleedings, and 9 others]). Incidence rates of ischemic or hemorrhagic events at INR<2.00, 2-3, and >3 were 3.0%, 1.4%, and 20.1% per year, respectively. In patients who were ≥70 years old, CHADS₂, CHA₂DS₂VASc, and HAS-BLED scores were significantly higher compared with those in patients who were <70 years old. When we applied the INR between 1.6 and 2.6, as recommended by the Japanese AF Guideline for patients≥70 years old, the TTR increased from 43.8% to 58.6%. In addition, ischemic or hemorrhagic event rates decreased from 1.9% to 1.2% within the optimal INR range. CONCLUSION: Low-intensity warfarin therapy (INR, 1.6-2.6) should be considered in elderly Korean patients with NVAF.
Aged* ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Atrial Fibrillation* ; Blood Transfusion ; Embolism ; Hemorrhage ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Incidence ; International Normalized Ratio* ; Intracranial Hemorrhages ; Stroke ; Warfarin*

A 60-year-old male patient with coronavirus disease-2019 showed new onset ST-segment elevation in V1–V2 leads on electrocardiogram and cardiac enzyme elevation in intensive care unit. He had a history of type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. He was receiving mechanical ventilation and veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation treatment for severe hypoxia. Two-D echocardiogram showed regional wall motion abnormalities. We performed primary percutaneous coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction complicating cardiogenic shock under hemodynamic support. He expired on the 16th day of admission because of cardiogenic shock and multi-organ failure. Active surveillance and intensive treatment strategy are important for saving lives of COVID-19 patients with acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Alpha-interferon achieves HBeAg seroconversion in about 30 to 40% of patients with chronic hepatitis B, and recently discovered lamivudine, an oral nucleoside analogue, inhibits hepatitis B virus replication and reduces hepatic necroinflammation in patients with chronic hepatitis B effectively. In this study, we compared the efficacy and safety of alpha-interferon, lamivudine and their combination regimen. METHODS: Fourty chronic hepatitis B patients, who were diagnosed through HBV DNA, HBeAg positivity, alanine aminotransferase elevation, and liver biopsy were enrolled in this study. Twelve patients were treated with 500 MU of alpha-interferon subcutaneously 3 times a week for 6 months, 9 patients were treated with 150 mg of lamivudine and alpha-interferon, and 19 patients were treated with 150 lamivudine daily for 6 months. RESULTS: After treatment, all of the three groups showed rapid decline in HBV DNA level, but lamivudine group showed more clearance of HBV DNA than interferon group (alpha-interferon: 75%, combination group: 89%, lamivudine group: 100%, respectively) (p=0.04). HBeAg seroconversion rate was 25% for interferon group, 11% for combination group, 26% for lamivudine group, showing no difference between three groups (p=0.705). Mean serum ALT level and rate of ALT normalization during therapy showed no differnece (83% for interferon group, 78% for combination group, 84% for lamivudine group). CONCLUSION: It is suggested that the efficacy of combination interferon/lamivudine therapy appears disappointing and further study should be done for appropriate combination or monotherapy of lamivudine for patients with chronic hepatitis B.
Alanine Transaminase ; Biopsy ; DNA ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; Hepatitis B virus ; Hepatitis B, Chronic* ; Hepatitis, Chronic* ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha* ; Interferons ; Lamivudine* ; Liver