PURPOSE: To compare the improvement rates of distance visual acuity (VA) with that of near VA in amblyopic eyes of children with unilateral amblyopia. METHODS: The medical records of children with unilateral amblyopia successfully treated with patching were reviewed. During subsequent visits for amblyopia treatment, subjects had best-corrected VA measured at 4 meters and 1/3 meters every 2 months. Duration of treatment to achieve equal VA between both eyes and improvement rates were compared between distance and near, and analyzed according to the cause and severity of amblyopia, or age. RESULTS: A total of 76 children with amblyopia due to anisometropia and/or strabismus started amblyopia treatment at a mean age of 5.8 years and were followed up during a mean period of 16.4 months. Baseline VA was better at near than at distance in 52 children (68.4%), and better at distance than at near in 4 (5.3%). The mean duration of treatment was 5.4 months at distance and 3.9 months at near. However, the improvement rate considering the amount of improvement of VA was faster at distance; 0.11 log MAR/month at distance, and 0.08 log MAR/month at near (p = 0.016). The improvement rate differences between distance and near did not differ based on the cause of amblyopia, or age, whereas in mild amblyopia the improvement rate of distance VA was significantly faster than near. Additionally, children with better initial near VA tended to have a faster improvement rate of distance VA. CONCLUSIONS: Although baseline VA was better at near than at distance in more patients, the improvement rate was faster at distance than at near. Children with better initial near VA appeared to have a faster improvement rate of distance VA.
Amblyopia* ; Anisometropia ; Child* ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Strabismus ; Visual Acuity*

PURPOSE: To report a case of macular toxicity due to gentamicin after transconjunctival 23-gauge sutureless vitrectomy with prophylactic subconjunctival gentamicin injection. CASE SUMMARY: A 60-year-old female presented to our department with decreased vision in her left eye that had persisted for several months. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.5 in the left eye and she was diagnosed with epiretinal membrane and lamellar macular hole. The patient underwent transconjunctival 23-gauge sutureless vitrectomy with epiretinal membrane removal and intravitreal gas injection. Prophylactic subconjunctival gentamicin injection was given at the end of surgery. After 1 week, fundus examination of the left eye showed multiple retinal hemorrhages around inferior temporal vascular arcade. After six weeks, the patient underwent extracapsular cataract extraction with posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation in the left eye. After cataract surgery, BCVA of the left eye was 0.16 and atrophic change with retinal hemorrhage of the macula was observed on fundus examination of the left eye. Fluorescein angiography revealed multiple occlusion of temporal retinal arteries and capillaries of the macula. CONCLUSIONS: When a prophylactic subconjunctival drug is injected at the end of transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy, the drug can inflow into the intraocular space through sutureless sclerotomy sites and induce retinal toxicity.
Capillaries ; Cataract ; Cataract Extraction ; Epiretinal Membrane ; Female ; Fluorescein Angiography ; Gentamicins* ; Humans ; Lens Implantation, Intraocular ; Middle Aged ; Retinal Artery ; Retinal Hemorrhage ; Retinal Perforations ; Retinaldehyde ; Visual Acuity ; Vitrectomy*

We report a case of a 61-year-old man who presented with a cough and abdominal discomfort. CT scan of the chest showed two lesions across both lungs, and an abdominal CT scan revealed multiple hypodense lesions in the spleen with cystic lesions on the splenic hilum. Upper gastrointestinal tract endoscopy found creamy yellowish discharge through a fistula between the stomach and splenic hilum. Under fluoroscopic guidance, forceps was inserted into the fistula tract, and forcep biopsy was done. The pathology was consistent with tuberculosis, and a nine-month anti-tuberculosis medication regimen was started. Imaging performed three months after finishing medication indicated improvement of splenic lesions, and the gastro-splenic tract was sealed off. This case is a very rare clinical example of secondary splenic tuberculosis with a gastro-splenic fistula formation in an immunocompetent patient.
Antitubercular Agents/therapeutic use ; Fluoroscopy ; Gastric Fistula/pathology ; Gastroscopy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spleen/diagnostic imaging/pathology ; Splenic Diseases/*diagnosis/diagnostic imaging/pathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tuberculosis, Splenic/*diagnosis/drug therapy/microbiology ; Ultrasonography

Far-infrared rays (FIR) are known to have various effects on atoms and molecular structures within cells owing to their radiation and vibration frequencies. The present study examined the effects of FIR on gene expression related to glucose transport through microarray analysis in rat skeletal muscle cells, as well as on mitochondrial biogenesis, at high and low glucose conditions. FIR were emitted from a bio-active material coated fabric (BMCF). L6 cells were treated with 30% BMCF for 24 h in medium containing 25 or 5.5 mM glucose, and changes in the expression of glucose transporter genes were determined. The expression of GLUT3 (Slc2a3) increased 2.0-fold (p < 0.05) under 5.5 mM glucose and 30% BMCF. In addition, mitochondrial oxygen consumption and membrane potential (ΔΨm) increased 1.5- and 3.4-fold (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001), respectively, but no significant change in expression of Pgc-1a, a regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis, was observed in 24 h. To analyze the relationship between GLUT3 expression and mitochondrial biogenesis under FIR, GLUT3 was down-modulated by siRNA for 72 h. As a result, the ΔΨm of the GLUT3 siRNA-treated cells increased 3.0-fold (p < 0.001), whereas that of the control group increased 4.6-fold (p < 0.001). Moreover, Pgc-1a expression increased upon 30% BMCF treatment for 72 h; an effect that was more pronounced in the presence of GLUT3. These results suggest that FIR may hold therapeutic potential for improving glucose metabolism and mitochondrial function in metabolic diseases associated with insufficient glucose supply, such as type 2 diabetes.

Far-infrared rays (FIR) are known to have various effects on atoms and molecular structures within cells owing to their radiation and vibration frequencies. The present study examined the effects of FIR on gene expression related to glucose transport through microarray analysis in rat skeletal muscle cells, as well as on mitochondrial biogenesis, at high and low glucose conditions. FIR were emitted from a bio-active material coated fabric (BMCF). L6 cells were treated with 30% BMCF for 24 h in medium containing 25 or 5.5 mM glucose, and changes in the expression of glucose transporter genes were determined. The expression of GLUT3 (Slc2a3) increased 2.0-fold (p < 0.05) under 5.5 mM glucose and 30% BMCF. In addition, mitochondrial oxygen consumption and membrane potential (ΔΨm) increased 1.5- and 3.4-fold (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001), respectively, but no significant change in expression of Pgc-1a, a regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis, was observed in 24 h. To analyze the relationship between GLUT3 expression and mitochondrial biogenesis under FIR, GLUT3 was down-modulated by siRNA for 72 h. As a result, the ΔΨm of the GLUT3 siRNA-treated cells increased 3.0-fold (p < 0.001), whereas that of the control group increased 4.6-fold (p < 0.001). Moreover, Pgc-1a expression increased upon 30% BMCF treatment for 72 h; an effect that was more pronounced in the presence of GLUT3. These results suggest that FIR may hold therapeutic potential for improving glucose metabolism and mitochondrial function in metabolic diseases associated with insufficient glucose supply, such as type 2 diabetes.