No abstract available.
Allopurinol* ; Animals ; Liver* ; Rats* ; Reperfusion Injury* ; Verapamil*

Purpose: To evaluate changes in central macular thickness (CMT) and subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) after phacovitrectomy over a 2-year period in idiopathic epiretinal membrane (ERM) patients. Methods: The records of 52 idiopathic ERM patients (52 eyes) who underwent phacovitrectomy, without recurrence of the condition over a 2-year follow-up period, were reviewed retrospectively. Changes in CMT and SFCT, as measured by optical coherence tomography, were analyzed and compared with those of a normal control group over a 2-year period. Results: The mean preoperative CMT and SFCT were 425.67 ± 84.67 and 257.56 ± 90.13 μm, respectively. Postoperative CMT was reduced significantly to 372.17 ± 45.26 μm at 1 year and 363.15 ± 47.35 μm at 2 years (p < 0.001). SFCT at 1 and 2 years postoperatively was significantly reduced to 238.85 ± 84.85 and 230.31 ± 87.95 μm, respectively (p < 0.001). In the control group, there was no significant change in CMT; however, the SFCT decreased by 11.09 ± 22.36 μm during the 2-year follow-up (p = 0.007). In contrast, in the patient group, CMT and SFCT decreased by 62.52 ± 71.45 and 27.25 ± 41.97 μm, respectively, showing a significant difference from the control group (p < 0.001 and p = 0.043, respectively). Both before surgery and at 1 year postoperatively, the thinner the CMT, the better the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) (p = 0.010 and p = 0.018, respectively). A better postoperative BCVA at 2 years was associated with a thinner CMT and better BCVA before surgery (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). Conclusions Following a phacovitrectomy procedure, ERM patients showed significant reductions in both the CMT and SFCT at the 2-year follow-up.

Purpose: To analyze the changes in subfoveal Haller layer thickness (SFHT), subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT), and central macular thickness (CMT) after intravitreal aflibercept injection. Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of 36 diabetic macular edema patients who underwent intravitreal aflibercept injection between December 2016 and June 2021. The SFHT, SFCT, and CMT before and 1 month after the injection were compared using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Results: Mean baseline SFHT, SFCT, and CMT were 214.28 ± 80.00 μm, 307.89 ± 96.30 μm, and 525.64 ± 133.24 μm, which were reduced 1 month after the injection to 199.56 ± 75.76 μm, 290.36 ± 94.63 μm, and 409.72 ± 98.45 μm, respectively (p = 0.001, < 0.001, and < 0.001, respectively). There was a significant correlation between baseline SFHT and 1-month post-injection best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), while thicker subfoveal Haller layers before the injection were associated with better BCVA after the injection (ρ = −0.342; p = 0.041). Conclusions In diabetic macular edema patients, SFHT, SFCT, and CMT decreased significantly over 1 month after the first intravitreal aflibercept injection. Greater SFHT before the injection was a good short-term predictor of BCVA after injection.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficiency of a surgical method using original breaks to drain subretinal fluid without using retinotomy and perfluorocarbon liquid for patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). METHODS: A retrospective chart review comparing 41 eyes of 41 patients who received vitrectomy, and used original breaks to drain subretinal fluid without using perfluorocarbon liquid, and 40 eyes of 40 patients who received vitrectomy using perfluorocarbon liquid for simple RRD between February 2014 and December 2017 was conducted. All patients were followed for a minimum of 6 months after surgery. RESULTS: The primary anatomical success percentages were 97.6% and 97.5% for groups that did not and did use perfluorocarbon liquid, respectively. Retinal detachment recurred in one eye from both groups. The final success percentage was 100%. The preoperative mean logMAR best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 0.87 ± 0.80 improved to 0.30 ± 0.30 at postoperative 6 months for the group that did not use perfluorocarbon liquid, while it improved from 0.86 ± 0.71 to 0.42 ± 0.52 for the group that did use perfluorocarbon liquid. Both groups showed significant BCVA improvement (p < 0.01). There was no significant difference in the incidence of complications caused by the use of perfluorocarbon liquid. CONCLUSIONS: Using original breaks to drain subretinal fluid without perfluorocarbon liquid in cases with RRD may be an effective and safe surgical technique for functional and anatomical recovery without serious complications.
Drainage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Methods ; Retinal Detachment ; Retinaldehyde ; Retrospective Studies ; Subretinal Fluid ; Visual Acuity ; Vitrectomy

Purpose: To investigate the pathway and effects of minoxidil on trabecular outflow in cultured human trabecular meshwork (TM) cells. Methods: After exposing primarily cultured TM cells to 0, 10, 50, or 100 µM minoxidil sulfate (MS), trabecular outflow was assessed by measuring TM cell monolayer permeability to carboxyfluorescein and transepithelial electrical resistance. To assess the pathway of permeability changes, caveolin-1, occludin, and claudin-5 levels were measured via western blot. Generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured using the dichlorofluorescein diacetate assay. To assess the involvement of nitric oxide (NO) in minoxidil-induced permeability increase, the degrees of endothelial nitric oxide synthase mRNA expression and NO production were measured with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Griess assays, respectively. Permeability was also measured with co-exposure to 50 µM N-acetyl cysteine. Results: MS significantly increased TM cell monolayer permeability (p < 0.05) and decreased transepithelial electrical resistance (p < 0.05). MS decreased the degree of endothelial nitric oxide synthase mRNA expression but did not affect NO production. MS decreased occludin and claudin-5 levels but did not affect caveolin-1 level. MS at 100 µM increased the generation of ROS, and MS-induced permeability increase was attenuated after co-exposure to 50 µM N-acetyl cysteine. Conclusions Minoxidil may preferentially increase trabecular permeability via a paracellular pathway by downregulation of tight junction proteins. This minoxidil-induced permeability through the TM may be mediated by generation of ROS.

Sinus tachycardia is an accelerated rhythm in which the rate of impulses arising from the sinoatrial node is elevated. Uncontrolled sinus tachycardia may result in a poor prognosis, particularly in patients with cardiovascular disease, because of a hemodynamic disturbance arising from the tachycardia itself. When sinus tachycardia is specifically triggered by anemia, shock, or fever, it is referred to as physiological sinus tachycardia. Physiological sinus tachycardia should resolve with correction of the underlying cause. Inappropriate sinus tachycardia (IST) is unexplained by physiological demand. Palpitation is the most frequent symptom in IST patients. Even though treatment of IST has insufficient efficacy and a relatively high recurrence rate, several treatment strategies such as use of a β-blocker, ivabradine, and radiofrequency catheter ablation can be used for IST patients.
Anemia ; Arrhythmia, Sinus ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Catheter Ablation ; Fever ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Shock ; Sinoatrial Node ; Tachycardia* ; Tachycardia, Sinus

BACKGROUND: Automated external defibrillator(AED) represent a major breakdown to permit more widespread application of the principle of early defibrillation. Many recent efforts to improve emergency medical services(EMS) and increase survival rates are simply efforts to get defibrillation to patients as rapidly as possible. AED is major innovation for the prehospital care of ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrest patients. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the course of initial training to three different groups(nurses, firefighters, and EMT trainee) to use AED. METHOD: We studies the efficacy of education of AED to 33 nurses, 15 EMT trainee, and 16 firefighters. Training lasted 75 mins and included 45 mins an overview of defibrillation, protocols for using the AED, and operation of the AED(Laerdal Heartstart 3000),15 mins demonstraion.4 check list was used to grade the performance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, operation of the AED, and the time required to deliver the first three defibrillations. RESULT: There were no statistically significant differences in performance and time required to deliver an electrical countershock among the groups(p=0.4). To the second test 92fo of all group completed all steps successfully. The step most often foiled was the preparing of the AED for defibrillation. CONCLUSION: In nurses, EMT trainee, and firefighters, it is both feasible and effective to train AED use irrespective of the degree of the trainee.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Defibrillators* ; Education ; Emergencies* ; Firefighters* ; Heart Arrest ; Humans ; Survival Rate ; Ventricular Fibrillation

No abstract available.
Echocardiography, Transesophageal*

BACKGROUND: Current guidelines of advanced trauma life support recommend open thoracotomy when pericardiocentesis reveals bloody pericardial effusion in patients with blunt chest trauma. However, open thoracotomy may not be always required for treating patients alive until arriving emergency department, because rapid accumulation of the blood into pericardial space results in immediate death at scene. We report our experiences of treating traumatic pericardial effusion, and discuss the therapeutic modality in patients with traumatic pericardial effusion. METHODS: The study consisted of 37 patients(20 males and 17 females with the mean age 42) sustaining traumatic pericardial effusion. The patients were divided according to treatment modality into 3 groups(group I : patients receiving conservative management, group II : patients treated with pericardiocentesis, group III : patients required emergency thoracotomy). We compared clinical presentations, hemodynamic profiles and echocardiographic findings among three groups. RESULTS: Cardiac tamponade was present in 14 of 37 patients. Pericardiocentesis was performed in 13 patients, and open thoracotomy in 4 patients. Pericardiocentesis was curative in 9 patients. Thoracotomy was performed in only 3(24%) of 13 patients required pericardiocentesis. 3(75%) of 4 patients having moderate or severe pericardial effusion from penetrating injury were required open thoracotomy. CONCLUSION: In selected patients who have traumatic pericardial effusion by blunt chest injury, pericardiocentesis may be curative, and thoracotomy may not be inquired as long as bleeding via indwelling pericardial catheter is not sustained after pericardiocentesis.
Advanced Trauma Life Support Care ; Cardiac Tamponade ; Catheters ; Echocardiography ; Emergencies ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Female ; Hemodynamics ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Male ; Pericardial Effusion* ; Pericardiocentesis ; Thoracic Injuries ; Thoracotomy ; Thorax

There have been many reports regarding complications associated with cardiopulmonary resuscitation(CPR) and it may be true that there are many unrevealed complications. Although it is used to say that 'any CPR is better than no CPR', inadvertent or inadequate CPR may insult in serious organ injury. This report describes a 64-year-old woman who suffered Mallory-Weiss tear resulting from inadvertent cardiopulmonary resuscitation by a bystander who had never been trained. Possible mechanisms of gastric injuries caused by CPR are suggested, and importance of adequate CPR training are emphasized in this report.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation* ; Female ; Humans ; Mallory-Weiss Syndrome* ; Middle Aged