Retinal pigment epithelial cells(RPE) from a monolayer on the outer portion of sensory retina and have important physiologic functions that include solute transport, phagocytiosis and digestion of membrances shed from photoreceptor outer segments, and drug detoxication. Recently, transplantation of normal RPE has been proposed as a potential therapeutic modality in the surgical management of subretinal neovascularization in age related macular degeneration(ARMD). The viability of RPE at the time of transplantation is important for a good result after transplantation. This viability can be influenced by the period and environmental conditions of storage after harvest.In this study, the influence of these two factors on the viability was evaluated under controlling other remaining factors in vitro. And limitation of masimal time and optimal environmental conditions of storage were investigated.From November 1997 to February 1998, RPE cell sheets from six donor eyeballs for corneal transplantation in the department of ophthalmology of Severance Hospital were harvested and stored in -70degrees C, 4degrees C, or room temperature condotion. The viability of RPE cells at 0, 24 and 48 hours after havest was assessed and compared statistically.The viability was highest at 4degrees C condition. During storage, the viability was about 95% at 24 hours for and decreased abruptly to below 90% at 48 hours. Therefore, RPE cells for transplantation are to be stored at 4degrees C condition and transplantation should be performed within 24 hours after harvest.
Corneal Transplantation ; Digestion ; Epithelial Cells* ; Humans* ; Macular Degeneration ; Ophthalmology ; Retina ; Retinaldehyde* ; Tissue Donors*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of 3 dimensional-volume MR imaging technique for demonstrating the facial nerves and to describe MR findings in facial palsy patients and evaluate the significance of facial nerve enhancement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the MR images of facial nerves obtained with 3 Dimensional-volume imaging technique before and after intravenous administration of Gadopentetate dimeglumine in 13 cases who had facial paralysis and 33 cases who had no facial palsy. And we analyzed the detectabilty of anatomical segments of intratemporal facial nerves and facial nerve enhancement. RESULTS: When the 3 Dimensional-volume MR images of 46 nerves were analyzed subjectively, the nerve courses of 43(93%) of 46 nerves were effectively demonstrated on 3 Dimensional-volume MR images. Internal acoustic canal portions and geniculate ganglion of facial nerve were well visualized on axial images and tympanic and mastold segments were well depicted on oblique sagittal images. 10 of 13 patients(77%) were visibly enhanced along at least one segment of the facial nerve with swelling or thickening, and nerves of 8 of normal 33 cases(24%) were enhanced without thickening or swelling. CONCLUSION: MR findings of facial nerve paralysis is asymmetrical thickening of facial nerve with contrast enhancement. The 3 Dimensional-volume MR imaging technique should be a useful study for the evaluation of intratemporal facial nerve disease.
Acoustics ; Administration, Intravenous ; Facial Nerve Diseases ; Facial Nerve* ; Facial Paralysis ; Gadolinium DTPA ; Geniculate Ganglion ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Paralysis

PURPOSE: We assessed the usefulness of magnetic resonance angiography(MRA) and its techniques for differential diagnosis of hemorrhagic causes in patients with non-traumatic intracranial hemorrhagic disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 74 patients with non-traumatic intracranial hemorrhagic diseases, which were confirmed by radiological examinations(36 cases) and operations(38 cases). We compared the usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) alone from MRI with MRA in evaluation of hemorrhagic causes. MRA was obtained by Time-of-Flight(TOF) and Phase Contrast(PC) technique. We investigated the usefulness of TOF and PC technique. RESULTS: MRI with MRA for detection of hemorrhagic causes(89%, 66 cases) was better than MRI only (64%, 47 cases). PC was better than TOF for evaluation of arteriovenous malformation and aneurysm due to subtraction of background noise(hemorrhage). CONCLUSION: MRI with MRA in more useful than MRI alone for evaluation of non-traumatic intracranial hemorrhagic causes.
Aneurysm ; Angiography* ; Arteriovenous Malformations ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: This study was performed to compare the: i) 1-year survival rate of patients with hip fractures, ii) factors affecting mortality in patients with hip fractures, and iii) results of functional recovery at commissioned hospitals (CH) and veterans hospitals (VH) to characterize the quality of care provided in the Korean commissioned hospital system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population consisted of 183 veteran patients (84 and 99 treated at a single VH and 39 CH, respectively) who underwent hip fracture surgery between January 2010 and February 2015. This study compared baseline characteristics (i.e., age, comorbidities, fracture types and surgical treatment approaches) of the two groups vs. clinical outcomes, and evaluated the waiting time, length of hospital stay, total medical expenses, mortality rate within one year, and functional recovery at last follow up. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age, fracture types, comorbidities, ambulatory status before fracture, waiting time, or length of hospital stay between the two groups, however, the total medical cost was higher in the CH group (P=0.009). There was no significant difference in mortality within one year after hip fracture (P=0.224) or functional recovery at last follow-up (P=0.463) between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The results of this study confirm that the Korean commissioned hospitals system is operating in accordance with its purpose. However, further studies are needed to better characterize the medical expenses of CHs vs. veterans hospitals.
Comorbidity ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hip Fractures ; Hip ; Hospitals, Veterans ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Mortality ; Survival Rate ; Veterans

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the results of an immediate and mid-term angiographic and clinical follow-up of endovascular treatment for paraclinoid aneurysms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2002 to December 2012, a total of 113 consecutive patients (mean age: 56.2 years) with 116 paraclinoid saccular aneurysms (ruptured or unruptured) were treated with endovascular coiling procedures. Clinical and angiographic outcomes were retrospectively evaluated. RESULTS: Ninety-three patients (82.3%) were female. The mean size of the aneurysm was 5.5 mm, and 101 aneurysms (87.1%) had a wide neck. Immediate catheter angiography showed complete occlusion in 40 aneurysms (34.5%), remnant sac in 51 (43.9%), and remnant neck in 25 (21.6%). Follow-up angiographic studies were performed on 80 aneurysms (69%) at a mean period of 20.4 months. Compared with immediate angiographic results, follow-up angiograms showed no change in 38 aneurysms, improvement in 37 (Fig. 2), and recanalization in 5. There were 6 procedure-related complications (5.2%), with permanent morbidity in one patient. CONCLUSION: Out study suggests that properly selected patients with paraclinoid aneurysms can be successfully treated by endovascular means.
Aneurysm* ; Angiography ; Catheters ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Neck ; Retrospective Studies

Purpose: Here, we report a case of a fungal corneal ulcer caused by Talaromyces allahabadensis (T. allahabadensis).Case summary: A 69-year-old male was admitted to our hospital with pain and hyperemia in his left eye after 2 months of treatmentat a local clinic for herpetic keratitis. The patient had a previous history of trauma to his left eye caused by a persimmon treebranch. He had a peripheral epithelial defect, stromal infiltration, and severe corneal edema in his left eye. Gram staining, a KOHsmear, and a culture were performed using corneal specimens; the results were all negative. With the assumption of herpetickeratitis, antiviral and empirical antibiotic treatments were started. After 2 weeks, the stromal infiltrations on his left eye increased,so we again conducted staining and culture studies. T. allahabadensis was isolated from a specimen, so treatment wasstarted using antifungal agents, and a conjunctival flap graft was performed due to the risk of a corneal perforation. Conclusions A case of corneal ulcer caused by T. allahabadensis in a patient with posttraumatic herpetic keratitis was successfullytreated with antifungal agents and conjunctival flap surgery.

Scedosporium(S). apiospermum is the asexual stage of Pseudallescheria boydii. This ubiquitous fungus causes not only mycetoma but also infection of a variety of body sites including the skin. Localized skin infection without grain production due to this organism is much rarer than mycetoma. We report a case of cutaneous S. apiospermum infection which occured in a 75-year old female. She had multiple suppurative nodules with pustules on a dark red plaque at the dorsum of the right forearm. Cultural isolation for definitive diagnosis showed typical S. apiospermum. The patient was treated successfully with oral terbinafine 250mg daily for 1 week and oral itraconazole 200mg daily for 3 weeks.
Aged ; Edible Grain ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Forearm ; Fungi ; Humans ; Itraconazole ; Mycetoma ; Pseudallescheria ; Scedosporium* ; Skin*

PURPOSE: This study was designed to evaluate the prognostic significance of Magnetic resonance angiography(MRA) in patients with cerebral infarction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Magnetic Resonance imaging(MRI) and 2 dimensional or 3 dimensional Time-of-Flight MR were performed subsequently in 83 patients with cerebral infarction proven by brain CT and clinical manifestations, using GE Signa Advantage 1.5T. We classified the size of infarction on MRI as Extent I((2cm), Extent 11(2-6cm), Extent ill( > 6cm) and classified the intracranial vascular occlusion according to visualizations of intracranial vascular branches on MRA as Grade 0, Grade I, Grade II, Grade III. And we evaluated clinical outcomes of these patients according to Rankin's disability scale, compared with MRI and MRA. RESULTS: In 72 cases(86.8%), the larger the size of infarction on MRI, the more severe vascular occlusion on MRA, the worse the clinical outcomes were noted(p < 0.01). However, in 7 cases(8.4%) who showed huge cerebral infarction on MRI with low grade intracranial vascular occlusion on MRA, the clinical outcomes were improved. In 4 cases(4.8%) who noted small sized cerebral infarction on MRI with high grade vascular occlusion on MRA, the clinical outcomes were worsened. CONCLUSION: MRA provides additional useful information to that provided by MRI in predicting the prognosis of patients with cerebral infarction.
Angiography* ; Brain ; Cerebral Infarction* ; Humans ; Infarction ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Prognosis

PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of mitomycin C (MMC) on eyelash regrowth in rats. METHODS: Ten rats were subjected to bilateral eyelid epilation. One drop of 0.04% MMC solution and one drop of normal saline was then administered to the right and left eyelid, respectively. Three months post-epliation, the number of regrown eyelashes was counted, and a section of tissue from each eyelid was examined under light- and electron microscopies. RESULTS: The number of regrown long eyelashes was 1.0 +/- 0.81 on the right, and 12.5 +/- 1.08 on the left. The rate of regrowth was 7.35 +/- 5.55% on the right and 98.45 +/- 3.27% on the left. Histological examination revealed no significant differences between the right and left eyelids, except for the absence of any hair shafts in the follicles on the right. However, electron microscopy revealed mitochondrial damage in the follicles of the right eyelid. These changes were not observed in tissue from the left eyelid. CONCLUSIONS: The application of 0.04% MMC inhibited the regrowth of normal eyelashes in rats following simple epilation. These results suggest that MMC may be a novel therapy for replacing invasive surgery in trichiasis with no malpositioning.
Animals ; Electrons ; Eyelashes ; Eyelids ; Hair ; Hair Removal ; Microscopy, Electron ; Mitomycin ; Rats ; Trichiasis