To investigate effects of cytokines on rheumatoid synovial cells, proliferation and expression of cytokine and metalloproteinase genes were studied with the primary culture of rheumatoid synovial cells which was treated with TNF-alpha, GM-CSF, TGF-alpha, PDGF and IL-B. By [3H] thymidine incorporation assay, TGF-beta and PDGF increased proliferation of synovial cells by 1.5 and 2.5 folds respectively. Cytokine gene expression was assessed by RT-PCR. Rheumatoid synovial cells expressed constitutively TGF-beta and IL-B at a high level and IL-1B, GM-CSF, and MIP-1a at a relatively low level. TGF-beta, GM-CSF and PDGF increased IL-B expression. Expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines was increased by GM-CSF and PDGF. Both GM-CSF and PDGF increased the expression of IL-1B, GM-CSF MIP-la and IL-8. In addition, GM-CSF enhanced expression of TNF-alpha. Stromelysin and collagenase are the major proteinases responsible for destruction ot joints in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). These genes were expressed constitutivefy in rheumatoid synovial cells. In summary, PDGF and GM-CSF may piay an important role by inducing or increasing expression of IL-1B, TGF-beta and PDGF by increasing proliferation of rheumatoid synovial cells.
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

To investigate the effect of disposable contact lenses (CL) on the corneal epithelial healing, a prospective study of 30 myopic epikeratoplasties which were divided into 3 groups according to the method for promoting the corneal epithelial healing was conducted. The groups are consisted of 10 eyes with pressure patch, 10 eyes with Acuvue(R) disposable CL and 10 eyes with SeeQuence(R) disposable CL. Corneal epithelial healing was completed in the pressure patch, Acuvue(R) CL and SeeQuence(R) CL group at 3.4, 3.5 and 3.4 postoperative days, respectively. Corneal epithelial healing rate during postoperative 1, 2 and 3 days are 0.33, O.78, and O.44mm2/hour in pressure patch group, O.24, O.92 and O.37mm2/hour in Acuvue(R) CL group, and O.30, O.79 and O.38mm2/hour in SeeQuence(R) CL group respectively. From the above results, it is concluded that there was no statistically significant difference of the corneal epithelial healing time and rate between the pressure patching and disposable bandage CL wearing after myopic epikeratoplasty.
Bandages* ; Contact Lenses* ; Epikeratophakia* ; Prospective Studies

We did clinical analysis of 72 patients with branched retinal vein occlusion, who were diagnosed by indirect opthalmoscope and fluorescein angiography and treated with laser photocoagulatlon from Jan, 198l to May, l990. The results were as follows; 1. Final visual acuity has a Significant statistical correlation with macular edema in terma of 'quadrant area' 2. We were unable to demonstrate any statistical correlation between final visual acuity and the following factors: degree of nonperfusion, neovascularization type of laser photocoagulatlon, duration of symptoms before laser photocoagulation.
Fluorescein Angiography ; Humans ; Light Coagulation ; Macular Edema ; Retinal Vein Occlusion* ; Retinal Vein* ; Retinaldehyde* ; Visual Acuity

This study was performed to investigate the corneal epithelial healing time and rate according to the method for promoting the reepithelization after myopic epikeratoplasty. A prospective study was conducted on 30 myopic epikeratoplasties which were divided into 3 groups according to the method for promoting the epithelial healing. The groups consisted of 10 eyes with pressure patches, 10 eyes with Acuvue(R) disposable contact lens (CL) and 10 eyes with SeeQuence(R) disposable CL. The cornea epithelial healing time were 3.4, 3.5 and 3.4 postoperative days for the pressure patch, Acuvue(R) CL and SeeQuence(R) CL groups, respectively. The corneal epithelial healing rates during postoperative 1, 2, and 3 days were 0.33, 0.78, and 0.44 mm2/hour for the pressure patch group; 0.24, 0.92 and 0.37 mm2/hour for the Acuvue(R) CL group; and 0.30, 0.79 and 0.38 mm2/hour for the SeeQuence(R) CL group. These results suggest that a disposable contact lens may not hinder epithelial healing compared with a pressure patch.
Adult ; Bandages ; Contact Lenses ; Cornea/*physiology/surgery ; *Corneal Transplantation ; Epithelium/physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myopia/*physiopathology/surgery ; Prospective Studies ; Time Factors ; Wound Healing/*physiology

We performed a randomized, prospective study to evaluate the effect of intraoperative, intracameral carbachol or acetylcholine on early postoperative intraocular pressure(IOP) after extracapsular cataract extraction(ECCE) and posterior chamber lens(PCL) implantation. Fifty-six eyes of 56 patients scheduled for routine ECCE and PCL implantation were randomly assigned into three groups: (1)carbachol infusion (19 eyes) (2) acetylcholine infusion (15 eyes) (3)balanced salt solution (BSS) infusion (control, 22 eyes). We compared the preoperative IOP, early postoperative IOP, postoperative 24 hours IOP and postoperative 1 week IOP. In the measurement of early postoperative IOP, IOP was measured at least twice at 3, 6 or 9 hours postoperatively. There was no significant difference in IOP between the three groups preoperatively, at postoperative 3 hours, and 1 week. At postoperative 6 hours, both the carbachol infusion group and acetylcholine infusion group were significantly different from the BSS infusion group. At postoperative 9 and 24 hours, only carbachol infusion group had a significant difference from BSS infusion group in suppression of postoperative IOP increase. Our results suggest that intraoperative, intracameral administration of carbachol or acetylcholine prevents early postoperative IOP increase, and that carbachol has a more lasting effect.
Acetylcholine/administration & dosage/*pharmacology ; Adult ; Aged ; Anterior Chamber/drug effects ; Carbachol/administration & dosage/*pharmacology ; Cataract Extraction/*adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure/*drug effects ; Lenses, Intraocular ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ocular Hypertension/etiology/*prevention & control ; Postoperative Complications ; Prospective Studies

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the impact of delayed retinal clinical care during the COVID-19 pandemic on the severity of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and drivers of follow-up delay. We compared disease severity and follow-up rates of PDR patients requiring vitrectomy to those managed nonsurgically, and identified factors associated with need for vitrectomy. Methods: The study included 739 patients diagnosed with PDR between January 1, 2018, and March 4, 2021, categorized into two groups based on outcome: vitrectomy nonvitrectomy. Statistical methods such as t-tests and chi-square tests were used to analyze differences in disease severity and follow-up rates before and after COVID-19 shutdown. A multivariate regression evaluated factors leading to vitrectomy by comparing initial ETDRS (Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study) DR staging, disease stability, DR progression, proliferative complications, appointment intervals, follow-up variance, rescheduling rate, and no-show rate. Results: Of the 739 patients, 202 required vitrectomy, 537 were managed nonsurgically. The vitrectomy group had more severe or unstable disease before shutdown. The interval between patient visits preshutdown was 29.76 ± 45.11 days in the vitrectomy group and 40.23 ± 56.73 days in the nonvitrectomy group (p < 0.001). Both groups experienced a significant increase in appointment intervals after shutdown, with the vitrectomy group having a greater increase. Both groups had significantly increased rescheduling rate and minimally increased no-show rate. Patient-directed rescheduling was the main driver of appointment delays. Disease factors, such as tractional retinal detachment and higher ETDRS DR staging, increased the odds of vitrectomy, while appointment burden and follow-up variability had a minimal impact. Conclusions Patients with more severe PDR and greater delay in appointments due to the pandemic were more likely to require vitrectomy for proliferative complications. Patient-directed rescheduling was identified as the main driver of care delays, as opposed to clinic-directed rescheduling. This study highlights the importance of maintaining regular follow-up appointments for PDR patients during pandemics.

Background: s/Aims: The treatment landscape for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has significantly evolved over the past decade. We aimed to analyze trends in treatment patterns for HCC using a nationwide claims database from the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. Methods: This retrospective population-based cohort study analyzed 171,002 newly diagnosed HCC patients between 2008 and 2022. Etiologies and treatment modalities were categorized based on the ICD-10 codes and insurance data. Results: The annual incidence decreased from 11,814 in 2008 to 10,443 in 2022. However, patients aged ≥70 increased noticeably, with those aged ≥80 rising from 3.8% in 2008 to 13.1% in 2022. From 2008 to 2022, the predominant cause of hepatitis B virus decreased from 68.9% to 59.7%, whereas nonalcoholic fatty liver disease increased from 8.9% to 15.8%. The initial treatment trends shifted: surgical resection and systemic therapy increased from 12.2% to 21.3% and from 0.2% to 9.6%, whereas transarterial therapy decreased from 49.9% to 36.6%. Best supportive care decreased from 31.7% to 21.3%. In the subgroup analysis, laparoscopic resection rate increased from 10.6% to 60.6% among the surgical resections. Sorafenib initially accounted for 100%, lenvatinib peaked at 36.5% in 2021, and atezolizumab-bevacizumab became the most widely used (63.1%) by 2022 among the systemic therapies. Conclusions This study demonstrates the temporal changes in the treatment patterns of Korean HCC patients. Surgical resection, particularly laparoscopic liver resection, and systemic therapy has increased significantly. These changes may have been influenced by reimbursement policies and advances in clinical research.

Background: s/Aims: The treatment landscape for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has significantly evolved over the past decade. We aimed to analyze trends in treatment patterns for HCC using a nationwide claims database from the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. Methods: This retrospective population-based cohort study analyzed 171,002 newly diagnosed HCC patients between 2008 and 2022. Etiologies and treatment modalities were categorized based on the ICD-10 codes and insurance data. Results: The annual incidence decreased from 11,814 in 2008 to 10,443 in 2022. However, patients aged ≥70 increased noticeably, with those aged ≥80 rising from 3.8% in 2008 to 13.1% in 2022. From 2008 to 2022, the predominant cause of hepatitis B virus decreased from 68.9% to 59.7%, whereas nonalcoholic fatty liver disease increased from 8.9% to 15.8%. The initial treatment trends shifted: surgical resection and systemic therapy increased from 12.2% to 21.3% and from 0.2% to 9.6%, whereas transarterial therapy decreased from 49.9% to 36.6%. Best supportive care decreased from 31.7% to 21.3%. In the subgroup analysis, laparoscopic resection rate increased from 10.6% to 60.6% among the surgical resections. Sorafenib initially accounted for 100%, lenvatinib peaked at 36.5% in 2021, and atezolizumab-bevacizumab became the most widely used (63.1%) by 2022 among the systemic therapies. Conclusions This study demonstrates the temporal changes in the treatment patterns of Korean HCC patients. Surgical resection, particularly laparoscopic liver resection, and systemic therapy has increased significantly. These changes may have been influenced by reimbursement policies and advances in clinical research.

Background: s/Aims: The treatment landscape for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has significantly evolved over the past decade. We aimed to analyze trends in treatment patterns for HCC using a nationwide claims database from the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. Methods: This retrospective population-based cohort study analyzed 171,002 newly diagnosed HCC patients between 2008 and 2022. Etiologies and treatment modalities were categorized based on the ICD-10 codes and insurance data. Results: The annual incidence decreased from 11,814 in 2008 to 10,443 in 2022. However, patients aged ≥70 increased noticeably, with those aged ≥80 rising from 3.8% in 2008 to 13.1% in 2022. From 2008 to 2022, the predominant cause of hepatitis B virus decreased from 68.9% to 59.7%, whereas nonalcoholic fatty liver disease increased from 8.9% to 15.8%. The initial treatment trends shifted: surgical resection and systemic therapy increased from 12.2% to 21.3% and from 0.2% to 9.6%, whereas transarterial therapy decreased from 49.9% to 36.6%. Best supportive care decreased from 31.7% to 21.3%. In the subgroup analysis, laparoscopic resection rate increased from 10.6% to 60.6% among the surgical resections. Sorafenib initially accounted for 100%, lenvatinib peaked at 36.5% in 2021, and atezolizumab-bevacizumab became the most widely used (63.1%) by 2022 among the systemic therapies. Conclusions This study demonstrates the temporal changes in the treatment patterns of Korean HCC patients. Surgical resection, particularly laparoscopic liver resection, and systemic therapy has increased significantly. These changes may have been influenced by reimbursement policies and advances in clinical research.

Background: s/Aims: The treatment landscape for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has significantly evolved over the past decade. We aimed to analyze trends in treatment patterns for HCC using a nationwide claims database from the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. Methods: This retrospective population-based cohort study analyzed 171,002 newly diagnosed HCC patients between 2008 and 2022. Etiologies and treatment modalities were categorized based on the ICD-10 codes and insurance data. Results: The annual incidence decreased from 11,814 in 2008 to 10,443 in 2022. However, patients aged ≥70 increased noticeably, with those aged ≥80 rising from 3.8% in 2008 to 13.1% in 2022. From 2008 to 2022, the predominant cause of hepatitis B virus decreased from 68.9% to 59.7%, whereas nonalcoholic fatty liver disease increased from 8.9% to 15.8%. The initial treatment trends shifted: surgical resection and systemic therapy increased from 12.2% to 21.3% and from 0.2% to 9.6%, whereas transarterial therapy decreased from 49.9% to 36.6%. Best supportive care decreased from 31.7% to 21.3%. In the subgroup analysis, laparoscopic resection rate increased from 10.6% to 60.6% among the surgical resections. Sorafenib initially accounted for 100%, lenvatinib peaked at 36.5% in 2021, and atezolizumab-bevacizumab became the most widely used (63.1%) by 2022 among the systemic therapies. Conclusions This study demonstrates the temporal changes in the treatment patterns of Korean HCC patients. Surgical resection, particularly laparoscopic liver resection, and systemic therapy has increased significantly. These changes may have been influenced by reimbursement policies and advances in clinical research.