We used the fluorophotometry to investigate the corneal epithelial barrier function after excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). Twenty-five eyes of 21 subjects (13 women, 8 men) underwent PRK to correct rnyopia. Corneal epithelial healing time was measured and corneal epithelial permeability to sodiurn fluorescein was evaluated by fluorophotoinetry at I, 2, and 3 weeks after surgery. The corneal epithelial permeability increased significantly 1 week after surgery and returned to preoperative level 2 weeks after surgery. The permeability differences according to epithelial healing days and corrected diopters were not statistically significant(p>0. 05). These results suggest that PRK delays complete reconstruction of corneal epithelial barrier function. The corneal epithelium regained its functional barrier 2 weeks after PRK in patients, so, at least, during the first 2 weeks, care should be taken to miniinize further epithelial trauma from topical inedication or surgical manipulation.
Epithelium, Corneal ; Female ; Fluorescein ; Fluorophotometry ; Humans ; Lasers, Excimer* ; Permeability ; Photorefractive Keratectomy*

No abstract available.
Ascites*

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of 2% dorzolamide, a topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, on corneal endothelium. Corneal endothelial permeability, central corneal thickness, central corneal endothelial cell density and intraocular pressure were measured in both eyes before(baseline) and after the use of 2% dorzolamide t.i.d. in one eye for one week. There was significant decrease in intraocular pressure(p=0.04) after the use of 2% dorzolamide t.i.d. for one week, but there were no significant changes in corneal endothelial permeability, central corneal thickness and central corneal endothelial cell density(p>0.05 in all).
Carbonic Anhydrases ; Endothelial Cells ; Endothelium, Corneal* ; Intraocular Pressure ; Permeability

We investigated the influence of amniotic membrane application on corneal wound healing after excimer laser PRK in rabbits. PRK of -9.9D with the optical zone of 5.0mm was performed on each right eye of 34 pigmented rabbits and animals were divided into two groups. Preserved human amniotic membrane was applied in 17 eyes to cover the entire cornea for 48 hours(amniotic group) and the other eyes were used as control group. The area of epithelial defect, inflammatory cell infiltration, the number of anterior stromal keratocyte, and corneal haze were evaluated. The epithelium was healed completely within 3 days in all animals and there was no difference between two groups. At postoperative 12 and 24 hours, in amniotic group, the numbers of stromal inflammatory cells were significantly lower(p=0.009) and the numbers of anterior stromal keratocyte were significantly higher(p<0.05) than those in control group. At postoperative 2, 4, 6, 8, and 12 weeks, the scores of corneal haze in amniotic group were lower than those in control group(p<0.05) and , at postoperative 12 weeks, the number of anterior stromal keratocyte in amniotic group was significantly lower than that in control group(p=0.002). The application of amniotic membrane after PRK reduces keratocyte proliferation and corneal haze during corneal wound healing process, possibly by reducing infiltration of inflammatory cells and loss of keratocyte in the ablation area during the early postoperative period.
Amnion* ; Animals ; Cornea ; Epithelium ; Humans* ; Lasers, Excimer* ; Photorefractive Keratectomy* ; Postoperative Period ; Rabbits ; Wound Healing* ; Wounds and Injuries*

PURPOSE: Previously, Kawasaki disease (KD) treatment with low-dose aspirin was administered for 6–8 weeks after the acute phase. However, inflammatory marker levels normalize before 6–8 weeks. In this study, we aimed to investigate the clinical outcome of short-term low-dose aspirin treatment based on inflammatory and thrombotic marker levels. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of the medical records of patients with KD who were hospitalized at Chungnam National University Hospital between September 2012 and May 2014. When fever subsided, low-dose aspirin treatment was started. Inflammatory (white blood cell count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and C-reactive protein) and thrombotic markers (D-dimer) were monitored at follow-ups conducted in 1- to 2-week intervals. The low-dose aspirin administration was terminated when both markers were normalized and no cardiovascular complications were observed. RESULTS: Eighty-four patients with KD (complete KD, n=49; incomplete KD, n=35) were enrolled. The inflammatory and thrombotic marker levels were normalized within 3–4 weeks on average. At the beginning the low-dose aspirin treatment, 9 patients had coronary artery lesions but 75 did not. When the low-dose aspirin administration was terminated at the time the inflammatory marker levels were normalized, no new CALs developed during the follow-up at 6–8 weeks. CONCLUSION: Most of the inflammatory marker levels were normalized within 3–4 weeks after the acute phase of KD. New cardiovascular complications did not develop during the course of the short-term aspirin treatment based on the inflammatory marker levels, clinical findings, and echocardiography.
Aspirin* ; Blood Cell Count ; Blood Sedimentation ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Coronary Vessels ; Echocardiography ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Medical Records ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome* ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: Previously, Kawasaki disease (KD) treatment with low-dose aspirin was administered for 6–8 weeks after the acute phase. However, inflammatory marker levels normalize before 6–8 weeks. In this study, we aimed to investigate the clinical outcome of short-term low-dose aspirin treatment based on inflammatory and thrombotic marker levels. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of the medical records of patients with KD who were hospitalized at Chungnam National University Hospital between September 2012 and May 2014. When fever subsided, low-dose aspirin treatment was started. Inflammatory (white blood cell count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and C-reactive protein) and thrombotic markers (D-dimer) were monitored at follow-ups conducted in 1- to 2-week intervals. The low-dose aspirin administration was terminated when both markers were normalized and no cardiovascular complications were observed. RESULTS: Eighty-four patients with KD (complete KD, n=49; incomplete KD, n=35) were enrolled. The inflammatory and thrombotic marker levels were normalized within 3–4 weeks on average. At the beginning the low-dose aspirin treatment, 9 patients had coronary artery lesions but 75 did not. When the low-dose aspirin administration was terminated at the time the inflammatory marker levels were normalized, no new CALs developed during the follow-up at 6–8 weeks. CONCLUSION: Most of the inflammatory marker levels were normalized within 3–4 weeks after the acute phase of KD. New cardiovascular complications did not develop during the course of the short-term aspirin treatment based on the inflammatory marker levels, clinical findings, and echocardiography.
Aspirin* ; Blood Cell Count ; Blood Sedimentation ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Coronary Vessels ; Echocardiography ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Medical Records ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome* ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVES: To determine the effectiveness and clinical utility of antenatal corticosteroids in the reduction of neonatal morbidity and mortality on preterm birth Material and method: Neonatal outcomes of 312 preterm babies were evaluated retrospectively. One hundred and two preterm babies(study group) were given dexamethasone more than 1 dose antenatally and 210 preterm babies(control group) were not given dexamethasone antenatally. Antenatal steroids were administered in the form of four 5mg intramuscular doses of dexamethasone 12 hours apart. Maternal and neonatal outcomes of study group were compared with those of control group. Student t- test, x2 test, Fisher's exact test, and logistic regression analysis were used where appropriate. p-value< 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Antentenatal corticosteroid significantly decreased the incidence of RDS(OR:0.47, 95% CI:0.25-0.86), IVH/PVL(OR : 0.32, 95% CI : 0.12-0.86), necrotizing enterocolitis(OR : 0.49, 95% CI : 0.25-0.98), and neonatal death(OR: 0.30, 95% CI: 0.10 - 0.89) in preterm delivery. In the presence of PROM, antenatal corticosteoid seemed to have no protective effect on the neonatal complications such as RDS, IVH/PVL, NEC, PDA, and neonatal death. CONCLUSIONS: Antenatal administration of corticosteroids was effective to decrease the incidence of neonatal morbidity and neonatal mortality in the preterm neonates with no apparent maternal complications.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Dexamethasone ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant Mortality ; Infant, Newborn ; Logistic Models ; Mortality ; Premature Birth* ; Retrospective Studies ; Steroids

No abstract available.
Animals ; Mice* ; Premature Birth*

No abstract available.

PURPOSE: To report the clinical results after the implantation of intrastromal corneal ring segments (Intacs(R)) for the correction of keratoconus or keratectasia. METHODS: This retrospective study was comprised of 16 eyes treated by insertion of intrastromal corneal ring and 30 eyes treated by penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) who were diagnosed with keratoconus or keratectasia. Visual acuity, refractive outcome, keratometric values were evaluated before and at 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months postoperatively. In addition, the implanted ring segment depth was measured by anterior segment optical coherence tomography and the results were compared based on the depth of the ring. RESULTS: Twelve months after treatment, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was log MAR 0.32 at the ring group and log MAR 0.20 at the PKP group. BCVA change was larger at the PKP group than the ring group. Postoperative keratometric value was smaller at the ring group than at the PKP group. 3 mm irregular astigmatism was larger at the ring group than at the PKP group. The shallowly implanted ring group had a larger effect than the deeply implanted ring group. CONCLUSIONS: Intrastromal corneal ring segment implantation appears to be effective in improving the visual acuity and refractive outcome, although it cannot substitute for PKP.
Astigmatism ; Keratoconus* ; Keratoplasty, Penetrating ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Visual Acuity