PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to analyze the influence of preoperative meibomian gland disease (MGD) on the postoperative dry eye disease after cataract surgery. METHODS: 100 eyes of 85 patients who had undergone cataract surgery were enrolled. Patients were stratified into three groups by the severity of meibomian gland disease (MGD Grade I, MGD Grade II and MGD Grade III). In each group, we recorded the indexes of dry eye such as Ocular surface disease index, tear breakup time, Schirmer's test and Corneal staining at preoperatively and postoperative week 1, 2, 5, 9. We compared the indexes, preoperatively and postoperatively between three groups. RESULTS: In comparison of the preoperative indexes between groups, the more severe meibomian gland disease the patients have, the higher Ocular surface disease index and the shorter tear breakup time were observed (p < 0.05). In comparison the preoperative with the postoperative indexes, Ocular surface disease index was higher and tear breakup time was shorter at every postoperative moment in MGD Grade (Gr) II and Gr III. In comparison between MGD groups, MGD Gr III showed higher ocular surface disease index than MGD Gr I and Gr II at every follow up point, and shorter tear breakup time than MGD Gr I and Gr II at preoperative and postoperative week 1 and 9 (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The severity of meibomian gland disease which exist preoperatively can affect the aggravation of dry eye disease after cataract surgery. Therefore, the treatment of meibomian gland disease before cataract surgery can be a therapeutic option to prevent aggravation of dry eye after cataract surgery.
Cataract* ; Eye Diseases ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Meibomian Glands* ; Tears

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Chronic simulated snoring was induced in rabbits to determine the impact of snoring on the development of atherosclerosis. METHODS: The pressure wave of induced snoring at the carotid bifurcation of rabbits was acquired by gently pressing the airway. This wave was then simulated using custom-made mechanical devices. Twelve rabbits were used in this study, seven of which were assigned to the experimental group and the remaining five formed the control group. All of the rabbits were raised on a 1% high-cholesterol diet. Either working or sham devices were positioned at the ventral center of the neck in each rabbit. At the end of a 2-month observation period, all of the rabbits were sacrificed by perfusion fixation, the carotid arteries harvested, and the carotid atherosclerosis histology reviewed. RESULTS: All of the rabbits survived to the end of the experimental period. Blood sampling revealed the presence of hypercholesterolemia in both groups, with no significant difference between them. The presence and degree of atherosclerosis did not differ significantly between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study show the feasibility of making a chronic simulated snoring rabbit model. However, the causative role of snoring in carotid atherosclerosis was not detected in this animal study.
Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; Carotid Arteries ; Carotid Artery Diseases* ; Diet ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Neck ; Perfusion ; Rabbits* ; Snoring*

PURPOSE: To report a case of corneal failure after implantation of the Ahmed glaucoma valve occurring in a patient diagnosed with Fuchs' heterochromic iridocyclitis. CASE SUMMARY: A 53-year-old male who complained of ocular pain and suddenly decreased visual acuity in his right eye visited our clinic. His visual acuity was 0.15 and intraocular pressure (IOP) was 55 mm Hg. The slit-lamp examination revealed edematous cornea, fine round or stellate keratic precipitates connected with fine filaments on the endothelium and depigmentation of the iris. The corneal endothelial cell density was 2,958 cells/mm2. There was no specific finding in his left eye. The IOP did not improve with medical treatment, therefore, an Ahmed glaucoma valve was implanted in his right eye. At every follow-up exam the tube was well positioned and the IOP was maintained between 8 and 13 mm Hg. Eight months postoperatively, the patient complained of decreased visual acuity and the cell density was decreased to 1,408 cells/mm2. Posterior subcapsular cataract opacity was observed as well as progression of depigmentation and distortion of the iris. Seventeen months after the surgery, the cell density was 700 cells/mm2. On follow-up examination, his visual acuity was decreased to FC10 cm with the cataract progressing, therefore cataract surgery was performed. One month postoperatively, his vision improved to 0.1. However, the visual acuity deteriorated due to progression of the corneal edema and penetrating keratoplasty was performed. CONCLUSIONS: Aggravation of the corneal complication after Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation should be considered in patients with Fuchs' heterochromic iridocyclitis-induced glaucoma.
Cataract ; Cell Count ; Cornea ; Corneal Edema ; Corneal Endothelial Cell Loss* ; Endothelial Cells ; Endothelium ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glaucoma ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Iridocyclitis* ; Iris ; Keratoplasty, Penetrating ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Visual Acuity

Orthognathic Surgery ; Politics ; Prognosis ; Social Change

Emergence and spread of low-level mupirocin resistance in staphylococci have been increasingly reported in recent years. The aim of this study was to characterize missense mutations within the chromosomal isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase gene (ileS) among clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) with low-level mupirocin resistance. A total of 20 isolates of MRSA with low-level mupirocin resistance (minimal inhibitory concentration, 16-64 microgram/mL) were collected from 79 patients in intensive care units for six months. The isolates were analyzed for isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase (IleS) mutations that might affect the binding of mupirocin to the three-dimensional structure of the S. aureus IleS enzyme. All isolates with low-level mupirocin resistance contained the known V588F mutation affecting the Rossman fold, and some of them additionally had previously unidentified mutations such as P187F, K226T, F227L, Q612H, or V767D. Interestingly, Q612H was a novel mutation that was involved in stabilizing the conformation of the catalytic loop containing the KMSKS motif. In conclusion, this study confirms that molecular heterogeneity in ileS gene is common among clinical MRSA isolates with low-level mupirocin resistance, and further study on clinical mutants is needed to understand the structural basis of low-level mupirocin resistance.
Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects/*genetics ; *Mutation, Missense ; Mupirocin/*pharmacology ; Methicillin Resistance ; Isoleucine-tRNA Ligase/*genetics ; Intensive Care Units ; Humans ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial

Purpose: A “Smart Cancer Care” platform that integrates patient-reported outcomes (PROs) with management has been established in Korea. This study focused on improving health behaviors and connecting patients to welfare services by introducing and assessing the feasibility of “Smart Cancer Care 2.0,” an enhanced version designed for monitoring complications post-cancer treatment. Materials and Methods: Smart Cancer Care 2.0 was developed by conducting a literature review and consulting with expert panels to identify symptoms or variables requiring monitoring and management guidelines based on the treatment type. Qualitative and quantitative surveys were conducted to assess the feasibility of the app and web system based on the experiences of patients with cancer and healthcare workers. Results: A total of 81 symptoms or variables (chemotherapy-, surgery-, radiotherapy-, rehabilitation-, and health management-related) were selected for management in Smart Cancer Care 2.0. PROs for these symptoms were basically categorized into three severity grades: preventive management, self-treatment, and consultation with a healthcare worker or visit to a healthcare institution. The overall mean scores in the feasibility evaluation by patients and healthcare workers were 3.83 and 3.90 points, respectively, indicating high usefulness. Conclusion Smart Cancer Care 2.0 leverages the existing information and communication technologies–based platform, Smart Cancer Care, and further includes health behaviors and welfare services. Smart Cancer Care 2.0 may play a crucial role in establishing a comprehensive post-discharge management system for patients with cancer as it provides suitable interventions based on patients’ responses and allows the regularly collected PROs to be easily viewed for streamlined care.

Purpose: A “Smart Cancer Care” platform that integrates patient-reported outcomes (PROs) with management has been established in Korea. This study focused on improving health behaviors and connecting patients to welfare services by introducing and assessing the feasibility of “Smart Cancer Care 2.0,” an enhanced version designed for monitoring complications post-cancer treatment. Materials and Methods: Smart Cancer Care 2.0 was developed by conducting a literature review and consulting with expert panels to identify symptoms or variables requiring monitoring and management guidelines based on the treatment type. Qualitative and quantitative surveys were conducted to assess the feasibility of the app and web system based on the experiences of patients with cancer and healthcare workers. Results: A total of 81 symptoms or variables (chemotherapy-, surgery-, radiotherapy-, rehabilitation-, and health management-related) were selected for management in Smart Cancer Care 2.0. PROs for these symptoms were basically categorized into three severity grades: preventive management, self-treatment, and consultation with a healthcare worker or visit to a healthcare institution. The overall mean scores in the feasibility evaluation by patients and healthcare workers were 3.83 and 3.90 points, respectively, indicating high usefulness. Conclusion Smart Cancer Care 2.0 leverages the existing information and communication technologies–based platform, Smart Cancer Care, and further includes health behaviors and welfare services. Smart Cancer Care 2.0 may play a crucial role in establishing a comprehensive post-discharge management system for patients with cancer as it provides suitable interventions based on patients’ responses and allows the regularly collected PROs to be easily viewed for streamlined care.

Purpose: A “Smart Cancer Care” platform that integrates patient-reported outcomes (PROs) with management has been established in Korea. This study focused on improving health behaviors and connecting patients to welfare services by introducing and assessing the feasibility of “Smart Cancer Care 2.0,” an enhanced version designed for monitoring complications post-cancer treatment. Materials and Methods: Smart Cancer Care 2.0 was developed by conducting a literature review and consulting with expert panels to identify symptoms or variables requiring monitoring and management guidelines based on the treatment type. Qualitative and quantitative surveys were conducted to assess the feasibility of the app and web system based on the experiences of patients with cancer and healthcare workers. Results: A total of 81 symptoms or variables (chemotherapy-, surgery-, radiotherapy-, rehabilitation-, and health management-related) were selected for management in Smart Cancer Care 2.0. PROs for these symptoms were basically categorized into three severity grades: preventive management, self-treatment, and consultation with a healthcare worker or visit to a healthcare institution. The overall mean scores in the feasibility evaluation by patients and healthcare workers were 3.83 and 3.90 points, respectively, indicating high usefulness. Conclusion Smart Cancer Care 2.0 leverages the existing information and communication technologies–based platform, Smart Cancer Care, and further includes health behaviors and welfare services. Smart Cancer Care 2.0 may play a crucial role in establishing a comprehensive post-discharge management system for patients with cancer as it provides suitable interventions based on patients’ responses and allows the regularly collected PROs to be easily viewed for streamlined care.

Purpose: A “Smart Cancer Care” platform that integrates patient-reported outcomes (PROs) with management has been established in Korea. This study focused on improving health behaviors and connecting patients to welfare services by introducing and assessing the feasibility of “Smart Cancer Care 2.0,” an enhanced version designed for monitoring complications post-cancer treatment. Materials and Methods: Smart Cancer Care 2.0 was developed by conducting a literature review and consulting with expert panels to identify symptoms or variables requiring monitoring and management guidelines based on the treatment type. Qualitative and quantitative surveys were conducted to assess the feasibility of the app and web system based on the experiences of patients with cancer and healthcare workers. Results: A total of 81 symptoms or variables (chemotherapy-, surgery-, radiotherapy-, rehabilitation-, and health management-related) were selected for management in Smart Cancer Care 2.0. PROs for these symptoms were basically categorized into three severity grades: preventive management, self-treatment, and consultation with a healthcare worker or visit to a healthcare institution. The overall mean scores in the feasibility evaluation by patients and healthcare workers were 3.83 and 3.90 points, respectively, indicating high usefulness. Conclusion Smart Cancer Care 2.0 leverages the existing information and communication technologies–based platform, Smart Cancer Care, and further includes health behaviors and welfare services. Smart Cancer Care 2.0 may play a crucial role in establishing a comprehensive post-discharge management system for patients with cancer as it provides suitable interventions based on patients’ responses and allows the regularly collected PROs to be easily viewed for streamlined care.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the therapeutic effects of gamma knife radiosurgery (GKRS) in patients with multiple brain metastases and to investigate prognostic factors related to treatment outcome. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed clinico-radiological and dosimetric data of 36 patients with 4-14 brain metastases who underwent GKRS for 264 lesions between August 2008 and April 2011. The most common primary tumor site was the lung (n=22), followed by breast (n=7). At GKRS, the median Karnofsky performance scale score was 90 and the mean tumor volume was 1.2 cc (0.002-12.6). The mean prescription dose of 17.8 Gy was delivered to the mean 61.1% isodose line. Among 264 metastases, 175 lesions were assessed for treatment response by at least one imaging follow-up. RESULTS: The overall median survival after GKRS was 9.1+/-1.7 months. Among various factors, primary tumor control was a significant prognostic factor (11.1+/-1.3 months vs. 3.3+/-2.4 months, p=0.031). The calculated local tumor control rate at 6 and 9 months after GKRS were 87.9% and 84.2%, respectively. Paddick's conformity index (>0.75) was significantly related to local tumor control. The actuarial peritumoral edema reduction rate was 22.4% at 6 months. CONCLUSION: According to our results, GKRS can provide beneficial effect for the patients with multiple (4 or more) brain metastases, when systemic cancer is controlled. And, careful dosimetry is essential for local tumor control. Therefore, GKRS can be considered as one of the treatment modalities for multiple brain metastase.
Brain Edema ; Brain* ; Breast ; Edema ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lung ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Prescriptions ; Radiosurgery* ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Tumor Burden