PURPOSE: To evaluate the vessel density of macula according to analysis area in health subjects using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 30 eyes of 20 healthy people who underwent OCTA. We measured vessel density (VD) according to analysis area and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) size of superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP). The analysis areas were classified as 3 × 3 mm scan area (Box), Box area excluding FAZ (Box-FAZ), fovea centered 3 mm circle area (Circle), Circle area excluding FAZ (Circle-FAZ) and area between fovea centered 1 mm circle and 3 mm circle (Ring). RESULTS: The SCP VDs were Box 34.00 ± 3.97, Box-FAZ 35.37 ± 4.09, Circle 31.70 ± 4.56, Circle-FAZ 33.34 ± 4.72, and Ring 35.22 ± 5.09. The DCP VDs were Box 30.04 ± 3.51, Circle 29.49 ± 3.57, Box-FAZ 31.59 ± 3.65, Circle-FAZ 31.46 ± 3.72, and Ring 32.60 ± 4.00. There was a significant difference according to analysis area from both SCP and DCP (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). Comparison of the vessel density between SCP and DCP in the same analysis area were different in all areas (p < 0.001, p = 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.005, p = 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows different results according to analysis area when measuring VD using OCTA. Therefore, when comparing studies related to VD, it is necessary to pay attention to the analysis area in the interpretation of the results.
Angiography ; Capillaries ; Healthy Volunteers ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, Optical Coherence

No abstract available.
DNA* ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin*

PURPOSE: Apolipoprotein E (Apo E) is composed of 299 amino acids, and is classified into three subtypes (E2, E3, E4), which respectively have influences on serum lipid levels. Arteriogenic erectile dysfunction (AED) is related to hyperlipidemia, hypertension, DM and traumas of the pelvis and perineum. Therefore, we evaluated the frequency and relationship of an apolipoprotein E gene in patients with erectile dysfunction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 202 patients, with no history of either trauma in the pelvis or perineum, and radiation therapy, were selected from patients with erectile dysfunction. History taking, physical examination, Apo E genotyping and penile Doppler ultrasonography were performed. Serum cholesterol, triglyceride, high and low density lipoprotein (HDL and LDL), and apolipoprotein A and B were also measured. RESULTS: Apo E genotypes were E2/2, E2/3, E3/3, E2/4, E3/4 and E4/4, with distributions of 0.5, 11.7, 70.4, 0.5, 15.8 and 1.0%, respectively. As a result of penile Doppler ultrasonography, 112 patients turned out to have an AED. In the AED group, the serum triglyceride increased significantly (p<0.05), but there were no differences in the serum cholesterol, HDL, LDL or the apolipoprotein A and B. The distributions of apo E genotypes E2/3, E3/3 and E3/4 were 13.9, 68.6 and 17.6%, respectively, in the AED group. The serum triglyceride (TG) was significantly higher in the E3/4 than the E2/3 or E3/3 genotypes. CONCLUSIONS: AED is related to age, smoking, hypertension, DM and high TG, and the Apo E genotype of E3/4, with a high level of TG. However, an Apo E gene is, generally, not considered a diagnostic tool of erectile dysfunction. In the future, it should be clarified if the Apo E gene can be used as diagnostic tool for AED.
Amino Acids ; Apolipoproteins E ; Apolipoproteins* ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Erectile Dysfunction* ; Genotype ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; Hypertension ; Lipoproteins ; Male ; Pelvis ; Perineum ; Physical Examination ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Triglycerides ; Ultrasonography, Doppler

PURPOSE: To report a case of double Descemet's membrane in a patient who had penetrating keratoplasty after rupture of Descemet's membrane during deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK). CASE SUMMARY: A 24-year-old female had keratoconus in her right eye and underwent DALK for treatment. Descemet's membrane was ruptured while separating the corneal stroma from Descemet's membrane with the big bubble technique. The operation method was changed from DALK to penetrating keratoplasty. Detached Descemet's membrane was observed in the anterior chamber after suturing. Sterile air was injected into the anterior chamber to attach the Descemet's membrane. Five days after the surgery, Descemet's membrane was detached and a second air injection was performed. Corneal edema was improved but Descemet's membrane was re-detached. Double Descemet's membrane was observed by anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT). The detached Descemet's membrane originated from the recipient's cornea and not from the donor's cornea. Detached Descemet's membrane was removed successfully. Patient's cornea was clear and best corrected visual acuity was 20/25. CONCLUSIONS: When penetrating keratoplasty is performed instead of DALK, the surgeon should completely remove the remnant corneal stroma and Descemet's membrane. Remnant Descemet's membrane can be disregarded as it comes from the donor cornea. Unnecessary anterior chamber air injection causes endothelial damage. Anterior segment OCT is a useful tool to identify anatomical structures of transplanted cornea.
Anterior Chamber ; Cornea ; Corneal Edema ; Corneal Stroma ; Corneal Transplantation* ; Descemet Membrane* ; Female ; Humans ; Keratoconus ; Keratoplasty, Penetrating* ; Rupture ; Tissue Donors ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Visual Acuity ; Young Adult

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) is malignant tumor frequently occurring in Koreans. There have been few reports regarding the cytologic findings of fine needle aspiration(FNA) of HCC. Most have suggested a diagnostic problem in the cytology distinguishing HCC from some benign hepatic lesion-for example, a regeneration nodule in cirrhosis and liver cell adenoma. In spite of its high frequency in Korea, no cytologic study has been reported, concerning the FNA of HCC. In an attempt to achieve cytologic criteria for the diagnosis of HCC, the authors studied retrospectively cytopathologic findings of 247 cases of HCC. These cases were confirmed either by histologic examination including lobectomy, biopsy, or cell block material, or, when tissue diagnosis was unavailable, by a high serum alpha-fetoprotein level(over 400 I. U.). All aspiration smears were stained by the Papainicolaou method. In each case, the smears were analyzed for cell patterns and various cytomorphology of the tumor cells. The smear background was assessed for the presence of tumor cell necrosis and inflammatory components and compared to that of metastatic carcinomas. The cell patterns were classified as trabecular, acinar, dispersed, and irregular. The cytologic parameters analyzed included the degree of nuclear atypia and the presence of mitoses, intranuclear cytoplasmic inclusions, nucleolar prominency, endothelial lining, multinucleated giant cells, eosinophilc, globules bile and Mallory body. Most of the FNA of HCC showed markedly cellular smears. The tumor cells were most frequently arranged in a trabecular pattern(80.3%). The irregular(12.6%), the acinar(5.5%), and the dispersed patterns(1.7%) followed in decreasing frequency. Individual hepatoma cells were larger than normal liver cells. However, they had morphologic features characteristic of the hepatic cells : the cells were round or polygonal, their cytoplasm was abundant and granular with eosinophilic or amphophilic stainability, and their nuclei were round to oval, located centrally, and tended to have prominent nucleoli. Anaplasia and pleomorphism of tumor cells were generally mild to moderate. These findings existed even in very well differentiated cases. Mitotic figures were present in about 85% of the cases. Prominent nucleoli were observed only in about half the cases. The frequency of other cytologic features was as follows : intranuclear cytoplasmic inclusion in 86.8% ; endothelial lining in 56.1% ; bile in 19.8% ; and giant cells in 60.1%. Clear cells were often present in 11.7%, Most aspiration smears of HCC displayed clean background without necrosis or inflammatory material in contrast to the dirty, necrotic background of metastatic cancers and cholangiocarcinomas. Based on the above mentioned features, it is suqqested that the cytologic critieria most important for the diagnosis of HCC include a markedly cellular smear, trabecular pattern. hepatocytoid appearance of tumor cells, endothelial lining, the presence of bile, giant cells, intranuclear cytoplasmic inclusions, and prominent nucleoli, Among these, trabecular pattern, endothelial lining, giant cells and clean smear background are points to be considered in differentiating HCC from metastatic and cholangiocellular carcinoma.
Adenoma, Liver Cell ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; Anaplasia ; Bile ; Biopsy ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle* ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; Cytoplasm ; Diagnosis ; Endothelial Cells ; Eosinophils ; Fibrosis ; Giant Cells ; Hepatocytes ; Inclusion Bodies ; Korea ; Liver ; Mitosis ; Necrosis ; Needles ; Regeneration ; Retrospective Studies

No abstract available.
DNA*

PURPOSE: To report long-term changes in the average retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in 2 patients who had intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) injection for diabetic papillopathy. CASE SUMMARY: A 36-year-old patient with diabetes complained of decreased visual acuity (20/200) in the right eye. The fundus examination showed optic disc swelling in both eyes. The average RNFL thickness based on optical coherence tomography (OCT) increased to 278 microm and Goldmann perimetry showed nasal visual field defect in the right eye. The IVB was injected into the right eye. Three weeks after the IVB injection, RNFL thickness decreased to 135 microm and visual acuity improved to 20/25 in the right eye. However, RNFL thickness increased from 126 to 207 microm and visual acuity decreased to 20/32 in the left eye. Thus, IVB was injected into the left eye. In week 3, RNFL thickness decreased to 147 microm and visual acuity improved to 20/20 in the left eye. At 12 months after IVB injection, RNFL thickness was 87 microm in the right eye and 109 microm in the left eye. A 57-year-old patient with diabetes complained of decreased visual acuity (20/200) and showed optic disc swelling in the right eye. The average RNFL thickness increased to 252 microm and Goldmann perimetry showed an enlarged blind spot in the right eye. IVB was injected into the right eye. After 3 weeks, RNFL thickness decreased to 136 microm and visual acuity improved to 20/70 in the right eye. Six months after IVB injection, RNFL thickness was 83 microm in the right eye. CONCLUSIONS: Visual acuity progressively improved within 3 weeks and RNFL thickness measured by spectral domain OCT showed progressive thickness reduction in 2 cases of diabetic papillopathy patients who had IVB injections.
Adult ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Eye ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Nerve Fibers ; Optic Disk ; Retinaldehyde ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Visual Acuity ; Visual Field Tests ; Visual Fields ; Bevacizumab

No abstract available.
Plasma* ; Spectrum Analysis* ; Trace Elements*

No abstract available.
Humans

PURPOSE: We evaluated the safety and efficacy of intrarectal administration of anesthetic agent for transrectal prostate biopsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For a double-blind prospective trial, 100 men undergoing transrectal prostate biopsy were randomized into three groups using an established list. In the control group (n=36), 40mL of normal saline was administered transrectally 10 min before the procedure. The lidocaine group (n=31) and the benzocaine group (n=33) were give 40 mL of 1% lidocaine and 0.3% benzocaine, respectively. Patients were asked to score the severity of the pain expected before and after the biopsy procedure using a self-administered verbal rating scale. Pain was assessed using a 10-point linear visual analog scale. RESULTS: The median pain score expected before the transrectal prostate biopsy was 6.7+/-0.3, 7.1+/-0.2, and 6.7+/-0.3 in the control, lidocaine, and benzocaine group, respectively. The median pain score during the biopsy was 6.1+/-0.3, 5.8+/-0.3 (P<0.05), and 5.9+/-0.4 in the control, lidocaine, and benzocaine group, respectively. Ninety seven percent of the control group, 100% of the lidocaine group, and 91% of the benzocaine group complained of severe and bothersome pain, with a score of 5 or greater during the biopsy. No adverse events were noted. CONCLUSIONS: Intrarectal administration of anesthetic agent is a simple, safe, and efficacious method of providing satisfactory anesthesia in patients undergoing transrectal prostate biopsy. We recommend 1% lidocaine solution in the patients to perform transrectal prostatic biopsy.
Anesthesia ; Anesthetics ; Benzocaine ; Biopsy* ; Double-Blind Method* ; Humans ; Lidocaine ; Male ; Prospective Studies ; Prostate ; Visual Analog Scale