The changes of marginal epithelial cells in corneal wound healing were observed in a rabbit. The randomly assigned three eyes in the rabbits were extracted at first, third, and eighteenth day after full thickness epithelial removal, then observed under the electronmicroscope. At the 1st and 3rd day ,the thickness of the epithelium at the wound margin was reduced at the leading edge. These flattened epithelial cells showed ruffling and folding of the plasma membrane near free edge to form filopodia or lamellipodia processes, extending onto wound surface. Cytoskeletons reorganized and rearranged in leading edge. Basement membrane of the wound was relatively intact, but on which cellular debris were observed, and cell migration undergone and hemidesmosomes developed incompletely. In eighteenth day, basal cell recovered original cylindric shape, cytoskeletons was originally redistributed in cytoplasm after migratory phase, and hemidesmosome developed completely.
Basement Membrane ; Cell Membrane ; Cell Movement ; Cytoplasm ; Cytoskeleton ; Epithelial Cells* ; Epithelium ; Hemidesmosomes ; Pseudopodia ; Rabbits ; Wound Healing* ; Wounds and Injuries*

Penetrating keratoplasty was performed on 185 eyes. We analyzed the relative risk about the high and low risk groups, sex, age, complication, neovascularization, and graft size. In 185 grafts, graft rejection was developed in 60 eyes(32.4%). In the low risk group, there was the most graft rejection in 17 keratoconus eyes(62.9%) and in the high risk group, in 18 eyes with vascularized corneal scar. Graft rejection was developed in 33 eyes(47.8%) of the high risk group and developed in 27 eyes(23.3%) of the low risk group. The high risk group increased the risk of graft rejection(Relative risk=3.022, P value=0.001). Graft rejection developed in 33 eyes(25%) with non-vascularization and in 27 eyes(52%) with neovascularization. Neovascularization increased the risk of graft rejection (Relative risk=3.273, P value<0.001). Loosening suture and neovascularization were the most common post-operative complications in 68 eyes, and in the graft size, the range from 7.5 to 7.9 mm, was the most rejection graft size. Sex, age, post-operative complication, and graft size were not maintained with association with graft rejection(P value >0.5). Mean preoperative visual acuity was 0.048 and mean postoperative visual acuity was 0.4. In the high risk group the mean postoperative corrected visual acuity was 0.25 and in the low risk group it was 0.5.
Cicatrix ; Graft Rejection* ; Keratoconus ; Keratoplasty, Penetrating* ; Risk Factors* ; Sutures ; Transplants* ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: To report two cases of ocular ischemia following scleral encircling. METHODS: A 21-year-old man with glaucoma and a 76-year-old woman without any medical problem were transferred to our department for surgery to treat retinal detachment. After retrobulbar anesthesia and limbal peritomy of conjunctiva, the 4-rectus muscles were isolated. Scleral encircling was performed with No. a 42 band (4.0 mm in width) after cryotherapy done completely around retinal tear. RESULTS: Following surgery, One patient experienced ophthalmic artery occlusion and while the other patient experienced central retinal artery occlusion. Vision was not restored in either cases despite IV injection of 250 ml of 15% mannitol solution and anterior chamber paracentesis. CONCLUSIONS: In the cases where patients are of old age or suffer from glaucoma, we strongly recommend that the surgeons perform the scleral encircling carefully.
Aged ; Anesthesia ; Anterior Chamber ; Conjunctiva ; Cryotherapy ; Female ; Glaucoma ; Humans ; Ischemia* ; Mannitol ; Muscles ; Ophthalmic Artery ; Paracentesis ; Retinal Artery Occlusion ; Retinal Detachment ; Retinal Perforations ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: To report a rare case of bilateral pseudotumor with a two-week rapid spontaneous regression Method: A 63-year-old man visited our clinic with a chief complaint of a headache and right ocular pain. An orbital computerized tomography (CT) scan revealed a roud mass with well-demarcated capsule-like boundaries located in the inferior part of both orbits. After a systemic evaluation to exclude a systemic malignancy, we performed excisional biopsy of the right orbital mass to make diagnosis. Result: The right orbital mass was not found at the time of surgery for an excisional biopsy. Instead, we took multiple small biopsies of orbital fat, inferior rectus muscle, and adjacent soft tissues. Histologic examination revealed a non-specific inflammatory reaction without the presence of tumor cells. There was a marked spontaneous regression of the mass in both orbits on an immediate follow-up orbital CT. The patient began steroid treatment for 12 weeks under the presumptive diagnosis of bilateral pseudotumor. There was no evidence of recurrence at the eight-month follow-up.
Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Headache ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Orbit ; Recurrence

PURPOSE: We investigated the therapeutic effects of monoclonal anti-TNF antibody (infliximab) on experimental uveitis. METHODS: Twenty New Zealand White rabbits were immunized with Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra antigen and then challenged with intravitreal injection of tuberculin antigen to introduce a uveitis. Then infliximab was injected into rabbit eyes at an intravenous concentration of 5 mg/kg and intravitreal concentrations of 1 mg/0.1mL and 100 microg/0.1mL. As a control, the vehicle was injected intravenously or intravitreally. To evaluate the therapeutic effects, inflammation was assessed by slit lamp biomicroscopy and scored according to the severity of inflammation. The animals were also evaluated by electroretinography and histopathology. RESULTS: Regardless of the administration route, inflammatory activities of anterior chamber and engorgement of vascular structures were reduced in the infliximab treated group compared to control. Different administration routes and different concentrations of infliximab did not affect the therapeutic outcome of the clinical scoring. Intravenous (5 mg/kg) and intravitreal diluted (100 microg/0.1mL) infliximab injection groups showed significant improvement in electroretinographic findings and significant reduction of inflammatory cells with preservation of retinal tissue architecture on histopathologic examination. However, focal loss of the photoreceptor outer segment is observed in intravitreal undiluted (1 mg/0.1 mL) infliximab injected eyes. CONCLUSIONS: Infliximab may be a useful treatment modality to suppress ocular inflammation in experimental uveitis models in rabbits.
Animals ; Anterior Chamber ; Electroretinography ; Inflammation ; Intravitreal Injections ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Necrosis* ; Rabbits ; Retinaldehyde ; Tuberculin ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Uveitis* ; Infliximab

PURPOSE: The present study aimed to identify the characteristics and physiological function of the P2Y11 receptor, a receptor likely expressed in human retinoblastoma cells. METHODS: We measured possible P2Y11 signaling in WERI-Rb-1 cells using a Ca2+ imaging technique and RT-PCR. RESULTS: 1) 10 micro M ATP elicited a strong but transient increase in Ca2+ in the WERI-Rb-1 cells, and this Ca2+ rise was well maintained after external Ca2+-depletion. 2) ATP-induced Ca2+ response arose entirely through Ca2+ mobilization. 3) P2Y11 agonist (BzATP, 100 micro M) increased Ca2+ by 31.2+/-3.7 % of ATP effect. 4) mRNA for P2Y11 subtype was identified using RT-PCR. CONCLUSIONS: P2Y11 purinergic activation can increase the intracellular calcium level through calcium mobilization in undifferentiated retinoblastoma cells, which may play an important role in cell proliferation, differentiation, and even pathologic processes.
Adenosine Triphosphate ; Calcium ; Cell Proliferation ; Humans* ; Pathologic Processes ; Retinoblastoma* ; RNA, Messenger

PURPOSE: To identify the localization of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) in human corneal cells and to evaluate its ability to act as a local immunosuppressive factor. METHODS: The expression profile of IDO was obtained with RT-PCR and Western blot of in a primary culture of human corneal cells (fibroblasts, epithelial cells and endothelial cells). In order to investigate the immunosuppressive function of IDO, immune cells were cultured in a human corneal cell-conditioned medium, and their prolifleration was identified by the MTT assay. Moreover, apoptotic effects of IDO in immune cells treated with IFN-gamma were also investigated with apoptosis ELISA. RESULTS: Among the three different types of human corneal cells analyzed, mRNA and protein expression of IDO was observed only in human corneal fibroblasts. Immune cells cultured in a human corneal fibroblast-conditioned medium showed inhibited proliferation. Moreover, IFN-gamma-induced expression of IDO significantly enhanced apoptotic ability in a dose-depandant manner. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that human corneal fibroblasts are relatively immuno-resistant and that expression of IDO may be one of the factors involved in the immune tolerance observed in corneal grafts.
Apoptosis ; Blotting, Western ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epithelial Cells ; Fibroblasts ; Humans* ; Immune Tolerance ; Indoleamine-Pyrrole 2,3,-Dioxygenase ; RNA, Messenger ; Transplants

PURPOSE: To evaluate changes in refractive errors and quantify optometric values in 4th graders at an urban elementary school in Korea. METHODS: A total of 188 school children (376 eyes) were assessed in a population-based, cross-sectional and longitudinal follow-up study between March and December 2003. Uncorrected visual acuity, best corrected visual acuity, corneal refractive power measured with auto keratometer (KR-8100, Topcon(R) Inc., Japan), axial length measured with A-scan ultrasound biometry (A/B-scan system 835, Humphrey(R) Inc., Dublin, CA), and cycloplegic refraction were evaluated on March and December, respectively. RESULTS: Mean visual acuity decreased from -0.15+/-0.29 LogMAR to -0.20+/-0.35 LogMAR and mean spherical equivalent (SE) showed myopic progression from -0.65+/-1.57 diopter (D) to -0.88+/-1.75D. The prevalence rate of myopia (< or =-0.50D SE) was increased from 44.1% to 50.3%, while that of hyperopia (> or =+1.00D SE) was decreased from 8.0% to 5.8%. Mean corneal refractive power changed from 43.21+/-1.29D to 43.35+/-1.31D, and mean axial length changed from 23.38+/-0.88 mm to 23.60+/-0.92 mm, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We assessed the changes of refractive errors and quantified the optometric values in a population-based, longitudinal follow-up study. The results showed that the prevalence of myopia and the mean axial length increased during our study in urban elementary 4th graders in Korea.
Biometry ; Child ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hyperopia ; Korea* ; Myopia ; Prevalence ; Refractive Errors* ; Ultrasonography ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of monocular slanted lateral rectus (LR) muscle recession for exotropia with convergence insufficiency. METHODS: Twenty five patients with exotropia greater at near than at versus far distance by > or =10 prism diopters (PD), were divided into two groups: 15 patients who underwent monocular slanted LR recession (study group), and 10 patients who underwent monocular standard LR recession (control group). In the study group, the lower horn of the LR was recessed according to near deviation, the upper horn was recessed according to distance deviation. In the control group, monocular LR was recessed according to distance deviation. The postoperative ocular alignment at distance and near, and the difference between them, were measured and compared retrospectively. The criteria for successful outcome were postoperative residual deviation at near and distance, and the difference of 8 PD or less between the two. RESULTS: The mean distance deviation showed a significant postoperative reduction in both groups (P<0.001, P<0.001). The mean near deviation showed a significant postoperative reduction in both groups (P<0.001, P<0.001). The mean difference between near and distance deviation showed a significant postoperative reduction only in the study group (P<0.001, P=0.175). Successful outcome was obtained in 13 our of 15 (86.7%) patients in the study group, in 2 out of 10 (20%) patients in the control group. None of the study patients had postoperative diplopia. CONCLUSIONS: Monocular slanted lateral rectus recession is effective in reducing both distant and near exodeviation and in collapsing the difference between distance and near deviation them at postoperative 4 months.
Animals ; Diplopia ; Exotropia* ; Horns ; Humans ; Ocular Motility Disorders* ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: We assessed the relationship between the surgical outcome of intermittent exotropia and initial postoperative alignment by checking it on the first postoperative day or the day of strabismus surgery. METHODS: Seventy-three patients with intermittent exotropia underwent bilateral lateral rectus recession or unilateral medial rectus resection and lateral rectus recession. Thirty-two patients had their postoperative alignment checked on the day of surgery, and forty-one patients were checked on the first postoperative day. Success was defined as sustained alignment six months postoperatively from esotropia 10PD to exotropia 10PD. Overcorrection was defined as esotropia greater than 11PD, and undercorrection was exotropia greater than 11PD. We assessed the relationship between the alignment on the day of surgery or on the first postoperative day and also at six months postoperatively, as well as the success rate according to the initial postoperative alignment. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant relationship between alignments on the day of surgery or on the first postoperative day and those at six months postoperatively (p<0.001, p<0.001). The deviation on the first postoperative day had a greater correlation coefficient compared to the deviation on the day of the operation (Pearson correlation coefficient=0.704, and 0.593, respectively). The alignment of overcorrection ranged from 11~20PD on the day of surgery, and on the first postoperative day it produced a relatively high success rate (p=0.016, p=0.035). There was no statistically significant difference in the success rate between the two types of surgery (p=0.832). CONCLUSIONS: The alignment on the day of surgery showed a high correlation to the outcome on the sixth postoperative month in intermittent exotropia patients. The initial postoperative overcorrection of 11 to 20PD on the day of surgery and on the first postoperative day resulted in the best long-term outcomes.
Esotropia ; Exotropia* ; Humans ; Strabismus