PURPOSE: To study the effectiveness of Interferon alfa-2b (IFN alpha 2b) for treating squamous papilloma of the conjunctiva. METHODS: One million units/cc of IFN alpha 2b was applied 4 times a day after identifying squamous papilloma by excisional biopsy. The IFN alpha 2b was used continuously 2 to 6 months after the tumor became undetectable with the unaided eye. The dose was then tapered. RESULTS: Three of the 4 patients had a history of recurrences (1-4 times). In one patient, the tumor was difficult to remove surgically due to the location of the tumor (around the upper punctum). The tumor disappeared with no complications or recurrences during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with conjunctival squamous papilloma with frequent relapses or difficulty in excision, applying IFN alpha 2b as an eye drop appears to be an effective form of therapy and can be used safely without complications.
Biopsy ; Conjunctiva ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Interferons* ; Papilloma* ; Recurrence

No abstract available.
Female ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic*

Phacoemulsification combined with pars plana vitrectomy was performed on seventeen eyes with both cataract and vitreoretinal disease. Postoperative visual acuity improved in ten of seventeen cases. There was no serious perioperative complication. In those eyes with both cataract and vitreoretinal disease, the small incision used in phacoemulsification allows better control of the anterior chamber during vitrectomy. In addition, this procedure allows endocapsular fixation of the intraocular lens.
Anterior Chamber ; Cataract ; Lenses, Intraocular ; Phacoemulsification* ; Visual Acuity ; Vitrectomy*

No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans ; Urinary Tract Infections* ; Urinary Tract*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the factors that affect the eyelid height changes during the postoperative period in patients who underwent levator resection under local anesthesia. METHODS: Among the 242 patients that underwent levator resection under local anesthesia by the same surgeon between January on 1995 and December 2003, marginal reflex distance 1 (MRD1) measurements were performed using a caliper in 91 patients who were followed for more than 3 months. RESULTS: There were 36 males and 55 females, aged between 12 and 78 years (average of 33.6 years). The average follow-up period of the patients was 8.7 months (3 months ~ 58 months). During this period, 86 patients (94.5%) experienced satisfactory results. The average change in the MRD1 of the eyelids preoperatively, during the operation, and 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year postoperatively were 0.8 mm, 3.9 mm, 3.0 mm, 2.7 mm, 2.5 mm, 2.4 mm, and 2.2 mm, respectively. The MRD1 decreased 1.2 mm after 1 month and stabilized. When the levator function was greater than 8 mm, the height of the eyelids stabilized within 1 week. The worse the function of the levator palpebrae, such as in the case of congenital ptosis, the greater the correction was needed. CONCLUSIONS: Levator resection under local anesthesia is a preferable method in adjusting the height of the eyelids. In a patient with poor levator function, a greater amount of correction is needed to achieve a satisfactory eyelid height.
Anesthesia, Local* ; Eyelids* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Postoperative Period ; Reflex

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of auriculotherapy on musculoskeletal pain in adults. Methods: A total of 885 studies were retrieved from nine databases (PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Web of Science, Ovid Medline, Cochrane Library, RISS, KMbase, and KISS). Sixteen studies were selected for meta-analysis, which satisfied the inclusion criteria and the evaluation of risk of bias. Demographic data, auriculotherapy types, intervention characteristics, auricular points, and outcomes related to pain (subjective pain scale, and amount of analgesic) were extracted from all included studies. The effect size of auriculotherapy was analyzed through comprehensive meta analysis 3.0, and the presence of publication bias was analyzed through a funnel plot and Egger’s regression. Results: The results of the meta-analysis (n = 16) revealed that the auriculotherapy was significantly superior to the control group on present pain in adults (Hedges’ g = - 0.35, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] = - 0.55~- 0.15). According to the results of subgroup analysis, the effect size of auricular acupuncture therapy (Hedges’ g = 0.45, 95% CI = - 0.75~- 0.15) was higher than the auricular acupuncture (Hedges’ g = 0.27, 95% CI = - 0.53~0.00): the longer the intervention period, the greater the effect size. Conclusion In this study, auriculotherapy demonstrates a significant reduction in musculoskeletal pain in adults. Therefore, it is necessary to refine the curriculum to include auriculotherapy as a nursing intervention to relieve musculoskeletal pain in adults and encourage its use in clinical settings.

No abstract available.
Child* ; Eosinophils* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E* ; Skin Tests* ; Skin*

Few have reported fungal sinusitis confined in only sphenoidal sinus which caused orbital complication. Reportedly, early surgical treatment can lead to visual recovery especially in its involvement of optic nerve. We report a patients who was hospitalized due to sudden decrease in visual acuity and headache, and was histopathologically diagnosed as having aspergillosis confined in sphenoid sinus, but failed to show restoration of visual acuity after the operation using nasal endoscope.
Aspergillosis ; Endoscopes ; Headache ; Humans ; Optic Nerve* ; Orbit ; Sinusitis ; Sphenoid Sinus ; Sphenoid Sinusitis* ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: This study was designed to evaluate the effect of vitrectomy on the recovery of impaired visual acuity from complication of branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). METHODS: The medical records were obtained from all patients who underwent vitreoretinal surgery for complication of BRVO and were followed up at least for 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: The Surgical indications included vitreous hemorrhage (29 patients), epiretinal membrane (7), and retinal detachment (4). Mean follow-up was 13 months. Preoperatively, best corrected visual acuity was greater than or equal to 0.1 in 14 eyes (35.0%). Six months postoperatively, best corrected visual acuity was greater than or equal to 0.1 in 36 eyes (90.0%). Clinical features associated with better visual outcome included better preoperative visual acuity (P<0.01) and absence of preoperative macular edema (P<0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Vitrectomy is a good procedure for the recovery on the visual impairment due to BRVO complication.
Epiretinal Membrane ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Macular Edema ; Medical Records ; Retinal Detachment ; Retinal Vein Occlusion* ; Retinal Vein* ; Retinaldehyde* ; Vision Disorders ; Visual Acuity ; Vitrectomy* ; Vitreoretinal Surgery ; Vitreous Hemorrhage

BACKGROUND: Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is usually managed pharmacologically. It is not uncommon for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) to suffer from PHN. It is difficult to prescribe a sufficient dose of anticonvulsants for intractable pain because of the decreased glomerular filtration rate. If the neural blockade and pulsed radiofrequency ablation provide only short-term amelioration of pain, spinal cord stimulation (SCS) with a low level of evidence may be used only as a last resort. This study was done to evaluate the efficacy of spinal cord stimulation in the treatment of PHN in patients with CKD. METHODS: PHN patients with CKD who needed hemo-dialysis who received insufficient relief of pain over a VAS of 8 regardless of the neuropathic medications were eligible for SCS trial. The follow-up period was at least 2 years after permanent implantation. RESULTS: Eleven patients received percutaneous SCS test trial from Jan 2003 to Dec 2007. Four patients had successfully received a permanent SCS implant with their pain being tolerable at a VAS score of less than 3 along with small doses of neuropathic medications. CONCLUSIONS: SCS was helpful in managing tolerable pain levels in some PHN patients with CKD along with tolerable neuropathic medications for over 2 years.
Anticonvulsants ; Electric Stimulation Therapy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Health Resorts ; Humans ; Kidney ; Kidney Diseases ; Neuralgia, Postherpetic ; Pain, Intractable ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Cord Stimulation