PURPOSE: To evaluate long-term effects and usefulness of combined intravitreal injection of bevacizumab and panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) in patients with high-risk proliferative diabetic retinopathy. METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed the records of 40 patients (40 eyes) with high-risk proliferative diabetic retinopathy who had been treated with PRP alone (laser treatment group, n=20) or intravitreal bevacizumab before PRP (combined treatment group, n=20). Changes in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central macular thickness (CMT) and the total area of leakage from active new vessels (NVs) were compared between the groups at one, three, and six months and at one year post-treatment. RESULTS: In the combined treatment group, CMT decreased significantly at one month (p=0.021), and the areas of active NVs decreased significantly at one month (p=0.001) and three months (p=0.014) compared to those of the laser treatment group. However, there were no differences between the two groups after three months. In the combined treatment group, elevated intraocular pressures were found in three cases after one month, and there were vitreous hemorrhages in two cases after three months. CONCLUSIONS: The combined treatment showed significant early improvements in BCVA, CMT, and NVs regression for up to three months. However, long-term follow-up and additional treatment was necessary in the patients with persistent or recurred NVs and macular edema after three months.
Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Intravitreal Injections ; Light Coagulation ; Macular Edema ; Retrospective Studies ; Visual Acuity ; Vitreous Hemorrhage ; Bevacizumab

PURPOSE: To compare the effect and complications of treatments for diabetic macular edema. METHODS: Literature review using the Korean medical database and the Korean Ophthalmological Society database was performed. Studies used consisted of patients with diabetic macular edema, comparing intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (IVTA) injection with posterior subtenon triamcinolone acetonide (STTA) injection or intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) injection, according to visual acuity (VA) outcomes, central macular thickness (CMT), and intraocular pressure (IOP) at 1, 3, and 6 months. RESULTS: In the three studies comparing IVTA injection with STTA injection, IVTA injection demonstrated greater improvement in VA at 1 month and CMT at 6 months. The patients who received IVTA injection had significantly higher IOP at 3 months. In the three studies comparing IVTA injection with IVB injection, IVTA injection demonstrated greater improvement in VA at 3 months and CMT at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: The functional and anatomical improvements are achieved by IVTA injection, STTA injection, and IVB injection for diabetic macular edema, and the effect of IVTA injection is more prominent than other injection types with longer duration.
Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Intravitreal Injections ; Macular Edema ; Triamcinolone Acetonide ; Visual Acuity ; Bevacizumab

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of intracameral triamcinolone on the control of inflammation with rupture of the posterior lens capsule during cataract surgery in rabbit eyes. METHODS: Twenty rabbit eyes were subjected to experimentally induced rupture of the posterior lens capsule and prolapse of the vitreous body into the anterior chamber. After anterior vitrectomy with and without triamcinolone, aqueous flare was measured with a laser flare meter on days 1, 3, 7, 14 and 28. RESULTS: Vitrectomized eyes with triamcinolone showed a less marked increase in postoperative aqueous flare intensity on days 14 and 28 than did those without triamcinolone (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Intracameral injection of triamcinolone was beneficial for visualizing the prolapsed vitreous in the anterior chamber and for helping to control the postoperative inflammation without adverse effects.
Anterior Chamber ; Aqueous Humor ; Cataract ; Eye ; Inflammation ; Prolapse ; Rupture ; Triamcinolone ; Vitrectomy ; Vitreous Body

PURPOSE: This study examines driving behaviors among patients treated for chronic ophthalmologic disorders and the effects of visual acuity and visual field on driving performance. METHODS: A 15-item survey was given to 153 patients treated for chronic ophthalmologic disorders including diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, retinal vessel occlusions, and senile macular degeneration. Six items questioned the patient's discomfort based on a five-point scale according to different driving conditions and one item involved a self-assessment of driving problems. Results were compared with the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and visual fields of the patients. RESULTS: In total, 16.2% of first-class drivers and 24.1% of second-class drivers rated below the evaluation standards of the driving license aptitude test. Overall, 82.6% of the patients continued to drive, while 7.8% renounced driving due to decreased visual acuity. Patient discomfort was significantly correlated with visual acuity (r = -0.503, p < or = 0.01). Among the patients scoring below the evaluation standards, 74.2% responded that their visual acuity had become a problem while driving. CONCLUSIONS: These results call for appropriate driving programs and measures to educate people about responsive driving considering the visual function of patients treated for chronic ophthalmologic disorders.
Aptitude Tests ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Glaucoma ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Humans ; Licensure ; Macular Degeneration ; Retinal Vessels ; Self-Assessment ; Visual Acuity ; Visual Fields

OBJECTIVE: This study is performed to assess whether detection of phosphorylated insulin like growth factor binding protein-1 (phIGFBP-1) in cervical secretions by a bed side test could be used to prediction preterm delivery in patient with regular uterine contraction. METHODS: In our prospective study, 42 women between 20.2 and 36.4 weeks gestation with regular, persistent contraction (2-3/min for 30 min). and 27 women between 22.0 and 37.0 weeks of gestation without symptoms of preterm labor were assessed for presence of cervical phIGFBP-1. Dacron swabs were applied to the cervix and assayed in 5min by using immunochromatography, actim partus test (Medix Biochemica). RESULTS: Of the 42 patients with regular uterine contractions, 22 had a positive actim partus test and 20 had a negative test. Among the 22 patients with positive test, 5 delivered preterm and other 17 patients delivered term (<37 weeks). Among the the 20 women with a negative test, 2 delivered preterm (NS). The mean concentration of phIGFBP-1 in 22 positive patients is 83.8+/-86.5 microgram/L and that in 20 negative patients is 2.1+/-5.0 microgram/L (P<0.0001) (Table 4). Sensitivity, specificity, false positive, false negative, positive predictive, and negative predictive values were 18.5, 59.6, 40.3, 28.6, 16.7, and 94.9%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The absence of cervical phIGFBP-1 is seems to be a valuable test in excluding preterm delivery in patients who have regular uterine contractions. The high negative predictive value in this study may enable physicians to prevent over treatment of patients with uterine contractions. Therefore, many unwanted side-effects and complications of potentially hazardous tocolytic therapy can be prevented.
Cervix Uteri ; Female ; Humans ; Immunochromatography ; Insulin ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; Polyethylene Terephthalates ; Pregnancy ; Prospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tocolysis ; Uterine Contraction

PURPOSE: Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), which mediates neovascularization of uterine endometrium may be involved in the neovascularization in the utero-placental circulation. Low numbers of endothelial progenitor colony-forming unit (CFU) in culture are predictive biomarker of vascular disease. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether the number of CFU in preeclampsia differed from that in normal pregnancy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Women with singleton normal (n=26) or preeclamptic (n=20) pregnancies were studied during the third trimester. The number of EPCs was quantified by CFU methodology. Plasma levels of angiogenic factors, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1), and placental growth factor (PlGF) were determined by enzyme-linked immunoassay. RESULTS: CFU numbers were significantly decreased in the preeclamptic patients compared with the controls (median, 3; range 1-12 vs. 31; 3-81 CFU/well, P<0.001). A majority of the cells comprising individual colonies were positive for endothelial characteristics (Ulex europaeus lectin staining and acetylated low-density lipoprotein uptake). Plasma levels of the sFlt-1 were highly elevated (P<0.001) in patient with preeclampsia compared to controls, whereas PlGF were highly reduced (P=0.004), but these factors did not associate with CFU numbers. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that reduced numbers of CFU obtained from maternal peripheral blood may contribute to the development of preeclampsia.
Angiogenesis Inducing Agents ; Endometrium ; Female ; Humans ; Lipoproteins ; Plasma ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Stem Cells ; Tyrosine ; Vascular Diseases ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

The aim of present study was to establish the baseline data for pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH). From November 2000 through October 2001, a total of 212 women diagnosed as PIH and delivered at Samsung Cheil Hospital were included in this study. We reviewed the obstetric and neonatal records, then analyzed the incidence, maternal complications, and neonatal outcomes according to the severity of PIH. The incidence of PIH was 2.6% (mild and severe form was 59% and 41%, respectively). In maternal age, parity, number of fetus (singletone or multiple pregnancy), and gestational diabetus, there was no significant different incidence between mild and severe form of PIH. But, the women with severe PIH delivered more frequently at 21~28 and 33~36 gestational weeks than in mild form (p<0.05). Among fetuses with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), a group with birth weight below the population 5 percentile was more frequent in severe than in mild form of PIH (p0.05). As to maternal, fetal and neonatal complications of PIH, maternal anemia, preterm labor, and IUGR were more frequently founded in severe form of PIH than in mild. We could not found significant different frequency in other complication (disseminated intravascular coagulation, abruptio placenta, pulmonary edema, low apgar score, meconium stained, respiratory distress syndrome, and intracranial hemorrhage) between mild and severe form of PIH.
Pregnancy ; Female ; Infant, Newborn ; Humans ; Incidence

PURPOSE: Aneuploidy is the cause of diseases such as Down syndrome or Edward syndrome and, more generally, is a major cause of mental retardation and fetal loss. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between MTHFR (C677T) or MTRR (A66G) polymorphisms and fetal aneuploidy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data was collected from 37 women who had a fetus with aneuploidy (cases) and 78 women who had previously delivered at least two healthy children without aneuploidy and did not have a history of miscarriage or abnormal pregnancy (controls). The MTHFR (C677T) or MTRR (A66G) polymorphisms were analyzed by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay. RESULTS: The frequencies of the MTHFR 677 CC, CT, and TT genotypes were 30.7%, 48.7%, and 20.6% in the control group and 37.8%, 48.6%, and 13.5% in the case group, respectively. There were no significant differences in genotype frequencies between the two groups. For the MTRR A66G polymorphism, the frequencies of the AA, AG and GG genotypes were 50%, 46.1%, and 3.9% in the control group and 13.5%, 81.1%, and 5.4% in case group, respectively. The frequency of the MTRR AG mutant was significantly increased in the case group, with an odds ratio of 6.5 (95% CI: 2.3-18.6, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that mother carriers with the MTRR G allele have an increased risk of fetal aneuploidy, while the MTHFR T allele is not associated with increased risk of fetal aneuploidy. The MTRR A66G polymorphism may be a risk factor for producing a child with chromosomal aneuploidy.
5-Methyltetrahydrofolate-Homocysteine S-Methyltransferase ; Abortion, Spontaneous ; Alleles ; Aneuploidy ; Child ; Down Syndrome ; Female ; Ferredoxin-NADP Reductase ; Fetus ; Genotype ; Humans ; Intellectual Disability ; Methionine ; Mothers ; Odds Ratio ; Oxidoreductases ; Pregnancy ; Risk Factors

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether maternal serum (MS) and amniotic fluid (AF) inhibin A levels are elevated in patients who subsequently develop severe preecalmpsia, and to investigate the correlation between MS and AF inhibin A levels in the second trimester. The study included 40 patients who subsequently developed severe preecalmpsia and 80 normal pregnant women. Inhibin A levels in MS and AF were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The MS and AF inhibin A levels in patients who developed severe preeclampsia were significantly higher than those in the control group (both for p<0.001). There was a positive correlation between MS and AF inhibin A levels in patients who developed severe preeclampsia (r=0.397, p=0.011), but not in the control group (r=0.185, p=0.126). The best cutoff values of MS and AF inhibin A levels for the prediction of severe preeclampsia were 427 pg/mL and 599 pg/mL, respectively; the estimated ORs that were associated with these cut-off values were 9.95 (95% CI 3.8-25.9, p<0.001) and 6.0 (95% CI 2.3-15.8, p<0.001). An elevated level of inhibin A in MS and AF at the time of second trimester amniocentesis may be a risk factor for the subsequent development of severe preeclampsia.
Risk Factors ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy ; Pre-Eclampsia/*blood/*metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Maternal Age ; Inhibins/*biosynthesis/*blood ; Humans ; Gestational Age ; Female ; Case-Control Studies ; Amniotic Fluid/*metabolism ; Amniocentesis ; Adult

This report provides a detailed description of the methodology for ophthalmic examinations according to the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) VII and VIII (from 2017 to 2021). The KNHANES is a nationwide survey which has been performed since 1998 in representatives of whole Korean population. During the KNHANES VII and VIII, in addition to the ophthalmic questionnaire, intraocular pressure measurement, visual field test, auto refractometry, axial length and optical coherence tomography measurements were included. This new survey will provide not only provide normative and pathologic ophthalmic data including intraocular pressure, refractive error, axial length, visual field and precise measurement of anterior segment, macula and optic nerve with optical coherence tomography, but also a more accurate diagnosis for major adult blindness diseases, including age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and other ocular diseases, for the national Korean population.