It was investigated if regulation of the trabecular extracellular matrix tumover rate and remodeling plays an important role in decreasing outflow resistance by determining the effect of intracamerally given interleukin-1alpha a known stimulator of the expression of trabecular matrix metallopro-teinases, on outflow facility of albino rat eyes. Forty normal albino rats (Sprague dawley) weighing 250 to 300gm were studied. Rats were anesthetized by intraperitoneal pentobarbital sodium(30mg/kg) injection. The rats were grouped into 4 groups and given 5, 10, 25, 50 units of interleukin-1alpha injected intracamerally in one eye of each rat. Bovine serum albumin in phosphate buffered saline, which was used to dissolve the interleukin-1alpha, was injected in the other eye as a control. Outflow facility was measured by two level constant pressure perfusion at 1, 3, and 7 days after injection. The eyes treated with 50 units of interleukin-1alpha showed a statistically significant increase of outflow facility by 37% compared to the contralateral control eyes at 3 days after injection, but retumed to normal level in 7 days. The eyes treated with 5, 10, 25, 50 units of interleukin-1alpha increased the outflow facility, supporting the hypothesis that regulation of trabecular meshwork extracellular matrix plays a role in trabecular outflow resistance.
Animals ; Extracellular Matrix ; Interleukin-1alpha* ; Interleukins ; Pentobarbital ; Perfusion ; Rats* ; Serum Albumin, Bovine ; Trabecular Meshwork

Purpose: To explore the subjective eye health status of Korean adolescents by the extent of Internet use in 2009-2010 and smartphone use in 2020. Methods: We secondarily analyzed the results of the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey performed by the Korean Disease Control and Prevention Agency that enrolled Korean adolescents aged 12-18 years. Changes in internet use time from 2009 to 2019 and smartphone use in 2020 were examined. Questionnaires exploring subjective eye health were administered in 2009, 2010, and 2020. We performed complex logistic regression analysis. Results: A total of 748,490 subjects were enrolled. Korean adolescents used the Internet for an average of 2.48 hours (h) on weekdays and 4.06 h on weekends in 2019, thus significantly more than the 2009 averages of 1.93 h on weekdays and 2.96 h on weekends (both p < 0.001). In 2009 and 2010, the average internet use time on weekends significantly and positively correlated with subjective eye problems (odds ratio = 1.161, p < 0.001). The average smartphone use time was 4.72 h on weekdays and 6.56 h on weekends in 2020. In that year, the average smartphone use time on weekends (odds ratio = 1.049, p < 0.001) and smartphone overdependence (odds ratio = 8.636, p < 0.001) significantly and positively correlated with the presence of subjective health problems. Conclusions Internet and smartphone use time on weekends affect subjective eye health.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether the basal serum luteinizing hormone (LH) levels in the presence of normal serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) are useful as a prognostic indicator of ovarian response to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH). METHODS: From January 1997 to January 1999, 91 infertile women with tubal factor who had undergone in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) were enrolled in the present study. COH was performed using long protocol of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist. All patients included in this study had blood samples drawn on cycle day 2 or 3 prior to COH for measurement of basal FSH and LH. Women who had other infertility factors or high basal FSH levels (> or = 8.5 mIU/ml) were excluded from this study. The results of COH and IVF-ET were compared between two groups according to the level of basal LH (low LH group [< 3mIU/ml] vs. control group [> or = 3mIU/ml]). RESULTS: Patient's characteristics were comparable in both groups except basal LH level. The number of ampules and duration of exogenous gonadotropins required were significantly higher in the low LH group than those in the control group (p<0.001; p<0.005, respectively). The number of follicles > or = 14mm diameter on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) injection was significantly less in the low LH group than that in the control group (p<0.001). The serum estradiol level on the day of hCG injection was also significantly lower in the low LH group, with 1115.5 +/- 380.9 pg/ml compared with 1340.6 +/- 403.0 pg/ml in the control group (p<0.005). There were significantly lower numbers in oocytes retrieved, oocytes fertilized and embryos frozen in the low LH group than those in the control group (< 0.001; < 0.001; <0.005, respectively). However, there was no difference in the fertilization rate between the two groups. The clinical pregnancy rate per cycle seemed to be lower in the low LH group, but the difference did not achieve significance (26.2% vs 39.7%). There were no differences in the miscarriage rate and multiple pregnancy rate between the two groups. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that the low basal LH levels ( < 3 mIU/ml) could be predictive of low ovarian response to COH and poor IVF results.
Abortion, Spontaneous ; Chorionic Gonadotropin ; Embryo Transfer ; Embryonic Structures ; Estradiol ; Female ; Fertilization ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Gonadotropins ; Humans ; Infertility ; Lutein* ; Luteinizing Hormone* ; Oocytes ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Pregnancy, Multiple

No abstract available.
Heart Septal Defects, Atrial*

Aortoiliac aneurysm is a rare cause of ureteral obstruction. We report a case of perianeurysmal fibrosis(PAF) associated with aortoiliac aneurysm resulting in hydronephrosis. CT and MRI findigns of PAF are presented. In patient with hydronephrosis of unknown cause, PAF should be included among the differential diagnosis. The diagnosis of PAF is easily made with CT and MRI findings.
Aneurysm ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Retroperitoneal Fibrosis* ; Ureteral Obstruction

No abstract available.
Humans ; Pregnancy, Twin* ; Twins*

PURPOSE: To determine the value of Gd-DTPA enhanced fat-suppression(GEFS) MR imaging in the characterization and differentiation of benign from malignant ovarian tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MRI findings of thirty-seven patients with surgically proved 44 ovarian tumors (30 benign, 14 malignant) were studied retrospectively. MR imaging with conventional spin echo (CSE;Tl-weighted image TR/TE 450/20, T2-weighted image TR/TE 3500/30, 90) and GEFS were performed with a 1.5T GE signa. MRI findings of tumors including cystic or solid, wall and septal thickness, necrosis, invasion to adjacent organ, ascites and lymphadenopathy were assessed separately by using CSE and GEFS images, and then tumors were characterized as benign or malignant. RESULTS: Compared with CSE image, GEFS MR image showed better visualization of solid component in 5 malignant lesions, wall thickness in 5 malignant and 1 benign lesions, septal thickness in 3 malignant and 1 benign lesions, necrosis in 1 malignant lesion, and adjacent soft tissue invasion in 5 malignant lesions. Correct characterization of malignant tumors was increased from 71% on CSE image to 93% on GEFS image. However, correct characterization of benign tumors was 93% on both images. CONCLUSION: GEFS MR imaging could be useful for characterization of ovarian tumors, especially in malignant cases, and employed for differentiation of benign from malignant tumors.
Ascites ; Gadolinium DTPA* ; Humans ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Necrosis ; Retrospective Studies

A 33-year-old woman began to have diffuse hair loss with the onset of pregnancy, and it rapidly developed into alopecia universalis within 2 months af a mid-trimester termination at 20 weeks of gestation. Two months after completion of the depilation, white terminal hair started to regrow and repigmentation began after another 2 months. The hair loss was aggravated immediately after the termination and the regrowing pattern coincided with that of alopecia areata.
Adult ; Alopecia Areata ; Alopecia* ; Female ; Hair ; Hair Removal ; Humans ; Pregnancy

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of airway hyperresponsiveness induced by isocyanate at one petrochemical industry complex in Yeochon, Korea. METHOD: Questionnaires, allergic skin prick test, toluene diisocyanate (TDI)-specific IgE, and non-specific airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) were studied in 73 exposed workers and 27 control subjects. Methacholine challenge tests were done and bronc hial responsiveness (BR index) was defined as log (% fall of FEV1)/ log (last concentration of methacholine +10). RESULTS: Twenty-three workers (31.5% ) had respiratory symptoms, 21 had nasal symptoms, and eight had skin symptoms. Exposed workers with respiratory symptoms (n=22) had significantly higher BR index than those without them (0.82+/-0.06 vs 0.60+/-0.02, p<0.05). Exposed workers tended to have higher BR index than controls (0.67+/-0.03 vs 0.62+/-0.02). Three exposed workers had PC20 methacholine <2.0 mg/ml. There were no significant differences in atopy score between exposed workers and controls (p>0.05). Specific IgE antibodies were found in 19.7% of exposed workers. FEV, showed a significant negative correlation with BR index (r =-0.25, p<0.05). Poor correlation was noted between BR index and atopy, smoking status, or exposure duration. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that workers exposed to isocyanates are at higher risk of airway hyperresponsiveness.
Antibodies ; Immunoglobulin E ; Isocyanates* ; Korea ; Methacholine Chloride ; Plants* ; Prevalence ; Skin ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Toluene 2,4-Diisocyanate ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: We assessed the usefulness of magnetic resonance angiography(MRA) and its techniques for differential diagnosis of hemorrhagic causes in patients with non-traumatic intracranial hemorrhagic disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 74 patients with non-traumatic intracranial hemorrhagic diseases, which were confirmed by radiological examinations(36 cases) and operations(38 cases). We compared the usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) alone from MRI with MRA in evaluation of hemorrhagic causes. MRA was obtained by Time-of-Flight(TOF) and Phase Contrast(PC) technique. We investigated the usefulness of TOF and PC technique. RESULTS: MRI with MRA for detection of hemorrhagic causes(89%, 66 cases) was better than MRI only (64%, 47 cases). PC was better than TOF for evaluation of arteriovenous malformation and aneurysm due to subtraction of background noise(hemorrhage). CONCLUSION: MRI with MRA in more useful than MRI alone for evaluation of non-traumatic intracranial hemorrhagic causes.
Aneurysm ; Angiography* ; Arteriovenous Malformations ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Retrospective Studies