OBJECTIVE: To evaluat the effects of a culture medium with glucose in the presence of glutamine on the development of mouse embryos. METHODS: Two-cell embryos recovered from ICR mice at 48 hrs after hCG injection (mated just after hCG injection) were cultured in DMEM (with 20% hFF) supplemented with or without glucose on the presence of glutamine. Embryos were cultured under three different glucose regimens: (1) 0 mM (control); (2) 0.5 mM (group I); or (3) 3.15 mM (group II), and were analyzed at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours intervals. Chi-square test (x2-test) was used to compare values of groups. RESULTS: No differences were found in the number of embryos showing morula (control: 37.5%; group I: 51.0%; group II: 48.4%), blastocyst (control: 21.5%; group I: 33.3%; group II: 34.4%) and blastocyst and hatching or hatched blastocyst (control: 81.9%; group I: 83.3%; group II: 82.8%) between groups at 24 hrs, 48 hrs or 72 hrs respectively. However at 96 hrs, the number of hatched and attached blastocyst was significantly higher in group I (82.3%) and II (78.5%) than control (63.2%; P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The addition of glucose (0.5 mM) to the DMEM, as energy source, improved the rate of development of late stage embryos in mice.
Animals ; Blastocyst ; Eagles* ; Embryonic Development* ; Embryonic Structures* ; Female ; Glucose* ; Glutamine* ; Mice* ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Morula ; Pregnancy

To compare the central corneal endothelial change following phacoemulsification using two different incision methods, a total of 49 patients (49 eyes) were recruited for prospective study. Forty-nine eyes were divided into two groups according to incision location. In Group 1(n=28), a PMMA IOL was implanted through a 6.5 mmlimbal incision.In Group 2(n=21), a soft foldable IOL was implanted through a 3.5 mm clear corneal incision.Various endothelial cell parameters were measured preoperatively and up to 2 months postoperatively. In Group 1 corneal endothelial cell loss (CECL) was 12.9%, 8.9% and 8.8% at postoperative 1 week, 1 month and 2 months respectively. In Group 2 CECL was 13.9%, 12.6%, 10.1%,respectively. The CECL was greater as ultrasound time and power increased, which was more profound in Group 2. The morphologic endothelial parameters showed greater changes at postoperative 1 month. However, no statistically significant difference was noted in those parameters between two groups. From these results, phacoemulisification with 6.5 mm limbal incision produced slightly less CECL than that with 3.5 mm clear corneal incision. However, the difference was not significant. Phacoemulsification with clear corneal incision showed acceptable corneal endothelial cell loss but this technique requires precaution in cases of low preoperative endothelial cell density, complicated cataract and hard nucleus.
Cataract ; Corneal Endothelial Cell Loss ; Endothelial Cells ; Humans ; Phacoemulsification* ; Polymethyl Methacrylate ; Prospective Studies ; Ultrasonography

We evaluated the effect of 0.1% Pranoprofen,a non-steroidal antiinflammatory drug, and therapeutic contact lens in the pain control after refractive surgeries.One hundred and two patients undergone PRK were subdivided into 4 groups: 27 patients treated with placebo (Group 1), 28 patients with Pranoprofen (Group 2), 30 patients with therapeutic contactlens (Group 3) and 17 patients with Pranoprofen and contact lens (Group 4). Forty-seven patients undergone LASIK were subdivided into 2 groups: 27 patients treated with placebo (Group 5) and 20 patients with Pranoprofen (Group 6). We recorded and analyzed visual analogue scale, 6 questions about pain and pain scores during postoperative 48 hours to evaluate the degree of pain. In PRK groups, analgesic effect was evident in groups using Pranoprofen (Group 2,4) compared to the groups not using the drugs (Group 1,3). The analgesic effect was augmented by the combined use of therapeutic contact lenses along with Pranoprofen (Group 4). Pranoprofen did not have an adverse effect on corneal epithelial wound healing.In LASIK groups,pain control was more effective in Pranoprofen using groups. However, it was not statistically significant. In conclusion, 0.1%Pranoprofen can be used effectively to reduce postoperative pain following PRK and LASIK procedures and the analgesic effect of the drug can be augmented by the combined use of therapeutic contact lenses.
Contact Lenses ; Humans ; Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ ; Ophthalmic Solutions* ; Pain, Postoperative ; Refractive Surgical Procedures* ; Wounds and Injuries

No abstract available.
Endosonography* ; Insulinoma*

It has been suggested that normal tension glaucoma could be the result of pressure independent factors. One of the current theories is that normal tension glaucoma is the result of decreased optic nerve perfusion on the basis of vascular disease or other systemic factors such as altered blood viscosity or coagulation state. This study compared the vascular viscosity profiles, coagulation tests, and biochemical tests of 30 consecutive cases of normal tension glaucoma with 30 control cases to evaluate association of particular systemic state with normal tension glaucoma in Korean population. The data of total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol were significantly higher in the normal tension glaucoma group than in the control group. But there were no significant differences between the two groups with respect to the many other factors examined. These results support the vascular ischmic theory due to hyperlipidemia in the pathogenesis of the normal tension glaucoma. Inadequate circulation of optic nerve due to atherosclerotic change might play an important role in the pathogenesis of normal tension glaucoma.
Blood Viscosity ; Cholesterol ; Hyperlipidemias ; Lipoproteins ; Low Tension Glaucoma* ; Optic Nerve ; Perfusion ; Vascular Diseases ; Viscosity

BACKGROUND: Disability of Activities of daily living (ADL) is the most important factor for care of dementia patients. So Korean Dementia Association has prepared the survey for current state and cognition of active daily living in Korean dementia patients. METHODS: A total of 100 subjects were interviewed. Structured open and closed questions about ADL for dementia were asked. They are main caregivers of dementia patients who working over 5hours per day. Assessments included age, sex, education level, economic status, severity of dementia patients, pattern of the care-giving, current state and cognition of ADL, and needs of the caregivers. RESULTS: The cognition of ADL was very low (51%) and this is correlated with economic status. Increasing of care-giving time is the most stressful for caregivers, they frequently suffered from disability of outgoing and personal hygiene. Dementia patient's ADL disability causes serious economic losses, need of the caregivers about guide lines or education program was very high. CONCLUSION: Considering these results, we should design more detailed study about dementia patient's ADL disability and prepare guide line or program for it.
Activities of Daily Living ; Caregivers ; Cognition ; Dementia ; Humans ; Hygiene

OBJECTIVES: Asbestos-related diseases (ARDs) have increased globally over the decades, causing an economic burden and increased health care costs. It is difficult to predict the risk of development of ARDs and of respiratory disability among workers with a history of asbestos exposure. Blood based biomarkers have been reported as promising tools for the early detection of malignant mesothelioma. This study investigated whether serum soluble mesothelin-related peptide (SMRP) would reflect severity of disablement in compensable ARDs. METHODS: SMRP levels were measured in a cohort of 514 asbestos-exposed subjects. Severity of ARDs was assessed by a Medical Authority comprising four specially qualified respiratory physicians. Severity of ARDs and SMRP levels were compared. RESULTS: Mean (standard deviation) serum SMRP level in the population with compensable ARDs (n = 150) was 0.95 (0.65) nmol/L, and was positively associated with disability assessment (p = 0.01). Mean SMRP level in healthy asbestos-exposed subjects was significantly lower than those with pleural plaques (p < 0.0001) and in subjects with ARDs who received compensation (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: This study indicates that serum SMRP levels correlate with severity of compensable ARDs. Serum SMRP could potentially be applied to monitor progress of ARDs. Further prospective work is needed to confirm the relationship between SMRP and disability assessment in this population.
Asbestos ; Biomarkers ; Cohort Studies ; Compensation and Redress ; Health Care Costs ; Mesothelioma ; Organothiophosphorus Compounds

Corticosteroids are considered to be one of the most effective medicine for asthma by suppressing airway inflammation. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of prednisolone in the sputum of exacerbated asthmatics. Clinical severity, cell differentials, levels of interleukin (IL)-5, eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), EG2+ eosinophils, and nitric oxide (NO) metabolites were measured. Sputum was examined 2 weeks apart in 13 exacerbated asthmatics before and after prednisolone treatment, and once in 12 stable asthmatics. We used a sandwich ELISA for IL-5, fluoroimmunoassay for ECP, immunohistochemical staining for EG2+ eosinophils, a NO metabolites assay using modified Griess reaction. Exacerbated asthmatics, in comparison with stable asthmatics, had significantly higher proportion of eosinophils, higher level of ECP, higher percentage of EG2+ eosinophils, and NO metabolites. Exacerbated asthmatics after treatment with prednisolone had reduced the proportions of eosinophils, reduced level of IL-5, ECP and percentage of EG2+ eosinophils. FEV1 was correlated with the proportion of eosinophils, ECP, and IL-5 respectively. These findings suggest that prednisolone is considered to be effective medicine for asthma by suppressing eosinophil activation through IL-5.
Administration, Oral ; Adolescence ; Adrenal Cortex/metabolism ; Adult ; Aged ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Steroidal/administration & dosage* ; Asthma/metabolism ; Asthma/immunology* ; Asthma/drug therapy* ; Biological Markers ; Blood Proteins/metabolism* ; Eosinophils/metabolism ; Eosinophils/immunology ; Eosinophils/drug effects* ; Female ; Human ; Interleukin-5/metabolism* ; Leukocyte Count ; Male ; Middle Age ; Nitric Oxide/metabolism ; Prednisolone/administration & dosage* ; Sputum/immunology ; Sputum/cytology

BACKGROUND: High energy electron beam therapy is an excellent modality for treating epithelial skin cancers with high local tumor control, good cosmesis and low complication. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to determine the local control rate, complication rate and cosmesis of electron beam therapy with histopathologically confirmed epithelial skin cancers. METHODS: A total of 23 consecutively treated, biopsy proven epithelial skin cancers of the head and neck treated with electron beam therapy were retrospectively analyzed to determine the rate of local control, radiotherapy reaction and cosmesis. RESULTS: Seventy percent of patients received electron beam therapy after biopsy only and 26% received electron beam therapy following surgical excision with pathologically positive margins or insufficient excision. The overall local tumor control rate was 87%. Patients with basal cell carcinoma had a 89% overall control rate; patients with squamous cell carcinoma had 80%. Excellent or good cosmesis was achieved in 96%. Side effects were mild and self-limiting. CONCLUSION: Electron beam therapy remains an excellent treatment modality for epithelial skin cancer and offers excellent cosmesis.
Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Head* ; Humans ; Neck* ; Radiotherapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin Neoplasms* ; Skin*

Leukemia cutis is the cutaneous involvement of leukemic neoplastic cells. It is an uncommon feature of systemic leukemia, and is associated with a poor prognosis. A 20-year-old man presented with a solitary, 2 cm dome- shaped, firm, erythematous nodule on the right medial malleolus that was present for 3 months. The patient had a history of venous catheter insertion at the right medial malleolus area 3 months previously. The history was significant for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) for 4 years; an allogenic bone marrow transplantation was performed 3 years earlier. The histologc examination of the lesion revealed diffuse infiltration of leukemic cells in the dermis and subcutis. Herein we report a case of leukemia cutis at the site of a prior catheter insertion in a patient with ALL
Bone Marrow Transplantation ; Catheters ; Dermis ; Humans ; Leukemia ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; Prognosis ; Young Adult