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 compare the surgical outcomes between bilateral lateral rectus muscles (BLR) re-recession and bilateral medial rectus muscles (BMR) resection in recurrent exotropia. METHODS: The medical records of patients with recurrent exotropia who underwent surgery for intermittent exotropia during the 6 years from January 2001 to December 2006 and followed up for more than 6 months were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: In group A, BLR recessions was performed at the first surgery and BLR re-recession was performed at the second surgery. In group B, BLR recession was performed at the first surgery and BMR resection at the second surgery. Success rates at the last follow-up after the second operation were 81.9% in Group A and 83.3% in Group B, showing no statical difference between the two groups. In group A, no significant underaction of the BLR was noted. Success rates were not statistically different between the 2 mm re-recessed subgroup and 3 mm re-recessed subgroup. CONCLUSIONS: The results support the notion that BLR re-recession successfully corrects recurrent exotropia without producing significant limitation of abduction.
Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Exotropia/*surgery ; Eye Movements ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Oculomotor Muscles/*surgery ; Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures/*methods ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Vision, Binocular

PURPOSE: To evaluate the correlation between hypertropia and excyclotorsion in acquired superior oblique palsy (SOP). METHODS: Thirty-one patients with acquired unilateral SOP were recruited for this study. The torsional angle of each patient was assessed via one objective method (fundus photography) and two subjective methods (double Maddox rod test and major amblyoscope). The patient population was divided into two groups (concordance group, n = 19 and discordance group, n = 12) according to the correspondence between the hypertropic eye (paralytic eye) and the more extorted eye (non-fixating eye), which was evaluated by fundus photography. RESULTS: The mean value of objective torsion was 5.09degrees +/- 3.84degrees. The subjective excyclotorsion degrees were 5.18degrees +/- 4.11degrees and 3.65degrees +/- 1.93degrees as measured by double Maddox rod test and major amblyoscope, respectively. Hypertropia and the excyclotorsional angle did not differ significantly between the groups (p = 0.257). Although no correlation was found in the discordance group, the concordance group showed a significant and positive correlation between hypertropia and excyclotorsion (p = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: Torsional deviation was not related to hypertropia. However, in the concordance patients in whom the hypertropic eye showed excyclotorsion, a significant positive correlation was found between hypertropia and excyclotorsion.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological ; Eye Movements ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oculomotor Muscles/*physiopathology ; Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures/*methods ; Ophthalmoplegia/*etiology/physiopathology/surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Strabismus/*etiology/physiopathology/surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Trochlear Nerve Diseases/*complications/physiopathology/surgery ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: To report of photic retinopathy induced by plasma arc welding, and the OCT (optical coherence tomography) results of damaged retinal lesions. METHODS: We describe a case report of a 37-year-old male, working in the steel industry, who presented with central scotoma in both eyes. RESULTS: On his first visit, one day after performing plasma arc welding with protective gear at work, his best corrected vision was 0.7 for both eyes. Ophthalmic examination of the fundus showed a round yellow lesion with an approximate size of 300 micrometers superonasal to the fovea of both eyes. On his next visit, one month later, his vision had recovered to 1.0, his symptoms had improved, and the ophthalmoscopic examination of the fundus revealed that the round yellow spots had disappeared from both eyes. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first report of photic retinopathy induced by plasma arc welding, and the OCT (optical coherence tomography) results of damaged retinal lesions have not previously been reported. For these reasons, we report this case.
*Welding ; Trauma Severity Indices ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Retinal Diseases/*etiology/pathology ; Retina/*injuries/pathology/radiation effects ; Male ; Light/*adverse effects ; Humans ; Fundus Oculi ; Fluorescein Angiography ; Eye Burns/*complications/pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Adult ; *Accidents, Occupational

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the outcomes of Fontan surgery in the Republic of Korea, as there were only a few studies from Asian countries. Methods: The medical records of 1,732 patients who underwent Fontan surgery in 10 cardiac centers were reviewed. Results: Among them, 1,040 (58.8%) were men. The mean age at Fontan surgery was 4.3±4.2 years, and 395 (22.8%) patients presented with heterotaxy syndrome. According to the types of Fontan surgery, 157 patients underwent atriopulmonary (AP) type; 303, lateral tunnel (LT) type; and 1,266, extracardiac conduit (ECC) type. The overall survival rates were 91.7%, 87.1%, and 74.4% at 10, 20, and 30 years, respectively. The risk factors of early mortality were male, heterotaxy syndrome, AP-type Fontan surgery, high mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) in pre-Fontan cardiac catheterization, and early Fontan surgery year. The risk factors of late mortality were heterotaxy syndrome, genetic disorder, significant atrioventricular valve regurgitation (AVVR) before Fontan surgery, high mPAP in pre-Fontan cardiac catheterization, and no fenestration. Conclusions In Asian population with a high incidence of heterotaxy syndrome, the heterotaxy syndrome was identified as the poor prognostic factors for Fontan surgery. The preoperative low mPAP and less AVVR are associated with better early and long-term outcomes of Fontan surgery.

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the outcomes of Fontan surgery in the Republic of Korea, as there were only a few studies from Asian countries. Methods: The medical records of 1,732 patients who underwent Fontan surgery in 10 cardiac centers were reviewed. Results: Among them, 1,040 (58.8%) were men. The mean age at Fontan surgery was 4.3±4.2 years, and 395 (22.8%) patients presented with heterotaxy syndrome. According to the types of Fontan surgery, 157 patients underwent atriopulmonary (AP) type; 303, lateral tunnel (LT) type; and 1,266, extracardiac conduit (ECC) type. The overall survival rates were 91.7%, 87.1%, and 74.4% at 10, 20, and 30 years, respectively. The risk factors of early mortality were male, heterotaxy syndrome, AP-type Fontan surgery, high mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) in pre-Fontan cardiac catheterization, and early Fontan surgery year. The risk factors of late mortality were heterotaxy syndrome, genetic disorder, significant atrioventricular valve regurgitation (AVVR) before Fontan surgery, high mPAP in pre-Fontan cardiac catheterization, and no fenestration. Conclusions In Asian population with a high incidence of heterotaxy syndrome, the heterotaxy syndrome was identified as the poor prognostic factors for Fontan surgery. The preoperative low mPAP and less AVVR are associated with better early and long-term outcomes of Fontan surgery.

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the outcomes of Fontan surgery in the Republic of Korea, as there were only a few studies from Asian countries. Methods: The medical records of 1,732 patients who underwent Fontan surgery in 10 cardiac centers were reviewed. Results: Among them, 1,040 (58.8%) were men. The mean age at Fontan surgery was 4.3±4.2 years, and 395 (22.8%) patients presented with heterotaxy syndrome. According to the types of Fontan surgery, 157 patients underwent atriopulmonary (AP) type; 303, lateral tunnel (LT) type; and 1,266, extracardiac conduit (ECC) type. The overall survival rates were 91.7%, 87.1%, and 74.4% at 10, 20, and 30 years, respectively. The risk factors of early mortality were male, heterotaxy syndrome, AP-type Fontan surgery, high mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) in pre-Fontan cardiac catheterization, and early Fontan surgery year. The risk factors of late mortality were heterotaxy syndrome, genetic disorder, significant atrioventricular valve regurgitation (AVVR) before Fontan surgery, high mPAP in pre-Fontan cardiac catheterization, and no fenestration. Conclusions In Asian population with a high incidence of heterotaxy syndrome, the heterotaxy syndrome was identified as the poor prognostic factors for Fontan surgery. The preoperative low mPAP and less AVVR are associated with better early and long-term outcomes of Fontan surgery.