PURPOSE: To compare the usefulness of fluorescein dye disappearance test (FDDT) and dacryoscintigraphy in functional lacrimal blockage. METHODS: The present study included with 24 patients (37 eyes), who were diagnosed with functional lacrimal blockage and underwent silicone tube insertion in our clinic. Compared to postoperative symptom improvement, the results of FDDT and dacryoscintigraphy were analyzed. RESULTS: Significant correlations were observed with FDDT and dacryoscintigraphy results in 29 eyes before surgery. In 33 eyes, there were post-operative symptom improvements and the sensitivity of each exam was estimated at 87.8% in FDDT and 90.9% in dacryoscintigraphy. After intubation normal findings were observed in each examination and the symptoms improved in 7 out of 8 eyes. CONCLUSIONS: Both FDDT and dacryoscintigraphy were considered sensitive and efficient methods in the diagnosis and evaluation of functional lacrimal blockage. Both methods require caution regarding misinterpretation by false negatives and may be complementary as well as increasing diagnostic accuracy.
Dideoxynucleosides ; Eye ; Fluorescein ; Humans ; Intubation ; Silicones

PURPOSE: To evaluate the correlation of the distance Krimsky test and the alternate prism cover test (APCT) for the distance deviation in patients with horizontal strabismus. METHODS: Forty patients with horizontal strabismus (20 esotropia and 20 exotropia) were included in this study. Patients with a variable angle of deviation, vertical angle over 5 prism diopters, impaired binocular vision, or poor cooperation were excluded. We instructed the patient to look a target 6 meters away, and applied a prism over the patient's dominant eye while flashing a light source 33 centimeters from the middle of both eyebrows. When the corneal light reflexes were located on the center of each cornea, we measured the angle of deviation. We defined this method as 'distance Krimsky test,' and the angle measured by this method was compared with the conventional Krimsky test and APCT at distance. We analyzed the accuracy and intra- and inter-observer reliability. RESULTS: The angle of strabismus measured by the distance Krimsky test showed a significant agreement and correlation with the deviation angle measured by the APCT. We elicited the correlation gradient between the angle measured by the distance Krimsky test and the APCT. In addition, the distance Krimsky test showed significant intra- and inter-observer reliabilities. CONCLUSIONS: The distance Krimsky test is expected to be more useful than the Krimsky test in measuring the distance angle of deviation for patients with strabismus in whom it is difficult to measure the angle of deviation using the APCT. The distance Krimsky test can be an accurate and useful test through the improvement of proficiency of examiners and the establishment of individualized normative data.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Esotropia/*diagnosis/physiopathology ; Exotropia/*diagnosis/physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Observer Variation ; Social Distance ; Strabismus/diagnosis/physiopathology ; Vision Tests/*methods/standards/statistics & numerical data ; Vision, Binocular ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: To evaluate the therapeutic effects of topical heparin (Hylo-Parin(R), Ursapharm Saarbr cken, Germany) and spray type phospholipids (Tears Again(R), Optima Pharmazeutische GmbH. Freising, Germany) in severe dry eye syndrome resistant to conventional therapy. METHODS: Twenty eyes of ten patients with refractory severe dry eye were treated with Hylo-Parin(R) (two times a day) and Tears Again(R) (three times a day) for three months. Before and one and three months after treatment, a symptom questionnaire was administered to the patients. The ocular surface disease index (OSDI), tear film break-up time, Schirmer test, conjunctival fluorescein staining examinations and filamentary keratitis were evaluated. RESULTS: After using Tears Again(R) and Hylo-Parin(R), the OSDI score improved from 64.13 +/- 15.12 to 43.80 +/- 15.87 (p<0.01). Tear film break-up time significantly increased from 1.0 +/- 0.65 to 2.3 +/- 0.73 seconds (p<0.01) and conjunctival staining score (Oxford scale) significantly decreased from 3.85 +/- 0.75 to 3.25 +/- 0.97 (p<0.01). Filamentary keratitis in the slit-lamp examination showed significant improvement (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Tears Again(R) and Hylo-Parin(R) are considered as new treatment modalities for severe dry eye syndrome and filamentary keratitis in patients with chronic ocular surface disease resistant to conventional therapy. These treatments require additional research.
Dry Eye Syndromes ; Eye ; Fluorescein ; Heparin ; Humans ; Keratitis ; Liposomes ; Phospholipids ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tears

The purpose of our study was to evaluate the characteristics and the changes of low vision patients over ten years in Korea, and to establish useful data for planning low vision services, active care and rehabilitation. We conducted a retrospective study of 681 low vision patients who visited two low vision clinics in Seoul from 1995 to 2008. Age and sex distribution, cause of low vision, type of prescribed low vision aids, and changes of the characteristics were reviewed. In result, male were more than female. The age group between 11 and 20-yr-old (18.1%) was the largest age group. Optic atrophy (28.3%) was main causes of low vision. However, elderly low vision patients is increasing and macular degeneration is becoming a leading cause of low vision (P<0.05). One thousand five low vision aids (LVAs) were prescribed for 681 patients (1.46+/-0.62 aids for each patient). Near LVAs were prescribed more than distance LVAs. In most patients, the use of LVAs improved both near and distance visual function. This study is the first survey of a large number of low vision patients over a ten year period in Korea. On the base of this study, the planning of low vision services and more active rehabilitation for low vision patients, especially elderly patients, need in Korea.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Distribution ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Macular Degeneration/complications ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Optic Atrophy/complications ; Republic of Korea ; Retrospective Studies ; Sex Factors ; Vision, Low/*etiology

BACKGROUND: Four platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) family members have been identified; the classical PDGFs, PDGF-A and PDGF-B, and the novel PDGFs, PDGF-C and PDGF-D, which were only recently discovered. METHODS: The present study was designed to determine the changes of the platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) subtypes (C & D) and their receptors (PDGFR)-alpha & beta expression in kidneys during pre- and postnatal development. RESULTS: All the protein levels of PDGFR-alpha and -beta and the mRNA levels of PDGF-C and D were high in kidneys during the prenatal period and decreased differently during the postnatal period. PDGFR-alpha was expressed in the interstitial space at embryo day 18. PDGFR-beta protein were expressed in metanephric blastema at embryo day 18. PDGF-C mRNA was expressed in metanephric blastema, developing glomerulus at embryo 18 day and in collecting duct at postnatal day 7. PDGF-D mRNA was expressed in the parietal and vesceral epithelial cells during pre and postnatal period. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the PDGF subtypes (C & D) and their receptors (PDGFR-alpha & -beta) are differently expressed in the kidney during the prenatal and postnatal period.
Embryonic Structures ; Epithelial Cells ; Humans ; Kidney ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; Rabeprazole ; Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor* ; RNA, Messenger

BACKGROUND: Methiciliin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an increasingly common cause of nosocomial infection worldwide. Serious infection caused by MRSA include wound infections, pneumonia, and septicemia. For its resistance rate being very high in Korea, its rapid and accurate detection as well as management and treatment of both colonized and infected patient has been a paramount importance to us. The traditional detection of MRSA requires isolation on solid media followed by screening tests for resistance and it takes 3 to 4 days. The purpose of this study is to detect mecA and femA gene of MRSA by multiplex PCR in clinical isolates of MRSA. METHODS: A total of 84 strains of MRSA were isolated from various clinical specimens and tested for mecA and femA gene and antimicrobial susceptibility tests which were done by disk diffusion method. S. aureus ATCC 25923 was used as a negative control. RESULTS: Of the 84 strains of MRSA, detection rate of mecA and femA genes were 84/84 (100%) and 82/84 (97.6%), respectively. Resistance rate to erythromycin and clindamycin were 100% and 91.9% respectively. There were no resistant strain to vancomycin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. CONCLUSIONS: The multiplex PCR for the detection of mecA and femA gene could be used as a tool for rapid detection of MRSA. The study revealed that all of the MRSA studied were positive for mecA gene. The resistance rate to erythromycin and clindamycin of MRSA was very high. All of the strains tested were susceptible to vancomycin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole.
Clindamycin ; Colon ; Cross Infection ; Diffusion ; Erythromycin ; Humans ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; Methicillin Resistance* ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus* ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pneumonia ; Sepsis ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Vancomycin ; Wound Infection

No abstract available.
Bardet-Biedl Syndrome ; Humans ; Retinitis Pigmentosa ; Retinitis