PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical features of dry eye in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) according to disease activity and analyze the related factors. METHODS: This study included 157 patients diagnosed with TAO and dry eye between March 2009 and March 2015. According to the clinical activity score (CAS), TAO patients were divided into inactive (CAS < 3) and active (CAS ≥ 3) groups. Clinical features included age, sex, visual acuity, proptosis, palpebral fissure width, orbital computed tomography (CT) findings, thyroid hormones, and ocular surface parameters including tear film break-up time (TFBUT), Schirmer tests, keratoepitheliopathy scores, and ocular surface disease index (OSDI) were obtained and compared between the groups. In addition, correlations between clinical features and ocular surface parameters were analyzed in both groups. RESULTS: In the inactive and active TAO groups, CAS was 1.24 ± 0.69 and 4.23 ± 1.13, respectively (p = 0.001). Thyrotropin-binding inhibitory immunoglobulin was significantly higher in the active TAO group than in the inactive TAO group (p = 0.048). On orbital CT, extraocular muscle hypertrophy was more common in the active TAO group than the inactive TAO group (p = 0.020). No significant difference was found in age, sex, visual acuity, free T4, and thyroid-stimulating hormone between the two groups. During analysis of the tear film and ocular surface parameters, TFBUT (p = 0.006) was shorter and OSDI score (p = 0.028) was higher in the active TAO group than the inactive TAO group. TFBUT was negatively correlated with proptosis (r = -0.432, p = 0.001; r = -0.308, p = 0.032) and palpebral fissure width (r = -0.367 p = 0.012; r = -0.312, p = 0.031) in both groups. OSDI was positively correlated with proptosis in the active TAO group (r = 0.301, p = 0.033). CONCLUSIONS: TFBUT was shorter and OSDI score higher in dry eye patients with active TAO than in patients with inactive TAO. The TFBUT was negatively correlated with proptosis and palpebral fissure width in both groups.
Exophthalmos ; Graves Ophthalmopathy* ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Immunoglobulins ; Orbit ; Tears ; Thyroid Hormones ; Thyrotropin ; Troleandomycin ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical features of dry eye in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) according to disease activity and analyze the related factors. METHODS: This study included 157 patients diagnosed with TAO and dry eye between March 2009 and March 2015. According to the clinical activity score (CAS), TAO patients were divided into inactive (CAS < 3) and active (CAS ≥ 3) groups. Clinical features included age, sex, visual acuity, proptosis, palpebral fissure width, orbital computed tomography (CT) findings, thyroid hormones, and ocular surface parameters including tear film break-up time (TFBUT), Schirmer tests, keratoepitheliopathy scores, and ocular surface disease index (OSDI) were obtained and compared between the groups. In addition, correlations between clinical features and ocular surface parameters were analyzed in both groups. RESULTS: In the inactive and active TAO groups, CAS was 1.24 ± 0.69 and 4.23 ± 1.13, respectively (p = 0.001). Thyrotropin-binding inhibitory immunoglobulin was significantly higher in the active TAO group than in the inactive TAO group (p = 0.048). On orbital CT, extraocular muscle hypertrophy was more common in the active TAO group than the inactive TAO group (p = 0.020). No significant difference was found in age, sex, visual acuity, free T4, and thyroid-stimulating hormone between the two groups. During analysis of the tear film and ocular surface parameters, TFBUT (p = 0.006) was shorter and OSDI score (p = 0.028) was higher in the active TAO group than the inactive TAO group. TFBUT was negatively correlated with proptosis (r = -0.432, p = 0.001; r = -0.308, p = 0.032) and palpebral fissure width (r = -0.367 p = 0.012; r = -0.312, p = 0.031) in both groups. OSDI was positively correlated with proptosis in the active TAO group (r = 0.301, p = 0.033). CONCLUSIONS: TFBUT was shorter and OSDI score higher in dry eye patients with active TAO than in patients with inactive TAO. The TFBUT was negatively correlated with proptosis and palpebral fissure width in both groups.
Exophthalmos ; Graves Ophthalmopathy* ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Immunoglobulins ; Orbit ; Tears ; Thyroid Hormones ; Thyrotropin ; Troleandomycin ; Visual Acuity

No abstract available.
Stevens-Johnson Syndrome*

No Abstract Available.
Knee* ; Synovitis, Pigmented Villonodular*

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to predict spontaneous labor onset delivery within 7 days in low risk pregnant women at 38 weeks' of gestation by ultrasonographic examination of cervical changes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This prospective study included 110 singleton low risk pregnancies between 37(+0) and 37(+6) weeks of gestation. Fifteen cases were lost during follow-up and finally 95 pregnant women (58 nulliparous, 37 multiparous) were analysed. The study period was from Oct/2005 to May/2007. Four cervical changes (length, gland thickness, funneling and canal formation) were evaluated. Main outcome was remaining day to delivery after the examination. Remaining days to actual delivery with spontaneous labor onset were recorded and the pregnancies were divided into two groups according to remaining days (within 7 days, over 7 days) to compare predicting power of delivery within 7 days. ROC curves were drawn to find out cut-off values of cervical length and gland thickness. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were extracted from four cervical changes. RESULTS: Mean cervical length of pregnant women at 38 weeks' of gestation was 25.8 (+/-10.0) mm and mean cervical gland thickness was 4.3 (+/-1.2) mm. Funnelings of uterine cervix were detected in 13 cases (13.7%), canal formations in 6 cases (6.3%). All four cervical changes were statistically valuable to predict delivery within 7 days and the cervical length showed highest sensitivity. When the cervical length was measured under 20 mm, the possibility of delivery within 7 days was 78.6% (p<0.001). The cervical gland thickness less than 4 mm could predict the delivery within 7 days with sensitivity of 57.1% (p<0.01). Sensitivities of funneling and canal formation for delivery within 7 days were 54.5%, 36.4% each. CONCLUSION: Ultrasonographic examination of the cervical changes in low risk singleton pregnancy at 38 weeks' of gestation are valuable for predicting spontaneous labor onset delivery within 7 days. Among four cervical changes, cervical length is most sensitive ultrasonographic marker.
Cervix Uteri ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Labor Onset ; Parturition* ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women ; Prospective Studies ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Maternal serum alpha-feto protein(MSAFP) screening test has provided high sensitivity and specificity in detecting neural tube defects(NTD). Approximately 80~90% of NTD can be identified by this screening test.Prospective studies have shown that low levels of MSAFP can be used for Down syndrome screening test, but the detection rate for Down syndrome in combination with age is only 20% in younger women, making this screening test relatively insensitive. However recently some studies have suggested that the triple marker test with MSAFP, unconjugated estriol, beta-human chorionic gonadotropin achieved higher detection rate for Down syndrome. The purpose of present study is to compare the positive predictive values of both MSAFP and Triple test. We had 6,436 cases of MSAFP test during the year of 1994 and 7,077 cases for triple test during the year of 1995. We analyzed data with positive results by screening both tests, since our purpose is to compare positive value. The number of positive results were 290(triple test) and 206(AFP) respectively. With this study, we concluded that positive predictive value of triple marker test is 4.17 times greater than of the MSAP test.
Chorionic Gonadotropin ; Down Syndrome* ; Estriol ; Female ; Humans ; Mass Screening* ; Neural Tube ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Maternal serum alpha-feto protein(MSAFP) screening test has provided high sensitivity and specificity in detecting neural tube defects(NTD). Approximately 80~90% of NTD can be identified by this screening test.Prospective studies have shown that low levels of MSAFP can be used for Down syndrome screening test, but the detection rate for Down syndrome in combination with age is only 20% in younger women, making this screening test relatively insensitive. However recently some studies have suggested that the triple marker test with MSAFP, unconjugated estriol, beta-human chorionic gonadotropin achieved higher detection rate for Down syndrome. The purpose of present study is to compare the positive predictive values of both MSAFP and Triple test. We had 6,436 cases of MSAFP test during the year of 1994 and 7,077 cases for triple test during the year of 1995. We analyzed data with positive results by screening both tests, since our purpose is to compare positive value. The number of positive results were 290(triple test) and 206(AFP) respectively. With this study, we concluded that positive predictive value of triple marker test is 4.17 times greater than of the MSAP test.
Chorionic Gonadotropin ; Down Syndrome* ; Estriol ; Female ; Humans ; Mass Screening* ; Neural Tube ; Sensitivity and Specificity

PURPOSE: The purpose of our investigation was to explore the natural course, and the factors that influence the natural course, in ostium secundum atrial septal defect(ASD) diagnosed within the first 4 weeks of life. METHODS: We studied patients with ASD diagnosed within the first 4 weeks of life during the period from September 1995 to September 1999 in our hospital. The diagnosis and measuring of the size of ASD was carried out by two-dimensional echocardiogram(2DE, Hewlett-Packard Sonos 2500 ) from subcostal long and short axis views. RESULTS:There were 61 patients - 29 males and 32 females. According to the size of their defects, we divided them into four groups; group A(less than 4 mm : 24 cases), group B(four mm- six mm : 27 cases), group C(six mm-eight mm : six cases), group D(more than eight mm : four cases). In groups A and B, 22 of 24 patients(91.7%) and 23 of 27 patients(85.2%) had each closed spontaneously. In group C, four of six patients had closed spontaneously. In group D, no patient had closed spontaneously and three of four patients had been closed surgically. There were significant differences in the rate of spontaneous closure between less than six mm group and more than six mm group in the size of the defect(P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the rate of spontaneous closure between ASD combined with simple cardiac defect and isolated secundum ASD. CONCLUSION: We conclude that defects smaller than six mm in diameter are very likely to close spontaneously.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial* ; Humans ; Male

A case is presented of an amnionic rupture sequence which led to massive fetal ventral herniation and lordoscoliosis. Characteristic ultrasonographic findings of an omphalocele, fetal attachment to the placenta, and the absence of free-floating umbilical cord were observed.
Abnormalities, Multiple/*etiology/ultrasonography ; Adult ; Amnion ; Female ; Fetal Membranes, Premature Rupture/*complications ; Gestational Age ; Hernia, Umbilical/etiology ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Umbilical Cord/abnormalities

Purpose: There are no effective treatment methods with which to control complications of radiation proctitis with fistula or recurrent bleeding following radiation treatment for prostate, cervical, or rectal cancer. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can induce immune modification, resulting in tissue repair and regeneration. Therefore, we used a rat model of radiation-induced proctitis and observed the effects of using human placenta-derived (PD) and adipose tissue-derived (AD) MSCs. Materials and Methods: Female Sprague Dawley rats were irradiated at the pelvic area with 25 Gy. We injected 1×10 6 cells of human PD-MSCs, human AD-MSCs, human foreskin fibroblasts, and control media into the rectal submucosa following irradiation. We sacrificed rats for pathologic evaluation. Results: Fibrosis on the rectum was reduced in both MSC groups, compared to the control group. Mucosal Ki-67 indices of both MSC injected groups were higher than those in the control group. Although caspase-3 positive cells in the mucosa gradually increased and decreased in the control group, those in both MSC injected groups increased rapidly and decreased thereafter. Conclusion We demonstrated the effects of regional MSC injection treatment for radiation-induced proctitis in rats. MSC injection reduced fibrosis and increased proliferation in rat mucosa. Human AD-MSCs and PD-MSCs had similar effectiveness.