PURPOSE:The effect of preoperative intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin(R)) injection was investigated in primary vitrectomy for severe proliferative diabetic retinopathy. METHODS: Eyes that underwent vitectomy for proliferative diabetic retinopathy were followed up at least 6 months and were reviewed retrospectively. The authors reviewed functional outcomes, complications, and operation time between preoperative bevacizumab injection (group I) and non-injection groups(group II). RESULTS: Among 93 eyes of 87 patients, the injection group consisted of 44 eyes of 41 patients and the non-injection gauge group consisted of 49 eyes of 46 patients. The mean interval between injection and vitrectomy was 5.8 days. Final visual acuity significantly improved as compared to preoperative visual acuity, and group I showed better visual acuity than group II (p=0.008). Visual acuity improved logMAR 0.2 or more in 36 eyes in group I and 43 eyes in group II (p=0.167). The average duration of postoperative vitreous hemorrhage was 1.02 days in group I, and 4.02 days in group II (p=0.2.08). Recurrence of vitreous hemorrhage was not observed in group I or in 2 eyes of group II (p=0.274). Epiretinal membrane occurred in 2 eyes of group I, and in 9 eyes of group II (p=0.031). Only a single eye in group I had neovascular glaucoma after vitrectomy (p=0.527). The operation time of group I was 64.8 minutes, which was significantly shorter than 78.1 minutes of group II (p=0.018). CONCLUSIONS: Intravitreal bevacizumab injection before vitrectomy in proliferative diabetic retinopathy facilitated removal of the fibrovascular membrane, and leads to less postoperative complications and better functional outcomes. Intravitreal bevacizumab injection before vitrectomy can be considered as an effective preoperative adjuvant.
Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Epiretinal Membrane ; Eye ; Glaucoma, Neovascular ; Humans ; Membranes ; Postoperative Complications ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Visual Acuity ; Vitrectomy ; Vitreous Hemorrhage ; Bevacizumab

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the food behavior and nutritional status of elementary school students in the Jeju area using Nutrition Quotient (NQ). METHODS: The subjects were 440 students (235 boys and 205 girls) in the fifth and sixth grade at four elementary schools located in Jeju. Demographic, lifestyle, and environmental information was collected using a self-reported questionnaire. The food behavior checklist for children's Nutrition Quotient (NQ), consisting of 19 items, and nutrition education related information were also obtained. RESULTS: The mean score of the children's NQ was poor, reaching 60.3 points. The percentage distribution of NQ grade was 19.8% (lowest), 18.6% (low), 45.0% (medium), 10.7% (high), and 5.9% (highest) and the factor scores for balance, diversity, abstinence, regularity, and practice were 56.6, 68.4, 71.3, 57.4, and 54.8 points, respectively. Compared with the NQ cut-off points for defining malnutrition (balance; 57, diversity; 87, abstinence; 66, regularity; 69, and practice; 67 point), average score of abstinence factor was only above the cut-off point and scores of the other factors were below the cut-off point. Subjects with higher NQ scores tended to have higher levels of exercise activity (p < 0.001), frequency of family meals (p < 0.01), and father's educational levels (p < 0.01) compared to those with lower NQ score. NQ score showed positive association with nutrition education experience and practice (p < 0.001) CONCLUSION: NQ score of elementary school students residing in Jeju was lower than the national average. More opportunities should be provided for participation in nutrition education, which incorporates a range of program strategies, as well as communication and education activities.
Checklist ; Child ; Education ; Humans ; Life Style ; Malnutrition ; Meals ; Nutritional Status*

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the impact of baseline values and temporal changes in body composition parameters, including skeletal muscle index (SMI) and visceral adipose tissue area (VAT), measured using serial computed tomography (CT) imaging on the prognosis of operable breast cancers in Asian patients. Materials and Methods: This study retrospectively included 627 Asian female (mean age ± standard deviation [SD], 53.6 ± 8.3 years) who underwent surgery for stage I–III breast cancer between January 2011 and September 2012. Body composition parameters, including SMI and VAT, were semi-automatically calculated on baseline abdominal CT at the time of diagnosis and follow-up CT for post-treatment surveillance. Serial changes in SMI and VAT were calculated as the delta values. Multivariable Cox regression analysis was used to evaluate the association of baseline and delta SMI and VAT values with disease-free survival. Results: Among 627 patients, 56 patients (9.2%) had breast cancer recurrence after a median of 40.5 months. The mean value ± SD of the baseline SMI and baseline VAT were 43.7 ± 5.8 cm2 /m2 and 72.0 ± 46.0 cm2 , respectively. The mean value of the delta SMI was -0.9 cm2 /m2 and the delta VAT was 0.5 cm2 . The baseline SMI and VAT were not significantly associated with disease-free survival (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 0.983; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.937–1.031; p = 0.475 and adjusted HR, 1.001; 95% CI, 0.995–1.006; p = 0.751, respectively). The delta SMI and VAT were also not significantly associated with disease-free survival (adjusted HR, 0.894; 95% CI, 0.766–1.043; p = 0.155 and adjusted HR, 1.001; 95% CI, 0.989–1.014; p = 0.848, respectively). Conclusion Our study revealed that baseline and early temporal changes in SMI and VAT were not independent prognostic factors regarding disease-free survival in Asian patients undergoing surgery for breast cancer.