PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic ability of optic disc topographic parameters and the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness parameter measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and to determine the association of these structural parameters with visual field indices. METHODS: Fifty-six glaucomatous eyes and 65 healthy control eyes were enrolled in this retrospective cross-sectional study. Each subject had a 24-2 full threshold test on a Humphrey visual field analyzer and an optical coherence tomographic evaluation. The parameters from the fast RNFL thickness algorithm and the fast optic disc algorithm were analyzed by an ROC curve, and we sought to determine the association of these parameters with visual field indices by linear and logarithmic regression. RESULTS: The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) value of the fast optic disc algorithm parameters ranged from 0.78 to 0.79 and that of the fast RNFL thickness algorithm parameters ranged from 0.74 to 0.81. The associations between the parameters from the fast optic disc algorithm and from the fast RNFL thickness algorithm with visual field indices were statistically significant (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The fast optic disc algorithm and the fast RNFL algorithm revealed comparable diagnostic ability in discriminating glaucoma and significant associations with visual field indices.
Cross-Sectional Studies ; Eye ; Glaucoma ; Nerve Fibers ; Retinaldehyde ; Retrospective Studies ; ROC Curve ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Visual Fields

PURPOSE: To evaluate the structure-function relationships between retinal sensitivity measured by Humphrey visual field analyzer (HVFA) and the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness measured by scanning laser polarimetry (SLP) with variable corneal compensation (VCC) and enhanced corneal compensation (ECC) in glaucomatous and healthy eyes. METHODS: Fifty-three eyes with an atypical birefringence pattern (ABP) based on SLP-VCC (28 glaucomatous eyes and 25 normal healthy eyes) were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. RNFL thickness was measured by both VCC and ECC techniques, and the visual field was examined by HVFA with 24-2 full-threshold program. The relationships between RNFL measurements in superior and inferior sectors and corresponding retinal mean sensitivity were sought globally and regionally with linear regression analysis in each group. Coefficients of the determination were calculated and compared between VCC and ECC techniques. RESULTS: In eyes with ABP, R2 values for the association between SLP parameters and retinal sensitivity were 0.06-0.16 with VCC, whereas they were 0.21-0.48 with ECC. The association of RNFL thickness with retinal sensitivity was significantly better with ECC than with VCC in 5 out of 8 regression models between SLP parameters and HVF parameters (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The strength of the structure-function association was higher with ECC than with VCC in eyes with ABP, which suggests that the ECC algorithm is a better approach for evaluating the structure-function relationship in eyes with ABP.
Algorithms ; Birefringence ; Cornea/physiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; *Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological ; Female ; Glaucoma/*diagnosis ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Lasers/diagnostic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nerve Fibers/*pathology ; Optic Nerve Diseases/*diagnosis ; Prospective Studies ; Retinal Ganglion Cells/*pathology ; Vision Disorders/*diagnosis ; *Visual Fields

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the degree of satisfaction with indirect medical oversight programs and its determinants. METHODS: Gumi 119 rescuers participated in indirect medical oversight programs, including Emergency Medical Services (EMS) record review, weekly visiting education, and monthly EMS conference from March 2012 to February 2013. Data were collected using a mail survey with a self-administered questionnaire. The degree of satisfaction with the programs was categorized according to two groups (1=satisfied, 2=unsatisfied). Then the Mann-Whitney U test and Fisher's exact test were performed in order to find statistically significant factors influencing satisfaction. RESULTS: Cronbach alpha of questionnaires was 0.869. Among the 59 questionnaires, 55(93.2%) were returned. No differences in sex, age, career, EMS record review, monthly conference, linkage with direct medical direction, and improvement of confidence in ER medical team were observed between the two groups. Qualification, weekly visiting program, and improvement in reliability to hospital showed statistical significance (p=0.017, 0.040 and 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: The level of qualification of 119 rescuers and weekly visiting education at the fire department by doctors has had a significant influence on satisfaction with indirect medical oversight.
Education ; Emergency Medical Services ; Fires ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Postal Service ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the degree of satisfaction with indirect medical oversight programs and its determinants. METHODS: Gumi 119 rescuers participated in indirect medical oversight programs, including Emergency Medical Services (EMS) record review, weekly visiting education, and monthly EMS conference from March 2012 to February 2013. Data were collected using a mail survey with a self-administered questionnaire. The degree of satisfaction with the programs was categorized according to two groups (1=satisfied, 2=unsatisfied). Then the Mann-Whitney U test and Fisher's exact test were performed in order to find statistically significant factors influencing satisfaction. RESULTS: Cronbach alpha of questionnaires was 0.869. Among the 59 questionnaires, 55(93.2%) were returned. No differences in sex, age, career, EMS record review, monthly conference, linkage with direct medical direction, and improvement of confidence in ER medical team were observed between the two groups. Qualification, weekly visiting program, and improvement in reliability to hospital showed statistical significance (p=0.017, 0.040 and 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: The level of qualification of 119 rescuers and weekly visiting education at the fire department by doctors has had a significant influence on satisfaction with indirect medical oversight.
Education ; Emergency Medical Services ; Fires ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Postal Service ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Adult ; Anticarcinogenic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Breast Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Disease Progression ; Female ; Humans ; Interdisciplinary Communication ; Neoplasm Staging ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo assess the magnitude of overweight and obesity and its associated sociodemographic factors in adolescents attending junior high schools in Xi'an, Shanxi province.

METHODSA total of 1 804 adolescents attending junior high schools in Xi'an (age: 11-17 years) were enrolled randomly from 30 schools in 6 districts in Xi'an. Overweight and obesity was categorized with body mass index (BMI) cutoffs from Working Group of Obesity in China (WGOC). Underweight was defined by BMI-Z < or = -2 s. Sociodemographic information was collected from the parents of the survey participants using self-administered, structured and precoded questionnaires.

RESULTSOverall 17.4% of adolescents were overweight or obese (overweight 11.2%; obesity 6.2%), but there was a marked gender difference in the prevalence with 20.2% of boys versus 14.4% of the girls being overweight or obese. The prevalence of underweight was 2.7%. In a multivariate model, age, residence, household wealth, and parents' BMI were significantly associated with overweight and obesity (P < 0.05). After having been adjusted for age and gender, the odds ratio of an adolescent being overweight and obese was 2.7 (95% CI: 1.8-4.0) folds higher in urban areas than in rural areas, and was 1.6 (95% CI: 1.04-2.5) folds higher for adolescents from rich families than those from poor families. An adolescent with one or both parents overweight was 1.8 (95% CI: 1.3-2.5) more likely to be overweight themselves compared to those with normal weight parents.

CONCLUSIONSOverweight and obesity is a major public health problem in adolescents in Xi'an. Overweight and obesity is more prevalent in younger boys from richer families living in urban districts and those whose parents were either overweight or obese.

Adolescent ; Age Factors ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Income ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Nutritional Status ; Obesity ; epidemiology ; Overweight ; Parents ; Risk Factors ; Sex Factors

PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between the SLP-VCC parameters and the SLP-ECC parameters in the eyes with typical retardation pattern (TRP) and atypical retardation pattern (ARP), and the sensitivities and specificities of the SLP-VCC parameters and the SLP-ECC parameters in the eye with TRP and ARP. METHODS: In this prospective study, 72 eyes with TRP images (30 glaucomatous and 42 normal eyes) and 53 eyes with ARP images (28 glaucomatous and 25 normal eyes) were recruited. For each group, we analyzed relationship between each parameters of GDx-VCC and GDx-ECC and the diagnostic ability of GDx-ECC by using the ROC curve. RESULTS: In the eyes with TRP, TSNIT average was significantly lower by GDx-ECC than GDx-VCC in the control group. Inferior average was significantly higher by GDx-ECC than GDx-VCC in both glaucomatous and normal group. TSNIT standard deviation was significantly higher by GDx-ECC than GDx-VCC in both groups. NFI was significantly lower by GDx-ECC than GDx-VCC in both groups. TSS (typical scan score) was significantly higher by GDx-ECC than GDx-VCC in both groups. In the eyes with ARP, TSNIT average was significantly lower by GDx-ECC than GDx-VCC in both groups. Superior and Inferior average was not different between GDx-ECC and GDx-VCC. TSNIT standard deviation was significantly higher by GDx-ECC than GDx-VCC in both groups. NFI was not different between groups. TSS was significantly higher by GDx-ECC than GDx-VCC in both groups. Comparison of ROC curve for the SLP parameters revealed no difference between VCC and ECC. TSNIT standard deviation, however, showed relatively high value in GDx-ECC compared with GDx-VCC. CONCLUSIONS: GDx-ECC has comparable diagnostic ability in discriminating glaucomatous and normal eyes with GDx-VCC and TSNIT standard deviation by the GDx-ECC algorithm could be a useful parameter in discriminating glaucomatous and normal eyes.
Compensation and Redress* ; Prospective Studies ; ROC Curve ; Scanning Laser Polarimetry*

Minimally invasive parathyroidectomy, a new technique for the surgical management of parathyroid disease, is gaining popularity. The smaller incision in the neck results in better cosmetic results and patient satisfaction. Despite a low incidence of complications, the anesthesiologist should be aware and prepared to manage life saving situations. We describe a case of bilateral tension pneumothoraces during minimally invasive parathyroidectomy.
Cosmetics ; Incidence ; Neck ; Parathyroid Diseases ; Parathyroidectomy ; Patient Satisfaction ; Pneumothorax

PURPOSE: To investigate the visual field (VF) and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) status of the fellow eyes in patients with unilateral retinal vein occlusion (RVO). METHODS: Fifty patients with unilateral RVO and 35 normal control subjects wereconsecutively recruited. Humphrey VF parameters and RNFL status using scanning laser polarimetry with variable corneal compensation (GDx-VCC) were compared between the fellow eyes of the patients with unilateral RVO and control eyes. We also assessed the risk factors for the development of glaucomatous damage in the fellow eyes of unilateral RVO patients. RESULTS: Twelve fellow eyes out of 50 patients with unilateral RVO showed glaucomatous VF and RNFL changes assessed by GDx-VCC. VF indices and RNFL thickness parameters in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group (p<0.05). Increased age and vertical cup-to-disc ratio were significantly associated with severity of VF and RNFL damage in the fellow eye of unilateral RVO patients (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The fellow eyes in patients with unilateral RVO showed significantly worse VF indices and lower RNFL thickness than normal control eyes. The glaucomatous change should be carefully monitored in the fellow eyes of unilateral RVO patients.
Compensation and Redress ; Eye ; Glaucoma ; Humans ; Nerve Fibers ; Retinal Vein ; Retinal Vein Occlusion ; Retinaldehyde ; Risk Factors ; Scanning Laser Polarimetry ; Visual Fields

Antibodies ; immunology ; therapeutic use ; Antigens, CD20 ; immunology ; Antilymphocyte Serum ; therapeutic use ; CD3 Complex ; immunology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Humans ; Immunotherapy ; methods