PURPOSE: To introduce a new convenient and accurate method to measure the angle kappa using ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) and corneal topography. METHODS: Data from 42 eyes (13 males and 29 females) were analyzed in this study. The angle kappa was measured using Orbscan II and calculated with UBM and corneal topography. The angle kappa of the dominant eye was compared with measurements by Orbscan II. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 36.4 ± 13.8 years. The average angle kappa measured by Orbscan II was 3.98°± 1.12°, while the average angle kappa calculated with UBM and corneal topography was 3.19°± 1.15°. The difference in angle kappa measured by the two methods was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The two methods showed good reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient, 0.671; p < 0.001). Bland-Altman plots were used to demonstrate the agreement between the two methods. CONCLUSIONS: We designed a new method using UBM and corneal topography to calculate the angle kappa. This method is convenient to use and allows for measurement of the angle kappa without an expensive device.
Corneal Topography* ; Humans ; Male ; Methods ; Microscopy, Acoustic* ; Ultrasonography*

BACKGROUNDPhakic intraocular lens (pIOL) implantation has been a popular means for the treatment of high ametropia. Measurements of ciliary sulcus diameter is important for pIOL size determining. But till now, no perfect system can directly measure it. The present study was to evaluate the accuracy, repeatability and reproducibility of direct sulcus diameter measurements obtained by a full-scale 50-megahertz (MHz) ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM).

METHODSA fresh cadaver human eye with a scale marker inserted through the posterior chamber plane from 3 o'clock to 9 o'clock meridian and 30 randomly selected eyes from 30 normal subjects were scanned by full-scale 50-MHz UBM in horizontal meridional scan plane. The distance between the scales and the whole length of the marker inside the cadaver eye were measured by the same observer using the "built-in" measurement tools and the indicating error of instrument was calculated. Reproducibility of the measurement was evaluated in 30 eyes by 2 operators using Blander and Altman plot test. Repeatability was evaluated from 10 successive eyes randomly selected from the 30 eyes by one operator.

RESULTSOn a scale of 1 mm, the greatest indicating error was 40 microm; the mean largest indicating error of 1 mm scale from the 10 images was (26 +/- 14) microm; on a scale of 11 mm, the greatest indicating error was 70 microm; the error rate was 0.64%. The mean length of the needle inside the eye of the 10 images was 11.05 mm, with the mean indicating error of 47 microm, the average error rate was 0.43%. For ciliary sulcus diameter measurements in vivo, the coefficient of variation was 0.38%; the coefficients of repeatability for intra-observer and inter-observer measurements were 1.99% and 2.55%, respectively. The limits of agreement for intra-observer and inter-observer measurement were -0.41 mm to 0.48 mm and -0.59 mm to 0.58 mm, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe full-scale 50-MHz UBM can be a high accuracy and good repeatability means for direct measuring the ciliary sulcus diameter and useful for size determining of posterior chamber pIOL.

Ciliary Body ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Lenses, Intraocular ; Microscopy, Acoustic ; methods ; standards ; Reproducibility of Results

OBJECTIVEUltrasound scanning can provide the information of acoustic impedance through the ultrasonic reflection theory. This study tries to introduce the application of the ultrasonic technique in predicting biomechanical properties of cancellous bone.

METHODSThe rat femoral head embedded in plexiglass was used as the bone specimens for ultrasound scanning and the gray scale images scanned by ultrasound microscope were collected and analyzed.

RESULTSThe value of acoustic impedance was calculated by analyzing the gray scale image.

CONCLUSIONThe application of ultrasonic microscopy can show more value about the microstructure of biomechanical properties of bone tissue.

Animals ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Bone Density ; Femur Head ; diagnostic imaging ; physiology ; Microscopy, Acoustic ; methods ; Osteoporosis ; physiopathology ; Rats

OBJECTIVEThe macula lagena in birds is located at the apical end of the cochlea and contains many tiny otoliths. The macula lagena is innervated and has neural projections to the brainstem, but its physiological function is still unclear. It remains disputable that it is because otoliths in the lagena are rich in elements Fe and Zn that birds can obtain geomagnetic information for homing. To clarify this issue, we carried out a study to determine whether or not otoliths in the lagena of homing pigeons are richer in magnetic elements than those in the saccule and the utricle.

METHODSThe contents of ferromagnetic elements (Fe, Co, Ni) and other metal elements in lagenal otoliths of adult homing pigeons were precisely analyzed with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) of high sensitivity, and then they were compared with those in saccular and utricular otoliths (all the contents were normalized to Ca).

RESULTSIn adult homing pigeons, the contents of ferromagnetic elements (Fe, Co, Ni) in lagenal otoliths were less than 0.7% (normalized to Ca element) and were the same order in magnitude as those in saccular and utricular otoliths. The content of Fe in lagenal otoliths was not significantly different from that in utricular otoliths and was even lower than that in saccular otoliths. The content of Co in lagenal otoliths was lower than that in saccular otoliths and higher than that in utricular otoliths. The content of Ni in lagenal otoliths was not significantly different from that in saccular otoliths and was higher than that in utricular otoliths. The contents of other metal elements Na, Mg, K, Al, Mn and Pb in lagenal otoliths were not significantly different from those in utricular and saccular otoliths. The contents of metal elements Zn, Ba and Cu in lagenal otoliths were lower than those in saccular otoliths.

CONCLUSIONThe contents of magnetic elements in lagenal otoliths of homing pigeons are not much higher than those in utricular and saccular otoliths, which does not support the hypothesis that birds depend on high contents of Fe and Zn in lagenal otoliths for sensation of geomagnetic information. Similarities in morphology, element ingredient and element content between lagenal otoliths and utricular otoliths suggest that the two types of otolithic organs may play similar roles in sensing gravitational and acceleration signals.

Acoustic Maculae ; cytology ; Analysis of Variance ; Animals ; Columbidae ; anatomy & histology ; Elements ; Female ; Magnetics ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; methods ; Otolithic Membrane ; chemistry ; ultrastructure ; Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission ; methods

OBJECTIVETo compare the differences in the anterior chamber depth (ACD) measured by anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) and ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM).

METHODSAll studies pertaining to ACD measured by AS-OCT and UBM were collected from online databases. The assessment of methodological quality and data extraction from the included studies were performed independently by two reviewers for meta-analysis.

RESULTSEight studies involving 710 eyes were included in the analysis. The difference of ACD measurements between AS-OCT and UBM was not statistically significant in the overall patients included for analysis (SMD=0.19, 95%CI [0.00, 0.39]) or in the patients with primary angle-closed glaucoma (SMD=0.02, 95%CI[-0.04,0.19]).

CONCLUSIONSThe ACD measurements do not differ significantly between AS-OCT and UBM. Due to the relatively small number of the included studies and the patients involved, this conclusion needs further confirmation by high-quality studies involving larger sample sizes.

Anterior Chamber ; anatomy & histology ; Databases, Bibliographic ; Female ; Glaucoma, Angle-Closure ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Microscopy, Acoustic ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; methods

Seborrheic keratosis is a benign epithelial neoplasia that occurs mainly in the skin of the eyelids and face. We describe a case of seborrheic keratosis of the conjunctiva confirmed by histopathology. A 72-year-old man presented with a recurrent conjunctival mass involving the nasal side of his right eye. Clinically, a diagnosis of conjunctival papilloma was made, and a mass excision was performed. The histopathological analysis evidenced a conjunctival-covering epithelium with papillomatous changes and irregular acanthosis, at the expense of a proliferation of basaloid cells. In addition, the lesion exhibited multiple pseudohorn cysts containing keratin. With the above findings, a diagnosis of conjunctival seborrheic keratosis was established. The occurrence of seborrheic keratosis on the conjunctiva is rare. In this case, seborrheic keratosis was confirmed by pathologic report despite its similar appearance with papilloma. Seborrheic keratosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of conjunctival lesions.
Aged ; Conjunctival Diseases/*diagnosis/surgery ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Keratosis, Seborrheic/*diagnosis/surgery ; Male ; Microscopy, Acoustic ; Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures/methods

BACKGROUNDTransradial coronary intervention (TRI) introduces injury to the radial artery (RA) which will affect repeat transradial coronary procedure and the quality as a bypass conduit. We sought to compare the early radial injury after TRI between first-TRI and repeat-TRI by ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM).

METHODSA total of 1116 patients who underwent the transradial coronary procedures were enrolled. The patients depending on whether for the first time to accept transradial coronary procedure were divided into first-TRI group and repeat-TRI group. The RA was examined by UBM before and one day after the procedure.

RESULTSCompared with first-TRI group, the mean RA diameter of repeat-TRI one day after the procedure decreased significantly (P < 0.05). In first-TRI group, the mean RA diameter was (2.32 ± 0.53) and (1.93 ± 0.57) mm before procedure and one day after the procedure respectively (P < 0.05). In repeat-TRI group, the mean RA diameter was (2.37 ± 0.51) and (1.79 ± 0.54) mm before procedure and one day after the procedure, respectively (P < 0.01). Compared with first-TRI group, the mean RA diameter was reduced significantly in repeat-TRI group one day after the procedure (P < 0.05). The early radial injuries and intimal thickening were compared between first-TRI and repeat-TRI. The mean intima-media thickness of RA was (0.24 ± 0.13) mm and (0.59 ± 0.28) mm before procedure and one day after the procedure in first-TRI group. The mean intima-media thickness of RA was (0.29 ± 0.16) mm and (0.68 ± 0.32) mm before procedure and one day after the procedure in repeat-TRI group. Compared with first-TRI group, the mean intimal thickening was increased significantly in repeat-TRI group one day after the procedure (P < 0.05). Intimal dissection, stenosis and occlusion were all significantly greater in repeat-TRI RAs (P < 0.05). Linear regression analysis revealed that diameter, repeated TRI procedure and PCI procedure were the independent predictors of intimal thickening.

CONCLUSIONSRA early injuries were greater in repeat-TRI patients than in first-TRI patients. We first use high-resolution UBM imaging to demonstrate the rate of radial injury and revealed that diameter, repeated TRI procedure and PCI procedure were the independent predictors of intimal thickening.

Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; adverse effects ; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Microscopy, Acoustic ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Radial Artery ; diagnostic imaging ; injuries

BACKGROUNDThe existing classifications for evaluating glaucoma filtering blebs rely mostly on external bleb characteristics and the postoperative control of intraocular pressure (IOP). Internal bleb structures are not carefully observed. This study aimed to analyze and compare glaucoma filtering bleb morphology using slit-lamp-adapted optical coherence tomography (SL-OCT) and ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM), and to classify blebs according to results and intraocular pressure.

METHODSWe followed 29 eyes of 21 male patients and 40 eyes of 32 female patients who underwent glaucoma filtering surgery in Sixth People's Hospital of Shanghai, between 2002 and 2006. The blebs were imaged using SL-OCT and UBM and classified according to the intrableb morphology and control of IOP after surgery. A Fisher's exact test was used to compare the sensitivity for predicting a functioning bleb differed significantly between SL-OCT and UBM. A Fisher's exact test was also used for morphological analysis of the trabeculectomy blebs based on SL-OCT.

RESULTSIn the 69 eyes, there were 45 (65.2%) functioning blebs and 24 (34.8%) non-functioning blebs. We classified the blebs into four categories on the basis of SL-OCT images: diffuse, cystic, encapsulated and flat. Diffuse and cystic blebs were typically functional, whereas the other two types were always non-functional. The sensitivity of SL-OCT for predicting a functioning bleb was 92.7% (38/41 eyes) and specificity of predicting a non-functioning bleb was 83.3% (20/24 eyes). By contrast, sensitivity of UBM was 66.7% (30/45 eyes) and specificity was 75.0% (18/24 eyes). The sensitivity for predicting a functioning bleb differed significantly between the two techniques (P = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONSSL-OCT provides high-axial-resolution images of anterior segment structures. The non-contact approach of SL-OCT enables visualization of intrableb structures at any time after surgery. SL-OCT has greater sensitivity and specificity than UBM in evaluating filtering bleb function. The morphological classification supported the assessment of bleb function and could provide objective data for evaluating the outcome of antiglaucoma surgery or the need for a second procedure.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Blister ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Conjunctiva ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Female ; Glaucoma ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Male ; Microscopy, Acoustic ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Reproducibility of Results ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; methods ; Trabeculectomy ; adverse effects ; methods

The purpose of this paper was to report a successful treatment of transluminal Nd:YAG laser embolysis (NYE) for branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO) with visible emboli. Two patients with acute, severe vision loss secondary to a branch retinal artery occlusion with visible emboli in one eye underwent NYE. A complete ocular examination was performed which included biomicroscopy of the posterior pole of the retina, intraocular pressure measurement, fundus color photographs, and fluorescein angiography (FA). After the NYE, the two patients showed dramatic improvements in best-corrected visual acuity, as well as, immediate and dramatic restorations in flow past the obstructed arteriole in FA. NYE is a treatment modality to be considered in patients with BRAO who present acutely with severe vision loss and a visible embolus.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Fluorescein Angiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fundus Oculi ; Humans ; Laser Coagulation/*methods ; Lasers, Solid-State/*therapeutic use ; Microscopy, Acoustic ; Retinal Artery Occlusion/diagnosis/*surgery ; Thrombectomy/*methods ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: To compare the intraocular pressures (IOPs) measured by dynamic contour tonometry (DCT) and Goldmann applanation tonometry (GAT), and to investigate the association of IOPs on eyes of varying central corneal thickness (CCT). METHODS: In this prospective study, 451 eyes of 233 subjects were enrolled. IOPs were measured by GAT and DCT. CCT was measured three times and the average was calculated. Each eye was classified into one of three groups according to CCT: low CCT (group A, CCT<520 micrometer, n=146); normal CCT (group B, 520 micrometer < or = CT < or = 550 micrometer, n=163); and high CCT (group C, CCT>550 micrometer, n=142). In each group, we investigated the association of CCT with IOP measurement by GAT and DCT. RESULTS: The IOPs measured by GAT and DCT were significantly associated for all eyes (R=0.853, p<0.001, Pearson correlation). CCT was related with both IOP measurement by GAT and DCT with statistical significance (mixed effect model, p<0.001). However, subgroup analysis showed that CCT affected IOP measured by GAT for groups B and C, whereas it affected IOP measured by DCT only for group C. CONCLUSIONS: IOP measured by DCT was not affected by CCT in eyes with low to normal CCT, whereas this measurement was affected in eyes of high CCT range. CCT may have less effect on IOP measurements using DCT than those obtained by GAT, within a specified range of CCT.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cornea/ultrasonography ; Female ; Glaucoma/*diagnosis/physiopathology ; Humans ; *Intraocular Pressure ; Male ; Microscopy, Acoustic/methods ; Middle Aged ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prospective Studies ; Tonometry, Ocular/*methods ; Young Adult