Purpose: We used spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) to assess the retinal and choroidal thicknesses of the rabbit, a commonly used animal model of ophthalmic disease. We report normative datasets. Methods: Semi-automated measurements were made on 15 normal right eyes of New Zealand white rabbits. Total retinal, inner retinal layer, outer retinal layer, choroidal, ganglion cell layer, ganglion cell complex, inner nuclear layer, and outer nuclear layer thicknesses were measured at fixed distances (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 mm) below the optic nerve head. Results: Total retinal layer (Pearson’s correlation coefficient [CC] = -0.778, p < 0.05), inner retinal layer (CC = -0.710, p < 0.05), outer retinal layer (CC = -0.495, p < 0.05), ganglion cell complex (CC = -0.292, p < 0.05), ganglion cell layer (CC = -0.284, p < 0.05), and outer nuclear layer thicknesses (CC = -0.760, p < 0.05) decreased with the distance from the optic nerve head. Inner nuclear layer thickness correlated negatively with the distance from the optic nerve head, but the correlation coefficient was low (CC = -0.263, p < 0.05). Choroidal thickness increased with the distance from the optic nerve head (CC = 0.511, p < 0.05). Conclusions Rabbit retinal thicknesses were measured and analyzed by the distance from the optic nerve head. The datasets will serve as standards when using rabbits.

Purpose: We used spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) to assess the retinal and choroidal thicknesses of the rabbit, a commonly used animal model of ophthalmic disease. We report normative datasets. Methods: Semi-automated measurements were made on 15 normal right eyes of New Zealand white rabbits. Total retinal, inner retinal layer, outer retinal layer, choroidal, ganglion cell layer, ganglion cell complex, inner nuclear layer, and outer nuclear layer thicknesses were measured at fixed distances (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 mm) below the optic nerve head. Results: Total retinal layer (Pearson’s correlation coefficient [CC] = -0.778, p < 0.05), inner retinal layer (CC = -0.710, p < 0.05), outer retinal layer (CC = -0.495, p < 0.05), ganglion cell complex (CC = -0.292, p < 0.05), ganglion cell layer (CC = -0.284, p < 0.05), and outer nuclear layer thicknesses (CC = -0.760, p < 0.05) decreased with the distance from the optic nerve head. Inner nuclear layer thickness correlated negatively with the distance from the optic nerve head, but the correlation coefficient was low (CC = -0.263, p < 0.05). Choroidal thickness increased with the distance from the optic nerve head (CC = 0.511, p < 0.05). Conclusions Rabbit retinal thicknesses were measured and analyzed by the distance from the optic nerve head. The datasets will serve as standards when using rabbits.

Pancreatic pseudocyst can fistulize to adjacent organs such as stomach, duodenum, colon, and esophagus. Fistula formation with bile duct is rare. Reported cases of biliary involvement of pancreatic pseudocyst include fistula formation between the pancreatic pseudocyst and common bile duct. Intrahepatic bile duct dilatation caused by fistula formation with pancreatic pseudocyst is extremely rare. There are no published reports to the best of our knowledge. Herein, we report a case of intrahepatic bile duct dilatation caused by fistulous communication with a pancreatic pseudocyst. The peripheral intrahepatic bile duct surrounding the pseudocyst was dilated without involving the common bile duct. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography image showed a connection between the pancreatic pseudocyst and dilated intrahepatic bile ducts with a multifocal cystic and beaded appearance.

Light chain deposition disease (LCDD) is characterized by the deposition of abnormal immunoglobulin light chains in many organs, including kidney. It is usually associated with multiple myeloma or other lymphoproliferative disorders. Myeloma usually occurs in old age and may develop after renal transplantation thus being categorized as posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD). Renal LCDD usually presents with variable degree of proteinuria and renal insufficiency. The diagnosis of LCDD depends on histologic findings with detection of monoclonal immunoglobulin light chain. Histologically, it is characterized by nodular glomerulosclerosis. We report the first case of de novo LCDD associated with myeloma after renal transplantation in Korea. With advancing renal transplantation and increasing old aged renal recipients, myeloma or LCDD should be included in the differential diagnoses of renal recipient patients with deteriorating renal function.
Aged ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin Light Chains ; Kidney ; Kidney Transplantation ; Korea ; Light ; Lymphoproliferative Disorders ; Multiple Myeloma ; Proteinuria ; Renal Insufficiency ; Transplantation, Homologous

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are the most abundant form of human genetic variation and are a resource for mapping complex genetic traits. A genome is covered by millions of these markers, and researchers are able to compare which SNPs predominate in people who have a certain disease. The International HapMap Project, launched in October, 2002, motivated us to start the Korean HapMap Project in order to support Korean HapMap infrastructure development and to accelerate the finding of genes that affect health, disease, and individual responses to medications and environmental factors. A Korean SNP and haplotype database system was developed through the Korean HapMap Project to provide Korean researchers with useful data- mining information about disease-associated biomarkers for studies on complex diseases, such as diabetes, cancer, and stroke. Also, we have developed a series of software programs for association studies as well as the comparison and analysis of Korean HapMap data with other populations, such as European, Chinese, Japanese, and African populations. The developed software includes HapMapSNPAnalyzer, SNPflank, HWE Test, FESD, D2GSNP, SNP@Domain, KMSD, KFOD, KFRG, and SNP@WEB. We developed a disease-related SNP retrieval system, in which OMIM, GeneCards, and MeSH information were integrated and analyzed for medical research scientists. The kHapMap Browser system that we developed and integrated provides haplotype retrieval and comparative study tools of human ethnicities for comprehensive disease association studies (http://www.khapmap.org). It is expected that researchers may be able to retrieve useful information from the kHapMap Browser to find useful biomarkers and genes in complex disease association studies and use these biomarkers and genes to study and develop new drugs for personalized medicine.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Databases, Genetic ; Genetic Variation ; Genome ; Haplotypes ; HapMap Project ; Humans ; Mining ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Stroke ; Biomarkers ; Precision Medicine

The Korean HapMap Project has been carried out for the last 5 years since it started in June, 2003. The project generated data for a sum of 1,764,000 Korean SNPs and formally registered the data to the dbSNP of NCBI (The dbSNP website. 2008). We have developed a series of software programs for association studies as well as for the comparison and analysis of Korean HapMap data with four other populations (CEPH, Yoruba, Han Chinese, and Japanese populations). The KHapmap Browser was developed and integrated to provide haplotype retrieval and comparative study tools of human ethnicities for comprehensive disease association studies (http://www.khapmap.org). On that basis, GBrowse was adopted in the KHapmap Browser for inherent Korean genetic data, and a provision of extended services was pledged with the distributed sequence annotation system (DAS). The dynamic linking service of the KHapmap Browser to other tools in our intranetwork environment provides many enhanced functions over GBrowse without DAS. KHapmap Browser is expected to be an invaluable tool for the study of Korean and international Hapmap data.
4-Acetamido-4'-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic Acid ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Haplotypes ; HapMap Project ; Humans ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

A spontaneous subcapsular hematoma in an allograft kidney is a rare condition with only a few cases reported in the literature. Common causes of subcapsular hematoma of an allograft include trauma, post-biopsy status, occult malignancy, vascular diseases, and infection. Chronic allograft dysfunction related to spontaneous subcapsular hematoma is extremely rare. We report a case of spontaneous subcapsular hematoma in a patient who underwent a renal transplant 14 years ago in which we could not find an associated condition.
Hematoma ; Humans ; Kidney ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Transplants ; Vascular Diseases

BACKGROUND: The incidence of acute rejection has decreased with the introduction of new immunosuppressive agents. However, several studies have shown that allograft survival has not clearly improved over the past few decades. METHODS: We reviewed patients who underwent kidney transplantation between 1982 and 2007. We compared the causes of graft loss for three decades: 1982~1990 (period I),1991~2000 (period II), and 2001~2007 (period III), with the clinical characteristics of patients with functioning grafts and patients who lost their allografts. RESULTS: There were 785 recipients with a mean age of 36.1 years, and 65.2% were male. Graft loss occurred in 329 patients (41.9%), and the most common cause of graft loss was chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN, 52.0%), followed by patient death (17.6%), post-transplant glomerulonephritis (12.8%), and non compliance (7.9%). During the three time periods, 129, 172, and 28 patients lost their grafts, respectively. Five-year graft survival was 61.5%, 78.4%, and 90.8%, respectively, and increased significantly (P<0.000). CAN, as a cause of graft loss, fell from 65.1% (period I) to 32.1% (period III, P<0.000), but patient death increased from 12.4% to 32.1% (P=0.034). A multivariate analysis revealed that significant risk factors for graft loss included an older donor, transplantation at period I, and dual immunosuppression. Use of tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil was associated with a significantly reduced risk of graft loss. CONCLUSIONS: Graft survival has increased over the last three decades whereas the proportion of CAN, the most common cause of graft loss, has decreased. Attention to the main causes of graft loss, CAN, and patient death will offer potential improvement in graft survival.
Compliance ; Glomerulonephritis ; Graft Rejection ; Graft Survival ; Humans ; Immunosuppression ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Incidence ; Kidney ; Kidney Transplantation ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Mycophenolic Acid ; Rejection (Psychology) ; Risk Factors ; Tacrolimus ; Time Factors ; Tissue Donors ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Transplants ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the risk of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and its related factors among firefighters dispatched to the rescue sites after the Great Japanese Earthquake in 2011. METHODS: Among 104 male firefighters dispatched to rescue sites after the Great Japanese Earthquake, 73 firefighters were assessed. The 73 firefighters completed questionnaires, which include general characteristics, an impact of event scale-revised Korean version (IES-R-K), a coping checklist, a scale of perceived social support, and a post-traumatic stress diagnostic scale (PDS). The data was analyzed to find factors related to PTSD risk. RESULTS: The mean value of age and work tenure in this study were 38.6 years (SD=5.7) and 11.6 years (SD=6.0), respectively. The number and rate of the PTSD high-risk group in dispatched firefighters in this study was 7 cases and 9.6% using IES-R-K, with an over 25-point cutoff score. The mean rank of tenure, 53.5 in the PTSD high-risk group (n=7), was significantly higher than that of 32.2 in the PTSD low-risk group (n=66). The mean rank of assessable support, 20.2 in the PTSD high-risk group was significantly lower than that of 38.7 in the PTSD low-risk group. In logistic analysis of model 1 including PDS in independent variables, were associated with being a PTSD high-risk group as in the following: higher PDS score (OR 2.18, 95% CI: 1.07~4.46), longer tenure (OR 3.42, 95% CI: 1.01~11.89), more using coping method (OR 1.35, 95% CI: 1.00~1.81), and lower perceptions of social support (OR 0.84, 95% CI: 0.72~0.97). In logistic analysis of model 2 without PDS in independent variables, more using coping method (OR 1.14, 95% CI: 1.01~1.28) and lower perceptions of social support (OR 0.95, 95% CI: 0.91~0.98) were associated with being a PTSD high-risk group. CONCLUSION: The PTSD high-risk group in dispatched firefighters indicated that their odds ratios were increased when they used more coping methods under specific stress conditions and had lower perceptions of social support. Therefore, for those, who might be dispatched to overseas, the psychological support approach should be considered to produce effective coping methods against traumatic events and to be aware of abundant resources for social support regarding the problem.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Checklist ; Earthquakes ; Firefighters ; Humans ; Male ; Odds Ratio ; Questionnaires ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic

PURPOSE: This study was planned to determine the efficacy and safety of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) as a rescue treatment in patients with membranous nephropathy (MN) and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) who were not responsive to standard therapy with steroid and immunosuppressive regimen. METHODS: We planned a prospective, non-randomized study from Oct. 2002 to Aug. 2009, including biopsy-proven MN or FSGS patients in Keimyung university Dongsan hospital. MMF was initiated at 0.5-0.75 g twice daily, and advanced as appropriate or as tolerated to 0.75-1 g twice daily. RESULTS: 14 cases with MN and 5 cases with FSGS was enrolled. The mean age of patients was 51.7+/-12.3 years, and mean treatment duration was 14.4+/-6.5 months. Five patients (26.4%) went into complete remission and the seven (36.8%) into partial remission. The mean value of 24hr total urine protein over the follow-up 6 months' period declined significantly from 7.6+/-6.2 g in pre-treatment, to 4.1+/-3.2 g in 3 months, and 3.1+/-2.1 g in 6 months (p=0.011). The mean 24hr total urine protein decreased from 7.5+/-6.3 g in pre-MMF to 1.9+/-1.8 g in post-MMF (p=0.001). The mean serum albumin rose from 3.2+/-0.8 g/dL in pre-MMF to 3.9+/-0.5 g/dL in post-MMF (p=0.001). There were no significant changes in mean value for WBC, hemoglobin, serum creatinine, and total cholesterol. Side effects of MMF were infrequent and generally mild. CONCLUSION: MMF appears effective in 63% of patients with MN and FSGS who are resistant to other forms of treatment. Studies with more cases and multicenter controlled trials are required to establish the role and standards of MMF in these disorders.
Cholesterol ; Creatinine ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glomerulonephritis, Membranous ; Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental ; Hemoglobins ; Humans ; Mycophenolic Acid ; Prospective Studies ; Serum Albumin