PURPOSE: We intended to analyze the characteristics of a pediatric low vision population. METHODS: Among 430 patients who visited our low vision clinic from May 1995 to April 2000, 137 patients(31.9%) aged 15 years or less were reviewed to study epidemiologic characteristics, prescribed aids and required magnification. RESULTS: The percentage of pediatric low vision patients was higher than that of developed countries. Male predominance was found. Optic atrophy(41.6%), congenital cataract(12.4%), macular degeneration and dystrophy(9.5%) were the major causes of low vision in this population. The most commonly prescribed low vision aid was a telescope. For near task, light-gathering magnifiers were prescribed most commonly. The visual acuity was improved significantly at near and far distance after correction with low vision aid. The mean required magnification was 3.5 xand this means that a low magnification was sufficient in the majority of cases. CONCLUSIONS: Early rehabilitation and long-range planning for the low vision child are required because of profound effect of childhood visual impairment.
Child ; Developed Countries ; Humans ; Macular Degeneration ; Male ; Optic Atrophy ; Rehabilitation ; Telescopes ; Vision Disorders ; Vision, Low* ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: Keratoconus is a bilateral noninflammatory ecstatic disease of cornea. Clinical manifestations and treatments are well-described , but the exact pathophysiology has many debates. There are many reports on pathologic abnormalities of keratoconus, but few reports on epithelial adhesion complex. The authors investigated the abnormalities in epithelial adhesion complex of keratoconus. METHODS: Using 4 corneas from 4 recipients of penetrating keratoplasty, examination was done with transmission electron microscope (Hitachi-600, Japan) after proper fixation and staining. Central and peripheral portion of each corneal tissues were examined. RESULTS: In two tissues, severe degeneration of basement membrane and Bowman's layer were found. Some degree of abnormalities was found in other tissues, which had minimal change. Some of hemidesmosomes, the most distinct part of adhesion complex, were found only in well-maintained tissue but the distribution was abnormal. CONCLUSIONS: The fact that basal plasma membrane had selectively more degenerations and changes than intercellular plasma membrane implies pathophysiology of keratoconus on adhesion complex, basal plasma membrane, basement membrane and Bowman's layer. Further study on this issue will reveal more information as to its pathophysiology.
Basement Membrane ; Cell Membrane ; Cornea ; Hemidesmosomes ; Keratoconus* ; Keratoplasty, Penetrating

No abstract available.
Hyperplasia* ; Islets of Langerhans* ; Nesidioblastosis*

Objective: Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and β-endorphin are pituitary neuro-peptides released by acute stress. We determined why the prognosis of patients with subarachnoid hemorrhages (SAH) due to aneurysmal rupture is not always dependent on the Hunt–Hess grading system (HHS) and delta-National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), while studying endogenous neuropeptides, including ACTH and β-endorphin. Methods: We analyzed blood samples collected from patients with SAH (SAH group; n=37) and those with unruptured intracranial aneurysms (control group; n=37). Blood sampling was performed before any procedure or chemical agents administration. The results of ACTH and β-endorphin measurements were compared using the delta-NIHSS and HHS. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent samples t-tests, and Pearson’s correlations. Results: Of the 18 patients with low-grade HHS, 13 had low delta-NIHSS and five showed high delta-NIHSS. Of the 19 patients with high-grade HHS, the delta-NIHSS was ≥14 in the other five patients. ACTH concentration was high (497.3 pg/mL) in five patients with high-grade HHS and high delta-NIHSS. β-endorphin concentration was high (159.7 pg/mL) in 13 patients with low-grade HHS and low delta-NIHSS. Conclusions High ACTH levels in patients with massive bleeding and poor neurological status suggests increasing ACTH secretion in response to bleeding stress, which may aggravate neurological status. Contrary to ACTH, high β-endorphin levels in patients with low-grade HHS implied the involvement of additional factors in predicting fair outcomes related to low delta-NIHSS. These results may provide insight into the varying prognostic potential of HHS in SAH patients.

We report a case of an accidental extravasation of contrast material. A large-volume extravasation occurred in an adult during spiral contrast-enhanced CT. The amount of contrast material extravasated was 47 ml. The patient had a swelling of the dorsum right hand. The extravasation injury site was determined by CT scanning. The extavasation case was examined using five separate display techniques: axial, multi planar reformation (MPR), maximum intensity projection (MIP), volume rendering, and shaded-surfaced display (SSD). This paper introduces extravasation with the CT and the three-dimensional appearance.
Adult ; Contrast Media* ; Extravasation of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Materials* ; Hand ; Humans ; Injections, Subcutaneous* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Gastric carcinoid tumors were previously believed to be rare lesions, representing less than 2% of all carcinoid tumors and less than 1% of all stomach neoplasms. More recent studies have demonstrated that they may constitute as much as l0-30% of carcinoid tumors. We recently experienced a 35-years old businessman with gastric carcinoid tumor who camplained of postprandial epigastric discomfort. Gastrofiberscope showed protruding mass with central depression and erasion which was located on greater curvature of lower body and its size was 1 x 1 cm. Gastroendoscopic biopsy was per formed. It was identified to carcinoid tumor(Argyrophilic tumor). EUS(endoscopic ultrasonography) revealed that the lesion was limited to submucosa without evidence of any metastasis to adjacent lymph node. The carcinoid tumor was successfully removed by endoscopic polypectomy. Gastrofiberscope and EUS 9months after polypectomy showed that the lesion was nearly normal mucosa without submucosal thickening.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Carcinoid Tumor* ; Depression ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Mucous Membrane ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Stomach Neoplasms