PURPOSE: To investigate which spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) findings predict visual outcome after anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (NV-AMD). METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of patients with treatment-naive NV-AMD who underwent three or more consecutive anti-VEGF injections. The patients were divided into three groups according to their changes of visual acuity (VA); improved (group I), static (group S), or worsened (group W). We assessed the incidences and values of all available SD-OCT findings of these groups, compared these findings between the three groups and compared the initial values with the post-treatment values. RESULTS: Better initial VA and longer external limiting membrane (ELM) length were associated with less change in VA after anti-VEGF treatment. The initial VA was mildly correlated with initial photoreceptor inner and outer segment junction (IS/OS) length and initial ELM length. The final VA was also mildly correlated with the final IS/OS length and the final ELM length. VA was significantly changed after anti-VEGF treatment in groups W and I. With regard to incidence, disruption of the IS/OS (IS/OS-D), disruption of the ELM (ELM-D) and ELM length differed significantly between the three groups, particularly ELM-D. The incidences of IS/OS-D and ELM-D in group I were significantly lower than those in groups S and W, and those in group S were also lower than those in group W. The ELM length in group I was significantly longer than it was in groups S and W, and the ELM length in group S was longer than that for group W. However, these three findings did not change after the anti-VEGF treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Initial IS/OS-D, ELM length and particularly ELM-D can be useful predictors of the visual outcome after anti-VEGF treatment in NV-AMD patients.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Angiogenesis Inhibitors/*therapeutic use ; Choroidal Neovascularization/*drug therapy/physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Intravitreal Injections ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ranibizumab/*therapeutic use ; Retinal Photoreceptor Cell Inner Segment/pathology ; Retinal Photoreceptor Cell Outer Segment/pathology ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/antagonists & inhibitors ; Visual Acuity/*physiology ; Wet Macular Degeneration/*drug therapy/physiopathology

BACKGROUND: It seems that herpes zoster is caused by reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus and its incidence is increasing. The reactivation of the varicella zoster virus is thought to be associated with the disturbance of the state of immunity in patients with herpes zoster. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to elucidate the state of immunity in patients with herpes zoster in its acute phase(less than 7 days). METHODS: 1. Thirty patients with acute phase herpes zoster matched by age and sex against a control group, were checked for Helper/Inducer T cell(CD4), Suppressor/Cytotoxic T cell(CD8), NK cell, B cell and activated T cell by three color flow cytometric analysis. 2. Forty patients with herpes zoster measured delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity by means of Multitest' CMI. 3. Thirty patients with herpes zoster measured Ig G, M, A by means of N-antisera method.
Herpes Zoster* ; Herpesvirus 3, Human ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunity, Cellular ; Immunity, Humoral* ; Incidence ; Killer Cells, Natural

Progressive zosteriform macular pigmented lesion(PZMPL) is a chronic pigmentary dermatosis similar to progressive cribriform and zosteriform hyperpigmentation(PCZH). This dermatosis described by Simoes in 1980 is characterized by a uniformly tanned macular pigmented lesion in a zosteriform distribution preceded by multiple pruritic macular pigmentation in a part of the dermatome for a period. PZMPL is not a fully understood disease entity but it is thought to be a variant of PCZH. It is differentiated from PCZH by accompanying pruritus as a prodromal symptom, a characteristic clinical course, and histological findings such as pigmentary incontinence. We report herein a case of PZMPL in a 17 year-old girl with the pigmentary skin lesion extending from the left forearm to the left chest along the Blaschkos line. The histological findings revealed increased melanin pigments in the basal layer and focal pigmentary incontinence in the upper dermis. To our knowledge, this case is the first report of PZMPL in korea thought to be the same case reported by Simoes.
Adolescent ; Dermis ; Female ; Forearm ; Humans ; Korea ; Melanins ; Pigmentation ; Prodromal Symptoms ; Pruritus ; Skin ; Skin Diseases ; Thorax ; Triacetoneamine-N-Oxyl

PURPOSE: Optic disc harmatoma is usually seen in tuberous sclerosis patients, but, it may be seen in otherwise normal people. Visual acuity is usually not affected by this lesion. METHODS: We experienced a 40-year-old woman with optic disc hamartoma who presented with acute visual defect. With oral triamcinolone 48mg/day, her visions recovered to normal in 2 weeks. RESULTS: Her age, symptom, and course of disease supported the diagnosis of optic neuritis. CONCLUSION: We report this patient as a case of optic disc hamartoma combined with optic neuritis.
Adult ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Hamartoma* ; Humans ; Optic Neuritis* ; Triamcinolone ; Tuberous Sclerosis ; Visual Acuity

No abstract available.
Erythema*

No abstract available.
Cyclosporine* ; Scleroderma, Localized*

No abstract available.
Cyclosporine* ; Scleroderma, Localized*

No abstract available.

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Cardiomyopathies* ; Peripartum Period*