No abstract available.
Amniotic Fluid* ; Female ; Meconium*

No abstract available.
DNA Topoisomerases* ; DNA*

No abstract available.
Blood Donors* ; Female ; Humans ; Pregnant Women*

BACKGROUND: The causes of hemolytic disease of the newborn are discrepancies of ABO group, Rh(D) or other RBC antigens. The discrepancies of Rh subgroups except Rh(D) and K typing can be seen rarely. The clinical symptoms of those types are mild and most clinicians have no interest in them. However, there exist some serious cases that need exchange transfusion. For that, we detected Rh subgroup phenotyping and Kell typing in blood obtained from cord and pregnant women and the frequency of discrepancy. METHODS: We examined the cord and mother's blood collected from 317 pregnant women from May to November, 1997. Rh(D) typing was done using slide method with anti-D (Dade, USA), and other Rh subgroup phenotyping using column agglutination test on MicroTyping system with Rh-K gel card (DiaMed, Switzerland). Irregular antibody screening was done in the cases of discrepancy. RESLUTS: The most frequent phenotype of Rh subgroup was CDe (41.3%) and then CcDEe (39.3%), but the K typing showed 0%. 90 cases of 317 pair-samples (28.4%) showed discrepancies between pregnant women and their neonates. The most frequent type of Rh discrepancy was c+E (50%) and then C or E (11.1%). 62 cord samples which obtained from neonates of Kyungpook and Chonnam provinces showed discrepancies, were all negative in the irregular antibody screening test. CONCLUSIONS: Rh subgroup phenotyping and irregular antibody screening in cord blood by column agglutination test is thought to be helpful in early diagnosis and treatment of hemolytic disease of the newborn, as a sufficient amount of cord blood can be collected easily rather than neonatal blood.
Agglutination Tests ; Blood Group Antigens* ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Fetal Blood ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Jeollanam-do ; Mass Screening ; Phenotype ; Pregnant Women*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of continuous drug delivery system using microinfusion pump by animal study METHODS: Schirmer test was performed after connecting the microinfusion pump at the superior fornix of rabbit eye. The pump was settled to instill artificial tears. We also evaluated the efficacy of continuous 0.1% fluorometholone infusion after alkali burn induced by 1N NaOH. RESULTS: Average change in Schirmer tear test value was 12.0mm/5min. The recovery after alkali burn was improved in the eye of continuous infusion of steroid eye drops. CONCLUSIONS: Microinfusion pump was thought to be useful as a continuous eye drops delivery system. It would be applicable to infuse artificial tears continuously in severe dry eye patients and to infuse antibiotic eye drops in infectous eye disease patients.
Alkalies ; Animals ; Burns ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Eye Diseases ; Fluorometholone ; Humans ; Ophthalmic Solutions ; Tears

PURPOSE: To investigate the changes of corneal nerve innervation and sensitivity after corneal tattooing. METHODS: Twelve New Zealand rabbits were divided into two groups of six subjects each. Tissue marking dye or balanced-salt solution was injected into the corneal stroma in one eye of each subject. Corneal nerve innervation was observed at 3 days and 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 weeks postoperatively and compared with that of the opposite eyes. Corneal sensitivity was evaluated at 1, 2, and 3 days and 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 weeks postoperatively and compared to the preoperative values in the same subjects. RESULTS: The ratios of corneal nerve density of the study eyes to those of the control fellow eyes were 1.09 in the central area and 1.06 in the peripheral area in subjects injected with tissue marking dye, and 1.11 and 1.23, respectively, in subjects injected with balanced salt solution, which showed no difference between the two groups. The corneal nerve density tends to increase at 3 days postoperatively (p=0.125), but no significant change was found thereafter. Corneal sensitivity assessed using the Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometer was 2.13+/-0.48 cm preoperatively. At three days postoperatively, it was 2.50+/-0.48 cm in subjects injected with tissue marking dye and 2.33+/-0.26 cm in subjects injected with balanced salt solution. It was significantly increased at 3 days postoperatively (2.42+/-0.36 cm, p=0.031), but there were no significant changes at 7 days or more postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Corneal nerve density increased at 3 days after corneal tattooing, and this effect is thought to be related to early postoperative hypersensitivity.
Corneal Stroma ; Hypersensitivity ; Nerve Regeneration* ; Rabbits ; Tattooing*

PURPOSE: To analyze the outcome of cataract surgery and to determine factors influencing the postoperative visual acuity in patients aged 85 years and older. METHODS: The best corrected visual acuity before and 3 months after cataract surgery in patients aged 85 years and older was measured. Age, sex, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, astigmatism, corneal endothelial cell count, ocular comorbidity, and intraoperative complication were analyzed to determine which factors influence the postoperative visual acuity. RESULTS: The postoperative visual acuity improved in 87% of patients, and a visual acuity of 20/40 or better was achieved in 56% of patients. Posterior capsular rupture and zonular dialysis were found as intraoperative complications in 16% of patients. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine which factors influence the postoperative visual acuity; age(p=0.009), ocular comorbidity (p=0.009), and intraoperative complication (p=0.010) were significantly associated with postoperative visual acuity. CONCLUSIONS: The postoperative visual acuity following cataract surgery in patients aged 85 years and older improved in 87% of patients, and old age, ocular comorbidity, and intraoperative complication were predictors of a poorer visual outcome.
Aged* ; Astigmatism ; Cataract* ; Comorbidity ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Dialysis ; Endothelial Cells ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Intraoperative Complications ; Rupture ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of argon laser in the ablation of benign conjunctival pigmented nevi. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, observational case study, on a series of argon laser ablations of conjunctival pigmented nevi, in 30 eyes of 28 patients. Laser ablation was applied directly to the conjunctival pigmented nevus in all patients. The mean age of the patients was 33.0 +/- 9.3 years old, and the male to female ratio was 3: 25. All patients were followed up over a period of at least 6 months. RESULTS: The mean size of the conjunctival lesions was 3.9 X 2.8 mm. In all patients, the conjunctival lesions to which the argon laser was applied disappeared almost completely within two days after treatment. No lesion recurrence was detected in any patient during the follow-up period, nor were there any conjunctival scars or conjunctival injection. All patients were satisfied with the results of the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Argon laser ablation of conjunctival pigmented nevi resulted in uniformly excellent clinical outcomes. Therefore, this study concludes that argon laser ablation is a safe and effective modality for the treatment of benign conjunctival nevi, and that this method is capable of replacing the classical surgical procedure.
Argon* ; Cicatrix ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Laser Therapy* ; Male ; Nevus* ; Nevus, Pigmented ; Prospective Studies ; Recurrence

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of stained amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) for cosmetic repair of band keratopathy. METHODS: Eight eyes from 8 patients with band keratopathy without the possibility of visual improvement were treated with corneal tattooing and stained AMT. Calcific plaques were removed with EDTA and a blade prior to the tattooing. Tattooing by the injection of tissue marking dye into the corneal stroma was performed in corneal opacities. The remaining opacity, which could not be treated with corneal tattooing, was treated with black dye-stained AMT. RESULTS: The most common cause of band keratopathy was trauma (50%) and the mean time to epithelial healing was 11.3 days. All patients showed satisfactory results with cosmetic staining. Recurring cases and significant complications were not observed during the mean follow-up period of 7.4 months. CONCLUSIONS: Cosmetic repair by corneal tattooing and stained AMT is an effective treatment for band keratopathy and is not associated with any significant complications.
Amnion* ; Corneal Opacity ; Corneal Stroma ; Edetic Acid ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Tattooing

PURPOSE: To report a case of cosmetically successful treatment of nevus of Ota performed by scleral painting and scleral allograft transplantation. METHODS: Scleral painting and allograft transplantation were done in a 28-year-old woman who had cosmetic problem due to nevus of Ota, and she was followed up for 5 months postoperatively. RESULTS: The patient had no specific postoperative complication and was satisfied with the surgical results. CONCLUSIONS: For patients of nevus of Ota who have not been treated successfully, scleral painting and allograft transplation can be an effective cosmetic treatment.
Adult ; Allografts ; Female ; Humans ; Nevus of Ota* ; Nevus* ; Paint ; Paintings ; Postoperative Complications