PURPOSE: To evaluate the postoperative higher-order aberrations (HOAs) and factors affecting postoperative changes in HOAs in eyes that underwent wavefront-guided LASEK (laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy), compared with the eyes that underwent conventional LASEK. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 221 patients who had undergone LASEK or wavefront guided LASEK with VISX WaveScan and VISX Star S4 eximer laser by a single surgeon (427 total eye operations). We matched 29 eyes of the LASEK and the wavefront LASEK groups (58 eyes total) according to the guideline: preoperative refractive power differences must be within 1 diopter and preoperative root-mean-square (RMS) of total HOAs differences must be within 0.01 micrometer. Preoperative wavefront aberrations and two-months postoperative wavefront aberrations and associated factors were compared and analyzed. RESULTS: Postoperative total HOAs, comas, and spherical aberrations increased significantly from 0.36+/-0.10 micrometer to 0.49+/-0.16 micrometer (p=.001), 0.21+/-0.09 micrometer to 0.31+/-0.14 micrometer (p=.003), and 0.03+/-0.10 micrometer to 0.10+/-0.20 micrometer (p=.043), respectively, in the conventional LASEK group. In the wavefront LASEK group, postoperative HOAs, comas, and spherical aberrations significantly increased from 0.36+/-0.10 micrometer to 0.46+/-0.14 micrometer (p=.004), 0.18+/-0.10 micrometer to 0.29+/-0.14 micrometer (p=.002), and 0.09+/-0.14 micrometer to 0.19+/-0.14 micrometer (p=.006), respectively. There were no significant differences in HOAs between the two groups. A strong negative correlation between preoperative total HOAs and a multiple of increase in total HOAs postoperatively was found, with the negative correlation being stronger in the wavefront-guided LASEK group (Pearson's correlation coefficient =-0.697, p<.001) than in the LASEK group (Pearson's correlation coefficient =-0.632, p<.001). CONCLUSIONS: There were no significant decreases in HOAs in the eyes that underwent wavefront-guided LASEK compared with the matched control eyes of patients that underwent conventional LASEK. Analyzing the tendency of a multiple of increase in total HOAs according to the preoperative HOAs, it suggests that the wavefront-guided LASEK may be more effective in suppressing an increase in total HOAs in the eyes with higher preoperative HOAs.
Case-Control Studies ; Coma ; Humans ; Keratectomy, Subepithelial, Laser-Assisted* ; Medical Records

PURPOSE: To report 2 cases of Comamonas acidovorans keratitis in immunocompromised cornea. METHODS: A complete review of the medical records of the two cases of Comamonas acidovorans keratitis. RESULTS: We found some similarities in clinical courses of two cases. Both of them showed development of keratitis during the management with corticosteroids, delayed onset, slow response to antibiotics, and relatively less affected corneal epithelium. CONCLUSIONS: Comamonas acidovorans is known as a less virulent organism. However it can cause an indolent infection that responds slowly even to adequate antibiotics therapy in immunocompromised corneas.
Amikacin/therapeutic use ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Ceftazidime/therapeutic use ; Ciprofloxacin/therapeutic use ; Corneal Ulcer/diagnosis/drug therapy/*microbiology ; Delftia acidovorans/*isolation & purification ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Eye Infections, Bacterial/diagnosis/drug therapy/*microbiology ; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections/diagnosis/drug therapy/*microbiology ; Humans ; *Immunocompromised Host ; Male ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Middle Aged

PURPOSE: To report 2 cases of Comamonas acidovorans keratitis in immunocompromised cornea. METHODS: A complete review of the medical records of the two cases of Comamonas acidovorans keratitis. RESULTS: We found some similarities in clinical courses of two cases. Both of them showed development of keratitis during the management with corticosteroids, delayed onset, slow response to antibiotics, and relatively less affected corneal epithelium. CONCLUSIONS: Comamonas acidovorans is known as a less virulent organism. However it can cause an indolent infection that responds slowly even to adequate antibiotics therapy in immunocompromised corneas.
Amikacin/therapeutic use ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Ceftazidime/therapeutic use ; Ciprofloxacin/therapeutic use ; Corneal Ulcer/diagnosis/drug therapy/*microbiology ; Delftia acidovorans/*isolation & purification ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Eye Infections, Bacterial/diagnosis/drug therapy/*microbiology ; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections/diagnosis/drug therapy/*microbiology ; Humans ; *Immunocompromised Host ; Male ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Middle Aged

"Pseudomyxoma peritonei is a clinical entity in which the peritoneal surface and omentum are involved with gelatinous, mucinous implants, and often massive gelatinous ascites. Most cases originate from ruptured ovarian mucinous cysts or appendiceal mucoceles, and involve only the intraperitoneal cavity. But there is much confusion about its etiology, clinical manifestation, treatment, and prognosis. We experienced a case of pseudomyxoma peritonei originating from the mucinous cystic tumor of borderline malignancy in unilateral ovary with rupture. A case of pseudomyxoma peritonei is reported with a brief review of the literature."
Female ; Gelatin ; Mucins ; Mucocele ; Omentum ; Ovary ; Prognosis ; Pseudomyxoma Peritonei* ; Rupture

PURPOSE: To report a case of a patient with infectious endophthalmitis associated with necrotizing scleritis that was treated with pars plana vitrectomy and permanent amniotic membrane transplantation. CASE SUMMARY: A 76-year-old man with pain and visual loss in the right eye was diagnosed with infectious endophthalmitis and necrotizing scleritis. The visual acuity in the right eye was hand motion, and the slit lamp examination showed infection of the conjunctiva and sclera, corneal edema, hypopyon, and necrosis of nasal sclera. An intravitreal antibiotic injection was given, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was cultured in vitreous fluid. Two days afterward, when vitrectomy was performed, leakage from the scleral microperforation and necrosis of the peripheral cornea was observed. Thus, a 10-layered permanent amniotic membrane transplantation was performed. The patient was given topical antibiotics and steroids, oral prednisolone, and cyclophosphamide postoperatively. After 74 days, endophthalmitis was remitted, and scleritis was well controlled. His visual acuity recovered to 20/40. CONCLUSIONS: Infectious endophthalmitis due to scleral microperforation by necrotizing scleritis can be treated effectively with vitrectomy combined with permanent amniotic membrane transplantation.
Aged ; Amnion ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Conjunctiva ; Cornea ; Corneal Edema ; Cyclophosphamide ; Endophthalmitis ; Eye ; Hand ; Humans ; Necrosis ; Prednisolone ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; Sclera ; Scleritis ; Steroids ; Transplants ; Visual Acuity ; Vitrectomy

We report a sebaceous carcinoma confined to the corneoscleral limbus without involvement of the eyelid. A 60-year-old man, who showed multiple masses on the corneaoscleral limbus and limbal ulceration but with normal eyelids, underwent surgical en-bloc excision of the masses. Histopathologic examination revealed a sebaceous carcinoma. Three weeks after excision, multiple pagetoid recurrences were found along the bulbar conjunctiva 2 mm away from the limbus. After the application of topical mitomycin C, the pagetoid spread regressed completely. After a 2 year follow-up, no other local or systemic recurrences were observed. This report shows that the ulcerative mass which is confined to only the corneoscleral limbus may be a sebaceous carcinoma even without eyelid involvement. Topical mitomycin C may be effective for treating pagetoid spread of sebaceous carcinoma of limbal origin.
Adenocarcinoma, Sebaceous/*pathology/surgery ; Biological Dressings ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Eye Neoplasms/*pathology/surgery ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Limbus Corneae/*pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures/methods ; Sebaceous Gland Neoplasms/*pathology/surgery

Exposure to light can induce photoreceptor cell death and exacerbate retinal degeneration. In this study, mice with genetic knockout of several genes, including rhodopsin kinase (Rhok-/-), arrestin (Sag-/-), transducin (Gnat1-/-), c-Fos (c-Fos-/-) and arrestin/transducin (Sag-/-/Gnat1-/-), were examined. We measured the expression levels of thousands of genes in order to investigate their roles in phototransduction signaling in light-induced retinal degeneration using DNA microarray technology and then further explored the gene network using pathway analysis tools. Several cascades of gene components were induced or inhibited as a result of corresponding gene knockout under specific light conditions. Transducin deletion blocked the apoptotic signaling induced by exposure to low light conditions, and it did not require c-Fos/AP-1. Deletion of c-Fos blocked the apoptotic signaling induced by exposure to high intensity light. In the present study, we identified many gene transcripts that are essential for the initiation of light-induced rod degeneration and proposed several important networks that are involved in pro- and anti-apoptotic signaling. We also demonstrated the different cascades of gene components that participate in apoptotic signaling under specific light conditions.
Animals ; Apoptosis/radiation effects ; G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 1/genetics ; GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits/genetics ; *Gene Expression Profiling ; Genes, fos/genetics ; Light/adverse effects ; Light Signal Transduction/*genetics/physiology/radiation effects ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Retina/metabolism/pathology/radiation effects ; Retinal Degeneration/etiology/*genetics/physiopathology ; Transducin/genetics

We report a rare case of giant vascular eccrine spiradenoma (GVES) which developed in 56-yr-old Korean woman. It is a rare variant of eccrine spiradenoma (ES), which might be mistaken for angiomatous lesions in view of its florid vascularity and hemorrhagic features. Histogenesis of GVES is not clearly elucidated although it is known that ES presumably originates in the eccrine glands. To clarify the histogenesis of GVES, immunohistochemical stainings using various monoclonal antibodies were also performed. The tumor was composed of three types of cells, namely pale epithelial cells, small basal cells, and myoepithelial cells. Therefore, we conclude that GVES originated from eccrine gland and mainly differentiates toward secretory portion of secretory coil.
Actins/analysis ; Adenoma, Sweat Gland/blood supply/metabolism/*pathology ; Biological Markers/analysis ; CA-15-3 Antigen/analysis ; Eccrine Glands/blood supply/chemistry/*pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Keratin/analysis ; Korea ; Membrane Proteins/analysis ; Middle Aged ; Muscle, Smooth/chemistry ; Sweat Gland Neoplasms/blood supply/metabolism/*pathology

PURPOSE: To perform biological safety test of the Seoul-type keratoprosthesis (SKpro) according to the international standards. METHODS: Mouse fibroblasts were used to assess the cellular toxicity, and albino rabbits were used for the irritation test, intradermal test, ocular toxicity test, pyrogenic test and transplantation test. Albino guinea pigs were used for the sensitization test, and rats were used for the acute toxicity test and chronic toxicity test. All tests were performed using the SKpro extracts, which was extracted under 121degrees C for 1 hour using a 0.9% normal saline as the solvent. RESULTS: For the cellular toxicity test, all the rat fibroblasts showed cell proliferation inhibition of less than 29%, which proved to be non-cellular toxic. For the irritation test and the intradermal reaction test, none of the albino rabbits showed skin rash, crust or edema. On the ocular irritation test, there were no conjunctival, corneal or iris abnormalities among the albino rabbits. On the sensitization test, none of the guinea pigs showed skin rash, crust or edema. On the acute systemic toxicity test, there were no signs of lethargy or coma among rats. On the pyrogenic test, no temperature increase was observed in the albino rabbits. On the transplantation test, there was no evidence of graft reaction around the cornea. On the chronic toxicity test, complete blood analysis, urinalysis and histological findings 6 month after exposure showed no signs of abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS: The result of this study shows that SKpro is non-toxic and biologically safe.
Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Coma ; Cornea ; Edema ; Exanthema ; Fibroblasts ; Guinea Pigs ; Intradermal Tests ; Iris ; Lethargy ; Mice ; Rabbits ; Rats ; Toxicity Tests ; Toxicity Tests, Acute ; Toxicity Tests, Chronic ; Transplants ; Urinalysis

Two cases of human Echinostoma hortense infection were found in Seoul Paik Hospital. Their stools revealed echinostomatid eggs. After treatment with praziquantel (single does of 10-12 mg/kg) and purgation with magnesium salt, total 21 flukes were collected in one case. The flukes were 5.9-7.5 mm long, had 27-28 collar spines around their head, laterally deviated ovary and two tandem testes. They were identified as E. hortense Asada, 1926. The cases are 38-year and 20-year old men residing in Seoul, whose hometown is Chungsong-gun and Seungju-gun, Kyongsangbuk-do respectively. They had eaten raw flesh of various kinds of fresh water fishes (both cases) and/or salamander (latter case), which are considered possible sources of this fluke infection. They experienced abdominal discomfort and/or diarrhea. Hematology revealed 22 percent eosinophilia in the latter case, but it became 5 percent after the treatment. Echinostomatid eggs were not found after the treatment in both cases. These are the 4th and 5th human cases of E. hortense infection in Korea.
parasitology-helminth-trematoda ; Echinostoma hortense ; case report ; praziquantel ; intestine