OBJECTIVE: Angiogenesis is a critical factor in the progression of solid tumors. The mechanisms responsible for angiogenesis in cervical neoplasia, however, are not well defined. Our study was aimed to determine the expression of VEGF(Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor), its receptor(KDR), and TGF-beta1(Transforming Growth Factor-beta1) in cervical neoplasia, to determine the role of these angiogenic factors in preinvasive(dysplastic) process and the progression of cervical cancer and to investigate the progression of angiogenesis in the transition from normal cervix to invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix. METHODS: The cervical lesions of 76 patients were punch biopsied and paraffin embedded. Among these, 5 were normal cervix, 36 were cervical intraepithelial lesion I-III, and the other 35 were invasive squamous cell carcinomas. The tissues were immunostained with antiVEGF, antiKDR, and antiTGF-beta1 polyclonal antibody. RESULTS: The expression of VEGF, KDR, and TGF-beta1 in CIN III was stronger than those of CIN I(p<0.01). Their expression were not significantly different among the each staged cervical cancers(p>0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These observations suggest that VEGF, KDR, and TGF-beta1 are important angiogenic factors in cervical neoplasia, especially in an early event to neoplastic transformation of cervical tissues, but these angiogenic factors are not associated with the progression of cervical cancer.
Angiogenesis Inducing Agents ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cervix Uteri ; Female ; Humans ; Paraffin ; Phosphotransferases* ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*

Special idiopathic female pseudohermaphroditism with urinary tract, m llerian duct, and lower gastrointestinal tract anomalies, in addition to masculinization of the external genitalia, is rare phenomenon. Masculinization of external genitalia and other anomalies occur in the absence of a recognized exposure to androgen or other teratogenic factors. We report a case of a female pseudohermaphroditism with m llerian agenesis, bilateral multicystic dysplastic kidney, urethral agenesis, left double ureter, rectovesical fistula, imperforate anus, single umbilical artery, detected after therapeutic abortion at 23+5 weeks of gestational age. The final diagnosis is based on autopsy.
46, XX Disorders of Sex Development* ; Abortion, Therapeutic ; Anus, Imperforate* ; Autopsy ; Diagnosis ; Female* ; Fistula ; Genitalia ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Lower Gastrointestinal Tract ; Multicystic Dysplastic Kidney ; Pregnancy ; Single Umbilical Artery ; Ureter ; Urinary Tract*

PURPOSE: We report four cases of strabismus presenting after cataract surgery and review the previous reports. METHODS: We examined four cases with diplopia for three months or more following cataract surgery between March 2001 and February 2002 in our hospital. We reviewed our records to inquire the preoperative systemic and ophthalmologic exam included past and present medical history. Also, we performed the strabismus test such as prism and cover test, forced duction test, force generation test included CT scan, if necessary. RESULTS: Case 1, 2, 3 were performed by retrobulbar anesthesia. Case 1 showed left superior rectus muscle overaction, case 2 showed left inferior rectus muscle palsy, case 3 showed left inferior rectus muscle palsy and superior rectus muscle overaction. Case 4 showed irregular pattern of strabismus. In case 1, 2, 3, diplopia in primary position was improved after strabismus surgery. We have observed case 4 until the pattern of strabismus would be stable. CONCLUSIONS: After uneventful cataract surgery, persistent strabismus may be occurred. So the operator must explain the occurrence of strabismus to patient before surgery, and carefully perform pre and post operative strabismus test and retrobulbar anesthesia.
Anesthesia ; Cataract* ; Diplopia ; Humans ; Paralysis ; Strabismus* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: It is to report the efficacy and safety of an argon laser photocoagulation which was the treatment modality for retinopathy of prematurity. METHODS: From March 1996 to December 1999, on 69 prethreshold retinopathy of prematurity, they were series of observations following periods of two to five days, one week, two weeks, four weeks, three months and one year time respectively. RESULTS: We noticed the regressions in 84 prethreshold retinopathy of prematurity cases as well. CONCLUSIONS: The report emphasized the advantages of the argon laser photocoagulation which reduce the risk from a general anesthesia by applying a topical anesthesia, and the safety of using laser technique of convenience to apply and minimize the tissue damages of the lesions. It also described the preferable consequent results following the early treatment with divided applications on the prethreshold cases.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Argon* ; Light Coagulation ; Ophthalmoscopes* ; Retinopathy of Prematurity*

PURPOSE: Since a recent study that the use of dopamine therapy for the hypotension of premature infants was a risk factor on the development of retinopathy of prematurity was reported, this study was intended to access whether treatment of premature infants with dopamine acts as a risk factor for development of retinopathy of prematurity. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 123 premature infants who had been admitted in our Neonate Intensive Care Unit, and were alive and born under 36 weeks of gestational age, between January 1995 and December 1999. In comparing dopamine treated group (91) and non-treated group (31), we performed univariate and multivariate statiscal analysis for the comparisons of two groups. RESULTS: Although in the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity, dopamine treated group (51 of 91,55.4%) was higher than non-treated group (15 of 31,48.4%), statistically, it was not significantly different(P< 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The use of dopamine therapy was not risk factor for the development of retinopathy of prematurity.
Dopamine* ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Intensive Care Units ; Medical Records ; Retinopathy of Prematurity* ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

OBJECT: It is to evaluate the priority area for effective eye care service to the aged population of rural comniunity at present and in future. METHOD: Number of aged group surveyed on 60 and over 60 years age that, counted 531 among the total 580 patients. Visual acuity was tested and refractive error was measured by Retinornax (Nikon, Japan) . Ocular examination was performed to determine the causes of visual impairment. This survey was conducted under the auspices of the Korean Foundation for Prevention of Blindness with assistance of the Seoul National University Postgraduate School of Public Health from 1994 to 1996 at the Public Health Center of Chun-Cheon, Kang-Won Do(Province). RESULTS: Age distribution showed the sixties (60-69) 49,3%, the seventies (70-79) 33.9%, and the eighties (80) 16.8%. Proportion of visual acuity of 0.7 or upper in the better eyes constituted 32.2% and of 0.2 or worse 19.4%. Causes of visual impairnnente consisted of refractive errors 35. 9%, cataract 35. 9%, macular degeneration 7, 4%, and corneal opacity 3.9% in order. Contributed modes of care were spectacles 27.9%, surgeries 23.9% (cataract, operation, pterygium removal etc.), and medical treatment 23.9%. DISCUSSION: Surgery of the aged population in rural comrnunity of Chun-Cheon revealed the most. prevalent. causes of visual impairment as the refractive errors and cataract. It is suggested that. the most effective eye care would be provided systemically based 0 the result of the epidemiological study on the various ocular disorders.
Age Distribution ; Blindness ; Cataract ; Corneal Opacity ; Epidemiologic Studies* ; Eyeglasses ; Gangwon-do ; Humans ; Macular Degeneration ; Pterygium ; Public Health ; Refractive Errors ; Seoul ; Vision Disorders ; Visual Acuity

In order to explain the changes of refractive components related to refractive error in subdivided myopia according to fundus changes, we studied the correlation of axial length, vitreous length, anterior chmaber depth and corneal power in comparison with refractive error among 142 eyeballs of 15 to 30 years old patients. There is a close association between refractive error and axial length with coefficient of correlation r=0.75(p<0.01), but closer association is revealed between refractive error and vitreous length with coefficient of correlation r=0.82(p<0.01). The increase of vitreous length means the changes of the posterior pole, so that it may be logical to take into consideration of fundus changes in subdividing myopic eyes with same degree of refractive error. In apposition to other refractive components, corneal power is reduced according to refractive error but it does not have a significant effect.
Adult ; Humans ; Logic ; Myopia ; Refractive Errors

A case of Hallermann-Streiff syndrome characterized by dyscephalia with bird face, dental anomalies, proportionate nanism, hypotrichosis or atrichosis, atrophy of the skin, bilateral microphthalmia and presumed congenital cataract was reported. In this case, the diffuse enlargement with hyperfunction of the thyroid gland was observed and its role in the etiology of this syndrome is briefly reviewed.
Atrophy ; Birds ; Cataract ; Dwarfism ; Hallermann's Syndrome* ; Hypotrichosis ; Microphthalmos ; Skin ; Thyroid Gland

PURPOSE: We studied the effect of LASIK and LASEK for correction of myopic astigmatism and the clinical results in relation to preoperative astigmatism and operative methods. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the results of 176 eyes of 97 patients in the LASIK group and of 56 eyes of 29 patients in the LASEK group. All patients had undergone LASIK or LASEK for correction of myopic astigmatism with MEL-70TM (Aesculap-Meditec, Jena, Germany). Patients were divided into groups I (or=3.00D) according to preoperative astigmatism, and into groups A (LASIK) and B (LASEK) according to operative method. Each patient was followed up for over 6 months with measurements of uncorrected visual acuity, manifested refraction, and spherical equivalent at 1, 3, and 6 months after operation. RESULTS: In groups IA, IB, IIA, IIB, IIIA, IIIB, IVA, and IVB, preoperative cylindrical errors were 0.56 +/- 0.17D, 0.61 +/- 0.13D, 1.27 +/- 0.28D, 1.24 +/- 0.21D, 2.18 +/- 0.25D, 2.10 +/- 0.25D, 3.39 +/- 0.66D, and 3.50 +/- 0.61D, and postoperative 6-month astigmatism measurements were 0.33 +/- 0.49D, 0.34 +/- 0.36D, 0.28 +/- 0.30D, 0.63 +/- 0.44D, 0.48 +/- 0.42D, 0.44 +/- 0.57D, 0.86 +/- 0.42D, and 1.00 +/- 0.78D, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The correction of myopic astigmatism in LASEK was less effective than in LASIK at early postoperative periods, but they showed similar effect on the correction of astigmatism at 6 months after surgery, especially in the group with medium to low grade of astigmatism.
Astigmatism* ; Humans ; Keratectomy, Subepithelial, Laser-Assisted* ; Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ* ; Postoperative Period ; Retrospective Studies ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: We compared therapeutic efficacy and steroid-induced IOP elevation of 1% rimexolone with that of 0.1% fluorometholone. METHODS: Of all LASIK treated eyes from March of 2001 to December of 2002 in Sungae General Hospital, 46 eyes were treated with 1% rimexolone and 46 eyes were treated with 0.1% fluorometholone. And we measured the degree of myopic regression (1 day, 1 month, 3 month) and intraocular pressure (1 month). RESULTS: Statistically signicant difference in therapeutic efficacy of myopic regression, and no statistically signicant difference in IOP were found. The therapeutic efficacy of 1% rimexolone was higher. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that application of 1% rimexolone was more useful in myopic regression following LASIK rather than that of 0.1% fluorometholone.
Fluorometholone* ; Hospitals, General ; Intraocular Pressure ; Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ*