To determine clinical features and outcomes of retinal detachments[RDs] following trans-scleral fixation of posterior chamber intraocular lens[PC-IOL], we reviewed the medical records of 249 eyes[239 patients] which had undergone trans-scleral fixation of PC-IOL and had been followed 6 months or longer. Retinal detachment occurred in 8 out of 249 eyes[3.2%]. The incidences of RDs were as follows:in 2/19 eyes[10.5%] with PC-IOL exchange for PC-IOL tilt, in 1/16 eyes[6.3%] with posterior capsule rupture during ECCE, in 1/26 eyes[3.8%] with ICCE, in 2/78 eyes[2.6%] with posterior capsule rupture during phacoemusification, in 2/106 eyes[1.9%] with aphakia, and in 0/4 eyes[0%] with anterior IOL exchange with PC-IOL. The sites of retinal break corresponded with the directions of needle during fixation in 5/8 eyes[62.5%] and all retinal breaks were located anterior to the equator. The timing of RD was between 2 weeks and 4.8 years after fixation although it occured within 2 months in most cases. Pars plana vitrectomy and scleral buckling were performed in 7 eyes and scleral buckling only in one eye. Retinal reattachment was achieved in seven eyes including three eyes which required two surgical interventions. The vitrectomy should be performed with meticulous care to reduce vitreous traction as much as possible during trans-scleral fixation of PC-IOL and a close follow-up examination for RD is required during the first two months.
Aphakia ; Follow-Up Studies ; Incidence ; Lenses, Intraocular* ; Medical Records ; Needles ; Retinal Detachment* ; Retinal Perforations ; Retinaldehyde* ; Rupture ; Scleral Buckling ; Traction ; Vitrectomy

A case of isolated Crohn's disease of appendix is reported. It is a rare disease which commonly mimics the symptoms of acute appendicitis. Review of 221 identical cases previously reported in the world literature revealed slight male predominance(1.17:1) and peak age of incidence in the third decade(24.3 yrs). In contrast to typical Crohn's disease, the rate of postoperative fistula and recurrence was minimal; 1.0% and 3.8%, respectively. Due to these differences, many consider it to be a separate disease entity from Crohn, and a new diagnostic term - "Idiopathic Granulomatous Appendicitis" - has gained wide acceptance in recent years.
Appendicitis* ; Appendix* ; Crohn Disease* ; Fistula ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Rare Diseases ; Recurrence

PURPOSE: To investigate the prognosis, survival rate and curve on the eyes for corneal dystrophy and corneal degeneration, we performed statistical analysis. METHODS: Forty-one recipients (62 eyes) have received penetrating keratoplasty for corneal dystrophy and corneal degeneration for about 14 years from April 1984 to October 1997. We analyzed survival rate and curve on sex, age and type of corneal dystrophy and corneal degeneration. RESULTS: Mean age was 35 years and sex distribution of recipient was predominant in female patients (M: 16 recipients, 19 eyes, F: 25 recipients, 43 eyes). In the causative disease of first keratoplasty, corneal dystrophy and corneal degeneration were 46 eyes and 16 eyes. Granular type was the most common type of keratoplasty. In 62 grafts, graft rejection was developed in 19 eyes (30.6%). Graft rejection periods ranged from 53 days to 10 years and 3 months. Mean graft rejection time was 2 years and 8 months. In this study, 5 years survival rate developed in 75% of corneal dystrophy and developed in 31% of corneal degeneration. The statistical analysis showed significant relationship between survival rate and disease type (p=0.0032, p<0.05). But age and sex were not maintained with association with survival rate (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This result suggests that corneal dystrophy was higher than corneal degeneration in survival rate with statistically significant difference. But sex and age did not have influence on survival rate.
Corneal Transplantation ; Female ; Graft Rejection ; Humans ; Keratoplasty, Penetrating* ; Prognosis* ; Sex Distribution ; Survival Rate* ; Transplants

PURPOSE: In the present study, the effect of the inferior conjunctival transposition flap in patients with recurrent pterygium was evaluated. METHODS: This study included 60 patients (63 eyes) that received pterygium surgery with inferior conjunctival transposition flap and diagnosed with recurrent pterygium. The inferior conjunctival transposition flap obtained from lower bulbar conjunctiva was secured with 8-0 VICRYL® after removal of recurrent fibrovascular tissues. This study was retrospectively reviewed for recurrence and postoperative complications in patients with a minimum follow-up period over 6 months. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 5 years and 8 months (range; 6 months to 14 years). Corneal recurrence occurred in 4 eyes (6.3%) and conjunctival recurrence was observed in 2 eyes (3.1%) among a total of 63 eyes. Conjunctival recurrence was not the progressive type and limited to the limbus and suture site. One case of corneal recurrence required additional symblepharolysis and auto conjunctival graft. Although mild flap congestion, hemorrhage and granuloma were observed, these cases improved during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: The inferior conjunctival transposition flap procedure can be regarded as an effective surgical treatment option for recurrent pterygium.
Conjunctiva ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Follow-Up Studies ; Granuloma ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Postoperative Complications ; Pterygium* ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Sutures ; Transplants

BACKGROUND: The aim of study was to confirm the clinical effectiveness and results of wide and single anterior approach for fractures occurring along length of humerus. METHODS: A total of 23 patients with humeral fracture were enrolled into our study who were able to participate in at least one year of follow-up. Seven patients had segmental comminuted humeral fractures and 16 patients had distal humeral fractures. We made various tractions of the muscles to expose the proximal and the middle third humerus between the biceps and brachialis and the distal humerus by partial splitting of lateral side of biceps through a single incision. Postoperatively, we measured the Mayo elbow performance index (MEPI). RESULTS: we achieved bone union in all 23 patients. Solid union of the bone was achieved at an average 13.9 weeks. Postoperatively, two complications were observed screw loosening and nonunion. Revision surgery was performed in both patients. The patient with bone nonunion was treated using bone grafts. No postoperative infections or peripheral neuropathies were observed. At the final follow-up (average 20 months), we found that the average MEPI functional score of the patients was 91.7 points regardless of the fracture site. CONCLUSIONS: Our whole humerus with a single incision was effective for the treatment of segmental comminuted and distal fractures. we believe it is a useful alternative to preexisting methods of fracture fixation.
Elbow ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation* ; Humans ; Humeral Fractures ; Humerus* ; Muscles ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; Traction ; Transplants ; Treatment Outcome

Carcinoma of the fallopian tube accounts for less than 1% of all cancers of the female genital tract. The histology and behavior of fallopian tube cancer are simillar to ovarian cancer; thus evaluation and treatment are also essentially the same. Unlike ovarian cancer, fallopian tube cancer begins in a hollow viscus, and early lesions may be less likely to be associated with extensive intraperitoneal carcinoma. Two postmenopausal women presented with a pelvic mass. Pathologic examination of the resected specimens revealed primary adenocarcinoma of the fallopian tube. We have experienced two cases of fallopian tube cancer and reported with brief review of literature
Adenocarcinoma ; Fallopian Tube Neoplasms ; Fallopian Tubes* ; Female ; Humans ; Ovarian Neoplasms

PURPOSE: For the correction of ptosis in monocular elevation deficiency (MED) patients, levator resection or frontalis sling operation with various materials has been used. The authors present a case of a monocular elevation deficiency patient who was treated for ptosis using the levator muscle as a frontalis sling. CASE SUMMARY: A six-year-old male patient with left monocular elevation deficiency underwent a frontalis sling operation using a levator muscle. The patient had received left inferior rectus recession, left medial rectus resection and left lateral rectus recession with transposition. An upper eyelid skin crease incision was made, and the anterior surface of the levator muscle was exposed as far as the Whitnall ligament. A levator muscle flap was then formed from aponeurosis by incising the full width of the levator horizontally, just below the Whitnall ligament and anchored to the frontalis muscle. The surgical result was satisfactory as the preoperative MRD1 was 0.5 mm and the postoperative MRD1 was 2.5 mm. There were no complications such as keratitis or wound problems. CONCLUSIONS: The levator muscle flap can be an effective frontalis suspension material to correct ptosis in an MED patient with poor levator function.
Eyelids ; Humans ; Keratitis ; Ligaments ; Male ; Muscles ; Skin

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical outcomes, complications and surgically induced astigmatism (SIA) after scleral fixation in patients with intraocular lens (IOL) or crystalline lens dislocation. METHODS: The present study retrospectively investigated the postoperative best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), refractory change, corneal astigmatism, clinical outcomes, and influencing factors of SIA in 57 eyes of 55 patients with a follow-up of 6 months after the IOL scleral fixation. RESULTS: In comparison of preoperative and postoperative 6 months, BCVA, spherical equivalent and astigmatism were significantly improved but corneal astigmatism was not and SIA (diopter, D) improved from 2.10 +/- 1.88 D to 0.86 +/- 0.73 D (p = 0.002). 4 eyes having redislocation were repositioned and 4 eyes having tilted IOL, 6 eyes having elevated intraocular pressure, 3 eyes having exposure scleral knots, 1 eye having endophthalmitis, and 1 eye showing macular edema were observed. At postoperative 3 months, the SIA of a large incision size (>3 mm) and small incision size (< or =3 mm) was significantly differented (p = 0.041). According to the location of scleral fixation, SIA at postoperative 1 month was significantly different but, was not different at postoperative 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical management of dislocated IOLs or crystalline lens resulted in significant improvement of visual acuity and absence of influencing SIA factors. However, location of scleral fixation and small incision size influenced corneal astigmatism.
Astigmatism ; Dislocations ; Endophthalmitis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Lens, Crystalline ; Lenses, Intraocular ; Macular Edema ; Retrospective Studies ; Visual Acuity

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluated the difference of depressive symptoms and attention between estrogen user and non-user in postmenopausal women. METHODS: 30 Estrogen users and 30 non-users were participated in this study. They were all menopausal for at least 1 year and have 12 or more education years. We used BDI(Beck Depression Inventory), digit span and digit symbol to evaluate depressive symptoms and attention in both groups. We also measured the plasma estradiol level and identified the correlation between estradiol level and BDI, digit span and digit symbol. RESULTS: The demographic data was not different between both groups. Estrogen users scored higher than non-users in digit span(forward) and lower than non-users in BDI. The correlation between estradiol level BDI, digit span and digit symbol was not significant. CONCLUSION: Estrogen replacement therapy was effective in alleviation depressive symptoms but ineffective in improving attention in postmenopausal women.
Depression* ; Education ; Estradiol ; Estrogen Replacement Therapy* ; Estrogens* ; Female ; Humans ; Plasma

OBJECTIVES: Schizophrenia manifests a variety of interindividual differences in therapeutic response to antipsychotics. This might be attributable to dopamine and serotonin receptors that a important target for various antipsychotics, and the D3 receptor(DRD3) alleles they carry. The purpose of our study was to investigate whether the plasma levels of homovanillic acid(HVA) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid(HIAA), and the polymorphism of DRD3 can be held as a predictor of treatment response ni chronic schizophrenic patients. METHODS: Therapeutic response for 16 korean schizophrenia patient treated during 48 weeks were assessed by PANSS used as the clinical symptom rating scales. The levels of concentration of HVA and 5-HIAA were examined by HPLC at baseline and at 48 weeks. We classified the polymorphism of DRD3 receptor using amplifying by polymerase chain reaction(PCR). RESULTS: Neither concentrations of HVA and 5-HIAA nor genotype of dopamine 3 receptor were not significantly associated with the therapeutic response. But, the patients who has A1 alleles of DRD3 gene showed poor therapeutic responses. CONCLUSION: A1 allele of DRD3 gene is associated with poor prognosis of chronic schizophrenia.
Alleles ; Antipsychotic Agents ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Dopamine* ; Genotype ; Homovanillic Acid ; Humans ; Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid ; Plasma* ; Prognosis ; Receptors, Dopamine D3* ; Receptors, Serotonin ; Schizophrenia ; Weights and Measures