Studies on epidemiological aspects of contact dermatitis have been published in recent years since the introduction of standardized method of patch test.However, most previous epidemiologic reports studied patients with allergic contact dermatitis in hospitals with patcb testing. Such data are not directly applicable to the population at large. Very recentiy there are a few reports ahout rates of exposure and patch test reactivity to certain antigens in a general population. which is difficult to be applicable in a developing country at present. With regard to this, we have tried to analyze the contact dermatitis questionaire containing various items of common causative agents producting contact dermatitis (for example, metals, cosmetics, plants, medicaments and rubber etc.) for the detection of past contact dermatitis histories in a total new dermatologic outpatients. A11 2258 dermatologic outpatients entered this study including 303 contact dermatitis patients (allergic contact dermatitis, primary irritant dermatitis and housewife eczema). We also analyzed the patch test results of 107 patients with suggesting contact dermatitis who visited our hospital at the same period of collecting questionaires. The study results were as follows. 1. Positive rate of each item of the questionaire (No. of said Yes/ No. of responders) was metals, 10.4% cosmetics, 31.8%, plants, 18.2%; medicaments, 12.4%; rubber, 5.8%; and others, 11.7%. 2. The most common all regens of the patch test positive reactions were nickel sulfate (9.3%), fragrance mix(9.3%), formaldehyde(6.5%), potassium dichromate (5.6%), neomycin sulfate (5.6%), balsam of Peru (4.7%), cobalt chloride(3.7%), wood tar(3.7%) and paraphenylene diamine (2.8%) in order of frequency. And the patch test positive rate of commercial cosmetic products was 10.3%. In conclusion, cosmetics, medicaments, metals, plants and rarely rubber are found the most common etiologic agents of contact dermatitis in this study. The reasons and back-ground of the results were also discussed in various aspects.
Cobalt ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact ; Dermatitis, Contact* ; Dermatitis, Irritant ; Developing Countries ; Epidemiologic Studies* ; Humans ; Metals ; Neomycin ; Nickel ; Outpatients ; Patch Tests ; Peru ; Potassium Dichromate ; Rubber ; Wood

No abstract available.
Humans ; Humerus* ; Neck* ; Shoulder Dislocation* ; Shoulder* ; Tears*

This study was performed to investigate the changes of tear film and ocular surface in diabetic patients, as well as the ocular and systemic factors related to these changes. We assessed the scoring of keratoepitheliopathy, corneal sensitivity test, tear film break-up time (BUT), Schirmer test, and conjunctival impression cytology in 94 eyes of 47 patients with noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and in 60 eyes of 30 normal subjects. The degree of keratoepitheliopathy was severe, and the corneal sensitivity, BUT, and tear secretion were significantly reduced in the diabetic patients. Conjunctival impression cytology showed a higher grade of conjunctival squamous metaplasia and lower goblet cell density in the diabetic patients. All parameters were related to the status of metabolic control, diabetic neuropathy, and stage of diabetic retinopathy. We think that diabetic patients with poor metabolic control, neuropathy, and advanced stage of retinopathy should be examined for tear film and ocular surface changes.
Adult ; Aged ; Comparative Study ; Corneal Diseases/etiology/*metabolism ; Diabetes Complications/*metabolism/pathology ; Epithelium, Corneal/*metabolism/pathology ; Female ; Goblet Cells/pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Tears/*metabolism

PURPOSE: To evaluate the factors affecting compliance with the use of 0.05% cyclosporine emulsion in patients with dry eye syndrome. METHODS: A total of 148 patients using 0.05% cyclosporine emulsion for dry eye were divided into two groups (compliant vs. non-compliant). The compliant group included the patients who used 0.05% cyclosporine emulsion more than 50% of frequency as they had been prescribed. We analyzed factors affecting compliance, including age, gender, severity of symptoms, side effects, use of topical steroid, socioeconomic status, associated systemic disease, number of eyedrops, visit interval, and detailed instruction about 0.05% cyclosporine emulsion. RESULTS: The compliant group included 124 patients (83.8%), and the non-compliant group included 24 patients (16.2%). Multivariate analysis showed that the factors associated with low compliance were severe symptoms, longer visit interval, side effects, lower socioeconomic status, and poor detailed instruction (P<0.05). In contrast, gender, associated systemic disease, and number of eyedrops did not affect the compliance for use of 0.05% cyclosporine emulsion. CONCLUSIONS: Special attention should be given to patients with the above risk factors to improve compliance with the use of 0.05% cyclosporine emulsion.
Compliance ; Cyclosporine ; Dry Eye Syndromes ; Eye ; Humans ; Multivariate Analysis ; Ophthalmic Solutions ; Risk Factors ; Social Class

OBJECTIVE: Although twist-drill craniostomy (TDC) has a number of procedural advantages and an equivalent outcome compared to burr hole craniostomy (BHC) for the treatment of chronic subdural hematomas (CSDHs), the latter technique remains the preferred method. We analyzed symptomatic CSDHs in whom TDC at the pre-coronal suture entry point (PCSEP) was the primary method for hematoma drainage and BHC on the parietal was the secondary option. METHODS: CSDHs in 86 consecutive patients were included. TDC at the PCSEP, which is 1 cm anterior to coronal suture at the level of the superior temporal line, was the primary operational technique when the hematoma thickness was suitable, and BHC was performed via the parietal when TDC was unreasonable or failed. The clinical feasibility and outcomes of these approaches were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 86 patients, 68 (79.1%) were treated by TDC, and 18 (20.9%) by BHC. All patients showed improvements in their symptoms after hematoma drainage. Neither morbidity nor mortality was associated with either technique, and there were no differences in drainage days between the groups. Ten patients had bilateral hematomas and were treated using TDC. Two patients were not sufficiently treated by TDC and, as a result, BHC was applied. Only six hematomas (7% of 86 hematomas) exhibited insufficient thickness on the computed tomography to perform TDC. CONCLUSION: When the hematoma was thick enough, a majority of the CSDHs were drained using TDC at the PCSEP as the first procedure, which was especially useful for bilateral hematomas and in elderly patients.
Aged ; Drainage* ; Hematoma ; Hematoma, Subdural, Chronic* ; Humans ; Methods ; Mortality ; Rabeprazole ; Sutures

PURPOSE: The objective of this study is to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) chelation and excimer laser phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) combined with amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) for the treatment of band keratopathy (BK). METHODS: Eleven eyes in ten patients with BK received combined PTK (ablation zone of central 7.0-7.5 mm, depth of 50 microm), EDTA chelation (0.05 M, 3 minutes), and amniotic membrane transplantation using fibrin glue. Preand postoperative best corrected visual acuities, symptom changes, reepithelialization time, cosmesis, recurrence, and complications were analyzed. RESULTS: Visual acuity improved in three eyes (27.3%) and did not change in eight eyes (72.7%). Symptoms improved in all patients, and the mean reepithelialization time was 10.6+/-5.3 days. The cosmetic results were good in eight eyes (72.7%) and were fair in three eyes (27.3%). During the mean follow-up period of 11.4+/-6.1 months (range, 6 to 23 months), no postoperative complications or recurrences were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of EDTA chelation, PTK, and AMT is safe and effective for the treatment of band keratopathy.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Amnion/*transplantation ; Chelating Agents/*therapeutic use ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Corneal Diseases/*therapy ; Edetic Acid/*therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Photorefractive Keratectomy/*methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: To investigate the efficacy of a subconjunctival injection of alphaVbeta5 integrin antibody on corneal angiogenesis induced by chemical epithelial denudation in a rabbit eye model. METHODS: One week after debridement by heptanol, rabbits were treated with a subconjunctival injection of alphaVbeta5 integrin antibody or control immunoglobulin G weekly for 2 weeks. Rabbits that did not receive injection after debridement served as the untreated group. The percentage of neovascularized corneal area was calculated by biomicroscopy, and the sectioned area and number of new vessels were calculated by histological examinations. RESULTS: At 7 days after the first injection, alphaVbeta5 integrin antibody-treated eyes had 9.5% (P=0.02) and 6.8% (P=0.03) less neovascularized corneal area than vector-treated eyes and untreated eyes, respectively. At 7 days after the second injection, alphaVbeta5 integrin antibody-treated eyes had 21.1% (P=0.02) and 18.3% (P=0.02) less neovascularized corneal area than vector-treated eyes and untreated eyes, respectively. Light microscopic examination showed a smaller neovascularized corneal area and a reduced number of new vessels in the alphaVbeta5 integrin antibody-treated eyes compared to the control eyes. CONCLUSIONS: Subconjunctival injection of alphaVbeta5 integrin antibody effectively reduces experimental corneal neovascularization induced by chemical injury, and could be used as a corneal angiogenesis inhibitor in the future.
Corneal Neovascularization* ; Debridement ; Heptanol ; Immunoglobulin G ; Rabbits

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical effect of endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy as a primary treatment of acute dacryocystitis with lacrimal sac abscess formation. METHODS: The study comprised 14 patients with acute dacryocystitis and lacrimal sac abscess formation who underwent endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy as a primary treatment. Postoperative evaluations included symptoms of acute dacryocystitis, physical examination, and lacrimal irrigation. Success was defined as the absence of epiphora and good lacrimal irrigation at the last follow-up. RESULTS Of the patients, two were male and twelve were female. The mean age was 54.7 years and mean follow-up period was 8.3 months. Resolution of symptoms and signs of acute dacryocystitis occurred in all patients. In one patient, recurrence of acute dacryocystitis occurred 6 months after surgery. At last follow-up, epiphora and failure of lacrimal irrigation had developed in two patients. CONCLUSIONS: Endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy is considered a safe and effective primary treatment of acute dacryocystitis with lacrimal sac abscess formation.
Abscess ; Dacryocystitis* ; Dacryocystorhinostomy* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases ; Male ; Physical Examination ; Recurrence

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical data and surgical results from symptomatic chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) patients who underwent burr-hole drainage (BHD) at the maximal thickness area and twist-drill craniostomy (TDC) at the precoronal point. METHODS: We analyzed data from 65 symptomatic CSDH patients who underwent TDC at the pre-coronal point or BHD at the maximal thickness area. For TDC, we defined the pre-coronal point to be 1 cm anterior to the coronal suture at the level of the superior temporal line. TDC was performed in patients with CSDH that extended beyond the coronal suture, as confirmed by preoperative CT scans. Medical records, radiological findings, and clinical performance were reviewed and analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 65 CSDH patients, 13/17 (76.4%) with BHD and 42/48 (87.5%) with TDC showed improved clinical performance and radiological findings after surgery. Catheter failure was seen in 1/48 (2.4%) cases of TDC. Five patients (29.4%) in the BHD group and four patients (8.33%) in the TDC group underwent reoperations due to remaining hematomas, and they improved with a second operation, BHD or TDC. CONCLUSION: Both BHD at the maximal thickness area and TDC at the pre-coronal point are safe and effective drainage methods for symptomatic CSDHs with reasonable indications.
Catheters ; Drainage* ; Hematoma ; Hematoma, Subdural, Chronic* ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Sutures ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical effect of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin (Visudyne(R), Novartis Ophthalmics AG, Hettingen, Switzerland) in the treatment of corneal neovascularization. METHODS: We performed photodynamic therapy on one eye with corneal neovascularization associated with lipid keratopathy, and on another eye with corneal neovascularization after corneal perforation. Verteporfin was administrated intravenously for 10 minutes at a dose of 6 mg/m2 of body surface area. Fifteen minutes after the start of administration, a 689 nm nonthermal laser light (Opal photoactivator, Coherent Inc., USA) was delivered directly over the neovascular network for 83 seconds with a spot size of 4000 micrometer. The patients were followed up at 3 days, 1 week, 1 month, and 6 months after treatment. RESULTS: In both cases, new vessels were successfully occluded after the photodynamic therapy. No recanalization of new vessels was observed at last follow-up and no complications were observed. CONCLUSIONS: PDT with verteporfin is considered to be a safe and effective procedure to regress corneal neovascularization.
Body Surface Area ; Corneal Neovascularization* ; Corneal Perforation ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Photochemotherapy*