Purpose: In this study, we examined change in the number of cataract surgeries from 2013 to 2018, since the implementation of institutional changes in 2012, and the introduction of diagnosis-related groups (DRGs) and a gradual reduction in selective-medical expenses from 2014. Methods: Based on data from the main surgery statistical yearbook provided by the Korea National Health Insurance Service (KNHIS), we extracted the number of cataract surgeries nationwide by year from 2013 to 2018. Data were divided by sex, age, regions, and level of healthcare providers in an effort to understand changes that occurred in the number of cataract surgeries and the reasons for these changes. Statistical analysis was carried out using joint point regression. Results: The total number of cataract surgeries per 100,000 people increased by 32.9% over the six-year period, with an annual average increase of 5.9%. Females (58.0-59.2%) had more cataract surgeries than males (40.8-42.0%). Additionally, the number of cataract surgeries per 100,000 people rose over the six-year time frame for those aged under 40 years, and for those in their 40s, 50s, and 60s. In terms of regions and patients’ residence, urban areas such as Seoul, Pusan, and Daegu showed an increase in surgeries performed; most provinces, however, with the exception of Jeju Island, indicated a relative decline in cataract surgeries. There was no difference in the number of cataract surgeries performed over the six-year period in terms of the level of healthcare providers. Conclusions The number of cataract surgeries per 100,000 people rose over the six-year period between 2013 and 2018. By region, an increasing trend was observed in urban areas; however, the level of the healthcare providers did not appear to have an effect on the number of cataract surgeries performed.

Purpose: To demonstrate the changes in reading speed after anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment in wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD) patients. Methods: This retrospective study enrolled wAMD patients who were treated with intravitreal anti-VEGF injection from May 2019 to September 2019. The reading speed was measured before anti-VEGF treatment and at the next injection visit using an iPad application for the assessment of reading speed. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central retinal thickness (CRT) were also analyzed. In addition, we investigated whether the improvement in optical coherence tomography (OCT)-related biomarkers affected the change in reading speed after anti-VEGF injection. As a subgroup analysis, patients were further divided into a loading dose group and a maintenance group. Results: Seventy-four patients were enrolled in this study. In the loading dose group (n = 38), there were significant improvements in BCVA (p = 0.01) and CRT (p = 0.001); additionally, the reading speed improved significantly in two of the four areas (words per minute (WPM) reading [p = 0.035] and WPM speaking [p = 0.013]) after anti-VEGF injection. In the maintenance group (n = 36), BCVA, CRT, and reading speed showed some improvement; however, the results were not statistically significant. In the maintenance group, reading speed improved significantly as the size of the pigment epithelial detachment decreased after anti-VEGF injection. Conclusions Reading speed may be useful as an index for measuring visual function related to the quality of life of wAMD patients. Precise evaluation and continuous monitoring of OCT biomarkers are necessary for the treatment of wAMD especially in the maintenance group because they can be predictors of reading speed improvement.

Consumption of high doses of ethanol can lead to amnesia, which often manifests as a blackout. These blackouts experienced by ethanol consumers may be a major cause of the social problems associated with excess ethanol consumption. However, there is currently no established treatment for preventing these ethanol-induced blackouts. In this study, we tested the ethanol extract of the roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza (SM) for its ability to mitigate ethanol-induced behavioral and synaptic deficits. To test behavioral deficits, an object recognition test was conducted in mouse. In this test, ethanol (1 g/kg, i.p.) impaired object recognition memory, but SM (200 mg/kg) prevented this impairment. To evaluate synaptic deficits, NMDA receptor-mediated excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) and long-term potentiation (LTP) in the mouse hippocampal slices were tested, as they are known to be vulnerable to ethanol and are associated with ethanol-induced amnesia. SM (10 and 100 μg/ml) significantly ameliorated ethanol-induced long-term potentiation and NMDA receptor-mediated EPSP deficits in the hippocampal slices. Therefore, these results suggest that SM prevents ethanol-induced amnesia by protecting the hippocampus from NMDA receptor-mediated synaptic transmission and synaptic plasticity deficits induced by ethanol.
Amnesia ; Animals ; Ethanol ; Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials ; Hippocampus ; Long-Term Potentiation ; Memory ; Mice ; N-Methylaspartate* ; Neuronal Plasticity ; Salvia miltiorrhiza* ; Salvia* ; Social Problems ; Synaptic Transmission*

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium (EHDF) on physical stress, changes in the whole-body cortisol level and behaviour in zebrafish (Danio rerio). METHODS: One hundred and seventy-four fish were randomly divided into 4 [adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) challenge test: 4 fish per group] or 6 groups (behavioural test: 10-12 fish per group, whole-body cortisol: 4 fish per group). Net handling stress (NHS) was used to induce physical stress. Fish were treated with vehicle or EHDF (5-20 mg/L) for 6 min before they were exposed to stress. And then, fish were sacrificed for collecting body fluid from whole-body or conducted behavioural tests, including novel tank test and open field test, and were evaluated to observe anxiety-like behaviours and locomotion. In addition, to elucidate the mode of action of the anti-stress effects of EHDF, ACTH (0.2 IU/g, i.p.) challenge test was performed. RESULTS: The increased anxiety-like behaviours in novel tank test and open field test under stress were prevented by treatment with EHDF at 5-20 mg/L (P <0.05). Moreover, compared with the unstressed group, which was not treated with NHS, the whole-body cortisol level was significantly increased by treatment with NHS (P <0.05). Compared with the NHS-treated stressed control group, pre-treatment with EHDF at concentrations of 5-20 mg/L for 6 min significantly prevented the NHS-increased whole-body cortisol level (<0.05). In addition, ACTH challenge test showed that EHDF completely blocked the effects of ACTH on cortisol secretion (P <0.05). CONCLUSION EHDF may be a good antistress candidate and its mechanism of action may be related to its positive effects on cortisol release.