PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a dexamethasone intravitreal implant (Ozurdex(R)) in the treatment of diabetic macular edema refractory to combined treatment of bevacizumab and triamcinolone. METHODS: We reviewed 9 eyes of 9 patients with diabetic macular edema treated with dexamethasone intravitreal implant. The patients were included in the study if presenting with refractory diabetic macular edema of more than 3 months despite combined treatment of intravitreal bevacizumab injection with posterior subtenon triamcinolone injection or intravitreal triamcinolone injection. We assessed the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central macular thickness (CMT) using optical coherence tomography at initial visit and 1, 3 and 4 months. RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 6.7 +/- 2.2 months. The baseline mean BCVA was 0.81 +/- 0.47 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (log MAR), which improved to 0.61 +/- 0.37 log MAR (p = 0.017), 0.57 +/- 0.38 log MAR (p = 0.011) and 0.62 +/- 0.36 log MAR (p = 0.027) at 1 month, 3 months and 4 months, respectively. The baseline mean CMT was 558.0 +/- 110.32 microm and decreased to 325 +/- 64.21 microm (p = 0.008) and 300.22 +/- 59.46 microm (p = 0.008) at 1 month and 3 months, respectively, then increased to 468.44 +/- 150.85 microm (p = 0.058) at 4 months after injection. CONCLUSIONS: Dexamethasone intravitreal implant showed short-term efficacy in the treatment of diabetic macular edema refractory to combined treatment of bevacizumab and triamcinolone and produced significant improvements in BCVA and CMT until 3 months after injection. The CMT then increased, but BCVA was sustained until the fourth month.
Dexamethasone* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intravitreal Injections ; Macular Edema* ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Triamcinolone ; Visual Acuity ; Bevacizumab

A 56-year-old Korean woman presented with decreased visual acuity of the right eye. She had a history of two photodynamic therapy treatments for choroidal neovascularization (CNV) due to angioid streaks in her left eye with central scarring and low visual acuity. She was diagnosed with subfoveal CNV due to angioid streaks in her right eye and treated with six intravitreal bevacizumab (1.25 mg / 0.05 mL) injections over one year. Best corrected visual acuity improved from 20 / 125 at baseline to 20 / 50 at the final visit. The area of CNV had changed into a fibrotic scar by the final visit, and fluorescein angiography and indocyanine green angiography revealed no evidence of leakage. Optical coherence tomography showed that central macular thickness decreased from 311 microm at baseline to 203 microm with complete resolution of subretinal and intraretinal fluid at the final visit. Intravitreal bevacizumab for CNV associated with angioid streaks prevented the progression of disease and resulted in the improvement of visual acuity after one year of follow-up in our patient.
Angiogenesis Inhibitors/*administration & dosage ; Angioid Streaks/*complications ; Antibodies, Monoclonal/*administration & dosage ; Choroidal Neovascularization/*drug therapy/*etiology/physiopathology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intravitreal Injections ; Macula Lutea/drug effects/pathology ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Visual Acuity/drug effects

PURPOSE: To describe the morphologic characteristics of macular edema in branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) by using of optical coherence tomography (OCT) and to investigate the correlation between tomographic features and visual acuity (VA) METHODS: Thirty-one eyes of 30 patients with BRVO underwent a detailed history, ophthalmoscopic examination, fluorescein angiographic evaluation, and OCT examination. RESULTS: There were 4 patterns of macular edema: cystoid macular edema with serous retinal detachment (13 eyes, 41.9%), cystoid macular edema (11 eyes, 35.5%), diffuse macular edema with serous retinal detachment (4 eyes, 12.9%), and diffuse macular edema (3 eyes, 9.7%). The foveal thickness, retinal volume and logMAR scale of best corrected visual acuity were significantly difference within the pattern of macular edema (Kruskall-Wallis test, P<0.05) and the presence of serous retinal detachment. CONCLUSIONS: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a useful imaging technique for monitoring the retinal thickness and tomographic changes in macular edema of branch retinal vein occlusion. Further research is required to investigate if either the pattern of macular edema or the presence of serous retinal detachment is a prognostic factor in treatment response and to choose differential treatment approaches for different tomographic features.
Fluorescein ; Humans ; Macular Edema* ; Retinal Detachment ; Retinal Vein Occlusion* ; Retinal Vein* ; Retinaldehyde* ; Tomography, Optical Coherence* ; Visual Acuity

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis is one of the most serious side effects of long-term glucocorticoid therapy, but the mechanism of glucocorticoid-induced bone loss remains poorly defined. Glucocorticoid induces decreased bone formation and death of isolated segments of bone (osteonecrosis) suggesting that glucocorticoid excess may affect the birth or death rate of bone cells and thereby reduce their numbers. It has been known that reduction in bone formation is due to reduced proliferation in osteoblast precursor cells and reduced matrix synthesis in mature osteoblast. Here, we present evidence for dexamethasone-induced apoptosis on human bone marrow stromal cells (hBMSC). To understand the mechanism of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis, we investigated the effects of glucocorticoid on primary cultured hBMSC. METHEODS: Treatment with dexamethasone at the concentration of 10-9 M for 3~5 days significantly decreased cleavage tetrazolium salt WST-1 level/concentration by mitochondrial dehydrogenase in viable cells. Greater decrease was observed with higher concentration of dexamethasone (10-7 M, and 10-5 M). Apoptosis was measured by annexin V binding/propidium iodide using fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis and nuclear morphology stained with the fluorescence dye, Hoechst 33342. RESULTS: The level/concentration of apoptotic hBMSC (annexin V positive / PI negative) was increased with 10-9 M dexamethasone (1.2% to 5.3%) and further increased with 10-7 M, and 10-5 M concentration (11.7% and 12.5%, respectively). The same result was observed with Hoechst 33342 staining. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that glucocorticoid induces apoptosis on osteoblast precursor cell, hBMSC, and may contribute to decrease bone formation
Annexin A5 ; Apoptosis* ; Bone Marrow* ; Dexamethasone ; Fluorescence ; Humans* ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Mortality ; Osteoblasts ; Osteogenesis ; Osteoporosis ; Oxidoreductases ; Parturition ; Stromal Cells*

Menopause is the time at which menstruation stops in women. After menopause, women are more susceptible to some diseases, especially osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. Vitamin D has a protective effect against osteoporosis by facilitating the absorption of calcium and affecting parathyroid hormone. Vitamin D also affects cardiovascular function by lowering the blood pressure, which affects the renin–angiotensin system and alters the low-density lipoprotein receptor activity. This paper discusses supplemental vitamin D in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease.
Absorption ; Blood Pressure ; Calcium ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Female ; Humans ; Menopause ; Menstruation ; Osteoporosis ; Parathyroid Hormone ; Receptors, Lipoprotein ; Vitamin D* ; Vitamins*

PURPOSE: To report a case of endophthalmitis after 25-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy. METHODS: A 60-year-old male patient underwent 25-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy through the epiretinal membrane. He was diagnosed as endophthalmitis on 7th postoperative day. Immediate vitrectomy and intravitreal antibiotics injection was done. RESULTS: Coagulase-negative staphylococcus was identified in vitreous culture and incarcerated vitreous through the previous unsutured sclerotomies were found. During vitrectomy, we found generalized retinal necrosis and vascular occlusion with retinal hemorrhage, cheese like thick membrane firmly adherent to the retina due to inflammatory response. The organism was sensitive to antibiotics administered. After treatment, inflammatory response was controlled and the retina became stable but the visual outcome was poor. CONCLUSIONS: Vitreous incarceration through unsutured sclerotomy may occur after 25-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy. This can be a possible conduit for bacteria in the eye and be a cause of endophthalmitis. Sutureless sclerotomy should be carefully monitered and managed postoperatively.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacteria ; Cheese ; Endophthalmitis* ; Epiretinal Membrane ; Humans ; Male ; Membranes ; Middle Aged ; Necrosis ; Retina ; Retinal Hemorrhage ; Retinaldehyde ; Staphylococcus ; Vitrectomy*

A myocardial bridge is an anatomical anomaly in which an epicardial coronary artery becomes engulfed in a limited segment by myocardial fibers. Myocardial ischemia, infarction and sudden death can occur some patients with a myocardial bridge. However, the clinical course can be worse if pheochromocytoma coexists with a myocardial bridge. We experienced anesthetic management of a 52-year-old female patient with a history of myocardial infarction associated with a myocardial bridge and pheochromocytoma. The goal of anesthesia is to avoid hypertension and tachycardia. Nitroglycerin, as a coronary vasodilator, can aggravate the degree of systolic narrowing of the coronary artery. This finding appears to conflict with ordinary management for cardiac ischemia.
Anesthesia ; Coronary Vessels ; Death, Sudden ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Infarction ; Ischemia ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Nitroglycerin ; Pheochromocytoma* ; Tachycardia

Fibrous dysplasia is a developmental disease of bone in which the normal substance of the interior of the bone is replaced by fibro-osseous connective tissue. It exhibits varying degrees of osseous metaplasia histologically. Craniofacial fibrous dysplasia frequently affects the maxilla, frontal bone, and mandible. The nasal septum is rarely affected. There is only one reported case of fibrous dysplasia arising in the septum internationally. Hence, we report a case of fibrous dysplasia of the nasal septum with a review of literature.
Connective Tissue ; Frontal Bone ; Mandible ; Maxilla ; Metaplasia ; Nasal Septum

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of intravitreal injections of triamcinolone acetonide (TA) at the end of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). METHODS: We analyzed 50 patients (52 eyes) who underwent PPV for treatment of PDR and received an intravitreal injection of 4 mg TA at the end of surgery. The study group (Group 1) was compared with a control group (Group 2, 46 patients, 51 eyes) (matched with the study group for preoperative parameters) who underwent PPV without intravitreal injection of TA. RESULTS: In Group 1, the grade of anterior chamber cells at postoperative days 1 and 7 was significantly lower than that of Group 2. There was slight mean IOP elevation in Group 1 at postoperative weeks 2, 3, 4, and 8, but it was not statistically significant. Forty-four eyes (84.6%) from Group 1 showed better visual acuity at the last follow-up than at the preoperative visit (Group 1). Thirty-two eyes (62.8%) from Group 2 showed better visual acuity at the last follow-up than at the preoperative visit. The degree of visual improvement was 0.75 logMAR in Group 1 and 0.59 logMAR in Group 2. Vitreous hemorrhage occurred in 9 eyes (17.3%) from Group 1 and in 19 eyes (37.3%) from Group 2. However, the differences in the occurrence of neovascularization in iris and neovascular glaucoma between two groups were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Intravitreal TA injection at the end of PPV seems to be effective in improving visual acuity and decreasing early postoperative inflammation and the frequency of vitreous hemorrhage.
Anterior Chamber ; Diabetic Retinopathy* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glaucoma, Neovascular ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Intravitreal Injections ; Iris ; Triamcinolone Acetonide* ; Triamcinolone* ; Visual Acuity ; Vitrectomy* ; Vitreous Hemorrhage

BACKGROUND: Intrathecal opioid, a useful adjunct to prolong analgesic effects, potentiates spinal anesthesia. The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of intrathecal fentanyl on the hypnotic requirements of propofol during spinal anesthesia. METHODS: Sixty patients scheduled for elective urologic surgery under spinal anesthesia were randomly assigned to one of four groups. In Group 1 (n =15), spinal anesthesia was performed with hyperbaric bupivacaine 10 mg, in Group 2 (n = 15) with hyperbaric bupivacaine 10 mg plus fentanyl 10microgram, in Group 3 (n = 15) with hyperbaric bupivacaine 10 mg plus fentanyl 20microgram, and in Group 4 (n = 15) with hyperbaric bupivacaine 10 mg plus fentanyl 30microgram. After performing spinal anesthesia, the target plasma concentration of propofol was set at 2.0microgram/ml. Effect site concentration (Ce) was measured when the BIS's reached 80 or 70. Ce was titrated to maintain a BIS of 70-80. Observer's sedation scoring (OAA/S), systolic and diastolic pressures, SpO2 and total infusion dose were measured every 10 minutes for 1 hour. RESULTS: Ce's at a BIS of 80 were 1.2+/-0.3microgram/ml (Group 1), 1.0+/-0.3microgram/ml (Group 2), 0.9+/-0.2microgram/ml (Group 3), and 0.8+/-0.2microgram/ml (Group 4), respectively. Ce's at a BIS of 70 were 1.6+/-0.2microgram/ml (Group 1), 1.5+/-0.4microgram/ml (Group 2), 1.2+/-0.3microgram/ml (Group 3), and 1.2+/-0.3microgram/ml (Group 4), respectively. Ce's of Group 3 and Group 4 at BISs of 70 and 80 were significantly lower than those of Group 1 (P<0.05), and the propofol requirements of Groups 3 and 4 to maintain a BIS of 70-80 were significantly less than those of Group 1 (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that adding more than 20microgram of fentanyl to hyperbaric bupivacaine for spinal anesthesia reduces the hypnotic requirement of propofol.
Anesthesia, Spinal* ; Bupivacaine ; Fentanyl* ; Humans ; Plasma ; Propofol*