Purpose: To analyze changes in astigmatism and visual acuity in pediatric patients with limbal dermoid before and after surgery. Methods: Twenty-five pediatric patients (7 male, 18 female) diagnosed with limbal dermoid from March 2018 to February 2022 were included. We analyzed best corrected visual acuity and astigmatism using cycloplegic refraction, automated keratometry, and topography before and after surgery. Results: In cycloplegic refraction and automated keratometry, postoperative astigmatism did not decrease significantly (p = 0.53 and p = 0.38, respectively). Topography showed a significant decrease in corneal astigmatism from 3.6 ± 2.8 diopters (D) to 2.7 ± 1.8 D (p < 0.05) and in irregular astigmatism from 3.7 ± 2.2 D to 2.5 ± 1.5 D (p < 0.001). Significant decreases were observed in the corneal irregularity index from 0.14 ± 0.10 mm to 0.08 ± 0.47 mm (p < 0.001) and in the index of surface variance from 60.56 ± 41.02 to 35.00 ± 16.00 (p < 0.001). There was a statistically significant improvement in best corrected visual acuity from logarithm of minimal angle of resolution (logMAR) 0.18 to logMAR 0.07 (p < 0.05). Conclusions Surgery for limbal dermoid significantly reduced irregular astigmatism and improved best-corrected visual acuity. It is suggested that achieving visual development through active amblyopia treatment after surgery is important.

Cystic fibrosis is a autosomal recessive genetic disease. Among Caucasians, it is the most common cause of pulmonary insufficiency during the first three decades of life. The prevalence of cystic fibrosis varies according to ethnic origin: it is common among Caucasians but rare among Asians. We report a case in which cystic fibrosis with bronchiectasis and hyperaeration was revealed by high-resolution CT, and mutation of the cystic fibrosis conductance transmembrane regulator gene (CFTR) by DNA analysis.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Bronchiectasis ; Cystic Fibrosis* ; DNA ; Genes, Regulator ; Humans ; Prevalence

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*

The purpose of palatoplasty in cleft palate patient is to form normal speech and normal growth of maxilla. Still now, varient trial and evaluation to palatoplasty have been introduced and investigated for long time, but evaluation of long term result in platoplasty has been neglected. So, authors tried to analyze long term result in bilateral complete palatoplasty by speech analysis. The speech outcome was studied retrospectively in 27 bilateral complete cleft patients who underwent push-back palatoplasty from October 1990 to November 1997. The patient was underwent palatoplasty in 9-10 month old. The patients were divided to 4 group as 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10 year old and compared with 20 normal children (control groups were divided to 4 groups). Nasal emission test and hypernasality test and articulation test were done by speech evaluation table which was consisted of 39 different words. For nasal emission test, we test the numbers of nasal emission word. For hypernasality test and articulation test, each word has score such as normal; 3 points, fair; 2 points, poor 1 point and thus total score was 87points. The score of nasal emission was that the number of nasal emission word, and the number was reduced by aging. And the score of hypernasality test and articulation test was improved by aging. The score of patients who have been taken speech therapy was high in their age group. In comparison with normal control group, the score of patients was slightly lower than control group. And about 74.1% of the patients obtained normal speech after bilateral complete palatoplasty. So we think speech test after palatoplasty is necessary for assessment and treatment of the patients.
Aging ; Child ; Cleft Palate ; Humans ; Maxilla ; Retrospective Studies ; Speech Therapy

PURPOSE: Recent studies have revealed recurrent alterations in the cell adhesion gene FAT4, a candidate tumor suppressor gene, in cancer. FAT atypical cadherin 4 (FAT4) is a transmembrane receptor involved in the Hippo signaling pathway, which is involved in the control of organ size. Here, we investigated the loss of FAT4 expression and its association with clinicopathological risk factors in gastric cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We assessed the expression of FAT4 by using immunohistochemistry on three tissue microarrays containing samples from 136 gastric cancer cases, radically resected in the Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital between July 2006 and June 2008. Cytoplasmic immunoexpression of FAT4 was semi-quantitatively scored using the H-score system. An H-score of > or =10 was considered positive for FAT4 expression. RESULTS: Variable cytoplasmic expressions of FAT4 were observed in gastric cancers, with 33 cases (24.3%) showing loss of expression (H-score <10). Loss of FAT4 expression was associated with an increased rate of perineural invasion (H-score <10 vs. > or =10, 36.4% vs. 16.5%, P=0.015), high pathologic T stage (P=0.015), high tumor-node-metastasis stage (P=0.017), and reduced disease-free survival time (H-score <10 vs. > or =10, mean survival 62.7+/-7.3 months vs. 79.1+/-3.1 months, P=0.025). However, no association was found between the loss of FAT4 expression and tumor size, gross type, histologic subtype, Lauren classification, lymphovascular invasion, or overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: Loss of FAT4 expression appears to be associated with invasiveness in gastric cancer.
Cell Adhesion ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Classification ; Cytoplasm ; Disease-Free Survival ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Immunohistochemistry ; Organ Size ; Risk Factors ; Stomach Neoplasms*

This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activities sustainability of antibacterial agents mixed with experimental fluoride varnish on hydroxyapatite disc against Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans). On the hydroxyapatite disc with 4.8 mm of diameter, 5 μL of 1 mM antibacterial agents mixed with experimental fluoride varnish were applied. Positive control and vehicle control were 10 μg/mL ampicillin and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) mixed with fluoride varnish, respectively. The discs were stored in distilled water in a 37℃ shaking water bath at 120 rpm for 30 minutes, 4 hours, 1 day, 5 days, 20 days, and 30 days. Antibacterial activities were evaluated with the inhibition zone by the agar diffusion test. The antibacterial activities of all antibacterial agents were sustained for 30 days. Among them, Bakuchiol, Bavachromene, and Bavachalcone showed higher antibacterial activities for up to 30 days. The antibacterial agents when mixed in the experimental fluoride varnish with increased and prolonged antibacterial activities can be applied to prevent dental caries effectively.

We evaluated the antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and inhibitory effect of osteoclast differentiation of Brachypodium sylvaticum (BS) to find out the possibility of preventing periodontal disease. The inhibition of Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) growth by BS and the sustainability of the antibacterial activity was assessed. The production of pro-inflammatory cytokines from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cells were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), and the production of nitric oxide (NO) and cell viability were measured. Osteoclast differentiation was evaluated by Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining, and TRAP activity. BS showed significant antibacterial activity and sustainable antibacterial activity in P. gingivalis. We also found out that the BS significantly decreased secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines [tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6)] and NO production without cytotoxicity. Furthermore, BS inhibited the differentiation of bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) obtained from mouse bone marrow cells into osteoclasts without cytotoxicity. Taken together, BS can be a promising candidate for a preventive and improving agent of periodontal disease having antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and inhibitory effects of osteoclast differentiation.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the sustainability of antibacterial effect against Streptococcus mutans of experimental fluoride varnish mixed with 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and/or glutaraldehyde. Experimental fluoride varnish (EX1) was fabricated. To make fluoride varnish with adhesive materials, EX1 was mixed with 5 wt% of glutaraldehyde (EX2), 35 wt% of HEMA (EX3) or both 5 wt% of glutaraldehyde and 35 wt% of HEMA (EX4). 5 μL of each experimental group was applied to 6 mm diameter polyethylene terephthalate film discs. Disks were stored in distilled water in a shaking incubator at 37℃ for 1 hour, 3 hours, 8 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, 5 days and 10 days. The antibacterial activities against S. mutans were evaluated by agar diffusion test with the discs at each time. The antibacterial activities were sustained up to 10 days in all groups. The antibacterial activities of EX3 and EX4 were significantly higher than other groups from 8 hours to 10 days and there were no significant differences from EX2 at 10 days. HEMA with and without glutaraldehyde can be applied to fluoride varnish to increase the sustainability of antibacterial activities.

This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activities sustainability of antibacterial agents mixed with experimental fluoride varnish on hydroxyapatite disc against Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans). On the hydroxyapatite disc with 4.8 mm of diameter, 5 μL of 1 mM antibacterial agents mixed with experimental fluoride varnish were applied. Positive control and vehicle control were 10 μg/mL ampicillin and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) mixed with fluoride varnish, respectively. The discs were stored in distilled water in a 37℃ shaking water bath at 120 rpm for 30 minutes, 4 hours, 1 day, 5 days, 20 days, and 30 days. Antibacterial activities were evaluated with the inhibition zone by the agar diffusion test. The antibacterial activities of all antibacterial agents were sustained for 30 days. Among them, Bakuchiol, Bavachromene, and Bavachalcone showed higher antibacterial activities for up to 30 days. The antibacterial agents when mixed in the experimental fluoride varnish with increased and prolonged antibacterial activities can be applied to prevent dental caries effectively.

We evaluated the antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and inhibitory effect of osteoclast differentiation of Brachypodium sylvaticum (BS) to find out the possibility of preventing periodontal disease. The inhibition of Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) growth by BS and the sustainability of the antibacterial activity was assessed. The production of pro-inflammatory cytokines from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cells were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), and the production of nitric oxide (NO) and cell viability were measured. Osteoclast differentiation was evaluated by Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining, and TRAP activity. BS showed significant antibacterial activity and sustainable antibacterial activity in P. gingivalis. We also found out that the BS significantly decreased secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines [tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6)] and NO production without cytotoxicity. Furthermore, BS inhibited the differentiation of bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) obtained from mouse bone marrow cells into osteoclasts without cytotoxicity. Taken together, BS can be a promising candidate for a preventive and improving agent of periodontal disease having antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and inhibitory effects of osteoclast differentiation.