PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between optical coherence tomography (OCT) and scanning laser polarimetry (SLP) in measuring peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in glaucomatous eyes. METHODS: Fifty glaucomatous eyes were evaluated in this study. Evaluations were analyzed two ways. First, parameters of the Stratus OCT (average thickness, superior/ inferior average) and GDx VCC (TSNIT average, nerve fiber indicator (NFI), superior/ inferior average) were correlated using the Pearson's correlation coefficient (r). Secondly, comparison (r) of these parameters was completed using the mean deviation (MD) of visual field defect. RESULTS: The following parameters were found to be significantly correlated (P<0.005). TSNIT average/average thickness (r=0.673), NFI/average thickness (r=-0.742), superior average (r=0.841), and inferior average (r=0.736). In the correlation analysis using the severity of visual field defect, all these parameters had statistically meaningful correlations (P<0.005). CONCLUSIONS: GDx VCC and Stratus OCT are highly correlated in glaucomatous eyes. Therefore, peripapillary RNFL thickness measured by Stratus OCT and GDx VCC may be equally helpful in the diagnosis of glaucoma.
Tomography, Optical Coherence/*methods ; Severity of Illness Index ; Retina/*pathology ; Reproducibility of Results ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Laser Scanning Cytometry/*methods ; Humans ; Glaucoma/*pathology ; Female ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aged ; Adult

No abstract available.
Eosinophilia*

No abstract available.
Gemfibrozil* ; Humans ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory*

No abstract available.
Transplants*

Mitral valvular heart diseases are known to be one of the easily detectable and the hemodynamic chane to the severity and duration of diseases can directly be described by echocardiography. The objective of this study was to determine the echocardiographic characteristics in 3 groups of mitral valvular diseases, that is mitral stenosis(112 cases), mitral stenoinsufficiency (66 cases). and mitral insufficiency(20 cases). 1) In mitral valve study, closing velocity of anterior leaflet reduced in mitral stenosis than other two groups and DE amplitude was greater in mitral insufficiency but there were no significant differences in 3 groups of mitral valvular diseases. DE and AC slope were slightly more rapid in mitral stenosis group and left ventricular outflow tract was much increased in mitral insufficiency group. 2) In aorta and left atrium study, aortic cusps separation was much increased in mitral insufficiency and left atrium was slightly more dilated in mitral stenoinsufficiency than other two groups. But left atrial dimension in mitral insufficiency was more diminished than that in mitral, stenosis, which is probably due to the short durationn of diseases and small range of materials in mitral insufficiency group. 3) In left ventricle study, thickness of interventricular septem, LSa, Ena, left ventricular dimension, LVPW, LV volume. and stroke volume were more increased in mitral insufficiency than mitral stenosis, because of the left ventricular volume overloading. Vcf and PEP/LVET were higher in mitral insufficiency than other two groups. Ejection fraction and fractional shortening were more diminished in mitral stenoinsufficiency but no significant difference was found. 4) In right ventricle study, there were no remarkable changes in right ventricular dimension and right ventricular internal dimension index in all 3 groups of mitral valvular diseases. 5) Calcification of mitral leaflets was observed in 85.7% of mitral stenosis, 90.9% of mitral stenoinsufficiency and 10% of mitral insufficiency, but heavy calcification was more remarkable in mitral stenosis group(25%). 6) Atrial fibrillation was observed in 47% of total mitral valvular diseases, mitral stenosis being 43.8%, mitral stenoinsufficiency 60.6% and mitral insufficiency 20%. In cases of atrial fibrillation, left atrial dimension was significantly enlarged compared with the group without atrial fibrillation.
Aorta ; Atrial Fibrillation ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Echocardiography* ; Heart Atria ; Heart Valve Diseases* ; Heart Ventricles ; Hemodynamics ; Mitral Valve ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; Mitral Valve Stenosis ; Stroke Volume

PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic outcomes of patients suspicious for glaucoma referred from the company health screening. METHODS: In this prospective study, 147 (87 male, 60 female) patients for glaucoma suspicious referred from the company health screening were enrolled. They underwent slit-lamp examination, Goldmann applanation tonometry, gonioscopy, optic disc examination, visual field examination and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness measurement using optical coherence tomography (StratusOCT) and scanning laser polarimetry (GDx VCC). We analyzed their diagnostic outcomes. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 43.8 9.6 years. Reasons for glaucoma suspicion and the number of referred patients were 111 (75.5%) high cup/disc ratio, 23 (15.6%) high intraocular pressure and 13 (8.8%) both of these. The diagnostic outcome was as follows: glaucoma, 26 (17.7%); glaucoma suspect, 4 (2.7%); ocular hypertension (OHT), 14 (9.5%); no glaucoma and no ocular hypertension, 89 (60.5%); and normal, 18 (12.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Glaucoma, glaucoma suspect and ocular hypertension were confirmed in 27.2% of patients suspicious for glaucoma referred from the company health screening. Thus, the company health screening appears to be relatively sensitive to detecting glaucoma patients.
Glaucoma* ; Gonioscopy ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Male ; Manometry ; Mass Screening* ; Nerve Fibers ; Ocular Hypertension ; Prospective Studies ; Referral and Consultation ; Retinaldehyde ; Scanning Laser Polarimetry ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Visual Fields

BACKGROUND: The basal ganglia plays a major role in regulating motor, cognitive and emotional functions. In addition, it has been proposed that the functions of the basal ganglia is also related to control of sensory discrimination and sensorimotor integration. One possible way to test this hypothesis would be to investigate sensory functions in patients with various diseases affecting basal ganglia functions. Since idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD) is caused by selective impairment of basal ganglia functions, it could be a good model for this purpose. METHODS: We measured the grating resolution threshold (GRT) using the JVP (Johnson-Van Boven-Phillips) dome in 52 patients with IPD and 25 age-matched healthy controls. Statistical analysis employed unpaired t-test, paired t-test and simple regression analysis. P-values less than 0.05 were considered as significant. RESULTS: Patients showed significantly higher GRT than controls (3.07 +/- 0.74 vs 2.03 +/- 0.80; p<0.05). In patients, the mean GRT was not different between symptomatically dominant and non-dominant hands (3.10 +/- 0.95 vs 2.93 +/- 0.82). In the patients with hemiparkinsonism, GRT was also significantly higher in asymptomatic hands compared with controls (3.00 +/- 0.71 vs 2.03 +/- 0.80; p<0.05). The severity of sensory dysfunction in patients was not correlated with symptom duration or to symptom severity, measured by the modified Columbia rating scale (MCRS). CONCLUSIONS: The present results demonstrate that spatial discrimination is impaired in IPD, suggesting the basal ganglia plays a role in sensory regulation.
Basal Ganglia ; Discrimination (Psychology)* ; Dopamine ; Hand ; Humans ; Parkinson Disease* ; Regression Analysis ; Sensation

A 19 yar-old male patient was admitted to the department of neurology in Severance hospital beause of slowly progressive spastic paraparesis. On examination, dark brown skin color, sparse hair, spastic weakness and hypesthesia of lower extremities were noted. The laboratory studies showed high serum ACTH level with lowest normal limit of serum cortisol level. Brain MRI scan revealed high signal intensities in bilateral corticospinal tracts on T, Weighted images with gadolinium enhancement and T2eighted images. The results of three modal evoked potential studies(SEP. BAEP. VEP) were abnormal bilaterally. Nerve conduction studies and sural nerve biopsy suggested the presence of peripheral neuropathy.
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; Adrenoleukodystrophy* ; Biopsy ; Brain ; Evoked Potentials ; Gadolinium ; Hair ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Hypesthesia ; Lower Extremity ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Muscle Spasticity ; Neural Conduction ; Neurology ; Paraparesis, Spastic ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; Pyramidal Tracts ; Skin ; Sural Nerve

No abstract available.
Prevalence* ; Ulsan*

PURPOSE: To investigate the influence of 2 phases of short interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) on the cortical silent period (SP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Single- and paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulations (TMSs) at 1 and 2.5ms interstimulus intervals (ISIs) were applied to the left motor cortex in 12 healthy subjects while their right hand muscles were moderately activated. Conditioning stimulation intensity was 90% of the active motor threshold (AMT). Test stimulation intensities were 120, 140, 160, 180, 200, 220, 240, 260% of the AMT and at 100% of the maximal stimulator output, the order of which was arranged randomly. The rectified electromyography area of motor evoked potential (MEP) and duration of the SP were measured off-line using a computerized program. RESULTS: At high-test stimulation intensities, MEP areas were saturated in both single- and paired-pulse stimulations, except that saturated MEPs were smaller for the paired-pulse TMS at 1ms ISI than for the other conditions. As the test stimulation intensity increased, SP was progressively prolonged in both single- and paired-pulse stimulations but was shorter in paired-pulse than single-pulse TMS. Overall, the ratio of SP duration/MEP area was comparable between single- and paired-pulse TMS except for the paired-pulse TMS at 1 ms ISI with a test stimulation intensity at 140-180% of the AMT, in which the ratio was significantly higher than in the single pulse TMS. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that 2 phases of SICI modulate MEP saturation and SP duration differently and provide additional evidence supporting the view that 2 phases of SICI are mediated by different inhibitory mechanisms.
Adult ; Evoked Potentials, Motor/*physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Motor Cortex/*physiology ; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation