Postherpetic neuralgia is the most frequent complication of herpes zoster. Treatment of this neuropathic pain syndrome is difficult and often disappointing. Although postherpetic neuralgia is generally a self-limited condition, it can last indefinitely. Continuous epidural blockade for patients with acute zoster can shorten the duration of treatment. However, continuous epidural block has some complications such as infection, dural puncture, and total spinal and nerve damages. We report a case of myoclonus during continuous epidural block with ropivacaine, morphine, and ketamine in an acute zoster patient.
Amides ; Analgesia ; Herpes Zoster ; Humans ; Ketamine ; Morphine ; Myoclonus ; Neuralgia ; Neuralgia, Postherpetic ; Punctures

PURPOSE: To evaluate long-term outcomes of surgery for intermittent exotropia. METHODS: The authors evaluated 78 patients who underwent surgery for intermittent exotropia and were available for a follow-up over a 5-year period. According to distant exodeviation and fusion control at the last visit, the patients were classified into either the stable group (distant exodeviation < or =10 PD) or the recurrent group (distant exodeviation >10 PD). The recurrent group was reclassified into the clinical success group (distant exodeviation >10 PD, <20 PD with good fusion control) or the clinical failure group (distant exodeviation > or =20 PD or distant exodeviation >10 PD, <20 PD with poor fusion control). We analyzed recurrence rate, success rate, and clinical outcome. RESULTS: Recurrence rate was 65.3% (n = 51), and the surgical success rate calculated as the rate of stable group and clinical success group was 73% (n = 57). The postoperative angle of exodeviation was more decreased than the preoperative angle in 93.6% of patients. When comparing postoperative with preoperative sensory function, only 2.6% of patients demonstrated worse distant fusion control grades, 66.7% of patients remained the same, 30.8% improved, and 5.1% of patients demonstrated poorer near stereopsis. The rest of patients had better or equal fusion control and stereoacuity. Age at surgery in the recurrent group was less than in the stable group (p = 0.004) and the recurrent group had worse preoperative distant fusion control (p = 0.021). Exodeviation angle of the recurrent group at postoperative 1 month, 3 months and 6 months was greater than that of the stable group (p < 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Despite a high recurrence rate, surgery for intermittent exotropia showed a high clinical success rate and good long-term efficacy and safety in both deviation angle and sensory function.
Depth Perception ; Exotropia ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Recurrence ; Sensation

PURPOSE: To report a case of orbital apex syndrome induced by penetrating orbital injury by a wire with the recovery process and clinical outcomes. CASE SUMMARY: A 40-year-old female visited our clinic after a penetrating orbital injury through the left inferomedial conjunctiva by a wire. The best corrected visual acuity of the left eye was 0.6, and ptosis and total ophthalmoplegia were observed. The patient showed a dilated pupil, swelling of the optic disc on fundus exam, and an inferior field defect on the automated perimetry. The computed tomography image revealed mild retrobulbar hemorrhage, but there was no orbital bony fracture. Enhancement of the optic nerve sheath was observed on the magnetic resonance image. The patient was admitted and received systemic antibiotics and steroid treatment. After 1 month, visual acuity, ptosis, and limitation in adduction were partly improved. After 3 months, depression and adduction were improved and the pupil size was normalized. However, further improvement was not observed after the one-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The recovery from orbital apex syndrome was achieved until 3 months after injury. The final outcomes may depend on the mechanism and pathophysiology of the injury. Emergent diagnosis and proper management are essential to achieve optimal clinical results.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Conjunctiva ; Depression ; Eye ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Ophthalmoplegia ; Optic Nerve ; Orbit ; Pupil ; Retrobulbar Hemorrhage ; Visual Acuity ; Visual Field Tests

Purpose: To identify the effects of 0.45% ketorolac tromethamine on intraocular pressure (IOP) after cataract surgery in glaucoma patients. Methods: A retrospective chart review of open angle glaucoma patients and controls who underwent cataract surgery (perfomed by a single surgeon) was conducted. Topical ketorolac was applied from the day before surgery until 1 month postoperatively. IOP and anterior chamber (AC) inflammation were assessed preoperatively and at 1 day, 1 month, and 3 months postoperatively. The incidence of IOP spikes was also measured. For comparative analysis, glaucoma patients were divided into ketorolac (G+K+) and non-ketorolac (G+K-) groups, while non-glaucoma patients were divided into G-K+ and G-K- groups. Results: A total of 243 eyes (243 patients) were enrolled. Among glaucoma patients, the initial postoperative IOP increase and IOP at 3 months postoperatively were lower for the G+K+ than G+K- group. In the G+K+ group, IOP remained low at 1 and 3 months postoperatively, while in the G+K- group, IOP did not change significantly compared to the preoperative values. Among non-glaucoma patients, there were no differences in IOP change until 3 months postoperatively between the G-K+ and G-Kgroups. AC inflammation was significantly lower at 1 week in the G+K+ than G+K- group. The incidence of IOP spikes during the first 3 months postoperatively was lower in the G+K+ than in the G+K- group. Conclusions Ketorolac had a positive effect on IOP after cataract surgery and allowed for a lower IOP to be maintained in glaucoma patients. Topical ketorolac may be used to prevent IOP elevation after cataract surgery in patients with advanced glaucoma or at high risk for severe AC inflammation.

PURPOSE: To evaluate long-term change in intraocular pressure (IOP) in eyes undergoing laser iridotomy (LI) and early phacoemulsification after LI in patients with acute angle-closure glaucoma (AACG). METHODS: The retrospective, comparative chart review included patients with AACG, Group A who underwent only LI and Group B who underwent early phacoemulsification within 1 month after LI. Patients were followed up on day 1; week 1; and months 1, 3, 6, and 12 after LI. IOP changes were studied. RESULTS: This study included a total 99 eyes from 99 patients, 37 in group A and 62 in group B. The mean IOP were not significantly different between the two groups at the initial visit or 1 month later. However, group B showed a consistently lower mean IOP that that of group A at 3, 6, and 12 months (p= 0.003, <0.001, <0.001, respectively). The prevalence of IOP increase to greater than 21 mmHg was 3 (8.11%), 5 (13.51%), and 5 patients (13.51%) in group A and 0, 2 (5.41%), and 1 patients (1.61%) in group B at 3, 6, and 12 months, respectively. Group B showed a significantly lower prevalence of IOP increase (p = 0.050, 0.038, 0.026). CONCLUSIONS: We found that patients treated with early phacoemulsification after LI had better outcomes of well-maintained IOP compared to those undergoing LI alone. For AACG patients with coexisting cataract, early phacoemulsification after LI can be considered as a reasonable treatment to maintain IOP.
Cataract ; Glaucoma, Angle-Closure* ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Phacoemulsification* ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: To assess long-term changes in intraocular pressure (IOP) and the development of glaucoma after early phacoemulsification in acute primary angle closure. METHODS: Retrospective chart review of acute primary angle closure patients treated with phacoemulsification in attack eyes versus fellow eyes. Within a month after the angle closure attack, all subjects underwent cataract surgery and were divided into two groups: group A received cataract surgery on their attack eyes. Group B also received cataract surgery on their fellow eye after phacoemulsification of the attack eyes. Study outcomes were the prevalence of IOP rise (occurrence of IOP >21 mmHg) and the incidence of newly developed glaucoma. RESULTS: Eighty-nine eyes were included, with 62 attack eyes in group A and 27 fellow eyes in group B. Group A (14 eyes, 22.58%) had a higher cumulative rate of IOP rise than group B (3 eyes, 11.11%) at 12 months (p = 0.001). Newly developed glaucoma was not observed in group B; however, 6 patients in group A developed glaucoma during the 12-month follow-up period (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The attack eyes treated with phacoemulsification showed a significantly higher prevalence of IOP rise and newly developed glaucoma than fellow eyes that received phacoemulsification. These findings suggest that there is a possibility of IOP rise and development of glaucoma even when angle closure and successful IOP control have apparently been achieved after phacoemulsification.
Cataract ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glaucoma ; Glaucoma, Angle-Closure ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intraocular Pressure* ; Phacoemulsification* ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: Dysbiosis of gut microbiota has been reported to participate in the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer, but changes in microbiota due to radiotherapy have not been studied. In this study, we tried to elucidate the changes in the microbiome in rectal cancer after chemoradiotherapy using RNA sequencing analysis.MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included 11 pairs of human rectal cancer tissues before and after irradiation between August 2016 and December 2017 and performed RNA sequencing analysis. Mapped reads to human reference genomes were used for pair-wise transcriptome comparisons, and unmapped (non-human) reads were then mapped to bacterial marker genes using PathSeq.RESULTS: At microbiome level, interindividual variability of mucosal microbiota was greater than the change in microbial composition during radiotherapy. This indicates that rapid homeostatic recovery of the mucosal microbial composition takes place short after radiotherapy. At single microbe level, Prevotella and Fusobacterium, which were identified as important causative microbes of the initiation and progression of rectal cancer were decreased by radiotherapy. Moreover, changes in Prevotella were associated with changes in the human transcriptome of rectal cancer. We also found that there was a gene cluster that increased and decreased in association with changes in microbial composition by chemoradiation.CONCLUSION: This study revealed changes in tumor-associated microbial community by irradiation in rectal cancer. These findings can be used to develop a new treatment strategy of neoadjuvant therapy for locally advanced rectal cancer by overcoming radio-resistance or facilitating radio-sensitivity.
Chemoradiotherapy ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Dysbiosis ; Fusobacterium ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Genes, vif ; Genome ; Humans ; Microbiota ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Prevotella ; Radiotherapy ; Rectal Neoplasms ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Transcriptome

Purpose: To identify the clinical outcomes of cataract surgery in patients with advanced glaucoma. Methods: A retrospective chart review of open-angle glaucoma patients who underwent cataract surgery and were followed-up for 1 year was conducted. Advanced glaucoma was defined as a mean deviation (MD) < -12 dB on the preoperative visual field test. A group with mild-to-moderate glaucoma (MD ≥ -12 dB) served as the control group. Changes in intraocular pressure (IOP) at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months, and in the postoperative visual acuity (VA) as well as in the visual field indices (MD and the pattern standard deviation), and the number of antiglaucoma medications were compared. Results: Eighty-seven eyes (87 patients) of the advanced group and 109 eyes (109 patients) of the mild-to-moderate group were finally included. From 1 week to 24 months postoperatively, both groups evidenced IOP decreases compared to the preoperative values (both p < 0.05). The IOP spike prevalence was similar in the two groups (11% vs. 13%, p = 0.199). The mean IOP difference between the two groups was not significant at months 1, 3, 6, 12, or 24 postoperatively (all p > 0.05). Both groups evidenced VA improvements at 1 year postoperatively and the visual field (VF) indices did not differ from those before surgery. The numbers of antiglaucoma medications used decreased after surgery, but the decrease was significant only in the advanced glaucoma group (p = 0.030). Conclusions The advanced and mild-to-moderate glaucoma groups evidenced similar IOP and VF changes after cataract surgery. The VA improved and the number of antiglaucoma medications decreased. Our findings suggest that cataract surgery for patients with advanced glaucoma may afford similar clinical outcomes compared to other less severe glaucoma groups.

Purpose: Reduced central corneal thickness (CCT) is a risk factor for glaucoma progression and can impact intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement. Therefore, we investigated the glaucoma progression pattern and associated risk factors among individuals with normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) and reduced CCT. Methods: This retrospective study enrolled 187 eyes of 187 NTG patients with an open angle and a baseline IOP < 20 mmHg, adjusted for CCT. Reduced CCT was defined as < 500 µm thickness in both eyes. Patients with a history of corneal disease or surgery affecting CCT were excluded. We used Goldmann tonometry to measure baseline and CCT-corrected IOP (ccIOP; [IOP - [CCT - 545]/50 × 2.5]). The participants were divided into progressing and stable subgroups. Results: The mean CCT was 481.2 ± 17.5 µm and the mean follow-up period was 6.3 ± 2.5 years. The baseline IOP and ccIOP were 13.7 ± 2.4 and 16.6 ± 2.5 mmHg, respectively. The average visual field progression rate was -0.79 ± 1.26 dB/yr. Of the participants, 47 (26.6%) and 140 (73.4%) were in the progressing and stable group, respectively. Participants in the progressing group were older, had a higher baseline ccIOP, and had a higher proportion of pseudophakia than those in the stable group. Multivariate analysis showed that baseline ccIOP was a significant risk factor. Conclusions Individuals presenting with NTG and reduced CCT had a relatively stable glaucoma progression rate. However, glaucoma progression was associated with old age, pseudophakia, and high baseline IOP in individuals with reduced CCT. In particular, the only significant factor associated with glaucoma progression was ccIOP. Therefore, ccIOP is a clinically significant factor in individuals with NTG and reduced CCT.

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical characteristics and histological features of tumors in caruncles. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective chart review of 126 eyes of 126 patients who underwent incisional or excisional biopsy of conjunctival masses between March 2008 and December 2016. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients (19.0%) including 10 males and 14 females had a mass located on the caruncle. The mean age at diagnosis was 41.8 ± 13.4 years (range, 15–67 years). Most patients (75%) visited us for a cosmetically visible mass without other symptoms. The mean duration of symptoms was 73.8 ± 113.0 months (range, 1–240 months). The most common histological diagnosis was a melanocytic tumor (50%) followed by a sebaceous gland tumor (12.5%), an epidermoid cyst (12.5%), and papilloma (12.5%). The symptom duration of the melanocytic tumor was significantly longer than other types of tumors (153.6 ± 139.8 months, p = 0.025). CONCLUSIONS: Caruncular tumors accounted for 19% of all conjunctival tumors. The most common pathological diagnosis of a caruncular tumor was a melanocytic tumor, which had a characteristically long symptom duration.
Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Epidermal Cyst ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Papilloma ; Retrospective Studies ; Sebaceous Glands