We compared the structural and functional corneal endothelial changes between patients with non-proliferative retinopathy and age-matched nondiabetic patients after phacoemulsification with posterior chamber lens implantation. Endothelial cell density was calculated preoperatively, and postoperative 4, 8 weeks by specular microscopy. Fluorophotometry to check corneal endothelial barrier function was underwent preoperatively and at postoperative 4 days. Preoperatively, no significant difference in corneal endothelial cell density and corneal endothelial permeability coefficient was noted between diabetic patients and age-matched non-diabetic patients. But the mean increase of corneal endothelial permeability coefficient at 4 days after surgery was 118.13% in diabetic patients and 61.88% in nondiabetic patients (P<0.05). The mean endothelial cell loss at 4 and 8 weeks after surgery were 10. 29%, 12.55% in diabetic patients and 7.05%, 9.39% in non-diabetic patients.(P<0.05)
Endothelial Cells ; Endothelium, Corneal* ; Fluorophotometry ; Humans ; Microscopy ; Permeability ; Phacoemulsification*

The clinical results and complications of 27 phacoemulsification which had been performed by ophthalmic resident during the learning curve were studied retrospectively. Mean postoperative follow-up period was 8.9 weeks and 82%(22 of 27) was followed up for 4 weeks or longer. Posterior chamber intraocular lenses were implanted in all cases. Final best corrected visual acuity of 0.5 or better was obtained in 21 eyes(95.5%) and mean value of the surgically induced astigmatism was -0.47 diopter of the 22 eyes who were followed up for 4 weeks or longer. The incidence of vitreous loss was 11.1 %(3/27). Of these, two cases occurred during nuclear emulsification, while one case during cortex aspiration. With proper patient selection, meticulous technique, and under the faculty's supervision, phacoemulsification performed by residents during the learning curve can be an effective method for cataract surgery procedure.
Astigmatism ; Cataract ; Follow-Up Studies ; Incidence ; Learning Curve ; Lenses, Intraocular ; Organization and Administration ; Patient Selection ; Phacoemulsification* ; Retrospective Studies ; Visual Acuity

No abstract available.
Teratoma*

Maintenance of normal rate of tear production and elimination is essential for the proper controlled envionment for the cornea and the conjunctiva. We analyzed tear turnover rates in normal subjects, which mainly depend on tear production. We scanned 65 eyes of 36 normal subjects after instillation of 2% fluorescein solution 1u into the lower conjunctival fornix, using fluorophotometer (Fluorotron Master). After instillation of fluorescein solution, we scanned the eyes every 3 minutes for 30 minutes to measure tear film fluorescence. We calculated the tear turnover rate using tear film fluorescence valuse. Mean tear turnover rates were 12.3+/-6.6 %/min in normal subjects, 12.7+/-6.9 %/min in men, and 11.7+/-6.6 %/min in women. Mean tear turnover rates of men did not differ significantly from those of women (p>0.05). Mean tear turnover rates of younger subjects(25 years old~40 years old) (16.2 +/-7.4 %/min) were found to be significantly higher than ghose of older subjects(41 years old~73 years old) (9.1+/-40 %/min) (p<0.05). The morning tear turnover rates (13.5+/-1.6 %/min) were found to be higher than those for the afternoon (10.2+/-4.9 %/min), but the differences were not significant(p>0.05). We think that this study might be useful to study the diagnosis and treatement of tear secretory system disorders.
Conjunctiva ; Cornea ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Fluorescein ; Fluorescence ; Humans ; Male ; Tears*

We conducted a retrospective study of 20 penetrating keratoplasty (19patients) for corneal opacity due to herpes simplex keratitis from January 1992 to February 1997 at National Medical Center. We exaniined f requeuey of graft rejection and recurrence of herpetic keratitis after penetrating keratoplasty. The patients were grouped into control & treatinent, group according to the use of antivirial drug after penetrating keratoplasty and we examined the difference in rate of recurrence between two groups. The follow-up period was from 8 months to 68 months, mean follow-up period being 29.6 months. Graft rejection was seen in 3 eyes out of 20 eyes (15.0%) and recurrence was developed 3 eyes out of 20 eyes (15.0%). Recurrent herpetic keratitis developed in 15.4%(2 of 13) of the eyes in control group and 14.3% (1 of 7) of the eyes in treatment group. There was no statistically significant difference in recurrence rate between two groups (p)0.05). Postoperative prophylactic antiviral treatment is not associated with decreased rate of herpes simplex keratitis recurrence.
Corneal Opacity ; Follow-Up Studies ; Graft Rejection ; Herpes Simplex* ; Humans ; Keratitis, Herpetic* ; Keratoplasty, Penetrating* ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies

The authors have evaluated the effect of topically applied 1% cyclosporine A for four weeks after limbal allograft transplantation for ocular surface stability in severely ocular surface damaged rabbits. A total eleven severely damaged rabbits were subdivided into three groups of four limbal autograft (AUTO), three limbal allograft (ALLO), four limbal allograft with topical application of 1% cyclosporine A five times daily for four weeks (ALLO-C). We examined ocular surface smoothness, clarity, corneal vascularization before surgery and three months after surgery, and classified three grade (success, partial success, failure) according to result. In AUTO, three eyes were success, one eye was failure. In ALLO, one eye showed inferior graft detachment and one eye was success, two eyes were failire. In ALLO-C, no graft detachment detected and one eye was success, two eyes were partial success, one eye was failure. We knew that. ALLO-C show more effective ocular surface stability than ALLO. These result suggest ALLO-C can be used as alternative treatment of AUTO in ocular surface reconstruction. But, rnore study for duration and concentration of cyclosporin A will be need.
Allografts ; Autografts ; Cornea* ; Cyclosporine* ; Rabbits ; Transplants

Four cases of incontinentia pigmenti (Bloch-Sulzberger type) in a mother and three her daughter were presented and literatures were reviewed. In all three daughters vesicles appeared on toes at three weeks after birth and ehanged to pigmented patches surrounded by erythematous verrucous margin, which were then gradually spread to whole body. Pigmentation is dirty, irregular and bizarr. Severe itching sensation was complained and vesicles or bulla were formed easily due to scratching and external trauma. In mother, onset of the disease was not clear but generalized dirty pigmentation is showed. Dentition was delayed in 3rd daughter (Dental eruption was begun at 10 month old and 11 teeth was showed at now, 2 year old). Histopathological findings are compatible with incontinentia pigmenti and epidermo-dermaI separation is observed in a experimentally induced bullae, indicating a characterized epidermolysis bullosa. Strict limitation in the occurence of disease in females of one family, accompanying with epidermolysis bullosa simplex is unusual and interesting in genetical aspects and pathogenesis.
Dentition ; Epidermolysis Bullosa ; Epidermolysis Bullosa Simplex ; Female ; Humans ; Incontinentia Pigmenti* ; Infant ; Mothers ; Nuclear Family ; Parturition ; Pigmentation ; Pruritus ; Sensation ; Toes ; Tooth

PURPOSE: Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MP) is associated with the exacerbation, timing, and onset of asthma. The goal of this study was to elucidate the impact of MP on eosinophil-related hyper-reactive amplification in atopic children. METHODS: We studied 48 patients with MP (26 atopic, 22 non-atopic), between 3 and 12 years of age. Serial changes in blood eosinophil counts, serum interleukin-5 (IL-5), and serum eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) levels were measured in atopic and non-atopic children with MP upon admission, recovery, and at 2 months post-recovery. Serum IL-5 and ECP levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays; eosinophil counts were measured using an autoanalyzer. RESULTS: Serial changes in serum IL-5, ECP, and total eosinophil counts were significantly higher in atopic patients, relative to non-atopic controls (P< or =0.001). Serum IL-5 and ECP levels were significantly higher in atopic patients at all three time points tested, while eosinophil counts were higher in the clinical recovery and follow-up phases, but not in the acute phase. Furthermore, among atopic patients, serum ECP levels were significantly higher in the recovery and follow-up phases than in the acute phase. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrated significant differences in eosinophil counts, serum IL-5, and serum ECP levels between atopic and non-atopic children with MP at admission, recovery, and 2 months after clinical recovery. These outcomes are suggestive of eosinophil-related hyperreactivity in atopic children, with this status maintained for at least 2 months after MP.
Asthma ; Child* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Eosinophil Cationic Protein ; Eosinophils ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Interleukin-5 ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae* ; Pneumonia* ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma*

OBJECTIVES: To discern in advanced uterine cervical cancer whether the hyperfractionation is more effective in tumor control and in reducing radiation complication rates than the simple fractionation. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 184 patients with advanced cervical cancer at our hospitals from January 2000 to December 2004. All patients were treated with radiation, 114 patients with simple fractionation, and 70 patients with hyperfractionation. RESULTS: Mean age was 55.4 years at baseline study. Complications were occurred in 90 patients of the 184 patients who treated with radiation therapy. Of these, 48 patients suffered from gastrointestinal complications, 24 patients suffered from genitourinary complications and 18 patients had both complications. Complications were occurred in 72 cases in simple fractionation group and 40 cases in hyperfractionation group. 77 patients had acute complications and 13 patients had chronic complications. There was no statistically significant difference between two groups (P = 0.772). Mild complication were occurred in 75 patients and severe complication were occurred in 15 patients, there was no statistically significant difference in two groups (P = 0.495). 66 patients had gastrointestinal complications and 42 patients had genitourinary complications, there was no statistical significance in two groups (P = 0.910). CONCLUSION: Many complications were occurred in patients who treated with radiation therapy, but there was no statistically significant survival and complication difference in two groups. Further research is needed.
Humans ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

When illuminated by blue light, the human crystalline lens exhibits green autofluorescence. Autofluorescence of the human lens were analyzed quantitatively in vivo as a function of age in 75 healthy individuals{150 eyes) without cataract, ranging in age from 17 to 63 years. Lenses were scanned through the dilated pupil along the optical axis, generating a fluorescence profile consisting of anterior and posterior peaks of lens, using an automated scanning fluorophotometer(Fluorotron master) coupled with a lens system designed for high resolution of the anterior segment structures. Anterior peak autofluorescence increased linearly by 90 ng fluorescein/ml per decade and posterior peak autofluorescence by 70 ng fluorescein/ml per decade. No significant difference between right and left eyes was demonstrated for anterior or posterior peak autofluorescence. We suggest that the quantitative analysis of the autofluorescence of the human lens might be useful to investigate the changes of the aging lens proteins and the pathogenesis of cataract.
Aging* ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Cataract ; Crystallins* ; Fluorescence ; Fluorophotometry ; Humans ; Lens, Crystalline* ; Pupil