No abstract available.
Acromegaly* ; Adolescent* ; Humans ; Neurofibromatoses*

No abstract available.
Hypopituitarism*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of platelet rich plasma (PRP) on ocular surface damage caused by hyperosmotic conditions using retrospective clinical and experimental analyses. METHODS: Eighty eyes of moderate dry eye syndrome patients who had no responses using conventional treatments were included in the study. Before and 1, 3, and 6 months after the use of autologous PRP, the visual acuity, intraocular pressure, tear break-up time (TBUT), ocular staining score (OSS), and ocular surface disease index (OSDI) were compared. The changes in inflammatory factors of ocular surface cells were analyzed using a corneo-limbal epithelial cell culture and a hyperosmotic stress experimental model. RESULTS: Using retrospective clinical analyses, in 64 eyes (80%) after the use of autologous PRP, the symptom scores and symptoms were significantly reduced in the OSDI questionnaire when compared with the symptom scores and symptoms before treatment. The TBUT and OSS, which were objective indicators showed a significant increase of TBUT and significant decrease of OSS in 68 eyes (85%) and 72 eyes (90%), respectively. The expression of inflammatory factors such as interleukin-1, tumor necrosis factor-α, metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, and MMP-3 decreased in corneo-limbal epithelial cells under hyperosmotic conditions when PRP was added. CONCLUSIONS The use of autologous PRP showed significant improvement before and after treatment in the TBUT, OSS, symptom scores and symptoms, and OSDI. In addition, anti-inflammatory effects were demonstrated in hyperosmotic models simulating dry eye syndrome. Therefore, autologous PRP could be used effectively for the treatment of moderate dry eye syndrome.

No abstract available.
Liposarcoma*

Purpose: To analyze the change in the weekly incidence of epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (EKC) per 1,000 outpatients during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic by comparing the mean weekly proportion of EKC of 2020 with that from 2016 to 2019. Methods: Using data from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency for 2016-2020, we analyzed the weekly proportion of EKC per 1,000 outpatients. The data were also analyzed according to age, semester and vacation periods, region, and social distancing stages. For the Daegu data, we also analyzed the effects of social distancing in an area. Results: The mean weekly proportion of EKC per 1,000 outpatients in 2020 was lower than in previous years for all ages (2016-2019 19.77 ± 7.17‰, 2020 7.28 ± 2.97‰; p < 0.001). During the semester, the mean difference between 2016-2019 and 2020 was significant, particularly for preschool children. In Daegu, the weekly proportion of EKC per 1,000 outpatients during the extra 12-18 weeks of social distancing was significantly lower (2016-2019, 18.78 ± 6.61‰; 2020, 8.94 ± 2.92‰; p < 0.001). Conclusions The public health interventions implemented during the COVID-19 outbreak not only reduced the prevalence of COVID-19 but also reduced the prevalence of EKC. Therefore, maintaining hygiene principles and standard precautions may help prevent EKC.

Purpose: To report the effect of removal of a central descemet membrane on the endothelial function, morphology, and clinical symptoms of eyes with Fuch’s endothelial dystrophy. Methods: From August 2019 to January 2021, patients with Fuch’s endothelial dystrophy, i.e., with confluent, central corneal guttae and cataracts that required surgery, underwent phacoemulsification, intraocular lens implantation, and central descemet membrane stripping. To evaluate the effect of descemet stripping only (DSO), visual acuity and intraocular pressure were measured, and corneal pachymetry, slit-lamp and specular microscopy, and anterior segment optical coherence tomography performed, before surgery and at 1, 7, and 30 days and 3 and 6 months after surgery. Results: Seven patients (10 eyes) were included. Visual acuity improved from 1.01 ± 0.40 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) preoperatively to 0.33 ± 0.22 logMAR 6 months after surgery (p = 0.008). The mean central corneal thickness decreased from 578.50 ± 36.88 μm preoperatively to 568.50 ± 48.61 μm 6 months after surgery; the difference was not significant (p = 0.507). The endothelial cell count increased significantly from 663.80 ± 356.40/mm2 preoperatively to 1,082.00 ± 274.46/mm2 6 months after surgery (p = 0.043). Conclusions DSO can serve as a useful alternative when corneal transplantation is not possible in patients with Fuch’s endothelial dystrophy, but treatment efficacy and safety require further evaluation.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Early intestinal mucosal damage plays an important role in severe acute pancreatitis (AP). Previous studies have shown that intestinal permeability (IP), serum endotoxin and cytokines contribute to the early intestinal barrier dysfunction in AP. This study explored the predictive capacity of IP, endotoxemia and cytokines as prognostic indicators in AP patients. METHODS: Eighty-seven AP patients were included in the study. The patients were classified into three groups according to the Balthazar computed tomography severity index (CTSI). We compared the biochemical parameters, including IP, serum endotoxin level and cytokine level among the three groups. The associations of IP with serum endotoxin, cytokines, CTSI, and other widely used biochemical parameters and scoring systems were also examined. RESULTS: IP, serum endotoxin, interleukin (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha had a positive correlation with the CTSI of AP. Endotoxin, IL-6, TNF-alpha, CTSI, the Ranson/APACHE II score, the duration of hospital stay, complications and death significantly affect IP in the AP patients. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that IP with subsidiary measurements of serum endotoxin, IL-6 and TNF-alpha may be reliable markers for predicting the prognosis of AP. Further studies that can restore and preserve gut barrier function in AP patients are warranted.
Cytokines ; Endotoxemia ; Endotoxins ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukins ; Length of Stay ; Pancreatitis ; Permeability ; Prognosis ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Adult ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Malocclusion ; Molar ; Orthopedics ; Osteotomy ; Palatal Expansion Technique ; Recurrence

Alveolar Process ; Alveolar Ridge Augmentation ; Follow-Up Studies ; Mandible ; Osseointegration ; Osteogenesis, Distraction

Adventitia ; Animals ; Femoral Artery ; Rabbits ; Surgical Instruments ; Thrombosis