Aortic root diameter by two dimensional and M-mode echocardiography in predicting prosthetic aortic valve size preoperatively was measured in 10 adult patients undergoing aortic valve replacement. Correlation of aortic root diameter measured by two dimensional echocardiography and actual prosthetic valve size implanted by aortic valve replacement was excellent. Correlation coefficient was statistically significant (r=0.91, P<0.001). Correlation of aortic root diameter measured by M-mode echocardiography and actual prosthetic valve size was also excellent. Correlation coefficient was statistically significant (r=0.86, P<0.001). This study demonstrates that aortic root diameter by two dimensional and M-mode echocardiography can accurately predict prosthetic aortic valve size in patient undergoing aortic valve replacement.
Adult ; Aortic Valve* ; Echocardiography* ; Humans

Little is known about the natural history and management of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) which developed as a complication of laser photocoagulation for central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). We experienced two patients with CNV which developed after laser treatment for CSC. Submacular membranectomy was performed on both cases after the confirmation of subretinal CNV with optical coherence tomography. One patient received photodynamic therapy for recurrent CNV. The vision of both patients has been improved over 6 months of follow up. These cases suggest that active intervention, including submacular surgery, improves the visual prognosis of this condition.
Adult ; Choroid Diseases/*surgery ; Choroidal Neovascularization/etiology/*surgery ; Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological ; Female ; Human ; Interferometry ; Laser Coagulation/*adverse effects ; Light ; Male ; Retinal Diseases/*surgery ; Tomography ; Treatment Outcome ; Visual Acuity

We investigated the poor prognostic factors for trans pars plana vitrectomy in the complicated cases of proliferative diabetic retinopathy. A total of 150 eyes in 125 patients with complications of diabetic retinopathy were treated surgically. The postoperative visual acuity was decreased according to Snellen E chart compared to the preoperative in 53 eyes out of 150 eyes. The cases with poor visual outcomes are as follows; 4 cases with rubeosis iridis, 12 of 14 cases with retinal detachment involving three qua tors of the retina including the fovea, 6 cases with increased IOP(>21 mmHg) and 23 of 30 cases with chronic renal failure.
Diabetic Retinopathy* ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Retina ; Retinal Detachment ; Visual Acuity* ; Vitrectomy*

It is known that CD95 (APO-1/Fas) is expressed on the cell surface, and apoptotic cell death can be induced by the CD95 ligation in the cultured, proliferating human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. However, little is known about CD95 on the non-proliferating RPE cells. In this study, human RPE cells were cultured up to 4 weeks after they reached the confluence, to simulate the non-proliferating RPE cells in situ. There was no significant difference in CD95 expression on the cell surface between the predominantly proliferating, preconfluent cells and predominantly non-proliferating, postconfluent cells in flow cytometric assays. However, unlike proliferating cells, no cellular death occurred in the predominantly non-proliferating cells after the treatment of agonistic anti-CD95 antibody with cycloheximide, pretreated with interferon-gamma. Our results suggest that the CD95/CD95L system probably plays a physiologic role in vivo to remove the abnormal, proliferating RPE cells, and factors other than the surface expression of CD95 may determine the sensitivity to the CD95 signals.
Antigens, CD95/*pharmacology ; Apoptosis/*physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Human ; Pigment Epithelium of Eye/cytology/*drug effects/*physiology ; Sensitivity and Specificity

In order to product and develop questionnaire which can assess the schizotypal personality by model of criteria in DSM-III-R it was presented 1311owing questions in this study. First, far the validation and manufacture of scale and sub-subscale that assess overall feature, nine characteristics of the schizotypal personality disorder, this study was concerned with validity, reliability and factor-analysis results of schizotypal personality questionnaire. Second, we would be present how schizotypal personality disorder trend is connected with trait-anxiety, hopelessness and self-concept. Also the difference Is compared with. Finally, 396(male 216 Ss/53,8%, female 180 Ss/45.5%) college students with mean age 21.2 years were sampled. Raine's schizotypal personality questionnaire(SOQ) which assess nine characterisitics of schizotypal personality disorder in DSM-III-R was translated and used. In this results, Raine's schizotypal personality questionnaire was appeared to have high internal validity, split-half reliability and test-retest reliability Also, 6 factors were affirmed by empirical confirmation through factor-analysis. 6 factors have been very reliable internal validity that ranges from .78 to .83. In these 6 factors, idea of reference, odd or eccentric behavior and odd speech were corresponded to the category model after DSM-III-B in Raine's scale. 'Cognitive, perceptive' dimension was centered of factor 1, 'Emotive, affective' dimension was centered of factor 2, social anxiety and constricted affect were constituted to 2nd factor. No close friends, schizoid trend and suspiciousness of schizotypal characteristics were constituted to 3rd factor by' interpersonal relationship' dimension. These empirical outcomes which confirmed through factor-analysis were very valid and connected much to Raine's scale which assessed schizotypal personality disorder, thus possibility of development and manufacture of schizotypal personality disorder scale through item revision was lighten. In 2nd study the higher schizotypal personality disorder trend, trait-anxiety and hoplessness were higher. But on the contrary, self-concept was lower. The group of high score in schizotypal personality questionnaire had more trait-anxiety and hopelessness than the group of low score in schizotypal personality questionnaire. Contrastly, positive self-concept was high in the group of low score. Also, the most predictable variable to the trait-anxiety was factor 2, predictable power R2 of factor 2 was 29.1%. To the hopelessness, factor 2 was the most powerful predictable variable. Predictable power of factor 2 was 11.2%, also. In self-concept, factor 2 explained 20.8% of self-concept, thus it was presented that factor 2 had the most powerful explanatory quantity. In these consequences, the factors which have meaningful connection to the trait-anxiety, hopelessness and low self-concept within 6 factors were really factor 2, 3, 1. Among these factors, 'Emotive' feature of factor 2 including social anxiety and constricted affect have the most effect on trait-anxiety, hopelessness and serf-concept. And next to factor 2, the isolated interpersonal relation which include no close friends and schizoid trend was some influential variable. Also peculiar, unusual perceptual experience, eccentric belief and magical thinking had some effect though small. The college students who had strong schizotypal personality trend had more social anxiety and more constricted emotional empathic ability, less self-expression, less social skill than common college students. These elements threaten, interrupt and retard identity establishment and intimacy-seeking which are important developmental tasks within this period. These experiences is accepted to ego-dystonic to schizotypal college students who have some or moderate reality testing, adaptive ability. Moreover, These peoples would feel locus of control externally, not internally and would have more control-failure experiences. All these elements elevate anxiety level, give rise to low self-concept and low expectation to the future. These outcomes all confirmed questions which presented in this study.
Anxiety ; Female ; Friends ; Humans ; Internal-External Control ; Interpersonal Relations ; Magic ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Reality Testing ; Schizotypal Personality Disorder ; Thinking

Over the past few decades, interest in minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) has increased tremendously due to its core principle of minimizing approach-related injury while providing outcomes similar to traditional open spine procedures. With technical and technological advancements, MISS has expanded its utility not only to simple spinal stenosis, but also to complex spinal pathologies such as metastasis, trauma, or adult spinal deformity. In this article, we review the techniques and technology in MISS and discuss the indications, benefits, and limitations of MISS.

PURPOSE: To determine the relation between the pathogenesis of idiopathic macular hole and perifoveal vitreous detachment using OCT scan. METHODS: On 28 eyes with idiopathic macular hole stage 1,2,3 which was graded according to using the classification described by Gass and on 123 eyes from the normal contrast group, OCT scan were performed to obtain axial views of the vitreoretinal interface in the posterior pole. The incidence of perifoveal vitreous detachment was assessed. RESULTS: 18 of the 28 eyes (64.2%) from the macular hole group and 15 of the 123 eyes (12.1%) from the normal contrast group had perifoveal vitreous detachment on OCT scan. The difference was statistically significant (p<0.05).There was no statistically significant difference on the incidence of perifoveal vitreous detachment according to stage of macular hole. CONCLUSIONS: These results led to the conclusion that there is a significant relation between the pathogenesis of macular hole and the papillofoveal traction.
Classification ; Incidence ; Retinal Perforations* ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Traction ; Vitreous Detachment*

PURPOSE: Locally administered corticosteroids have been widely used in the treatment of inflammatory eye disease. The main purpose of this study is to analyze the treatment effects and the complications of posterior subtenon steroid injection in uveitis patients. METHODS: Retrospective study was performed on 36 eyes of 32 patients diagnosed as uveitis and treated with subtenon steroid injection. RESULTS: Sixty eight consecutive injections of triamcinolone were performed, and the mean follow-up duration was 6.9 months (1~28 months). Visual acuity was improved in 28 (88%) of 32 patients, and mean time to improvement was three weeks after the injection. Intraocular pressure was increased (>21 mmHg) in 10 eyes (31%) of 10 patients, with mean onset of three weeks after the initial injection. The increased pressures was not controlled by medical treatment and additional filtration surgery was needed in 2 eyes (6%). Cataracts were newly developed or worsen in 5 eyes (15.6%) of 4 patients and 2 eyes underwent cataract surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Although a postrerior subtenon steroid injection effectively improved visual acuity in most uveitis patients, side effects, such as the increased intraocular pressure or cataract were developed. The complication rate as well as treatment effect should be taken into consideration when using this treatment method.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Cataract ; Eye Diseases ; Filtering Surgery ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Retrospective Studies ; Triamcinolone ; Uveitis* ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: To characterize the clinical presentation and visual prognosis of punctate inner choroidopathy in Korean patients. METHODS: Eleven patients (seventeen eyes) with punctate inner choroidopathy (PIC) and four (six eyes) with multifocal choroiditis with panuveitis (MCP) were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: The mean age of the PIC patients was 32.2 +/- 9.3 years and the mean refractive error was -4.79 +/- 3.18 diopters. In all PIC eyes, fundus photographs showed multiple yellowish white punctate lesions and punched-out scars at the level of the inner retina and choroid. There was no significant difference between the mean initial visual acuity (0.67 +/- 0.40) and the mean final visual acuity (0.56 +/- 0.41). The major cause of visual deterioration was choroidal neovascularization (CNV) which developed in 4 eyes. In PIC, the lesions were located in the more posterior retina and the incidence of CNV was higher than in MCP. CONCLUSIONS: PIC affects young women with moderate myopia and shows the characteristic chorioretinal lesion. Although the eye with PIC usually maintains stable vision after initial attack, CNV may cause complications and significant visual loss.
Choroid ; Choroidal Neovascularization ; Choroiditis ; Cicatrix ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea* ; Myopia ; Panuveitis ; Prognosis ; Refractive Errors ; Retina ; Retrospective Studies ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: The proper indication for laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (LESS) in urology is still under debate, especially for malignant diseases. We compared the perioperative outcomes between LESS and conventional laparoscopy (CL) for upper urinary tract malignancies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the records of 75 patients who underwent radical nephrectomy, nephroureterectomy with bladder cuff excision, or partial nephrectomy with the LESS or CL approach between December 2008 and December 2010. We compared characteristics and perioperative outcomes between patients who underwent LESS or CL. All operations were performed by three surgeons using the transperitoneal approach. RESULTS: For all three surgery types, no differences in patient characteristics, estimated blood losses, transfusion rates, or durations of hospital stay were found between the two groups. No complications were found between the two groups in those who underwent nephroureterectomy with bladder cuff excision; however, significantly more complications were found in the LESS group than in the CL group in those who underwent radical nephrectomy or partial nephrectomy. Most of the complications with LESS radical nephrectomy occurred in the early introduction period of the technique. CONCLUSIONS: No significant differences in perioperative outcomes were found between the LESS and CL groups in those who underwent radical nephrectomy or nephroureterectomy with bladder cuff excision. Therefore, the use of LESS in these cases is expected to expand as surgeons gain more experience with this technique and as other technical advances in laparoscopic instruments occur. However, partial nephrectomy with LESS should be performed restrictively considering the current level of surgical skill.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Length of Stay ; Nephrectomy ; Ureteral Neoplasms ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Tract ; Urology