BACKGROUND: Chicken pox and herpes zoster are caused by the varicella-zoster virus(VZV). To investigate the epiderniologial relationship between clinical isolates of VZV, it is essential to distinguish different isolate. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to classify the VZV strains according to R5 tandem direct reiterations(TDR) copy numbers and Pst I endonuclease cleavage site mutation, and to analyze the distribution pattern of VZV strains isolated in Korea. METHODS: Strains of VZV were isolated from 61 patients with herpes zoster who had not been immunized with a live vaccine of VZV. Copy numbers of R5 TDR which was located in variable region IV were measured by PCR. The presence of a Pst I cleavage site in a middle portion of the long unique region of VZV genome was analyzed by PCR thereafter restriction enzyme digestion(PCR-RFLP). RESULTS: VZV strains isolated in Korea contained one to three copy numbers of R5 TDR. Of 61 isolates, 43(70%) comtained 2 copies of R5 TDR, while 11(18%) isolates contained only one copy and 7(12%) isolat s contained 3 copies. About 16% of the strains examined did not have a PstI cleavage site, although the majority of strains retained this site. VZV strains could be classified into 6 strains on the basis of the copy number of R5 TDR and PstI cleavage site, in which the strain with 2 copies of R5 TDR and PstI cleavage site positive was the most frequent type (36 out of 61 isolates) in Korea. Four batches of live attenuated vaccine(Biken) that is now used in Korea showed 2 copy numbers of R5 TDR and PstI site negative. CONCLUSION: The copy number of R5 TDR and the presence of PstI cleavage site seems to be a reliable marker for dicrimination of VZV strains in Korea. This discrimination can be used to study the molecular epiclemiology of VZV and as a criterion for identification of vaccine-related isolates.
Chickenpox* ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Genome ; Herpes Zoster* ; Humans ; Korea* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid*

The authors reviewed the charts of 128 patients(160 eyes) who underwent vitrectomy for the proliferative diabetic retinopathy from January 1993 to December 1995 and the results were analyzed in terms of visual efficiency. At the conclusion of the study, visual acuity improved in 96 eyes(60%), unchanged in 33 eyes(21%) and in 31 eyes(19%) became worse. Visual efficiency was increased from 11.9% preoperatively to 37.2% postoperatively in all patients. Patients under the age of 40 showed better results than the patients above the age of 40. The factors which affected the change in visual efficiency were age and preoperative intraocular conditions. The patients who had non-clearing vitreous hemorrhage without proliferative membrane revealed better prognostic results than the other patients. In 50 eyes (31.3%) of cases, maximal postoperative visual acuity was achieved in 4 weeks to 3 months after operation.
Diabetic Retinopathy* ; Humans ; Membranes ; Visual Acuity ; Vitrectomy* ; Vitreous Hemorrhage

Thirty eyes of thirty patients with coexisting cataract and vitreoretinal disease underwent combined cataract extraction, pars plana vitrectomy and posterior chamber intraocular lens implantaion.Surgical procedures of cataract extraction included phacoemulsification(14 eyes), pars plana lensectomy(11 eyes) and extracapsular lens placed in the capsular bag in 19 eyes following phacoemulsification or extracapsular cataract extraction. Eleven eyes had sulcus fixation of posterior chamber lens following lensectomy.Postoperatviely visual acuity improved in 26 eyes(86.7%), unchanged in 3 eyes(10%) and decreased in 1 eye(3.3%). Final visual acuity was 20/200 or better in 26 eyes(86.75), and 20/40 or better in 11 eyes(36.7%). Postoperative complications included rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with proliferative vitreoretinopathy, neovascular glaucoma and endophthalmitis.Pars plana vitrectomy combined with cataract extraction with posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation maybe useful in reducing cost and providing rapid visual rehabilitation.
Cataract Extraction* ; Cataract* ; Glaucoma, Neovascular ; Humans ; Lens Implantation, Intraocular* ; Lenses, Intraocular* ; Phacoemulsification ; Postoperative Complications ; Rehabilitation ; Retinal Detachment ; Visual Acuity ; Vitrectomy* ; Vitreoretinopathy, Proliferative

No abstract available.
Apoptosis* ; Cell Line* ; Colon* ; Colonic Neoplasms* ; Etoposide*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the basophil histamine releasability in response to IgE- and non- IgE-mediated stimuli in children with atopic asthma. Met: Basophil histamine releasability was measured in Dermatophagoides farinae (D. farinae)-sensitive atopic asthmatics, D.farinae-sensitive healthy atopics, non-atopic asthmatics, and healthy non-atopics. Basophils were stimulated with D.farinae, goat antihuman IgE antibody, formyl-Met-Leu-Phe(fMLP), and Calcium ionophore A23187. Histamine was measured by automated fluorometric technique. RESULTS: Sponianeous histamine release was higher in atopic asthmatics compared to healthy non-atopics. Histamine release by D.farinae and by anti-IgE antibody was higher in atopic asthmatics compared to the other groups. There was no difference in histamine release by fMLP among all groups. Histamine release by Calcium ionophore was higher in healthy atopics and non-atopic asthmatics compared to healthy non-atopics. The atopics showed correlation between histamine release by D.farinae, by anti-IgE antibody and total serum IgE levels. CONCLUSIONS: Spontaneous and IgE-mediated histamine release were related to the presence of both atopy and asthma, whereas non-IgE mediated histamine release was different depending on the stimuli.
Asthma* ; Basophils* ; Calcimycin ; Calcium ; Child* ; Dermatophagoides farinae ; Goats ; Histamine Release ; Histamine* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E

Strabismus surgeries using n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate and 6-0 vicryl suture material were performed in 16 albino rabbits. Both eyes of 16 rabbits were used. The superior and inferior rectus muscles were recessed and resected 5 mm. In 12 rabbits, n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate was used and those rabbits were divided into 3 groups, each group (4 rabbits, 8 eyes) was sacrificed 1, 2, and 3 weeks after operation respectively. The eyes were enucleated to examine the tensile strength and pathologic findings of the attached area. In 4 rabbits, 6-0 vicryl suture material was used as a control group in this study. This group was sacrificed and examined 3 weeks following the operation. In the cyanoacrylate groups, there were statistically significant differences and a chronologically increasing tendency of tensile strength between groups. Between the cyanoacrylate and the suture material group at 3 weeks post operation, there was no statistically significant differences in the tensile strength. Pathelogicallyr extraocular muscle bundles revealed patchy areas of interstitial inflammatory infiltration and fibrosis in the cyanoacrylate groups. Capillary telangiectasia and muscle fiber regeneration were commonly observed. The findings in specimens 3 weeks after operation revealed rather mild changes, suggesting healed lesions. In the suture material group, mild inflammatory reactions were found.
Animals ; Enbucrilate/*therapeutic use ; Rabbits ; Strabismus/pathology/*surgery ; Tensile Strength

The antibacterial activity of 11 domestic topical antibiotic eye drops were examed by use of Reddish method, in vitro test. 5 clinical strains which were recovered as common pathogens of corneal ulcer, were inoculated into the diluted antibiotics added with 1% human serum, and 0.01 ml were plated for bacterial survival at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16. and 24 hours. Our result showed that gentamicin eye drops effective in Gram negative strains and penicil-line and cefazoline eye drops were effective in Gram positive strains. These results indicated that gentamicin and cefzolin eye drops in combination would be covered the common ocular pathogenic bacteria.
Anti-Bacterial Agents* ; Bacteria ; Cefazolin ; Corneal Ulcer ; Gentamicins ; Humans ; Ophthalmic Solutions

We implanted intraocular lenses in 41 eyes of 41 patients with traumatic cataract without associated retinal injury. All the enrolled patients had sustained injury visited the Incheon Gil Hospital between August 1988 and June 1992. We analyzed age and sex distribution, mode and site of injuries, associated injuries, postoperative complications, methods of operation, final visual results and causes of decreased vision. Nineteen patients(46.4%) achieved final visual acuity of 0.5 or better, 11 patients(26.8%) between 0.1 and 0.5, and the remaining 11(26.8%) below 0.1. Major visual prognostic factors were associated ocular injuries, the state of the posterior lens capule, intraoperative and early postoperative complications. The interval between the first and second operation had little effect on the final vision.
Cataract* ; Humans ; Incheon ; Lenses, Intraocular* ; Postoperative Complications ; Retinaldehyde ; Sex Distribution ; Visual Acuity

The study was performed retrospectively to compare the results of anterior chamber IOL(Intraocular Lens) implantation and posterior chamber IOL implantation by scleral fixation in cases of inadequate zonular or capsular support during the extracapsular cataract extraction. A total of 27 cases were reviewed of which 11 cases had anterior chamber IOL implantation and 16 cases had posterior chamber IOL implantation by scleral fixation. The follow-up period ranged from two to twenty-four months. Nine of eleven in anterior chamber IOL group and thirteen of sixteen in posterior chamber IOL group had the final corrected vision of 0.5 or better. Vision-threatening complications included two cases of cystoid macular edema in anterior chamber IOL group, whose visual acuity was 0.1 and 0.5, and three cases of vitreous hemorrhage in posterior chamber IOL group, which had little effect on visual outcome The final visual acuity didn't show statistically significant difference between the two groups.
Anterior Chamber* ; Cataract Extraction ; Follow-Up Studies ; Lenses, Intraocular* ; Macular Edema ; Retrospective Studies ; Visual Acuity ; Vitreous Hemorrhage

The Acute Retinal Necrosis(A.R.N.) syndrome is characterized by necrotizing retinitis, vitritis, and retinal vasculitis. We experienced 5 eyes of 4 cases with Acute Retinal Necrosis in otherwise healthy patients. In this study, 3 of 4 cases(75%) were male, retinal detachment developed in 3 eyes(60%), and 3 of 4 cases(75%) were unilateral. 4 of 5 eyes(80%) had a final visual acuity of less than 0.1.
Humans ; Male ; Retinal Detachment ; Retinal Necrosis Syndrome, Acute* ; Retinal Vasculitis ; Retinaldehyde ; Retinitis ; Visual Acuity