PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical outcome based on topographic supported customized corneal ablation (TOSCA). METHODS: The 20 patients (20eyes), who had already undertaken excimer laser surgery at least 6 months ago, resulting in decrease of best-corrected visual acuity, were included. Topography-guided corneal ablation was performed to correct de-centered ablation or irregular astigmatism using with the Mel-70-scan (ascleapion Meditec Inc. Germany) equipped with a Gaussian spot beam. RESULTS: The average uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in Log MAR scale was 0.52 +/- 0.35 and 0.33 +/- 0.14, preoperatively. The average of UCVA and BCVA was improved to 0.29 +/- 0.29 and 0.11 +/- 0.14, respectively after TOSCA was done. It was statistically significant difference (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: TOSCA may be considered as effective method to improve BCVA in patients who suffer from decrease of BCVA in duced by decentered ablation.
Astigmatism ; Humans ; Lasers, Excimer ; Visual Acuity

BACKGROUND: Lipoprotein(a)[Lp(a)] is a subspecies of low-density lipoprotein and has been shown to be associated with pathogenesis of thrombosis-related disease. It is already known that patients with diabetic nephropathy are usually complicated by vascular complications such as coronary artery diseases and cerebrovascular accidents. According to the recent data, Lp(a) level tends to be increased as the proteinuria is increased and renal function are decreased. We evaluated the Lp(a) level to know whether its level is correlated to the severity of diabetic nephropathy. METHODS: We investigated Lp(a) levels in eighty-one patients with Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetic patients. They were divided into four groups according to the level of urinary albumin excretion and serum creatinine level: Group 1 (n=30): normal renal function + urine microalbumin or=1.5mg/dL. Blood samples were obtained during the morning in the fasting state and separated serum from the it and reserved at -70degrees C. Lp(a) concentration was checked by one-step sandwich ELISA test. All grouped data were expressed as mean+/-SD. ANOVA and unpaired t-test was used to assess the statistical difference between any two means. RESULTS: Lp(a) levels were 30.2+/-4.6mg/dL in Group 1, 42.7+/-8.2mg/dL in group 2, 73.4+/-19.7mg/dL in group 3, and 80.7+/-14.8mg/dL in group 4. The level of Lp(a) in group4, group 3, and group 2 was significantly higher than that of group 1 respectively (P=0.009, 0.001, 0.038). However, no significant correlation was observed between the level of Lp(a) and that of total cholesterol, triglyceride and total lipid in all groups. CONCLUSIONS: these results indicate that Lp(a) concentrations are increased in the patients with diabetic nephropathy with microalbuminuria or overt proteinuria. So, the presence of albuminuria may be the important determinant for the elevated Lp(a) level in diabetic nephropathy.
Albuminuria ; Cholesterol ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Creatinine ; Diabetic Nephropathies* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fasting ; Humans ; Lipoprotein(a)* ; Lipoproteins* ; Proteinuria ; Stroke ; Triglycerides ; Urinalysis

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of rice germ oil supplement on the lipid metabolism of insulin-dependent diabetic mice. Streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice were fed three kinds of experimental diets with 20% lipid, composed of 20% lard (L) : 10% lard and 10% rice germ oil (LRGO) ; and 20% rice germ oil (RBO), respectively, for 7 weeks. Diet intake, body weight, organ weight and lipid levels of serum, liver and feces were measured. There was no significant difference in diet intake, body weight and organ weight among the experimental groups. But the concentrations of serum triglyceride in the LRGO and RGO groups, and of serum total cholesterol in the RGO group, were significantly lower than those of the L group fed the 20% lard diet. The levels of hepatic total lipid of the RGO group, and of hepatic total cholesterol of the LRGO and RGO groups were significantly lower than those of the L group. The contents of total lipid and total cholesterol excreted in the feces of the LRGO and RGO groups were higher than those of the L group. These results suggest that rice germ oil can reduce the levels of total cholesterol concentrations in the serum or livers of insulin-dependent diabetic mice, and that the hypolipidemic effect of rice germ oil may be due to increasing fecal lipid excretion and decreasing lipid absorptivity.
Animals ; Body Weight ; Cholesterol ; Diet ; Feces ; Lipid Metabolism ; Liver ; Mice* ; Organ Size ; Triglycerides

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of Yakson therapy as a pain management tool on the physiologic and behavioral reponses of infants with a painful heelstick procedure. METHOD: Infants were randomly assigned to a group that underwent a series of Yakson therapy and a control that received nothingbefore a heelstick. Heart rate, oxygen saturation, and NIPS were compared between the experimental (n=16) and control (n=16) infants during an undisturbed baseline and after a standard heelstick procedure. Yakson therapy consisted of laying a hand on the back, and caressing the abdomen by hand for 5 minutes. RESULT: The pain scores of the Yakson group were lower than the control group. Foroxygen saturation, there were statistically significant differences between groups. For heart rate, there were no statistically significant differences between groups. CONCLUSION: This data suggests that Yakson therapy had a pain relief effect in behavior responses and SaO2. Accordingly, Yakson therapy should be used as a nursing intervention for simple pain management for a heel prick.
Blood Specimen Collection ; Female ; Heart Rate ; Heel ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; *Neonatal Nursing ; Oximetry ; Pain/nursing/*therapy ; Pain Measurement ; Punctures/adverse effects ; Therapeutic Touch/*methods/nursing

Interactions among dexamethasone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and antimycin A on the glutamate uptake and the polyamine uptake were investigated in primary cultures of rat cerebral cortical astrocytes to examine the effects of dexamethasone and DHEA on the regulatory role of astrocytes in conditions of increased extracellular concentrations of glutamate or polyamines. 1. (3H)Glutamate uptake: LPS and antimycin A decreased Vmax, but both drugs had little effect on Km. Dexamethasone also decreased basal Vmax without any significant effect on Km. And dexamethasone further decreased the antimycin A-induced decrease of Vmax. DHEA did not affect the kinetics of basal glutamate uptake and the change by LPS or antimycin A. 2. (14C)Putrescine uptake: LPS increased Vmax, and antimycin A decreased Vmax. They showed little effect on Km. Dexamethasone decreased Vmax of basal uptake and further decreased the antimycin A-induced decrease of Vmax, and also decreased Vmax to less than control in LPS-treated astrocytes. DHEA did not affect Km and the change of Vmax by LPS or antimycin A. 3. (14C)Spermine uptake: Antimycin A decreased Vmax, and LPS might increase Vmax. Km was little affected by the drugs. Dexamethasone decreased basal Vmax and might further decrease the antimycin A-induced decrease of Vmax. And dexamethasone also decreased Vmax to less than control in LPS-treated astrocytes. DHEA might increase basal Vmax and Vmax of LPS-treated astrocytes. 4. Vmax of glutamate uptake by astrocytes was increased by putrescine (1000 muM & 2000 muM) and spermidine (200 muM, 500 muM & 2000 muM). Spermine, 200 muM (and 100 muM), also increased Vmax, but a higher dose of 2000 muM decreased Vmax. Km of glutamate uptake was not significantly changed by these polyamines, except that higher doses of spermine showed tendency to decrease Km of glutamate uptake. In astrocytes, dexamethasone inhibited the glutamate uptake and the polyamine uptake in normal or hypoxic conditions, and the polyamine uptake might be stimulated by LPS and DHEA. Polyamines could aid astrocytes to uptake glutamate.
Animals ; Antimycin A* ; Astrocytes* ; Dehydroepiandrosterone* ; Dexamethasone* ; Glutamic Acid* ; Kinetics ; Polyamines ; Putrescine ; Rats* ; Spermidine ; Spermine

Twin conceptus of a complete hydatidiform mole (CHM) and a normal fetus are rare but are important because of diagnostic difficulty, problems related to twin pregnancy, and high risk of persistent gestational trophoblastic tumor. Recently, we experienced one case of twin pregnancy consisting of a CHM and a normal fetus. A 26-year-old woman complained of vaginal bleeding. She had evidences of pregnancy-induced hypertension. A male fetus was delivered at 20 gestational weeks. The placenta demonstrated vesicles of molar change separated from normal placenta. Microscopically, the molar villi disclosed diffuse hydropic swelling with circumferential trophoblastic proliferation. DNA flow cytometric analysis showed diploid patterns in both molar and normal placental tissues. Fluorescent in situ hybridization in paraffin-embedded tissue presented that normal placental villi hybridized with X- and Y-chromosome probes (46, XY), while molar villi hybridized with X-chromosome only (46, XX). Thus, dizygotic twinning was confirmed because sex differences were shown between molar villi and normal placental villi. Follow up beta-hCG was within normal range after delivery.
Adult ; Chorionic Villi ; Diploidy ; DNA ; Female ; Fetus* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hydatidiform Mole* ; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Male ; Molar ; Placenta ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Twin ; Reference Values ; Sex Characteristics ; Trophoblastic Neoplasms ; Trophoblasts ; Twins ; Twins, Dizygotic ; Uterine Hemorrhage

OBJECTIVE: The objectives were to estimate the rate of the injury in the elderly over the past year and to identify factors related to injury in the elderly in South Korea. METHOD: Using data from the 2008 Community Health Survey, 43,049 elderly persons, aged 65 years and older, were selected as study subjects. Their experience of injury during the past year and other variables, including socio-demographic factors, health-related factors, and diagnosed chronic diseases, were used. The chi-squared test and multiple logistic regression analysis with weighted analysis were conducted and statistical significance was set at p<0.05. RESULT: The rate of injury in the elderly during the past year was 5.1%. The most common types of the injury were falling/slipping down and traffic accidents. Factors related to injury in the elderly were living alone, current drinking, depression, poor self-rated health, stroke, and osteoporosis. Living alone (odds ratio 1.23, 95% CI: 1.05-1.45), current drinkers (OR 1.19, 95% CI: 1.05-1.35), poor self-rated health (OR 1.72, 95% CI: 1.43-2.08), depression (OR 1.23, 95% CI: 1.17-1.68), and history of stroke (OR 1.40, 95% CI: 1.17-1.68), and history of osteoporosis (OR 1.45, 95% CI: 1.26-1.66) were related to an increased risk of injury. CONCLUSIONS: Intervention programs that consider the risk factors related to injury should be developed and implemented to decrease and prevent injuries in the elderly.

This study was carried out to investigate the supplementary effects of gamma-oryzanol extracted from rice bran on lipid metabolism in diabetic mice. We supplied 2 kinds of experimental diets (CO without and GO with 0.2% gamma-oryzanol) to diabetic mice for 8 weeks. Diet intake, body weight, organ weight, contents of serum and hepatic lipid profiles, and fecal lipid levels were measured. Though there was no significant difference in diet intake, body weight change and organ weight between experimental groups, the concentration of serum total cholesterol and hepatic total lipid, total cholesterol and HMG-CoA reductase activity was significantly lower in GO group treated with 0.2% gamma-oryzanol of diet than CO group after supplementary period of experimental diets. And total lipid, triglyceride, total cholesterol, and bile acid levels excreted to feces were significantly higher in GO group than CO group. These results suggest that gamma-oryzanol decrease the serum and hepatic lipid levels by lowing HMG-CoA reductase activity or increasing the contents of fecal lipid in diabetic KK mice.
Animals ; Bile ; Body Weight ; Body Weight Changes ; Cholesterol ; Diet ; Feces ; Lipid Metabolism* ; Mice* ; Organ Size ; Oxidoreductases ; Triglycerides

Although it has traditionally known that deer antler and medicinal herbs extract contain some functional components for health promotion, the nutritional significance remains to be elucidated. This study examined the efficacy of deer antler extract (DA) , medicinal herbs extract (MH) and their mixture (DAMH) on serum IGF-I, bone growth with growing rats in vivo and splenocyte proliferation with spleen cells in vitro. Three week-old young female rats (Sprague-Dawley) were divided into 4 groups and then fed basal diet (AIN-93G) or experimental diets containing DA, MH, DAMH, respectively, for 7 weeks. We collected blood, liver, kidney, spleen, femur and tibia from rats. There was no significant difference in weight gain, but food intake increased in DA- and MH-fed groups. There were no signs of liver and kidney damage in the DA, MH and DAMH-fed groups compared to basal diet group. In femur and tibia, wet weights, breaking forces and bone minerals (Ca, Mg and Zn) were significantly higher in the DA-fed group than in the other groups. Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) , bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP) activities were significantly lower in the DA, MH, DAMH-fed groups than in basal diet group. Also, serum insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) concentrations were significantly increased in DA-fed group compared to the other groups. Therefore DA was shown to have an activity of bone growth promotion by increasing the IGF-I, a major bone growth factor. The deer antler extract showed an enhanced immune action on the primary cultured-cells from spleen of rats, representing that splenocytes were proliferated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) , but not by concanavalin A (Con A) . These results indicate that deer antler extract has beneficial effects on bone growth via IGF-I and on splenocyte activation.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Animals ; Antlers* ; Bone Development* ; Concanavalin A ; Deer* ; Diet ; Eating ; Female ; Femur ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I* ; Kidney ; Liver ; Minerals ; Plants, Medicinal ; Rats* ; Spleen ; Tibia ; Weight Gain ; Weights and Measures

Purpose: This study was conducted to effectively apply the nutrition and hygiene education program for improving the nutritional status of the elderly aged 65 years and above. Methods: The first study was conducted by enrolling 121 willing elderly subjects from welfare centers in four regions of Chungbuk. The second study included 347 people from 10 regions of Chungbuk. Data were analyzed using the SPSS (version 12.0) and SAS (version 9.2) programs. Results: Most participants in both studies were women, ranging from 70-79 years of age. In the first study, the performance rates of subjects, after imparting the education on hygiene, eating habits, and nutritional knowledge, were significantly increased for all factors. Goesan and Boeun areas were highly effective in hygiene practice and eating habits after education.In the second study, Chungju had the most educational effect on hygiene education, with a score of 6.41 points before education and 7.68 points after education. The greatest impact of education on eating habits was obtained at Goesan, with 9.23 points and 11.26 points before and after education, respectively. Large regional differences were determined for the effect of the education program. For nutritional knowledge, the combined average score of Boeun and Goesan showed a maximum increase after education. When considering satisfaction, the scores of Cheongju and Jeungpyeong increased the most after education, whereas Goesan showed that the average scores before and after education were close to perfect. Surprisingly, the Okcheon area, where there was no significant difference in the educational effect after the education program in the first study, showed significant improvement for all factors after the second education program. The current study indicates that continuous education programs are essential for improving the nutritional status of the elderly. Conclusion Therefore, continuous nutrition and hygiene education programs are recommended to improve the nutritional status of the elderly.