PURPOSE: To compare the outcomes of indocyanine green (ICG) and triamcinolone (TA) assisted internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling during idiopathic macular hole surgery. METHODS: Fifty-four eyes of 54 patients with idiopathic macular hole underwent pars plana vitrectomy including peeling of the posterior cortical hyaloid and peeling of the internal limiting membrane. For enhanced visualization of ILM, ICG was used in 25 eyes and TA in the remaining 29 eyes. Postoperative visual acuity was measured and OCT was performed. RESULTS: Anatomical closure was achieved in 25 eyes (100%) in ICG group and 28 eyes (97%) in TA group, Best corrected visual acuity improvement by > or =2 lines was in 15 eyes (60%) in ICG group and 18 eyes (62%) in TA group. Postoperative visual improvement rates by > or =20/50 were 10 eyes (40%) in ICG group and 9 eyes (31%) in TA group. CONCLUSIONS: Peeling of the internal limiting membrane using triamcinolone and indocyanine green was safe and effective for anatomic and functional success in idiopathic macular hole surgery. Further studies of the toxicity of TA, ICG and the result of internal limiting membrane peeling is needed.
Humans ; Indocyanine Green* ; Membranes ; Retinal Perforations* ; Triamcinolone* ; Visual Acuity ; Vitrectomy

PURPOSE: To report a case of isolated posterior capsule rupture (PCR) with cataract after blunt ocular trauma in a child. METHODS: A 6-year-old female visited our institution complaining of blurred vision (best corrected visual acuity: counting fingers at 30 cm) in the left eye three months after blunt ocular trauma. Slitlamp examination showed the cataract and PCR with intact anterior capsule. Removal of the cataract was approached via a scleral tunnel incision. Anterior vitrectomy was performed and a foldable intraocular lens (IOL) was inserted in the sulcus. RESULTS: Visual acuity was improved to 0.7 two days after the surgery and further improved to 1.0 at two months. CONCLUSIONS: An isolated PCR with cataract is a rare complication of blunt ocular trauma. We present a case of PCR after blunt ocular injury as well as a surgical procedure to safely remove the cataract via an anterior approach and implantation of the IOL in the sulcus.
Cataract ; Child* ; Female ; Fingers ; Humans ; Lenses, Intraocular ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rupture* ; Visual Acuity ; Vitrectomy

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Busan, Gyeongnam, and Jeonnam Provinces in Korea is more than twice the national average. This study aimed to examine whether demographic and lifestyle characteristics are associated with HCV infection in these areas. METHODS: A case control study was performed at three study hospitals. HCV cases were matched with two controls for sex and age. Patient controls were selected from non-HCV patients at the same hospital. Healthy controls were subjects participating in medical checkups. Conditional logistic regression models were used. RESULTS: A total of 234 matched-case and patient- and healthy-control pairs were analyzed. The significant risk factors for both controls were sharing razors (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.39 and 3.29, respectively) and having more than four lifetime sexual partners (aOR, 2.15 and 6.89, respectively). Contact dockworkers (aOR, 1.91) and tattoos (aOR, 2.20) were significant risk factors for the patient controls. Transfusion (aOR, 5.38), a bloody operation (aOR, 5.02), acupuncture (aOR, 2.08), and piercing (aOR, 5.95) were significant risk factors for the healthy controls. Needle stick injuries and intravenous drug abuse were significant in the univariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: More education concerning the dangers of sharing razors, tattoos and piercings is required to prevent HCV infection. More attention should be paid to needle stick injuries in hospitals and the community.
Acupuncture Therapy/adverse effects ; Adult ; Aged ; Blood Transfusion/adverse effects ; Body Piercing/adverse effects ; Case-Control Studies ; Equipment Reuse ; Female ; *Hepacivirus ; Hepatitis C/*epidemiology/*transmission/virology ; Humans ; Life Style ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Needlestick Injuries/complications/virology ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Risk Factors ; Sexual Behavior ; Sexual Partners ; Tattooing/adverse effects ; Workplace ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study compared the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the Republic of Korea and estimated the high-risk regions and towns. METHODS: National Health Insurance Service data for 8 years from 2005 to 2012 were used. The subjects of the study had visited medical facilities and been diagnosed with or received treatment for acute or chronic HCV as a primary or secondary disease according to ICD-10 codes of B17.1 or B18.2, respectively. Any patient who received treatment for the same disease multiple times during 1 year was counted as one patient in that year. To correct for the effect of the age structure of the population by year and region, the age-adjusted prevalence was calculated using the direct method based on the registered population in 2010. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of HCV infection among Korean adults (>20 years old) increased from 0.14% in 2005 to 0.18% in 2012. The sex-, age-, and region-adjusted prevalence in 2012 was 0.18%. The prevalence was highest in Busan, Jeonnam, and Gyeongnam, and there were towns with noticeably higher prevalences within these regions: Jindo (0.97%) in Jeonnam, Namhae (0.90%) in Gyeongnam, and Seo-gu (0.86%) in Busan. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of HCV infection differs by regions as well as towns in the Republic of Korea, and is highest in Busan, Jeonnam, and Gyeongnam. The reasons for the high prevalence in these specific regions should be identified, since this could help prevent HCV infections in the future. In addition, active surveillance and treatment policies should be introduced to stop any further spread of infection in these high-prevalence regions.
Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Databases, Factual ; Female ; Hepatitis C/*diagnosis/*epidemiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Sex Factors ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The purpose of this study was to compare changes in primary percutaneous coronary artery intervention (PCI) outcomes after starting the government-directed Busan-Ulsan Regional Cardiocerebrovascular Center Project. METHODS: Patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who visited the Busan-Ulsan Regional Cardiocerebrovascular Center from 1 June 2009 to 30 May 2011 were selected. Their medical records were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical and survival outcomes before and after starting the project were compared. RESULTS: A total of 122 patients (mean age, 63 +/- 13 years; male, 74%) with STEMI were selected for analysis. There were no significant differences in patients' baseline characteristics. After starting the Busan-Ulsan Regional Cardiocerebrovascular Center Project, the door-to-balloon time decreased from 72 +/- 30 to 59 +/- 22 minutes (p = 0.011). The door-to-balloon time when the PCI team did not stay in the hospital also decreased from 80 +/- 30 to 62 +/- 12 minutes (p = 0.005). However, there was no significant change in the total ischemic time (339 +/- 293 vs. 304 +/- 287 minutes, p = 0.514), survival discharge rate (94% vs. 93%, p = 1.000), or 1-year survival rate (89% vs. 91%, p = 0.996). CONCLUSIONS: After starting the government-directed Busan-Ulsan Regional Cardiocerebrovascular Center Project, the door-to-balloon time was significantly reduced. However, the total ischemic time and short-term survival remained unchanged.
Coronary Vessels ; Humans ; Male ; Medical Records ; Myocardial Infarction ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate