No abstract available.
Insemination* ; Spermatozoa*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Embryonic Structures* ; Fertilization in Vitro* ; Humans* ; Mice* ; Quality Control*

The Dandy-Wlaker syndrome is a developmental disoeder characterized by cystic dilatation of the fourth ventricle and agenesis or hypoplasia of the cerebellar vermis and is usually associated with hydrocephalus. This syndrome is also associated with intracranial malformations such as agenesis of corpus callosum, and extracranial malformations such as facial anormalies (cleft palate, cleft lip, and ocular anomalies), polycystic kidney, and cardiac anormalies. Reported associated ophthalmic anomalies are microphthalmos, coloboma, and congenital cataract.We experienced a case of infantile esotropia in abnormal insertion and direction of lateral rectus muscle as a variant of the Dandy-Walker syndrome accompanied by cleft palate and cleft lip in a 19-month-old male infant. Subsequent treatment of the 30delta esodeviation and left inferior oblique muscle overaction, including resection of the lateral rectus muscle in both eyes and the myectomy of the inferior oblique muscle in the left eye, yielded satisfactory results, so we report this case, with a review of the pertinent literature, as the first case of Dandy-Walker syndrome associated with esotropia with abnormal course of lateral rectus muscle in Korea.
Agenesis of Corpus Callosum ; Cleft Lip ; Cleft Palate ; Coloboma ; Dandy-Walker Syndrome* ; Dilatation ; Esotropia* ; Fourth Ventricle ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Infant ; Korea ; Lip ; Male ; Microphthalmos ; Polycystic Kidney Diseases

The authors performed a retrospective review on 27 eyes of 23 children with vitreous hemorrhage, to assess the natural history, the outcome of vitrectomy and the important prognostic factors. Mean age was 3. 7 years(range: birth~13.5 years). The causes of vitreous hemorrhage included trauma(6 patients), retinopathy of prematurity(5 patients), persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous(4 patients)and others(8 patients). Spontaneous absorption of vitreous hemorrhage in 11 of 27 eyes was observed and took mean 2. 5 months. Sixteen eyes had undergone vitrectomy for persistent vitreous hemorrhage(mean duration: 3. 4 months). Follow up period was mean 32. 8 months(range: 20~79 months). Visual improvement was achieved in 70%of all patients and there was no statistical significance between spontaneous absorption group and vitrectomy group. Deprivation amblyopia was complicated in 7 of 9 patients whose visual acuity could be measured in both eyes. anisometropic myopia(> OR =2. 0 diopter)was observed in 7 of 14 patients. Our results supported that causes of vitreous hemorrhage in children was variable and early vitrectomy and postoperative correction with occlusion therapy might be essential in treatment of childhood vitreous hemorrhage.
Absorption ; Amblyopia ; Child* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Natural History ; Prognosis* ; Retrospective Studies ; Visual Acuity ; Vitrectomy ; Vitreous Hemorrhage*

Undifferentiated embryonal sarcoma(UES) is an uncommon malignant hepatic tumor that occurs in older children and young adults. Six cases of UES were reviewed to determine their characterisfic findings on sonography (US) (n=5), computed tomography (CT) (n=6), and angiography (n=2) US demonstrated a single large, echogenic mass with some anechoic spaces in each case. CT revealed a well demarcated hypodense mass with hyperdense septa of variable shape and thickness. Four cases showed enhancing peripheral rim and some solid portions at the periphery or adjacent to the septa. Follow-up CT scan in one case who had not been treated showed enhancing solid portion changed to hypodense areas. Angiography showed hypovascular or avascular mass. Familiarity with these radiological findings of UES of liver will be helpful in differential diagnosis of primary hepatic tumors of childhood.
Angiography ; Child* ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Liver ; Recognition (Psychology) ; Sarcoma* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study was aimed at evaluating the significance of blood pressure (BP) load in ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) in obese children and adolescents. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: ABPM was conducted for 60 selected patients who had visited Sunlin Hospital between January 2008 and August 2008. Patients were classified into 3 groups; an obese group whose body mass index (BMI) was > the 95th percentile, an overweight group whose BMI was > the 85th percentile but less than the 95th percentile, and a normal group whose BMI was below the 85th percentile. Overall mean BP, day and night BP and BP load were measured by ABPM. RESULTS: Of the 60 patients, twenty-seven children belonged to the obese group, 9 and 24 to the overweight and the normal group, respectively. Among the three groups, the overall average systolic and diastolic BP, daytime diastolic BP, and systolic BP loads in daytime and nighttime were statistically different. Comparing the obese group with the normal group, systolic BP loads in daytime and nighttime in the obese group were significantly higher than those in the normal group. Also, the obese group had more patients whose BP loads were over 25% greater than the normal group while the difference in the number of patients with overall hypertension was not significantly different. CONCLUSION: Assessment of children's BP through assessment of BP load is a more detailed and precise tool than assessment through mean BP using ABPM and BP can be better controlled using measurement of BP load.
Blood Pressure ; Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory ; Body Mass Index ; Child ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Obesity ; Overweight

In order to evaluate the possible roles of secretory proteases in the pathogenesis of amoebic keratitis, we purified and characterized a serine protease secreted by Acanthamoeba lugdunensis KA/E2, isolated from a Korean keratitis patient. The ammonium sulfate-precipitated culture supernatant of the isolate was purified by sequential chromatography on CM-Sepharose, Sephacryl S-200, and mono Q-anion exchange column. The purified 33 kDa protease had a pH optimum of 8.5 and a temperature optimum of 55 degrees C. Phenylmethylsulfonylfluoride and 4- (2- Aminoethyl) -benzenesulfonyl-fluoride, both serine protease specific inhibitors, inhibited almost completely the activity of the 33 kDa protease whereas other classes of inhibitors did not affect its activity. The 33 kDa enzyme degraded various extracellular matrix proteins and serum proteins. Our results strongly suggest that the 33 kDa serine protease secreted from this keratopathogenic Acanthamoeba play important roles in the pathogenesis of amoebic keratitis, such as in corneal tissue invasion, immune evasion and nutrient uptake.
Acanthamoeba/*enzymology/isolation & purification/pathogenicity ; Acanthamoeba Keratitis/*parasitology ; Animals ; Cornea/parasitology ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Korea ; Serine Endopeptidases/chemistry/*isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Substrate Specificity ; Temperature ; Virulence Factors

Electron microscopic examination of proliferative membranes in retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) was performed in order to evaluate the components of the membranes. The proliferative membranes were obtained from nine patients with ROP stage 5 during pars plicata lensectomy, vitrectomy, and delamination of membrane. Fibrous astrocytes, myofibroblasts, lymphocytes, macrophages, and calcification were found respectively in two cases, and fibroblast-like cells were found in one case. Varying amounts of collagen tissues were found in eight cases and vascular tissues in four cases. Most of membranes were hypocellular and composed mainly of collagen matrix. It is considered that fibrous astrocytes, myofibroblasts, fibroblasts, and vascular structures are involved in the formation of proliferative membranes of ROP, and that later these cells degenerate and disappear, and that finally only collagen matrix remains in the membranes.
Cataract Extraction ; Child, Preschool ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Microscopy, Electron ; Retina/*ultrastructure ; Retinopathy of Prematurity/*pathology

We have attempted to measure parafoveal retinal acuity directly on the exact retinal locus, while observing the retinal image in real time using the scanning laser ophthalmoscope(SLO 101, Rodenstock, Munish, Germany). By the SLO Visumetry software(Rodenstock v. 3.0), thirty eyes of healthy volunteers were examined in 20degrees image field. Using Snellen E as stimulus, the examination was performed from the fovea by the radial pattern. The maximal retinal distance point, which responded to stimulus, was recorded by the pixel, and the distance(mm) from the fovea was calculated by the Bennett formula. The maximum distance from the fovea at the given stimulus size was achieved as follows: 0.32+/-0.01mmat the 15 x15 arc of minute(0.333), 0.63+/-0.01mm at the 17 x17 arc of minute(0.294), 1.05+/-0.03 mmat 20 x 20 arc of minute(0.25), and 1.44+/-0.0 5 mmat the 23 x23 arc of minute(0.217). It was also revealed that the horizontal maximal distance from fovea at given stimulus size was statistically superior to the vertical maximal distance(p<0.05). In conclusion we were able to establish the normal range of parafoveal retinal acuity in healthy volunteers. It may serve as the baseline for subsequent study of retinal pathology and functional evaluation as well as its treatment.
Healthy Volunteers* ; Pathology ; Reference Values ; Retinaldehyde* ; Visual Acuity*

PURPOSE: We compared the clinicopathologic effects of TTT between pigmented and albino rabbits. METHODS: TTT was delivered using infrared diode laser at 810 nm(Iris Medical Instrument, Mountain Veiw, CA, USA) and applied with spot size of 3 mm, duration of 60 seconds. At 1 week and 4 weeks after TTT, fundus photographs and simultaneous FAG/ICG angiogram were taken with SLO(Scanning Laser Ophthalmolscopy, Rodenstock, Munish, Germany). Light and electron microscopic examination were performed. RESULTS: In pigmented rabbits, visible funduscopic change was visible even with minimal power setting(100 mW). Obliteration of choroidal vessels was observed on ICG angiogram. In microscopic examination, entire layers of neural retina, retinal pigment epithelial cells, and deep choroid were severely damaged at the center of treated fields. Whereas, in albino rabbits fundus changes were not observed at any power setting. However, focal thrombosis at margin of lesion was identified on ICG angiogram after power of 300 mW. In microscopic examination, tissue damage was developed up to 600 mW and the lesion extended into the superficial choroid posteriorly and outer neural retina anterioly. CONCLUSIONS: The effect of TTT was increased with fundus pigmentation. Clinically we should adjust TTT power setting according to the amount of melanin pigmentation in the fundus.
Choroid ; Epithelial Cells ; Lasers, Semiconductor ; Melanins ; Pigmentation ; Rabbits ; Retina* ; Retinaldehyde ; Thrombosis