Persistent trigeminal artery is an embryonic remnant of the anastomotic channel linking the internal carotid artery and the basilar artery. Cases of vertebrobasilar insufficiency caused by the persistent trigeminal artery with internal carotid artery stenosis has been described previously, but vertebrobasilar insufficiency entirely due to in situ stenosis of the persistent trigeminal artery has not been reported. A 71-year-old man presented with frequent dizzy episodes. The brain MRI showed no parenchymal lesions. MR angiography showed poor visualization of vertebrobasilar system. He was diagnosed as having vertebrobasilar insufficiency. Cerebral angiography revealed that there was complete occlusion at the vertebrobasilar junction, and the basilar artery was supplied by the persistent trigeminal artery which had severe stenosis at its origin. There was no stenosis of the internal carotid artery of both sides. We believe that this is the first report of vertebrobasilar insufficiency due to stenosed persistent trigeminal artery, without internal carotid artery stenosis.

A global increase in the incidence of tuberculosis has prompted the need for earlier diagnosis, treatment, and isolation of the disease. In tuberculosis, concomitant tuberculous meningitis and vascular complications such as intracranial aneurysms and subarachnoid hemorrhage are very rare. Because of the poor prognosis of tuberculous meningitis as well as intracranial aneurysm and subarachnoid hemorrhage, early diagnosis and management are crucial. We present the case of a 76-year-old woman who had two intracranial aneurysms complicated by subarachnoid hemorrhage, who had concomitant tuberculous meningitis. She remained well with medical management.

To evaluate croneal haze related to amount of correction, age and sex following excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy(PRK) in myopic eyes, 39months follow-up study on 358 eyes was performed prospectively. The preoperative spherical equivalent refraction ranged from -1.0D to 11.25D(mean -6.18D). The subjective corneal haze grading showed a maximum with mean grading of 0.92 at 2 months and a gradual decrease to 0.14 at 24 months after PRK. The degree of haze was statistically greater with higher amount of correction(p<0.05). No difference was found related to age and sex(p>0.05). Clinically significant corneal haze and scarring was frequent in higher myopia group(p<0.05). Individual variation in corneal haze after PRK was found. However, high myopia is a risk factor of the corneal haze following PRK, and further study to decrease the corneal haze after PRK is necessary.
Cicatrix ; Follow-Up Studies ; Lasers, Excimer* ; Myopia* ; Photorefractive Keratectomy* ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors

Benzene and toluene, which are widely used aromatic hydrocarbons in workplace, are recently proved to cause health hazards due to their toxic effects. This study investigated the influence of toluene on the urinary excretion of benzene metabolite by administering short term exposure limit(STEL) of these compounds(i.e., 13.8mg/kg of benzene and 108.8mg/kg of toluene) intraperitoneally into Sprague-Dawley rats. After administration, urinary phenol concentration of rat was measured by gas chromatography for every three hours. Data were analyzed by non-parametric statistical methods using Kruskal-Wallis multi-sample test and Mann-Whitney U test. The following results were obtained: 1. Administration of STFL-benzene increased urinary phenol concentration in rats. 2. Urinary phenol concentration was increased logarithmically according to the dosage of benzene. 3. Excretion of phenol in urine was decreased when benzene and toluene were administered simultaneously compared with administering benzene alone. In Summary, these results reveal that administration of STEL of toluene has antagonistic effect of urinary excretion of benzene metabolite in rats.
Animals ; Benzene* ; Chromatography, Gas ; Hydrocarbons, Aromatic ; Metabolism* ; Phenol ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Threshold Limit Values ; Toluene

In children with horizontal strabismus, we observed and analysed binocular fixation pattern (BFP) pf each eye and the results of BFP were compared with visual acuity of each eye to evaluate the effect of BFP examination for diagnosis of the preferred eye. In BFP of the esotropes and intermittent exotropes with or without amblyopa, most of patients showed grade I of BFP in the preferred eyes and grade IV of BFP in the non-preferred eyes. The exotropes showed no significant amblyopia, and BFP of the preferred eyes were variable from grade I to IV while most of the non-preferred eyes showed grade IV of BFP. In the patients with visual improvement after occlusion therapy, about half of them showed an improvement in BFP. Therefore, the preferred and non-preferred eyes may be distinctive according to BFP in strabismic patients with amblyopia or not. The measurement of BFP may be an eefective method for diagnosis of the preferred eye in children with horizontal strabismus if it is combinded with the examination for visual acuity.
Amblyopia ; Child* ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Strabismus* ; Telescopes* ; Visual Acuity

In children with horizontal strabismus, we observed and analysed binocular fixation pattern (BFP) pf each eye and the results of BFP were compared with visual acuity of each eye to evaluate the effect of BFP examination for diagnosis of the preferred eye. In BFP of the esotropes and intermittent exotropes with or without amblyopa, most of patients showed grade I of BFP in the preferred eyes and grade IV of BFP in the non-preferred eyes. The exotropes showed no significant amblyopia, and BFP of the preferred eyes were variable from grade I to IV while most of the non-preferred eyes showed grade IV of BFP. In the patients with visual improvement after occlusion therapy, about half of them showed an improvement in BFP. Therefore, the preferred and non-preferred eyes may be distinctive according to BFP in strabismic patients with amblyopia or not. The measurement of BFP may be an eefective method for diagnosis of the preferred eye in children with horizontal strabismus if it is combinded with the examination for visual acuity.
Amblyopia ; Child* ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Strabismus* ; Telescopes* ; Visual Acuity

No abstract available.

The purpose of this study is to reveal how the road traffic noise influences on the response of teachers and students, which composed of conversation, studying, relation, and physical disturbances. The research method used in this study was self- administrated questionnaire. Samples of the survey were composed of 420 persons(l14 teachers and 306 students) who are exposed to traffic noise less than 65 dB(A) from two junior high schools and 410 persons(140 teachers and 270 students) from two noisy junior high schools which the road traffic noise above 65 dB(A). In the response of both of the teachers and students in noisy(above 65 dB) schools complaints of disturbances of conversation, studying, relaxation, and physical disturbances are much higher than that of less noisy schools' teachers and students(p<0.01 ). On the occasion of time and season, the subjects answered the traffic noise cause high troublesome and stresses in the afternoon(12:00-17:00) and summer respectively. It is necessary to provide governmental comprehensive and fundamental measures to improve the noisy school environments.
Humans ; Noise* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Relaxation ; Seasons

PURPOSE: To determine the efficacy of Mini Monoka silicone stent insertion in treating nasolacrimal duct obstruction in children. METHODS: In 67 eyes of 61 children with nasolacrimal duct obstruction, the Mini Monoka silicone stent was inserted after probing under general anesthesia. The duration of epiphora or discharge, the age at the time of surgery, and probing history were recorded. The surgical results and postoperative complications were analyzed for the cases herein of Mini Monoka silicone stent insertion. RESULTS: The technical success rate of Mini Monoka silicone stent insertion was 91% in children with nasolacrimal duct obstruction, and the success rate for children without probing history was much higher than for those with probing history (81.5 : 97.5%, p=0.035). Postoperatively, the symptoms were resolved in 54 of 61 eyes (88.5%). The duration of preoperative symptoms was shorter in the successful group than in the failed group (15.9+/-7.1 : 21.9+/-8.8 months, p=0.044). Mini Monoka silicone tube was easily removed at 5.6 months after insertion in the clinic. Dacryocystitis was found to be a complication in two eyes yet was resolved without recurrence. Of the seven eyes with spontaneous extrusion of the stent, symptoms subsided in five eyes. CONCLUSIONS: Mini Monoka silicone stent insertion is an effective and relatively easy method, with a low risk of complication, to treatment children with nasolacrimal duct obstruction.
Anesthesia, General ; Child* ; Dacryocystitis ; Humans ; Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases ; Nasolacrimal Duct* ; Postoperative Complications ; Recurrence ; Silicones* ; Stents*

PURPOSE: To determine the efficacy of Mini Monoka silicone stent insertion in treating nasolacrimal duct obstruction in children. METHODS: In 67 eyes of 61 children with nasolacrimal duct obstruction, the Mini Monoka silicone stent was inserted after probing under general anesthesia. The duration of epiphora or discharge, the age at the time of surgery, and probing history were recorded. The surgical results and postoperative complications were analyzed for the cases herein of Mini Monoka silicone stent insertion. RESULTS: The technical success rate of Mini Monoka silicone stent insertion was 91% in children with nasolacrimal duct obstruction, and the success rate for children without probing history was much higher than for those with probing history (81.5 : 97.5%, p=0.035). Postoperatively, the symptoms were resolved in 54 of 61 eyes (88.5%). The duration of preoperative symptoms was shorter in the successful group than in the failed group (15.9+/-7.1 : 21.9+/-8.8 months, p=0.044). Mini Monoka silicone tube was easily removed at 5.6 months after insertion in the clinic. Dacryocystitis was found to be a complication in two eyes yet was resolved without recurrence. Of the seven eyes with spontaneous extrusion of the stent, symptoms subsided in five eyes. CONCLUSIONS: Mini Monoka silicone stent insertion is an effective and relatively easy method, with a low risk of complication, to treatment children with nasolacrimal duct obstruction.
Anesthesia, General ; Child* ; Dacryocystitis ; Humans ; Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases ; Nasolacrimal Duct* ; Postoperative Complications ; Recurrence ; Silicones* ; Stents*