Purpose: To evaluate the surgical outcomes of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) according to the presence or absence of a surgical assistant. Methods: A retrospective review of 79 eyes (79 patients) undergoing 25-gauge PPV for primary RRD between October 2023 and June 2024 was performed. Eyes were divided into Group A (with resident assistant, n = 40) and Group B (without assistant, n = 39). Primary and final anatomical success rates, operative time, peripheral shaving time, number and duration of intraoperative interruptions, and postoperative visual acuity were compared. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors for surgical failure. Results: Primary anatomical success rates were comparable between groups (95.0% vs. 94.9%, p = 0.979), and final reattachment was achieved in all cases. Total operative time (56.7 ± 14.0 vs. 55.4 ± 11.8 minutes, p = 0.653) and peripheral shaving time (14.7 ± 5.0 vs. 14.8 ± 5.4 minutes, p = 0.919) were similar. However, intraoperative interruptions were more frequent (2.5 ± 1.0 vs. 1.9 ± 0.6, p = 0.009) and lasted longer (50.8 ± 19.9 vs. 40.0 ± 14.4 seconds, p < 0.001) in Group A. Postoperative mean logMAR best-corrected visual acuity at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months did not differ significantly between groups. Inferior retinal breaks and proliferative vitreoretinopathy (grade B or higher) were associated with primary failure in univariate analysis (p = 0.026 and p = 0.050) but not in multivariable analysis. Conclusions When modern techniques—including minimally invasive vitrectomy, noncontact wide-angle viewing systems, and chandelier illumination—are employed, the absence of a surgical assistant does not appear to significantly affect anatomical success or operative efficiency in primary RRD repair.

The majority of parasitological studies of terrestrial snakes in Korea have focused on zoonotic parasites. However, in the present study, we describe 3 unrecorded nematode species recovered from 5 species of snakes (n=6) in Korea. The examined snakes, all confiscated from illegal hunters, were donated by the Chungnam Wild Animal Rescue Center and Korean Broadcasting System in July 2014 and February 2015. Light and scanning electron microscopies on the shapes of spicules that are either bent or straight (kalicephalids) and the presence of the intestinal cecum (ophidascarids) figured out 3 nematodes; Kalicephalus brachycephalus Maplestone, 1931, Kalicephalus sinensis Hsü, 1934, and Ophidascaris excavata Hsü and Hoeppli, 1934. These 3 species of nematode faunas are recorded for the first time in Korea.
Animals ; Animals, Wild ; Cecum ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Korea ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Parasites ; Republic of Korea* ; Snakes*

In July 2014, a nematode species, Schistorophus cirripedesmi Rhizhikov and Khokhlova, 1964, was recovered from a bar-tailed godwit, Limosa lapponica baueri that was stored in a -20˚C freezer in the Chungnam Wild Animal Rescue Center. The bird was collected in 2012 from the coastal region of Pyeongtaek-si (City), Gyeonggi-do (Province) in the Republic of Korea, although the exact date is not clear. At necropsy, 9 nematodes were found in the gizzard of the bird. The parasites had 4 horn-like cephalic cuticular ornamentations. After morphometric comparison and morphological observations, including scanning electron microscopy, the nematodes were identified as S. cirripedesmi. This is the first description of a nematode species in a shorebird in Korea. This is also the first time this genus and species have been found in Korea.
Animals ; Animals, Wild ; Birds ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Gizzard ; Gyeonggi-do ; Korea* ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Parasites ; Republic of Korea

In gynecology, endosalpingiosis is a benign condition in which the fallopian tube-like epithelium is found outside the fallopian tube. The thirty-four point five percent of endosalpingiosis cases have concurrent endometriosis and 40% of the endosalpingiosis group are in postmenopausal states. In contrast with endometriosis, there are no significant links between infertility, chronic pelvic pain and endosalpingiosis. The symptoms of endosalpingiosis are not yet settled. Endosalpingiosis is almost always an incidental finding; it is commonly found through microscopic examinations, and is then confirmed by pathologists for excision and biopsy. Therefore, the clinical differential diagnosis of an intramural mass is more important for clinicians when discussing further surgery with the patients. We report case of woman who has endosalpingiosis and is presented with vaginal bleeding. We first suspect the disease during physical examination. Under the impression of pelvic mass, laboratory tests and radiological images of contrast enhanced chest computer tomography are taken. Images show multisepted cystic masses in left adnexa. To rule out the pelvic mass, we executed exploratory laparotomy. Pathologic results show endosalpingiosis near the ovary section. But the endosalpingiosis, is not generally considered a pathology, and thus, no treatment is necessary.
Aged* ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Endometriosis ; Epithelium ; Fallopian Tube Diseases ; Fallopian Tubes ; Female ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Incidental Findings ; Infertility ; Laparotomy ; Menopause ; Ovary ; Pathology ; Pelvic Pain ; Physical Examination ; Thorax ; Uterine Hemorrhage

Sclerosing stromal tumor (SST) of the ovary is a rare tumor derived from the sex cord stroma. This tumor was first described by Chalvaridjian and Scully in 1973. SST of the ovary is prevalence of 1.5% to 6% of ovarian stromal tumors. Patients are most commonly diagnosed in their 20s and 30s. There have been reports of SST postmenopausal women aged 65-, 67-, and 71 in the Republic of Korea; however, no report of this disease has been reported in women older than 80. In this study, we would like to report an 80-year-old postmenopausal woman who did not previously complain of any symptoms, and was finally diagnosed with SST. She was involved in a traffic accident, and huge pelvic mass was found during the evaluation of intra-abdominal hemorrhage. Total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy was performed ; a final pathologic diagnosis reported SST.
Accidents, Traffic ; Aged* ; Aged, 80 and over ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Ovary ; Postmenopause ; Prevalence ; Republic of Korea ; Sex Cord-Gonadal Stromal Tumors

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the prevalence of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) of perimenopausal women at a university hospital along with their menstrual characters. METHODS: A questionnaire survey regarding premenstrual symptoms was carried out in 100 perimenopausal women (43 to 53, years). The pattern of menstruation and, the intensity of dysmenorrhea were assessed; and further, the symptoms were classified according to their number, intensity, and persistence. The PMS criteria of American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) and PMDD criteria by American Psychiatric Association (APA) were evaluated. RESULTS: The approximate prevalence of PMS criteria was 95% and that of PMDD criteria was 23%. The most dominant symptoms were 'breast tenderness', 'abdominal bloating', 'and headache'. PMDD was significantly associated with the severity of dysmenorrhea (P = 0.020). There was no significant relation with age, height, weight, body mass index and the cycle of menstruation. CONCLUSION: Most women experience PMS and PMDD, which and have a significant impact on the activity of perimenopause women. However in most women that do not know well about PMS and PMDD. We should educate and inform women of PMS and PMDD, thus helping them increase their quality of life.
Body Weight ; Dysmenorrhea ; Female ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Menstruation ; Obstetrics ; Perimenopause ; Premenstrual Syndrome* ; Prevalence ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Severity of Illness Index