Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate changes in intraocular pressure (IOP) and anterior-segment parameters before and after cataract surgery, vitrectomy, and combined surgery. Methods: The records of patients who had undergone cataract surgery (cataract group), vitrectomy (vitrectomy group), or combined cataract surgery and vitrectomy (combined group) at our hospital were retrospectively examined. The vitrectomy group consisted of pseudophakic eyes. IOP and anterior-segment measurements, including anterior chamber depth (ACD), angle opening distance (AOD), trabecular-iris angle (TIA), and trabecular-iris space area (TISA), were measured using swept-source anterior-segment optical coherence tomography before and 6 months after surgery in 41, 15, and 40 eyes, respectively. Results: In the cataract and combined groups, there was a decrease in IOP (cataract group: from 15.8 to 13.4 mmHg, p <0.001; combined group: from 15.8 to 14.2 mmHg, p = 0.002) and an increase in the central corneal thickness after surgery (p <0.001). The ACD increased in all groups, with a smaller increase in the vitrectomy group (p <0.03). Postoperative AOD, TIA, and TISA were significantly increased in the cataract and combined groups (p <0.02). Higher preoperative IOP and larger IOP reduction after surgery were correlated with smaller preoperative AOD, TISA, and TIA in cataract and combined groups (p <0.034). A small preoperative ACD was related to smaller preoperative AOD, TISA, TIA (r > 0.649, p <0.001), and postoperative IOP reduction in the cataract and combined groups (r = 0.377, p = 0.018 and r = 0.559, p = 0.001, respectively). Conclusions Compared to the vitrectomy group, the cataract and combined groups showed reduced postoperative IOP and increased AOD, TISA, and TIA. In these two groups, patients with shallower preoperative ACDs showed greater changes in IOP after surgery. Changes in IOP after surgery are thought to be related to changes in the anterior segment caused by the removal of the crystalline lens.

Purpose: To compare the corneal topographic change before and after botulinum toxin A injection in patients with essential blepharospasm. Methods: From September 2015 to December 2020, we enrolled total 20 patients, 40 eyes diagnosed with essential blepharospasm. We estimated the corneal refractive power and astigmatism before and after Nabota® (Daewoong Co. Ltd, Seoul, Korea) botulinum toxin injection at 1 and 3 months using iTrace® Topography (Software version 4.2.1., Tracey technology Inc., Houston, TX, USA). Corneal refractive power was analyzed in superior, inferior, nasal and temporal location at 1 mm, 3 mm zone. Also, steep and flat keratometry, astigmatism was measured by topography. Results: Corneal refractive power showed significant difference in superior and inferior location of 1 mm zone at 1 month after botulinum toxin injection (p = 0.038, p = 0.042). There was no significant difference in all four locations of 3 mm zone. At 1 month after toxin injection, steep keratometry was only significant reduced (p = 0.046) and with-the-rule astigmatism was shifted to against-the-rule astigmatism. At 3 months after toxin injection, keratometry and astigmatism was resolved to before toxin injection. Conclusions At 1 month after Nabota® (Daewoong Co. Ltd) botulinum toxin injection, corneal refractive power at vertical axis was flattened and steep keratometry was significantly reduced. At 3 months after toxin injection, corneal topographic change was changed to before toxin injection.

Background: Female farmers have a high prevalence of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) in South Korea. Femoral bowing has been reported to be related to KOA by increasing load on the mechanical axis. This study aimed to investigate factors related to femoral bowing in Korean female farmers. Methods: We analyzed the legs of 264 female farmers registered with the Korea farmers' knee cohort of Jeonnam Center for Farmers' Safety and Health. A structured questionnaire was used to determine sociodemographic variables, agricultural career, cumulative squatting working time (CSWT), and cumulative heavy lifting working time. Femoral bone density was measured and Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grades were obtained from the knee radiographs.Mechanical axis angle (MAA), femoral bowing angle (FBA), anatomical lateral distal femoral angle (aLDFA), anatomical medial proximal tibial angle (aMPTA), and condylar-plateau angle (CPA) were measured. We examined the relationship between the FBA and related factors by using multiple linear regression. Results: The proportion of individuals with radiographic KOA (≥ KL grade 2) in this study was 37.9%. As KL grades increased, MAA, FBA, and CPA increased, whereas aLDFA and aMPTA decreased. FBA increased with age. Multiple linear regression analyses using FBA as a dependent variable showed relationship with higher age, lower height, higher BMI, lower bone mineral density, longer CSWT, and longer agricultural careers. Conclusions The results of this study suggest that external factors related to agricultural work in female farmers was associated with femoral bowing, in addition to internal factors such as age, bone density, height, and obesity.

Background: Female farmers have a high prevalence of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) in South Korea. Femoral bowing has been reported to be related to KOA by increasing load on the mechanical axis. This study aimed to investigate factors related to femoral bowing in Korean female farmers. Methods: We analyzed the legs of 264 female farmers registered with the Korea farmers' knee cohort of Jeonnam Center for Farmers' Safety and Health. A structured questionnaire was used to determine sociodemographic variables, agricultural career, cumulative squatting working time (CSWT), and cumulative heavy lifting working time. Femoral bone density was measured and Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grades were obtained from the knee radiographs.Mechanical axis angle (MAA), femoral bowing angle (FBA), anatomical lateral distal femoral angle (aLDFA), anatomical medial proximal tibial angle (aMPTA), and condylar-plateau angle (CPA) were measured. We examined the relationship between the FBA and related factors by using multiple linear regression. Results: The proportion of individuals with radiographic KOA (≥ KL grade 2) in this study was 37.9%. As KL grades increased, MAA, FBA, and CPA increased, whereas aLDFA and aMPTA decreased. FBA increased with age. Multiple linear regression analyses using FBA as a dependent variable showed relationship with higher age, lower height, higher BMI, lower bone mineral density, longer CSWT, and longer agricultural careers. Conclusions The results of this study suggest that external factors related to agricultural work in female farmers was associated with femoral bowing, in addition to internal factors such as age, bone density, height, and obesity.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) is the most important disease screened for upon patient history review during preimmigration medical examinations as performed in South Korea in prospective immigrants to certain Western countries. In 2007, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) changed the TB screening protocol from a smear-based test to the complete Culture and Directly Observed Therapy Tuberculosis Technical Instructions (CDOT TB TI) for reducing the incidence of TB in foreign-born immigrants. METHODS: This study evaluated the effect of the revised (as compared with the old) protocol in South Korea. RESULTS: Of the 40,558 visa applicants, 365 exhibited chest radiographic results suggestive of active or inactive TB, and 351 underwent sputum tests (acid-fast bacilli smear and Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture). To this end, using the CDOT TB TI, 36 subjects (88.8 per 105 of the population) were found to have TB, compared with only seven using the older U.S. CDC technical instruction (TI) (p<0.001). In addition, there were six drug-resistant cases which were identified (16.7 per 105 of the population), two of whom had multidrug-resistance (5.6 per 105 of the population). CONCLUSION: The culture-based 2007 TI identified a great deal of TB cases current to the individuals tested, as compared to older U.S. CDC TI.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) ; Directly Observed Therapy ; Emigrants and Immigrants ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Prospective Studies ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Republic of Korea ; Sputum ; Tuberculosis

BACKGROUND: The risk factors for renal cancer include smoking, obesity, hypertension, and exposure to trichloroethylene. Recent studies have shown that low sunlight exposure increases the risk of developing a range of cancers, including renal cancer. Given that most of the daytime is spent at work, a lack of occupational sunlight exposure can be a risk factor for renal cancer. Therefore, this study examined the relationship between occupational sunlight exposure and the incidence of renal cancer. METHODS: This was a university hospital-based case-control study on renal cancer. Of the 706 newly diagnosed patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC), 633 cases were selected; 73 who had no occupational history were excluded. In addition, 633 controls were selected from the general population after 1:1 matching with respect to sex, age (within 5 years), and residential area (constituency-level). Information on sunlight exposure by the occupational group was referred to data from France. To estimate the association between occupational sunlight exposure and the RCC risk, the odds ratios (ORs) were calculated using conditional logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Sunlight exposure was divided into quartiles and the risk of RCC was analyzed. The adjusted OR of RCC (OR: 0.664, 95% confidence interval: 0.449–0.983) was significantly lower for the Q4 group than Q1 group but the Q2 and Q3 groups did not show significant results. The risk of RCC tended to decrease with increasing exposure to sunlight (p for trend < 0.028). CONCLUSIONS: Higher occupational sunlight exposure reduces the risk of RCC.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; Case-Control Studies ; France ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Kidney Neoplasms ; Logistic Models ; Obesity ; Occupational Groups ; Odds Ratio ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Sunlight ; Trichloroethylene

BACKGROUND: In South Korea, as an aged society, an understanding of dementia and its risk factors is important from clinical and healthcare policy perspectives. Relationship between cognitive impairment and body weight or weight changes have been reported, but these were contradictory. We have evaluated the association between weight changes and cognitive decline using national level longitudinal data. METHODS: Data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing from 2006 to 2012 were used. Association between weight changes and decline in cognitive function as measured by K-MMSE (the Korean version of the Minimental state examination) score was assessed by multivariate logistic regression. Weight changes were calculated from 1st wave and 3rd wave survey data, and classified into five groups as stable, increases, decreases of >10%, or 5%–10%. RESULTS: About 37% of the total participants (n=4,512) were 65 years or older. These participants made up the largest proportion of the groups with weight change exceeding 10%. Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that weight changes exceeding 10% (10% increase vs stable, adjusted OR [aOR] 1.47, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.11–1.95; 10% decrease vs stable, aOR 1.44, 95% CI 1.11–1.88) were significant predictive factors for decline in cognitive function. In subgroup analyses, the association between weight changes and cognitive decline was significant in males aged over 65 years and in normal BMI groups. CONCLUSION Weight changes, both increases and decreases exceeding 10% of baseline, were significantly associated with declines in cognitive function among older adults in South Korea.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) is the most important disease screened for upon patient history review during preimmigration medical examinations as performed in South Korea in prospective immigrants to certain Western countries. In 2007, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) changed the TB screening protocol from a smear-based test to the complete Culture and Directly Observed Therapy Tuberculosis Technical Instructions (CDOT TB TI) for reducing the incidence of TB in foreign-born immigrants. METHODS: This study evaluated the effect of the revised (as compared with the old) protocol in South Korea. RESULTS: Of the 40,558 visa applicants, 365 exhibited chest radiographic results suggestive of active or inactive TB, and 351 underwent sputum tests (acid-fast bacilli smear and Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture). To this end, using the CDOT TB TI, 36 subjects (88.8 per 105 of the population) were found to have TB, compared with only seven using the older U.S. CDC technical instruction (TI) (p<0.001). In addition, there were six drug-resistant cases which were identified (16.7 per 105 of the population), two of whom had multidrug-resistance (5.6 per 105 of the population). CONCLUSION The culture-based 2007 TI identified a great deal of TB cases current to the individuals tested, as compared to older U.S. CDC TI.

Intrathecal baclofen (ITB) pump implantation can be used to control dystonia and severe pain associated with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) with or without a spinal cord stimulator (SCS). A 45-year-old female patient had gotten an SCS to control the pain of CRPS. However, she suffered from chronic intractable pain in her left ankle and foot despite paresthesia in the entire painful area because the effectiveness of the SCS gradually diminished over time. In a trial of intrathecal drug administration, baclofen was superior to morphine for pain relief, had fewer side effects, and was superior in terms of patient satisfaction. To achieve the greatest degree of pain relief from the ITB pump, the tip of the intrathecal catheter was carefully placed in relation to the SCS. Over a one-year follow-up period, the patient experienced mild pain without any adverse effects.
Ankle ; Baclofen* ; Catheters* ; Dystonia ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Foot ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Morphine ; Pain, Intractable ; Paresthesia ; Patient Satisfaction ; Spinal Cord Stimulation ; Spinal Cord*

BACKGROUND: We evaluated a sensitive and quantitative method utilizing fragment analysis of the fms-like tyrosine kinase 3-internal tandem duplication (FLT3-ITD), simultaneously measuring mutant allele burden and length, and verified the analytical performance. METHODS: The number and allelic burden of FLT3-ITD mutations was determined by fragment analysis. Serial mixtures of mutant and wild-type plasmid DNA were used to calculate the limit of detection of fragment analysis, conventional PCR, and Sanger sequencing. Specificity was evaluated using DNA samples derived from 50 normal donors. Results of fragment analysis were compared to those of conventional PCR, using 481 AML specimens. RESULTS: Defined mixtures were consistently and accurately identified by fragment analysis at a 5% relative concentration of mutant to wild-type, and at 10% and 20% ratios by conventional PCR and direct sequencing, respectively. No false positivity was identified. Among 481 AML specimens, 40.1% (193/481) had FLT3-ITD mutations. The mutant allele burden (1.7-94.1%; median, 28.2%) and repeated length of the mutation (14-153 bp; median, 49 bp) were variable. The concordance rate between fragment analysis and conventional PCR was 97.7% (470/481). Fragment analysis was more sensitive than conventional PCR and detected 11 additional cases: seven had mutations below 10%, three cases represented conventional PCR failure, and one case showed false negativity because of short ITD length (14 bp). CONCLUSIONS: The new fragment analysis method proved to be sensitive and reliable for the detection and monitoring of FLT3-ITD in patients with AML. This could be used to simultaneously assess ITD mutant allele burden and length.
Alleles ; DNA ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; Limit of Detection ; Methods ; Plasmids ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tissue Donors ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1