Effects of Y-27632, a Rho-associated Kinase Inhibitor, on Human Corneal Endothelial Cells Cultured by Isolating Human Corneal Endothelial Progenitor Cells

Purpose@#Human corneal endothelial progenitor cells (HCEPs), which has been selectively isolated and differentiated into human corneal endothelial cells (HCECs), are crucial for repairing corneal endothelial damage. In this study, we evaluated the roles of a Rho-assisted kinase (ROCK) inhibitor, Y-27632, on the isolation and expansion of HCEPs, and assessed the in vitro effects of different concentrations of Y-27632 on the differentiated HCEPs. @*Methods@#HCEPs were isolated and expanded in a medium with and without 10μM Y-27632, and then differentiated into HCECs in a medium with fetal bovine serum. The characteristics of HCEPs and differentiated HCEPs were confirmed by immunofluorescence staining. The proliferation, viability, morphology, and wound-healing ability of differentiated HCEPs were assessed in the presence of different concentrations of Y-27632. @*Results@#Y-27632 enabled the isolation and expansion of HCEPs from the corneal endothelium. The differentiated HCEPs showed an optimal increase in proliferation and survival in the presence of 10μM Y-27632. As the concentration of Y-27632 increased, differentiated HCEPs became elongated, and actin filaments were redistributed to the periphery of cells. Y-27632 also caused a concentration-dependent enhancement in the wound-healing ability of differentiated HCEPs. @*Conclusions@#Y-27632 enabled the isolation and expansion of HCEPs. It also enhanced the proliferation, viability, and migration of differentiated HCEPs.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Hydroxychloroquine Retinopathy in Rheumatic Patients with Dry Eye Symptoms

Purpose@#Hydroxychloroquine is widely used for long-term treatment of rheumatic diseases, but the drug can trigger irreversible toxic retinopathy. We studied the prevalence of, and the risk factors for, hydroxychloroquine retinopathy in rheumatic patients with dry eye symptoms and we introduce a representative case. @*Methods@#We retrospectively studied a cohort of 133 rheumatological patients who had taken hydroxychloroquine for at least 12 months and who visited our ophthalmology clinic with dry eye symptoms from April 2016 to December 2021. Hydroxychloroquine retinopathy was diagnosed via fundus photography, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, the Humphrey visual field test, autofluorescence fundus photography, and multifocal electroretinography. The principal outcomes were the prevalence of retinopathy at the first screening and the risk factors. @*Results@#Of the 133 patients, hydroxychloroquine retinopathy was diagnosed in seven (5.2%) at the first screenings. The Mann-Whitney U-test revealed that older age; higher daily doses; longer dosing duration; greater cumulative doses; and higher daily and cumulative doses/kg were statistically significant in terms of retinopathy development. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, the average daily dose (odds ratio [OR] 6.02; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.64-22.12, 100 mg increments) and duration of dosing (OR 3.39; 95% CI 1.19-9.62, 5 years increments) remained statistically significant (P = 0.021, P = 0.007 respectively) @*Conclusions@#Ophthalmologists should enquire about any history of hydroxychloroquine therapy, and perform a retinal examination, when encountering dry eye in patients with rheumatic disease. Early detection of hydroxychloroquine retinopathy followed by discontinuation of hydroxychloroquine is the only way to prevent visual loss. High daily drug doses and long dosing durations are risk factors for retinopathy.

Septicemia Caused by Neisseria meningitidis With Decreased Ciprofloxacin Susceptibility: The First Case Report in Korea

No abstract available.

A Case of Dengue Fever with Macular Involvement

PURPOSE: To report a case of Dengue fever with bilateral macular edema and retinitis. CASE SUMMARY: A 31-year-old female was referred to our clinic with blurred vision. The patient had visited Bali, Indonesia approximately 2 weeks prior. Dengue fever was diagnosed at the Division of Infectious Disease because the patient's serum dengue virus antibodies test was positive for dengue viral IgM antibodies. The patient's best corrected visual acuity was 0.4 in the right eye and 0.6 in the left eye. Slit lamp examination showed inflammatory cells in the vitreous but not in the anterior segment of both eyes. Fundus examination showed thickening of the retina in both eyes as well as a splinter retinal hemorrhage in left eye. Fluorescein angiography revealed hyperfluorescence of the venule in the perifoveal vascular network of the left macula, and indocyanine green angiography showed early diffuse hyperfluorescence in both eyes. Standard automated perimetry showed an overall reduction of the visual field and an increase in scotoma in both eyes. At 1 week after the initial visit, the macular edema had not improved and the patient's vision had deteriorated, especially in left eye. To improve the macular edema and ocular inflammation, a subtenon triamcinolone acetonide injection in the left eye was administered. At 5 weeks after treatment, corrected visual acuity improved to 1.0 in both eyes. Ocular findings, such as macular edema and intraretinal hemorrhage were resolved. The patient did not complain of any remaining discomfort. However, standard automated perimetry revealed that a pericentral scotoma was still present in left eye. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, the authors report a case of bilateral macular edema and retinitis at the posterior pole after dengue infection. The patient demonstrated a relatively positive response to steroid therapy in the left eye and to conservative treatment in the right eye.

Predicting factors of present hepatitis C virus infection among patients positive for the hepatitis C virus antibody

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To identify the predicting factors of present hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among patients with positivity for antibodies to HCV (anti-HCV). METHODS: We analyzed patients who showed positive enzyme immunoassay (EIA) results and performed an HCV RNA test as a confirmatory test at Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong from June 2006 to July 2012. The features distinguishing the groups with positive and negative HCV RNA results were reviewed. RESULTS: In total, 490 patients were included. The results of the HCV RNA test were positive and negative in 228 and 262 patients, respectively. The index value of anti-HCV, mean age, platelet counts, total bilirubin, prothrombin time international normalized ratio, albumin and alanine transaminase (ALT) levels differed significantly between the two groups. On multivariable analysis, an index value of anti-HCV >10 [odds ratio (OR)=397.27, P40 IU/L (OR=3.64, P=0.001), and albumin <3.8 g/dL (OR=2.66, P=0.014) were related to present HCV infection. CONCLUSIONS: Although EIA is not a quantitative test, considering the anti-HCV titer with ALT and albumin levels may be helpful in predicting present of HCV infection.

A Case of Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis Involving the Lung and Spine of an Adult Patient / 대한내과학회지

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a proliferative disease that shares phenotypic characteristics with Langerhans cells (LCs) and involves multiple organs. Here, we report a case of LCH in a 36-year-old male simultaneously involving the lungs and thoracic spine. Chest computed tomography (CT) showed multifocal thin-walled cysts and ill-defined nodular opacities primarily in the bilateral upper and middle lung lobes that fluctuated with smoking. Despite improvement of pulmonary lesions after smoking cessation, osteolytic lesion of thoracic vertebra was aggravated. Symptoms were not improved after nerve block, suggesting vertebral instability that necessitated surgical mass removal and posterior fusion. Microscopically diffuse proliferation of immature, rounded LCs and inflammatory cell infiltration was noted. Although pulmonary LCH in an adult is a benign disease that is usually resolved spontaneously after smoking cessation, surgical treatment should be considered in a case of spinal LCH.

Salmonella osteomyelitis with osteonecrosis in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus / 대한내과학회지

Although infectious diseases are frequent in systemic lupus erythematosus, salmonella osteomyelitis is rarely reported. We here report an unusual case of salmonella osteomyelitis with osteonecrosis in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus. A 29-year old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus was admitted to our hospital because of a painful swelling of right knee joint. She had been taking steroid and cyclophosphamide for 4 months because of diffuse membranous proliferative lupus nephritis. MRI showed both osteonecrosis of the right distal femur and osteomyelitis of the right proximal tibia. The abscess culture demonstrated almonella species (non typhoidal). The infection was treated successfully by a combination of surgical drainage and intravenous ceftriaxone.