A Study on Central Corneal Pachymetry Maps with Orbscan Corneal Pachymetry System in Myopic Eyes

PURPOSE: To evaluate central corneal thickness and pachymetry maps in myopic eyes. METHODS: 104 eyes of 52 myopic patients were investigated using the Orbscan (Orbtek, Inc., USA). The pachymetry maps were designated as round, oval, decentred round, and decentred oval. Corneal thickness was evaluated at the central, eight-paracentral, and the thinnest sites on each of the corneas. We studied difference of corneal thickness under sex and myopic degree. And got the symmetry of the cornea under location of the thinnest sites. RESULTS: Superior cornea had the greatest average thickness (605.5+/-35.3 mu m). Average central corneal thickness (+/-SD) was 552.2 (+/-34.9) mu m. All corneas had the thinnest sites on 0.86 mm from the visual axis and most of all inferotemporal area (76.0%). There was no significant difference of corneal thickness in sex and myopic degree. Average thickness of the thinnest sites was 544.2 (+/-35.6) mu m and significantly thinner than center. 61.5% of the persons had symmetrically located thinnest corneal sites and most of all (57.7%) had temporal side symmetry. In the pachymetry maps, oval pattern was 47.1% of 104 eyes, andround, decentred oval, decentred round were observed in 43.3%, 5.8%, and 3.8% of eyes, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Of all myopic eyes evaluated in this study, the thinnest sites were on average 0.86 mm from the visual axis. And oval type was the most common pachymetry map pattern.

Evaluation of Emphysema in Patients with Asthma Using High-resolution CT

BACKGROUND: Bronchial asthma is a clinical syndrome characterized by reversibility of airway obstruction. However, many asthmatics have evidence of residual airway obstruction. It has become evident that the repair of the chronic inflammatory process can lead to various irreversible changes. It is generally accepted that the most common cause for the change is cigarette smoking but it is controversial whether asthma progresses to emphysema. High resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is more sensitive and more accurate than chest plain films in determining the type and extent of emphysema. This study was carried out to determine whether asthma can be a cause of emphysema without the effect of cigarette smoking and to evaluate clinical characteristics in asthmatics with emphysema. METHODS: We studied 58 asthmatic patients with reversible airway obstruction and evaluated the presence of emphysema using HRCT and pulmonary function test. According to HRCT findings, they were divided into 2 groups : Asthmatics with emphysema and the ones without emphysema. REWSULTS: Of the 58 patients, 7 were revealed to have emphysema. (1) 6 asthmatics with emphysema were smokers, but one patient was a nonsmoker. (2) Highly significant differences between asthmatics with and without emphysema were found in cigarette smoking (p< 0.01) and smoking consumption (p< 0.01). (3) There were no significant differences in the duration of asthma, age or sex between patients with and without emphysema. (4) There were no significant differences in FEV1(%), FEV1/FVC (%), diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLco) (%) and DLco/alveolar volume between patients with and without emphysema (5) Differences between asthma patients without emphysema and those with emphysema were found to be significant in bronchial wall thickeness (p< 0.05) and in total Ig E levels (p=0.07). CONCLUSION: These results indicate that smoking is a main factor in causing emphysema in asthmatics.

Evaluation of emphysema in asthma patients using high-resolution CT / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: Bronchial asthma is a clinical syndrome characterized by reversiblity of airway obstruction. however, many asthma patients have evidence of residual airway obstruction. It has become evident that the repair of chronic inflammatory process can lead to various irreversible changes. It is generally accepted that the most common cause for change is cigarette smoking but it is controversial whether asthma progresses to emphysema. High resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is more sensitive and more accurate than chest plain films in determining the type and extent of emphysema. This study was carried out to determine whether asthma can be a cause of emphysema without the effect of cigarette smoking and to evaluate clinical characterics in asthma patients with emphysema. METHODS: We studied 58 asthmatic patients with reversible airway obstruction and evaluated the presence of emphysema using HRCT and pulmonary function test. According to HRCT findings, they were divided into 2 groups: Asthma patients with and without emphysema. RESULTS: Of the 58 patients, 7 were judged to have emphysema. (1) 6 asthma patients with emphysema were smokers, but one patient was nonsmoker. (2) Highly significant differences between patients with and without emphysema were found in cigarette smoking (p<0.01), smoking consumption (p<0.01). (3) There was no significant differences in the duration of asthma, age or sex between patients with and without emphysema. (4) There was no significant differences in FEV1 (%), FEV1/FVC (%), diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLco) (%), DLco/alveolar volume between patients with and without emphysema (5) Differences between asthma patients without emphysema and those with emphysema were found to be significant in bronchial wall thickening (p<0.05) and in total Ig E (p=0.07). CONCLUSION: These results indicate that smoking is a main factor to cause emphysema in the patient with asthma.

Evaluation of emphysema in asthma patients using high-resolution CT / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: Bronchial asthma is a clinical syndrome characterized by reversiblity of airway obstruction. however, many asthma patients have evidence of residual airway obstruction. It has become evident that the repair of chronic inflammatory process can lead to various irreversible changes. It is generally accepted that the most common cause for change is cigarette smoking but it is controversial whether asthma progresses to emphysema. High resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is more sensitive and more accurate than chest plain films in determining the type and extent of emphysema. This study was carried out to determine whether asthma can be a cause of emphysema without the effect of cigarette smoking and to evaluate clinical characterics in asthma patients with emphysema. METHODS: We studied 58 asthmatic patients with reversible airway obstruction and evaluated the presence of emphysema using HRCT and pulmonary function test. According to HRCT findings, they were divided into 2 groups: Asthma patients with and without emphysema. RESULTS: Of the 58 patients, 7 were judged to have emphysema. (1) 6 asthma patients with emphysema were smokers, but one patient was nonsmoker. (2) Highly significant differences between patients with and without emphysema were found in cigarette smoking (p<0.01), smoking consumption (p<0.01). (3) There was no significant differences in the duration of asthma, age or sex between patients with and without emphysema. (4) There was no significant differences in FEV1 (%), FEV1/FVC (%), diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLco) (%), DLco/alveolar volume between patients with and without emphysema (5) Differences between asthma patients without emphysema and those with emphysema were found to be significant in bronchial wall thickening (p<0.05) and in total Ig E (p=0.07). CONCLUSION: These results indicate that smoking is a main factor to cause emphysema in the patient with asthma.

The Role of c-Jun N-terminal Kinase in the Radiation-Induced Lung Fibrosis / 결핵

BACKGROUND: The undrlying pathogenesis of radiation-induced lung fibrosis (RTLF) has not been very well defined. However, the role of TGF-β in the generation of RTLE has been a major focus because there is an increase in the expression of both the TGE-β stimulated lung fibrosis includes the activation of many mediators such as Smad and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) through TAK1. It is we hypothesized that JNK activation may play a pivotal role in RTLF pathogensis through increased transcription of the fibrogenic cytokines. The present study evaluates JNK activity in alveolar macrophages after irradiation and the relationship between JNK activity and the amount of collagen in the lung tissues. METHODS: C57BL/6 mice(20-25 gr. males) received cholorotetracycline(2g/L) in their drinking water 1 week prior to irradiation and continuously there after. The mice were irradiated once with 1400 cGy of 60COγ-ray over the whole chest. The cellular composition of the whole lung bronchoalveolar lavage fluids(BALF), elastin expression in the lung tissues, the level of hydroxyproline in lung tissues, and an in vitro JNK assay was measured before irradiation and one, four, and eight weeks after irradiation (RT). RESULTS: The volumes of BALF retrieved from instilled 4ml of saline with 2% heparin were 3.7-3.8ml for each group. The cell numbers were similar before(4.1×10(4)±0.5±10(4)/ml) and 1 week(3.1×10(4)±0.5±10(4)/ml) after RT. At four and eight weeks after RT, the cell number reached to 14.0×10(4)±1.5±10(4)/ml and 10.0×10(4)±1.3±10(4)/ml, respectively. There we no changes in the lymphocytes and neutrophils population obseved in the BALF after RT. The H-E stain of the lung tissues did not show any structural and fibrotic change in the lung tissues at 4 and 8 weeks after RT. In addition, the amount of elastin and collagen were not different on Verhoeff staining of the lung tissues before RT to eight weeks after RT. The hydroxyproine content was measured with the left lung dissected from the left main bronchus. The lung were homogenized and hydrolyzed with 6 N HCI for 12 hours at 110℃ then measured as previously described. The content of hydroxyproline, standardized with a lung protein concentration, reached a peak 4 weeks after RT. and thereafter showed a plateau. An In vitro JNK assay using c-Jun(1-79)-GST sepharose beads were performed with the alveolar macrophages obtained from the BAL. JNK activity was not detected prior to RT, However, the JNk activity increased from one week after RT and reached a peak four weeks after RT. CONCLUSION: JNK may be involved in the pathogensis because the JNK activity showed similar pattern observed with the hydroxyproine content. However, it is necessary to clarify that the JNK increases the transcription of fibrogenic cytokines through the transcription factor.

A case of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) occurring in a bullae of the lung / 천식및알레르기

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis(ABPA) is a syndrome seen in patients with asthma and cystic fibrosis. It is characterized by chronic cololinization of the airways with a ubiquitous fungus, Aspergillus fumigatus. Clinically, it is a syndrome characterized by recurrent episodes of wheezing, mucus production, pulmonary infiltrates, and elevated levels of serum IgE. ABPA patients are also accompanied with bronchiectasis in 89% and observed in 10% of cystic fibrosis that show the features of end-stage lung pattern. There are few reports of ABPA associated with bullae. We will report here a case of ABPA developing in an old cicartrical and bullous lesion of a lung.

Relationship between bronchiectasis with wheeze and asthma / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: Wheezes are the oscillation of airway walls that occures when there is airflow limitation, as may be produced by bronchospasm, airway edema or collapse or intraluminal obstruction by neplasm or secretions. Wheezes can be observed in about 34% of bronchiectasis, that defined as abnormal and permanent dilatation of bronchi. Bronchiectasis is associated with bronchial asthma in 2.7-42%. We studed the clinical significance of wheeze observed in bronchiectasis and interrelationships between the bronchiectasis with wheeze and bronchial asthma. METHODS: We reviewed the 32 patients with bronchiectasis confirmed by HRCT. Exclusion criteria are acute exacerbation of bronchiectasis, neoplasm, bronchial asthma. The controlled group is 29 bronchial asthma patients and their diagnositc criteria is when the %change of FEV1 after inhaled bronchodilators is 12% or more and absolute change value is >or =200 mL. All patients were performed spirometry, bronchodilator test, bronchial hyperresponsiveness to methacholine, skin prick test and sputum analysis for cell counts. RESULTS: The Wheeze observed in 43.7% of bronchiectasis patients. Wheeze group revealed the more obstructive pattern in spirometry than non-wheeze group (FEV1% 71.0+/-8.2% vs 91.7+/-5.5%, p=0.04; FEV1/FVC 61.1+/-4.4% vs 78.2+/-3.7%, p=0.009), more bronchodilator responses (8.4+/-2.1% vs 4.9+/-1.7%, p=0.045) and more bonchial hyperresponsiveness (positive results in PC20 : 2 in 6 patients vs no positive in 3 patients). Asthma control group has no significant differences with wheeze group. But compared with non-wheeze group, it has significantly decreased lung function (FEV1/FVC 65.5+/-2.9% vs 78.2+/-3.7, p=0.004), more bronchodilator responses (14.8+/-0.6% vs 4.9+/-1.7%, p=0.001) and more eosinophilic airway inflammations (sputum eosinphile% 11.4+/-2.0 vs 0.8+/-0.4, p=0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The wheezes observed in bronchiectasis are associated with bronchial hyperres ponsiveness and eosinophilic airway inflammations.

The effect of ipriflavone on postmenopausal osteoporosis / 대한내분비학회지

No abstract available.

Hereditary influence in determinig peak bone mass / 대한내분비학회지

No abstract available.

A Case of Sturge-Weber Syndrome

Sturge-Weber syndrome is a congenital disorder characterized by facial nevus flammeus along the distribution of the trigeminal nerve, ipsilatal leptomeningioma, buphthalmos, and choroidal angioma. The Authors experienced a case of Sturge-Weber syndrome in 9 year old female patient and glaucoma was controlled by trabecuectomy without any complications.

A Case of Acute Posterior Multifocal Placoid Pigment Epitheliopathy, Associated with Bilateral Serous Retinal Detachment

Acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy(APMPPE) was first described by Gass in 1968. This syndrome is characterized by sudden loss of central vision secondary to multifocal yellowish-white placoid lesion of posterior pole at the level of the pigment epithelium and significant visual improvement after spontaneous resolution within a few weeks. In the early arterial and arteriovenous phase of fluorescein angiography, choroidal fluorescence is blocked by the placoid lesion but becomes hyperfluorescent in the late venous phase due to staining of the lesion. We experienced and treated a case of acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy associated with bilateral serous retinal detachment in 29 years old male patient, who had a good visual improvement.

A Case of Acute Posterior Multifocal Placoid Pigment Epitheliopathy, Associated with Bilateral Serous Retinal Detachment

Acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy(APMPPE) was first described by Gass in 1968. This syndrome is characterized by sudden loss of central vision secondary to multifocal yellowish-white placoid lesion of posterior pole at the level of the pigment epithelium and significant visual improvement after spontaneous resolution within a few weeks. In the early arterial and arteriovenous phase of fluorescein angiography, choroidal fluorescence is blocked by the placoid lesion but becomes hyperfluorescent in the late venous phase due to staining of the lesion. We experienced and treated a case of acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy associated with bilateral serous retinal detachment in 29 years old male patient, who had a good visual improvement.

Two Cases of Congenital Aniridia

Aniridia, the bilateral total or partial absence of the iris, is a rare congenital often hereditary anomaly which usually leads to blindness in adulthood due to secondary glaucoma and cataract formation. The authors experienced two cases of congenital aniridia associated with nystagmus, foveal hypoplasia, corneal pannus, cataract, secondary glaucoma and strabismus. Extracapsular cataract extraction and trabeculectomy was performed with satisfactory result. Therefore this case was presented with brief review of literatures.

Two Cases of Congenital Aniridia

Aniridia, the bilateral total or partial absence of the iris, is a rare congenital often hereditary anomaly which usually leads to blindness in adulthood due to secondary glaucoma and cataract formation. The authors experienced two cases of congenital aniridia associated with nystagmus, foveal hypoplasia, corneal pannus, cataract, secondary glaucoma and strabismus. Extracapsular cataract extraction and trabeculectomy was performed with satisfactory result. Therefore this case was presented with brief review of literatures.

Three Cases of Simple Ectopia Lentis in One Family

Ectopia lentis, Synonymously with Congenital dislocated lens, is defined as a dislocation of the ocular lens, of greater or less degree, based on a developmental anomaly. It occurs in three conditions, as an isolated anomaly, in association with ocular anomaly, and as a part of a systemic syndrome with other mesodermal, particularly skeletal anomalies. Among these, simple ectopia lentis is a hereditary autosomal dominant disorders without skeletal, connective tissue or metabolic symptomatology. Except for the dislocation of the lens, these eyes are in other respects grossly normal. Regarding its management, there is a continuing debate proponents of active surgical intervention to prevent future problems to those who will not remove the lens and advocates of conservative treatment because lens surgery can be difficult and has a high rate of intraoperative and post operative complication. Recently, the authours have experienced three patients with simple ectopia lentis, which occurred in one family with autosomal dominant inheritance and achieved satisfactory result surgically. Thus these cases are presented with brief review of literatures.