Short-term Safety Evaluation of Resident-performed Intravitreal Injection

Purpose@#This study evaluated the short-term safety of resident-performed intravitreal injections. @*Methods@#We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 503 patients (503 eyes) treated for the first time in our hospital from January 2018 to October 2020 via intravitreal bevacizumab, ranibizumab, aflibercept, or triamcinolone acetonide injections by residents or retina specialists. In terms of short-term ophthalmic complications, patients were followed-up 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month after injection. @*Results@#A total of 503 eyes of 503 patients were included. Intravitreal injections were given to 211 and 292 eyes by residents (the resident group) and retina specialists (the retina specialist group), respectively. There were no between-group differences in baseline characteristics except in terms of the indications for injection. Intraocular pressure elevation >5 mmHg occurred in two eyes (0.95%) in the resident group and five (1.71%) in the retina specialist group, but the difference was not statistically significant. Subconjunctival hemorrhage occurred in 29 eyes (13.74%) of the resident group and 32 eyes (10.96%) of the retina specialist group; again, the difference was not statistically significant. No case of noninfectious endophthalmitis occurred in the resident group but two (0.68%) cases occurred in the retina specialist group; again, the difference was not significant. There were two (0.95%) cases of infectious endophthalmitis in the resident group and one (0.34%) case in the retina specialist group; again, the difference was not significant. No corneal erosion, traumatic lens damage, vitreous hemorrhage, or retinal tearing or detachment were noted in either group. @*Conclusions@#Resident-performed intravitreal injections appear to be safe.

Long-term Outcomes of Vitrectomy Used to Treat Myopic Traction Maculopathy

PURPOSE: We investigated the long-term outcomes of vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling as treatment for myopic traction maculopathy (MTM).METHODS: The medical records of patients who underwent vitrectomy to treat MTM were retrospectively evaluated. We excluded patients who exhibited macular holes (MHs) or retinal detachment at the time of primary surgery. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central foveal thickness (CFT) were analyzed preoperatively, at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after surgery, and at the final visit. Complications including retinal detachment or an MH were noted during follow-up.RESULTS: Twenty-three eyes of 22 patients were enrolled. At the time of primary surgery, the mean patient age was 64.4 ± 11.1 years and the baseline mean logMAR BCVA and CFT, 0.67 ± 0.50 and 431.8 ± 159.5 µm, respectively. The mean follow-up period was 53.7 ± 19.3 months. The mean logMAR BCVAs at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively and at the final visit were 0.42 ± 0.39 (p = 0.001), 0.41 ± 0.38 (p = 0.001), 0.39 ± 0.40 (p < 0.001), 0.42 ± 0.43 (p < 0.001), and 0.51 ± 0.47 (p = 0.016), respectively, thus significantly better than the baseline value. The mean CFT at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively and at the final visit were 244.6 ± 72.3, 210.5 ± 79.1, 209.6 ± 91.6, 219.8 ± 93.9, and 217.7 ± 81.3 µm, respectively, thus significantly less than baseline (all p < 0.001). MTM resolved in 18 eyes (78.3%) after primary surgery, without any complication, and remained stable to the final visit.CONCLUSIONS: Vitrectomy with ILM peeling afforded favorable long-term efficacy and safety in MTM patients.

Rhabdomyolysis and diabetic ketoacidosis after bee sting: A case report

Bee stings result in diverse clinical manifestations from localized pain, rash to life-threatening systemic allergic reactions or toxic reactions. Toxic reactions include skin necrosis, pancreatitis, acute renal failure, hemolysis or coagulopathy, while systemic allergic reactions present with IgE-mediated anaphylaxis. We experienced a 63-year-old woman who developed rhabdomyolysis and diabetic ketoacidosis after bee sting. The patient was accompanied by pulmonary edema due to acute kidney injury, which was recovered by intensive hemodialysis treatment. Here, we report a rare and serious case induced by bee sting with a review of the literature.

Two Cases of Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Manifested with Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Successfully Treated with Steroids / 계명의대학술지

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging and potentially life-threatening tick-borne virus disease in Korea. It can be presented with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) as severe complicated cases. Here, we report two cases of SFTS associated HLH patients fully recovered with steroids and conservative treatment, even though they had high risk factors of poor prognosis.

The Changes of Macular Microvasculature and Related Systemic Parameters in Diabetic Patients without Diabetic Retinopathy

PURPOSE: To investigate the systemic parameters related to changes in the retinal microvasculature using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in diabetic patients without diabetic retinopathy. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of diabetic patients without diabetic retinopathy. All patients showed normal fundus on dilated fundus examinations. OCTA (DRI OCT Triton, Topcon Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) was performed on a 3 × 3 mm area centered at the fovea. The foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area and vascular density (VD) of the superficial and deep capillary plexus (SCP/DCP) were measured. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the relationship between microvascular indexes on OCTA and systemic parameters including sex, age, duration of diabetes mellitus (DM), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), total cholesterol, presence of hypertension (HTN) and systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP/DBP). RESULTS: A total of 35 eyes of 35 patients were included in this study. The mean age was 55.7 ± 11.6 years, the mean duration of DM was 52.4 ± 88.7 months and the mean HbA1c was 8.8 ± 2.3%. The FAZ area of the DCP increased significantly as the HbA1c level increased (p 0.05). No systemic parameters exhibited significant relationships with VD in either the SCP or the DCP (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The FAZ area of the DCP detected via OCTA increased as the level of HbA1c increased, although the patients did not show diabetic retinopathy on dilated fundus examinations. Therefore, clinicians should consider this when screening diabetic patients for diabetic retinopathy.

Intraocular Lens Power Calculations Using Dual Scheimpflug Analyzer

PURPOSE: To investigate the accuracy of intraocular lens power calculations using simulated keratometry (simK) of dual Scheimpflug analyzer and 5 types of formulas in cataract patients. METHODS: The keratometry (K), axial length (AXL) and anterior chamber depth (ACD) were measured using ultrasound biometry (USB) combined with auto-keratometry (Auto-K), parital coherence interferometry (PCI; IOL master®) and dual Scheimpflug analyzer (DSA; Galilei®) in 39 eyes of 39 patients. Predicted refraction was calculated using Auto-K, mean K of PCI, and simK and total corneal power (TCP) of DSA in the Sanders-Retzlaff-Kraff (SRK-T) formula. The SRK-II, SRK-T, Holladay II, Haigis, and Hoffer-Q formula were used to calculate predicted refraction with the simK of DSA and AXL of USB. Manifest refraction, mean numerical error (MNE) and mean absolute error were evaluated 1, 3 and 6 months after cataract surgery. RESULTS: TCP of DSA was lower compared with other keratometric values (p < 0.05). The MNE was not different among Auto-K, mean K and simK. The MNE using TCP was larger compared with Auto-K, mean K and simK at 1 month after surgery (p < 0.05). There was a difference in MNE between simK and TCP of DSA at 6 months after surgery (p < 0.05). The MNE of SRK-T formula was the smallest in the intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation using the simK of DSA. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest using IOL power calculations with simK of DSA and SRK-T formula rather than TCP of DSA in cataract patients with normal corneas.

Comparison of Choroidal Hyperpermeability Change after Photodynamic Therapy and Ranibizumab for Chronic Central Serous Chorioretinopathy

PURPOSE: To compare changes in choroidal hyperpermeability after half-energy photodynamic therapy (PDT) and intravitreal ranibizumab in the treatment of chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). METHODS: Post-hoc analysis was performed in a randomized, controlled trial comparing half-energy PDT versus intravitreal ranibizumab for chronic CSC; during the experiments, the other treatment was available for salvage treatment if the original was unsuccessful at 3 months. A commercially available image analysis program (Adobe(R) Photoshop(R) CS6 [Adobe Systems, Inc., San Jose, CA]) was used for quantification of change in choriodal hyperpermeability on indocyanine green angiography after half-energy PDT or three consecutive intravitreal injections of ranibizumab. Post-treatment images were subtracted from pre-treatment images after adjustments were made to create images depicting the change in choroidal hyperpermeability with treatment. Integrated gray scale values per area in this image were used for analysis of change in choroidal hyperpermeability. RESULTS: The calculated change in choroidal hyperpermeability was significantly greater in the half-energy PDT group (17.36 +/- 8.74) than in the ranibizumab group (6.78 +/- 5.03) (p < 0.001). All eyes in the half-energy PDT group showed complete resolution of subretinal fluid, and no significant difference in change of choroidal hyperpermeability was found in eyes that received half-energy PDT as primary or salvage treatment. In the ranibizumab-treated group, subretinal fluid resolution was accomplished in 5 eyes, and these eyes showed a significantly larger decrease in choroidal hyperpermeability when compared with eyes showing poor response (10.31 +/- 4.00 vs. 2.74 +/- 2.16, p = 0.005). In the successfully treated eyes with ranibizumab, there was no significant difference in choroidal hypopermeability change when compared to half-energy PDT (p = 0.124). CONCLUSIONS: Using our novel method of analysis of change in choroidal hyperpermeability following treatment for chronic CSC, greater change was found in eyes with good response, and the superior outcome of half-energy PDT over ranibizumab may be attributed to greater influence on choroidal hyperpermeability.

Toxicity Profile of Temozolomide in the Treatment of 300 Malignant Glioma Patients in Korea

This study evaluated the toxicity profiles of temozolomide in the treatment of malignant glioma as either concurrent or adjuvant chemotherapy. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 300 malignant glioma patients treated with temozolomide in two medical institutions in Korea between 2004 and 2010. Two hundred nine patients experienced a total of 618 toxicities during temozolomide therapy. A total of 84.8% of the 618 toxicities were Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) grade 1 or 2, while 15.2% were grade 3 or 4. Among the hematologic toxicities, thrombocytopenia (13.7%), anemia (11.0%), and AST/ALT increases (7.0%) were common. Among the non-hematologic toxicities, nausea (44.3%), vomiting (37.0%), and anorexia (14.3%) were the three most common toxicities. There was no mortality due to temozolomide. Although temozolomide showed many types of toxicities, the majority of the toxicities were tolerable and of lower grade. Gastrointestinal troubles are the most common toxicities in Korean patients treated with temozolomide.

Analysis of Optical Coherence Tomographic Patterns and Clinical Courses in Diabetic Macular Edema after Treatment

PURPOSE: To analyze the optical coherence tomographic patterns and clinical courses of patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) after treatment. METHODS: The charts of 65 patients with DME were retrospectively reviewed. Baseline optical coherence tomographic patterns of DME were categorized into the 4 groups: group 1 (9 eyes, 13.8%) showed diffuse retinal thickening, group 2 (21 eyes, 32.3%) had cystoid macular edema (CME), group 3 (13 eyes, 20.0%) demonstrated serous retinal detachment (SRD) and group 4 (22 eyes, 33.9%) had combined CME and SRD. Treatments for DME included intravitreal bevacizumab/triamcinolone injection, focal laser photocoagulation and vitrectomy. During 12 months of follow-up, changes in the patterns of DME were assessed. Additionally, the central retinal thickness (CRT) and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were measured at baseline, 6 and 12 months. RESULTS: During 12 months of follow-up, 21 eyes (32.3%) showed changes in the DME pattern: 2 eyes (22.2%) in group 1, 3 (14.3%) in group 2, 4 (30.8%) in group 3 and 12 (54.5%) in group 4. A significantly greater proportion of eyes with changes in DME pattern underwent vitrectomy compared with those without changes in DME pattern (p = 0.012). There was a significant difference in CRT among the 4 groups; group 4 demonstrated the largest CRT at baseline, 6 and 12 months (p < 0.001, 0.002 and 0.029, respectively). However, there were no significant differences in BCVA among the 4 groups at baseline, 6 or 12 months (p = 0.879, 0.375 and 0.246, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Clinical courses varied according to the tomographic patterns of DME after treatment, and the poorest anatomic outcome was found in group 4. Change in tomographic pattern of DME was correlated with the treatment of DME, which might suggest a poorer outcome in those patients than in the patients who maintained their DME patterns.

Investigation into the Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Factors Affecting Use in Korean Patients with Brain Tumors / 기본간호학회지

PURPOSE: The study was done to define complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among primary brain tumor patients and factors influencing use. METHODS: The study was conducted with convenience sampling in 5 neuro-oncology centers in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province. Data were collected using a 25-item questionnaire developed by the researchers. RESULTS: Of 250 patients approached, 231 (92.4%) agreed to participate. Overall, 26.8% of the respondents used CAM and the average cost for CAM use was 300,000 KRW. More than 72% of CAM users did not disclose CAM use to their health care professionals. The most frequently used therapy was natural products including mushrooms. Logistic regression analysis revealed that an education level of university or higher (OR=2.92, 95% CI=1.56-5.44, p=.001), unemployment (OR=1.99, 95% CI=1.04-3.80, p=.037), and WHO grade III & IV tumors (OR=2.18, 95% CI=1.07-4.72, p=.048) were significant factors influencing CAM use. CONCLUSION: Three out of ten brain tumor patients spend substantial sum of money for CAM. In these situations, health care professionals should be aware of this phenomenon and provide adequate information and consultation to the patients.

Cytomegalovirus Retinitis after Intravitreal Bevacizumab Injection in an Immunocompetent Patient

We report a case of cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis after intravitreal bevacizumab injection. A 61-year-old woman with diabetic macular edema developed dense vitritis and necrotizing retinitis 3 weeks after intravitreal bevacizumab injection. A diagnostic vitrectomy was performed. The undiluted vitreous sample acquired by vitrectomy was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction and culture. Polymerase chain reaction of the vitreous was positive for CMV DNA. Other laboratory results did not show evidence of other infectious retinitis and systemic immune dysfunction. Human immunodeficiency virus antibodies were also negative. After systemic administration of ganciclovir, retinitis has resolved and there has been no recurrence of retinitis during the follow-up period of 12 months. Ophthalmologists should be aware of potential risk for CMV retinitis after intravitreal bevacizumab injection.

Clinical Course of Submacular Hemorrhage Due to Various Chorioretinal Diseases According to Pneumatic Displacement

PURPOSE: To assess the clinical course of submacular hemorrhage (SMH) due to various chorioretinal diseases with or without pneumatic displacement and the factors related with the final visual outcome. METHODS: The authors of the present study retrospectively reviewed the charts of 12 eyes (group 1) which underwent pneumatic displacement for SMH and the charts of 14 eyes (group 2) which did not receive pneumatic displacement. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at baseline was compared with the BCVA at 1, 3, and 6 months and on the final visit. Association between final BCVA and other clinical features was analyzed including age, baseline BCVA, duration of symptoms, and size of SMH. RESULTS: In group 1, log MAR BCVA was 1.22 +/- 0.66 at baseline and there was a significant BCVA improvement of 0.77 +/- 0.57 at 6 months compared with baseline (p = 0.045). On the final visit, 6 eyes (50%) had gained 2 Snellen lines or more. In group 2, BCVA was significantly improved from 1.29 +/- 0.70 at baseline to 1.06 +/- 0.84 at 1 month (p = 0.045). Ten eyes (71.4%) had gained 2 Snellen lines or more on the final visit. In group 1, there were no factors correlated with final BCVA (p > 0.05), while the final BCVA was significantly correlated with age and baseline BCVA in group 2. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians may expect conservative treatment to lead to significant improvement of BCVA in patients with SMH due to various chorioretinal diseases who did not undergo any procedures to displace the hemorrhage.

Photodynamic Therapy of Choroidal Neovascularization in Age-Related Macular Degeneration with Verteporfin: An Analysis of 10 Years of Clinical Results

PURPOSE: To analyze the long-term results of photodynamic therapy (PDT) for exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS: The clinical data of patients treated with photodynamic therapy for exudative age-related macular degeneration between April 2000 and December 2000 were analyzed. Patients were followed-up for at least 10 years after PDT. RESULTS: Twenty-nine eyes of 29 patients were enrolled. Mean visual acuity on the logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (log MAR) scale was 0.78 +/- 0.34 at baseline, 1.01 +/- 0.42 at 60 months, and 1.02 +/- 0.41 at 120 months. Predominantly classic, minimally classic, and occult without classic choroidal neovascularization was noted in 51.7%, 17.2%, and 31.1% of patients, respectively. Visual acuity was improved by 1 or more lines in 27.6% of patients and was unchanged in 20.7% of patients, while 51.7% of patients had lost 1 or more lines of visual acuity by 120 months. Baseline visual acuity and age were associated with the final visual prognosis (p < 0.05). Four patients developed neovascular AMD in the contralateral eye. CONCLUSIONS: PDT is safe and effective for neovascular AMD. However, AMD can recur at any time and thus patients should be followed-up for a long period of time.

Comparison of Choroidal Thickness in Eyes with Central Serous Chorioretinopathy, Asymptomatic Fellow Eyes and Normal Eyes

PURPOSE: To compare the choroidal thickness in central serous chorioretiopathy (CSC) patients and normal controls using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). METHODS: The authors compared the choroidal thickness in eyes with CSC, fellow eyes and in normal eyes. In addition, the authors attempted to determine any correlation between choroidal thickness and other factors such as age, height of serous retinal detachment, and spherical equivalent. Choroidal thickness was measured using a perpendicular line from the outer margin of the subfoveal retinal pigment epithelium to the inner surface of the sclera. RESULTS: Twenty-five eyes of 25 CSC patients, 17 fellow eyes and 29 age-matched normal eyes were examined and categorized as group 1, group 2 and group 3, respectively. Subfoveal choroidal thickness was 370.64 +/- 58.06 microm in group 1, 301.85 +/- 47.83 microm in group 2, and 261.84 +/- 48.22 microm in group 3. The choroidal thickness in group 1 was significantly greater than those in group 2 and group 3, and the choroidal thickness in group 2 was significantly greater than that in group 3 (p = 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.004, respectively), where the choroidal thickness showed a negative correlation with age (p = 0.015). CONCLUSIONS: The choroidal thickness was greater in eyes with CSC and in their fellow eyes compared to that in normal eyes. The results suggest that CSC may be caused by choroidal vascular hyperpermeability and increased hydrostatic pressure in the choroid.

Clinical Features and Surgical Outcomes of Infantile Esotropia According to the Age at Surgery

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical features, surgical outcome and factors influencing the surgical outcome of infantile esotropia according to the age at surgery. METHODS: Seventy patients with infantile esotropia followed for at least 6 months after surgery, were enrolled in a retrospective study. Patients were divided into 2 groups. Group 1 included 25 patients who underwent surgery before the age of 24 months and group 2 included 45 patients who underwent surgery after 24 months of age. The clinical characteristics including age at the initial visit, refractive error, angle of deviation, associated strabismus, success rate and reoperation rate were analyzed according to the age at surgery. RESULTS: The mean angle of esodeviation before surgery was 41.71PD and refractive error was +1.26D. Patients underwent bimedial rectus recessions at the mean age of 67.33 months. The age at the initial visit was significantly older in group 2. Surgical success is defined as the ocular alignment within +/-10PD in primary position at the last visit. Fourteen patients (56%) from group 1 and 29 (64.4%) from group 2 obtained surgical success. Reoperation was performed in 8 patients (32%) from group 1 and 8 (17.8%) from group 2, which was not statistically significantly different. Stereopsis better than 3,000 seconds of arc was obtained in 3 patients (50%) from group 1 and 16 (76.2%) from group 2. CONCLUSIONS: In group 2, the late-surgery group, the success rate was 64.4% and stereopsis was obtained in 76.2%. Surgical results were not different between the two groups.

Clinical Features and Surgical Outcomes of Infantile Esotropia According to the Age at Surgery

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical features, surgical outcome and factors influencing the surgical outcome of infantile esotropia according to the age at surgery. METHODS: Seventy patients with infantile esotropia followed for at least 6 months after surgery, were enrolled in a retrospective study. Patients were divided into 2 groups. Group 1 included 25 patients who underwent surgery before the age of 24 months and group 2 included 45 patients who underwent surgery after 24 months of age. The clinical characteristics including age at the initial visit, refractive error, angle of deviation, associated strabismus, success rate and reoperation rate were analyzed according to the age at surgery. RESULTS: The mean angle of esodeviation before surgery was 41.71PD and refractive error was +1.26D. Patients underwent bimedial rectus recessions at the mean age of 67.33 months. The age at the initial visit was significantly older in group 2. Surgical success is defined as the ocular alignment within +/-10PD in primary position at the last visit. Fourteen patients (56%) from group 1 and 29 (64.4%) from group 2 obtained surgical success. Reoperation was performed in 8 patients (32%) from group 1 and 8 (17.8%) from group 2, which was not statistically significantly different. Stereopsis better than 3,000 seconds of arc was obtained in 3 patients (50%) from group 1 and 16 (76.2%) from group 2. CONCLUSIONS: In group 2, the late-surgery group, the success rate was 64.4% and stereopsis was obtained in 76.2%. Surgical results were not different between the two groups.

Effects of Induced Anisometropia by Refractive Surgery on Binocular Vision

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of induced anisometropia by refractive surgery on binocular vision and to determine the usefulness of screening tools. CASE SUMMARY: Anisometropia was induced in 7 patients by photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). Binocular vision was determined with the Titmus stereo test, Worth 4-dot test, 4 prism diopter base-out test and Bagolini striated lens test. Each test was performed before surgery, after PRK of one eye and after PRK of both eyes. After PRK of one eye, mean stereopsis by the Titmus stereo test was 1877.14 seconds of arc and after surgery of both eyes, 40 seconds of arc. After surgery of one eye, 6 patients (86.7%) showed suppression with the Worth 4 dot test at distance fixation and one patient (14.3%) at near fixation. After surgery of both eyes, all patients showed fusion with the Worth 4 dot test. After surgery of one eye, 3 patients (42.9%) showed suppression with the 4 prism diopter base-out test and after surgery of both eyes, 2 of the patients showed fusion. All patients showed fusion with the Bagolini striated lens test after surgery of one or both eyes. CONCLUSIONS: Most cases showed decreased binocular vision by the Titmus stereo test at near fixation and the Worth 4 dot test at distance fixation. The changes of binocular vision determined by each tool were variable. Therefore, improved results in evaluating binocular vision will be obtained with a combination of various tools including the Bagolini striated lens test and 4 prism base-out test.

Effects of Induced Anisometropia by Refractive Surgery on Binocular Vision

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of induced anisometropia by refractive surgery on binocular vision and to determine the usefulness of screening tools. CASE SUMMARY: Anisometropia was induced in 7 patients by photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). Binocular vision was determined with the Titmus stereo test, Worth 4-dot test, 4 prism diopter base-out test and Bagolini striated lens test. Each test was performed before surgery, after PRK of one eye and after PRK of both eyes. After PRK of one eye, mean stereopsis by the Titmus stereo test was 1877.14 seconds of arc and after surgery of both eyes, 40 seconds of arc. After surgery of one eye, 6 patients (86.7%) showed suppression with the Worth 4 dot test at distance fixation and one patient (14.3%) at near fixation. After surgery of both eyes, all patients showed fusion with the Worth 4 dot test. After surgery of one eye, 3 patients (42.9%) showed suppression with the 4 prism diopter base-out test and after surgery of both eyes, 2 of the patients showed fusion. All patients showed fusion with the Bagolini striated lens test after surgery of one or both eyes. CONCLUSIONS: Most cases showed decreased binocular vision by the Titmus stereo test at near fixation and the Worth 4 dot test at distance fixation. The changes of binocular vision determined by each tool were variable. Therefore, improved results in evaluating binocular vision will be obtained with a combination of various tools including the Bagolini striated lens test and 4 prism base-out test.

Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester Inhibits the PKC-Induced IL-6 Gene Expression in the Synoviocytes of Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients

To gain insight on the role of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the pathogenesis and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) -induced IL-6 gene expression and the effect of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) on the PMA-induced IL-6 gene expression were investigated in human fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs). Synovial tissue samples were obtained from rheumatoid arthritis patients, and FLSs were isolated. The cells were stimulated with PMA (100 nM) for 6 hrs to induce IL-6 gene. The cells were pretreated with CAPE (20, 50, 100 microM) prior to PMA treatment. PMA increased IL-6 RNA expression, binding activities of transcription factors (NF-kappaB, AP-1) to IL-6 promoter, and IL-6 promoter activity. However, CAPE inhibited PMA-induced IL-6 mRNA expression in dose-dependent manner, and also inhibited the increased binding activities of transcription factors to IL-6 promoter and IL-6 promoter activity. These results suggest that CAPE might regulate PKC-mediated IL-6 expression and inflammatory reactions in RA.

Development of a Quality Evaluation Tool for Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Homorrhage Patient Care / 성인간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develope a evaluation tool of the quality of nursing care for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage patients at Hunt & Hess Grade I~III. METHOD: The data was gathered from April 15, 2002 to June 14, 2002. The tool proceeded in six steps according to Bloch's framework. RESULT: The results of this study are as follows: 1) The quality evaluation tool for neurosurgery ICU consisted of 25 standards and 138 criteria. The quality evaluation tool for ward consisted of 27 standards and 144 criteria.; 2) The content validities of the tools for neurosurgery ICU and ward were 0.96 and 0.98, respectively.; 3) The Pearson coefficients for evaluating the interrated reliability of the tools for neurosurgery ICU and ward were r=0.9106 (p<0.1) and r=0.8807 (p<0.1), respectively.; 4) The ranges of corrected item-total correlations for evaluating the construct validity of the tools for neurosurgery ICU and ward were 0.0279~0.9354 and 0.0174~0.9682, respectively.; And 5) The ranges of Cronbach's alpha reliabilities for evaluating the internal consistency reliability of the tools for neurosurgery ICU and ward were 0.6040~0.8554 and 0.6212~0.9584, respectively. CONCLUSION: The tools developed in this study seem useful in evaluating the quality of nursing care for aneurismal subarachnoid hemorrhage patients at Hunt & Hess Grade I-III.