Respiratory Effects of the Hebei Spirit Oil Spill on Children in Taean, Korea

PURPOSE: The oil spill from the Heibei Spirit in December 2007 contaminated the Yellow Coast of South Korea. We evaluated the respiratory effects of that spill on children who lived along the Yellow Coast. METHODS: Of 662 children living in the area exposed to the oil spill, 436 (65.9%) were enrolled as subjects. All subjects completed a modified International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire. A health examination, including a skin prick test, pulmonary function test, and methacholine bronchial provocation test (MBPT), was administered. The children were assigned to two groups: those who lived close to the oil spill area and those who lived far from the oil spill area. RESULTS: The children who lived close to the oil spill area showed a significantly lower forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), an increased prevalence of 'asthma ever' (based on a questionnaire), and 'airway hyperresponsiveness' (based on the MBPT) than those who lived far from the oil spill area (FEV1; P=0.011, prevalence of 'asthma ever' based on a questionnaire; P=0.005, prevalence of 'airway hyperresponsiveness' based on the MBPT; P=0.001). The onset of wheezing after the oil spill was significantly higher in children who lived close to the oil spill area than in those who lived far from the oil spill area among the 'wheeze ever' group (P=0.002). In a multiple logistic regression analysis, male sex, family history of asthma, and residence near the oil spill area were significant risk factors for asthma (sex [male/female]: odds ratio [OR], 2.54; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.31-4.91; family history of asthma [No/Yes]: OR, 3.77; 95% CI, 1.83-7.75; exposure group [low/high]; OR, 2.43; 95% CI, 1.27-4.65). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that exposure to an oil spill is a risk factor for asthma in children.

Respiratory Effects of the Hebei Spirit Oil Spill on Children in Taean, Korea

PURPOSE: The oil spill from the Heibei Spirit in December 2007 contaminated the Yellow Coast of South Korea. We evaluated the respiratory effects of that spill on children who lived along the Yellow Coast. METHODS: Of 662 children living in the area exposed to the oil spill, 436 (65.9%) were enrolled as subjects. All subjects completed a modified International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire. A health examination, including a skin prick test, pulmonary function test, and methacholine bronchial provocation test (MBPT), was administered. The children were assigned to two groups: those who lived close to the oil spill area and those who lived far from the oil spill area. RESULTS: The children who lived close to the oil spill area showed a significantly lower forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), an increased prevalence of 'asthma ever' (based on a questionnaire), and 'airway hyperresponsiveness' (based on the MBPT) than those who lived far from the oil spill area (FEV1; P=0.011, prevalence of 'asthma ever' based on a questionnaire; P=0.005, prevalence of 'airway hyperresponsiveness' based on the MBPT; P=0.001). The onset of wheezing after the oil spill was significantly higher in children who lived close to the oil spill area than in those who lived far from the oil spill area among the 'wheeze ever' group (P=0.002). In a multiple logistic regression analysis, male sex, family history of asthma, and residence near the oil spill area were significant risk factors for asthma (sex [male/female]: odds ratio [OR], 2.54; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.31-4.91; family history of asthma [No/Yes]: OR, 3.77; 95% CI, 1.83-7.75; exposure group [low/high]; OR, 2.43; 95% CI, 1.27-4.65). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that exposure to an oil spill is a risk factor for asthma in children.

Intravitreal Triamcinolone Acetonide as Adjunctive Treatment in Vitrectomy for Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of crystalline triamcinolone acetonide (TA) in pars plana vitrectomy for proliferative diabetic retinopathy. METHODS: A total of 152 eyes of 143 patients were enrolled in the study, and divided into 3 groups: Group I underwent pars plana vitrectomy without intravitreal injection of TA, group II underwent TA-assisted vitrectomy, and group III underwent TA-assisted vitrectomy and received an intravitreal injection of 4 mg TA at the end of surgery. RESULTS: In Groups I, II and III, 31 eyes (62.0%), 35 eyes (67.3%), and 41 eyes (82.0%), respectively, showed frequency of gain in visual acuity, group III showed greater improvements in vision after surgery than group I; the difference was statistically significant. Four eyes (8.0%) in group I, 12 eyes (23.1%) in group II, and 12 eyes (24.0%) in group III had an intraocular pressure higher than 21 mmHg after the operation; there were statistically significant differences in groups II and III compared to group I (P=0.04, P=0.03, respectively). Ten eyes (20.0%) in group I, 3 eyes (5.8%) in group II, and 3 eyes (6.0%) in group III needed additional surgery. Groups II and III, which received TA-assisted vitrectomy, had lower incidences of re-operation than group I (P=0.03, P=0.04, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Triamcinolone acetonide-assisted vitrectomy appears to be a potentially useful way to reduce the incidence of re-operation and an intravitreal injection of TA at the end of surgery may be useful for improving postoperative visual acuity.

Quantified Values of Anterior Chamber Depth and Angle Measurements Using Ultrasound Biomicroscopy and Topography

PURPOSE: To compare the measured values of anterior chamber depth and angle in glaucoma patients using Ultrasound Biomicroscopy (UBM) and Orbscan(TM) IIz Topography. METHODS: We measured the anterior chamber depth and angles of four directions in 26 eyes of 13 primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) patients, 26 eyes of 13 normal tension glaucoma (NTG) patients, and 20 eyes of 10 angle closure glaucoma (ACG) patients, with UBM and Orbscan. RESULTS: The values of anterior chamber depth did not show any difference between UBM and Orbscan. The values for anterior chamber angle in POAG and NTG eyes were not different between UBM and Orbscan, but the values for all anterior chamber angles except the superior angle, measured with UBM were significantly larger than those for ACG measured by Orbscan. CONCLUSIONS: Both UBM and Orbscan showed similar results in the measurement of anterior chamber depth and angle in POAG and NTG patients, but showed different results in the anterior chamber angle for ACG patients. UBM will be more useful in evaluating the anterior chamber angle in ACG patients because it can assess the structures of the anterior chamber angle objectively.

The Relationship between Intraocular Pressure and Cardiovascular Risk Factors

PURPOSE: To evaluate the relationship between intraocular pressure (IOP) and cardiovascular risk variables in healthy Koreans adjusted for age and mean blood pressure. METHODS: A total of 1477 healthy participants underwent automated multi-phasic test, including tonometry, automated perimetry, fundus photography, blood pressure, and cardiovascular risk variables such as total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein, triglyceride, and blood glucose. The subjects were divided into six age groups by decades ranging from 20~29 years to over 70 years. The relationship between IOP and cardiovascular risk variables was examined using multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 49.0 years, and 778 (52.7%) of participants were men. The mean IOP was 15.8+/-3.2 mmHg, and was significantly higher in men than in women (p0.05). CONCLUSIONS: As increased IOP was associated with cardiovascular risk variables, it is necessary to control increased total cholesterol, triglyceride, and blood glucose levels in the normal population to prevent or control the IOP elevation.

A Case of Rhabdomyosarcoma Misdiagnosed as a Chalazion

PURPOSE: We report a case of rhabdomyosarcoma misdiagnosed as a chalazion. METHODS: 11-year-old boy, complaining of tumoral lesion on his left upper eyelid that was suspected to be a chalazion, visited our clinic with progressed lid swelling and edema. The mass lesion was removed surgically, and demonstrated a well-demarcated solid mass of 2 X 2cm in diameter within the medial part the left upper lid. Histopathologic examination showed infiltrative, small round cells and he was diagnosed with embryonal type rhabdomyosarcoma by the positive responses of Desmin, SMA and Ki-67 on immunohistochemical study. Following diagnosis as IRS group IIA because the adjacent fatty tissues were involved with the tumor cells, radiotherapy and chemotherapy were done. RESULTS: After chemotherapy for 47 weeks and radiotherapy for 4 weeks, the patient had only mild signs of keratitis and there was no evidence of the tumor in his left upper lid throughout 12 months of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: We experienced a case of rhabdomyosarcoma misdiagnosed as a chalazion that was successfully treated by surgical excision, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Because the presenting signs and symptoms of orbital rhabdomyosarcoma sometimes show a misleading variety including chalazion, the physician should consider the possibility of a rhabdomyosarcoma in any recent onset of rapidly progressing mass of the lid in childhood.

The Effects of Tranilast gamma on the Cellular Proliferation and alpha-Smooth Muscle Actin Expression in the Cultured Keratocytes of Rabbit

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of Tranilast gamma on the cellular proliferation and expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin on the cultured keratocytes of the rabbit that influence the formation of corneal scar and haze in vitro. METHODS: After the keratocytes of the rabbit were cultured, they were exposed to Tranilast gamma (N-(3, 4-dimethoxycinnamoyl) anthranilic acid) 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8, 1.0, 1.6 mg/ml with DMEM used as a control. MTT was used to measure the metabolic activity, and the Western blot assay was performed to confirm the alpha-smooth muscle actin expression, which was expressed with time by Tranilast gamma treatment. RESULTS: Higher the concentration and longer the exposure time of Tranilast gamma, the more the inhibition of the cellular proliferation. LD50 concentration was about 0.4 mg/ml in the exposure time of 24 hours and 0.2 mg/ml in the exposure time of over 48 hours(P<0.05). There was a decrease in response of alpha-smooth muscle actin expression with increasing concentrations of Tranilast gamma relative to the control. CONCLUSIONS: Tranilast gamma trends to have an inhibitory effect on the cellular proliferation and induction of alpha-smooth muscle actin expression. Tranilast gamma may inhibit excessive haze of the cornea and inhibit scar formation after the corneal wound healing and photorefractive surgery in the cornea.

A Comparative Study of Gene Microarray between Normal and Diabetic Keratocyte in Rat Cornea

PURPOSE: To differentiate the genes that are up-regulated or down-regulated and the cellular morphology in the corneal stromal cells between normal and diabetic rat. METHODS: After isolation with trizol (GIBCO, NY, USA), labeling and purification of complementary DNA(cDNA) probes were carried out using Atlas(TM) Glass Microarrays 1.0. RESULTS: Autoradiographic analysis showed that 35 genes were up-regulated and 8 genes were down-regulated by Atlas Image(TM) Software. Up-regulated genes were as calcium/calmodulin dependent protein kinase I, proteasome 26S subunit 1, prostaglandin F receptor. Down-regulated genes were aquaporin 8, cytochrome c oxidase polypeptide Vb, glypican 1. CONCLUSIONS: There were many differential genes in hormone receptor, voltage gated ion channels, oncogenes and tumor suppressors, G protein between normal and diabetic keratocyte of rat.