Impact of imatinib or dasatinib coadministration on in vitro preantral follicle development and oocyte acquisition in cyclophosphamide-treated mice / 대한생식의학회지

Objective@#We investigated the impact of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (imatinib or dasatinib) coadministration with cyclophosphamide (Cp) on preantral follicle development in an in vitro mouse model. @*Methods@#Seventy-three female BDF1 mice were allocated into 4 experimental groups: group A, saline; group B, Cp (25 mg/kg); group C, Cp (25 mg/kg) and imatinib (7.5 mg/kg); and group D, Cp (25 mg/kg) and dasatinib (7.5 mg/kg). Preantral follicles were isolated and cultured in vitro up to 12 days. Final oocyte acquisition and spindle integrity of metaphase II (MII) oocytes were assessed. Levels of 17β-estradiol and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) in the final spent media were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, and the mRNA levels of Star, Sod1, Mapk3, and Casp3 in the final follicular cells were quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction. @*Results@#The percentage of MII oocytes per initiated follicle, the proportion of MII oocytes with normal spindles, and the 17β-estradiol level were similar in all four groups. The median AMH level in group B (7.74 ng/mL) was significantly lower than that in group A (10.84 ng/mL). However, the median AMH levels in group C (9.96 ng/mL) and group D (9.71 ng/mL) were similar to that in group A. The mRNA expression levels of Star, Sod1, Mapk3, and Casp3 were similar in all four groups. @*Conclusion@#Coadministration of imatinib or dasatinib with Cp could preserve AMH production capacity in this in vitro mice preantral follicle culture model, and it did not affect MII oocyte acquisition.

etection of infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis virus and white spot syndrome virus in whiteleg shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) imported from Vietnam to South Korea

n this study, whiteleg shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) imported from Vietnam were collected from South Korean markets, and examined for 2 viruses: infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHHNV, recently classified as decapod penstyldensovirus-1), and white spot syndrome virus (WSSV). Among 58 samples, we detected IHHNV in 23 samples and WSSV in 2 samples, using polymerase chain reaction and sequencing analyses.This is the first report of IHHNV and WSSV detection in imported shrimp, suggesting that greater awareness and stricter quarantine policies regarding viruses infecting shrimp imported to South Korea are required.

Impact of imatinib or dasatinib coadministration on in vitro preantral follicle development and oocyte acquisition in cyclophosphamide-treated mice / 대한생식의학회지

Objective@#We investigated the impact of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (imatinib or dasatinib) coadministration with cyclophosphamide (Cp) on preantral follicle development in an in vitro mouse model. @*Methods@#Seventy-three female BDF1 mice were allocated into 4 experimental groups: group A, saline; group B, Cp (25 mg/kg); group C, Cp (25 mg/kg) and imatinib (7.5 mg/kg); and group D, Cp (25 mg/kg) and dasatinib (7.5 mg/kg). Preantral follicles were isolated and cultured in vitro up to 12 days. Final oocyte acquisition and spindle integrity of metaphase II (MII) oocytes were assessed. Levels of 17β-estradiol and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) in the final spent media were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, and the mRNA levels of Star, Sod1, Mapk3, and Casp3 in the final follicular cells were quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction. @*Results@#The percentage of MII oocytes per initiated follicle, the proportion of MII oocytes with normal spindles, and the 17β-estradiol level were similar in all four groups. The median AMH level in group B (7.74 ng/mL) was significantly lower than that in group A (10.84 ng/mL). However, the median AMH levels in group C (9.96 ng/mL) and group D (9.71 ng/mL) were similar to that in group A. The mRNA expression levels of Star, Sod1, Mapk3, and Casp3 were similar in all four groups. @*Conclusion@#Coadministration of imatinib or dasatinib with Cp could preserve AMH production capacity in this in vitro mice preantral follicle culture model, and it did not affect MII oocyte acquisition.

Contact Lens Induced Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency: Clinical Features in Korean Patients

PURPOSE: To describe the clinical features of Korean patients with contact lens-induced limbal stem cell deficiency (CL-LSCD).METHODS: Medical records of 22 patients who were diagnosed with CL-LSCD between 2014 and 2019 were reviewed retrospectively. Outcome measures included demographics, clinical presentation, treatment, clinical course, and pattern of contact lens (CL) wear.RESULTS: Forty-two eyes of 22 patients were found to have typical changes associated with CL-LSCD. Twenty (91%) patients were women and mean age was 36 ± 12 years. All patients had myopia with mean spherical equivalent of −7.52 ± 3.2 diopter. Twenty (91%) patients had bilateral disease and the location of limbal involvement was diffuse in 20 eyes (47.6%) and partial in 22 eyes (52.4%, superior in 20 eyes and inferior in 2 eyes). Fourteen (63.6%) patients complained of decreased visual acuity. Average period of CL wear was 14 ± 9 years. Four patients used cosmetic colored CLs and four patients had a history of overnight CL wear. All 12 patients who completed follow-up (28 ± 42 weeks) showed improvement in visual acuity and ocular surface condition after cessation of CL wear and medical treatment. Of them, five (42%) patients showed full recovery while seven (58%) showed partial recovery.CONCLUSIONS: If a patient with a history of CL wear for an extended period of time presents with decreased visual acuity, practitioners should perform detailed examinations with suspicion of CL-LSCD, including fluorescein staining. CL-LSCD is usually reversible and close follow-up with conservative treatment is recommended as the initial treatment option.

Effects of dynamic oxygen concentrations on the development of mouse pre- and peri-implantation embryos using a double-channel gas supply incubator system / 대한생식의학회지

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the effects of different oxygen conditions (20% [high O₂], 5% [low O₂] and 5% decreased to 2% [dynamic O₂]) on mouse pre- and peri-implantation development using a novel double-channel gas supply (DCGS) incubator (CNC Biotech Inc.) to alter the oxygen concentration during in vitro culture.METHODS: The high-O₂ and low-O₂ groups were cultured from the one-cell to the blastocyst stage under 20% and 5% oxygen concentrations, respectively. In the dynamic-O₂ group, mouse embryos were cultured from the one-cell to the morula stage under 5% O₂ for 3 days, followed by culture under 2% O₂ to the blastocyst stage. To evaluate peri-implantation development, the blastocysts from the three groups were individually transferred to a fibronectin-coated dish and cultured to the outgrowth stage in droplets.RESULTS: The blastocyst formation rate was significantly higher in the low-O₂ and dynamic-O₂ groups than in the high-O₂ group. The total cell number was significantly higher in the dynamic-O₂ group than in the low-O₂ and high-O₂ groups. Additionally, the apoptotic index was significantly lower in the low-O₂ and dynamic-O₂ groups than in the high-O₂ group. The trophoblast outgrowth rate and spread area were significantly higher in the low-O₂ and dynamic-O₂ groups than in the high-O₂ group.CONCLUSION: Our results showed that a dynamic oxygen concentration (decreasing from 5% to 2%) had beneficial effects on mouse pre- and peri-implantation development. Optimized, dynamic changing of oxygen concentrations using the novel DCGS incubator could improve the developmental competence of in vitro cultured embryos in a human in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer program.

Anemic Retinopathy after Chemotherapy

PURPOSE@#To report a case of anemic retinopathy after chemotherapy.CASE SUMMARY: A 32-year-old male presented with visual disturbance in both eyes. He had been diagnosed with testicular cancer and had undergone right orchiectomy 4 months prior. He completed adjuvant chemotherapy 2 weeks before presentation. His best-corrected visual acuities were 20/35 in both eyes. Fundus examination revealed multiple flame-shaped hemorrhages around the posterior pole, and boat-shaped hemorrhages on the macula in both eyes. Laboratory results showed that he had reduced hemoglobin (5.5 g/dL) and platelet counts (77,000/µL). After transfusion, visual acuities were improved and retinal hemorrhages were resolved along with normalization of the hematological conditions.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Many ocular and medical conditions can cause bilateral retinal hemorrhages. This case emphasizes that comprehensive history evaluation, systemic evaluation, and laboratory findings, as well as a detailed fundus examination, are important in the diagnosis of patients with bilateral retinal hemorrhages.

Prognostic Factors of Orbital Fractures with Muscle Incarceration

BACKGROUND: Among the various signs and symptoms of orbital fractures, certain clinical findings warrant immediate surgical exploration, including gaze restriction, computed tomographic (CT) evidence of entrapment, and prolonged oculocardiac reflex. Despite proper surgical reconstruction, prolonged complications such as diplopia and gaze restriction can occur. This article evaluated the prognostic factors associated with prolonged complications of orbital fractures with muscle incarceration. METHODS: The medical records of 37 patients (37 orbits) with an orbital fracture with muscle incarceration from January 2001 to January 2015 were reviewed. The presence of Incarcerated muscle was confirmed via CT, as well as by intraoperative findings. Various factors potentially contributing to complications lasting for over 1 year after the injury were categorized and analyzed, including age, cause of injury, injury-to-operation time, operative time, fracture type, nausea, vomiting and other concomitant symptoms and injuries. RESULTS: All patients who presented with extraocular muscle limitations, positive CT findings, and/or a positive forced duction test underwent surgery. Of the 37 patients, 9 (24%) exhibited lasting complications, such as diplopia and gaze restriction. The mean follow-up period was 18.4 months (range, 1–108 months), while that of patients who experienced prolonged complications was 30.1 months (range, 13–36 months). Two factors were significantly associated with prolonged complications: injury-to-operation time and nausea/vomiting. Loss of vision, worsening of motility, and implant complication did not occur. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who present with gaze limitations, with or without other signs of a blow-out fracture, require a thorough evaluation and emergent surgery. A better prognosis is expected with a shorter injury-to-operation time and lack of nausea and vomiting at the initial presentation.

Prognostic Factors of Orbital Fractures with Muscle Incarceration

BACKGROUND: Among the various signs and symptoms of orbital fractures, certain clinical findings warrant immediate surgical exploration, including gaze restriction, computed tomographic (CT) evidence of entrapment, and prolonged oculocardiac reflex. Despite proper surgical reconstruction, prolonged complications such as diplopia and gaze restriction can occur. This article evaluated the prognostic factors associated with prolonged complications of orbital fractures with muscle incarceration. METHODS: The medical records of 37 patients (37 orbits) with an orbital fracture with muscle incarceration from January 2001 to January 2015 were reviewed. The presence of Incarcerated muscle was confirmed via CT, as well as by intraoperative findings. Various factors potentially contributing to complications lasting for over 1 year after the injury were categorized and analyzed, including age, cause of injury, injury-to-operation time, operative time, fracture type, nausea, vomiting and other concomitant symptoms and injuries. RESULTS: All patients who presented with extraocular muscle limitations, positive CT findings, and/or a positive forced duction test underwent surgery. Of the 37 patients, 9 (24%) exhibited lasting complications, such as diplopia and gaze restriction. The mean follow-up period was 18.4 months (range, 1–108 months), while that of patients who experienced prolonged complications was 30.1 months (range, 13–36 months). Two factors were significantly associated with prolonged complications: injury-to-operation time and nausea/vomiting. Loss of vision, worsening of motility, and implant complication did not occur. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who present with gaze limitations, with or without other signs of a blow-out fracture, require a thorough evaluation and emergent surgery. A better prognosis is expected with a shorter injury-to-operation time and lack of nausea and vomiting at the initial presentation.

Differential regulation of senescence and in vitro differentiation by 17β-estradiol between mesenchymal stem cells derived from male and female mini-pigs

The characterization and potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are gender dependent and estrogen influences these properties. This study demonstrated that supplementation with 17β-estradiol (E2) increases the proliferation of bone marrow-MSCs derived from male and female mini-pigs (Mp- and Fp-BMSCs) in a concentration-dependent manner, with 10(-12) M E2 suggested as the optimal dose of E2 that led to the greatest improvement in BMSCs proliferation. Supplementation of 10(-12) M E2 resulted in down-regulation of β-galactosidase activity and pro-apoptotic activity in both BMSCs, while anti-apoptotic activity was up-regulated in only Fp-BMSCs. Further, E2 increased the osteogenic ability of Fp-BMSCs. Based on these findings, optimal utilization of E2 can improve cellular senescence and apoptosis, as well as in vitro osteogenesis of BMSCs, and could therefore be useful in stem cell therapy, particularly in bone regeneration for adult females.

Hafnia Alvei Keratitis after Using a Therapeutic Contact Lens in a Patient with Graft-Versus-Host Disease

PURPOSE: To report a case of bacterial keratitis caused by Hafnia alvei after using a contact lens in a patient with graft-versus-host disease. CASE SUMMARY: A 47-year-old male patient presented with a corneal ulcer. The patient had been wearing a therapeutic contact lens for a month because of severe dry eye syndrome and filament removal due to filamentary keratitis. The patient had been taking moxifloxacin to prevent infection, but had not for the previous 7 days. The corneal ulcer occurred at the 11 o'clock direction in the peripheral cornea accompanied by corneal epithelial defect and stromal infiltration. The corneal scraping and culture yielded Hafnia alvei, which is susceptible to ceftazidime, levofloxacin and moxifloxacin. There was no systemic signs or symptoms to suspect systemic infection. After treatment with a topical antibiotic agent, the patient's eye condition improved with only mild corneal opacity remaining. CONCLUSIONS: Hafnia alvei infection rarely occurs in humans but should be considered as a potential causal pathogen in immunosuppressed patients.

A Case of Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome with Optic Disc Coloboma and Chorioretinal Coloboma

PURPOSE: The authors report a case of Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome with optic disc coloboma and chorioretinal coloboma. CASE SUMMARY: A 17-month-old female infant was brought to our clinic presenting exodeviation in the right eye. On cycloplegic refraction, her refractive power was -5.50 D sph -2.50 D cyl axis 180degrees in the right eye and +0.50 D sph in the left eye. On ophthalmologic examination, exotropia of 60 prism diopters with no limitation of ocular movement was observed. Fundus examination showed optic disc coloboma and chorioretinal coloboma in the right eye. The patient's physical characteristics were downward slanted palpebral fissures, long eyelashes, low set ears, and the thumb and the big toe were disproportionately broad. The patient also demonstrated delayed gait abilities. The clinical diagnosis of Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome was given. CONCLUSIONS: The authors report a child with Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome with optic disc coloboma and chorioretinal coloboma, the first to be reported in Korea.

A Case of Waardenburg Syndrome Type 2 With Anisocoria

PURPOSE: To report a case of Type 2 Waardenburg syndrome with anisocoria. CASE SUMMARY: A 53-year-old woman with congenital deafness visited the clinic complaining of photophobia and heterochromic iris in the left eye. Her best-corrected visual acuity was 1.0 in the right eye and 0.7 in the left eye. The patient's left eye showed complete iris hypopigmentation, and the right eye showed segmental iris hypopigmentation. Fundus examination demonstrated generalized decrease in retinal pigment with focal hypopigmented lesions in both eyes. The pupil sizes were 3 mm in the right eye and 5 mm in the left eye. A pure tone audiogram showed profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. CONCLUSIONS: In the present case, mydriasis was found to exist in a completely hypopigmented iris. Therefore, the neural crest from which the pupillary constrictor muscle originates may play a role in the pathogenesis of Waardenburg syndrome.

Clinical Significance of Ultrasound Biomicroscopy in Early Stage of Traumatic Hyphema

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical significance of angle-opening distance 500 (AOD500) using ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) in the early stage of traumatic hyphema. METHODS: The participants of this study were 46 hospitalized traumatic hyphema patients. We measured the quantity of initial blood clotting using a slit-lamp and the range of angle recession, AOD500 using UBM and then reviewed the relationship between the two. RESULTS: The difference of AOD500 in the traumatic and the non-traumatic eye measured by UBM at admission increased significantly in the wider recessed angle group (p=0.008), but did not increase at a statistically significantly level in the larger initial blood clot grade group (> or =Grade 2). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the measurement of the angle-opening distance of both eyes using UBM will aid in evaluating the range of angle recession in patients in the early stage of traumatic hyphema.

Preferential Hyperacuity Perimeter in Exudative AMD With Pigment Epithelial Detachment

PURPOSE: To analyze the hyperacuity defects by preferential hyperacuity perimeter (PHP) in exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and correlate them with the properties of pigment epithelial detachment (PED) obtained by optical coherence tomography (OCT). METHODS: Thirty eyes with exudative AMD with choroidal neovascularization (CNV) diagnosed by fluorescein angiography underwent PHP for hyperacuity defect and OCT for PED length and height. We compared hyperacuity defect with the shape of the PED by OCT. RESULTS: 26 eyes with exudative AMD with CNV tested positive for hyperacuity defects. The size of the hyperacuity defect by PHP and the PED length by OCT showed positive correlation (p=0.010). In the 4 eyes that tested negative for hyperacuity defects, the PED was not high although the size was large. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that PHP is a useful method to detect a change of pigment epithelial layer in AMD and the presences of a hyperacuity defect is more sensitive for PED height than size. These results suggest that PHP is useful to detect the state and the activity of CNV lesion.

Anticancer Effect of Magnolia officinalis' Extract on N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl) Nitrosamine Induced Bladder Cancer in Mice / 대한비뇨기과학회지

PURPOSE: Magnolia officinalis has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat a variety of diseases. The main constituents of Magnolia officinalis are honokiol and magnolol, which have a variety of pharmacological effects, such as antitumor, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory etc. This study examined the anticancer effect of a Magnolia officinalis' extract on urinary bladder cancer in vivo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male mice C3H/He were used as the experimental animals. The mice were divided into ten groups. Normal drinking water was provided to group 1(5 mice) for 20 weeks and 0.05% N-butyl- N-(4-hydroxybutyl) nitrosamine(BBN) was added to in the drinking water of group 2(5 mice). 0.1, 0.3, 1.0 and 3.0% Magnolia officinalis' extract was added to groups 3, 4, 5 and 6, respectively(5 mice each), and 0.1, 0.3, 1.0 and 3.0% Magnolia officinalis' extract plus 0.05% BBN was added to groups 7, 8, 9 and 10, respectively(10 mice each) for the same period. All surviving mice were sacrificed at week 20 to investigate the occurrence of bladder cancer, stage and grade. RESULTS: Bladder cancer was not observed in groups 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 mice. The rates of bladder cancer occurrence were 57.1, 66.7, 44.4 and 20.0% in groups 7, 8, 9 and 10, respectively. The incidence decreased with increasing concentration of Magnolia officinalis (p=0.005). However, the stage and grade were not associated with the concentration of Magnolia officinalis(each p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that Magnolia officinalis has some protective effect against bladder cancer. In the future, Magnolia officinalis may be expected to play an important role as a chemo-preventive and therapeutic agent or as a complementary agent in bladder cancer.

Changes of Anterior Chamber Depth and Angle After Cataract Surgery Measured by Anterior Segment OCT

PURPOSE: To report the change of anterior chamber parameters according to cataract severity after cataract surgery and to determine its relationship to the severity of cataract by using anterior segment optical coherence tomography. METHODS: We measured the anterior chamber parameters in 19 eyes of 14 patients before, 1 week after, and 1 month after cataract surgery by slit lamp-adapted optical coherence tomography (SL-OCT). The measured parameters were as follows : the anterior chamber depth (ACD), the angle-opening distance 250 micrometer from the scleral spur (AOD250), the angle-opening distance 500 micrometer from the scleral spur (AOD500), and the trabecular-iris angle (TIA). We analyzed the relationship between the severity of cataract and the change of the anterior chamber parameters. RESULTS: The ACD, AOD250, AOD500, and TIA increased significantly at postoperative 1 week (P=0.000, 0.002, 0.005, 0.022) and 1 month (P=0.000, 0.004, 0.001, 0.002). The preoperative parameters were negatively correlated with the differences between the postoperative 1 week and preoperative parameters (gamma=-0.834, -0.591, -0.421, -0.826) and between postoperative 1 month and preoperative parameters (gamma=-0.659, -0.700, -0.770, -0.821). The change of parameters at postoperative 1 week (by N P=0.959, 0.916, 0.824, 1.000, by C P=0.454, 0.665, 0.578, 0.578) and 1 month (by N P=0.858, 0.973, 0.959, 0.959, by C P=0.999, 0.207, 0.950, 0.981) were not significantly different according to the severity of cataract (N, C). CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that cataract surgery significantly deepened the anterior chamber and widened its angle. The shallower and narrower the preoperative anterior chamber depth and angle were, respectively, the greater the postoperative changes of anterior chamber depth and angle were.

Bilateral Peripheral Infiltrative Keratitis After LASIK

PURPOSE: To present a case of peripheral infiltrative keratitis mimicking infectious keratitis on the flap margin and limbus, which appeared on the first postoperative day after the laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). METHODS: A 36-year-old woman who underwent uneventful bilateral simultaneous LASIK developed multiple round infiltrate along the flap margin reaching to limbus from the 11 o'clock to 6 o'clock area in both eyes. RESULTS: The flap was lifted and irrigation was performed with antibiotics. but infiltration seemed to appear again. The infiltrate was more concentrated at the periphery and was extended to the limbus. Direct smear and culture for bacteria and fungus were negative. Topical prednisolone acetate 1% eye drops was added, infiltrative condition was resolved. CONCLUSIONS: LASIK induced peripheral infiltrative keratitis, in which infectious origin was ruled out, is reported.

Conjunctival Inclusion Cysts in Long-standing Chronic Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis

PURPOSE: To report a case of conjunctival inclusion cysts on the corneal limbus of a patient with chronic vernal keratoconjunctivitis during 16 months' follow up. METHODS: The patient was a 26 year old male without any specific history of surgery or trauma. Giant papillae, shield ulcers, and Horner-Trantas dots were detected. During the 16 month follow-up, Sodium cromoglycate eye drops and Prednisolone acetate 1% eye drops were given 3 times a day. During this period, conjunctival cysts were detected on the corneal limbus in both eyes. In spite of improvement of the corneal and conjunctival conditions, the conjunctival cysts did not seem to show any specific changes. For relief of foreign body sensation, excision of the conjunctival cysts and giant papillae of the left eye and histopathologic examination of the specimen was performed. RESULTS: On histopathological examination, the conjunctival cysts consisted of nonkeratinizing stratified epithelial cells filled with PAS-positive mucous substance. Inflammatory cells were not found in the vicinity. CONCLUSIONS: Conjunctival inclusion cysts can be seen as an atypical finding of long-standing vernal keratoconjunctivitis. Mechanical friction between the giant papillae and conjunctiva may be a factor in inducing the formation of the conjunctival cysts.

Predictability of Donor Lamellar Graft Thickness and Diameter Using a Microkeratome in Porcine Eyes

PURPOSE: To evaluate the thickness and diameter of a lamellar graft with microkeratome and to determine its usefulness as a donor lamellar graft for microkeratome-assisted lamellar keratoplasty. METHODS: Thirty-six porcine eyes were randomly assigned to three groups according to the microkeratome (Automated Corneal Shaper(R)) depth plate: group 1 (#300 micrometer plate, 13 eyes), group 2 (#400 micrometer plate, 12 eyes), and group 3 (#450 micrometer plate, 11 eyes). Free corneal buttons were made with the corneal shaper after a uniform suction duration of 10 seconds. Central corneal thicknesses were measured with an automated ultrasound pachymeter prior to the procedure. After the lamellar graft was made, the remaining corneal thickness was measured with the same method. The difference between the two values was hypothesized to be the lamellar graft thickness. In addition, the diameter of lamellar graft was measured by calipers. RESULTS: The mean lamellar graft thicknesses in groups 1, 2, and 3 were 218.2+/-26.6 micrometer (72.7%), 312.3+/-26.7 micrometer (78.1%) and 345.7+/-36.7 micrometer (76.8%), respectively. There were no significant differences between the three groups according to the results brought by the microkeratome depth plates (p=0.239). The mean lamellar graft diameters in groups 1, 2, and 3 were 8.49+/-0.28 mm, 8.43+/-0.26 mm and 8.58+/-0.28 mm, respectively. There were no significant differences between the three groups (p=0.368). No relationship was found between lamellar graft thickness and diameter (r=-0.009, p=0.480). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that in forming donor lamellar grafts with microkeratome plates, thicker resection depth is needed because the actual lamellar graft were shown to be thinner than the target values. However, lamellar grafting is thought to be unsuitable for lamellar keratoplasty because it results in considerable thickness variability.

Correction of Saddle Nose Deformity using Autogenous Cartilage Graft

PURPOSE: Correction of saddle nose remains problematic both in the technique of reconstruction and in the choice of implant material for nasal augmentation. A large variety of graft materials have been used for the reconstruction of the saddle nose deformity. The purpose of this study is to determinate an algorithm for deciding alternative graft materials used in correction of saddle nose deformity. METHODS: Six patients with saddle nose who were corrected using by auricular cartilage and costal cartilage at Chosun university hospital were analyzed. RESULTS: After a mean interval of 12 months, all patients were satisfied with the esthetic and functional result. CONCLUSION: Auricular cartilage is an excellent graft material for esthetic and functional reconstruction of mild to moderate saddle nose deformity.