Comparison of Interleukin-6, C-Reactive Protein, Procalcitonin, and the Computed Tomography Severity Index for Early Prediction of Severity of Acute Pancreatitis

Background/Aims@#Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common gastrointestinal disease associated with hospitalization. With the increase in its incidence, AP has become a greater burden on healthcare resources. Early identification of patients with mild AP can facilitate the appropriate use of resources. We aimed to investigate the ability of inflammatory markers, including interleukin-6 (IL-6), procalcitonin, and C-reactive protein (CRP), as well as various scoring systems to differentiate mild AP from more severe diseases. @*Methods@#We retrospectively investigated patients hospitalized with AP, for whom severity assessment and clinical course confirmation were possible. Inflammatory markers were measured at admission, and CRP levels were measured 24 hours after admission (CRP2). Predictive values were calculated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) and logistic regression model analysis. @*Results@#Of 103 patients with AP, 42 (40.8%) were diagnosed with mild AP according to the revised Atlanta classification. Based on the AUROC, IL-6 (0.755, p<0.001), CRP2 (0.787, p<0.001), and computed tomography severity index (CTSI) (0.851, p<0.001) were useful predictors of mild AP. With standard cutoff values, the diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 83.3%, 62.3%, and 70.9% for IL-6 (<50 pg/mL), and 78.6%, 63.9%, and 69.9% for CRP2 (<50 mg/L), respectively. The AUROC of IL-6 and CRP2 were significantly higher than those of other inflammatory markers and were not significantly different from that of CTSI. @*Conclusions@#IL-6, CRP2, and CTSI are helpful for early differentiation of AP severity. Among inflammatory markers, IL-6 has the advantage of early prediction of mild pancreatitis at the time of admission.

Role of endoscopy in patients with achalasia

Achalasia is an esophageal motility disorder characterized by impaired lower esophageal sphincter relaxation and peristalsis of the esophageal body. With the increasing prevalence of achalasia, interest in the role of endoscopy in its diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring is also growing. The major diagnostic modalities for achalasia include high-resolution manometry, esophagogastroduodenoscopy, and barium esophagography. Endoscopic assessment is important for early diagnosis to rule out diseases that mimic achalasia symptoms, such as pseudo-achalasia, esophageal cancer, esophageal webs, and eosinophilic esophagitis. The major endoscopic characteristics suggestive of achalasia include a widened esophageal lumen and food residue in the esophagus. Once diagnosed, achalasia can be treated either endoscopically or surgically. The preference for endoscopic treatment is increasing owing to its minimal invasiveness. Botulinum toxins, pneumatic balloon dilation, and peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) are important endoscopic treatments. Previous studies have demonstrated excellent treatment outcomes for POEM, with >95% improvement in dysphagia, making POEM the mainstay treatment option for achalasia. Several studies have reported an increased risk of esophageal cancer in patients with achalasia. However, routine endoscopic surveillance remains controversial owing to the lack of sufficient data. Further studies on surveillance methods and duration are warranted to establish concordant guidelines for the endoscopic surveillance of achalasia.

Trochlear Nerve Palsy Caused by a Superior Cerebellar Artery Aneurysm

Purpose@#We report a case of trochlear nerve palsy caused by a superior cerebellar artery (SCA) aneurysm.Case summary: A 34-year-old woman visited our clinic complaining of distance diplopia and a temporal headache 7 days in duration. She had no previous relevant medical or trauma history. Her visual acuity; intraocular pressure; and pupil, anterior segment, and fundus evaluations were unremarkable. Extraocular muscle examination (EOM) revealed six prism diopters (PD) of right hypertropia in the primary gaze; this worsened when the head was tilted to the right. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed a round solid nodule between the temporal lobe and pons; we thus suspected a petrous ridge meningioma. She was referred to our neurosurgery department for meningioma treatment. However, 1 hour later, she visited our emergency room with severe headache and nausea. Brain computed tomography angiography revealed a subarachnoid hemorrhage and a ruptured SCA aneurysm. Emergency coil embolization was successfully performed. Four weeks after surgery, the right hypertropia was slightly decreased. Four months later, the diplopia had disappeared and EOM revealed orthotropia. @*Conclusions@#SCA aneurysms are rare and can be misdiagnosed even after radiological examination. Our case emphasizes that an SCA aneurysm should be considered during the differential diagnosis of patients with diplopia and headache.

Clinical Features and Surgical Outcomes of Primary Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment according to Age

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical features and surgical outcomes of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) requiring surgery according to age. METHODS: Medical records of patients who underwent surgery for primary RRD between January 2008 and March 2016 were reviewed retrospectively. Patients were classified into two groups according to age at diagnosis: the under-40 group and the over-40 group. The two groups were compared in terms of demographic features, ocular manifestation, operating methods, primary anatomical success rate, and visual outcome. RESULTS: One hundred and forty-four eyes from 144 patients were included. Mean subject age was 48.6 ± 16.9 years old. The under-40 group involved 42 eyes from 42 patients, and the over-40 group included 102 eyes from 102 patients. Symptom duration was shorter in the under-40 group compared to the over-40 group (7.6 ± 10.7 days vs. 14.5 ± 24.4 days; p = 0.029). Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) occurred more frequently in the under-40 group (40.0% vs. 17.4%, p = 0.007) than in the over-40 group. The anatomical success rate of primary surgery was significantly different between the two groups; 78.6% in the under-40 group and 91.2% in the over-40 group (p = 0.038). Preoperative PVR increased the rate of anatomical failure (40.0% vs. 6.2%, p < 0.001). The visual outcomes were not significantly different between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: RRD is combined with PVR more frequently in young patients than in old patients, which increases the failure rate of primary re-attachment surgery.

Surgical Management of Superior Oblique Muscle Palsy in Hypertropia 16 Prism Diopters or More

PURPOSE: Isolated inferior oblique weakening procedure is an effective treatment for patients with superior oblique muscle palsy who had up to 15 prism diopters (PD) of vertical deviation in the primary position, but 2-muscle surgery is needed for patients with larger deviations. Herein, we report the surgical results of simultaneous 2-extraocular muscle surgery for large primary position hypertropia 16 PD or more caused by superior oblique palsy. METHODS: This study was a retrospective review of the records of patients who presented with central gaze hypertropia 16 PD or more and underwent simultaneous 2-extraocular muscle surgery between January 2003 and June 2014 in Severance Hospital. The patients were divided into 3 groups: 43 patients who underwent inferior oblique (IO) myectomy and contralateral inferior rectus (IR) recession (Group 1), 10 patients who underwent IO myectomy and superior rectus (SR) recession (Group 2), and 8 patients who underwent SR recession and contralateral IR recession (Group 3). Criteria for success included correction of head posture and a primary position alignment within 5 PD of vertical deviation. RESULTS: Mean preoperative alignment at primary gaze was 25.5 ± 7.1 PD (range, 16-60 PD) compared to the postoperative value of -1.3 ± 6.8 PD (range, -20~25 PD) (p < 0.001). Surgery was successful in 49 (80%) patients. Nine (15%) patients were overcorrected and the other 3 (5%) patients were undercorrected. Success rate was the highest in subjects who underwent IO myectomy and contralateral IR recession. Among the 24 patients who did not receive combined horizontal muscle surgery, horizontal deviations decreased from 10.4 ± 2.7 PD to 1.5 ± 5.5 PD (p < 0.001) CONCLUSIONS: Two-muscle surgery can be effective in patients with large hypertropia 16 PD or more. Additionally, horizontal deviations are more likely to be resolved with vertical muscle surgery alone. However, IO myectomy combined with ipsilateral SR recession can cause overcorrection postoperatively, so surgical dose should be reduced when performing weakening procedure of two elevators in one eye.

Intravitreal Ranibizumab for Subfoveal Choroidal Neovascularization from Age-Related Macular Degeneration with Combined Severe Diabetic Retinopathy

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the efficacy of intravitreal ranibizumab for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) from age-related macular degeneration (AMD) with combined severe diabetic retinopathy (DR). METHODS: This retrospective, interventional case series included eleven patients (mean age, 70.09 years; range, 54 to 83 years) with at least severe non-proliferative DR and subfoveal CNV secondary to AMD. Each subject was treated with intravitreal injections of 0.5 mg ranibizumab. The primary outcomes included change in best-corrected visual acuity and central subfield thickness (CST) on optical coherence tomography (OCT). RESULTS: The mean follow-up time was 16.7+/-14 months (range, 6 to 31 months). Mean visual acuity improved from 1.21+/-0.80 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) to 1.0+/-0.6 logMAR (P=0.107), 0.95+/-0.62 logMAR (P=0.044), 1.10+/-0.68 logMAR (P=0.296), and 1.13+/-0.66 logMAR (P=0.838) at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after injection, respectively. Eight patients (72.7%) gained or maintained vision (mean 0.32 logMAR), whereas three patients (27.3%) lost more than one line of vision (mean 0.51 logMAR). The mean OCT CST was 343.9+/-134.6 microm at baseline, and the mean CST at 1, 3, 6, 12 months after the injection was 367.8+/-172.1 (P=0.864), 346.2+/-246.2 (P=0.857), 342+/-194.1 (P=0.551), and 294.2+/-108.3 microm (P=0.621), respectively. CONCLUSION: Intravitreal ranibizumab injection can be considered to be a therapy for the stabilization of subfoveal CNV secondary to AMD with combined severe DR. However, these patients might exhibit limited visual improvement after treatment.

Real Stereopsis Test Using a Three-Dimensional Display with Tridef Software

PURPOSE: To investigate horizontal image disparity in three-dimensional (3-D) perception using 3-D animations in normal control patients and patients with intermittent exotropia, anisometropic amblyopia, and partially accommodative esotropia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 133 subjects were included. Stereopsis was measured using the Titmus Stereo test (Stereo Optical Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) and a 3-D stereopsis test with a 15 inch 3-D display laptop, adjusting 3-D parameters of 0 mm horizontal disparity to 15 mm horizontal disparity. RESULTS: When compared with normal controls, the average threshold of the 3-D stereopsis test was significantly reduced for esotropia patients (p<0.001) and for anisometric amblyopia patients (p<0.001), compared to normal controls. No significant difference was observed between normal controls and intermittent exotropia patients (p=0.082). The 3-D stereopsis test was correlated with the Titmus Stereo test (Spearman's rho=0.690, p<0.001). Mean difference in stereoacuity was 1.323 log seconds of arc (95% limits of agreement: 0.486 to 2.112), and 125 (92.5%) patients were within the limits of agreement. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that a 3-D stereopsis test with animation is highly correlated with the Titmus Stereo test; nevertheless, 3-D stereopsis with animations generates more image disparities than the conventional Titmus Stereo test. The 3-D stereopsis test is highly predictive for estimating real stereopsis in a 3-D movie theater.

The Effect of Axial Length on the Variability of Stratus Optical Coherence Tomography

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of axial length on the variability of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness measurements using the Stratus optical coherence tomography (OCT) in normal and glaucomatous eyes. METHODS: We measured the RNFL thickness in 474 subjects using the Stratus OCT twice during the same day. Axial length was measured with the IOLMaster, and refractive error was the absolute value of the spherical equivalent measured with an auto ref-keratometer. Standard deviation in overall mean RNFL thickness was used as the dependent variable to identify significant correlations. RESULTS: Long axial length affected the variability in the RNFL thickness value by stratus OCT at the temporal quadrant (p = 0.006) and clock-hour sector 9 (p = 0.001). Refractive error also affected the variability of the RNFL thickness value by stratus OCT at the temporal quadrant (p = 0.025) and clock-hour sector 9 (p = 0.024). CONCLUSIONS: It is clinically significant that longer axial length demonstrates greater variability in temporal area as detected by OCT, a measurement which correlates with the preferably damaged position in the myopic glaucoma eye.

Quality of Life Assessment in Patients with Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration

PURPOSE: This study was performed to assess the relationship between wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and quality of life (QOL). METHODS: The National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire 25 was administered to 27 wet AMD patients under treatment at Kangbuk Samsung hospital ophthalmology clinic. The relationship between wet AMD and QOL was analyzed according to age, visual acuity status and general health status. RESULTS: Older patients and those with hypertension had significantly lower mean scores for general vision, near vision, distance vision, vision-specific role difficulties and dependency compared to their younger and normotensive counterparts. Patients with cataracts had lower mean scores for general vision and color vision than those without, and patients with unilateral AMD had higher mean scores on the driving subscale of the questionnaire. CONCLUSIONS: Wet AMD has a substantial impact on patient quality of life. A comprehensive approach is required in managing these patients, including treatment of comorbidities such as cataracts and psychological reassurance.

A Case of Endogenous Streptococcus Mitis Endophthalmitis in a Patient with Staphylococcus Aureus Sepsis

PURPOSE: To report a case of endogenous endophthalmitis due to Streptococcus mitis in a patient with Staphylococcus aureus sepsis. CASE SUMMARY: A 77-year-old male complained of sudden visual loss and ocular pain in his right eye and was treated with intravenous antibiotics for Staphylococcus aureus sepsis. With a diagnosis of endogenous endophthalmitis, the patient received pars plana vitrectomy and intravitreal injection of antibiotics. Vitreous fluid was obtained before surgery, and the organism was identified as Streptococcus mitis. Twenty-one days after the surgery, intraocular inflammation was stabilized, and visual acuity was improved from light perception to 20/60. CONCLUSIONS: Appropriate sampling and culture of vitreous fluid are important for the diagnosis of endogenous endophthalmitis. The possibility that the causative organism of endogenous endophthalmitis may be different from the result of blood culture should be considered.