Antioxidant, Anti-Melanogenic and Anti-Wrinkle Effects of Phellinus vaninii

In this study, the antioxidant, anti-xanthine oxidase, anti-melanogenic and anti-wrinkle effects of methanol (ME) and hot water (HE) extracts from the fruiting bodies of Phellinus vaninii were investigated. The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl free radical scavenging activity of 2.0 mg/mL HE (95.38%) was comparable to that of butylated hydroxytoluene (96.97%), the reference standard. The hydroxyl radical scavenging activities of ME (98.19%) and HE (97.55%) were higher than that of butylated hydroxytoluene (92.66%) at 2.0 mg/mL. Neither ME nor HE was cytotoxic to murine melanoma B16-F10 cells at 25–750 µg/mL. Although the xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibitory effects of ME and HE were significantly lower than that of allopurinol, the values were higher than 84 percent. The in vitro tyrosinase inhibitory activities of ME and HE were comparable to kojic acid at 2.0 mg/mL. The cellular tyrosinase and melanin synthetic activities of ME and HE on B16-F10 melanoma cells at 500 µg/mL were higher than arbutin, indicating that the inhibitory effects of arbutin on the tyrosinase and melanin synthesis were higher than those of ME and HE. The collagenase inhibitory activity of HE was comparable to EGCG at 2.0 mg/mL, however, the elastase inhibitory activity of ME and HE was lower than EGCG at the concentration tested. The study results demonstrated that the fruiting bodies of Ph. vaninii possessed good antioxidant, anti-xanthine oxidase, cell-free anti-tyrosinase, cellular anti-tyrosinase, anti-collagenase, and moderate anti-elastase activities, which might be used for the development of novel anti-gout, skin-whitening, and skin anti-wrinkle agents.

Hyperlipidemic Inhibitory Effects of Phellinus pini in Rats Fed with a High Fat and Cholesterol Diet

This study evaluated the in vitro and in vivo hypolipidemic effects of the medicinal mushroom Phellinus pini. The methanol extract (ME) of the fruiting body of Ph. pini was active against pancreatic lipase and cholesterol esterase with 99.14% and 67.23% inhibited activity at 1.0 mg/mL, respectively. It also inhibited 81.81% and 55.33% of α-glucosidase and α-amylase activities, respectively, at 2.0 mg/mL. Hyperlipidemia as induced by feeding rats with a high fat and cholesterol diet (HFC). HFC supplemented with a 5% fruiting body powder of Ph. pini (HFC + PhP) significantly reduced plasma total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides in rats compared with HFC. The reduced levels were comparable to rats fed the normal control diet (NC). The atherogenic index of HFC + PhP rats was significantly lower than that of the HFC rats. The excretion of fecal total lipid and cholesterol in the HFC + PhP rats was significantly higher than those in the NC and HFC rats. Histopathological examinations demonstrated scant deposition of lipids in the liver of rats fed HFC + PhP. The dietary supplementation with the fruiting body powder provided natural plasma lipid and glucose lowering effects in experimental rats without adverse effects on the plasma biochemical parameters and liver function related enzyme activities. Therefore, the hypolipidemic effects of Ph. pini may be due to the inhibitory effects on pancreatic lipase, cholesterol esterase, α-glucosidase, and α-amylase, and excretion of excess lipids and cholesterol in the feces.

Surgical Results of Punctoplasty Using Thermal Vaporization in Patients with Punctual Stenosis

PURPOSE: To evaluate the surgical results of punctoplasty using thermal vaporization in patients with punctual stenosis. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 84 patients who underwent punctoplasty using thermal vaporization via a radiofrequency surgical unit (Ellman surgitron®; Ellman International Inc., Oceanside, NY, USA) from 2012 to 2015. The final surgical results included the success rates, postoperative complications, and punctual size and shape. RESULTS: A total of 123 eyes and 219 puncta of 84 patients were included in this study. The average age was 53.5 years with a mean follow-up period of 32.2 months. Before surgery, the mean punctum diameter was 0.24 mm. After surgery, the mean punctum diameter was 2.59 mm. At last follow-up, 207 puncta (95%) were found to be patent, while 9 puncta (4%) became stenotic again. The anatomic success rate was 95%. During fluorescein dye disappearance tests after surgery, 3 eyes (2.4%) were grade 3, 5 eyes (4%) were grade 2, 3 eyes (2.4%) were grade 1, and 112 eyes (91%) were grade 0. If grades 1 or 0 were defined as functional success, then the functional success rate was 115/123 eyes (93.5%). After punctoplasty, 110 eyes (89.4%) showed no signs of epiphora. However, 5 eyes (4.1%) showed intermittent epiphora and 8 eyes (6.5%) showed persistent epiphora. According to a survey study on tearing, the functional success rate was 115/123 eyes (93.4%). CONCLUSIONS: After punctoplasty using thermal vaporization, high anatomic and functional success rates were achieved, with the two success rates being almost identical. No significant complications were reported postoperatively.

Evaluation of Antioxidant, Anti-cholinesterase, and Anti-inflammatory Effects of Culinary Mushroom Pleurotus pulmonarius

Culinary mushroom Pleurotus pulmonarius has been popular in Asian countries. In this study, the anti-oxidant, cholinesterase, and inflammation inhibitory activities of methanol extract (ME) of fruiting bodies of P. pulmonarius were evaluted. The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazy free radical scavenging activity of ME at 2.0 mg/mL was comparable to that of butylated hydroxytoluene, the standard reference. The ME exhibited significantly higher hydroxyl radical scavenging activity than butylated hydroxytoluene. ME showed slightly lower but moderate inhibitory activity against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase than galantamine, a standard AChE inhibitor. It also exhibited protective effect against cytotoxicity to PC-12 cells induced by glutamate (10~100 µg/mL), inhibitory effect on nitric oxide (NO) production and inducible nitric oxide synthase protein expression in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages, and carrageenan-induced paw edema in a rat model. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis revealed the ME of P. pulmonarius contained at least 10 phenolic compounds and some of them were identified by the comparison with known standard phenolics. Taken together, our results demonstrate that fruiting bodies of P. pulmonarius possess antioxidant, anti-cholinesterase, and inflammation inhibitory activities.

Ethanol Production from Various Sugars and Cellulosic Biomass by White Rot Fungus Lenzites betulinus

Lenzites betulinus, known as gilled polypore belongs to Basidiomycota was isolated from fruiting body on broadleaf dead trees. It was found that the mycelia of white rot fungus Lenzites betulinus IUM 5468 produced ethanol from various sugars, including glucose, mannose, galactose, and cellobiose with a yield of 0.38, 0.26, 0.07, and 0.26 g of ethanol per gram of sugar consumed, respectively. This fungus relatively exhibited a good ethanol production from xylose at 0.26 g of ethanol per gram of sugar consumed. However, the ethanol conversion rate of arabinose was relatively low (at 0.07 g of ethanol per gram sugar). L. betulinus was capable of producing ethanol directly from rice straw and corn stalks at 0.22 g and 0.16 g of ethanol per gram of substrates, respectively, when this fungus was cultured in a basal medium containing 20 g/L rice straw or corn stalks. These results indicate that L. betulinus can produce ethanol efficiently from glucose, mannose, and cellobiose and produce ethanol very poorly from galactose and arabinose. Therefore, it is suggested that this fungus can ferment ethanol from various sugars and hydrolyze cellulosic materials to sugars and convert them to ethanol simultaneously.

Endoluminal Closure of Colon Perforation with Endoscopic Band Ligation: Technical Feasibility and Safety in an In Vivo Canine Model

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Endoscopic band ligation (EBL) is an accepted method in the management of variceal bleeding; however, there is little evidence on the safety and feasibility of EBL for the closure of bowel perforation. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the technical feasibility and efficacy of EBL in iatrogenic colon perforation by using a canine model. METHODS: We established an iatrogenic colon perforation model by using seven beagle dogs. Longitudinal 1.5- to 1.7-cm colon perforations were created with a needle knife and an insulated-tip knife, and the perforation was subsequently closed with EBL. During a 2-week follow-up period, the animals were carefully monitored and then euthanized for pathologic examination. RESULTS: The EBL of iatrogenic colon perforations was successful in all dogs. The mean procedure time for EBL closure with one to three bands was 191.7 seconds, and there were no immediate complications. One animal was euthanized after 3 days because of peritonitis. There were no clinical and laboratory features of sepsis or peritonitis in the remaining six animals. On necropsy, we did not find any fecal peritonitis, pericolonic abscess formation, or transmural dehiscence at the perforation site. Histopathology demonstrated inflamed granulation tissue and scar lesions replaced by fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS: EBL might be a feasible and safe method for the management of iatrogenic colon perforations in an in vivo model.

correlation between the first heart sound and cardiac output as measured by using digital esophageal stethoscope under anaesthesia

The use of an esophageal stethoscope is a basic heart sounds monitoring procedure performed in patients under general anesthesia. As the size of the first heart sound can express the left ventricle function, its correlation with cardiac output should be investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of cardiac output [CO] on the first heart sound [S1] amplitude. Six male beagles were chosen. The S1 was obtained with the newly developed esophageal stethoscope system. CO was measured using NICOM, a non-invasive CO measuring device. Ephedrine and beta blockers were administered to the subjects to compare changes in figures, and the change from using an inhalation anesthetic was also compared. The S1 amplitude displayed positive correlation with the change rate of CO [r = 0.935, p < 0.001]. The heart rate measured using the esophageal stethoscope and ECG showed considerably close figures through the Bland-Altman plot and showed a high positive correlation [r = 0.988, p < 0.001]. In beagles, the amplitude of S1 had a significant correlation with changes in CO in a variety of situations

Orbital Morphology for Decompression Surgery in Thyroid Eye Disease Using 2-D Orbital CT and 4 Parameters

PURPOSE: To present easily measurable 2D orbit computed tomography (CT) reference data that can be used in a preoperative study for orbital decompression and classification of individual orbital morphologies. METHODS: The study sample was composed of 77 patients with orbital contusion (42 Asian males + 35 Asian females = 154 orbits) who visited the emergency room of the Korea University Guro Hospital from September 2012 to June 2013. Patients with orbital wall fracture, retrobulbar hemorrhage, or eyeball rupture were excluded. Medical records including 2D orbit or facial bone CT were retrospectively reviewed and 4 orbital parameters (orbital length, OL; globe length, GL; GL/OL ratio and 2D cone angle) were measured. RESULTS: The average OL was 42.53 +/- 2.46 mm (35.63-49.09 mm) and average GL was 24.83 +/- 1.09 mm (22.75-28.13 mm). The average GL/OL ratio using these 2 parameters was 0.59 +/- 0.04 (0.50-0.68). The posterior cone angle was on average, 45.96 +/- 5.91degrees (29.35-60.04degrees). CONCLUSIONS: Simple measurement of 4 parameters using 2D orbit CT and classification of Asian individual orbital morphology may help in the choice of the most effective surgical technique for decompression surgery in thyroid eye disease patients.

Optic Canal Location Using Computed Tomography (CT)

PURPOSE: In this study we evaluated the location and shape of the optic canal using computed tomography (CT) for diagnosis and treatment of posterior orbital diseases. METHODS: Fifty patients, who had received a facial bone CT between November 2012 and June 2013 at Korea University Hospital were included in the present study. The location and shape of the optic canal was evaluated using 9 parameters on CT (P1: nasal bone tip; P2: middle point of tuberculum sellae; P3: root of columella nasi; P4: orbit end of the optic canal; P5: cranium end or the optic canal; P6: P1's projection on L2; L1: line that links P1 and P2; L2: goes through P3 and parallel to L1; L3: bisector of right and left and goes through P1). RESULTS: The distance between P3 and P4 was 81.5 mm and 75.6 mm in males and females, respectively (p = 0.001). The distance between P3 and P5 was 88.5 mm and 82.1 mm in, males and females, respectively (p = 0.001). The width of the orbital end and cranium end of the optic canal, the length of the optic canal was 2.4 mm, 4.1 mm, 10.9 mm in males and 2.3 mm, 3.6 mm, 10.2 mm, in females, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: By determining the location and shape of the optic canal, these results can facilitate endoscopic approaches to diagnose and manage posterior orbital diseases as well as manage and prevent disorders associated with the optic canal.

Anatomical Location and Distribution of Supraorbital Notch and Foramen Evaluations Using Facial 3D Computed Tomography

PURPOSE: To evaluate anatomical locations and distributions of supraorbital notch and foramen using facial 3D computed tomography in the Korean adult population. METHODS: The study sample was composed of 87 adult patients with no history of trauma or ocular disease. The horizontal position of the supraorbital foramen or notch was recorded in relation to a vertical line defined by a reproducible hypothetical point, such as the nasion and mid-maxilla and the midpoint of the horizontal supraorbital plane. The distance and angle for each supraorbital foramen and notch were calculated from the defined vertical line. Furthermore, vertical distance from supraorbital plane, which was established using the highest points of both supraorbital rims, was obtained from the supraorbital foramen. RESULTS: The mean age of the 87 patients was 45.44 +/- 8.34 years (range, 30-59 years). There were 66 eyes in the supraorbital notch and 108 eyes in the supraorbital foramen. There were no distributional differences between the 2 sides. The mean horizontal distance of both types was 23.95 +/- 3.93 mm (range, 16.41-38.94 mm). The horizontal distance of male patients was longer than the female patients (25.18 +/- 4.16 mm vs. 22.63 +/- 3.19 mm, p < 0.001, based on independent t-test) and the horizontal distance of supraorbital notch was shorter than the supraorbital foramen (22.59 +/- 3.18 mm vs. 26.18 +/- 4.04 mm, respectively, p < 0.001, based on independent t-test). The mean vertical distance and mean angles of the supraorbital foramen were 3.02 +/- 1.119 mm and 6.81 +/- 2.31 degrees (degrees), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The present study described the anatomical location of each supraorbital opening type in Korean adults. According to horizontal distance, a surgeon can avoid iatrogenic injury of the supraorbital neurovascular complex, especially during brow surgery. In addition, the anatomy can aid in targeting supraorbital neurovascular complex in cases of nerve block.

Analysis of Upper Eyelid Fat Pad Changes with Aging and Body Mass Index in Korean

PURPOSE: To evaluate differential changes in the central and nasal fat pads of the upper eyelid associated with aging and the effect of body mass index in Koreans. METHODS: Using a standardized scale, the volume grade of the central and nasal fat pads was graded from 0 to 3 (0 for depressed, 1 for flat, 2 for mildly protruded, and 3 for markedly protruded) in normal adults, consisting of 20 males and 20 females from 30 years of age to 80 years of age. The body mass index was calculated for every patient through interviews using their height and weight. Statistical evaluations correlating age and body mass index with central and nasal fat pad changes were performed. Statistical evaluations correlating age with fat pad changes except for the effect of body mass index were performed. RESULTS: Except for the effect of body mass index, the central fat pad increased (r = -0.176, p = 0.007) and nasal fat pad decreased (r = 0.252, p < 0.001) with aging, which was statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: With aging, the central fat pad increases and nasal fat pad decreases in the upper eyelid. Clinically, this finding has implications in cosmetic and functional upper eyelid blepharoplasty. In addition, the results may be useful to determine whether to conserve or remove the fat as well as the amount of fat removal during upper blepharoplasty.

Monocanalicular and Bicanalicular Intubation with Sequential Probing for Congenital Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction in Patients Over the Age of 24 Months

PURPOSE: The clinical effectiveness of monocanalicular or bicanalicular intubation with sequential probing was evaluated in patients over the age of 24 months with congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction. METHODS: Patients over 24 months of age with congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction who underwent monocanalicular intubation with sequential probing (19 patients, 20 eyes) or bicanalicular intubation with sequential probing (22 patients, 22 eyes) were studied. Success rates and complications were evaluated. Silicone tube was removed 6 months after surgery. Success was defined as no epiphora and no retention on fluorescein dye disappearance test. RESULTS: The success rate was 95.0% (19 eyes / 20 eyes) in the monocanalicular intubation group and complications included 7 cases of early tube dislodgement, which achieved successful outcome. The success rate was 82.6% (19 eyes / 22 eyes) in the bicanalicular intubation group and complications included 4 cases of punctal slitting, and 3 cases of tube extrusion. The success and complication rates were not significantly different between the 2 groups (p = 0.608, p = 1.000, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction, the monocanalicular tube intubation group had similar success and complication rates to the bicanalicular tube intubation group. Silicone tube maintenance for 2 months in the monocanalicular group and for 3 months in the bicanalicular group was sufficient.

Punctoplasty Using a Radiofrequency Surgical Unit for Punctal Stenosis

PURPOSE: To introduce and assess the results of punctoplasty using a radiofrequency surgical unit for punctal stenosis. METHODS: Patients who complained of epiphora, had an intact lacrimal pathway below puncti, and underwent punctoplasty with the Ellman Surgitron F.F.P.F were evaluated in the present study. RESULTS: A total of 19 patients (31 eyes) were included in the study. The average age was 55 years (+/-15.7 years). At the last follow-up visit, 27 eyes (87%) had patent puncti, 1 eye became stenotic again, and 3 eyes were completely obstructed. Twenty-two eyes (71%) showed almost complete disappearance of dye on the fluorescein dye-disappearance test (FDDT). Twenty-five eyes (81%) had symptomatic improvement. No significant complication was reported postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Punctoplasty with a radiofrequency surgical unit is a simple and effective method for punctal stenosis.

Anticancer and Immunopotentiating Activities of Crude Polysaccharides from Pleurotus nebrodensis on Mouse Sarcoma 180

Pleurotus nebrodensis is an edible and commercially available mushroom in Korea. This study was conducted in order to evaluate the anticancer and immunopotentiating activities of crude polysaccharides, extracted in methanol, neutral saline, and hot water (hereafter referred to as Fr. MeOH, Fr. NaCl, and Fr. HW, respectively) from the fruiting bodies of P. nebrodensis. beta-Glucan and protein contents in Fr. MeOH, Fr. NaCl, and Fr. HW extracts of P. nebrodensis ranged from 23.79~36.63 g/100 g and 4.45~6.12 g/100 g, respectively. Crude polysaccharides were not cytotoxic against sarcoma 180, HT-29, NIH3T3, and RAW 264.7 cell lines at a range of 10~2,000 microg/mL. Intraperitoneal injection with crude polysaccharides resulted in a life prolongation effect of 11.76~27.06% in mice previously inoculated with sarcoma 180. Treatment with Fr. NaCl resulted in an increase in the numbers of spleen cells by 1.49 fold at the concentration of 50 microg/mL, compared with control. Fr. HW improved the immuno-potentiating activity of B lymphocytes through an increase in alkaline phosphatase activity by 1.65 fold, compared with control at 200 microg/mL. Maximum production of nitric oxide (14.3 microM) was recorded in the Fr. NaCl fraction at 200 microg/mL. Production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) was significantly higher, compared to control, and IL-6 production was highest, in contrast to TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and positive control, concanavalin at the tested concentration of the various fractions. Results of the current study suggest that polysaccharides extracted from P. nebrodensis have a strong anticancer effect and may be useful as an ingredient of biopharmaceutical products for treatment of cancer.

Immunomodulating and Antitumor Activities of Panellus serotinus Polysaccharides

This study was initiated in order to investigate the anticancer and immunomodulating activities of crude polysaccharides extracted in methanol, neutral saline, and hot water (hereinafter referred to as Fr. MeOH, Fr. NaCl, and Fr. HW, respectively) from the fruiting bodies of Panellus serotinus. Content of beta-glucan and protein in Fr. MeOH, Fr. NaCl, and Fr. HW extracts of P. serotinus ranged from 22.92~28.52 g/100 g and 3.24~3.68 g/100 g, respectively. In vitro cytotoxicity tests, none of the various fractions of crude polysaccharides were cytotoxic against sarcoma 180, HT-29, NIH3T3, and RAW 264.7 cell lines at the tested concentration. Intraperitoneal injection with crude polysaccharides resulted in a life prolongation effect of 23.53~44.71% in mice previously inoculated with sarcoma 180. Treatment with Fr. HW resulted in an increase in the numbers of spleen cells by 1.3 fold at the concentration of 50 microg/mL compared with control. Treatment with Fr. NaCl resulted in improvement of the immuno-potentiating activity of B lymphocytes by increasing the alkaline phosphatase activity by 1.4 fold, compared with control, at the concentration of 200 microg/mL. Among the three fractions, maximum nitric oxide (13.48 microM) was recorded at 500 microg/mL in Fr. HW. Production of tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-1beta, and interleukin-6 was significantly higher, compared to the positive control, concanavalin A, at the tested concentration. Therefore, treatment with crude polysaccharides extracted from the fruiting body of P. serotinus could result in improvement of antitumor activity.

Antitumor and Immunostimulating Activities of Elfvingia applanata Hot Water Extract on Sarcoma 180 Tumor-bearing ICR Mice

Elfvingia applanata, a medicinal mushroom belonging to Basidiomycota, has been used in the effort to cure cancers of the esophagus and stomach, and is also known to have inhibitory effects on hepatitis B virus infection. The hot water soluble fraction (as Fr. HW) was extracted from fruiting bodies of the mushroom. In vitro cytotoxicity tests showed that hot water extract was not cytotoxic against cancer cell lines such as Sarcoma 180, HT-29, HepG2, and TR at concentrations of 10~2,000 microg/mL. Intraperitoneal injection with Fr. HW resulted in a life prolongation effect of 45.2% in mice previously inoculated with Sarcoma 180. Treatment of Fr. HW resulted in a 2.53-fold increase in the numbers of murine spleen cells at a concentration of 50 microg/mL, compared with control. Incubation of murine spleen cells with Fr. HW at a concentration of 500 microg/mL resulted in improved immune-potwntiating activity of B lymphocytes through an 8.3-folds increase in alkaline phosphatase activity, compared with control. Fr. HW generated 12.5 microM of nitric oxide (NO) when cultured with RAW 264.7, a mouse macrophage cell line, at the concentration of 50 microg/mL, while lipopolysaccharide, a positive control, produced 15.2 microM of NO. Therefore, the results suggested that antitumor activities of Fr. HW from E. applanata might, in part, be due to host mediated immunostimulating activity.

A Statistical Observation of Ocular Injuries and Visual Predictive Value of Ocular Trauma Score

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical characteristics of ocular injuries for the prevention and predictability of visual prognosis and the treatment of ocular injuries using the ocular trauma score. METHODS: A retrospective survey was performed in 1341 eyes of 1257 patients, who visited Korea University Medical Center from May 2009 to December 2009. The sex, age, causes, diagnosis, primary ocular surgery, injury site, initial and final visual acuities and complications were statistically reviewed. The ocular trauma score was calculated by assigning certain numerical raw points to the following six variables: initial visual acuity, globe rupture, endophthalmitis, perforating injury, retinal detachment, and a relative afferent pupillary defect. The correlation of the ocular traumascore with the final visual acuity was investigated. RESULTS: The incidence of ocular injuries was higher in males (79.0%) than in females and was more common in people in their 40s and 20s respectively. Among the patient the diagnoses, corneal erosion was most common in males, orbital wall fracture was most common in females, and corneal erosion, orbital wall fracture, orbital contusion, and hyphema were most common overall. An ocular trauma score was less than 44 in 6 eyes (0.7%), 9 eyes (1.0%) between a score of 45 and 65, 48 eyes (5.2%) between a score of 66 and 80, 122 eyes (13.2%) between a score of 81 and 90, and 737 eyes (79.9%) between a score of 91 and 100. CONCLUSIONS: The present study determined that the ocular trauma score showed a good visual predictive value and could be used in prevention and treatment of ocular injuries.

Clinical Study on Acute Conjunctivitis after Endoscopic Dacryocystorhinostomy with Silicone Tube Intubation

PURPOSE: To investigate the incidence and clinical course of acute conjunctivitis after endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) with silicone tube intubation. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on 547 eyes in 517 patients who had undergone endoscopic DCR with silicone tube intubation between 2005 and 2009. The onset, incidence and symptoms of acute conjunctivitis, the effect of silicone tube intubation on acute conjunctivitis, and the effect of acute conjunctivitis on the success rate of DCR were investigated. RESULTS: The incidence of acute conjunctivitis was 3.8%. The mean age of 21 patients with acute conjunctivitis was 52.6 +/- 14.3 years and the mean follow-up period of those was 18.0 +/- 6.4 months after surgery. All the cases of acute conjunctivitis were resolved with topical antibiotic treatment after silicone tube removal. The success rates between patients with and without conjunctivitis were not significantly different (80.95% and 88.97%, respectively; p = 0.282). However, 4 patients with surgical failure had a longer time from onset of acute conjunctivitis to the removal of the silicone tube than 17 patients with surgical success (0.22 months and 1.13 months, respectively; p = 0.047). A higher rate (76.2%) of conjunctivitis developed in patients with granuloma around the surgical ostium. CONCLUSIONS: A correlation may exist between acute conjunctivitis and granuloma in patients with DCR with silicone tube intubation. Acute conjunctivitis did not appear to influence the surgical results, although a delayed timing of silicone tube removal in patients with conjunctivitis could decrease the success rate.

A Study of Factors Related to the Course of Graves' Ophthalmopathy

PURPOSE: To investigate the risk factors related to the course of Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO). METHODS: This is a retrospective study of 125 patients who were referred to our clinic and diagnosed with GO from March 2006 to August 2008. Ophthalmic examinations and a thyroid function test including TSI were performed at the time of diagnosis and every 3 months after diagnosis. All patients were classified as having a mild or severe course of GO, according to Clinical Activity Score (CAS) and NOSPECS classifications. RESULTS: This statistical analysis of each group revealed that female sex (p = 0.04), age (p = 0.0004), smoking (p = 0.003), and high TSI level (p = 0.009) were significant factors for severe course of GO at the time of diagnosis. TSI levels at each of the 3 visits during the follow-up were significantly higher in patients with a severe course of GO, as compared to patients with a mild course of GO (first visit: p = 0.003, second visit: p = 0.002, third visit: p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Female sex, age, smoking, and high TSI level appear to be the risk factors that can predict the severity of GO at the time of diagnosis. Additionally, the TSI level can reflect the severity of GO during the follow-up periods.

Appraisal of Antihyperlipidemic Activities of Lentinus lepideus in Hypercholesterolemic Rats

The wild edible mushroom, Lentinus lepideus has recently been cultivated for commercial use in Korea. While the mushroom has been widely used for nutritional and medicinal purposes, the possible anti-hyperlipidemic action is unclear. The effects of dietary L. lepideus on plasma and feces biochemical and on the liver histological status were investigated in hypercholesterolemic rats. Six-wk-old female Sprague-Dawley albino rats were divided into three groups of 10 rats each. Biochemical and histological examinations were performed. A diet containing 5% L. lepideus fruiting bodies reduced plasma total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein, total lipid, phospholipids, and the ratio of low-density to high-density lipoprotein. Body weight was reduced. The diet did not adversely affect plasma biochemical and enzyme profiles. L. lepideus reduced significantly plasma beta- and pre-beta-lipoprotein, while alpha-lipoprotein content was increased. A histological study of hepatic cells by conventional hematoxylin-eosin and oil red O staining revealed normal findings for mushroom-fed hypercholesterolemic rats. The present study suggests that a diet supplemented with L. lepideus can provide health benefits by acting on the atherogenic lipid profile in hypercholesterolemic rats.