Animal Study of Photodynamic Therapy with Verteporfin in Corneal Neovascularization

PURPOSE: To determine the efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin (Visudyne(R), Norvatis Ophthalmics AG, Hettingen, Switzerland), a benzoporphyrin derivative, in the treatment of corneal neo-vascularization (CN) in a rabbit eye model. METHODS: CN was induced by placing instrastromal sutures in the cornea. Two weeks after suturing, verteporfin was administrated intravenously and 1 hour later, the right eye (treated group) was exposed to a laser with a 689 nm wavelength, and the left eye was used as the control. The changes in CN were analyzed using biomicroscopy and optical microscopy in twelve rabbits. RESULTS: The mean percentages of the neovascular area in the control and treated groups were 96.4 +/- 1.9% and 90.3 +/- 3.5% (P=0.009) at three days after the PDT, 88.6 +/- 4.6% and 71.6 +/- 6.2% (P<0.001) at one week, and 76.8 +/- 4.4% and 43.6 +/- 15.1% (P<0.001) at two weeks, respectively. Optical microscopy showed significant differences between the control and treated group in terms of the area and number of CN (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: PDT with verteporfin is a safe and effective procedure for regressing CN. However, a further study will be necessary.

The Effects of Shift Rotation Directions on the Circadian Rhythms of Urinary Free Cortisol, 17-OHCS in Shift Workers / 성인간호학회지

To determine effects of the direction of the rotational work shifting on the circadian rhythm and adaptation of physiological and psychological components were investigated with nursing students. Two groups of seven volunteers participated as experimental subjects, and eight nursing students participated as a control group. The directions of rotation work shift were as follows : CW(clockwise)-shift system rotation in the direction of day shift(3 lays), evening shift(3days), off duty(1day) and night shift(5days). and CCW(counterclockwise)-shift system rotation in the reverse direction. Urinary free cortisol and 17-hydroxycorticoster oids in the urine were measured by the solid-phase radioimmunoassay and the colorimetry methods, re spectively. Plasma melatonin was measured by radioimmunoassay. The urinary free cotisol rhythm changed to ir-regular on the evening and night shift in the CCW shift system, whereas the rhythm seems to adapt on night shift in the CW shift system. The daily rhythms of urinary 17-OHCS indicate that they are well synchronized to shift work. These results show that the rotation of shift in the CW direction is more acceptable in terms of the adaptation of hormonal rhythms. These results indicate that the CCW rotation of shift work makes it more difficult for the workers to adapt on a physiological level, and has many more negative effects on nurses when compared with the CW rotation. Thus, a clockwise rotating shift systern seems to be more desirable for the optimal health and performance of nurses.

Effect of Rapid Rotating Shift Work on the Urinary Na+, K+, and Cl- / 간호학회지

In order to investigate of the effects of rapid rotating shift work on physiological stress, the activities of urinary Na+, K+, Cl- were measured in 14 rotational shift nurses, during day shifts(8AM-4PM, n=4), evening shifts(4PM-12MN, n=5), and night shifts(12MN-8AM, n=5) in hospital twenty students attending nursing college a used as control group. Urine specimens were collected in 30 minutes before and after work on the second day of shift work. In day shift nurses, Na+ activity was 137mM at 8AM and increased to 206mM at 4PM, whereas K+ activity was 42mM at 8AM and no significant change at 4PM. Cl- activity was changed from 234mM to 344mM at 4PM at 8AM. In the evening shift, Na+ activity was 117mM at 4PM and 140mM at 12MN, K+ activity was 22mM and 32mM, respectively. Cl- activity was 169mM and changed to 270mM. During the night shift, Na+ activity was 128mM at 12MN and changed to 161mM at 8AM, K+ activity was 42mM at 12MN and 8AM, and Cl- activity was from 303mM and changed to 355mM. In general, the urinary ion activities seemed to increase after work, however there were no significant changes in ion activities except the Na+ increase in day shift. The mean of the activities of K+ and Cl- before and after work during the day and night shift were significantly higher than those in control group(P<0.05). K+ activities were also higher than that of evening shift(P<0.05). However, there was no difference in Na+ activity among the control group and three shifts. There was a significant relationship among urinary Na+, Cl- and K+ in the control group and rotating shift nurses except between Na+ and K+ in shift. The relationship between Na+ and Cl- was low in shift work and there was no significant relationship between Na+ and K+ in shift, suggesting that the active regulation K+ and/or Na+ in response to stress upon the shift work disrupted the ratio of urinary Na+ to K+ and also lowered the relationship between K+ and Cl-. These results suggest that nurses working the day shift were overloaded and under stress, and the night shift interfered with the physiological rhythm of the nurses.

The Effect of Rotating Shift Work(2 days intervals) on the changes of 17-OHCS and Free Cortisol / 성인간호학회지

In this study, 20 students in C university were selected by control group and 14 shift work nurses working in C university hospital by test group It took part in case of day shift(8AM-4PM), evening shift(4PM-12MN), and night shift(12MN-8AM) to know a urinary 17-OHCS and free cortisol changes which works in a rapidly rotating shift work system. The working team were an rest period of a day and an oberservation of an week. It obtained an urine specimen before and after work shift in 2nd day. Test group and control group of shift work compared to change of levels of urinary 17-OHCS and free cortisol of urine collected from nurses of day shift, evening shift, and night shift. The data was analyzed by t-test, paired t-test. The results are as follows. 1. Compare 8AM with 4PM in day shift. Control group increased 4.1mg at 8AM, 4.2mg at 4PM in a case of 17-OHCS(p=.84) and also test group increased a little 3.5mg at start time of work, 3.6mg at stop time(p=.97). In a case of free cortisol control group decreased 3.8microgram at 8AM, 2.4microgram at 4PM(p=.12) and test group decreased 8.3microgramat start time of work, 3.2microgram at stop time(p=.22). 2. Compare 4PM with 12MN in evening shift. Control group decreased 4.2mg at 4PM, 2.9mg at 12MN in a case 17-OHCS(p=.54), but test group increased 1.7mgat start time of work, 3.4mg at stop time(p=.07). In a case of free cortisol control group decreased 2.4microgram at 4PM, 1.9microgram AT 12MN(p=.23) and also test group decreased a little 2.6microgram at start time of work, 1microgram at stop time(p=.43). 3. Compared 12MN with 8AM in night shift. Control group increased 3.9mg at 12MN, 4.1mg at 8AM in a case of 17-OHCS(p=.79) and also test group increased 6.3mg at start time of work, 8.4mg at stop time(p=.16). In a case of free cortisol control group increased 1.9microgram at 12MN, 3.8microgram at 8AM(p=.08) and test group increased 4.4microgram at start time of work, 11.6microgram at stop time(p=.04). As a result of this study reveals that health level of nurses is decreased in a rotating shift work(2 days internal). As mentioned above, it was confirmed that the rotating shift work had influence on the health of the nurse. For it, I present the objective base data to measure the level healthy in order to extend the understanding of the physical aspects of the nurses. Moreover, it is considered that one can make use of it as an objective base data with a view to the rational management for the nursing administration.