Methodology and Rationale for Ophthalmic Examinations in the Seventh and Eighth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (2017–2021)

This report provides a detailed description of the methodology for ophthalmic examinations according to the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) VII and VIII (from 2017 to 2021). The KNHANES is a nationwide survey which has been performed since 1998 in representatives of whole Korean population. During the KNHANES VII and VIII, in addition to the ophthalmic questionnaire, intraocular pressure measurement, visual field test, auto refractometry, axial length and optical coherence tomography measurements were included. This new survey will provide not only provide normative and pathologic ophthalmic data including intraocular pressure, refractive error, axial length, visual field and precise measurement of anterior segment, macula and optic nerve with optical coherence tomography, but also a more accurate diagnosis for major adult blindness diseases, including age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and other ocular diseases, for the national Korean population.

Usefulness of Sonographic Examination for Evaluation and Severity Assessment of Hidradenitis Suppurativa / 대한피부과학회지

Background@#Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition characterized by recurrent abscesses, nodules, and fistulous tracts. Recently, novel staging systems, including sonographic scoring system of hidradenitis suppurativa (SOS-HS), have been widely introduced in HS. @*Objective@#To assess the efficacy of SOS-HS compared with Hurley staging and modified sartorius scoring (MSS) system and determine the necessity of ultrasound evaluation. @*Methods@#A radiologist performed an ultrasound evaluation, and three dermatologists reviewed the images and videos. Clinical characteristics, including staging and demographic data, were recorded by three dermatologists. The correlation of each staging system and the significance of vascularity (Doppler mode) and lesion depth on sonography were statistically analyzed. @*Results@#Among the 46 patients, 34.8% were classified as stage 1 and 3, and 30.4% were classified as stage 2 in the SOS-HS system, which was statistically higher than the Hurley staging (p＜0.0005). MSS score increased according to the SOS-HS stages (p＜0.0005, p=0.001). Vascularity and depth of involvement also increased with SOS-HS and Hurley staging. @*Conclusion@#Sonographic examination can be applied in HS severity assessment and documentation of the clinical characteristics of each lesion in detail. Special tools, such as Doppler mode and depth assessment, can also be useful in HS evaluation.

Dermoscopic Findings and the Clinicopathologic Correlation of Pigmented Purpuric Dermatosis:A Retrospective Review of 60 Cases

Background@#Pigmented purpuric dermatosis (PPD) is known as a chronic recurrent eruption which usually presents with petechiae and pigmented macules on the lower extremities.Dermoscopy is a noninvasive diagnostic tool in identifying pigmented and vascular lesions, which can also be beneficial in the evaluation of PPD. @*Objective@#We aimed to analyze the common dermoscopic characteristics of PPD, and correlate those findings with the histopathologic features. Additionally, dermoscopic and pathological findings in this study population were compared with other similar studies from the literature review. @*Methods@#A retrospective analysis was performed using data of 60 patients who were diagnosed as PPD by skin biopsy and had dermoscopic examination. The pathologic analysis was performed by categorizing the pattern into lichenoid, perivascular, interface, and spongiotic subtype, and the dermoscopic assessment was performed by the three authors independently. @*Results@#In dermoscopy, 96.7% of the patients showed red globules and dots, followed by brownish patch, coppery-red pigmentation, and annular comma-like vessels. The pathologic pattern analysis revealed statistically significant association of lichenoid pattern with coppery red pigmentation, perivascular pattern with annular/comma-like vessels, and spongiosis pattern with reticular pigmented network and linear vessels. The interrater similarity test showed total kappa value of 0.811which referred to “very good”. @*Conclusion@#In this study, the prevalence of dermoscopic features in Asian PPD patients was identified, which was similar with previous studies. The dermoscopic-pathologic correlation was found in four dermoscopic features. We suggest that dermoscopic examination is helpful in clinical diagnosis and pathological prediction of PPD.

Methodology and Rationale for Ophthalmic Examinations in the Seventh and Eighth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (2017–2021)

This report provides a detailed description of the methodology for ophthalmic examinations according to the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) VII and VIII (from 2017 to 2021). The KNHANES is a nationwide survey which has been performed since 1998 in representatives of whole Korean population. During the KNHANES VII and VIII, in addition to the ophthalmic questionnaire, intraocular pressure measurement, visual field test, auto refractometry, axial length and optical coherence tomography measurements were included. This new survey will provide not only provide normative and pathologic ophthalmic data including intraocular pressure, refractive error, axial length, visual field and precise measurement of anterior segment, macula and optic nerve with optical coherence tomography, but also a more accurate diagnosis for major adult blindness diseases, including age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and other ocular diseases, for the national Korean population.

Usefulness of Sonographic Examination for Evaluation and Severity Assessment of Hidradenitis Suppurativa / 대한피부과학회지

Background@#Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition characterized by recurrent abscesses, nodules, and fistulous tracts. Recently, novel staging systems, including sonographic scoring system of hidradenitis suppurativa (SOS-HS), have been widely introduced in HS. @*Objective@#To assess the efficacy of SOS-HS compared with Hurley staging and modified sartorius scoring (MSS) system and determine the necessity of ultrasound evaluation. @*Methods@#A radiologist performed an ultrasound evaluation, and three dermatologists reviewed the images and videos. Clinical characteristics, including staging and demographic data, were recorded by three dermatologists. The correlation of each staging system and the significance of vascularity (Doppler mode) and lesion depth on sonography were statistically analyzed. @*Results@#Among the 46 patients, 34.8% were classified as stage 1 and 3, and 30.4% were classified as stage 2 in the SOS-HS system, which was statistically higher than the Hurley staging (p＜0.0005). MSS score increased according to the SOS-HS stages (p＜0.0005, p=0.001). Vascularity and depth of involvement also increased with SOS-HS and Hurley staging. @*Conclusion@#Sonographic examination can be applied in HS severity assessment and documentation of the clinical characteristics of each lesion in detail. Special tools, such as Doppler mode and depth assessment, can also be useful in HS evaluation.

Dermoscopic Findings and the Clinicopathologic Correlation of Pigmented Purpuric Dermatosis:A Retrospective Review of 60 Cases

Background@#Pigmented purpuric dermatosis (PPD) is known as a chronic recurrent eruption which usually presents with petechiae and pigmented macules on the lower extremities.Dermoscopy is a noninvasive diagnostic tool in identifying pigmented and vascular lesions, which can also be beneficial in the evaluation of PPD. @*Objective@#We aimed to analyze the common dermoscopic characteristics of PPD, and correlate those findings with the histopathologic features. Additionally, dermoscopic and pathological findings in this study population were compared with other similar studies from the literature review. @*Methods@#A retrospective analysis was performed using data of 60 patients who were diagnosed as PPD by skin biopsy and had dermoscopic examination. The pathologic analysis was performed by categorizing the pattern into lichenoid, perivascular, interface, and spongiotic subtype, and the dermoscopic assessment was performed by the three authors independently. @*Results@#In dermoscopy, 96.7% of the patients showed red globules and dots, followed by brownish patch, coppery-red pigmentation, and annular comma-like vessels. The pathologic pattern analysis revealed statistically significant association of lichenoid pattern with coppery red pigmentation, perivascular pattern with annular/comma-like vessels, and spongiosis pattern with reticular pigmented network and linear vessels. The interrater similarity test showed total kappa value of 0.811which referred to “very good”. @*Conclusion@#In this study, the prevalence of dermoscopic features in Asian PPD patients was identified, which was similar with previous studies. The dermoscopic-pathologic correlation was found in four dermoscopic features. We suggest that dermoscopic examination is helpful in clinical diagnosis and pathological prediction of PPD.

Utility of Collagen Matrix Insertion during Ahmed Valve Implantation with Adjunctive Mitomycin-C: Outcomes at One-year

Purpose@#To compare the surgical outcomes of adjunctive mitomycin-C (MMC) Ahmed valve implantation with and without collagen matrix insertion. @*Methods@#We retrospectively reviewed 108 eyes of 108 patients who underwent Ahmed valve implant surgery with adjunctive MMC. Collagen matrix insertion/Ahmed valve implant surgery (CM-AGV) was performed on 55 eyes, while conventional Ahmed valve implant surgery (AGV) was performed on 53 eyes. We defined surgical failure as an intraocular pressure (IOP) > 18 mmHg or <5 mmHg on two or more consecutive visits, regardless of medication status. @*Results@#After surgery, the IOP and number of topical medications required fell significantly (compared with the preoperative period) in both groups (both p < 0.001); these findings did not significantly differ between groups. The cumulative surgical success rates at 1 year did not significantly differ between groups (78.2% vs. 79.2%, p = 0.54). The only risk factor significantly associated with surgical failure was a postoperative hypertensive phase. Anterior chamber (compared with sulcus) tube placement was significantly associated with visual acuity loss at 1 year postoperatively, but this did not significantly differ between groups. @*Conclusions@#At the 1-year follow-up after Ahmed implant surgery with adjunctive MMC, the success rates of surgery with and without collagen matrix insertion were similar.

Effect of the Recombinant Human Epidermal Growth Factor Ointment on Cutaneous Surgical Wounds Compared to Antibiotic Ointment

Background@#Applying antibiotic ointment after skin surgery can decrease infection and improve scar. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is known to be able to promote the growth and movement of epidermal cells to stimulate wound healing. Recombinant human EGF (rhEGF) ointment can be used in wet closed dressing to promotes wound healing and prevent complications by maintaining a wet environment. @*Objective@#To compare the efficacy of rhEGF ointment and conventional antibiotic ointment after cutaneous resection. @*Methods@#Patients who had excision procedures in two or more sites were enrolled. Each wound was assigned to the rhEGF group or the antibiotic ointment group. Wounds were subjected to Physician Global Assessment (PhGA), Patient Global Assessment (PGA), and Patient satisfaction assessment (PSA). The length and area of wounds, and melanin and erythema index (MI and EI) were also assessed for these wounds. @*Results@#Among 11 patients with a total of 20 pairs of resection sites, PhGA, PGA, MI, and EI showed no significant difference between rhEGF and antibiotic ointment groups. However, changes in length and area of wounds showed significant differences between the two groups. @*Conclusion@#RhEGF ointment showed similar short-term cosmetic results with antibiotic ointment, and improved surgical results in regards of the wound size. Applying rhEGF could reduce the use of antibiotic ointments for cutaneous clean (class I) wound surgery.

Regression of Neovascularization after Using Only Intraocular Pressure-lowering Medications in Neovascular Glaucoma

PURPOSE: To report a case of neovascular glaucoma after intraocular lens iris fixation, in which the neovascularization of the iris and the anterior chamber improved with only intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering agents, without treatment of the underlying cause.CASE SUMMARY: A 74-year-old woman who had undergone bilateral cataract surgery presented with left ocular pain and headache that started 3 days previously. At the initial examination, the best-corrected visual acuity was 0.9, and the IOP was 38 mmHg in the left eye. Slit-lamp examination of the left eye revealed diffuse iris neovascularization and several polypropylene suture knots fixated in the superior and inferior iris. Gonioscopic examination revealed angle neovascularization in all quadrants, with focal peripheral anterior synechia in the inferior quadrant. Fundus examination presented inferior neuroretinal rim thinning and an inferior retinal nerve fiber layer defect in the left eye. Fluorescent angiography showed no ischemic retinal lesions, with the exception of several retinal microaneurysms. Six months after topical IOP-lowering treatment in the left eye, the IOP was 10 mmHg, and neovascularization of the iris and angle had regressed completely.CONCLUSIONS: In the case of early-stage neovascular glaucoma with partial angle closure not associated with retinal ischemia, IOP-lowering treatment can be effective without other invasive procedures.

A Case of Superficial Basal Cell Carcinoma Not Correctly Diagnosed with Punch Biopsy but Diagnosed with Dermoscopy / 대한피부과학회지

Basal cell carcinoma is a common cancer and has been reported to account for approximately 80% of non-melanoma skin cancers. Superficial basal cell carcinoma occurs mainly in the trunk or limbs and is characterized by clinical features of scaly erythema with or without epidermal atrophy. These clinical features require differentiation from those of other benign and malignant skin diseases. Recently, specific dermoscopic findings of basal cell carcinoma have been helpful for diagnosis. Common dermoscopic findings of superficial basal cell carcinoma include superficial telangiectasia and maple leaf-like areas. Herein, we report a case of superficial basal cell carcinoma that was not diagnosed by punch biopsy but by dermoscopy.

Antithrombotic Medication and the Risk of Vitreous Hemorrhage in Atrial Fibrillation: Korean National Health Insurance Service National Cohort

PURPOSE: Antithrombotic therapy could be related with nuisance bleeding. This study investigated whether vitreous hemorrhage (VH) is associated with specific types of antithrombotic medication in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the Korean National Health Insurance Service National Sample Cohort, we identified 9352 antiplatelet/anticoagulant-treated AF patients. The occurrence of VH was compared between warfarin (n=1493) and a propensity score (PS)-matched antiplatelet group (n=1493) and between warfarin (n=1493) and a PS-matched warfarin+antiplatelet group (n=1493). RESULTS: The outcomes of VH were lower in the warfarin than in the matched antiplatelet (1.45 vs. 3.72 events/1000 patient-years) and matched warfarin+antiplatelet groups (1.45 vs. 6.87 events/1000 patient-years). Compared with warfarin, the risk of VH increased with antiplatelet [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 3.90; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.22–12.4, p=0.022] and warfarin+antiplatelet agents (aHR 4.39, 95% CI 1.74–11.2, p=0.002). Compared with warfarin only, warfarin+antiplatelet agents increased the risk of VH in patients ≥65 years, regardless of gender and hypertension. The risk of VH was significantly higher with dual antiplatelet therapy (aHR: 5.02, 95% CI: 1.56–16.2, p=0.007) or in dual (aHR: 5.02, 95% CI: 1.74–14.5, p=0.003) or triple therapy using warfarin and antiplatelet agents than with warfarin monotherapy (aHR: 6.12, 95% CI: 1.76–21.3, p=0.004). CONCLUSION: Dual antiplatelet or triple therapy increased the risk of VH significantly, compared to warfarin monotherapy. Considering the low efficacy of preventing ischemic stroke and high risk of bleeding, dual or triple therapy using warfarin and antiplatelet agents should be avoided to prevent VH in AF patients.

Etiology and Management of Referred Patients with Intraocular Pressure Elevation

PURPOSE: To investigate the underlying causes and clinical characteristics of patients referred with intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who were referred with IOP elevation from July 2016 to July 2017. Patients with baseline IOP ≥ 22 mmHg and those who were treated and followed up for 6 months were included. The prevalence rates of the underlying diseases that caused IOP elevation were evaluated and the clinical characteristics were compared between patients with primary and secondary glaucoma. RESULTS: A total of 127 patients were included (mean age, 59.3 ± 16.8 years; baseline IOP, 31.7 ± 10.5 mmHg). Among the study participants, 22.0%, 31.5%, and 46.5% had been diagnosed with ocular hypertension, primary glaucoma, and secondary glaucoma, respectively. Among the causes of IOP elevation, open-angle glaucoma (20.5%) had the highest prevalence rate among those with primary glaucoma and inflammation-related glaucoma (12.6%) was the most prevalent cause among those with secondary glaucoma. In a comparison between patients with primary and secondary glaucoma, the percentage of IOP reduction was not significantly different at 6 months after treatment (52.1% vs. 53.9%, p = 0.603). However, the rate of patients treated with drugs other than IOP lowering agents or who underwent surgery was significantly higher in the secondary glaucoma group compared with the primary glaucoma group (all p < 0.05). At 6-month follow-up, the secondary glaucoma group showed significantly higher improvement rates of visual acuity (p = 0.004), but had a larger proportion of patients with a visual acuity of less than or equal to finger count (p = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment and visual outcome can vary depending on the underlying cause of IOP elevation. Therefore, a thorough examination for determining the cause of IOP elevation is recommended at the initial stage.

The Usefulness of Interferon-gamma Release Assay for Diagnosis of Tuberculosis-related Uveitis in Korea

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of the interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) for diagnosing tuberculosis (TB)-related uveitis (TRU). METHODS: Records from 181 patients with ocular signs and symptoms suggestive of TRU and intraocular inflammation of unknown etiology were reviewed. All subjects underwent clinical and laboratory testing, including IGRA, to rule out presence of underlying disease. A diagnosis of presumed TRU was made based on an internist's TB diagnosis and a patient's response to anti-TB therapy. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive values of IGRA for TRU diagnosis were calculated. Clinical characteristics were compared between patients with positive and negative IGRA results. RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity of IGRA for TRU were 100% and 72.0%, respectively. Mean age, percentage of patients with retinal vasculitis, and the anatomic type of uveitis were significantly different between patients with positive and negative IGRA results (all p < or = 0.001). Positive IGRA rates and false-positive rates were significantly different between age and anatomic type groups (both p = 0.001). The positive predictive value of the IGRA among patients with intraocular inflammation was high (70%) when all of younger age (< or =40 years), posterior uveitis, and retinal vasculitis were present. CONCLUSIONS: The IGRA is useful for diagnosing TRU in the Korean population, especially when it is used as a screening test. Clinical characteristics, including younger age (< or =40 years), posterior uveitis, and retinal vasculitis in IGRA-positive patients, increase the likelihood of the patient having TRU.

Association between Weight Gain and the Occurrence and Severity of Retinopathy of Prematurity

PURPOSE: To evaluate the association between the occurrence and severity of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and postnatal weight gain. METHODS: The medical records and mean rate of postnatal weekly weight gain measurements for 275 premature infants were retrospectively reviewed. According to fundus examination findings, 275 infants were divided into the following three groups according to the international classification of ROP: Group I; infants with no ROP, Group II; infants with mild ROP (stage 1 or stage 2 with no additional disease or spontaneous regression), and Group III; infants with moderate to severe ROP (stage 3, threshold or Type I ROP according to ET-ROP). The mean rates of postnatal weekly weight gain in each group were compared and other risk factors were evaluated. RESULTS: There was a tendency of decrement in the mean rate of postnatal weekly weight gain in association with the severity of the disease (Group I: 13.54 +/- 11.87%; Group II: 12.38 +/- 1.33%; Group III: 11.41 +/- 1.70%) but no statistical significance was found. Additionally, there was no statistically significant difference between the group without ROP and the group with ROP. Significant risk factors related to ROP were low birth weight, low gestational age, low Apgar score, long duration of oxygen therapy, high incidence of respiratory distress syndrome and bronchopulmonary dysplasia. CONCLUSIONS: The change in postnatal weight gain has limited usage as a main prognostic factor in predicting the progression of ROP.