ISNT rule satisfaction in Korean non-glaucomatous subjects.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of the ISNT rule in normal eyes of Koreans. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 890 subjects with fundus photographs and evaluated the presence of the cup and ISNT rule satisfaction. If the ISNT rule was violated, the quadrants in which the neuroretinal rim was thinnest and thickest, respectively, were evaluated. RESULTS: Among 890 eyes, 84.7% showed the cup. The subjects without the cup were significantly younger and more hyperopic. Among 754 eyes with the cup, 53.5% showed ISNT rule satisfaction. In 351 eyes violating the ISNT rule, the most common quadrant showing the thickest neuroretinal rim was the inferior (65.5%), and the thinnest, the temporal (98.3%). CONCLUSION: The cup was absent in 15% of the assessed eyes. Only about half of eyes with the cup showed ISNT rule satisfaction. Even in eyes violating ISNT rule, the inferior was the most common quadrant with the thickest neuroretinal rim and the temporal, the thinnest.

MMPs, TIMPs and BMP-4 in medial rectus muscle obtained from intermittent exotropia patients and their clinical correlations.

BACKGROUND: To measure the amounts of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-9, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1, TIMP-2 and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-4 in medial rectus muscle (MR) tissue obtained from intermittent exotropia (IXT) patients and to investigate the correlation between each protein amount and the clinical features of IXT including angles of deviation, age at surgery, duration of IXT and postoperative recurrence. METHODS: The protein amounts were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in MR collected during surgery for 78 IXT patients. RESULTS: The mean amount of MMP-2 per mm of resected MR was 0.86 ng, of MMP-9, 2.72 ng, of TIMP-1, 1.99 ng, of TIMP-2, 0.92 ng and of BMP-4, 0.82 pg. MMP-2 showed a positive correlation with angle of deviation at distance and at near, age at surgery and duration of IXT (p = 0.000, p = 0.000, p = 0.000, p = 0.022, respectively, Spearman's rank correlation analysis). MMP-9 showed a positive correlation with angle of deviation at distance and at near (p = 0.001, p = 0.024) and BMP-4 showed a positive correlation with angle of deviation at distance (p = 0.012). TIMP-1 showed a negative correlation with angle of deviation at distance and at near (p = 0.003, p = 0.000). CONCLUSION: In IXT patients, MMPs and BMP-4 tended to increase and TIMPs to decrease with increasing angle of deviation, greater age at surgery and longer duration of IXT.

Vitamin D Enhances the Efficacy of Topical Artificial Tears in Patients With Dry Eye Disease.

PURPOSE: To investigate the efficacy of topical carbomer-based lipid-containing artificial tears (CLAT) and hyaluronate (HU) in patients with dry eye disease (DED) based on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25HD) levels and cholecalciferol (vitamin D) supplementation. METHODS: A total of 116 patients with DED from June 2015 to June 2016 were included. The participants were divided into the vitamin D deficiency (VDD) group and the non-VDD group according to their serum 25HD levels. The patients determined the ways of cholecalciferol supplementation. Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) score, visual analog pain scale score, lid hyperemia, tear breakup time (TBUT), corneal fluorescein staining score, and Schirmer test were compared between baseline and 2 weeks posttreatment after topical applications and between before and after cholecalciferol supplementation. RESULTS: The OSDI and visual analog pain scale scores of both VDD and non-VDD groups decreased after application of topical CLAT and HU compared with baseline values (P < 0.05 for all, paired t test). TBUT, corneal fluorescein staining score, and lid hyperemia in the VDD group remained unaffected by topical CLAT and HU, whereas those in the non-VDD group were improved (3.2 ± 1.7 vs. 4.1 ± 2.2, 0.5 ± 0.7 vs. 0.4 ± 0.6, and 2.2 ± 0.8 vs. 1.9 ± 0.7 in the non-VDD group, P = 0.001, 0.030, and 0.012, respectively). OSDI score, TBUT, and lid margin hyperemia were improved in the intramuscular group after cholecalciferol supplementation compared with pretreatment (33.2 ± 23.2 vs. 28.5 ± 21.9, 3.5 ± 1.9 vs. 6.0 ± 2.5, and 2.2 ± 0.7 vs. 1.2 ± 0.8, P < 0.05, Wilcoxon rank test). CONCLUSIONS: The effect of topical CLAT and HU was dependent on serum 25HD levels. Cholecalciferol supplementation enhanced the efficacy of topical treatment and may be a useful adjuvant therapy for patients with DED refractory to topical lubricants.

Utility of the optical quality analysis system for decision-making in cataract surgery.

BACKGROUND: A cataract is a common cause of vision impairment that requires surgery in older subjects. The Optical Quality Analysis System (OQAS, Visiometrics SL, Terrassa, Spain) assesses the optical quality of the eye in cataract patients. This study shows the role of the optical quality evaluation system for decision-making in cataract surgery. We investigated the clinical utility of the OQAS for decision-making in cataract surgery. METHODS: Sixty-seven eyes from 67 patients undergoing cataract surgery and 109 eyes from 109 control subjects were compared. The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was measured. The objective scatter index (OSI), modulation transfer function (MTF), Strehl ratio, predicted visual acuity (PVA) 100%, PVA 20%, and PVA 10% were measured using the OQAS. The sensitivity and specificity of the different parameters were analyzed using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The main parameters measured were sensitivity and specificity. RESULTS: The BCVA, OSI, PVA 100%, PVA 20%, and PVA 10% were higher in the cataract group compared to those in the control group, while the MTF and Strehl ratios were lower (p <  0.001 for all). ROC analysis showed that the OSI had the largest area under the curve and that the sensitivity and specificity of the OSI were 83.9 and 84.6%, respectively, at the optimal cut-off point of 2.35. CONCLUSION: The MTF, OSI, Strehl ratio, PVA 100%, PVA 20% and PVA 10% may be useful parameters for preoperative decision-making in cataract surgery. The OSI appears to be the most effective parameter for this purpose.

Ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer thickness by swept-source optical coherence tomography in healthy Korean children: Normative data and biometric correlations.

The purpose of this study was to identify the normative values of ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) thickness in healthy Korean children using swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) and to investigate the correlations of age, refractive error, axial length (AL), retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and cup-to-disc (C/D) ratio with GCIPL thickness. Children aged between 3 and 17 who had visited our pediatric ophthalmology clinic were enrolled. Each subject underwent full ophthalmic examinations including RNFL thickness, C/D ratio and GCIPL thickness measurement by SS-OCT as well as AL measurement by partial-coherence interferometry. A total of 254 eyes of 127 children were included. The mean average GCIPL thickness was 71.5 ± 5.35 µm; the thickest sector was the superonasal and the thinnest the inferior. According to multivariate regression analysis, average GCIPL thickness was significantly associated with spherical equivalent and RNFL thickness (P < 0.0001 for both): the higher the myopia or the thinner the RNFL thickness, the thinner the GCIPL thickness. In conclusion, this study provides an SS-OCT-based pediatric normative database of GCIPL thickness that can serve as a reference for early detection and follow-up of glaucoma and optic nerve diseases in children.

Influence of Nasal Tear Osmolarity on Ocular Symptoms Related to Dry Eye Disease.

PURPOSE: To investigate relationships between local tear osmolarity and tear film characteristics and dry eye disease (DED) symptoms. DESIGN: Prospective, cross-sectional, observational study. METHODS: Nasal and temporal tear osmolarity were measured in subjects with DED. The difference between nasal and temporal tears (OSM difference) was then calculated. Ocular symptoms were evaluated and tear break-up time (TBUT), corneal fluorescein staining score (CFSS), eyelid hyperemia, and tear production were measured. Correlations between DED symptoms and nasal tear osmolarity, temporal tear osmolarity, OSM difference, and tear film characteristics were evaluated using Pearson correlation analyses. Subjects were divided into 3 groups based on OSM difference: the temporal group had a temporal osmolarity > nasal osmolarity, the nasal group had a temporal osmolarity < nasal osmolarity, and the equal group had an OSM difference < 10 mOsm/L. RESULTS: Forty-eight eyes of 48 subjects were included. Eleven eyes were in the temporal group, 17 eyes were in the equal group, and 20 eyes were in the nasal group. Temporal osmolarity, nasal osmolarity, and OSM difference were not correlated with TBUT, CFSS, lid hyperemia, or tear production. Nasal tear osmolarity was correlated with cold sensitivity frequency (r = 0.298, P = .040), foreign body sensation severity (r = 0.293, P = .043), and light sensitivity severity (r = 0.293, P = .043). Additionally, OSM difference was correlated with daily symptom frequency (r = 0.339, P = .019). CONCLUSIONS: Nasal tear osmolarity and OSM difference play an important role in DED symptoms. Lid hyperemia, TBUT, CFSS, and tear secretion volume are not significantly affected by tear osmolarity. It is important to measure both nasal and temporal tear osmolarity when evaluating patients with DED.

Benign superior vena cava syndrome with uncontrolled pleural effusion by calcified mediastinal lymphadenopathy: surgical management.

This report describes a rare case of benign superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) accompanying recalcitrant pleural effusion developed secondary to extrinsic compression by anthracotic calcified mediastinal lymphadenopathy which was corrected by surgical bypass graft. An 81-year-old female presented with recalcitrant pleural effusion for several months despite of medical treatments. SVCS developed progressively without any other radiological evidence of malignancy or active infection on initial chest computed tomography (CT). A follow-up chest CT scan taken one month later revealed a poorly-defined mass-like lesion encasing the SVC. Near total collapse of the SVC due to circumferential compression by massive anthracotic calcified lymph nodes was noted in the surgical fields. A bypass graft was performed using an artificial vessel instead of endovascular treatment because of severe adhesion. The abrupt SVCS and uncontrolled pleural effusions completely disappeared after surgical correction.

A Case of Disseminated Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis involving the Brain.

We report a case of a 23-year-old female immigrant from China who was diagnosed with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis affecting her lung and brain, resistant to the standard first-line therapeutics and streptomycin. She was treated with prothionamide, moxifloxacin, cycloserine, and kanamycin. However, her headache and brain lesion worsened. After the brain biopsy, the patient was confirmed with intracranial tuberculoma. Linezolid was added to intensify the treatment regimen, and steroid was added for the possibility of paradoxical response. Kanamycin was discontinued 6 months after initiation of the treatment; she was treated for 18 months with susceptible drugs and completely recovered. To our knowledge, this case is the first multidrug-resistant tuberculosis that disseminated to the brain in Korea.

Two cases of bronchopulmonary dysplasia of similar appearance in adult monozygotic twin: pathology and computed tomographic findings.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is related to decreased lung function throughout life. However, the pathology and radiology pattern of BPD of adults are not documented well yet. In this case report, we present BPD case of an adult monozygotic twin showing nearly identical lesions on chest computed tomography (CT). CT images showed mixed areas of ground-glass and reticular opacities in both lungs. They had common histories of pneumonias requiring mechanical ventilations in period of infants. Pulmonary function test of one patient showed a pulmonary insufficiency with airway obstruction. Pathologic findings showed bronchiolar hyperplasia and peribronchiolar fibrosis which was similar to classic BPD patients. Our twin case report might help provide distinguishing pathology and radiology pattern of an adult pulmonary sequelaes of BPD. It might be reasonable to make close follow-up for BPD patients to evaluate the long-term outcomes of BPD survivors.

Clinical features and prognostic factors in elderly koreans with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer in a tertiary referral hospital.

BACKGROUND: More than half of cases for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) occur in elderly patients with a median age at diagnosis of 70 years. The aim of our study was to examine the clinical features and prognostic factors contributing to mortality in elderly patients with advanced NSCLC. METHODS: Following a retrospective review of clinical data, 122 patients aged 70 years and over with a histopathological diagnosis of locally advanced (stage IIIB, n=32) and metastatic (stage IV, n=90) NSCLC between 2005 and 2011 were enrolled. RESULTS: The median age was 76 years (interquartile range, [IQR], 72-80 years), and 85 (70%) patients were male. Fifty-seven (46%) patients had never smoked, and 17 (19%) were in a malnourished state with a body mass index (BMI) of <18.5 kg/m(2). The initial treatments included chemotherapy (40%) and radiotherapy (7%), but 57% of the patients received supportive care only. The 1-year survival rate was 32%, and the 3-year survival rate was 4%, with a median survival duration of 6.2 months (IQR, 2.5-15.3 months). Male gender (hazard ratio [HR], 2.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3-3.9; p=0.005), low BMI (HR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.3-3.9; p=0.004), and supportive care only (HR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.2-2.9; p=0.007) were independent predictors of shorter survival based on a Cox proportional hazards model. CONCLUSION: Elderly patients with advanced NSCLC had a poor prognosis, particularly male patients, those with a low BMI, and those who received supportive care only.