New diagnostic sea surface current fields to trace floating algae in the Yellow Sea.

The new velocity fields based on the Generalized Ekman (GE) theory to trace floating algae were derived and verified by drifter observations and compared to reanalysis datasets in the Yellow Sea (YS). Two velocity fields using diagnostic approaches and two velocity fields from reanalysis datasets were examined. The results revealed that the diagnostic velocity fields had comparable accuracy to the reanalysis datasets, even locally better. Then, we applied each velocity field to trace green algae, Ulva prolifera, in July 2011 and brown algae, Sargassum horneri, in May 2017 using particle tracking experiments. In addition, drifter trajectories were simulated, and error accumulation speed was estimated for each velocity field. Simulation results using the diagnostic velocity fields consistently showed better agreement with satellite images and in situ observations than those using reanalysis datasets, demonstrating that the diagnostic velocity could be a superior tool for simulating surface-floating substances and organisms. The approach to derive diagnostic velocity fields can be easily applied instead of relying on heavy computing numerical models.

Long-term results of maintenance of lacrimal silicone stent in patients with functional epiphora after external dacryocystorhinostomy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate long-term outcomes of maintenance of lacrimal silicone stent for the management of functional epiphora after anatomically patent external dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 101 eyes of 75 patients who were diagnosed to have functional epiphora after external DCR from 2005 to 2014. Functional epiphora was defined as epiphora that persisted or recurred even after patent DCR confirmed by a lacrimal irrigation test. Secondary silicone intubation was indicated when the patients wanted a further intervention. The stent was intended to be kept in situ unless there was a stent-related complication or the patient wanted removal. RESULTS: In total, 34 of 75 patients (45.3%, 52 eyes) who agreed to the intervention underwent secondary silicone intubation. The success rates at 1, 3, and 5 years after surgery were 96.2%, 75.5%, and 70.2%, respectively. At the final follow-up (mean 72.7 ± 26.4 months), 32 (61.5%) eyes chose to retain the silicone tube: silicone stent was well maintained without epiphora and complications once inserted in 18 eyes (34.6%), whereas tube replacement was needed in 14 eyes (26.9%) because of nasal crust or whitish plaque formation on the tube surface. In 13 cases (25.0%), silicone stent was removed because of tube-related complications, and the most common complication was canaliculitis (n = 8, 15.4%). CONCLUSIONS: Secondary intubation and maintenance of the stent is an effective and simple procedure for functional epiphora. The main obstacle to long-term maintenance is tube-associated canaliculitis.

Conservative management of congenital dacryocystocele: resolution and complications.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical outcomes of initial conservative management in infants with congenital dacryocystocele. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 30 congenital dacryocystoceles of 28 Korean infants treated between January 2006 and December 2015. METHODS: All patients were managed conservatively with lacrimal sac massage. Clinical courses and outcomes of the patients were retrospectively reviewed, and rates of resolution of dacryocystoceles and development of dacryocystitis were analyzed. RESULTS: In 27 cases of dacryocystoceles without infection, spontaneous resolution was achieved without any complication in 20 of 27 (74.1%) cases after conservative treatment. The mean duration of treatment was 27.5 days. Lacrimal probing was needed in 5 (18.5%) dacryocystoceles that persisted despite lacrimal sac massage for more than 1 month. Infectious dacryocystitis developed in 2 of 27 (7.4%) cases. Three dacryocystoceles were infected at presentation. Overall, 5 dacryocystoceles were complicated with infection and those cases received prompt systemic antibiotics treatment. External incision and drainage of the lacrimal sac was needed in 3 dacryocystoceles, and all cases were finally resolved without any additional procedures. CONCLUSIONS: In this case series, most of the uninfected dacryocystoceles could be successfully managed with conservative treatment alone. In cases with infection, systemic antibiotics were essential and external drainage was sometimes required, but these cases could be conservatively managed after the remission of infection.

Risk factors for extraophthalmic involvement and treatment outcomes in patients with IgG4-related ophthalmic disease.

BACKGROUND/AIM: To analyse the clinical risk factors for extraophthalmic involvement and treatment outcomes in patients with IgG4-related ophthalmic disease (IgG4-ROD) in Korea. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 42 patients diagnosed with IgG4-ROD confirmed by a surgical biopsy during the 7-year period, between January 2009 and March 2015, at three tertiary referral centres in Korea. Data regarding patients' demographics, clinical characteristics and radiological findings were obtained. The relapse rate was compared between systemic steroids only and combined immunosuppressant therapy. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 55.2 years (male:female ratio, 1:1). Based on the primary orbital structure affected, the IgG4-RODs were classified as dacryoadenitis (52.4%), orbital soft tissue inflammation (21.4%), trigeminal nerve involvement (11.9%) and myositis (9.5%). Extraophthalmic involvement (n=21) was associated with bilateral involvement (p=0.004), longer symptom duration (p=0.033) and a higher serum IgG4 level (p=0.034). Initial treatment regimens included attentive observation (n=7), prednisolone alone (n=22) and prednisolone plus immunosuppressive agent (n=13). During follow-up (mean, 24 months), 13 patients (37.1%) experienced relapse. In the extraophthalmic involvement group, steroid therapy alone resulted in a significantly higher relapse rate than combined immunosuppressant treatment (p=0.028). CONCLUSION: Bilateral involvement, longer symptom duration and higher IgG4 levels were significant risk factors for extraophthalmic involvement in Korean patients with IgG4-ROD. In patients with an extraophthalmic involvement, prednisolone combined with an immunosuppressive agent was more effective for preventing recurrence than prednisolone alone.