Factors Affecting Treatment Outcome of Graft Infection Following Penetrating Keratoplasty.

Purpose: To evaluate the factors affecting treatment outcome of graft infection following penetrating keratoplasty (PKP).

Methods: In this retrospective study, 28 patients who underwent PKP between January 2005 and January 2013 and who were diagnosed with graft infection were classified into a treatment success group or a treatment failure group. Demographic and clinical characteristics, as well as the results of the microbiologic investigation, were analyzed and compared.

Effect of Topical 5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-β-d-Ribofuranoside in a Mouse Model of Experimental Dry Eye.

Purpose: To investigate the efficacy of topical 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-β-d-ribofuranoside (AICAR) in a mouse model of experimental dry eye (EDE).

Methods: Eye drops consisting of 0.001% or 0.

Efficacy of the mineral oil and hyaluronic acid mixture eye drops in murine dry eye.

Purpose: To investigate the therapeutic effects of mineral oil (MO) and hyaluronic acid (HA) mixture eye drops on the tear film and ocular surface in a mouse model of experimental dry eye (EDE).

Methods: Eye drops consisting of 0.1% HA alone or mixed with 0.

First report of external ophthalmomyiasis caused by Lucilia sericata Meigen in a healthy patient without predisposing risk factors.

A 72-year-old man with no medical history initially presented to the emergency room with severe tearing, redness, foreign body sensation, and pain in the left eye. He reported no previous history of any periocular trauma, malignancy, surgery, or systemic illness. On presentation, the patient only showed left periorbital edema and erythema in the left eyelid with no evidence of any skin malignancy.

Use of umbilical cord serum in ophthalmology.

Among blood preparations, serum has been topically used in the management of various ocular diseases in ophthalmology. Like peripheral blood serum, umbilical cord blood serum contains a high concentration of essential tear components, growth factors, neurotrophic factors, vitamin A, fibronectin, prealbumin, and oil. Umbilical cord serum can provide basic nutrients for epithelial renewal and can facilitate the proliferation, migration, and differentiation of the ocular surface epithelium.

Exonic variants associated with development of aspirin exacerbated respiratory diseases.

Aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) is one phenotype of asthma, often occurring in the form of a severe and sudden attack. Due to the time-consuming nature and difficulty of oral aspirin challenge (OAC) for AERD diagnosis, non-invasive biomarkers have been sought. The aim of this study was to identify AERD-associated exonic SNPs and examine the diagnostic potential of a combination of these candidate SNPs to predict AERD.

Higher order aberrations of the corneal surface after laser subepithelial keratomileusis.

Purpose: To evaluate the changes of higher order aberrations (HOAs) before and after laser subepithelial keratomileusis (LASEK) and to analyze the influence of tear film instability on HOAs of the corneal surface after LASEK.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 31 patients who underwent LASEK were divided into dry eye (16 patients, 32 eyes) and non-dry eye groups (15 patients, 30 eyes). Uncorrected distance visual acuity, spherical equivalent refraction, ablation depth, tear film parameters and Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire scores were evaluated in both groups.

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase 677 genotype-specific reference values for plasma homocysteine and serum folate concentrations in korean population aged 45 to 74 years: the Namwon study.

The reference interval for plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) and serum folate concentrations were estimated. Total of 3,154 reference individuals (1,029 men and 2,125 women) were selected based on stringent exclusion criteria. For plasma tHcy concentration (µM/L), reference values (median [5-95 percentile]) were 7.

Is it feasible to treat unstable hangman's fracture via the primary standard anterior retropharyngeal approach?

Purpose: The goal of this study was to evaluate the results and feasibility of primary anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) with plating for unstable traumatic spondylolisthesis of the axis, the so-called hangman's fracture, via the standard anterior retropharyngeal approach.

Methods: The clinical and radiological records of 17 patients (14 males and 3 females, mean age: 51 years, range 17-73 years) with unstable hangman's fracture who were treated between January 1996 and June 2012 were reviewed retrospectively. ACDF with plating at C2-3 level was performed in all patients (type II fracture: 12 patients, type IIA fracture: 3 patients and type III fracture: 2 patients, based on the Levine and Edwards classification).

Polymorphisms of ATF6B Are Potentially Associated With FEV1 Decline by Aspirin Provocation in Asthmatics.

Purpose: Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has recently been observed to activate NF-kappaB and induce inflammatory responses such as asthma. Activating transcription factor 6β (ATF6B) is known to regulate ATFα-mediated ER stress response. The aim of this study is to investigate the associations of ATF6B genetic variants with aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) and its major phenotype, % decline of FEV1 by aspirin provocation.

Proton pump inhibitors as a possible cause of vitiligo: an in vivo and in vitro study.

Background: Vitiligo is an acquired depigmentation disorder of melanocytes. Recently, some clinical reports have suggested that proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) may worsen vitiligo, but their effects on melanocytes have yet to be elucidated.

Objective: We investigated the effect of PPIs on melanogenesis in vivo and in vitro.

Herpes zoster laryngitis accompanied by Ramsay Hunt syndrome.

The most common presentation of herpes zoster in the head and neck region is called Ramsay Hunt syndrome (RHS), which rarely accompanies multiple cranial neuropathy. Herpes zoster also involves the mucous membrane of the tongue, palate, pharynx, and larynx. Herpes zoster infection of the larynx accompanied by Ramsay Hunt syndrome with cranial polyneuropathy is extremely rare, with only few reported cases in the literature.

Seasonal variation in skin sensitivity to aeroallergens.

Purpose: We previously demonstrated seasonal variation in sensitization to aeroallergens in a small group of patients with exercise-induced asthma. This study was performed to confirm the relationship in a much larger population.

Methods: The charts of 1,891 patients who received allergy skin prick tests were reviewed retrospectively.

Clinical effectiveness of topical cyclosporine a 0.05% after laser epithelial keratomileusis.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of topical cyclosporine A 0.05% after laser epithelial keratomileusis (LASEK).

Methods: This retrospective nonrandomized comparative analysis was performed in 40 patients (80 eyes) with myopia who underwent flap-off LASEK.

Cohort Profile: The Namwon Study and the Dong-gu Study.

These two cohorts were designed to examine the increasing burden of chronic diseases among Korean populations. The studies investigated determinants for stroke, osteoporosis, dementia and cancer among middle-aged and elderly Korean populations. The Namwon Study baseline survey was performed between 2004 and 2007 (n = 10 667), and followed up 4 years later (n = 8157, follow-up rate = 76.

Therapeutic effect of topical adiponectin in a mouse model of desiccating stress-induced dry eye.

Purpose: To investigate the therapeutic effect of topical adiponectin in a mouse model of experimental dry eye (EDE).

Methods: EDE was created by desiccating stress in 6- to 8-week old female C57BL/6 mice. Eye drops consisting of 0.

Effectiveness of topical infliximab in a mouse model of experimental dry eye.

Purpose: To investigate the efficacy of a topical anti-tumor necrosis factor-α agent, infliximab, in a mouse model of experimental dry eye (EDE).

Methods: EDE was induced in C57BL/6 mice, with or without topical treatment consisting of balanced salt solution or 0.001%, 0.

Prognostic significance of neuronal marker expression in glioblastomas.

Purpose: Glioblastomas are the most malignant tumors of central nervous system neoplasms and are well known for their biological heterogeneity. Contrary to the putative hypothesis of purely glial differentiation in glioblastomas, they often demonstrate immunopositivity for neuronal markers. However, the significance of their neuronal marker expression is still controversial.

Seasonal factors influencing exercise-induced asthma.

Purpose: Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) in patients with asthma occurs more frequently in winter than in summer. The concentration of house dust mite (HDM) allergens in beds also shows seasonal variation. This study examined the relationship between seasonal differences in the prevalence of EIB and sensitization to HDMs in patients with asthma.

Hormone receptors expression in phyllodes tumors of the breast.

Objective: To ascertain the hormonal receptor profiles of the epithelial and stromal components of phyllodes tumors (PTs) and determine their relationship with stromal proliferation.

Study Design: Eighty-two PTs (50 benign, 22 borderline, and 10 malignant) were studied. Automated immunohistochemical staining for estrogen receptor (ER)-alpha and -beta, progesterone receptor (PR), androgen receptor (AR), and Ki-67 was performed using tissue microarray blocks, and their expression was assessed in both the stromal and epithelial components.

Stromal matrix metalloproteinase-14 expression correlates with the grade and biological behavior of mammary phyllodes tumors.

Phyllodes tumors (PTs) of the breast are rare biphasic tumors with the potential for invasion and metastatic spread. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) are involved in several key aspects of tumoral growth, invasion, and metastasis, but little is known of their expression in PTs. The objective of this study was to assess the expression of MMPs and TIMPs in PTs and to determine their association with grade and clinical behavior of PTs.

High expression of CX3CL1 by tumor cells correlates with a good prognosis and increased tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells, natural killer cells, and dendritic cells in breast carcinoma.

Background: CX3CL1 is the only CX3C chemokine that can chemoattract T cells, natural killer (NK) cells, and dendritic cells (DCs). The role of CX3CL1 in breast carcinoma remains unknown.

Methods: Immunohistochemical staining for CX3CL1, CD8, CD57, and CD1a was performed on 204 breast carcinoma specimens using tissue microarray blocks to determine whether CX3CL1 expression correlated with a good prognosis and antitumor immunity.

Expression of CXCL9, -10, and -11 in the aqueous humor of patients with herpetic endotheliitis.

Purpose: To evaluate the expression of CXCL9, -10, and -11 chemokines in the aqueous humor of patients with herpetic endotheliitis.

Methods: Aqueous humor was collected from 26 patients with herpetic endotheliitis and 21 control subjects. The concentrations of CXCL9, -10, and -11 in the aqueous humor were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.