Reorganization of Photoreceptor Layer on Optical Coherence Tomography Concurrent with Visual Improvement after Macular Hole Surgery

To report three cases in which reorganization of the photoreceptor layer on optical coherence tomography (OCT) was concurrent with long-term visual recovery after macular hole surgery. Serial OCT scans of three eyes in which visual acuity continued to improve for 1 or more years after successful macular hole surgery were reviewed. Case 1. At postoperative four weeks, visual acuity was 20/100 with disorganized photoreceptor layer on OCT. The photoreceptor layer had been reorganized and visual acuity had improved to 20/25 by 1 year. Case 2. Two weeks after the operation, visual acuity was 20/125 and disorganization of the photoreceptor layer was noted. Visual acuity improved to 20/50 by four months. The photoreceptor layer had been partly reorganized and had appearance of a broken line. Visual acuity had improved to 20/40 and the photoreceptor layer had been reorganized further with a residual defect on OCT by 15 months. Case 3. Visual acuity at two weeks was 20/100. OCT revealed disorganization of the photoreceptor layer. Six months after the operation, the partly reorganized photoreceptor layer appeared as a broken line and visual acuity had reached 20/80. Visual acuity had improved further to 20/40 by 1 year, concurrent with improved organization of the photoreceptor layer. The reorganization of the photoreceptor layer plays a part in long-term improvement of visual acuity after macular hole surgery

Comparison of Clinical Efficacy between a Single Administration of Long-Acting Gonadotrophin-Releasing Hormone Agonist (GnRHa) and Daily Administrations of Short-Acting GnRHa in In Vitro Fertilization-Embryo Transfer Cycles

This study was aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a single administration of long-acting gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) as compared with daily administrations of short-acting GnRHa in controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) for in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) cycles. The mean dosage of recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone (rFSH) required for COH (2,354.5±244.2 vs. 2,012.5±626.1 IU) and the rFSH dosage per retrieved oocyte (336.7±230.4 vs. 292.1±540.4 IU) were significantly higher in the long-acting GnRHa group (N=22) than those in the short-acting GnRHa group (N=28) (p<0.05). However, the mean number of visit to the hospital that was required before ovum pick-up (3.3±0.5 vs. 22.2±2.0) and the frequency of injecting GnRHa and rFSH (12.8±1.2 vs. 33.5±3.5) were significantly decreased in the long-acting GnRHa group (p<0.0001). The clinical pregnancy rate, implantation rate, and early pregnancy loss rate were not significantly different between the 2 groups. So, we suggest that a single administration of long-acting GnRHa is a useful alternative for improving patient's convenience with clinical outcomes comparable to daily administrations of short-acting GnRHa in COH for IVF-ET cycles

Risk Factors Associated with Head Louse Infestation in Korea

Head louse infestation (HLI) is one of the most frequently occurring parasitic diseases in children. This study was conducted to investigate the socioeconomic and personal factors influencing HLI in the Republic of Korea. A total of 2,210 questionnaires about various factors related to HLI were obtained from children in 17 primary schools throughout the country. The rate of HLI was significantly lower in children who lived together with mother or in a family where both parents worked. In addition, HLI was lower in children whose fathers or mothers were public officers or teachers. However, HLI was higher in children who had small families and washed their hair less often. Education levels of parents and the number of children in family were not significant. Improvement of socioeconomic factors and personal hygiene will be helpful for reducing HLI

Urachal Anomalies in Children: A Single Center Experience

The objective of this study is to define optimal diagnosis and treatment strategies for patients with urachal anomalies in the pediatric age group. The medical records of 21 children who had undergone surgery for urachal anomalies at Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine from January 1990 to April 2005 were reviewed. The subjects included 14 males and 7 females (M:F 2:1). The four types of urachal anomalies confirmed were a urachal cyst in 10 patients (47.6%), a patent urachus in 6 (28.6%), a urachal sinus in 4 (19.0%) and a urachal diverticulum in 1 (4.8%) patient. The most common presenting complaint was umbilical discharge (n = 10, 40.0%), followed by abdominal mass (n = 9, 36.0%). Urachal anomalies were diagnosed by ultrasonography in 18 patients, and 7 of them were additionally examined by computed tomography. The remaining patients were diagnosed solely by surgical exploration. Excision was performed in all patients and was supplemented by partial cystectomy in three. Umbilical discharge was the most common clinical manifestation in our patients, suggesting that ultrasonography should be performed in patients with umbilical discharge to differentiate urachal anomalies. We found the most common anomaly to be the urachal cyst, and all patients were successfully treated by surgical excision

Representative levels of blood lead, mercury, and urinary cadmium in youth: Korean Environmental Health Survey in Children and Adolescents (KorEHS-C), 2012–2014

AbstractBackgroundThis study examined levels of blood lead and mercury, and urinary cadmium, and associated sociodemographic factors in 3–18 year-old Korean children and adolescents.Materials and methodsWe used the nationally representative Korean Environmental Health Survey in Children and Adolescents data for 2012–2014 and identified 2388 children and adolescents aged 3–18 years. The median and 95th percentile exposure biomarker levels with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Multivariate regression analyses were performed on log transformed exposure biomarker levels adjusted for age, sex, area, household income, and father’s education level. The median exposure biomarker levels were compared with data from Germany, the US, and Canada, as well as the levels of Korean children measured at different times.ResultsThe median levels of blood lead and mercury, as well as urinary cadmium were 1.23μg/dL, 1.80μg/L, and 0.40μg/L (95% CIs, 1.21–1.25, 1.77–1.83, and 0.39–0.41, respectively). The blood lead levels were significantly higher in boys and younger children (p<0.0001) and children with less educated fathers (p=0.004) after adjusting for covariates. Urinary cadmium level increased with age (p<0.0001). The median levels of blood mercury and urinary cadmium were much higher in Korean children and adolescents than those in their peers in Germany, the US, and Canada. Blood lead levels tended to decrease with increasing age and divergence between the sexes, particularly in the early teen years. Median levels of blood lead and urinary cadmium decreased since 2010.ConclusionSociodemographic factors, including age, sex, and father’s education level were associated with environmental exposure to heavy metals in Korean children and adolescents. These biomonitoring data are valuable for ongoing surveillance of environmental exposure in this vulnerable population

Maternal, neonatal, and child health systems under rapid urbanization: a qualitative study in a suburban district in Vietnam

Background Vietnam has been successful in increasing access to maternal, neonatal, and child health (MNCH) services during last decades; however, little is known about whether the primary MNCH service utilization has been properly utilized under the recent rapid urbanization. We aimed to examine current MNCH service utilization patterns at a district level. Methods The study was conducted qualitatively in a rural district named Quốc Oai. Women who gave a birth within a year and medical staff at various levels participated through 43 individual in-depth interviews and 3 focus group interviews. Results Primary MNCH services were underutilized due to a failure to meet increased quality needs. Most of the mothers preferred private clinics for antenatal care and the district hospital for delivery due to the better service quality of these facilities compared to that of the commune health stations (CHSs). Mothers had few sociocultural barriers to acquiring service information or utilizing services based on their improved standard of living. A financial burden for some services, including caesarian section, still existed for uninsured mothers, while their insured counterparts had relatively few difficulties. Conclusions For the improved macro-efficiency of MNCH systems, the government needs to rearrange human resources and/or merge some CHSs to achieve economies of scale and align with service volume distribution across the different levels.This research was financially supported by the JW LEE Center for Global Medicine of Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea. Vietnam Health System Strengthening project is part of a collaborative project by and JW LEE Center for Global Medicine of Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea and University of Hanoi, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Ho Chi Minh City. The funding source had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, interpretation of data, or preparation of the manuscript

Interactions of CO2 with various functional molecules

The CO2 capturing and sequestration are of importance in environmental science. Understanding of the CO2-interactions with various functional molecules including multi-N-containing superbases and heteroaromatic ring systems is essential for designing novel materials to effectively capture the CO2 gas. These interactions are investigated using density functional theory (DFT) with dispersion correction and high level wave function theory (resolution-of-identity (RI) spin-component-scaling (scs) Moller-Plesset second-order perturbation theory (MP2) and coupled cluster with single, double and perturbative triple excitations (CCSD(T))). We found intriguing molecular systems of melamine, 1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5- ene (TBD), 7-azaindole and guanidine, which show much stronger CO2 interactions than the well-known functional systems such as amines. In particular, melamine could be exploited to design novel materials to capture the CO2 gas, since one CO2 molecule can be coordinated by four melamine molecules, which gives a binding energy (BE) of similar to 85 kJ mol(-1), much larger than in other cases.open2

Oncoprotein HCCR-1 expression in breast cancer is well correlated with known breast cancer prognostic factors including the HER2 overexpression, p53 mutation, and ER/PR status

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Oncoprotein HCCR-1 functions as a negative regulator of the p53 and contributes breast tumorigenesis. The serum HCCR-1 assay is useful in diagnosing breast cancer and mice transgenic for HCCR developed breast cancers. But it is unknown how <it>HCCR-1 </it>contributes to human breast tumorigenesis.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Oncogene HCCR-1 expression levels were determined in normal breast tissues, breast cancer tissues and cancer cell lines. We examined whether HCCR-1 protein expression in breast cancer is related to different biological characteristics, including ER, PR, p53 genotype, and HER2 status in 104 primary breast cancer tissues using immunohistochemical analyses.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>HCCR-1 was upregulated in breast cancer cells and tissues compared with normal breast tissues. In this study, overexpression of HCCR-1 was well correlated with known breast cancer prognostic markers including the presence of steroid receptors (ER and PR), p53 mutation and high HER2 overexpression. HCCR-1 was not detected in the ER-negative, PR-negative, p53 negative and low HER2 breast cancer tissues. These data indicate that the level of HCCR-1 in breast cancer tissues is relatively well correlated with known breast cancer factors, including the HER2 overexpression, p53 mutation, and ER/PR status.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Determination of HCCR-1 levels as options for HER2 testing is promising although it needs further evaluation.</p