The orphan nuclear receptor SHP acts as a negative regulator in inflammatory signaling triggered by Toll-like receptors.

The orphan nuclear receptor SHP (small heterodimer partner) is a transcriptional corepressor that regulates hepatic metabolic pathways. Here we identified a role for SHP as an intrinsic negative regulator of Toll-like receptor (TLR)-triggered inflammatory responses. SHP-deficient mice were more susceptible to endotoxin-induced sepsis. SHP had dual regulatory functions in a canonical transcription factor NF-κB signaling pathway, acting as both a repressor of transactivation of the NF-κB subunit p65 and an inhibitor of polyubiquitination of the adaptor TRAF6. SHP-mediated inhibition of signaling via the TLR was mimicked by macrophage-stimulating protein (MSP), a strong inducer of SHP expression, via an AMP-activated protein kinase-dependent signaling pathway. Our data identify a previously unrecognized role for SHP in the regulation of TLR signaling.

Feasibility of artificial intelligence assisted quantitative muscle ultrasound in carpal tunnel syndrome.

BACKGROUND: In case of focal neuropathy, the muscle fibers innervated by the corresponding nerves are replaced with fat or fibrous tissue due to denervation, which results in increased echo intensity (EI) on ultrasonography. EI analysis can be conducted quantitatively using gray scale analysis. Mean value of pixel brightness of muscle image defined as EI. However, the accuracy achieved by using this parameter alone to differentiate between normal and abnormal muscles is limited. Recently, attempts have been made to increase the accuracy using artificial intelligence (AI) in the analysis of muscle ultrasound images. CTS is the most common disease among focal neuropathy. In this study, we aimed to verify the utility of AI assisted quantitative analysis of muscle ultrasound in CTS. METHODS: This is retrospective study that used data from adult who underwent ultrasonographic examination of hand muscles. The patient with CTS confirmed by electromyography and subjects without CTS were included. Ultrasound images of the unaffected hands of patients or subjects without CTS were used as controls. Ultrasonography was performed by one physician in same sonographic settings. Both conventional quantitative grayscale analysis and machine learning (ML) analysis were performed for comparison. RESULTS: A total of 47 hands with CTS and 27 control hands were analyzed. On conventional quantitative analysis, mean EI ratio (i.e. mean thenar EI/mean hypothenar EI ratio) were significantly higher in the patient group than in the control group, and the AUC was 0.76 in ROC analysis. In the analysis using machine learning, the AUC was the highest for the linear support vector classifier (AUC = 0.86). When recursive feature elimination was applied to the classifier, the AUC value improved to 0.89. CONCLUSION: This study showed a significant increase in diagnostic accuracy when AI was used for quantitative analysis of muscle ultrasonography. If an analysis protocol using machine learning can be established and mounted on an ultrasound machine, a noninvasive and non-time-consuming muscle ultrasound examination can be conducted as an ancillary tool for diagnosis.

Intraneural ganglion cysts originating from the hip joint: A single-center experience.

INTRODUCTION/AIMS: Intraneural ganglion cysts (INGCs) are non-neoplastic mucinous cysts within the epineurium of peripheral nerves. Characteristics of INGCs around the hip joint have not been adequately described. We aimed to describe clinical features, imaging findings, and treatment outcomes in patients with INGCs originating from the hip joint. METHODS: We retrospectively included cystic lesions around the hip joint satisfying the following inclusion criteria over 6 years: (1) multilocular elongated hyperintense cystic mass on T2-weighted imaging; and (2) distribution along the course of the peripheral nerve and its branches on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). RESULTS: Six patients with an INGC around the hip joint were identified. Parent peripheral nerves were the sciatic nerve (four patients), the superior gluteal nerve (one patient), and the nerve to quadratus femoris (one patient). Buttock, groin, or lower extremity pain/paresthesias were the initial symptoms in all patients. INGCs within the articular branches of the hip joint were identified on MRI. Four patients underwent arthroscopic debridement and capsulotomy. All patients showed generally favorable outcome regardless of treatment. DISCUSSION: Physicians should consider the possibility of INGCs originating from the hip joint as a cause of nontraumatic hip, buttock, or lower extremity pain. This can occur in any nerve innervating the hip joint, and usually it originates in the posterior capsule of the hip joint. Arthroscopic surgery shows promising results; however, more information about the surgical technique and long-term follow-up results are needed.

Lobeglitazone attenuates fibrosis in corneal fibroblasts by interrupting TGF-beta-mediated Smad signaling.

PURPOSE: Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-ß1) is an important cytokine released after ocular surface injury to promote wound healing. However, its persistence at the injury site triggers a fibrotic response that leads to corneal scarring and opacity. Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) are synthetic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) ligands used to regulate glucose and lipid metabolism in the management of type 2 diabetes. Studies have also showed TZDs have antifibrotic effect. In this study, we investigated the antifibrotic effect of the TZD lobeglitazone on TGF-ß1-induced fibrosis in corneal fibroblasts. METHODS: Human primary corneal fibroblasts were cultivated and treated with TGF-ß1 (5 ng/mL) to induce fibrosis, with or without pre-treatments with different concentrations of lobeglitazone. Myofibroblast differentiation and extracellular matrix (ECM) protein expression was evaluated by western blotting, immunofluorescence, real-time PCR, and collagen gel contraction assay. The effect of lobeglitazone on TGF-ß1-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was evaluated by DCFDA-cellular ROS detection assay kit. Signaling proteins were evaluated by western blotting to determine the mechanism underlying the antifibrotic effect. RESULTS: Our results showed lobeglitazone attenuated TGF-ß1-induced ECM synthesis and myofibroblast differentiation of corneal fibroblasts. This antifibrotic effect appeared to be independent of PPAR signaling and rather due to the inhibition of the TGF-ß1-induced Smad signaling. Lobeglitazone also blocked TGF-ß1-induced ROS generation and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (Nox) 4 transcription. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that lobeglitazone may be a promising therapeutic agent for corneal scarring. KEY MESSAGES.

Prevalence and risk factors of epiretinal membrane: Data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey VII (2017-2018).

BACKGROUND: To determine the prevalence and risk factors of epiretinal membrane (ERM) utilising spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). METHODS: We investigated data from the 2017 to 2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Individuals aged ≥40 years with readable fundus photographs and SD-OCT results were included. ERM was diagnosed by fundus photography and OCT. The following data was collected: demographics, health interview, health examination, and nutritional survey results. The prevalence of ERM was estimated and risk factors for ERM were analysed. RESULTS: A total of 6807 participants were finally included. Adjusted prevalence of ERM was 7.0% (95% confidence interval, 6.3%-7.8%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that age ≥ 50 years (p < 0.001 for all age groups), history of cataract surgery (p < 0.001), well-controlled hypertension (p = 0.006), and diabetic retinopathy (p = 0.041) were risk factors for ERM. CONCLUSIONS: The estimated prevalence of ERM was 7.0%, which was higher than that of previous reports using fundus photography only in an East Asian population. Possible risk factors for ERM were older age, history of cataract surgery, hypertension, and diabetic retinopathy.

Lumbosacral plexopathy caused by the perineural spread of pelvic malignancies: clinical aspects and imaging patterns.

BACKGROUND: Perineural spread (PNS) of tumors from pelvic malignancies is a rare phenomenon but constitutes an important differential diagnosis of lumbosacral plexopathy (LSP). Herein, we describe the clinical and imaging features of patients with LSP due to PNS of pelvic malignancies along with a literature review. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 9 cases of LSP caused by PNS of pelvic malignancy between January 2006 and August 2021, and all clinical and imaging parameters were recorded in detail. Clinical symptoms and signs of patients were described and listed in the order in which they occurred. The results of imaging test were analyzed to describe specific findings in LSP caused by PNS. RESULTS: This study enrolled nine adult patients (mean age, 50.1 years). Two cases initially presented as LSP and were later diagnosed with pelvic malignancy. Pain in the perianal or inguinal area preceded pain at the extremities in six patients. Neurogenic bladder or bowel symptoms developed in five patients. On the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the S1-S2 spinal nerve was most commonly involved, and S1 myotome weakness was more prominent in six patients than the other myotomes. One patient had an intradural extension. 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT) showed abnormal signal intensity in six patients. No abnormality in 18F-FDG PET/CT was detected in the nervous structures in one patient. Only four patients survived until the last follow-up visit. CONCLUSIONS: Though rare, physicians should always keep in mind the possibility of LSP due to the PNS in patients with pelvic malignancy. Thorough physical examination and history taking could provide clues for diagnosis. Pelvic MRI and 18F-FDG-PET/CT should be considered for patients with LSP to rule out neoplastic LSP.

Empirical Treatment With Carbapenem vs Third-generation Cephalosporin for Treatment of Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Third-generation cephalosporins (TGCs) are recommended as first-line antibiotics for treatment of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP). However, antibiotics against multidrug-resistant organisms (such as carbapenems) might be necessary. We aimed to evaluate whether carbapenems are superior to TGC for treatment of SBP. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of 865 consecutive patients with a first presentation of SBP (275 culture positive; 103 with TGC-resistant bacterial infections) treated at 7 referral centers in Korea, from September 2013 through January 2018. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. We made all comparisons using data from patients whose baseline characteristics were balanced by inverse probability of treatment weighting. RESULTS: Of patients who initially received empirical treatment with antibiotics, 95 (11.0%) received carbapenems and 655 (75.7%) received TGCs. Among the entire study cohort, there was no significant difference in in-hospital mortality between the carbapenem (25.8%) and TGC (25.3%) groups (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.97; 95% CI, 0.85-1.11; P = .66). In the subgroup of patients with high chronic liver failure-sequential organ failure assessment (CLIF-SOFA) scores (score of 7 or greater, n = 314), carbapenem treatment was associated with lower in-hospital mortality (23.1%) than in the TGC group (38.8%) (aOR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.75-0.94; P=.002). In contrast, among patients with lower CLIF-SOFA scores (n = 436), in-hospital mortality did not differ significantly between the carbapenem group (24.7%) and the TGC group (16.0%) (aOR, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.85-1.32; P = .58). CONCLUSIONS: For patients with a first presentation of SBP, empirical treatment with carbapenem does not reduce in-hospital mortality compared to treatment with TGCs. However, among critically ill patients (CLIF-SOFA scores ≥7), empirical carbapenem treatment was significantly associated with lower in-hospital mortality than TGCs.

Focal vasculitic myositis as a primary manifestation of Behçet's disease: a case series of 10 Korean patients in a locomotive medicine clinic.

OBJECTIVES: Muscle involvement in Behçet's disease (BD) is rare, and several cases have been reported in the literature. Therefore, this study aimed to describe the clinical, laboratory and imaging findings in adult patients presenting with BD-associated myositis before the diagnosis of BD. METHODS: We retrospectively screened patients who visited a locomotive medicine clinic presenting with myalgia, local swelling, or tenderness of extremities without an established diagnosis of BD. We enrolled patients whose pain in the extremities was proven to be suggestive of focal vasculitic myositis and who were eventually diagnosed as having BD at the initial visit or during follow-up. We thoroughly reviewed the clinical, histological and imaging findings and treatment outcomes in patients who presented with focal vasculitic myositis as the primary manifestation of BD. RESULTS: Ten adult patients with focal vasculitic myositis as the primary manifestation of BD were enrolled. The lower and upper extremities were affected in eight and two patients, respectively. The affected lower extremities were the calf (n = 6) and thigh muscles (n = 2). The common findings of MRI included high signal intensity of the affected muscles and intermuscular fascia on fat-suppressed images, suggestive of myofascitis and oedematous changes in the subcutaneous layer. The results of skin or muscle biopsy were suggestive of vasculitis. All the patients were pain-free at the short-term follow-up (1-3 weeks) after oral steroid therapy. CONCLUSION: Focal vasculitic myositis can be a primary manifestation of BD warranting medical attention. BD-associated myositis responds well to oral steroid therapy.

Prognostic role of spleen volume measurement using computed tomography in patients with compensated chronic liver disease from hepatitis B viral infection.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prognostic value of CT-based splenic volume measurement in patients with compensated chronic liver disease (cCLD) from chronic hepatitis B (CHB). METHODS: A total of 584 patients having multiphasic liver CT scans between January and December 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. Spleen volume was measured using a semi-automated three-dimensional volumetric software program. Electronic medical records and national registry data were reviewed to determine the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), hepatic decompensation, or death. The cumulative incidence (CI) of the development of decompensation, HCC occurrence, and overall survival (OS) were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method. The Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to evaluate prognostic factors. The optimal cutoff spleen volume to predict each outcome was obtained using a minimal p value approach method. RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 92 months, 114 patients developed HCC with a 7-year CI of 17.2%. A larger spleen volume was a significant predictor of HCC occurrence (HR = 2.13, p = 0.009). Decompensation occurred in 30 patients with a 7-year CI of 5.0%, and a larger spleen volume was also significantly associated with the development of decompensation (HR = 4.66, p = 0.005). Twenty-three patients died, and their estimated 7-year OS was 96.4%. A larger spleen volume also significantly affected OS (HR = 6.15, p = 0.007). The optimal cutoff spleen volume was set at 532 mL for HCC occurrence, 656.9 mL for the development of decompensation, and 741.1 mL for OS. CONCLUSIONS: A larger spleen volume was significantly associated with HCC occurrence, development of decompensation, and poor OS in patients with cCLD from CHB. KEY POINTS: • Spleen volume could be easily acquired from routine multiphasic liver CT scan using a semi-automated 3D volumetric software program with excellent inter-observer agreement. • A larger spleen volume was significantly associated with a higher rate of hepatocellular carcinoma occurrence, the development of decompensation, and poor overall survival in patients with compensated chronic liver disease from chronic hepatitis B.

Analysis of Patch Antenna with Broadband Using Octagon Parasitic Patch.

This paper proposes a novel broadband octagonal patch antenna with parasitic patches. The proposed patch antenna is constructed with four parasitic patches around a central radiating octagonal element. It is illustrated that this arrangement can be used to improve the antenna bandwidth and gain when compared with that of conventional antennas. The proposed patch antenna is very simple, low-profile, and economical. The typical analysis of the proposed antenna is analyzed by the S11(S-parameter), the radiation pattern, and the realized gain. It can achieve an impedance bandwidth of 1.44 GHz and a high gain of 8.56 dBi in the 8.5 GHz band. Furthermore, the proposed antenna shows that the directional pattern and HPBW measurement results of E and H-plane were 70° and 74° at 8.5 GHz, and 74° and 83° at 9 GHz, and 47° and 42° at 9.5 GHz, respectively.

Prognostic impact of concurrent nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with chronic hepatitis B-related hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: As the prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasing globally, patients with both NAFLD and chronic hepatitis B (CHB)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is also frequently found. This study aimed to investigate the clinical impact of concurrent NAFLD on the prognosis of patients with CHB-related HCC. METHODS: Patients with CHB-related HCC who underwent surgical resection were consecutively selected from August 2009 to December 2013. The association between histologically proven concurrent NAFLD and clinical outcomes were analyzed. Propensity score (PS) matching was adapted to adjust for baseline characteristics. We also investigated the presence of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) among patients with NAFLD and its association with clinical outcomes. RESULTS: Among 338 CHB-related HCC patients selected, 196 patients (58.0%) were diagnosed with concurrent NAFLD. The median follow-up duration was 74.9 months. The patients with NAFLD tended to have better recurrence-free survival (RFS; log-rank, P = 0.16) and had significantly better overall survival (OS; log-rank, P = 0.004) than those without NAFLD. However, the survival benefit of the concurrent NAFLD was not significant in a multivariable Cox analysis (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.94; 95% confidence interval, 0.51-1.73, P = 0.84) or an analysis after PS matching (log-rank, P = 0.57). Regarding the presence or absence of NASH, no differences in the RFS (log-rank, P = 0.61) and OS (log-rank, P = 0.26) were found. CONCLUSIONS: Concurrent NAFLD was not associated with both RFS and OS in patients with CHB-related HCC after adjusting for baseline characteristics. Moreover, NAFLD patients with NASH did not have significantly different clinical outcomes compared with NAFLD patients without NASH.

Reduction of corneal epithelial thickness during medical treatment for myopic regression following FS-LASIK.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate corneal epithelial thickness change during medical treatment for eyes with myopic regression after femtosecond laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (FS-LASIK). METHODS: This study included 84 eyes of 54 subjects diagnosed with myopic regression after FS-LASIK and treated using topical steroid and anti-glaucoma drugs. Corneal epithelial thickness was measured using Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography before and after treatment. Subjects were divided into three groups based on their corneal epithelial thickness at the time of myopic regression and regression analyses were used to investigate the association between corneal epithelial thickness, visual acuity, and refraction. Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to determine whether corneal epithelial thickness could predict the success of treatment, improvements of ≥ two lines in uncorrected distance visual acuity and ≥ 0.5 diopter in refraction or K. RESULTS: Corneal epithelial thickness decreased with greater change in the center as myopic regression subsided during medical treatment. Subgroup with the thickest epithelium (≥ 62 µm) showed a higher success rate and greater changes in refraction and vision. Reduced magnitude of corneal epithelial thickness showed significant correlations with changes of K and refractive error (all P < 0.001). Corneal epithelial thickness was a significant factor for the success of treatment and ROC curve showed that corneal epithelial thickness > 60.50 µm had 81.5% sensitivity and 84.2% specificity for the success of medical treatment. CONCLUSION: Corneal epithelial thickness decreases proportionally with the magnitude of improvement of myopic regression during treatment with steroid and anti-glaucoma drugs in post-LASIK eyes with myopic regression.

Adjuvant cytokine-induced killer cell immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma: a propensity score-matched analysis of real-world data.

BACKGROUND: Several randomized controlled trials have shown that adjuvant immunotherapy with autologous cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells prolongs recurrence-free survival (RFS) after curative treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We investigated the efficacy of adjuvant immunotherapy with activated CIK cells in real-world clinical practice. METHODS: A total of 59 patients who had undergone curative surgical resection or radiofrequency ablation for stage I or II HCC, and subsequently received adjuvant CIK cell immunotherapy at two large-volume centers in Korea were retrospectively included. Propensity score matching with a 1:1 ratio was conducted to avoid possible bias, and 59 pairs of matched control subjects were also generated. The primary endpoint was RFS and the secondary endpoints were overall survival and safety. RESULTS: The median follow-up duration was 28.0 months (interquartile range, 22.9-42.3 months). In a univariable analysis, the immunotherapy group showed significantly longer RFS than the control group (hazard ratio [HR], 0.42; 95% CI, 0.22-0.80; log-rank P = 0.006). The median RFS in the control group was 29.8 months, and the immunotherapy group did not reach a median RFS. A multivariable Cox proportional hazard analysis showed that immunotherapy was an independent predictor for HCC recurrence (adjusted HR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.20-0.73; P = 0.004). The overall incidence of adverse events in the immunotherapy group was 16/59 (27.1%) and no patient experienced a grade 3 or 4 adverse event. CONCLUSIONS: The adjuvant immunotherapy with autologous CIK cells after curative treatment safely prolonged the RFS of HCC patients in a real-world setting.

Additional fibrate treatment in UDCA-refractory PBC patients.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: There is no proven treatment for ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA)-refractory primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) other than obeticholic acid. Although fibrates have been reported to improve biochemical parameters, the long-term effects remain unclear. This study evaluated the effect of fibrate on clinical outcomes of UDCA-refractory PBC. METHODS: Patients whose alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was not normalized with at least 13 mg/kg of UDCA treatment for >1 year were included from two tertiary referral centres. The primary outcome was ALP normalization. Secondary outcomes included the development of cirrhosis and hepatic deterioration. Immortal time bias was adjusted using the Mantel-Byar method. RESULTS: A total of 100 UDCA-refractory PBC patients were included: 71 patients received UDCA alone (the UDCA group) and 29 patients received UDCA plus additional fibrate treatment of 160 mg/d fenofibrate or 400 mg/d bezafibrate (the fibrate/UDCA group). During the follow-up period, the probability of ALP normalization was significantly higher in the fibrate/UDCA group (hazard ratio [HR] = 5.00, 95% confidence interval = 2.87-8.27, P < 0.001). Among 58 non-cirrhotic patients (43 in the UDCA group and 15 in the fibrate/UDCA group), 19 patients (44.1%) in the UDCA group and none in the fibrate/UDCA group developed cirrhosis (HR = 0.12, P = 0.04). Hepatic deterioration (Child-Pugh score increase or signs of decompensated cirrhosis) occurred in 17 patients (23.9%) of the UDCA group and none in the fibrate/UDCA group in which the difference was significant (HR = 0.12, P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with UDCA-refractory PBC, additional fibrate treatment is associated with a higher probability of ALP normalization and a lower risk of cirrhosis development and hepatic deterioration.

Allergic contact dermatitis of both eyes caused by alcaftadine 0.25%: a case report.

BACKGROUND: To report the first case of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) associated with alcaftadine 0.25% ophthalmic solution. CASE PRESENTATION: The patient was a 51-year-old woman with no previous history of side effects to ophthalmic antihistamine agents. She had been prescribed alcaftadine 0.25% for allergic conjunctivitis. On first application of the medication, she did not experience any cutaneous reaction. One day later, after the second alcaftadine 0.25% application, both eyelids became swollen, and erythematous changes were evident. On slit-lamp examination, conjunctival injection was noted in the absence of conjunctival swelling or any other findings. Fundus examination was unremarkable. To evaluate the cause of ACD, a patch test was performed and 48 h later was noted to be positive for alcaftadine 0.25%. Based on the positive patch test, the patient was diagnosed with ACD caused by alcaftadine 0.25%. After 9 days of treatment, the swelling and erythema completely resolved. CONCLUSIONS: Although there have been no previous reports of alcaftadine 0.25%-associated ACD, it should be suspected in patients with swelling and erythematous change of both eyes after using alcaftadine 0.25%.

Analysis of Beamforming Antenna for Practical Indoor Location-Tracking Application.

The single antenna used in conventional ultra-wideband radar has difficulty tracking targets over a wide range because of a relatively narrow beamwidth. Herein, we propose a beamforming antenna that can track targets over a wide range by electronically controlling the main beam of the antenna. The proposed beamforming antenna was fabricated by connecting a 1 × 4 linear array antenna and a 4 × 4 Butler matrix. The Butler matrix was fabricated in a laminated substrate using two TRF-45 substrates. Furthermore, the input Ports 1-4 generate a phase difference at regular intervals in each output port, and the output phase is fed to the array antenna. The proposed tapered-slot antenna was fabricated on a Taconic TLY substrate, and the impedance bandwidth of the antenna was achieved within a wide bandwidth of 4.32 GHz by satisfying a VSWR (Voltage Standing Wave Ratio) ≤2 within the 1.45-5.78 GHz band. Furthermore, the fabricated antenna has directional radiation patterns, which was found to be a suitable characsteristic for location tracking in a certain direction. Finally, the beamforming antenna has four beamforming angles, and to verify the performance for an indoor location tracking application of impulse-radio ultra-wideband radar, it was connected to an NVA-R661 module.

Repeatability of Central Corneal Thickness Measurement Using Rotating Scheimpflug Camera in Dry and Normal Eyes.

PURPOSE: To compare the repeatability of central corneal thickness (CCT) measurement using the Pentacam between dry eyes and healthy eyes, as well as to investigate the effect of artificial tears on CCT measurement. METHODS: The corneal thicknesses of 34 patients with dry eye and 28 healthy subjects were measured using the Pentacam. One eye from each subject was assigned randomly to a repeatability test, wherein a single operator performed three successive CCT measurements time points-before and 5 min after instillation of one artificial teardrop. The repeatability of measurements was assessed using the coefficient of repeatability and the intraclass correlation coefficient. RESULTS: The coefficient of repeatability values of the CCT measurements in dry and healthy eyes were 24.36 and 10.69 µm before instillation, and 16.85 and 9.72 µm after instillation, respectively. The intraclass correlation coefficient was higher in healthy eyes than that of in dry eyes (0.987 vs. 0.891), and it had improved significantly in dry eyes (0.948) after instillation of one artificial teardrop. The CCT measurement fluctuated in dry eyes (repeated-measures analysis of variance, P<0.001), whereas no significant changes were detected in healthy eyes, either before or after artificial tear instillation. CONCLUSIONS: Central corneal thickness measurement is less repeatable in dry eyes than in healthy eyes. Artificial tears improve the repeatability of CCT measurements obtained using the Pentacam in dry eyes.

Design and Analysis of a Quasi-Yagi Antenna for an Indoor Location Tracking System.

In this paper, a quasi-Yagi antenna for an indoor location tracking system is proposed. The performance of the proposed antenna was verified by testing it using an indoor location tracking system. To improve the bandwidth and gain, two parasitic directors were added near the dipole. The performance verification of the proposed antenna is explained, along with a performance comparison of the VSWR (voltage standing wave ratio) radiation pattern and the realized gain. The proposed antenna was connected to an NVA-R661 module of Xethru Inc. for indoor location tracking. The proposed antenna exhibited a wide bandwidth of 4.36 GHz by satisfying a VSWR ≤ 2 from 5.03 to 9.39 GHz, the maximum gain was 6.46 dBi in the 8 GHz band. The radiation pattern exhibited a good directivity characteristic within the proposed band. The location tracking result of a moving target clearly describes the route of the target along a moving line.

A comparative study on generating simulated Landsat NDVI images using data fusion and regression method-the case of the Korean Peninsula.

Landsat optical images have enough spatial and spectral resolution to analyze vegetation growth characteristics. But, the clouds and water vapor degrade the image quality quite often, which limits the availability of usable images for the time series vegetation vitality measurement. To overcome this shortcoming, simulated images are used as an alternative. In this study, weighted average method, spatial and temporal adaptive reflectance fusion model (STARFM) method, and multilinear regression analysis method have been tested to produce simulated Landsat normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) images of the Korean Peninsula. The test results showed that the weighted average method produced the images most similar to the actual images, provided that the images were available within 1 month before and after the target date. The STARFM method gives good results when the input image date is close to the target date. Careful regional and seasonal consideration is required in selecting input images. During summer season, due to clouds, it is very difficult to get the images close enough to the target date. Multilinear regression analysis gives meaningful results even when the input image date is not so close to the target date. Average R 2 values for weighted average method, STARFM, and multilinear regression analysis were 0.741, 0.70, and 0.61, respectively.

Spherical aberration reduction in nuclear cataracts.

PURPOSE: To measure higher-order aberrations (HOAs) in nuclear cataracts and to investigate spherical aberration changes with nuclear cataract progression. METHODS: A total of 102 eyes of older subjects (>50 years) were classified based on the nuclear opalescence (NO) grading of the Lens Opacities Classification System III: Group 1 (< NO2, 35), 2 (NO2, 23), 3 (NO3, 23), and 4 (≥ NO 4:21 eyes). Wave front measurements were performed with a Hartmann-Shack aberrometer. To investigate lenticular spherical aberration, HOAs were examined in 28 eyes before and after phacoemulsification, followed by insertion of an aberration-free intraocular lens. The relationship between lens opacity grade and ocular and lenticular spherical aberrations were investigated. RESULTS: Mean spherical aberrations in groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 were 0.25 ± 0.10, 0.16 ± 0.13, 0.12 ± 0.15, and 0.10 ± 0.20 µm, respectively, and showed a significant difference with nuclear opacity grading (p = 0.001). The spherical aberration showed negative associations with nuclear opacity grading (r = -0.408, p < 0.001). The predominant change in HOAs after phacoemulsification was an increase in spherical aberration, and 86 % of lenticular spherical aberrations were presumed to have negative values. The lenticular spherical aberration was negatively correlated with nuclear opacity severity (r = -0.409, p = 0.031). CONCLUSIONS: Ocular spherical aberration decreases with the progression of nuclear cataracts due to the negative correlation between lenticular spherical aberration and nuclear opacity severity.