Jong-Suk Song

Microarray analysis of normal cervix, carcinoma in situ, and invasive cervical cancer: identification of candidate genes in pathogenesis of invasion in cervical cancer

The objective of this study was to identify genes that are related to pathogenesis of carcinoma in situ (CIS) to invasive cervical cancer with the use of oligonucleotide microarray and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Each two cases of normal cervix, CIS, and invasive cervical cancer were investigated with DNA microarray technology. Differential gene expression profiles among them were analyzed. Expression levels of selected genes from the microarray results were confirmed by RT-PCR. The expressions of 15,286 genes were compared and 458 genes were upregulated or downregulated by twofold or more compared with each other group. Among 458 genes, 22 genes were upregulated and 40 genes were downregulated by twofold or more in invasive cervical cancer group compared with CIS group. RT-PCR analysis confirmed upregulation of 18 genes and downregulation of 5 genes in invasive cervical cancer group. RBP1, TFRC, SPP1, SAA1, ARHGAP8, and NDRG1, which were upregulated, and GATA3, PLAGL1, APOD, DUSP1, and CYR61, which were downregulated, were considered as candidate genes associated with invasion of cervical cancer.

Concentrations of mitomycin C in rabbit corneal tissue and aqueous humor after topical administration

Purpose: To study the aqueous and corneal pharmacokinetics of mitomycin C (MMC) after single topical administration to the central cornea and to evaluate the effects of different concentrations and different application times on the aqueous concentration of MMC. Methods: Mechanical epithelium debridement of the central 7.5 mm of the cornea was performed in New Zealand white rabbits, and a sponge soaked in 0.02% MMC solution was placed on the denuded corneal stroma for 2 minutes. Aqueous fluid and central corneal tissues samples were taken at 0.5, 1, 2, and 3 hours thereafter. MMC concentration of the samples was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography and evaluated at different exposure times (range: 15-120 seconds) and concentrations of applied MMC (range: 0.005%-0.04%). Results: Peak corneal concentration was 3.728 ± 2.547 μg/g at 30 minutes after topical administration. Maximum aqueous concentration was 0.380 ± 0.038 μg/mL at 1 hour after topical application. The aqueous concentration of MMC increased in a dose-dependent manner with increasing exposure time and application concentration. Aqueous MMC concentration increased at a higher rate with change of applied concentration than with exposure time. Conclusion: Good penetration of MMC through central bare cornea may be noxious to endothelial cells. Reducing concentration or decreasing exposure time seems a good modality to reduce potential MMC toxicity.

Effects of topical tranilast on corneal haze after photorefractive keratectomy

Purpose: To determine whether topical tranilast might reduce corneal haze through suppression of transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β1 synthesis in keratocyte after photorefractive keratectomy. Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Methods: Photorefractive keratectomy was performed on 48 eyes of 28 white rabbits and 24 eyes in a tranilast group were treated with tranilast solution, and the other 24 eyes in control group were treated with saline after laser ablation. The grades of corneal haze at 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks after surgery were evaluated in 10 eyes of each group for comparison. Immunohistochemistry was performed on 10 eyes of each group, and Western blot analysis was done on 4 eyes of each group for studying TGF‐β1 expression at postoperative day 7. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in corneal haze between 2 groups from week 1 to week 4 after surgery, but a significant difference was found at week 8 after photorefractive keratectomy (P = .02). The mean number of keratocytes that expressed TGF‐β1 in the tranilast group was 58.3 (±17.2), which showed significant difference, compared with that of the control group, 104.5 (±23.0) (P<.01). Western blot analysis also revealed that the amount of TGF‐β1 in tranilast group was slightly less than the control group. Conclusions: Topical tranilast could reduce corneal haze by suppressing TGF‐β1 expression in keratocytes after photorefractive keratectomy.

Expression of pituitary tumor-transforming gene in endometrial cancer as a prognostic marker

The pituitary tumor-transforming gene (PTTG) is a novel oncogene expressed abundantly in most tumors, regulates basic fibroblast growth factor secretion, and induces angiogenesis. The objective of this study is to compare the expression rate of PTTG in endometrial cells, to correlate the level of expression of PTTG with the clinicopathologic parameters and overall survival, and to evaluate the possible use of PTTG as a prognostic marker of endometrial cancer. Forty patients diagnosed with endometrial cancer, 20 patients with endometrial hyperplasia, and 20 patients with normal endometrial tissues were included in the study. Immunohistochemical analyses on paraffin-embedded blocks were performed using a polyclonal anti-PTTG antibody. The decrease in expression of cytoplasmic and nuclear PTTG seen for endometrial cancer cells was statistically significant (P< 0.05). Cytoplasmic PTTG expression correlated with expression of progesterone receptor (P= 0.009) and FGF-2 (P= 0.007) but not with other parameters such as the expression of estrogen receptor, tumor grade, and surgical stage. Nuclear PTTG expression did not correlate with any parameters. The mean survival of patients with positive and negative cytoplasmic PTTG expression was 40.8 and 48.6 months (P= 0.78). In nuclear PTTG expression, the survival was 20.0 and 51.8 months, respectively (P= 0.04). Cytoplasmic PTTG expression was not associated with survival. Patients with nuclear PTTG overexpression showed a significant decrease in survival. The use of PTTG as a prognostic marker for endometrial cancer needs further investigation.

Association Between Menstrual Irregularity and Dry Eye Disease: A Population-Based Study.

Purpose: To determine whether dry eye disease (DED) is associated with irregular menstruation among Korean women. Methods: In this population-based study, we randomly selected 6502 women (19–50 year olds) from nationally representative participants in the fifth annual Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2010–2012). Data were analyzed using logistic regression to evaluate the association between menstrual irregularity and DED, while controlling for demographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, and parity. Results: After adjusting for the womens demographic characteristics, age and body mass index, lifestyle factors (smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, and residential area), and parity, we found that menstrual irregularity was associated with an increased risk of DED (odds ratio, 1.49; 95% confidence interval, 1.02–2.17) and DED symptoms (odds ratio, 1.43; 95% confidence interval, 1.09–1.89). Conclusions: We found a significant association between DED and menstrual irregularity.

Protocol for the first clinical trial to investigate safety and efficacy of corneal xenotransplantation in patients with corneal opacity, corneal perforation, or impending corneal perforation

Xenotransplantation using fresh porcine corneas has been suggested as a feasible alternative to overcome the shortage of human donor corneas. Successful long‐term survival of grafts without evidence of xenozoonosis in clinically applicable pig‐to‐non‐human primate corneal transplantation model has brought researchers close to human clinical trials. Accordingly, we aimed to prepare a clinical trial protocol to conduct the first corneal xenotransplantation.

Standardization of the proceedings for preparing clinical trials of corneal xenotransplantation in South Korea

1Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea 2Laboratory of Ocular Regenerative Medicine and Immunology, Seoul Artificial Eye Center, Seoul National University Hospital Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul, Korea 3Translational Xenotransplantation Research Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul, Korea 4Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University Hospital Healthcare System Gangnam Center, Seoul, Korea 5Executive Council, Korean External Eye Disease Society, Seoul, Korea 6Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul, Korea 7Department of Ophthalmology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea 8Department of Ophthalmology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea 9Department of Ophthalmology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea 10Center for Public Healthcare Education & Training, National Medical Center, Seoul, Korea 11Inje University Seoul Paik Hospital, Seoul, Korea 12C&R Research Inc., Seoul, Korea 13Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Seoul National University College of Medicine and Hospital, Seoul, Korea 14Department of Medical Education, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea

Effect of cataract surgery on intraocular pressure in supine and lateral decubitus body postures

Purpose: To investigate the effect of phacoemulsification on intraocular pressure (IOP) in different recumbent body postures including supine and lateral decubitus (LD) positions. Materials and Methods: This prospective, observational study included patients who had no glaucoma and who had planned to undergo phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation in one eye. Before and 1 month after cataract surgery, IOP was measured in both eyes using the Tono-Pen AVIA. We measured IOP in the sitting, supine, and LD (with the operated eye placed on the lower side) positions. IOP was measured 10 min after assuming each position in a randomized sequence. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare the IOP changes before and 1 month after phacoemulsification in all postures. Results: Twenty-nine patients participated in this study. Postoperative IOP was lower than the preoperative IOP when measured by Goldmann applanation tonometry in the sitting position (13.8 ± 1.9 mmHg vs. 12.6 ± 2.1 mmHg, P = 0.007). The postoperative IOP was lower than the preoperative IOP for the supine and LD positions. The average IOP reduction of the operated eye was 0.6 mmHg, 1.7 mmHg, and 3.0 mmHg in the sitting, supine, and LD positions, respectively (sitting vs. supine, P = 0.048; sitting vs. LD, P = 0.001; supine vs. LD, P = 0.028). In the nonoperated eye, IOP did not change significantly after surgery (all P > 0.05). Conclusions: Cataract surgery lowered IOP in the sitting position as well as in the supine and LD positions. Such postoperative IOP reductions were greater in the recumbent positions than in the sitting position.

Comparison of Manual and Automated Methods to Measure Position- Induced Ocular Cyclotorsion

Purpose: To evaluate position-induced ocular cyclotorsion with manual and automated methods and to compare the measurements of the two methods. nSetting : Department of Ophthalmology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. nMethods : Position-induced ocular cyclotorsion was measured in 40 normal eyes using manual and automated methods. In the manual method, the subject was seated upright at the slit lamp, and the corneal limbus was marked at the 0- and 180-degree positions. Next, with the subject lying on the surgical table, ocular cyclotorsion was measured using a Mendez degree gauge (Katena Products Inc., Denville, NJ). In the automated method, new CRS Master TM with OcuLign TM eye registration (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Jena, Germany) was used. nResults: The mean values of ocular cyclotorsion were -0.53 ± 2.30 degrees with the manual method and 1.08 ± 2.61 degrees with the automated method (+: counterclockwise, -: clockwise). There was a significant difference between these two methods (p=0.002) and no significant correlation (r=0.201, p=0.213). On the Bland-Altman plots, the range of agreement between these two methods was 6.1 degrees, whereas the range of agreement between zero value which assumed there was no manually detectable cyclotorsion and automated measurements was 5.1 degrees; the range of agreement between zero value and automated method was 1 degree lower than the agreement range between manual and automated methods. nConclusions: The current manual method, which has been used clinically to compensate for position-induced ocular cyclotorsion, is not correlated with automated method.

Erratum to: Anterior stromal puncture for treatment of contact lens-intolerant keratoconus patients

Erratum to: Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol n nDOI 10.1007/s00417-010-1423-9 n nThe original version of this article, unfortunately, contained a mistake. The correct affiliation for the authors should be: n nS.Y. Kang & H.M. Kim n nDepartment of Ophthalmology, Anam Hospital, n nKorea University College of Medicine, n n126-1, Anam-dong 5-ga, Seongbuk-gu n nSeoul 136-705, South Korea n nemail: hyomkim@hanmail.net n nY.K. Park n nDr. Lee & Parks Eye Clinic, n nSeoul, South Korea n nJ.S. Song n nDepartment of Ophthalmology, Guro Hospital, n nKorea University College of Medicine, n n80, Guro-dong, Guro-gu, n nSeoul 152-703, South Korea