• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2013

Purpose: This study was conducted to examine the degree of senile macular degeneration in elders aged 65 or older and identify factors associated with senile macular degeneration in elders within communities. Methods: Participants in this cross-sectional descriptive study were 388 elders without cataract, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy. Data were collected through face to face interviews using a questionnaire in an urban area from June 2010 to December 2011. To detect senile macular degeneration, the participants' self-tests were carried out with Amsler grid testing. Stepwise multivariate logistic regression was performed to evaluate the effects of health behavior and knowledge about eye health on senile macular degeneration. Results: The proportion of participants with senile macular degeneration was 11.6%. Factors that significantly increased the risk of senile macular degeneration included eye discomfort and history of ophthalmic examination (p<.05). Factors that significantly decreased the risk of senile macular degeneration included regular change of magnifiers, non-use of magnifiers, and knowledge about preventive effects of non-smoking and antioxidant vitamin intake on senile macular degeneration (p<.05). Conclusion: This study showed that programs for preventing senile macular degeneration were necessary for elders within communities and the results of this study can be used for developing those programs.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.26 no.8
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• pp.606-611
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• 2003

Byakangelicin, 9-(2,3-dihydroxy-2-methylbutoxy)-4-methoxy-7H- furo[3,2-g][l]benzopyran-7-one (BKG), a component of Angelicae dahuricae Radix, is considered to be an inhibitor of aldose reductase for the treatment of diabetic cataract. An analytical method for the isolation of BKG developed by high-performance liquid chromatography has been reported. No literature on the metabolism of BKG, however, has been found. With the purpose of identifying new metabolites of BKG, BKG (100 mg/kg) was orally administered to Sprague-Dawley rats via a gavage. Using a metabolic cage, urine was collected for 24 h, and the urine samples were extracted by liquid-liquid extraction. For structural identification of new urinary metabolites of BKG, various instrumental analyses were conducted by gas-chromatography/mass spectrometry, high-performance liquid chromatography/diode array detector, liquid chromatography/mass spectroscopy with thermospray interface and $^1H$ nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Two metabolites produced from the Ο-demethylation or Ο-dealkylation of BKG were newly identified, and another new but unknown metabolite was assumed to be the hydroxylated form of BKG. These results indicate that the major metabolic products of BKG are formed by Ο-demethylation or Ο-dealkylation of BKG side chains.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.89-98
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• 2010

Sex and its tropic hormones influence the lacrimal system, corneal anatomy and disease, aqueous humor dynamics and glaucoma, crystalline lens and cataract, and retinal disease. Dry eye occurs especially frequently during pregnancy, oral contraceptive use, and after menopause, during which androgen levels decrease. Androgen control development, differentiation, and lipid production of sebaceous glands throughout the body, and androgen deficiency also leads to meibomian gland dysfunction and evaporative dry eye. On the other hand, estrogen causes a reduction in size, activity, and lipid production of sebaceous glands. Sex and its tropic hormones also influence the corneal anatomy and disease, and corneal thickening occurred on the second day of the menstrual cycle and around the time of ovulation and appeared to be related to estrogen levels. Fuchs' dystrophy is more commonly seen in postmenopausal women than men and may be linked to hormonal changes that occur with aging. In addition, overexpression of estrogen and progesterone receptors in the conjunctiva of vernal keratoconjunctivitis patients. Serum progesterone levels also may be associated with intraocular pressure especially in pregnant women, and for the women. For women with cataracts, hormone levels were typical of menopause, and there was a significant negative correlation between estradiol and follicular stimulating hormone levels. In addition, serum testosterone levels are associated with the development of diabetic retinopathy. Although the role of sex hormones on the eye is largely unknown, and the results should be interpreted with caution until replicated, the functions of sex hormones in ocular disease remains to be investigated, because they may be involved in structure and function of the ocular components, which are important in the pathogenesis of ocular disease.