Purposes To investigate patterns of progression of localized retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) defect on red-free fundus photographs and to quantify extents of progression in normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) patients. Methods Sixty-five eyes of consecutive 65 NTG patients who had shown progression of localized RNFL defect on serial red-free fundus photographs were selected for this study. Patterns of progression of localized RNFL defect on red-free fundus photographs were categorized and extents of progression were quantified. Serial assessments of disc stereophotographs and visual fields were also performed to detect progression. Results The most common pattern of progression was widening of the defect towards the macula (n ¼ 37; 56.9%) followed by deepening of the defect (n ¼ 25; 38.5%), appearance of a new defect (n ¼ 6; 9.2%), and widening of the defect away from the macula (n ¼ 5; 7.7%). Eight eyes simultaneously showed two patterns of progression. Mean angular widening of the defect towards the macula and away from the macula was 6.4±4.11 (range: 1.1-17.11, n ¼ 37) and 3.4±2.11 (range: 1.1-5.21, n ¼ 5), respectively. No progression was observed on the disc stereophotographs (n ¼ 65) or in the visual fields (n ¼ 55) in 64 eyes (98.5%) and 46 eyes (83.6%), respectively. Conclusions There were four patterns of progression of localized RNFL defect. In most cases, RNFL loss proceeded temporally.

Chaetocin is a fungal metabolite that possesses a potent antiproliferative activity in solid tumors by inducing cell death. Although recent studies have extended the role of chaetocin in tumors, the underlying molecular mechanisms such as the downstream cascade that induces cell death has not clearly been elucidated. In this study, we show that chaetocin is able to induce both apoptosis and autophagy in several hepatoma cell lines including HepG2, Hep3B and Huh7 cell lines. Moreover, we found that the inhibition of caspase-3/7 activity by z-VAD-fmk treatment was able to block chaetocin-mediated cell death, whereas blocking autophagy by Bafilomycin A1 or the knockdown of autophagy protein 5 enhanced cell death mediated by chaetocin. These findings suggest that chaetocin has a potent anticancer effect against hepatoma. Inhibition of autophagy may potentiate anticancer effects of chaetocin thus providing evidence that combined treatment with chaetocin and autophagy inhibitors will be an effective strategy for treating cancer.

The effect of reproductive intentions on subsequent fertility is evaluated for a group of low-parity, primarily rural, Korean women. These women were more successful in achieving wanted additional births than in avoiding unwanted births, both at the aggregate and individual level. Several models of fertility behavior are tested. Reproductive intentions and number of living sons are the best predictors of subsequent fertility, and their effects are mediated largely by their impact on induced abortion. Overall the effect of reproductive intentions on subsequent fertility among Korean women is very similar to findings reported for the United States and Taiwan.