BACKGROUND: The Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) requires instrument interfacing for good efficiency. However, most instrument interfacing cannot be used easily because instruments have different interface protocols and database systems are different in each hospital LIMS. Therefore, it is necessary to establish flexible interface software that would be useful for various instrument interfacing and can be handled by laboratory workers. METHODS: We categorized the raw data acquisition format of instruments into 7 classification according to the field delimiter, the field position and the test ID, and created software so that anyone could make the interface protocols for any instrument that supports the unidirectional or ASTM interface protocol, according to classification. The software also provides various functions, such as host communications and printing. RESULTS: With this software, we have interfaced 23 instruments without program languages (C, C++, Basic, Pascal, etc.) coding. It took about 1-4 hours for each instrument interface. The software supports a maximum of 8 simultaneous instrument connections with one personal computer. Also, it is possible to retrieve acquisition data from instruments with Microsoft Excel without LIMS. CONCLUSTIONS: The advantages of this software are as follows; 1. Markedly shortens the input time for data generated from automated instruments and reduces errors of manual data entry, 2. Effective increase in host computer performance, 3. Significantly saves time and cost for instrument interfacing. Therefore, this software was considered to be very useful for laboratory instrument interfacing.
Classification ; Clinical Coding ; Information Management ; Microcomputers

Two types of urine dipstick assays, Multistix-SG and Comber-9-Test RL, were compared for compatibility, accuracy, specificity and predictive values of a positive and negative test in 501 patients' urine and artificially prepared specimen. We found that the results of semiquantitative tests of Multistix-SG and Comber-9-Test RL performed were statistically similar in patients' specimen. The urinary leukocyte esterase tests of Comber-9-Test RL assays compared with urine sediment microscopy in regard to compatibility, sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of a positive and negative test 83.7%, 48.1%, 90.3%, 47.4% and 90.1%, respectively. The urinary nitrite tests of Comber-9-Test RL assays compared with urine culture tests, in regard to compatibility, sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of a positive and negative test were 90.3%, 19.4%, 84.7%, 53.8% and 94.1, respectively. For the urinary protein, the sulfosalicylic acid method was the most sensitive test for any kinds of protein, and Multistix-SG appeared more sensitive than Comber-9-Test RL for the albuminuria. For the urinary bilirubin and glucose, two dipstick assays were similar in their diagnostic efficiency. Finally in the urinary occult blood tests, Comber-9-Test RL assays was more sensitive than Multistix-SG.
Albuminuria ; Bilirubin ; Glucose ; Leukocytes ; Methods ; Microscopy ; Occult Blood ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Urinalysis

No abstract available.

No abstract available.

A total of 72 cases of internal biliary drainage procedure has been done percutaneously at Departement ofRadilogy, Seoul Natinal Universtiy Hospital for recent 4 and half years since August 1981. Five different types ofinternal drainage including endoprosthesis were applied to various conditions with different obstruction levels.The different method of procedure in each type of internal drainage was described and the results were analysed.1. Among the clinical diagnosis in 72 cases, carcinoma of bile duct was in 37 cases as the most frequent one. Thenext was pancreas head carcinoma in 16 cases, followed by metastatic carcinoma and other disease. 2. Type Iinternal drainage, classical internal and external type with distal end in duodenum, was applied in 43 cases asthe most comon one. Type II, modification of type I with distal end in CBD, was applied in 17 cases. Type III,endoprosthesis distal end into duodenum, was applied in 7 cases. Type IV, endoprosthesis just across theobstruction in bile duct, was applied in 2 cases, Type V, combined type of any internal drainage with externaldrainage, was applied in 3 cases. 3. According to various obstruction level, prefered type could be selected. Forproximal obstruction type II and IV were preferred and for distal obstruction type III was chosen. However, type Icould be applied in any situation. 4. Early complication occurred in 9 cases(12.5%). Clinical imporvement withdecrease in bilirubin level was observed 17 of 21 cases in which follow-up data was available over 2 months. 5.Though the experience with those 72 cases it is recommended that appropriate type of internal biliary drainageshould be selected according to prognosis, obstruction level and clinical findings of each patient.
Bile Ducts ; Bilirubin ; Diagnosis ; Drainage ; Duodenum ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head ; Humans ; Methods ; Pancreas ; Prognosis ; Seoul

188 consecutive cases with basilar skull fractures(BSF) out of 2676 head injury patients who were treated in Chung-Ang Gil Hospital from July 1993 to June 1995, were analyzed. These fractures are difficult to diagnose by ordinary X-ray examinations, routine head computed tomography(CT) and are frequently inferred by clinical signs. Therefore, it's diagnosis is somtimes delayed or missed in initial assessment of trauma patients. They are different from cranial vault fractures in several aspects other than difficulties in the diagnosis. It involves more commonly the cranial nerves(CN), makes cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) fistulae and leads to central nervous system(CNS) infections if the CSF fistulae are not detected or treated early and properly. The authors reviewed the clinical features, radiological findings, rate of delayed diagnosis, complications and outcomes. The most common feature of BSF was otorrhea(64.4%) and followed by rhinorrhea(39.4%), raccoon eye(32.4%) and hemotympanum(24.5%). In only 6.4% of cases, the fracture lines were detected by ordinary skull radiographs and diagnosed as BSF. In contrast, the high resolution skull base CT confirmed the fractures in 62.2%. Clinical diagnoses were made in 14.9%. Commonly combined craniofacial lesions were cranial vault fractures(51.1%), intracranial hemorrhages(46.3%), and facial bone fractures(34.0%). Most of CSF leakages(89.7%) were noted within 24 hours after injury and most of the leakages (87.7%) had ceased by conservative management within 2 weeks, but 5.1% that did not respond to conservative treatment and lumbar CSF drainage, needed invasive operative repair. The incidence of meningitis was 3.2% and the prophylactic antibiotics had no benificial effect on lowering the infection rate. Facial nerve was the most frequently involved cranial nerve followed by vestibulo-cocchlear, oculomotor, and olfactory nerve in decreasing order of frequency. The onset of facial palsy was immediate in 31.8% and the remainder were delayed more than 24 hours after head injury. Of 188 patients, 21 cases(11.2%) were delayed in the diagnosis of BSF.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Cranial Nerves ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Diagnosis ; Drainage ; Facial Bones ; Facial Nerve ; Facial Paralysis ; Fistula ; Head ; Humans ; Incidence ; Meningitis ; Olfactory Nerve ; Raccoons ; Skull ; Skull Base ; Skull Fracture, Basilar*

We report a series of 19 consecutive patients with post-traumatic cerebral infarction. Post-traumatic cerebral infarction(PTCI) was diagnosed by CT within 24 hours of admission in 6 cases and up to 14 days after admission in 13 cases of 1092 patients who required cranial CT for trauma during the period. The frequency, vaascular territories, cause, and mortality rate of post traumatic cerebral infarction were discussed.
Cerebral Infarction* ; Humans ; Mortality

Between March 1994 and March 1995, 10 patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures underwent a one-stage operation consisting of anterior decompression, reduction, bony fusion with iliac bone and stabilization with Kaneda device. The mean follow-up was 6.4 Months. Most patients with incomplete neurologic lesions showed postoperative improvement and were upgraded one or two steps in the Frankel scale. No patient showed neurological deterioration after surgery. Loss of reduction was 5.5 degree during follow-up period. Anterior decompression and strut fusion was used to effectively recover the neurological deficit and reduce the pain in a thoraco-lumbar burst fracture.
Decompression ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to measure the peri-implant bone length surrounding implants that penetrate the sinus membrane at the posterior maxilla and to evaluate the survival rate of these implants. METHODS: Treatment records and orthopantomographs of 39 patients were reviewed and analyzed. The patients had partial edentulism at the posterior maxilla and limited vertical bone height below the maxillary sinus. Implants were inserted into the posterior maxilla, penetrating the sinus membrane. Four months after implant insertion, provisional resin restorations were temporarily cemented to the abutments and used for one month. Then, a final impression was taken at the abutment level, and final cement-retained restorations were delivered with mutually protected occlusion. The complications from the implant surgery were examined, the number of failed implants was counted, and the survival rate was calculated. The peri-implant bone lengths were measured using radiographs. The changes in initial and final peri-implant bone lengths were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Nasal bleeding occurred after implant surgery in three patients. No other complications were found. There were no failures of the investigated implants, resulting in a survival rate of 100%. Significantly more bone gain around the implants (estimated difference=-0.6 mm, P=0.025) occurred when the initial residual bone height was less than 5 mm compared to the >5 mm groups. No significant change in peri-implant bone length was detected when the initial residual bone height was 5 mm or larger. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that implants penetrating the sinus membrane at the posterior maxilla in patients with limited vertical bone height may be safe and functional.
Biomechanics ; Biostatistics ; Epistaxis ; Humans ; Maxilla ; Maxillary Sinus ; Membranes ; Sinus Floor Augmentation ; Survival Rate

BACKGROUND: Among the various factors affecting bone mass and bone metabolism, aging and menopause play a major role. After the disappearance of the menstrual cycle, estrogen deficiency is the most important factor in bone loss. It is still unclear whether women with early menopause have a rate of bone loss different from women whose menopause has occurred later. Various biochemical bone markers are increased after menopause but it is still unclear whether women with early menopause have biochemical bone markers different from women whose menopause has occurred later. The aim of this study was to establish whether healthy women with early or normal menopause have different bone mass, biochemical bone markers and rates of bone loss. METHODS: Postmenopausal healthy women were divided into two groups according to their age at menopause(AAM): one group with AAM > 43 years, and the other group with AAM 50 years. Bone mass was measured using a dual energy X-ray absorptiometry(DEXA) in the lumbar, femur neck, femur trochanter, and Wards triangle. Serum levels of bone alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin, and urine levels of calcium, deoxypyridinoline and type I collagen N-telopeptide were measured using a commercial kit. RESULTS: Age and body mass index in the early menopause group were different from those in the normal menopause group. All the bone mass and the biochemical bone markers in the early menopause group were not different from those in the normal menopause group. We selected 15 subjects from the two groups matched by age and BML Bone mass of femur neck in the early menopause group was lower than in the normal menopause group matched by age and BMI. Bone mass in lumbar, femur trochanter, and Wards triangle was lower in the early menopause group than in the normal menopause group, but the difference between the two groups was not significant. After adjusting years since menopause, we didnt find the difference of bone mass between the two groups. All the bone biochemical markers were not different in the two groups matched by age and BMI. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that women with early menopause dont lose bone faster than women with normal menopause.
Aging ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; Biomarkers ; Body Mass Index ; Bone Density* ; Calcium ; Collagen Type I ; Estrogens ; Female ; Femur ; Femur Neck ; Humans ; Menopause* ; Menstrual Cycle ; Metabolism ; Osteocalcin