Objective: Although the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scale was originally developed to stage Alzheimer’s dementia (AD), it is now used globally for various types of dementia. The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristic pattern of CDR domains and its association with neuropsychological findings and activities of daily living (ADL) in patients with vascular dementia (VaD) and patients with AD. Methods: We recruited very mild to mild VaD and AD patients who were age-matched among the first visitors to a dementia clinic. All subjects underwent a standardized clinical interview, physical and neurological examinations, and laboratory tests, including brain magnetic resonance imaging, according to the protocol of the Korean version of the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease assessment battery. Results: A total of 105 pairs of VaD and AD patients participated in this study. Although the adjusted scores on Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination were similar between the two groups, the VaD patients performed better on the Boston Naming Test, Word List Memory, Word List Recall, Word List Recognition, and Constructional Recall Test. However, the scores on global CDR, CDR sum of boxes, and ADL-related CDR domains were higher in VaD patients than in AD patients (p<0.001). The VaD patients also showed poor performances on the Disability Assessment for Dementia Scale, Frontal Assessment Battery, Executive Clock Drawing Task, and Stroop tests. Conclusion Despite similar general cognitive function and better memory function, patients with VaD tend to be staged as severer dementia on the CDR scale than patients with AD because of more impaired ADL associated with executive dysfunction.

PURPOSE: To determine the learning curve of dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) performed by a single oculoplastic surgeon after one year of fellowship training. METHODS: This retrospective review study comprised nasolacrimal duct obstruction patients that underwent endonasal DCR at our hospital between February 2006 and February 2008. The patients that completed at least six months of follow-up were included in the analysis. Exclusion criteria were patients less than 20 years of age and NLD obstructions due to malignancy or canalicular obstructions. Success was defined as duct patency on syringing at the final follow-up and no complaints of epiphora. RESULTS: Out of 161 eyes, the overall surgical success rate was 83.2% (134/161 eyes) and the mean postoperative follow-up period was 6.5 months (6-18 months). Success rates gradually increased as follows: 71.2% (37/52 eyes) for the first group, 88.7% (47/53 eyes) for the second group, and 89.3% (50/56 eyes) for the third group (second and third group compared to first group, p = 0.025, p = 0.017, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: To ensure high DCR success rates, the novice surgeon should perform at least 50 surgeries.
Dacryocystorhinostomy ; Dietary Sucrose ; Eye ; Fellowships and Scholarships ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Learning ; Learning Curve ; Nasolacrimal Duct ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: To report the clinical findings and the results of treatment on hematogenous pyogenic arthritis after major burn injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was made of 11, 797 major burn injury patients from January 1996 to June 2004. Severity of burn by involved body surface area, time of diagnosis, and laboratory findings were analyzed. Direct spread of infection from injured skin to superficial joint was excluded. RESULTS: Hematogenous infection was complicated in 26 joints of 22 patients (0.19% of overall cases). The mean age was 43.6 years, and mean follow-up was 46 months. The body surface area of burn injury was averaged 34.7%. The common involved area was hip in 10 patients, spine and shoulder in five patients, respectively. From the time of injury, average interval to development of symptom was 4.1 weeks, and to establish the diagnosis was 6.3 weeks. The most common isolated pathogen was Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. A total of 22 joints underwent surgical treatment. The clinical results of the patients were poor in 72% due to recurrent infection and persistent pain. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that major burn injury may be an important risk factor of hematogenous pyogenic arthritis. Careful clinical suspicion should be important for early diagnosis and treatment.
Arthritis ; Body Surface Area ; Burns* ; Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hip ; Humans ; Joints* ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Shoulder ; Skin ; Spine

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) caused by 21-hydroxylase deficiency is an autosomal recessive disease, which leads to cortisol and aldosterone deficiency and hyperandrogenism. Typical medical treatment includes oral glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid administration to suppress adrenal androgens and to compensate for adrenal steroid deficiencies. Usually, they have been managed with hydrocortisone (cortisone) and fludrocortisone (florinef). However, some patients stopped taking medicine without the doctor's consent. Among these patients, four cases of CAH patients showing the presence of hyponatremia as an initial electrolyte disorder were found with adrenal adenoma discovered by abdominal computerized tomography scan. Hypersecretion of adrenocorticotrophic hormone may play a role in the development of adrenal tumor and chronic poor compliance to therapy appears to be associated with development of the tumor. Two cases were managed with adrenalectomy because of increasing adrenal tumor size and virilization. Whereas the other two cases did not increase in size and were observed without adrenalectomy. Therefore, it is important that patients with CAH maintain steroid medication to avoid the appearance of adrenal tumor.
Adenoma ; Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital* ; Adrenalectomy ; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; Aldosterone ; Androgens ; Compliance ; Fludrocortisone ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Hyperandrogenism ; Hyponatremia* ; Steroid 21-Hydroxylase ; Virilism

ABO discrepancy refers to an inconsistency between red cell and serum typings and has various causes, including hypogammaglobulinemia. IgM deficiency is a rare disorder that may accompany several conditions such as infection and autoimmune disorders. Here, we describe a case of IgM deficiency discovered during the evaluation of an ABO discrepancy in a 16-yr-old Korean boy. ABO blood grouping showed that while his cell type was O+, serum typing detected only anti-A (3+). Anti-B was not detectable at room temperature but was graded at 1+ at 4degrees C. ABO genotyping revealed an O/O genotype. His serum IgG, IgA, and IgM concentrations were 770 mg/dL (reference range: 800-1,700 mg/dL), 244 mg/dL (reference range: 100-490 mg/dL), and 13.5 mg/dL (reference range: 50-320 mg/dL), respectively. He was diagnosed with acute osteomyelitis on the basis of clinical presentation and imaging studies. The symptoms gradually improved within 3 weeks of treatment. However, the ABO discrepancy and IgM deficiency persisted even 6 months after recovery and lymphocyte subset analysis revealed CD19+ B cell deficiency. To the best of our knowledge, IgM deficiency detected by ABO discrepancy in a patient with acute osteomyelitis has not been reported before.
ABO Blood-Group System/genetics ; Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; B-Lymphocytes/cytology/immunology/metabolism ; Bone and Bones/radionuclide imaging ; Genotype ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A/blood ; Immunoglobulin G/blood ; Immunoglobulin M/blood ; Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes/complications/*diagnosis ; Knee/radionuclide imaging ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Osteomyelitis/complications/*diagnosis ; Radiopharmaceuticals/diagnostic use

ABO discrepancy refers to an inconsistency between red cell and serum typings and has various causes, including hypogammaglobulinemia. IgM deficiency is a rare disorder that may accompany several conditions such as infection and autoimmune disorders. Here, we describe a case of IgM deficiency discovered during the evaluation of an ABO discrepancy in a 16-yr-old Korean boy. ABO blood grouping showed that while his cell type was O+, serum typing detected only anti-A (3+). Anti-B was not detectable at room temperature but was graded at 1+ at 4degrees C. ABO genotyping revealed an O/O genotype. His serum IgG, IgA, and IgM concentrations were 770 mg/dL (reference range: 800-1,700 mg/dL), 244 mg/dL (reference range: 100-490 mg/dL), and 13.5 mg/dL (reference range: 50-320 mg/dL), respectively. He was diagnosed with acute osteomyelitis on the basis of clinical presentation and imaging studies. The symptoms gradually improved within 3 weeks of treatment. However, the ABO discrepancy and IgM deficiency persisted even 6 months after recovery and lymphocyte subset analysis revealed CD19+ B cell deficiency. To the best of our knowledge, IgM deficiency detected by ABO discrepancy in a patient with acute osteomyelitis has not been reported before.
ABO Blood-Group System/genetics ; Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; B-Lymphocytes/cytology/immunology/metabolism ; Bone and Bones/radionuclide imaging ; Genotype ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A/blood ; Immunoglobulin G/blood ; Immunoglobulin M/blood ; Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes/complications/*diagnosis ; Knee/radionuclide imaging ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Osteomyelitis/complications/*diagnosis ; Radiopharmaceuticals/diagnostic use

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this article was investigated whether changes of superoxide dismutase isozymes in the placenta of patients with preeclampsia contribute to radical-induced tissue injury. METHODS: The activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx)) and the contents of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) in the erythrocytes and in the placenta were assayed from 35 women with preclampsia and 35 normotensive pregnant women. RESULTS: The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were significantly reduced in the erhtyrocytes and the placenta of patients with pre-eclampsia compared with normotensive pregnant women. The activity of catalase was increased in the erythrocytes of patients with preeclampsia but the statistically significant difference of catalase activity in the placenta and GSHPx activity in both erythrocytes and placenta were not observed. The contents of TBARS were increased significantly in the erythrocytes and placenta of patients with preeclampsia. In preeclamptic placenta, copper and zinc containing superoxide dismutase (CuZn-SOD) was decreased (3.9+/-0.5 vs 5.1+/-0.6 U/mg protein) whereas manganeus containing superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) was increased (2.0+/-0.3 vs 2.7+/-0.4 U/mg protein). CONCLUSION: In these results, the decreased CuZn-SOD activity may some roles in increment of TBARS contents in pre-eclamptic placenta and decreased CuZn-SOD activity may be more prone to oxidative stress in the placenta.
Catalase ; Copper ; Erythrocytes ; Female ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; Humans ; Isoenzymes* ; Oxidative Stress ; Placenta* ; Pre-Eclampsia* ; Pregnant Women ; Superoxide Dismutase* ; Superoxides* ; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances ; Zinc

PURPOSE: We performed this study to determine the incidence of acute renal failure(ARF) in birth asphyxia and to correlate the severity of asphyxia and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and ARF in asphyxiated neonates. METHODS: Data was retrospectively collected from the medical records of 33 patients with neonatal asphyxia and of 33 neonates with no asphyxia. On the basis the 5-minute Apgar score, the asphyxiated neonates were further grouped into mild(6 or 7), moderate(4 or 5), and severe asphyxia(3 or less). Asphyxiated neonates with HIE were staged by the Sarnat and Sarnat scoring system. We compared serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, electrolytes, and urine output on day 3 of life and the incidence and severity of intraventricular hemorrhage(IVH) between each group. RESULTS: ARF occurred in 8(24.2%) asphyxiated neonates. Of these, 3(37.5%) were oliguric, while 1(10.0%) patient with mild asphyxia, 2(18.2%) of moderate asphyxia, and 5(41.7%) with of severe asphyxia had ARF(P>0.05). One(25%) patient with stage I HIE, 4(50%) with stage II HIE, and 3(75%) of HIE with stage III HIE developed ARF(P<0.01). There was no statistical correlation between the severity of asphyxia and HIE stage. One(7.7%) patient with grade 1 IVE, 0(0.0%) with grade 2 IVH, 2(66.7%) with grade 3 IVH, and 2(100.0%) with grade 4 IVH had ARF(P<0.01). Mortality was higher in asphyxiated neonates with ARF(P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the oliguric and non-oliguric renal failure. CONCLUSION: We found that the greater the degree of HIE, the higher was the incidence of ARF. Asphyxiated neonates with ARF had a poorer prognosis.
Acute Kidney Injury* ; Apgar Score ; Asphyxia ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Creatinine ; Electrolytes ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain* ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn* ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Parturition ; Prognosis ; Renal Insufficiency ; Retrospective Studies

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a degenerative disease characterized by the selective frontal and temporal lobe atrophy, and progressive deficits in behavior, executive function, or language. The prevalence and incidence of FTD are 15-22/100000 and 2.7-4.1/100000, respectively, in midlife. Hereditary is an important risk factor for FTD. Although there is some controversy regarding the further syndromatic subdivision of the different types of FTD, FTD is clinically classified into behavioral variant of frontotemporal dementia, semantic dementia and progressive nonfluent aphasia. FTD can be misdiagnosed as many psychiatric disorders because of similarity of the prominent behavioral features. Advances in clinical, imaging, and molecular characterization have increased the accuracy of FTD diagnosis, thus developing for the accurate differentiation of these syndromes from psychiatric disorders. We also discuss about therapeutic strategies for symptom management of FTD. Medications such as serotonin reuptake inhibitors, antipsychotics, and other novel treatments have been used in FTD with various rates of success. Further advanced research should be directed at understanding and developing new diagnostic and therapeutic modalities to improve the FTD patients' prognosis and quality of life.
Antipsychotic Agents ; Atrophy ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Executive Function ; Frontotemporal Dementia* ; Genetics ; Incidence ; Prevalence ; Primary Progressive Nonfluent Aphasia ; Prognosis ; Quality of Life ; Risk Factors ; Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors ; Temporal Lobe

PURPOSE: This study was performed to find out the influencing factors on cement mantle thickness in cemented total hip arthroplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty patients were randomly enrolled who received total hip arthroplasty with the third generation cementing technique. Four types of femoral prosthesis (20 patients in each type) were used: Centralign (Zimmer, Warsaw, IN), Precision (Howmedica, Rutherford, NJ), Omnifit (Osteonics, Allendale, NJ), and Elite Plus (Depuy, Warsaw, IN). Size of femoral prosthesis, diameter of stem tip, shape and size of centralizer, and the condition of cement mantle on the radiograph were analyzed. RESULTS: Between the two groups of same or above C1 (> or =C1; A, B, and C1, n=69) and C2 (n=11) by Barrack classification, there was no difference in age, sex, underlying disease, size of applied stem, Dorr ratio, and the distance between stem tip and plug. The difference of distal diameter between centralizer and stem was less than 2 mm in 18 patients, and same or above 2 mm in 62 patients. C2 was more frequently observed in patients with the diameter difference <2 mm than in patients with the diameter difference > or =2 mm (22.2% vs. 11.3%). However, C2 developed in all types of femoral stems, irrespective of their shapes, even the diameter difference was > or =2 mm. CONCLUSION: The diameter of distal centralizing device should be at least 2 mm larger than that of stem tip for an optimal cement mantle thickness. In addition, centralizers investigated in this study should be carefully used, and more improved shape of centralizer is required for the successful cement mantle formation.
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip* ; Classification ; Humans ; Prostheses and Implants