No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Facial Dermatoses* ; Keratosis, Actinic ; Skin*

No abstract available.
Herpes Simplex* ; Immunocompromised Host* ; Immunosuppression ; Simplexvirus*

No abstract available.
Porokeratosis*

Osteoma is a slow-growing benign tumor composed of mature bone. Osteoma of the nose and paranasal sinuses is usually asymptomatic and most commonly occurs in the frontal sinus, followed by the ethmoidal and maxillary sinus. The occurrence in the sphenoidal sinus and nasal cavity is very rare. We present a case report of a patient with an isolated osteoma in the right nasal cavity presenting with nasal obstruction.
Frontal Sinus ; Humans ; Maxillary Sinus ; Nasal Cavity* ; Nasal Obstruction ; Nose ; Osteoma* ; Paranasal Sinuses

Pseudomeningocele after spine surgery can cause various symptoms, but it can also be silent. We experienced 3 cases of pseudomeningocele with different symptoms and we analyzed the characteristics of each case. A small pseudomeningocele without connection to the subarachnoidal space can show no symptoms. A pseudomeningocele with a small dural tear and it's abutted on the duramater at a small portion can produce sciatica and limitations of straight leg raising due to adhesion of the cauda equina around the dural tear. In addition, a large pseudomeningocele with a big dural and lamina defect can produce back tenderness furthermore, a patient with such a lesion can have low back pain and leg pain that are aggravated by an increment of abdominal pressure or by impact to the body and even by walking. Pseudomeningocele should be suspected when symptoms recur after spine surgery and especially in the case of dural tear during an operation
Cauda Equina ; Humans ; Leg ; Low Back Pain ; Sciatica ; Spine* ; Walking

BACKGROUND: In patients after acute myocardial infarction, signal-averaged electrocardiography is used as the one of the non-invasive methods for the prediction for ventricular arrhythmia, one of the causes ofn death in acute myocardial infarction. Signal-averaged electrocardiography has allowed the identification of low-amplitude, high-frequency signals(late potentials)in the terminal portion of the QRS complex. They are thougt to be occured in the portion of electrophysiologically unstable myocardium. The presence of late potentials identifies regions of delayed conducton in the elctrophysiologically unstable border zone of an acute infarction. These electrophysiologic change of myocardium is influenced by the patency of infarct-related artery. A patent artery is associated with electrical stability of myocardium, decreased in cidence of late potentials and improved survival. METHODS: 58 patients of acute myocardial infarction underwent signal-averaged electrocardiography, coronary angiography within 10 days after AMI, 20 of healthy persons underwent signal-averaged electrocardiography. RESULTS: In patent group, late potentials were recorded in 7 of 38 patients(18%) as compared with 13 of 20 patients(65%) of non-patent group. The statistically significant parameters of signal-averaged electrocardiography beteen patent and non-patent group were filtered total QRS duration(TQRS, 106.7+/-20.9msec), high frequency low amplitude signal (HLAS, 30.8+/-7.5 vs 41.3+/-16.5 msec)with HLAS being the most powerful varialble in the model. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the patency of infarct-related artery is associated with electrophysiologic stability of myocardium and signal-averaged electrocardiography is one of the useful non-invasive method in risk stratification of acute myocrdial infarction.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Arteries* ; Coronary Angiography ; Electrocardiography* ; Humans ; Infarction ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Myocardium

BACKGROUND: Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is characterized by optic neuritis and longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis. Generally, the brain had been considered healthy in NMO patients, though recent studies have demonstrated that T2-weighted abnormalities may be observed in various brain regions. Logically, NMO brain lesions are localized at sites of high aquaporin-4 expression. CASE REPORT: A 68-year-old right-handed man with dysuria, weakness in the bilateral upper and lower limbs, and decreased sensation of the lower extremities, was diagnosed with neuromyelitis optica. The patient was gradually speaking less, was showing reduced interest in hobbies, and had undergone changes in character and behavior. An examination was performed using the Seoul Neuropsychological Screening Battery (SNSB), which revealed that the profile of frontal lobe dysfunctions was prominent as compared with other cognitive domains. The patient was treated with prednisolone and azathioprine for about 1 year without recurrence, and showed prognostic improvement according to further SNSB testing. CONCLUSIONS: Further studies are considered necessary in order to find the most effective medication regimen for improving cognitive functions in those accurately diagnosed with NMO, and to develop systematic treatment using even more diversified immune-related agents.
Aged ; Azathioprine ; Brain ; Dysuria ; Frontal Lobe* ; Hobbies ; Humans ; Logic ; Lower Extremity ; Mass Screening ; Myelitis, Transverse ; Neuromyelitis Optica* ; Optic Neuritis ; Prednisolone ; Recurrence ; Sensation ; Seoul

PURPOSE: Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) is a new method of accessing intracavitary organs in order to minimize pain by avoiding incisions in the body wall. The aim of this study is to determine patients' acceptance of NOTES in Korea and to compare their views about laparoscopic surgery and NOTES for benign and malignant diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The target number of total subjects was calculated to be 540. The subjects were classified into 18 sub-groups based on age groups, gender, and history of prior surgery. The questionnaire elicited information about demographic characteristics, medical check-ups, diseases, endoscopic and surgical histories, marital status and childbirth, the acceptance of NOTES, and the preferred routes for NOTES. In addition, the subjects chose laparoscopic surgery or NOTES for a hypothetical cholecystectomy and rectal cancer surgery, and responded to questions regarding the acceptable complication rate of NOTES, the appropriate cost of NOTES, and the reason(s) why they did not select NOTES. RESULTS: 486 of 540 patients (90.0%) who agreed to participate in this study completed the questionnaire. NOTES was preferred by the following patients: elderly; a history of treatment due to a disease; having regular check-ups; and a history of an endoscopic procedure (p<0.05). The most preferred route for NOTES was the stomach (67.1%). Eighty-four percent of the patients choosing NOTES responded that the complication rate of the new surgical method should be the same or lower than laparoscopic surgery. Vague anxiety over a new surgical method was the most common reason why NOTES was not selected in benign and malignant diseases (64% and 73%), respectively. CONCLUSION: Patients appear to be interested in the potential benefits of NOTES and would embrace it if their concerns about safety are met. We believe that qualified surgical endoscopists can meet these safety concerns, and that NOTES development has the potential to flourish.
Aged ; Anxiety ; Cholecystectomy ; Endoscopy* ; Humans ; Korea* ; Laparoscopy ; Marital Status ; Mass Screening* ; Methods ; Natural Orifice Endoscopic Surgery* ; Parturition ; Rectal Neoplasms ; Stomach

No abstract available.
Embolism, Air ; Lasers, Gas

With the object of providing a temporary artificial periodonal ligament-like membrane around the dental implant, 10 Branemark type implants were coated with commercially available chitosan(Fluka Co., Buchs, Switzerland) which has a molecular weight of 70,000 and 80% deacetylation degree. Once this bioactive hydrophillic polymer(chitosan) contacts with blood or wound fluids, it becomes swollen and penetrates into the adjacent cancellous bone. Thus the interface between implant and surrounding bone is completely filled with chitosan. This tight junction in early healing phase enhances primary stability. The chitosan coated dental implants were implanted into the fresh patella bones from porcine knees, since the thickness of cortical bone is relatively even and their cancellous structure is homogenous. To test the shock absorbing effect, 1mm delta-rogette strain gage was installed behind the implant. The results showed 1. the principal strain peak value directed to the impact of coated implant was 0.064 0.018(p<0.05) and that of uncoated implant was 0.095(0.032 p<0.05). 2. the peak time delay of coated implant was 0.056sec(0.011 p<0.05) and that of uncoated implant was 0.024sec(0.009 p<0.05). It can be reasoned from this results that the chitosan coating has a shock absorbing effect comparable with a temporary artificial periodontal ligament.
Absorption* ; Chitosan* ; Dental Implants* ; Knee ; Membranes ; Molecular Weight ; Patella ; Periodontal Ligament ; Shock* ; Tight Junctions ; Wounds and Injuries