BACKGROUND: Stellate ganglion block, which is one of the effective therapeutic tools for treating herpes zoster has been advocated by many investigators. However its efficacy is controversial at present. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to examine the role of stellate ganglion block in the prevention of postherpetic neuralgia and relationships between the time of this treatment and the outbreak of postherpetic neuralgia. METHODS: Twenty patients over the age of fifty with herpes zoster were included in this study. Before treatment, we randomly divided patients into two groups, A and B. Group A was treated with stellate ganglion block and acyclovir and group B was treated with acyclovir alone. Also we subdivided each group by starting treatment time into group 1 and 2. Group 1 was defined as the patients who began treatment within 2 weeks of the onset of the skin lesion. We observed the severity of pain and the incidence of postherpetic neuralgia according to each group.
Acyclovir ; Herpes Zoster* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Neuralgia, Postherpetic ; Research Personnel ; Skin ; Stellate Ganglion*

The anorectal anomaly is not rarely seen in the neonatal period. But, If it is not accompanied with a fairly large fistula, it presents an urgent problem, so should be managed with perianal anoplasty or colostomy. Neonatal peritonitis is very grave and is caused by various conditions listed in Table 1. In Korea, no case of neonatal peritonitis caused by anorectal has yet been reported in the literature. With brief review of the literature, we present a case of neonatal peritonitis which appeared 36 hours after birth by perforation of the colon due to anorectal stenosis.
Colon ; Colostomy ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Fistula ; Korea ; Parturition ; Peritonitis*

No abstract available.
Classification* ; Female ; Hydatidiform Mole* ; Pregnancy ; Risk Factors*

No abstract available.
Classification* ; Female ; Hydatidiform Mole* ; Pregnancy ; Risk Factors*

To provide the basic for assessment of renal dysfunction related to silicosis, urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase(NAG) activity known as a sensitive markers for early renal damage were measured in 58 silicosis patients, and control subjects of 40 pulmonary tuberculosis patients and 51 official workers. The results were summarized as follows. 1. The values of blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine in all subjects were within reference limits. But the mean value of urinary NAG activity(7.25+/-7.31 U/g creatinine) was beyond reference value and more sensitive test than others. 2. The mean value of urinary NAG activity in silicosis group was 11.98+/-9.05 U/g creatinine and significantly higher than in tuberculosis and healthy group(p<0.01), but the mean values of NAG activity in tuberculosis and healthy group were not different(p>0.05). 3. The value of NAG activity in tuberculosis had a tendency to be increased according to severity of disease, but that was not significant(p>0.05). The value of NAG activity was increased significantly by use of nephrotoxic antituberculosis drugs(p<0.05). 4. The value of NAG activity in silicosis had a tendency to be increased according to the size of nodule, use of nephrotoxic antituberculosis drugs and shortness of onset duration, but the increase was not significant(p>0.05). 5. After excluding the users of nephrotoxic antituberculosis drugs, the mean values of NAG activity in healthy control and in tuberculosis control were same as 3.63 U/g creatinine and 3.60 U/g creatinine, respectively. But the mean value of NAG activity in silicosis group was remarkably increased as 10.90 U/g creatinine(p<0.01). As above results, even though there are no abnormal findings in screening renal function test, silicosis can be related with renal dysfunction. And it will be very useful to apply urinary NAG activity in health management of workers exposed to dust.
Acetylglucosaminidase* ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Creatinine ; Dust ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Reference Values ; Silicosis* ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

To assess prophylatic antibiotic usage and the value of an intraoperative bile culture in biliary tract surgery, intraoperative bile cultures were taken in 276 biliary surgical patients during the period from Jan. 1991 to Dec. 1995. The results of bile culture, the isolation of organisms, susceptibility of the microorganisms to antibiotics, and the relationship between a positive culture and postoperative complications were analyzed. The positive culture rate was 56.5%, and the highest culture rate(100%) was seen in patients with combined stones in the gallbladder, the common bile duct and the intrahepatic duct. The most common gram negative microorganism was E. coli(44%), and Enterococcus was the most common among the gram positive microorganisms. The effective antibiotics for gram negative organisms were Amikacin, Gentamicin, Tobramycin, and Chloramphenicol; for gram positive organisms, they were Amikacin, Tetracycline, Gentamicin, and Tobramycin in order of effectiveness. The frequency of wound infection was larger in positive cultures(11.5%) than in negative cultures (2.5%), and the risk factors for positive cultures were old age, obstructive jaundice, a high serum SGOT/SGPT level, and previous biliary tract surgery. In conclusion, we recommend that prophylactic antibiotic treatment be done during the perioperative period for old patients with leukocytosis, obstructive jaundice, cholangitis, or a history previous biliary tract surgery. Antibiotic prophylaxis in biliary tract surgery reduces postoperative infectious complications.
Amikacin ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Antibiotic Prophylaxis* ; Bile* ; Biliary Tract* ; Chloramphenicol ; Cholangitis ; Common Bile Duct ; Enterococcus ; Gallbladder ; Gentamicins ; Humans ; Jaundice, Obstructive ; Leukocytosis ; Perioperative Period ; Postoperative Complications ; Risk Factors ; Tetracycline ; Tobramycin ; Wound Infection

No abstract available.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; Humans

BACKGROUND: Chest X-ray of coal werkers' pneumoconiosis and shipyard welders' lung show similar and regular opacities mostly, it is very difficult that we distinguish the former from the latter by only chest X-ray. so we performed this study to understand the progression of the disease and to provide the disease by considering pulmonary function and other factors in proportion to the porfusion of small regular opacities of chest X-ray in both groups. METHOD: 430 coal workers' pneumoconiosis were compared with 311 shipyard welders' lung by the number, the age, the duration of dust exposure, %vital capacity(%VC), %FEV1.0, the type of ventilatory impairment, the combined pulmonary disease according to the profusion of small regular opacities on the chest radiographs, which were classiffied into category 0/1, category 1, and category 2. RESULT: 1) the percent of category 2 in coal workers' pneumoconiosis was 54.4%. the percent of category 1, and category 2 in welders' lung were 60.0%, 7.4%. the progression to the category 2 was higher in coal workers' pneumoconiosis than in welders' lung 2) The mean age was higher in coal workers' pneumoconiosis than in welders' lung, significantly increased in proportion to the progresion of profusion of small regular opacities in both groups 3) There was no difference in the duration of dust exposure by category 1/0, but the duration of dust exposure by category 1, 2 in coal workers' pneumoconiosis more significantly increased than in welders' lung, the duration in the proportion of category 2 to category 0/1, 1 significantly increased in the proportion to small regular opacities in coal workers' pneumoconiosis, but there was no significant difference in the proportion to small regular opacities in duration of dust exposure in welders' lung. 4) There was no sinificant difference of mean values of %VC(%vital capacity)in both groups except for category 1, the mean values of %VC had no relationship between the progression of small regular opacities in both groups. 5) The mean values of %FEV1.0 decreased more significantly in coal workers' pneumoconiosis than in welders" lung except for category 0/1. and decreased sinificantly in proportion to the profusion of small regular opacities in coal workers' pneumoconiosis, there was significant difference of %FEV1.0 in the proportion of category 2 to category 0/1 in welders' lung. 6) there were no significant difference of %FEV1.0, %VC in smoker and nonsmoker in both groups. 7) With regard to the type of ventilation in both groups in coal workers' pneumoconiosis 21.4 percent of patients belonged to the restrictive type, 11.6 percent to the obstructive type, 5.6 percent to the combined type, but in welders' lung 21.8 percent to the restrictive type, 2.9 percent to the obstructive type, 1.9 percent to the combined type. 8. in the pulmonary disease, the incidence of the pulmonary tuberculosis was the most in both groups, was more in coal workers' pneumoconiosis than welders' lung CONCLUSION: If we compare coal workers' pneumoconiosis with electric arc welders' lung by considering pulmonary function and other factors in proportion to the profusion of chest X-ray, I think that we will have the better result in understanding the progression of the disease and provision of the disease in both groups.
Coal* ; Dust ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lung Diseases ; Lung* ; Pneumoconiosis* ; Radiography, Thoracic* ; Thorax* ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary ; Ventilation

Collagen ; Head ; Maxilla ; Maxillary Fractures ; Maxillary Sinus ; Mouth ; Mucous Membrane ; Nasal Cavity ; Neck ; Orbit ; Postoperative Complications ; Zygoma

Background: and Purpose Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a rare demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS). We investigated the medical behaviors of experts in Korea when they are diagnosing and treating NMOSD. Methods: An anonymous questionnaire on the diagnosis and treatment of NMOSD was distributed to experts in CNS demyelinating diseases. Results: Most respondents used the 2015 diagnostic criteria for NMOSD and applied a cerebrospinal fluid examination, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and spine, and anti-aquaporin-4 antibody testing to all suspected cases of NMOSD. All respondents prescribed steroid pulse therapy as an first-line therapy in the acute phase of NMOSD, and 67% prescribed azathioprine for maintenance therapy in NMOSD. However, details regarding monitoring, the tapering period of oral steroids, second-line therapy use in refractory cases, management during pregnancy, and schedule of follow-up MRI differed according to the circumstances of individual patients. We analyzed the differences in response rates between two groups of respondents according to the annual number of NMOSD patients that they treated.The group that had been treating ≥10 NMOSD patients annually preferred rituximab more often as the second-line therapy (p=0.011) and had more experience with rituximab treatment (p=0.015) compared with the group that had been treating <10 NMOSD patients. Conclusions This study has revealed that NMOSD experts in Korea principally follow the available treatment guidelines. However, the differences in specific clinical practices applied to uncertain cases that have been revealed will need to be investigated further in order to formulate suitable recommendations.