Purpose: To report a case of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease after COVID-19 vaccination.Case summary: A 53-year-old female patient with no history of systemic disease or ocular surgery presented with bilateral decreased visual acuity, hyperemia, eye pain, and headache 1 month after COVID-19 vaccination (Pfizer-BioNTech). She initially presented 1 week after symptom onset. Her best-corrected visual acuity was 0.63 in the right eye and 1.0 in the left eye, and she had bilateral grade 2 anterior chamber reactions on slit-lamp examination. Fundus photography, optical coherence tomography, and fluorescein angiography revealed bilateral optic disc swelling, choroidal folds, multiple serous retinal detachments, and fluorescein leakage at posterior poles. She was diagnosed with VKH disease and treated with topical and systemic medications, which completely resolved her symptoms over 2 months. Conclusions VKH disease can develop after COVID-19 vaccination in patients without any underlying disease. Therefore, possible side effects and treatments should be explained to patients receiving COVID-19 vaccination.

This study was designed to answer the question; (1) How does the DNA ploidy pattern change in hepatocarcinogenesis? (2) How does the nuclear morphology change in hepatocarcinogenesis? Diethylnitrosamine(DEN) (16.5 mg per kg) was subcutaneously injected to female Sprague-Dawley rats(150~200g) by weekly interval for 30 weeks. DNA ploidy and parameters of nuclear morphology were measured by image analyser(IBAS 200, Kontron, FRG). The DNA ploidy pattern was divided into three basic patterns(diploid, polyploid, and aneuploid modes). In 8 cases of saline-injected control rats, the DNA histograms showed all polyploid pattern. Inhepatocyte nodules(hyperplastic nodules), DNA diploidy was the most frequent pattern, being followed by polyploid and aneuploid DNA patterns, contrast to hepatocelular carcinomas in which polyploid DNA pattern was most frequently noted being followed by diploid and aneuploid DNA pattern. Although the nuclei of hepatocytes in hepatocyte nodules and hepatocellular carcinomas were larger and more pleomorphic than those of normal hepatocytes, they were as same as those of normal hepatocytes in regard to nuclear hyperchromasia. DNA content, which was increased in hepatocarcinogenesis, was significantly related to the nuclear area.
Female ; Humans ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular

We measured fasting Serum Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (SACE) in 100 healthy controls and 75 coal worker's pneumoconiosis (CWP) patients by a commercial kits (ACEcolor®, Fujirio Inc., Japan) and evaluated this manual method. The linear range extends to an activity of 80U/L. Precision on a commercial control serum (ACE control-N®, Sigma Co.) with a mean value of 9.47U/L yielded a within-run and between-run CVs are 5.6% (N=15) and 6.9% (N=14) respectively. Save in 75 CWP was 20.3±5.7U/L (mean±s.d.); higher than in healthy controls (13.4±3.9U/L, P<0.01). No correlation was found between SACE, sex, and age. The results suggest that the measurement for SACE and follow-up SACE in coal workers may be a useful diagnostic tools for CWP.
Anthracosis* ; Coal* ; Fasting ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Methods

BACKGROUND: Superior migration of humeral head has been conventionally determined by measuring the acromiohumeral distance (AHD), We sought to devise a novel measurement system more reliably and accurately than AHD. We described a structural landmark called 'C-line'. In this study, we investigated the clinical usefulness of 'step-off of the C-line (SOC)' compared to that of AHD. METHODS: The C-line formed from the medial margin of the proximal humeral head continuing up to the inferior margin of the articular glenoid and then to the lateral border of the scapula. The superior migration of the humeral head triggered by a rotator cuff tear introduces a discontinuity in this C-line. We measured the distance of this discontinuity. We enrolled 144 patients who underwent a rotator cuff repair. We selected 58 controls who didn't have any cuff lesions apparent on magnetic resonance imaging. Using radiographs derived from standardized true anteroposterior views of the shoulder, we measured the SOC and the AHD. We used t-tests for statistical analyses. RESULTS: A rotator cuff tear was associated with an increase in SOC and a decrease in AHD. In control group, the mean SOC was 1.29 ± 1.71 mm and AHD was 9.71 ± 2.65 mm. In cuff tear group, the mean SOC was 3.15 ± 3.41 mm and AHD was 8.28 ± 1.76 mm. The mean SOCs of the patient group in relation to the mean SOC of the control group according to tear size, the SOCs of medium tear and lager groups showed statistically significant increase (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The SOC may be a similarly effective to diagnose cuff tears of medium size and larger compared with AHD.
Humans ; Humeral Head* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Methods* ; Rotator Cuff ; Scapula ; Shoulder ; Tears

BACKGROUND: The product of oxygen-free radicals inf1ict oxidative injuries on healthy cells. Antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase(SOD), glutathione peroxidase, and reduced glutathione(GSH) are present in almost all cells and play important roles in metabolism, transport, and cellular protection. We measured blood GSH levels in healthy controls and patients with non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus(NIDDM) for evaluation of the clinical usefulness of GSH. METHODS: Erythrocyte GSH levels were measured in fifty healthy controls and thirty NIDDM patients with diabetic retinopathies by Beutler's method. We also tested within-run precision, between-run precision, linearity and recovery rate to evaluate this method measuring erythrocyte GSH levels. RESULTS: The GSH levels (mean +/-SD) of NIDDM patients (5.03+/-0.67mumo1/Hb) were significantly lower than those of healthy control group (6.46+/-0.85mumo1/Hb)(P<0.001). The results of within-run precision and between-run precision when stored at 4degrees Cwere excellent (coefficient of variation were 2.79% and 2.42%, respectively), however, when stored at the room temperature the GSH levels were sharply declined. The linearity and recovery rate were acceptable. CONCLUSIONS: The prescision, linearity, and recovery rate of GSH measurement were excellent. The GSH levels in NIDDM patient group were reduced, and this probably contributes to the defective defense mechanism against increased oxidative stress. Additional measurement of other antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase and glutathione Peroxidase may be required to clarify the pathologic significance of glutathione metabolism in various diseases.
Antioxidants ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Erythrocytes* ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; Glutathione* ; Humans ; Insulin ; Metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Superoxide Dismutase ; Superoxides

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the influencing factors of influenza vaccination in the elderly participating in lifetime transitional health examination. METHODS: This study was a secondary analysis of data collected from lifetime transitional health examination (for 66-year-old people) conducted by the National Health Insurance Corporation (NHIC) from January 1 to December 31, 2008. Questionnaires were received from NHIC to obtain information regarding gender, chronic diseases, health-related behaviors, and ADL. A total of 255,333 participants who responded all the questions in the questionnaire were included in the analysis. Collected data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, chi2 test, and multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: The influenza vaccine coverage rate in 66-year-old people was 66.1%. The influenza vaccine coverage rate was higher in female elders and those with hypertension, diabetes, heart disease or past smoking, and lower in those with stroke, current smoking, drinking, no-exercise or ADL-dependency. CONCLUSION: Strategies for improving the influenza vaccination coverage rate in the elderly are needed. The strategies should give priority to the elderly with current smoking, drinking, and no-exercise, and home visiting programs are needed for the elderly with stroke and ADL-dependency.
Activities of Daily Living ; Aged* ; Chronic Disease ; Drinking ; Female ; Heart Diseases ; House Calls ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Influenza Vaccines ; Influenza, Human* ; Logistic Models ; National Health Programs ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Stroke ; Vaccination* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Recent studies suggest that apolipoproteins may be better predictor of ischemic heart disease than are plasma lipids, such as total cholesterol and high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C). To examine this hypothesis, plasma levels of major lipids and major apolipo-proteins were measured and their derivatives were calculated in 30 male patients with ischemic heart disease(16 angina pectoris and 14 old myocardial infarction) and 30 age-matched male healthy controls. Plasma levels of lipids were obtained by conventional methods and apolipoproteins by Rocket immunoelectrophoresis. Levels of HDL-C, HDL2-cholesterol(HDL2-C), and apolipoprotein-AII, and ratios of HDL-C/total cholesterol, HDL2-C/total cholesterol, and apolipoprotein-AI/apolipoprotein-B were lower in the group of patients than in controls. Levels of low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C) and apolipoprotein-B, and ratios of lDL-C/HDL-C and apolipoprotein-AI/apolipoprotein-AII were higher in the group of patients. There were no statistically significant differences in the levels of total cholesterol and apolipoprotein-AI between the two groups. Stepwise discriminators analysis showed that apolipoprotein-B and apolipoprotein-AII were better discriminators than plasma lipids for identifying those with ischemic heart disease. One could correctly classify 78% of the cases by using the levels of the two apolipoproteins. By using the level of apolipoprotein-B, one could correctly classify 73% of the cases. There were no correlations between the levels of total cholesterol and HDL-C in the controls whereas there were positive correlations between the levels in the group of patients. In conclusion, this study showed that apolipoprotein-B was the best single discriminator for identifying the patients with ischemic heart disease, followed by apolipoprotein-AII.
Angina Pectoris ; Apolipoproteins A* ; Apolipoproteins* ; Cholesterol ; Heart ; Humans ; Immunoelectrophoresis ; Lipoproteins ; Male ; Myocardial Ischemia* ; Plasma* ; Risk Factors*

The Korean law on medicine was amended in 2003 to introduce new provisions for telemedicine, electronic medical record, and electronic prescription. However, this has not satisfied the realities of the increased demand on medical services and related technology development, resulting in calls for a legislative amendment. In this regard, recent active promotion projects and the advance notice proposing a new amendment by the Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Family Affairs have raised the need for active discussions on telemedicine because the current law on medicine and its amendment do not adequately address the individual privacy protection aspect in the telemedicine environment. In this regard, this study examines current domestic and foreign legal systems on telemedicine and privacy protection, drawing and reviewing subjects to be discussed for individual privacy protection in telemedicine, and proposes plans that may improve Korea's legal system. The domestic and foreign literature on telemedicine and privacy protection was reviewed, recent legislations on telemedicine and views of interest groups were considered, and expert opinions were collected. In addition, the main discussions on privacy protection in telemedicine were identified and reviewed, including information ownership, the scope of privacy protection, the right to review and request correction, and privacy protection matters related to foreign patients. The recent amendment to tele medicine contains a provision only on penalties for privacy protection violations. The main discussions in this study on privacy protection are expected to be reflected in future amendments to enforcement rules and sub-ordinances such as the enforcement ordinance.
Electronic Health Records ; Electronic Prescribing ; Expert Testimony ; Humans ; Jurisprudence ; Ownership ; Privacy ; Public Opinion ; Telemedicine

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical outcomes of intrauterine insemination (IUI) according to the catheter used. MATERIALS AND METHOD: From March 1998 to September 1998, total 95 infertile patients were included in this study. Patients were randomly allocated to TomCat group (n = 39) and Mackler group (n = 56) according to the catheter for insemination. The controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) using luteal long protocol of gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) was used in all patients. Statistical analysis was performed using Student's t-test, Fisher's exact test, and x2 test as appropriate. Statistical significance was defined as p < 0.05. RESULTS: The total dose and duration of exogeneous gonadotropin required were similar between the two groups. There were also no significant differences in serum estradiol (E2) level, endometrial thickness and texture on the day of hCG administration between the two groups. However, the percentage of uterine souding due to failure of initial approach was significantly higher in TomCat group compared to Mackler group (23.1% vs. 0%, p < 0.01). The percentage of bleeding after IUI in TomCat group seemed to be higher than that in Mackler group (15.4% vs. 3.6%, p = 0.06), although there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. There was also no significant difference in the clinical pregnancy rate per patient between the two groups. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that using Mackler catheter might be effective for IUI, especially for the patients with cervical factor infertility.
Catheters* ; Estradiol ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Gonadotropins ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Infertility ; Insemination* ; Pregnancy Rate

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify factors influencing maternal identity of Korean primiparas. METHODS: The data were collected by a self-report questionnaire in 2006. The participants were 210 healthy primiparous women who delivered at one of three medical centers and revisited the outpatient department for follow up between 4 to 6 weeks after childbirth. Data were analyzed using the SPSS WIN 17.0 program with descriptive statistics, t-test, one way ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient, and stepwise multiple regression. RESULTS: Maternal identity was significantly correlated with Taekyo accomplishment, the culturally based prenatal preparation (p<.001). Transitional gratification to motherhood (p<.001), postpartum depression (p<.001), childcare stress (p<.001), infant temperament (p<.001), and social support (p<.001) were also significantly correlated with maternal identity. The stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that maternal identity was significantly predicted by transitional gratification to motherhood, infant temperament, childcare stress, and Taekyo accomplishment. These variables explained 31.0% of the variance of maternal identity. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that postpartum nursing interventions to promote maternal identity should focus on reinforcing education and support for reducing childcare stress and infant difficulty, and increasing transitional gratification to motherhood. Also, prenatal encouragement and education for improving Taekyo accomplishment may be helpful to promote maternal identity after birth.
Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Depression, Postpartum ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; *Maternal Behavior ; Maternal-Fetal Relations ; Parturition ; Questionnaires ; Regression Analysis ; Republic of Korea ; Self Concept ; Social Support ; Stress, Psychological ; Temperament