PURPOSE: We compared the outcomes of laser iridotomy and primary phacoemulsification when treating acute angle-closure glaucoma. METHODS: This study was conducted with 61 patients diagnosed with acute angle closure glaucoma from January, 2005 to January, 2015. The patients received either laser iridotomy or primary phacoemulsification. The age and gender of each patient, differences of intraocular pressure (IOP) before and after treatment, visual acuity, need for IOP lowering agents and complications were analyzed retrospectively at 1-day, 1-month, 6-month and 12-month after the treatment. Patients who received laser iridotomy with phacoemulsification or trabeculectomy were excluded from this study. Additionally, we included only cases in which treatments were given within 3 days after the onset of symptom. RESULTS: Among the 61 patients, 45 patients received laser iridotomy and 16 patients received primary phacoemulsification. One day after the treatment the laser iridotomy group showed better outcome in their visual acuity (log MAR 0.62 +/- 0.51; p = 0.048). At 6-month postoperatively, the primary phacoemulsification group showed better visual acuity (log MAR 0.07 +/- 0.15; p = 0.013). However, at 12-month postoperatively, the visual acuities were not significantly different between the 2 groups. Regarding IOP, at postoperative 1-month, the group of primary phacoemulsification shows significantly lower IOP (9.5 +/- 1.3 mm Hg), compared with the group of laser iridotomy. A significant difference was observed in the number of IOP lowering agents that patients at 12 month after the treatment. There were no severe complications in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Following the initial treatment of acute angle-closure glaucoma, the primary phacoemulsification showed no significant differences in postoperative visual acuity, IOP and complications compared to the outcomes of laser iridotomy. Additionally, the need for IOP lowering agents was less in the primary phacoemulsification groups at 1 year after the operation.
Glaucoma, Angle-Closure* ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Phacoemulsification* ; Retrospective Studies ; Trabeculectomy ; Visual Acuity

Juvenile xanthogranuloma is a congenital or perinatal tumor, 1 to 2 cm in diameter, usually located on the head. The extracutaneous lesions can occur on the eye, the lung, the epicardium, the oral cavity or the testicles. Subcutaneous form of juvenile xanthogranuloma has been reported very rarely in the literature. We report a unique case of a subcutaneous juvenile xanthogranuloma that showed 4 × 4 cm sized plaque and located on the extremity of 9-year-old girl.
Child ; Extremities ; Female ; Head ; Humans ; Lung ; Mouth ; Pericardium ; Testis ; Xanthogranuloma, Juvenile*

OBJECTIVES: Both organized and opportunistic screening programs have been widely used in Korea. This paper examined the determinants of the use of opportunistic screening programs in Korea. METHODS: The subjects were a national stratified random sample of 10,254 people aged 45 or older from the first wave of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing in 2006. A logit model was used to examine the determinants of the use of opportunistic screening programs in terms of the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, the type of health insurance and the health status. RESULTS: Thirteen point seven percent of the individuals received opportunistic screening programs within 2 years from the time the survey was conducted in 2006. The individuals who graduated from college or who had even more education were 3.0 times more likely to use opportunistic screening programs compared with the individuals who were illiterate. The individuals who resided in urban areas and who had religious beliefs were more likely to receive opportunistic screening programs compared with their counterparts. Those who were in the first quartile for the total household assets were 2.6 times more likely to use opportunistic screening programs than those who were in the fourth quartile for the total household assets. Privately insured people were 1.6 times more likely to use opportunistic screening programs than those who were not insured. Finally, the individuals who self-assessed their health status as worst were 2.1 times more likely to use opportunistic screening programs compared individuals who self-assessed their health status as best. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that opportunistic screening programs can be an indicator for whether or not an individual is among the advantaged group in terms of their socioeconomic characteristics and type of health insurance.
Aged ; Female ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Longitudinal Studies ; Male ; Mass Screening/*utilization ; Middle Aged ; Social Class

Common iliac artery aneurysm (CIA) often occurs in conjunction with an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), which extends into one or both CIAs in 20% to 30% of patients. Conventional endovascular treatment includes coil embolization of the internal iliac artery (IIA), followed by extension of the main bifurcated AAA stent-graft into the external iliac artery. However, complications from intentional occlusion of unilateral or bilateral IIAs are frequent and sometimes serious. Several methods try to preserve the unilateral or bilateral IIA. Here we report a case of concomitant bilateral CIA and AAA successfully treated with bilateral branched iliac stent-grafts.
Aneurysm ; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal ; Endovascular Procedures ; Humans ; Iliac Aneurysm ; Iliac Artery

In order to observe the development of ventricular arrhythmia during regional myocardial ischemia and reperfusion, especially under the presence or absence of ST-T electrical alternans on epicardial EKG. The proximal left descending coronary artery(LAD) was ligated for 20 minutes and then reperfused suddenly in twenty-three cats. Standard lead EKG(Lead??, chest lead EKG and epicardial lead EKG were recorded simultaneously during the occlusion and reperfusion respectively. During the ligation of LAD, STEA was observed in thirteen cats(56.5%). In occlusion period, the incidence of ventricular tachycardia in STEA positive group was significantly higher than in the negative group(p<0.01) and arrhythmic score was significantly higher(p<0.005) also In the reperfusion period the incidence of vefntricular fibrillation in STEA positive group was significantly higher than in the negative group(p<0.025). But there was the tendency to be higher in arrhythmic score of STEA positive group. There were no differences in heart rate, systolic left ventricular pressure, ST elevation and ST width in both groups. Most forms of ST-T of sinus rhythm before and after development of ventricular premature beat was low form(L). It was concluded that at the presence of STEA on EKG, the incidence of ventricular arrhythmia was more prevalent. So, STEA can be available as a marker of ventricular arrhythmia and prognostic factor.
Animals ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac* ; Cardiac Complexes, Premature ; Cats ; Electrocardiography* ; Heart Rate ; Incidence ; Ligation ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Reperfusion ; Tachycardia, Ventricular ; Thorax ; Ventricular Pressure

This study analyzes determinants of patients' choice of healthcare providers in outpatient services and identifies their effects. Data were collected from two waves of the Korean Health Panel. The unit of analysis was an outpatient visit (n=189,739). Various types of medical institutions were grouped into general hospitals (including tertiary hospitals), hospitals, and clinics. A multinomial logit model was used to examine the determinants of medical institution selection. Clinics were the most frequent (82.2%) medical institution selected, followed by general hospitals (10.9%) and hospitals (6.9%). Males and beneficiaries of Medical Aid were more likely to choose the upper-level institutions. The upper-level institution selection was also positively associated with the level of education, household income, and severe diseases, while negatively associated with the level of health status. The medical institution selection was significantly different by region. Not only enabling factors for healthcare utilization, such as family and community resources, but also the users' characteristics were strong determinants of the type of medical institution selected. We, therefore, recommend that patients' characteristics and needs, in addition to the sharing of roles and functions among medical institutions, should be considered in making healthcare policies for efficient medical utilization and an effective medical delivery system.
Consumer Satisfaction ; Delivery of Health Care ; Family Characteristics ; Health Personnel ; Health Status ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Outpatients

This research was focused on overall examination of tissue alteration, wound healing promotion. After the hair on the dorsal surface was shaved, 5x5mm oval skin defect was formed. Experimental wounds of right side were irradiated on every day for 90 second with Ga-Al-As semi-conductor laser. Left side wounds served as control group. The rats were sacrificed on the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 14th, 21th day. For light microscopically, parafin section were stained with H&E, MT. The outcomes were as follows : 1. On 1st day, experimental and control group were seen acute inflammatory cell infiltration, edema. 2. On the 3rd days, both groups were seen crust development, collagen, blood vessel proliferation. 3. On the 5th days, experimental group were reduced edema and inflammatory cell infiltration than control group. 4. On the 7th days, both groups were observed edema, inflammatory cell infiltration disappearance and keratinocytes motility from wound defect. 5. On the 14th days, experimental group appeared collagen, blood vessel proliferation and hair follicle than control group. 6. On the 21th days, both groups were seen normal status re-epithelization. According to the above results, The wound-healing stimulated by laser radiation involves an increased rate of epithelial growth. LLLT was confirmed that it has fibroblast, blood vessel proliferation, influence initial wound healing process.
Animals ; Blood Vessels ; Collagen ; Edema ; Fibroblasts ; Hair ; Hair Follicle ; Keratinocytes ; Low-Level Light Therapy* ; Rats* ; Skin* ; Wound Healing ; Wounds and Injuries*

BACKGROUNDFew studies have used body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and waist circumference (WC) at the same time to investigate the association between obesity and colorectal adenoma. This study examined the strength of association between colorectal adenoma and obesity using not only BMI, but also WHR and WC.

METHODSSubjects of this study included 1322 asymptomatic patients who underwent colonoscopy for cancer screening from January 2006 to June 2008. Anthropometric measurements, blood test results, and a self-administered questionnaire from each subject were analyzed.

RESULTSFour hundred and fourteen adenoma cases were identified in 1322 subjects. Using univariate analysis, the prevalence of adenoma was associated with BMI and WHR and was higher among the abdominal obesity group using WC guidelines of the Korean Society for the Study of Obesity, but not using WC guidelines of the International Diabetes Federation. In multiple Logistic regression analysis, general obesity (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m(2)) increased the risk of colorectal adenoma (odds ratio (OR), 1.43; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.05 - 1.94). Also, abdominal obesity by the WC cutoffs and the highest WHR percentile group (WHR ≥ 0.95) were significantly associated with adenoma. Among three measures of obesity, however, only BMI had a persistent association with adenoma after adjusting reciprocally for BMI, WC, and WHR (OR, 1.30; 95%CI, 1.02 - 1.80; and 1.49; 1.06 - 2.10, adjusted for WC and WHR, respectively).

CONCLUSIONThe data suggest that general obesity is associated with an increased risk of colorectal adenoma.

Adult ; Body Mass Index ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; epidemiology ; Waist Circumference ; physiology ; Waist-Hip Ratio

No abstract available.
Granuloma* ; Sea Urchins* ; Sports*

STUDY DESIGN: The authors retrospectively analysed the recovery of clinical symptoms after surgical treatment of lumbar HIVD. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the incidence of clinical symptoms, the recovery rate and time after surgical treatment and the difference between L4-5 and L5-S1 lesion. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: There are many reports concerning the clinical result of surgical treatment for the HIVD. They usually describe the result as excellent, good, fair and poor. We can't get any information about the recovery rate and recovery time of each clinical symptom from the reports . MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-eight patients were treated by one level open discectomy from march 1991 to december 1995, The clinical symptoms and signs including SLR, motor deficit, sensory deficit, change of DTR and severity of radiating pain were periodically followed up on the predesigned protocol. RESULTS: In preoperative examination, SLR was positive in 82%, motor deficit in 76%, sensory deficit in 74%, DTR change in 50%, and radiating pain in 100%. The recovery rate of SLR was 96.8%, motor deficit ; 93.6%, sensory deficit ,78.6%, DTR change ; 21% and radiating pain ,84.2%. The average recovery time of SLR was 3.4 months, motor deficit ; 1.9 months, sensory deficit ; 5.3 months, DTR change ; 4.1 months and radiating pain ; 3.2 months. Motor and sensory deficit was more frequent in L4-5 lesion but DTR change was usually noted in L5-S1 lesion. The recovery rate and time showed no great difference between the two level. CONCLUSIONS: The recovery rate was higher in SLR, motor deficit and radiating pain rather than sensory deficit and DTR change. The recovery time was fastest in radiating pain but variable nature was noted in sensory deficit. Above results may be helpful to explain the prognosis of the lumbar HIVD.
Diskectomy ; Humans ; Incidence ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies