Hyperthyroidism is a well known cause of atrial fibrillation. It is also known that control of hyperthyroidism can usually curb thyrotoxic atrial fibrillation and restore sinus rhythm. In this study, 282 patients with hyperthyroidism were investigated to quantify the incidence of atrial fibrillation, and to identify the vulnerable groups. In addition, we compared two groups of subjects with atrial fibrillation-one group with hyperthyroidism and the other group without
Aged ; Atrial Fibrillation ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism ; Incidence ; Male ; Sex Ratio ; Thyroid Gland

Since Green et al has introduced a new technique of retrograde intramedullary nail, the use of retrograde interlocking intramedullary nails has been recommended as one of the treatment options for the distal femoral fracture. However there are some disadvantages that an arthrotomy is required for insertion and the knee joint could often be violated. Authors present a simple, arthroscopically assisted method using the retrograde intramedullary nailing for distal femoral fractures with minimal invasiveness to the knee. From March 1995 to March 1997, the retrograde intramedullary nail was used to treat 9 distal femoral fractures. Five of 9 patients were fractured at the distal shaft of the femur and others were fractured at the supracondylar region of the femur. Only one of the fractures was open injury(Gustilo-Anderson grade II). Significant concomitant knee joint injuries were revealed through the arthroscopy in 3 patients. Eight of 9 fractures healed by 5 months, but one fracture was not healed and required bone grafting. Average knee range of motion was 130. Complications included 1 nonunion and 1 hardware failure. There were no patellofemoral problems and no posttraumatic arthritis of the knee joint. This arthroscope-assisted method have some potential benefits that include decreased risk of damage to the knee joint, early evaluation and treatment of the associated knee joint injuries, and accurate placement of the nail.
Arthritis ; Arthroscopy* ; Bone Transplantation ; Femoral Fractures* ; Femur ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary ; Humans ; Knee ; Knee Joint ; Range of Motion, Articular

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to verify the effect of basic psychological needs of learners on student engagement in medical school. METHODS: A total of 91 first-year and second-year medical students participated in this study. Their basic psychological needs were determined. Student engagement scales were utilized to determine their engagement. Correlation and multiple regression analyses were conducted. RESULTS: Basic psychological needs showed a total explanatory power of 13% for student engagement (F=5.27, p < 0.01). Competence (β=0.295, p < 0.01) had statistically significant effect on student engagement. CONCLUSION: Results of the present study verified that student engagement could be determined by learner's traits. Among psychological traits of learners, student engagement was significantly affected by competence. Thus, medical school should provide various experiences to satisfy competence as a basic psychological need of learners.
Humans ; Mental Competency ; Schools, Medical* ; Students, Medical ; Weights and Measures

This study reports the outcomes of a collaborative program between dialysis clinics and a referral hospital, which consisted of clinical monitoring and supplementary routine surveillance, for improving the quality of vascular access care. Methods: This retrospective observational study was performed at five dialysis clinics as part of a 2-year collaborative program (2019–2020) in conjunction with a hospital-based dialysis access management center. A total of 392 hemodialysis patients (arteriovenous fistula [AVF], n = 339 and arteriovenous graft [AVG], n = 53) were included. Outcome measures included the prognosis of vascular access, clinic satisfaction, and referral rate to the hospital. Results: Increased vascular access flow was observed and critical flow events decreased from the first to the second year (AVF: 18.3% vs. 12.7%, p < 0.001; AVG: 26.2% vs. 20.1%, p = 0.30). There were fewer percutaneous transluminal angioplasty events in the AVG group (0.77 per person-year vs. 0.51 per person-year, p = 0.005). New AVF or AVG creation events also remained low. All dialysis clinics were satisfied with the program. The overall referral rate from the participating clinics increased (65.7% vs. 72.0%) during the study period independently of the physical distance between the dialysis clinic and the hospital. Conclusion: The collaboration between dialysis clinics and a referral hospital for improving the quality of vascular access care was successful in this study, and the model can be used by other clinics and hospitals looking to improve care coordination in dialysis patients.

PURPOSE: To investigate the beneficial effect of ginkgo biloba (Ginexin(R)) on ischemic retina model by retinal vein occlusion after photodynamic injury. METHODS: Ginkgo biloba 20 mg/kg/day, 100 mg/kg/day or carboxymethyl cellulose as a control group was administrated orally from 1week before the retinal vein occlusion to 2weeks after. After rose bengal was injected through vein of tail, retinal vein was occluded with argon laser. And then venous occlusion was confirmed by fluorescein angiogram. Rats were examined by using an indirect ophthalmoscopy and fluorescein angiography to detect reperfusion and new vessels. Eyeballs were enucleated for histological examination, retinal ganglion cell count and intravitreal glutamate level. RESULTS: The reperfusion of occluded vein was faster in the ginkgo biloba-treated group than the control group. In the ginkgo biloba-treated group, damage of the inner retina and TUNEL-positive cells were smaller than the control group on histologic examination. The concentration of retinal ganglion cells in the control group was lower than in the ginkgo biloba-treated group. CONCLUSIONS: Ginkgo biloba has protective effects in experimental ischemic retina after vein occlusion.
Animals ; Argon ; Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium ; Fluorescein ; Fluorescein Angiography ; Ginkgo biloba* ; Glutamic Acid ; Ophthalmoscopy ; Rats ; Reperfusion ; Retina ; Retinal Ganglion Cells ; Retinal Vein Occlusion ; Retinal Vein* ; Rose Bengal ; Veins

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of photodynamic therapy for subfoveal recurrences of juxtafoveal or extrafoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV), previously treated with argon-laser photocoagulation. METHODS: Seven eyes, previously treated with argon-laser photocoagulation for juxtafoveal or extrafoveal choroidal neovascularization, received photodynamic therapy for subfoveal recurrence. Changes in visual acuity and fluorescein angiographic findings were analyzed. RESULTS: The average time of appearance of recurrent CNV after laser photocoagulation was 43.14+/-29.62 months (range, 2-77 months). After photodynamic therapy, fluorescein leakage and neovascular lesion size decreased in all patients on fluorescein angiography. Visual acuity was stabilized or improved in 5 of 7 eyes. CONCLUSIONS: Photodynamic therapy was effective in patients with subfoveal recurrences of juxtafoveal or extrafoveal choroidal neovascularization previously treated with argon-laser photocoagulation.
Choroid* ; Choroidal Neovascularization* ; Fluorescein ; Fluorescein Angiography ; Humans ; Light Coagulation* ; Photochemotherapy* ; Recurrence ; Visual Acuity

BACKGROUND: Ambulatory surgery has the advantages of reduced demand for postoperative medications, faster recuperation, less disruption to personal life and reduced hospital costs. At present, 60-70% of surgery in North America is performed on an ambulatory basis. DSC (day-surgery center) was opened on March 1995 in our hospital. We want to introduce an experience in anesthesia for ambulatory surgery. METHODS: Ambulatory surgeries were reviewed from March 1995 to July 1996. Total ambulatory surgeries were 5,593 cases. The medical records of 1,816 patients who were anethetized by anesthesiologists for ambulatory surgery were an alyzed retrospectively (3,777 patients who were operated under local anesthesia were excluded). RESULTS: The rate of utility was 14.1% on March 1995 and 27.7% on January 1996. The mean rate of utility was 22.2% per month in DSC. The overall mean rate of delayed discharge for the period was 2.9% and the overall mean rate of admission for the period was 1.9%. The principal reasons for the both were requestion by surgeons without surgery and anesthesia-related complications. CONCLUSIONS: The increase of demands of patients for ambulatory surgeries, new technological developements for surgery and anesthesia and increased experiences of surgeons will stimulate the utility of day surgery center.
Ambulatory Surgical Procedures* ; Anesthesia* ; Anesthesia, Local ; Hospital Costs ; Humans ; Medical Records ; North America ; Retrospective Studies

Iliolumbar artery injury is a rare but well-known complication of abdominal trauma and is usually associated with pelvic bone fracture. If a pseudoaneurysm develops and ruptures, it is a serious condition due to the enduing massive intraperitoneal or retroperitoneal bleeding. Superselective embolization has become the most effective treatment for pelvic hemorrhage caused by iliolumbar artery injury in which early detection and treatment are very important. We report a case of successful transarterial embolization of a pseudoaneurysm following blunt trauma in 32-year-old female.
Adult ; Aneurysm, False* ; Arteries* ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Pelvic Bones ; Rupture

No abstract available.
Dyspnea* ; Humans

PURPOSE: To evaluate the additional effect of internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling in patients with idiopathic macular epiretinal membrane (ERM) who underwent ERM removal without ILM peeling. METHODS: The subjects were those patients with idiopathic macular ERM who underwent pars plana vitrectomy, whose ERM was completely removed without peeling of the ILM. Additional ILM peeling was carried out randomly in some patients. Anatomical outcomes, functional results, recurrence, and complications were compared between the eyes with and without ILM peeling. Anatomical outcome included the macular thickness from optical coherence tomography (OCT). Functional results included the change in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and the responses from multifocal electroretinograms (mfERG). RESULTS: Postoperative BCVA improved and macular thickness decreased in both groups but there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups. There was no recurred case in either group. Furthermore, in comparison of P1 amplitudes and peak times in mfERG, there were no differences between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The additional ILM peeling in patients with complete ERM removal without ILM peeling doesn't affect the postoperative results in visual acuity, macular thickness, recurrence, and complications.
Epiretinal Membrane* ; Humans ; Membranes* ; Recurrence ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Visual Acuity ; Vitrectomy