BACKGROUND: Herpes zoster(HZ), caused by reactivation of latent varicella-zoster virus, is manifested by dermatomal distribution of skin rashes, acute pain and post-herpetic neuralgia by pathologic involvement of the sensory ganglia. Low-energy laser(LEL) deliver a small amount of energy without elevation of the tissue temperature. LEL is reported to have various biologic effects such as anti-inflammatory, analgesic, regenerative, antiallergic, immunocorrective, and antibacterial effects. OBJECTIVE: We attempted to evaluate the therapeutic effect of LEL on an acute phase of HZ. METHODS: A total of 60 patients with acute HZ were enrolled in the study. The control group(30 patients) received medications including analgesics, antihistamine, and topical care without LEL irradiation. The experimental group(30 patients) were irradiated with LEL daily for 7 days in addition to the same kinds of medications for the control group. The efficacy of LEL irradiation for HZ was assessed by analyzing changes in skin rashes, pain scores, and postherpetic neuralgia.
Acute Pain ; Analgesics ; Exanthema ; Ganglia, Sensory ; Herpes Zoster* ; Herpesvirus 3, Human ; Humans ; Neuralgia ; Neuralgia, Postherpetic

No abstract available.
Zygapophyseal Joint*

The purposes of this study are to evaluate the Korean mandibular dental arch and classify the mandibular dental arch shape and size based on the incisal angle, canine angle, inter second molar width and height. In this study the mandibular study models were fabricated using irreversible hydrocolloid impression material from 225 volunteers with a mean age 23.62(range 19-29). And the study models were measured with 3-dimensional measuring device and the mandibular dental arch was classified by means of K-means clustering method and visual inspection, then obtained data were analyzed with t-test for the statistical analysis. The results were as follows ; 1. The average canine height was 5.19mm(s.d. 1.17) in both sex, 5.34mm in male, and 4.95mm in female. And the the sexual difference was significant(0 Adult* ; Colloids ; Dental Arch* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Molar ; Volunteers

Behcet's disease is an inflammatory condition of multiple organ systems in witch recurrent oral and genital ulcers are the most typical signs. Less common clinical features include cerebral vasculitis, arterial aneurysm, deep vein phlebitis, aseptic meningitis, and discrete bowel ulcers. The most serious complication of Behcet's disease is arterial involvement especially ruptured arterial aneurysm. The aneurysm of sinus of Valsalva in Behcet's disease is a rare condition. There is no report about it in Korea. We report a case of a aneurysm of the sinus of valsalva with Behcet's disease. The patient had complete AV block and a right coronary sinus of Valsalva aneurysm which ruptured into the left ventricle. The diagnosis was made with transesophageal echocardiography. The patient was implanted with permanent pacemaker for relief of congestive heart failure due to complete atrioventricular (AV) block. He discharged and he is still follow-up in outpatient clinic.
Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Aneurysm ; Aneurysm, Ruptured* ; Atrioventricular Block* ; Behcet Syndrome* ; Coronary Sinus ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Failure ; Heart Ventricles* ; Humans ; Korea ; Meningitis, Aseptic ; Phlebitis ; Sinus of Valsalva* ; Ulcer ; Vasculitis, Central Nervous System ; Veins

No abstract available.
Vincristine*

OBJECTS: There was a trend to perform fusion and instrumentation in spinal stenosis surgery, because of extensive decompression and instability. However, the introduction of microscope in spine operation can minimize the range of excision of anatomical structure and reduced the decompressin level in the multiple lesions and the incidence of spinal fusion. The purpose of this study were to assess the outcome of this procedure in 3 years follow up and to identify the clinical features of the patients and technical aspects of the operation that were associated with a poor outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-one patients were identified as having had a microscopic decompression without arthrodesis, for degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis over 60 years or their who had osteoporosis with Saville's index 2 or higher. The follow up period was more than 3 years. The clinical results was evaluated by Kim's criteria. RESULTS: Eleven cases were above good results in two levels involved 14 cases, 2 cases above good results in three levels involved 5 cases and 1 case above good results in four levels involved 2 cases. In the cases of affected duration, 7 cases are less than 1 year or more than 5 years each 6 cases and 2 cases were above good results by the criteria. We concluded that the long-term outcome of decompressive surgery in the elderly is good; it does not differ from that reported for younger patients . CONCLUSIONS: Selective microscopic decompression is one of the effective method for the elderly patients or patients with osteoporosis in addition to multiple stenotic lesions.
Aged ; Arthrodesis ; Decompression* ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Osteoporosis* ; Spinal Fusion ; Spinal Stenosis* ; Spine

No abstract available.
Brain* ; Central Nervous System Diseases* ; Central Nervous System* ; Child* ; Humans

No abstract available.
Brain* ; Central Nervous System Diseases* ; Central Nervous System* ; Child* ; Humans

No abstract available.
Occupations

PURPOSE: We investigated the effectiveness and safety of DA-3030 for prophylatic use in patients receiving chemotherapy for malignant disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy cancer patients were randomized to receive chemotherapy alone (36 patients) or with DA-3030 administered (34 patients) after stratified block randomization according to chemotherapeutic regimen. DA-3030 was subcutaneously administered at the dose of 100 pg/m/day for 10 days from 24 hours after the completion of chemotherapy. RESULTS: Of the 70 enrolled patients, 62 patients were evaluable. The neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count [ANC] <1,000/mm) occurred in 9 of 32 (28.1%) of the DA-3030 group and 21 of 30 (90.0%) of the control group, giving relative risk for control group of 0.154 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.05 to 0.45; p-0.0001). Severe neutropenia (ANC 500/mm') occurred in 4 of 32 (12.5%) of the DA-3030 group and in 20 of 30 (66.7%) of the control group (relative risk for control group of 0.316 [95% CI, 0,18 to 0.55]; p=0.0001). The mean duration of neutropenic period (+/-standard error) was 1.13+/-0.34 days in the DA-3030 group and 6.73+/-0.69 days in the control group respectively, and was significantly shorter in the DA-3030 group (p<0.0001). And, there was higher nadir ANC in the OA-3030 group than that in the control group (p=0.0001); the mean nadir ANC was 2,547+/- 343/mm and 442+/-120/mm, respectively. The DA-3030 group had significantly higher incidence of myalgia in comparison to the control group (43.8% compared with 3.3%; p=0.001). However, it was tolerable and was easily managed by conservative therapy CONCLUSION: The use of DA-3030 was effective in preventing chemotherapy-induced neutropenia.
Drug Therapy* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Myalgia ; Neutropenia* ; Neutrophils ; Random Allocation