We examined several kinds of immunocompromied patients for onyr,homycosis. The incidence of onychomycosis in the patients with connective tissue disease treated with corticosteroid was significantly higher than the incidences in the patients with solid tumors trcated with chemotherapeutic agents, in the patients with leukernia (WBC<1, 000/cm3), and in the control patients. Although conventional corticosteroid trcatment do not disseminate the superficial fungal infection, it may perpetuate the low grade dermatophytosis.
Connective Tissue Diseases* ; Connective Tissue* ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Incidence ; Onychomycosis* ; Tinea

No abstract available.

Purpose: Prior research has indicated that stroke can influence the symptoms and presentation of neurogenic bladder, with various patterns emerging, including abnormal facial and linguistic characteristics. Language patterns, in particular, can be easily recognized. In this paper, we propose a platform that accurately analyzes the voices of stroke patients with neurogenic bladder, enabling early detection and prevention of the condition. Methods: In this study, we developed an artificial intelligence-based speech analysis diagnostic system to assess the risk of stroke associated with neurogenic bladder disease in elderly individuals. The proposed method involves recording the voice of a stroke patient while they speak a specific sentence, analyzing it to extract unique feature data, and then offering a voice alarm service through a mobile application. The system processes and classifies abnormalities, and issues alarm events based on analyzed voice data. Results: In order to assess the performance of the software, we first obtained the validation accuracy and training accuracy from the training data. Subsequently, we applied the analysis model by inputting both abnormal and normal data and tested the outcomes. The analysis model was evaluated by processing 30 abnormal data points and 30 normal data points in real time. The results demonstrated a high test accuracy of 98.7% for normal data and 99.6% for abnormal data. Conclusions Patients with neurogenic bladder due to stroke experience long-term consequences, such as physical and cognitive impairments, even when they receive prompt medical attention and treatment. As chronic diseases become increasingly prevalent in our aging society, it is essential to investigate digital treatments for conditions like stroke that lead to significant sequelae. This artificial intelligence-based healthcare convergence medical device aims to provide patients with timely and safe medical care through mobile services, ultimately reducing national social costs.

PURPOSE: To report a case of focal choroidal excavation associated with central serous chorioretinopathy. CASE SUMMARY: A 48-year-old female presented with a 20-year history of visual disturbance. Focal choroidal excavation with neurosensory retinal detachment was detected in the right eye on optical coherence tomography. Fluorescein angiography showed hyperfluorescene in the area of excavation and multiple focal hyperfluorescences in the perimacular area. Vertically linear hyperfluorescene line was detected in the excavated area caused by retinal pigment epithelial atrophy. Based on the 2 diagnostic findings, we diagnosed a focal choroidal excavation with central serous chorioretinopathy. No progression was detected for 2 months.
Atrophy ; Central Serous Chorioretinopathy* ; Choroid* ; Female ; Fluorescein Angiography ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Retinal Detachment ; Retinaldehyde ; Tomography, Optical Coherence

PURPOSE: The incidence rate of prostate cancer has increased remarkably in Korea. The serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) value has been used for screening, although its clinical significance in prostate cancer screening is still inconclusive. However, if the measurement time was short and the cost was low, such an assay kit should be sufficient for prostate cancer screening. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We developed pared monoclonal antibodies against PSA which could be used in assay kits for PSA. The Rapid PSA Kit(R) used an immunochromatographic method to qualitatively judge a positive or negative result. Serum specimens from 78 men with benign prostate hyperplasia or prostate cancer were tested using the kit. RESULTS: The sensitivity of the kit was determined to be 4ng/ml. 33 samples had a value of greater than 5ng/ml, so were considered positive. 5 samples had values between 4ng/ml and 5ng/ml, of which 3 were positive. The other 40 samples had values less than 4ng/ml, and 11 of these were judged positive. These results indicated that the sensitivity and specificity of the Rapid PSA Kit(R) were 94.7 and 72.5%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Tests using the Rapid PSA Kit(R) can be easily performed at outpatient clinics or elsewhere. This kit is useful in the initial screening of prostate cancer as the results can be obtained within 15 minutes and the cost is lower than with ordinary serum PSA tests.
Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Incidence ; Korea ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Prostate ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Sensitivity and Specificity

PURPOSE: The incidence rate of prostate cancer has increased remarkably in Korea. The serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) value has been used for screening, although its clinical significance in prostate cancer screening is still inconclusive. However, if the measurement time was short and the cost was low, such an assay kit should be sufficient for prostate cancer screening. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We developed pared monoclonal antibodies against PSA which could be used in assay kits for PSA. The Rapid PSA Kit(R) used an immunochromatographic method to qualitatively judge a positive or negative result. Serum specimens from 78 men with benign prostate hyperplasia or prostate cancer were tested using the kit. RESULTS: The sensitivity of the kit was determined to be 4ng/ml. 33 samples had a value of greater than 5ng/ml, so were considered positive. 5 samples had values between 4ng/ml and 5ng/ml, of which 3 were positive. The other 40 samples had values less than 4ng/ml, and 11 of these were judged positive. These results indicated that the sensitivity and specificity of the Rapid PSA Kit(R) were 94.7 and 72.5%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Tests using the Rapid PSA Kit(R) can be easily performed at outpatient clinics or elsewhere. This kit is useful in the initial screening of prostate cancer as the results can be obtained within 15 minutes and the cost is lower than with ordinary serum PSA tests.
Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Incidence ; Korea ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Prostate ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Sensitivity and Specificity

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical features and treatment outcomes between methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus epidermidis (MSSE) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE) keratitis groups. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of case series was conducted of all patients with keratitis caused only by Staphylococcus epidermidis from January 1997 through December 2008. Sex, age, history of trauma, systemic disease, previous ocular history, antibiotic sensitivity test results, and treatment outcomes were evaluated. Patients were categorized into two groups as MSSE and MRSE according to methicillin-sensitivity result, and a comparative analysis was performed. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in clinical features, such as risk factors or size or location of keratitis between the two groups. All MSSE and MRSE isolates were sensitive to vancomycin, moxifloxacin, and levofloxacin. All MSSE and 17%, 50%, 52%, and 57% of MRSE isolates were sensitive to cephalothin, norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, and erythromycin, respectively (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in visual acuity between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: All MSSE and MRSE isolates were sensitive to vancomycin and to third- or fourth-generation fluoroquinolones In addition, approximately 50% of MRSE isolates were sensitive to norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin. There were no significant differences in clinical features of keratitis caused by MSSE versus those of MRSE isolates. Both keratitis groups had relatively good visual prognoses.
Aza Compounds ; Cephalothin ; Ciprofloxacin ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Erythromycin ; Fluoroquinolones ; Humans ; Keratitis ; Methicillin Resistance ; Norfloxacin ; Ofloxacin ; Prognosis ; Quinolines ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Staphylococcus ; Staphylococcus epidermidis ; Vancomycin ; Visual Acuity

A cerebrospinal fluid hydrothorax is a very rare complication following ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt and usually reported in children. We report a case of 47-year-old woman who developed massive hydrothorax and respiratory distress following intrathoracic migration of distal shunt catheter. After the confirmation of catheter in thoracic cavity using radionuclide shuntogram, the patient was successfully treated with laparoscopic shunt catheter reposition.
Catheters ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Hydrothorax ; Middle Aged ; Thoracic Cavity ; Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt

A 30-year-old primigravida with gestational age of 25 weeks and 4 days was admitted for emergency cesarean section. She was diagnosed as pre-eclampsia with fetal distress. We anesthetized the patient through the combined spinal-epidural anesthetic technique, and there was no specific event throughout the surgical procedures and in post anesthetic care unit. Subsequently, she complained of unilateral hearing difficulty in the ward and an otolaryngology consultation was obtained. She was diagnosed with left sudden sensorineural hearing loss in full frequency range after an acoustic examination. She received intravenous and local steroid treatments for 4 weeks. She showed 32 dB on pure tone audiometry after 5 months. However, we could not continue follow-up testing on the patient because she stopped visiting the hospital since the last examination. We reported a case of uncommon unilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss after a combined spinal-epidural anesthesia for emergency cesarean section.
Acoustics ; Adult ; Anesthesia* ; Audiometry ; Cesarean Section* ; Emergencies* ; Female ; Fetal Distress ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gestational Age ; Hearing ; Hearing Loss ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural* ; Humans ; Otolaryngology ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy

BACKGROUND: Dissecting aneurysms of the vertebral artery are rare. Diagnosis and treatment of such condition aneurysm has a potentially higher degree of technical difficulty. The authors analyzed the clinical features and treatment modality for dissecting aneurysms arising from vertebral artery and its branches. METHODS: At the authors'institution between April. 2001 and Sep. 2004, 18 patients were diagnosed and treated for dissecting aneurysms of vertebral artery and its branches. The medical records and neuroimaging studies of the patients were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: 18 patients were comprised of 8 female and 10 male patients aged from 24~69 year old (mean: 44.2). Of the 18 patients, 8 patients (44.4%) had subarachnoid hemorrhage. 6 patients with subarachnoid hemorrahge were in good neurological status before treatment. Four patients were treated with transcranial surgery and 7 patients with endovascular treatment. the other 7 patient were merely treated with conservative care. All patients were diagnosed with digital subtraction angiography (DSA), but Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) showed 12 dissecting aneurysms, 2 suspicious cases and 3 normal finding. In the case of anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) dissecting aneurysm, MR angiography showed no visible AICA. Posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) was occluded in postoperative DSA after wrapping of PICA for dissecting aneurysm of proximal protion of AICA. But the patient show no neurologic deficit. One patient developed bilateral vertebral artery dissecting aneurysms. One patient treated only conservative care revealed normal DSA finding on follow-up study. CONCLUSION: DSA is the only accurate diagnostic tool for vertebral dissecting aneurysm. Proximal GDC occlusion of vertebral artery may be a safe and effective therapy for patients with vertebral artery dissecting aneurysm. For proper decision of safe treatment modality, one should consider vertebral artery dominancy, collateral circulation, PICA invasion.
Aneurysm ; Aneurysm, Dissecting* ; Angiography ; Angiography, Digital Subtraction ; Arteries ; Collateral Circulation ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; Male ; Medical Records ; Neuroimaging ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Pica ; Retrospective Studies ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; Vertebral Artery*