No abstract available.

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

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

Heterotopic pregnancy, simultaneous intrauterine and extrauterine pregnancy, is an extremely rare case. The incidence of heterotopic pregnancy was about 1 to 30,000 pregnancy, but it has been increased. Ectopic pregnancy is associated with significant mortality if not promptly diagnosed. Careful pelvic examination combined serial beta-hCG determinations and transvaginal sonography to evaluation the adnexal region are necessary prerequisites for early diagnosis. We report a case of discovery of heterotopic pregnancy after elective abortion with brief review of literature.
Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Gynecological Examination ; Incidence ; Mortality ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic ; Pregnancy, Heterotopic*

PURPOSE: To compare the incidence of complications and the outcome of phacoemulsification surgery in patients with and without previous vitrectomy. METHODS: We retrospectively investigated 60 patients in a study group that received phacoemulsification with posterior chamber IOL implantation (PC-IOL) in the vitrectomized eye and 60 patients in a control group that received only phacoemulsification with PC-IOL implantation from January 2003 to December 2007. The interval from PPV to cataract extraction, sex, age, type of cataract, intraoperative and postoperative complications, pre- and postoperative refraction were reviewed. RESULTS: The most common indication of pars plana vitrectomy was diabetic retinopathy. Nucleosclerosis was the most common type of cataract. The most common intraoperative complication was posterior capsular rupture, but there was no statistical significance when compared with the control group (p=0.116). In addition, the most common postoperative complication was posterior capsular opacity. After phacoemulsification, the rate at which a BCVA of 0.5 or better was obtained was lower in the study group than the control group. The spread between actual and expected refraction showed no statistically significant difference when compared with the control group (p=0.309). CONCLUSIONS: Experienced surgeons can safely perform phacoemulsification and PC-IOL implantation in previously vitrectomized eyes. However, the outcome of visual acuity is limited by vitreoretinal pathology that requires vitrectomy.
Cataract ; Cataract Extraction ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Eye ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intraoperative Complications ; Phacoemulsification ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Rupture ; Visual Acuity ; Vitrectomy

Invasive infections by group A streptococci have reemerged as a global public health problem since the middle of the 1980s. Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (StrepTSS) is one manifestation of invasive streptococcal infections, and it is characterized by necrotic infection of soft tissue. Myonecrosis can occur in StrepTSS, but the clinical features of this subset of StrepTSS are not clearly defined. A previously healthy 38-year-old woman was hospitalized because of pain and edema of both legs, which had developed one day prior to admission. Six hours after admission, the swelling of the patient's left leg became more severe and areas of well-demarcated violescent discoloration of the skin and hemorrhagic bullae developed. A further ten hours later, she was in shock and exhibited signs of disseminated intravascular coagulation and multiple organ failure. Gram stain of an aspirate from the bulla revealed short chains of gram-positive cocci. Streptococcus pyogenes was isolated from blood culture and the presence of streptococcal exotoxins (speA gene) and M-protein type 3 were confirmed using the polymerase chain reaction. Muscle biopsy showed extensive myonecrosis and hemorrhage without infiltration of leukocytes. Despite intensive treatment with antibiotics (including clindamycin), debridement, and intravenous gamma globulin, the patient died four days after admission to the hospital.
Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Biopsy ; Debridement ; Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation ; Edema ; Exotoxins ; Female ; gamma-Globulins ; Gram-Positive Cocci ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Leg ; Leukocytes ; Multiple Organ Failure ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Public Health ; Shock ; Shock, Septic* ; Skin ; Streptococcal Infections ; Streptococcus ; Streptococcus pyogenes

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*