The ocular symptoms of visual display terminal (VDT) syndrome are caused by asthenopia, electromagnetic waves, and eye fatigue. To find out what cause make the fatigue of eye during VDT work, we measured frequency of blinking and height of palpebral fissure at near, reading a book, and during VDT work. Tear film break-up time(BUT) was measured immediately after the VDT work and during reading a book. The frequency of blinking during VDT work and book reading decreased significantly comparing with the one at rest (p<0.01). The average frequency of blinking is 20.52 +/- 5.89/min at rest, 8.29 +/- 4.15/min at VDT work, and 10.31 +/- 5.48/min at reading. The BUT measured immediately after VDT work decreased much more than in the resting state (p<0.01). The average BUT was 11.52 +/- 3.41sec at rest and 6.18 +/- 2.65sec immediately after VDT work. The height of palpebral fissure during VDT work increased significantly comparing with the value at rest (p<0.01). The average height of palpebral fissure was 7.39 +/- 0.78mm at rest and 8.83 +/- 0.75mm during VDT work. This study reveals the fatigue of eye during VDT work was induced by the dryness of eye resulted from the increased evaporation due to the decrement in the frequency of blinking and the widening of palpebral fissure. To prevent the fatigue of eye caused by dryness during VDT work, it is important for VDT workers to intend to blink frequently, place VDT lower than eye level to reduce the height of palpebral fissure, humidify the room adequately, put artificial eye tear in eye frequently, and take a rest after 20 mimutes work at least.
Asthenopia ; Blinking ; Electromagnetic Radiation ; Eye, Artificial ; Fatigue ; Tears

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although there have been some reports that measured the size of the mastoid pneumatization, only a few studies have reported the age-related variations in the mastoid air cell system using three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction techniques of computed tomography (CT) images. This study presents that 3D reconstruction techniques of CT images can be used to measure the volume of mastoid pneumatization. In adddition, normal development of the mastoid air cell system in Koreans was evaluated. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Retrospective study. A 3D reconstruction based on the image data obtained from CT was performed in the 205 ears of 105 patients without otologic diseases in order to measure the volume of mastoid pneumatization by a surface-rendering algorithm on a personal computer. RESULTS: The mastoid pneumatization continued to grow until the third decade. Thereafter, it declined slowly, and then rapidly after the seventh decade. The mean volume of mastoid pneumatization was 7095.2 mm3 in Korean adults. No statistically significant difference was found between males and females or between right and left sides. There was a significant difference between the larger and smaller sides of individuals. CONCLUSION: The volume measurement technique based on the 3D reconstruction technique reported here is widely available, highly accurate, and easy to perform. The results of this study may be helpful in evaluating the mastoid air cell system and for managing mastoid diseases.
Adult ; Ear ; Ear Diseases ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mastoid* ; Microcomputers ; Retrospective Studies

This study examined effect of preceptorship on clinical education of senior nursing students of Y. University in Seoul. Quasi-experimental study design was used. Sixty students of pre-test and 80 of post-test participated in this study. Competency scores of the students before the clinical education(pre-competency scores) were compared with the competency scores after the clinical education(post-competency scores), and teacher evaluation scores between preceptors and clinical the data from students with preceptors(experimental group, N=22) and with clinical instructors(comparative group, N=58) were also examined. Study results indicated that the total post-competency scores were higher compared to the total pre-competency scores, and the difference was statistically significant. Among 7 sub-domains, differences were all statistically significant in 6 sub-domains except "self-esteem" domain. Competency scores of the students who had clinical education with had clinical education from clinical instructors. But the difference between those scores was not statistically significant. However, students gave higher evaluation scores to preceptors than clinical instructors. This study concluded that preceptorship did not influence much on clinical education at this time yet. However it is expected that when preceptors adjust their new roles and function them in expert education. This study recommended that for the preceptors to increase their motivation to teach students and to accept their roles, systemic rewards are needed.
Education* ; Humans ; Motivation ; Nursing* ; Preceptorship* ; Reward ; Seoul ; Students, Nursing*

A 50-year-old man with a 20-year history of migraine with aura was admitted due to a headache followed by right hemiplegia and speech disturbance. However, there were no abnormalities on brain MRIs and EEG at that time. His hemiparesis continued for one month. We report on a case of persistent hemiplegia and speech disturbance as migraine aura without an evidence of infarction on brain MRI.
Brain ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsy ; Headache ; Hemiplegia ; Humans ; Infarction ; Middle Aged ; Migraine Disorders ; Migraine with Aura ; Paresis

BACKGROUND: Propafenone is a new class Ic antiarrhythmic compound.This study was performed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of propafenone by double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized cross-over comparison of propafenone and disopyramide in patients with stable ventricular ectopy. METHODS: All patients were included in the study if they had an average of at least 30 PVC/hr on a 24-hour Holter recordings. During the 1st 7 days, two placebo tablets(identical in apperance to the propafenone and the disopyramide tablets) were administrated in a double-blind manner(run-in period). Then 1st treatment period lasting 1 week with one verum and the other placebo, wish-out period of 3 day,2nd treatment period lasting 1 week with cross-over drugs were followed. RESULTS: Twenty patients were enrolled. During the run-in period, VPCs were reduced to 18%, compared to the baseline data before the administration of placebo.During the treatment period,propafenone 600mg/day reduced VPCs by 43% and disopyramide 400mg/day reduced VPCs by -10% Propafenone was effective(80% or greater reduction of VPCs) in 7 of 20 patients. Disopyramide was not effective in all patients. Propafenone and disopyramide produced no significant change of paired VPCs and VT events. Propafenone had no effect on heart rate. It increased the PR interval(7.9%;p<0.01) and QRS interval(5.2%;p<0.01). The drug did not change QTc interval(-1.1%) significantly. There were no cardiovascular side effects. Propafenone produced nausea in one patient. Disopyramide produced dysuria in 2 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Propafenone was more effective in controlling VPC than disopyramide, and there was no major limiting side effects.
Cross-Over Studies* ; Disopyramide* ; Dysuria ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Nausea ; Propafenone* ; Ventricular Premature Complexes*

Neurofibromatosis type II(NF2) is clinically characterized by the presence of bilateral vestibular schwannomas. The exclusive goal in management of NF2 patients is hearing preservation. It has been controversial to determine whether to wait and see or to try early surgical management for hearing preservation. The authors experienced a case of vestibular schwannoma in association with NF2, which was partially removed and decompressed via middle fossa approach with hearing preservation. Based on our experience, we recommend a new strategy for hearing preservation on early surgical intervention of vestibular schwannoma. The criterias of the patient include (1) bilateral normal or serviceable hearing: (2) small sized tumorand: (3) young age. We suggest that the early surgical intervention including decompression may be considered for the hearing preservation especially on the favorable side to approach.
Decompression ; Hearing ; Humans ; Neurofibromatoses* ; Neurofibromatosis 2* ; Neuroma, Acoustic

Major peripheral arterial graft infection is a potentially devastating complication of vascular surgery, associated with significant mortality and high amputation rates. Autologous saphenous veins are considered optimal arterial conduits for lower extremity revascularization in infected fields, but they are often unavailable or unsuitable in these patients. This study describes two patients with major peripheral graft infection, but without available autologous veins, who underwent graft excision and cryopreserved cadaveric arterial allograft reconstruction. Although long-term graft durability is unclear because of gradual deterioration and degeneration, these findings suggest that cadaveric allografts may be good options for patients with major peripheral graft infection.
Allografts* ; Amputation ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis ; Cadaver* ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Mortality ; Saphenous Vein ; Tissue Preservation ; Transplants* ; Veins

The biological interpretation of two-dimensional (2D) gel electrophoresis experiments is a key step toward understanding the functions of biological systems. We here present a web-based integrated database, called 2DSpotDB, for the management of proteome data derived from several pathogens. The 2DSpotDB was established as a part of the management of a pathogen proteome project at the Korea National Institute of Health. The goals of the 2DSpotDB implementation are to store and define important pathogen genes, retrieve information obtained by 2D polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry, and create an integrated system to provide pathogen proteome information for biological scientists. This database currently contains 14 gels and information on 387 protein spots, among which 329 proteins were identified and annotated.
Acrylic Resins ; Data Mining ; Electrophoresis ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Gels ; Korea ; Mass Spectrometry ; Proteins ; Proteome

While no scar can be completely erased, most linear facial scars can result in a relatively good scar after revision. However, in case of round shaped depressed scar, the scar is often lengthened following an incisional technique. This study focuses on the technique of dermofat graft harvested from the adjacent scars for correction of depressed scars. 18 patients having multiple facial scars with a depressed scar among 375 patients who had undergone scar revision were treated from June 2003 to May 2004. Dermofat was harvested from the adjacent linear scar, then it was deepithelialized, reshaped, and grafted to the depressed scar through a small incision. Cosmetic results were generally good. Complications were overcorrection in 4 patients; hyperpigmentation occured in 1 patient. However, 13 patients were satisfied with the results. The advantages of our technique are as follows: it does not require additional operation; dermofat graft has low absorbable rate; it can maintain the volume with an adequate texture.
Cicatrix* ; Humans ; Hyperpigmentation ; Transplants*

PURPOSE: To determine whether the analysis of abnormally high signal intensities in ischemic tissue, as revealed by diffusion-weighted MR imaging (DWI) can be used to evaluate reversible brain lesions in a cat model of acute ischemia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten cats were divided into two groups of five (Group I and Group II), and in all animals the middle cerebral artery was temporarily occluded. Group I underwent T2-DWI 30 minutes after occlusion, and Group II 120 minutes after occlusion. In both groups, DWI was performed one hour and 24 hours after reperfusion (at one hour, non-T2-weighted; at 24 hours, T2-weighted). Both occlusion and reperfusion were monitored by 99m TC-ECD brain perfusion SPECT. All animals were sacrificed 24 hours later and their brain tissue was stained with TTC. Signal intensity ratios (SIR, signifying average signal intensity within the region of interest divided by that in the contralateral, nonischemic, homologous region) of the two groups, as seen on DWI were compared. The percentage of hemispheric lesions occurring in the two groups was also compared. RESULTS: SIR after occlusion of the middle cerebral artery was 1.29 in Group I and 1.59 in Group II. Twenty-four hours after reperfusion, SIR in Group I was higher than in Group II (p<0.01). After occlusion and reperfusion, the percentage of hemispheric lesions in Group I was less than in Group II. For the latter, the percentage of these lesions revealed by TTC staining and T2-weighted imaging was 48% and 59%, respectively, findings distinctly different from those for Group I. In addition, in group I, infarction was revealed by neither TTC staining nor T2-weighted imaging (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: The use of DWI to evaluate signal intensity ratios can help determine whether or not brain injury after temporary cerebral ischemia is reversible.
Animals* ; Brain Infarction* ; Brain Injuries* ; Brain Ischemia ; Brain* ; Cats ; Infarction ; Ischemia ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Models, Animal* ; Perfusion ; Reperfusion ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon