BACKGROUND: Scuba diving has become increasingly popular in Korea. Medical problems are common with dives, especially decompression sickness(DCS). This study was performed to obtain an useful information of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in DCS in Korea. METHOD: We reviewed the 62 cases of Korean divers, who were diagnosed as DCS and received recompression therapy according to U.S. Navy Standard Recompression Treatment Table at Ocean and Underwater Medical Research and Training Center of ROK Navy, for 6 years from Jan. 1993 to Nov. 1998. RESULT: 1) the mean no-decompression limit excess time between type I DCS group(72.7 min.) and type II DCS group(92.8min.) showed significant difference. 2) The rate of symptoms appeared on surfacing and within 10min. after surfacing of type I and type II DCS were 41.4%and 72.7% respectively. 3) The cure late of type I and type II were 75.9%and 42.4% respectively. In type II DCS group, the cure rate of the group within 12 hour-delayed recompression treatment and the group above 12 hour-delayed treatment were 64.3%and time 26.3% respectively, and in type I DCS group, 100% and 66.7% respectively. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the education of safety, the strict observance of the standard decompression table, and the avoidance of excessive repeated diving are important for reducing the risk of diving related disease. And to offer proper management of DCS, there should be more multiplace hyperbaric oxygen chambers, the suitable transport system, and the specialist of diving medicine or hyperbaric medicine in Korea.
Decompression Sickness* ; Decompression* ; Diving ; Education ; Hyperbaric Oxygenation* ; Korea ; Oxygen ; Specialization

No abstract available.
Gonadotropins* ; Humans*

PURPOSE: To evaluate abnormal neurosonographic (NSG) findings of thalami and basal ganglia in full term babies with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and to correlate the findings with follow-up studies and prognosis. METHODS: We evaluated 13 full term babies with abnormal NSG findings of thalarni and basal ganglia. NSG was performed within 7 days after clinical abnormalities. Follow-up NSG was done in 11 cases; CT scan in 4 and MRI in 7. We classified NSG findings as diffuse, unilateral, and focal types according to increased echogenicity and evaluated prognosis based on follow-up studies and neurological sequelae. RESULTS: Nine cases of diffuse type had diffuse echogenic changes of bilateral thalami and basal ganglia, slit-like lateral ventricles suggesting cerebral edema, and increased parenchymal echogenicity. In diffuse type, follow-up studies showed more prominent echogencities and ventricular dilatations and cerebromalacia. One case of unilateral type caused by thromboembolism had unilateral echogenicity of right thalamus and basal ganglia with increased echogenicity of the ipsilateral cerebral hemisphere and compression of the lateral ventricle, suggesting cerebral infarction. Follow-up study showed unilateral cystic cerebromalacia. Three cases of focal type had a localized echogenic area in thalamus with lacunar infarction, which decreased in size during follow-up. Among nine cases of diffuse type, one died within 2 days, two were discharged against medical advice, and six had severe neurologic sequelae. One case of unilateral type had a moderate degree of neurologic sequelae. All 3 cases of focal type had normal development. CONCLUSION: Pattems of abnormal echogenicity in thalami and basal ganglia in fullterm infants with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy are correlated with the outcome and may be helpful for treatment planning.
Basal Ganglia* ; Brain ; Brain Edema ; Brain Ischemia* ; Cerebral Infarction ; Cerebrum ; Dilatation ; Encephalomalacia ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; Infant* ; Lateral Ventricles ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Prognosis* ; Stroke, Lacunar ; Thalamus* ; Thromboembolism ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

The brachial plexus may be visualized simply as beginning with five nerves and terminating in five nerves. It begins with the anterior rami of C5, C6, C7, C8, and the first thoracic nerve. It terminates with the formation of the musculocutaneous, median, ulnar, axillary, and radial nerves. The anatomy of the brachial plexus can be confusing, especially because of frequent variations in the length and the caliber of each of its components. The most common type of injury is one involving a motorcycle or bicycle crash in which a forceful impact on the shoulder depresses the entire shoulder girdle and avules a portion of the plexus. The injuried area is usually the upper trunk althrough the lower trunk can be involved either in addition to or as the main site of injury. Our case involves brachial plexus injury due to physical restraint that had been used to avoid using a pharmachologic restraint.
Brachial Plexus* ; Motorcycles ; Radial Nerve ; Restraint, Physical* ; Shoulder ; Thoracic Nerves

Isolated ACTH deficiency is a uncommon disorder causing secondary adrenocortical insufficiency. Less than 200 cases have been reported in the world. The major clinical manifestations are hypoglycemia, weight loss, hypotension, anemia, weakness, nausea, inability to excrete water load, and hyponatremia. A 56-year-old male was admitted because of weakness, fatigue, nausea and vomiting. He was pallor and not associated with hyperpigmentation. The basal plasma ACTH and cortisol levels were 8.30 pg/ml and 0.6 ug/dl. The serum cortisol did not response to rapid ACTH stimulation test. On combined pituitary stimulation test, the cortisol did not response to insulin-induced hypoglycemia. Other anterior pituitary hormones showed normal responses except elevated prolactin level. Six months after glucocorticoid replacement therapy, the elevated basal prolactin level returned to normal. Brain MRI did not show any anatomic abnormalities of the sellar and suprasella area. We report a case of isolated ACTH deficiency accompanied by hyperprolactineia, which respond to glucocorticoid replacement therapy.
Adrenal Insufficiency ; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone* ; Anemia ; Brain ; Fatigue ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Hyperpigmentation ; Hyperprolactinemia* ; Hypoglycemia ; Hyponatremia ; Hypotension ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nausea ; Pallor ; Pituitary Hormones, Anterior ; Plasma ; Prolactin ; Vomiting ; Water ; Weight Loss

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to verify the usefulness of each diagnostic tool by comparing physical examination, MRI, and EMG findings with operative findings in multilevel cervical radiculopathy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-six (n=36) multilevel cervical radiculopathy patients with a total of 180 levels were included in this study. The findings of preoperative diagnostic tests, including physical examination, EMG and MRI, were analyzed for sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value by comparing with the operative findings, which was regarded as the gold standard. Correlation between each diagnostic tools were also analyzed. RESULTS: The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of each item in sensory deficiency were 37%, 86%, 60%, and 72%, motor weakness 62%, 88%, 78%, and 78%, EMG 47%, 87%, 70%, and 71%, and MRI 91%, 86%, 81%, and 93% respectively. Each element showed statistically significant correlation with each diagnostic modality. Correlation between the operative findings and MRI was highest, at 0.766. CONCLUSION: MRI was the most useful diagnostic modality in multi-level cervical radiculopathy. EMG showed relatively low sensitivity and should be considered in conjunction with its clinical application.
Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Humans ; Physical Examination ; Radiculopathy ; Sensitivity and Specificity

PURPOSE: To analyze the clinical and radiological results of hip arthroplasty following the failed internal fixation of intertrochanteric fractures of the femur. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed the reasons for failure in 29 cases of hip arthroplasty from January 1997 through December 2008 in which the hip arthroplasty was necessary due to failed internal fixation of an intertrochanteric fracture of the femur. Furthermore, we tried to find pitfalls encountered when performing the operations. We assessed those patients and drew both clinical (Harris hip score, HHS) and radiological results. The follow-up period was 34.2 months(12-96 months), on average. RESULTS: The average operating time was 174 min.(115-205 min.) and the mean amount of perioperative bleeding was 1,335 ml(759-2,450 ml). The amount of packed RBC transfusion was 2.8 units(0-10 units) on average. We could see prolonged operation time and a large amount of blood loss as we performed both the removal of the previously fixed implant and reduction of the displaced bone fragment simultaneously. The mean Harris hip score of the patients was improved from the preoperative score of 43 to the postoperative score of 85.7. No cases showed any radiological signs of loosening of acetabular cups or femoral stems, although an articular dislocation and a postoperative joint infection occurred. CONCLUSION: Although hip arthroplasties performed because of a failure in internal fixation could provide relatively satisfactory outcomes, as they result in extended surgery time and greater blood loss, a requirement for higher-level surgical skills, and greater consideration required for the systemic conditions of patients before performing surgery.
Arthroplasty ; Dislocations ; Femur ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Hip ; Hip Fractures ; Humans ; Joints

PURPOSE: To find the factors influencing the immediate and late outcome of replantation and revascularization of the digits, we carried out a prospective study from 1998 to 1999 with at least a 1-year followup. Traumatic total and subtotal amputations with inadequate circulation of the digits distal to the metacarpal head were included in the study. METHODS: This study was carried out as a prospective study from 1998 to 1999 with at least a 1- year followup. The relationship between age, sex, extent of injury, type of injury, ischemic time, regular smoking, level of injury, and survival rate were analyzed. There were 234 patients with 155 males (254 digits) and 79 females (129 digits). RESULTS: Successful operation was found in 203 patients (86.3%), 314 digits (82%). Although male patients seemed to have poorer survival rates than female, it should be noted that male patients had more severe injuries than female patients. All patients who were regular cigarette smokers were males. Cigarette smoking has been shown to cause cutaneous vasoconstriction, decrease the digital blood flow, and impair the wound healing. These two reasons might explain the lower survival rate in males than in females. Type of injury significantly affected the survival rate. The survival rate was very low in extensive crushed amputation (11.1% survival rate), followed by degloving (21.1% survival rate) and avulsion (64.7% survival rate) amputation. The level of injury also seemed to determine the survival rate as injury at Zone I (65% survival rate) resulted in a poor survival rate compared to the injury at Zone II, III, or IV (92%, 97.6%, or 90.9% survival rate). Ischemic time longer than 8 hours might lessen the survival rate. CONCLUSION: All patients who had successful replantation and revascularization were satisfied with the results even though they had rather poor hand movement. In single digital replantation, no patients needed reamputation, but all preferred to have their finger replanted than udergo a primary amputation. All could accommodate and adapt their injured digits to their work.
Amputation ; Female ; Fingers ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hand ; Head ; Humans ; Male ; Prospective Studies ; Replantation* ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Survival Rate ; Tobacco Products ; Vasoconstriction ; Wound Healing

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Exposure to noise results in pertubations of cochlear microcirculation. There is evidence that these events are mediated, in part, by the calcium channel. The subsequent decrease in cochlear blood flow may lead to hypoxia and predispose to the formation of free oxygen radicals. Saponin extracted from Korean red ginseng is generally known to enhance blood flow and scavenge for free oxygen radicals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated the effect of saponin (100 mg/kg) on the cochlear damage induced by noise exposure (1500 Hz narrow band noise, 115 dB, 12hours) in guinea pigs through auditory brainstem response (ABR) and with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), RESULTS: After noise exposure, the saponin pre-treated group showed a significant decrease in the ARR threshold compared with the saponin non- treated group. Also, SEM findings of the cochlea showed that there was a minimal structural change in the outer hair cells in the saponin pre-treated group. CONCLUSION: Saponin extracted from Korean red ginseng can attenuate noise induced cochlear damage in guinea pigs.
Animals ; Anoxia ; Calcium Channels ; Cochlea ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem ; Guinea Pigs ; Hair ; Hearing Loss ; Microcirculation ; Microscopy ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Noise* ; Panax* ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Saponins*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Large doses or long-term use of salicylate may cause reversible tinnitus and hearing loss. The exact cause of salicylate ototoxicity in unknown. Decreased cochlear blood flow following reversible biochemical changes in the cochlea seems to play an important role in salicylate ototoxicity. Protopanaxatriol and protopanaxadiol saponin of the Panax ginseng are known to have a vasodilatory effect. We investigated the effect of Panax ginseng saponin on salicylate induced hearing loss in guinea pigs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Guinea pigs were divided into two groups. The control group was injected with salicylate (300 mg/kg, IM) and the experimental group was pretreated with Panax ginseng saponin (100 mg/kg, IP) before salicylate injection. ABR threshold was measured hourly after salicylate injection. RESULTS: The control group showed a maximal hearing loss (20+/-3.54 dBnHL) in 3 hours after the salicylate injection. Comparing with the control group, the experimental group revealed a significantly different maximal hearing loss (5+/-3.54 dBnHL). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the protopanaxatriol and protopanaxadiol saponin of the Panax ginseng can attenuate salicylate induced hearing loss.
Animals ; Cochlea ; Guinea Pigs* ; Guinea* ; Hearing Loss ; Panax* ; Saponins* ; Tinnitus