Nineteen patients (twenty knees) with degenerative arthritis of knee treated by arthroscopic curettage were reviewed. Of the nineteen patients, there were eighteen females and one male ranging in age from 49 to 68 years (mean, 57 years). The mean follow up period was 18.2 months (range, 12 months to 21 months). Simple standing roentgenorgram and 99m-Tc bone scintigraphy were used to select the patients with medial compartment involvement only, less than 5 degree of varus deformity and sparing of patello-femoral joint. Knee scoring by Hospital for Special Surgery Formula showed improvement from the preoperative average 68 points to postoperative average 89.6 points (21.6 points increase) and 84.1 points (16.1 points increase) at 6 months and one year respectively. Arthroscopic curettage of knee, if done early in degenerative arthritis, not only can shorten hospital days and immobilization period but also can defer other major surgical treatments by promoting natural healing process and symptomatic relief.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Curettage ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immobilization ; Joints ; Knee ; Male ; Osteoarthritis ; Radionuclide Imaging

No abstract available.
Cyclic GMP* ; Cytomegalovirus* ; Gene Expression* ; Humans*

The precise diagnosis of internal derangement of the knee is difficult, since the signs and symptoms are frequently obscure. For this reason, diagnostic aids have long been sought, and arthrogrphy has been widely used as a means to improve diagnostic accuracy. Recently, post-arthrographic high resolution computed tomogrphy has been added to the diagnostic techniques for the evaluation of the knee. Arthrography and post-arthrographic high resolution computed tomography were carried out in 97 cases of clinically suspicious meniscal tear from January 1986 to October 1987. Among them, 40 cases were confirmed by arthroscopic surgery and following results were obtained. l. Arthorgraphy resulted in a diagnostic accuracy of 92.5% and 72.5% for medial and lateral meniscal lesion. Post-arthrographic high resolution computed tomography resulted in that of 95.0% and 90.0% for each meniscal lesion. 2. 16 cases of them were discoid meniscus. 13 cases(92.5%) were detected by arthrography and 16 cases(100%) by post-arthrographic high resolution computed tomography. 3. The sensitivity of arthrography was proved to be 100% and 65.4% for medial and lateral meniscal lesion, and thst of post-arthrographic high resolution computed tomography to be 100% snd 88.5% for each meniscal lesion. The specificity of arthrography was 90.0 and 85.7% in each meniscal lesion and that of post-arthrographic high resolution computed tomography was 93.3% and 92.9% in each meniscal lesion. 4. Post-arthrogrsphic high resolution computed tomography was proved to show better diagnostic accuracy, and good visualization of the relationship and extent of torn meniscal lesions. The meniscal anatomy that was displayed by high resolution computed tomography more accurately depicted the anatomical findings that were seen at arthroscopy. With this additional information, arthroscopists could plan more appropriate surgical approach.
Arthrography ; Arthroscopy ; Diagnosis ; Knee ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tears

The ultrasonographic features in 26 cases of blunt testicular trauma were reviewed. Ultrasonography diagnosed correctly in 11 surgically proven cases of testicular rupture. There were three false-positive cases, two with a large scrotal hematocele and one with epididymis rupture. there were no false-negative cases. The sensitivity and specificity of ultrasonographic diagnosis were 100% and 80% respectively. The positive and negative predictive values were 78. 6% and 100% respectively. Therefore, the negative diagnosis by ultrasonography can warrant conservative therapy.
Diagnosis ; Epididymis ; Hematocele ; Male ; Rupture ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ultrasonography*

No abstract available.
Amniotic Fluid* ; Female ; Meconium*

Atrial fibrillation(AF) diagnosed by fibrillatory waves of atrial activity and an irregular ventricular response on ECG is a common arrhythmia associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mor- tality. The incidence of AF increases markedly with advancing age and the presence of congestive heart failure. Most patients with AF can be attributed to organic heart disease such as rheumatic, atherosclerotic and hypertensive heart disease. But there is an increasing awareness of so-called lone AF which has no underlying cardiac or metabolic abnormality. We report a case of paroxysmal AF developed just before the induction of anesthesia in a 73-year-old patient who had no history of cardiovascular disease.
Aged* ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General* ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Atrial Fibrillation* ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Electrocardiography ; Heart Diseases ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Incidence

Poor R-Wave Progression(PRWP) of precordial leads is frequently encountered electrocardiographic findings of uncertain significance and has simply been deemed as suggestion of anterior myocardial infarction without concrete ground. 217 cases with poor R-Wave Progression have been analyzed on clinical records and results are as follows. 1) PRWP was most frequently found in fifties and sixities, comprising 63.9% of the subjects. 2) Co-existent disease entities with PRWP were classified into three categories, cardiovascular diseases, chronic lung diseases and normal variants. 3) The cardiovascular diseases related with PRWP were mainly hypertensive diseases, comprising 59.8% of cardiovascular diseases, followed by ischemic heart disease, valvular heart disease and cardiomyopathies. 4) PRWP may be an early sign of acute myocardial infarction in a certain part of cases, which was endorsed by typical clinical symptoms and enzyme studies. 5) As the criterion of PRWP, V3R equal to or less than 3 mm was thought more adequate for higher specificity rather than 4 mm.
Cardiomyopathies ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Electrocardiography ; Heart Valve Diseases ; Lung Diseases ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Sensitivity and Specificity

PURPOSE: To analyze posterior capsular rupture (PCR) incidence according to the surgeon's experience and the change of surgical method and to investigate the clinical characteristics of posterior capsular rupture cases. METHODS: We reviewed all the phacoemulsification (PE) cases retrospectively from January 1995 to December 2000 and identified posterior capsular rupture cases. The PCR incidence was calculated according to the accumulated number of cases and the change of surgical method and we analyzed PCR cases - the sites, areas, post-operative complications, the methods of IOL insertion and prognostic implications. RESULTS: The PCR incidence decreased to 3.3% (annual) as accumulated cases increased. However, it increased after the change of incisional method from scleral tunnel to clear cornea and decreased again to 2.1% (annual). The most common PCR site was located centrally and there were more PCR's on the operator's left side than the right side and at the proximal site to operator than the distal site. Most PCR areas were less than 20% of total posterior capsule area (78.8% of cases). Various complications occurred including retinal detachment and endophthalmitis, but the common complications were hyphema, peaking of the pupil and glaucoma. The cases by the scleral fixation method had higher complication rates and poorer visual prognosis than those by the other methods(p<0.03). CONCLUSION: The PCR incidence decreases with surgeon's experiences but it increases with the change of operational procedures and then decreases again. Most PCR's are small and occur at the center or to the operator's left side. The PCR is related to increased postoperative complications.
Cataract ; Cornea ; Endophthalmitis ; Glaucoma ; Hyphema ; Incidence* ; Phacoemulsification ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Postoperative Complications ; Prognosis ; Pupil ; Retinal Detachment ; Retrospective Studies ; Rupture*

PURPOSE: The extent of ESWL(Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy), a treatment for urinary calculus, shows gradual development and the treatment has become generally known as a noninvasive, safe, and efficacious method. Although the testicular effects are not within the vicinity of shock waves in carrying ESWL as a treatment for urinary calculus, research was initiated to examine effects which shock waves might cause on the testis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After applying shock waves at intensity 4 for 1,000 times to the testis of Sprague Dawley immature rat, the histopathologic changes within the tissue of testis were observed after 1, 7, 14, 28 days, respectively. RESULTS: In the case of the experimental group having shock waves on the testis, destruction of seminiferous tubules, necrosis, and hemorrhage were found out a%or a day. One week later the atrophy of seminiferous tubules, interstitial fibrosis, and a small portion of chronic inflammatory cell appeared The capillary proliferation near the testis capsule also appeared. Two weeks later somewhat atrophied seminiferous tubules and proliferation of Leydig cells appeared. Diversely atrophied seminiferous tubules, diffusion of Leydig cell proliferation, calcified tubules, and foreignbody reaction were discovered after 4 weeks. As times went on, the tendency of recovery appeared. CONCLUSIONS: Noxious influences such as testicular atrophy and disturbance of spermatogenesis occurred in inflicting immediate shock wave on the testis. Therefore the need of more researches concerning long-term sequelae and the influences on the human body should be taken into consideration.
Animals ; Atrophy ; Capillaries ; Cell Proliferation ; Diffusion ; Fibrosis ; Hemorrhage ; Human Body ; Leydig Cells ; Male ; Necrosis ; Rats* ; Seminiferous Tubules ; Shock* ; Spermatogenesis ; Testis* ; Urinary Calculi

OBJECTIVES: This study was to evaluate the impacts of simultaneous exposure to noise and mixed solvents on workers'hearing threshold level (HTL) over five-year period. METHODS: The study was conducted by interview and annual audiometric test on workers in ship building industry from 1994 to 1998. The cases(workers who exposed to noise and mixed solvent simultaneously) were 43 male workers and controls (workers who exposed to nolle) were selected by matching method with regard to age, sex, carrier, and noise exposure level. To assess the impacts of solvent exposure on hearing threshold level, with considering other factors, general liner model was used. RESULTS: 1. The audiogram of all subjects showed typical sensorineural hearing loss pattern. The mean HTLe were increased at high frequency (4000HB and 8000Hz) for study period. 2. The HTLs of cases were more increased than those of controls at high frequencies (4000Hz and 8000Hz), but there was not statlstical significance. 3. The impact of age on the HTL was statistically significant at 250Hz and 500Hz (p(0.05), and the impact of noise on the HTL was statistically significant at 250Hz, 2000Hz and 4000Hz (p(0.05), but the impact solvent exposure on the HTL was not significant. 4. The changes in HTLs of cases were higher than those of controls at high frequency, there were not statistical significance at 4000Hz, but only at 8000Hz (p=0.087). 5. Statistical analysis of the general linear model implicated that the changes in HTL was impacted by noise exposure bevel significantly (p=0.031) and Impacted by solvent exposure weakly (p=0.087) at 8000Hz. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that workers who simultaneously exposed to noise and mixed solvent were at risk for more affected HTL than those exposed to noise exposure only, but we could not find definitive evidence. Further detailed studies must be made in large number of workers.
Construction Industry ; Hearing Loss* ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; Hearing* ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Male ; Noise ; Ships ; Solvents