Between August 1994 and June 1995, seventeen patients diagnosed as having partial or complete ruptures of the anterior cruciate ligament on MRI were managed by non-operative methods. Among them four patients were excluded due to operation during follow-up and the results were evaluated at a one year follow-up. We selected the patients prospectively for non-operative care using the selection criteria of age, degree of instability, activity level and patient compliance. The average age of them was 37.7 years. Initially knee stress test and MRI were checked, and Cybex study and Lysholm knee scoring were done at post-trauma one year follow-up. They were managed conservatively by ROM and muscle strengthening exercises and a brace fitting schedule for three months. Among them, six cases had partial tears and seven had a complete tear initially. At the one year follow-up, five of six cases who had shown partial ruptures, and two of seven cases with complete tears, recovered continuity of the ruptured ACL on MRI. Their Lysholm knee score was 84.4, and the Cybex test showed no difference in muscle power between the injured and uninjuried side. Those patients who had loss of continuity on follow-up MRI showed Lysholm score of 57.4 and decreased muscle power on Cybex study. Although there are still controversies about the adequate management of ACL injuries, our study suggests that conservative management is a viable alternative to surgery as long as the patients are selected prudently. For more concrete results, however, careful analysis based on a longer follow up period is necessary.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament* ; Appointments and Schedules ; Braces ; Exercise ; Exercise Test ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Knee ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Patient Compliance ; Patient Selection ; Prospective Studies ; Rupture*

An epidemiological study on brugian filariasis was carried out in endemic areas including Cheju Island in Korea, with a brief review of literatures.The results showed that the incidence among residents has remarkably decreased in Cheju Island, which was the main endemic area. Reviewing available informations on the prevalence of filariasis reported in recent years and also judging from the present socio-economic conditions which enable people to practice personal protection against mosquitos, it can be said with confidence that filariasis has almost disappeared from Cheju Island and inland areas. The disease is considered to remain at a low level of endemicity in Hugsan Islands. Certainly mass diethylcarbamazine (DEC) treatment carried out in Cheju Island in the 1960s and 1970s and remarkable economic growth followed by improved living standard and altered life-style of inhabitants could all have combined effects on the disappearance of this mosquito-borne diseae in this island. If the present trends go on, the possibility of resurgence of filariasis in Cheju Island is hardly postulated.
parasitology-helminth-nematoda ; Brugia malayi ; filariasis ; epidemiology

No abstract available.
Blood Group Antigens*

A retrospective analysis of 29 patients with glottic cancer, treated at the Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital. 97% of the patients was male. Of the 29 patients, stage T1N0M0 comprised 31%, T2N0M0 52%, and stage T3N0M0 14%. Local control rate with radical readiotherapy was 78% for stage T1N0M0, 60% for stage T2N0M0, and 50% for stage T3N0M0. 57% of the patients with the radiation failure was salvaged by surgery. The overall 3 year survival rate was 89% for the T1N0M0, 80% for stage T2N0M0, and 50% for stage T1N0M0, Among the survivors : 88% of T1N0M0, 75% of T2N0M0, and 50% T3N0M0 had an intact larynx and natural voice. It is concluded that radiotherapy is a highly effective method as the primary treatment of the early glottic cancer, emphasized on preserving of the larynx and natural voice.
Humans ; Larynx ; Male ; Radiation Oncology ; Radiotherapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul ; Survival Rate ; Survivors ; Voice

A case of right-sided infective endocarditis in a 22-year-old male with ventricular septal defect of perimembranous type, right ventricular(RV) infundibular and pulmonic valve stenosis was reported. The vegetations were found on the mural endocardium of RV infundibulum and pulmonic valve. Streptococcus viridans was identified in 5 consecutive blood cultures, Pulmonary embolism and septic infarction in the lung was associated with systemic embolization, which was manifested by left renal infarction. The RV infundibular stenosis was due to anomalous muscle bundle at the proximal portion. Therefore, we thought that the mechanism of RV infundibular vegetation was probably due to 'Venturi effect and turbulence'. Several clinical features which were found in this case were also reviewed.
Constriction, Pathologic ; Endocarditis* ; Endocardium ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; Humans ; Infarction ; Lung ; Male ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Viridans Streptococci ; Young Adult

Symmetrical bilateral thalamic infarction is a rare cerebrovascular disease, caused by occlusion of the paramedian thalamic arteries. The clinical manifestations of this disease are much different from classical thalamic syndrome, with disturbance of consciousness, memory, eye movement and behavior. Observing two cases of bilateral symmetrical thalamic infarction on CT scan with characteristic clinical findings in Medical Center, pertinent literature were reviewed.
Arteries ; Consciousness ; Eye Movements ; Infarction* ; Memory ; Thalamic Diseases ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

This review-article is aimed at shedding a light upon the nature of age-associated changes in the human skeletal system. When the anatomical, physiological and biochemical consequences of bone aging are considered together with the hardening, drying and the diminished repair capabilities of the elderly, it can be seen that fractures assume greater importance as a clinical problem in the geriatric population. Older people start out with a deficit of cortical bone, making them more fracture prone and once fractures occur, the necessary treatments (immobilization, use of casts, etc.) accelerate the rate of bone loss. In addition, aged individuals stand a higher risk for complications of the hospital and enforced bed rest that may ensue. The problems resulting from bone loss in the elderly may be partially alleviated by providing adequate health service support which should include consideration of the following points : 1. Age, sex and general health status ; 2. Habits and inclinations towards physical activities ; 3. Nutritional and endocrine background ; 4. Presence of any specific bone diseases, including osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, osteomalacia and ankylosis ; 5. Psychosocial adaptability and other behavioral elements.
Aged ; Aging ; Ankylosis ; Bed Rest ; Biology* ; Bone Diseases ; Health Services ; Humans* ; Motor Activity ; Osteoarthritis ; Osteomalacia ; Osteoporosis

No abstract available.
Humans* ; Retroviridae*

The basic premises in development of continuing medical education (CME) program demand to provide an equal opportunity for a11 practitioners and to plan a valid instructional design to meet the characteristics of adult education. Of a variety of identified problems with regard to implementation of CME programs for practicing physicians in this country, the most serious one is that majority of the current programs have aimed only for large city-based physicians and no effort has been made for those who are geographically away from the educational resources or those who could not participate because of their personal inconvenience. Furthermore, an additional critic raised among the learners is that most of CME programs have been instructed in a form of teacher-based or lecture-oriented didactic teaching. This paper describes a problem-based, self-assessment format as a possible tool for CME program primarily for those who practice in the rural areas. The program is characterized by combination of (1) self-instructional system using mailed educational materials, and (2) self-assessment system under a strictly guided instruction. Appropriate need analysis is the prerequisite of the format and is followed by mailing of educationally well-designed resource materials (reading assignment, workbook, video-tape, audio-tape, etc) and quiz items to facilitate the participating physicians to study the related areas upon their interest, and by close follow-up with comprehensive feedback on the returned answer sheets. Emphasis is given to the computer-based personal filing that is an essential administrative procedure for analysis of performance progress. It should be also equipped with advantages of adult educational principles in learning and evaluation process. The detailed operational procedures are described and educational significance is discussed in each step.
Adult ; Education ; Education, Medical, Continuing* ; Humans ; Learning ; Postal Service ; Self-Assessment*

Eating the meat of pheasants which was killed by potassium cyanide, a 27 year old man developed several symptoms of minor intoxication. A few days later, the patient became mute, apathy, somnelent and indifferent but without any parkinsonia features or dementia. On CT brain scan, bilateral symmetrical and non-enhancing focal low densities are noticed in basal ganglia, similar to the carbon monoxide intoxication.
Adult ; Apathy ; Basal Ganglia ; Brain* ; Carbon Monoxide ; Dementia ; Eating ; Humans ; Meat ; Potassium Cyanide