No abstract available.
Hemoperitoneum*

No abstract available.
Acromegaly* ; Adolescent* ; Humans ; Neurofibromatoses*

Nine species of genus Ganoderma collected in Korea and abroad including Ganoderma lucidum complex and G. lucidum were compared by investigating growth characteristics. In the bottle culture, the mycelial growth periods of G. lucidum from Taiwan and North America was 26 to 30 days compared to that of Korean G. lucidum, which was 30 to 32 days. Cultivation period of Taiwan and North American isolates was 30 to 32 days which were 11 to 17 days shorter than those of Korean isolates. Biological efficiency of Taiwan and North American isolates were ranged from 3.3 to 5.5%, which were apparently lower than that of Korean isolates which ranged from 6.2 to 9.4%. Korean isolates had longer stipes(15~40 mm) and more number of pileus(4~6/bottle) than those of Taiwan and North American isolates. The G. lucidum isolates collected from Korea will be regarded as the independent species from the G. lucidum collected from Taiwan and North America since, the G. lucidum from Korea showed much different growth characteristics in various aspects compared to the G. lucidum from Taiwan and North America.
Fruiting Bodies, Fungal ; Ganoderma* ; Korea ; North America ; Reishi* ; Taiwan

This study was designed to investigate factors relating to fiscal deficit for regional health insurance. The financial statements for the fiscal year 1990 of nationwide 254 regional medical insurance societies were analyzed. Important findings are summarized below: 1. There were differences in the main reason for the financial deficit among regions when deficit and surplus societies were compared by regions. The total revenue per enrollee, especially revenue from the premium contribution of a deficit society was significantly smaller than that of a surplus society in large cities and counties. On the other hand, the total expenditure per enrollee of a deficit society was larger than that of a surplus society in small cities. 2. Both low premium irate at the beginning of health insurance program and less effort to increase the premium rate were main factors for the smaller revenue from the contribution of a deficit society in large cities and counties. 3. Larger expenditures per covered person of a deficit society in small cities were explained with larger medical expenditures especially for out-patients services rather than larger administrative expenses. 4. A regression analysis showed that utilization rates in out-patient services were significantly associated with income and numbers of total medical care institution per capita within a region where a health insurance society located. Also expenses paid by insurer per visit were associated with the proportion of utilization for tertiary care hospitals as well as the proportion of utilization of public health centers.
Hand ; Health Expenditures ; Humans ; Insurance ; Insurance Carriers ; Insurance, Health* ; Korea* ; Outpatients ; Public Health ; Tertiary Healthcare

Pancoast syndrome (PS) is characterized by a malignant neoplasm of the superior sulcus of the lung with destructive lesions of the thoracic inlet and involvement of the brachial plexus and cervical sympathetic nerves. The most common initial symptom of PS is shoulder pain; however, cough, dyspnea, and hemoptysis, signs often associated with lung cancer, are not as common. Investigation of PS can be difficult even with plain radiographs of the chest because it is surrounded by osseous structures such as the ribs, vertebral bodies, and manubrium. Due to these characteristics, orthopedic surgeons tend to make a misdiagnosis resulting in delay of appropriate treatment. Here we report on a patient who was supposed to undergo rotator cuff repair for his shoulder pain and weakness, and was eventually diagnosed with PS.
Bays ; Brachial Plexus ; Cough ; Diagnostic Errors ; Dyspnea ; Hemoptysis ; Humans ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Manubrium ; Orthopedics ; Pancoast Syndrome* ; Ribs ; Rotator Cuff* ; Shoulder Pain ; Superior Vena Cava Syndrome ; Thorax

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of CT for the diagnosis and treatment planning of mechanical intestinal obstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 38 patients who were clinically suspected of mechanical intestinal obstruction and had undergone abdominal CT. The CT scans were evaluated for the absence or presence, severity, cause and site of intestinal obstruction. CT findings were compared with the results of laparotomy, barium study and clinical course. The absence or presence and severity of intestinal obstruction were classified into no obstruction, partial obstruction, complete obstruction. Diagnosis was estabilished by means of laparotomy in 20 cases, barium study in 9 cases and clinical course in 9 cases. RESULTS: Of 38 cases, 7(18.4%) showed no obstruction, 22(57.9%) showed partial obstruction, and 9(23.7%) showed complete obstruction. The presence or absence and severity on CT scans were corretly predicted in 36 of 38 cases (sensitivity 95%, specificity 97%, accuracy 96%) (in case of no obstruction:sensitivity 100%, specificity 94%, accuracy 95%;in case of partial obstruction:sensitivity 91%, specificity 100%, accuracy 95%;in case of complete obstruction:sensitivity 100%, specificity 100%, accuracy 100%). All 9 cases with complete obstruction underwent prompt and immediate laparotomy. 13 cases, excluding those with mass around the site of transition and adhesion with strangulation, with partial obstruction improved with conservative treatment without laparotomy. The causes of obstruction were adhesion in 13, hernia in 6, primary cancer in 5, metastatic cancer in 3, abscess in 2, intestinal tbc in 1, and Crohn's disease in 1. The cause of obstruction on CT scans were correctly predicted in 27 of 31 cases (87.1%). The sites of obstruction on CT scans were correctly predicted in 22 of 26 cases (84.6%). CONCLUSION: CT is valuable in the evaluation of absence or presence, severity, cause and site of intestinal obstruction, and is considered to be helpful in treatment planning for the patients with intestinal obstruction.
Abscess ; Barium ; Crohn Disease ; Diagnosis ; Hernia ; Humans ; Intestinal Obstruction* ; Laparotomy ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Although the ultrasonography has been regarded as a main procedure in the diagnosis of gallbladder diseases, no many papers concerning the ultrasonographic findings of gallbladder empyema appeared in the literature. Twenty-four cases of surgically proven gallbladder empyema were studied by ultrasonography in our hospital during last 15 months. The results were as follows; 1. The size of gallbladder was enlarged in 18 cases. 2. The thicknessof gallbladder wall was more than 3mm in 16 cases. 3. The echogenicity of gallbladder wall was diminished in all cases. the inner margin of gallblaldder wall was also ill-defined in all cases. These findings are considered to be important in the diagnosis of gallbladder empyema. 4. The internal echogenicity of gallbladder (diffuse or localized) was positive in 16 cases and negative in the remainders. The echo genility was thought to beproportional to the amount of pus in gallbladder. 5. The 7 cases presented periocholecystic sonolucent area hadperforation of gallbladder and pericholecystic abscess. 6. Gallstone was found in 17 cases.
Abscess ; Cholecystitis ; Diagnosis ; Gallbladder Diseases ; Gallbladder ; Gallstones ; Suppuration ; Ultrasonography

Profound reduction of anterograde coronary flow with concomitant ischemia is seen occasionally during percutaneous coronary intervention despite technically successful procedure. We found interesting coronary flow pattern in a patient with acute myocardial infarction, showing angiographic no reflow phenomenon after direct PTCA. The coronary blood flow pattern of the angiographic no-reflow phenomenon in this case was characterized by minimal systolic flow and sharp deceleration of diastolic flow. Coronary flow reserve calculated by the ratio of adenosine induced maximal hyperemic velocity and basal velocity was reduced. The Dopplertipped guide wire was useful for observation of phasic coronary flow pattern of angiographic no-reflow phenomenon.
Adenosine ; Deceleration ; Humans ; Ischemia ; Myocardial Infarction* ; No-Reflow Phenomenon ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Traumatic atlanto-occipital dislocation is usually fatal. To date, few cases have been reported in the literature because survival after traumatic atlanto-occipital dislocation is extremely rare. We present the case of a 47-year-old man with traumatic atlanto-occipital rotatory posterior dislocation combined with atlanto-axial rotatory subluxation and treated by occipito-cervical fusion using Bohlman's triple wiring technique.
Dislocations* ; Humans ; Middle Aged

No abstract available.
Intervertebral Disc* ; Retrospective Studies*