No abstract available.
Follow-Up Studies* ; Spinal Stenosis*

Periodic alternating nystagmus(PAN) is a form of spontaneous nystagmus with a specific pattern. It may be of congenital origin in many cases, and may be related to vestibulo-cerebellar system disease. It usually causes not only many ophthalmic problems such as decreased vision but also neurologic symptoms such as ataxic gait. So, ophthalmologist must perform both ophthalmic and neurologic examinations. Nystagmus can be treated with muscle relaxant. We report our experience about 30-year-old woman who complained of involuntary ocular movement and ataxic gait, and were diagnosed as PAN associated with Chiari-1 malformation and syringomyelia through electronystagmography and brain MRF.
Adult ; Brain ; Electronystagmography ; Female ; Gait ; Humans ; Neurologic Examination ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Nystagmus, Pathologic* ; Syringomyelia*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the factors influencing Symptoms of Stress among hospital staff nurses. METHOD: Data was collected by questionnaires from 249 hospital staff nurses in three General Hospital. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, pearson correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression. RESULTS: The score of the symptoms of stress showed a significantly positive correlation with the score of work stress(r=.22, p=.00). The symptoms of stress showed a significantly negative correlation with the score of social support(r=-.28, p=.00), self efficacy(r=-.31, p=.00), and hardiness(r=-.24, p=.00). The most powerful predictor of symptoms of stress was social support and the variance explained was 16%. A combination of social support, ways of coping, and work stress account for 32% of the variance in symptoms of stress among hospital staff nurses. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that social support, ways of coping, self efficacy, hardiness, and work stress are significantly influencing factors on symptoms of stress among hospital staff nurses.
Adaptation, Psychological ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Nursing Staff, Hospital/*psychology ; Self Efficacy ; Social Support ; Stress, Psychological/diagnosis/etiology/*psychology

BACKGROUND: This study was undertaken to reduce the side effects of epidural morphine through the addition of nalbuphine in 37 cesarean delivery. METHODS: Forty patients were divided into 2 groups; M(control) group: bolus administration of morphine 2 mg in 0.5% bupivacaine and continuous epidural 41 hour-infusion of morphine 7mg, N(experimental) group: bolus administration of morphine 2 mg in 0.5% bupivacaine combined with nalbuphine 10mg and continuous epidural 41 hour-infusion of morphine 7mg combined with nalbuphine 10mg via the Paragon infusor. RESULTS: During the postoperative 48 hours, their pain scores and side effects were recorded at 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42 and 48 hours. The analgesic effects were good in two groups(mean VAS <3.0) and pain scores were statistically significant at 18 and 30 hour. The incidence of pruritus, nausea, vomiting and urinary retention was decreased in group N(p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that continuous epidural morphine combined with nalbuphine was one of recommendable methods to reduce side effects of morphine.
Bupivacaine ; Cesarean Section* ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infusion Pumps ; Morphine* ; Nalbuphine* ; Nausea ; Pregnancy ; Pruritus ; Urinary Retention ; Vomiting

PURPOSE: Percutaneous needle aspiration biopsy under the imaging guidance in the diagnosis of intrathoracic diseases has become a standard practice. Core tissue obtained by automated gun biopsy(AGB) is believed to be more diagnostic than materials from fine needle aspiration(FNA) by many cytopathologists. The authors evauated the role of automated gun biopsy in localized pulmonary lesions with respect to the its accuracy and complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed 107 percutaneous biopsies in localized pulmonary lesions under fluoroscopic guidance among 107 patients:AGB using 18G or 20G was done in 81 patients, and both AGB and FNA was done in 26 patients. RESULTS: Biopsy samples sufficient for histologic diagnosis were obtained in 94(87.9%) of 107 patients, AG8 in 73(90.1%) of 81 patients and AGB and FNA in 21(80.8%) of 26 patients. 11 of 13 negative results were due to inadeguate specimen size for the histologic diagnosis or were composed of necrotic areas, and 2 of 13 negative results were obtained through nontarget tissue. 10 patients developed pneumothorax and 4 of them required chest tube insertion. Minimal hemoptysis was found in 3 patients. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous automated gun biopsy under fluoroscopic guidance was easy and simple method of obtaining specimens of good quality and quantity. It may be an useful procedure in the diagnosis of localized pulmonary lesions.
Biopsy* ; Biopsy, Needle ; Chest Tubes ; Diagnosis ; Hemoptysis ; Humans ; Needles ; Pneumothorax

PURPOSE: Percutaneous needle aspiration biopsy under the imaging guidance in the diagnosis of intrathoracic diseases has become a standard practice. Core tissue obtained by automated gun biopsy(AGB) is believed to be more diagnostic than materials from fine needle aspiration(FNA) by many cytopathologists. The authors evauated the role of automated gun biopsy in localized pulmonary lesions with respect to the its accuracy and complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed 107 percutaneous biopsies in localized pulmonary lesions under fluoroscopic guidance among 107 patients:AGB using 18G or 20G was done in 81 patients, and both AGB and FNA was done in 26 patients. RESULTS: Biopsy samples sufficient for histologic diagnosis were obtained in 94(87.9%) of 107 patients, AG8 in 73(90.1%) of 81 patients and AGB and FNA in 21(80.8%) of 26 patients. 11 of 13 negative results were due to inadeguate specimen size for the histologic diagnosis or were composed of necrotic areas, and 2 of 13 negative results were obtained through nontarget tissue. 10 patients developed pneumothorax and 4 of them required chest tube insertion. Minimal hemoptysis was found in 3 patients. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous automated gun biopsy under fluoroscopic guidance was easy and simple method of obtaining specimens of good quality and quantity. It may be an useful procedure in the diagnosis of localized pulmonary lesions.
Biopsy* ; Biopsy, Needle ; Chest Tubes ; Diagnosis ; Hemoptysis ; Humans ; Needles ; Pneumothorax

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a major cause of cervical cancer and its precancerous diseases. Cervical cancer is the second deadliest cancer killer among women worldwide. Moreover, HPV is also known to be a causative agent of oral, pharyngeal, anal and genital cancer. Recent application of HPV structural protein (L1)-targeted prophylactic vaccines (Gardasil(R) and Cervarix(R)) is expected to reduce the incidence of HPV infection and cervical cancer, and possibly other HPV-associated cancers. However, the benefit of the prophylactic vaccines for treating HPV-infected patients is unlikely, underscoring the importance of developing therapeutic vaccines against HPV infection. In this regard, numerous types of therapeutic vaccine approaches targeting the HPV regulatory proteins, E6 and E7, have been tested for their efficacy in animals and clinically. In this communication, we review HPV vaccine types, in particular DNA vaccines, their designs and delivery by electroporation and their immunologic and antitumor efficacy in animals and humans, along with the basics of HPV and its pathogenesis.
Animals ; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia ; DNA ; Electroporation ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Proteins ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; Vaccines ; Vaccines, DNA

The authors developed a biodegradable polymer that releases an antibiotic (nalidixic acid) slowly and continuously, for prevention of catheter-induced infection during drainage of cerebrospinal fluid. We investigated the in vitro antibiotic releasing characteristics and bacterial killing effects of the new polymer against E. coli. The novel fluoroquinolone polymer was prepared using diisopropylcarbodiimide, poly (e-capro-lactone) diol, and nalidixic acid. FT-IR, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis proved that the novel antibacterial polymer was prepared successfully without any side products. Negative MS showed that the released drug has a similar molecular weight (M.W.=232, 350) to pure drug (M.W.=232). In high pressure liquid chromatography, the released drug and drug-oligomer showed similar retention times (about 4.5-5 min) in comparison to pure drug (4.5 min). The released nalidixic acid and nalidixic acid derivatives have antibacterial characteristics against E. Coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella typhi, of more than 3 months duration. This study suggests the possibility of applying this new polymer to manufacture drainage catheters that resist catheter-induced infection, by delivering antibiotics for a longer period of more than 1 month.
Anti-Bacterial Agents/*administration & dosage ; Biodegradation ; Biofilms ; Catheterization/*adverse effects ; Cerebrospinal Fluid/*physiology ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drainage/*adverse effects ; *Drug Delivery Systems ; Humans ; Nalidixic Acid/*administration & dosage ; Polymers/administration & dosage ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Spectrum Analysis, Mass

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical and histopathological features, treatment and prognosis of borderline ovarian tumors (BOT). METHODS: Thirty nine cases of BOT were treated between January 1985 and December 2001 at Maryknoll Hospital. All of BOT were classified in accordance with the WHO criteria for histological typing and clinical staging according to the FIGO system. The clinical records of all patients were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: The incidence of BOT was 21.0% (39/186) of epithelial ovarian malignancies and patients with these tumors tended to present at younger age (36.6 years old) than those with invasive carcinoma (53.6 years old). Fourteen patients (35.9%) were nullipara. The most common chief complaint was palpable mass (28.2%). Serous type (17.9%) occurred less frequently than mucinous type (76.9%). The positive ratio of CA 125 was 45%. Stage I was 37 cases (94.8%), stage II, 1 case (2.6%), and stage III, 1 case (2.6%). The mean size of mucinous tumors was larger than that of serous types (18.7 cm vs 10.0 cm). Twenty three (59%) cases were managed by conservative surgery (unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy) and sixteen cases (41%) by extirpative operation. Post-operative adjuvant chemotherapy was given to seven patients (17.9%). Median follow-up period was 30 months. One patient expired in case of mucinous tumor and seven cases lost during follow-up. Overall survival rate was 96.9%. CONCLUSION: Borderline ovarian tumors constitute approximately 21.0% of epithelial ovarian malignancy and occur in younger patients than those with invasive cancer. It is mostly seen serous and mucinous types and most of them are diagnosed at early stage making definite treatment possible.
Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mucins ; Ovary* ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

PURPOSE: To overcome the potential disadvantages of the use of foreign materials and autologous fat or collagen, we introduce here an autologous plasma gel for injection laryngoplasty. The purpose of this study was to present a new injection material, a plasma gel, and to discuss its clinical effectiveness. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 2 mL of blood, the platelet poor serum layer was collected and heated at 100degrees C for 12 min to form a plasma gel. The plasma gel was then injected into a targeted site; the safety and efficacy thereof were evaluated in 30 rats. We also conducted a phase I/II clinical study of plasma gel injection laryngoplasty in 11 unilateral vocal fold paralysis patients. RESULTS: The plasma gel was semi-solid and an easily injectable material. Of note, plasma gel maintains the same consistency for up to 1 year in a sealed bottle. However, exposure to room air causes the plasma gel to disappear within 1 month. In our animal study, the autologous plasma gel remained in situ for 6 months in animals with minimal inflammation. Clinical study showed that vocal cord palsy was well compensated for with the plasma gel in all patients at two months after injection with no significant complications. Jitter, shimmer, maximum, maximum phonation time (MPT) and mean voice handicap index (VHI) also improved significantly after plasma gel injection. However, because the injected plasma gel was gradually absorbed, 6 patients needed another injection, while the gel remained in place in 2 patients. CONCLUSION: Injection laryngoplasty with autologous plasma gel may be a useful and safe treatment option for temporary vocal cord palsy.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Animals ; *Blood Platelets ; Female ; Humans ; Laryngoplasty/*methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Plasma/*physiology ; Rats