Spinal epidural abscesses were evaluated using Gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 19 surgically and clinically confirmed cases, including 13 with tuberculous spondylitis and 6 with pyogenic spondylitis. We observed rim enhancement patterns in 10 patients and diffuse enhancement patterns in 9 patients. The spread patterns were localized to ventral or dorsal epidural space and encircled entire epidural space. We conclude that rim enhancement indicates abscess and diffuse enhancement indicates granulation tissue and fibrosis. Tuberculous epidural abscess spreads to ventral epidural space and pyogenic epidural abscess encircles entire epidural space.
Abscess ; Epidural Abscess* ; Epidural Space ; Fibrosis ; Granulation Tissue ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Spondylitis

This study examined the experience and intention of health food use regarding the different type of health foods among 201 middle-aged Korean men form urban areas. Based upon the results of a prestudy, health foods were classified into 4 groups including Chinese medicine(CM), toner foods(TF), vitamin or mineral supplements(VMS), and other manufactured heath food supplements(MHFS). compared with the4 case of health food experience, the similar proportion of the subjects were intended to use CM( 70%) and MHFS( 40%), yet the smaller proportion of them had the intention for TF(46%) and VMS(52%). Our subjects mainly obtained information on CM and TF from social networks, such as families, relatives, friends and neighbors and VMS and MHFS from mass media. Expected effects of health food consumption were different by the type of health food. The most positive expected effects were found in CM, followed by VMS. However, there was weak evidence for the positive effects of the TF and MHFS. Upon the consumption of health foods, our subject appeared to expect to their body energy to increased and body functions to be improved in general. Multivariate analyses indicated the importance of expected effects of health food consumption and aging symptoms as determinants of future health food use. Experience was rarely associated with intention in health food use. This study suggests that educated middle-aged Korean men may have a rational attitude toward health food use. Regarding different attitudes and behavior toward the different type of health foods, further research should consider the nature of each type of health foods. The limitations of this study are also discussed.
Aging ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Friends ; Food, Organic* ; Humans ; Intention* ; Male ; Mass Media ; Multivariate Analysis ; Vitamins

Intramural hematoma of the aorta (IMH) is the precursor or a variant of a classic aortic dissection where hemorrhage occurs within the aorta wall in the absence of an initial intimal tear. IMH has a high rate of mortality and morbidity. The optimal therapy for IMH is uncertain, yet the involvement of the ascending aorta is usually considered as an indication for surgery due to the associated risk of rupture or cardiac tamponade. We report here on a case of a 71-year-old man who presented with syncope. Because of misdiagnosis, he underwent computed tomography (CT) after 5 hrs from arriving to the ER. Computed tomography of the aorta revealed intramural hematoma of the ascending aorta with cardiac tamponade. He also had vascular complications such as acute renal failure and visceral ischemia. We performed emergency graft replacement of the total arch and ascending aorta. He was discharged without complication on postoperative day 14.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Aged ; Aorta ; Cardiac Tamponade ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Diagnostic Errors ; Emergencies ; Hematoma ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Ischemia ; Rupture ; Syncope ; Transplants

PURPOSE: To report a case of fungal endophthalmitis developed early after penetrating keratoplasty (PKP). CASE SUMMARY: A 67-year-old man was diagnosed with cataract, bullous keratopathy, and Fuchs' dystrophy. He underwent phacoemulsification, posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation, and PKP. The preoperative visual acuity was counting fingers. One day after surgery, his visual acuity was 20/200, and there was no abnormal finding. In the afternoon, a slit lamp examination showed endothelial plaque and white materials in the anterior chamber, and ultrasonography revealed vitritis. A Gram stain and a KOH smear of donor corneoscleral rim, which was conducted during the operation, revealed yeast-like organisms. An intravitreal amphotericin B injection was performed, and topical and systemic amphotericin B were administered. The donor corneoscleral rim scraping grew Candida albicans on culture. Amphotericin B injection into the anterior chamber and anterior chamber irrigation were performed. The patient's vitritis worsened, so we performed pars plana total vitrectomy. Two months after treatment, the cornea showed complete clearing, and the endothelial cell density was 1779 cells/mm2 on noncontact specular microscopy. Five months after treatment, the final best corrected visual acuity was 20/20. CONCLUSIONS: If a diagnosis of fungal endophthalmitis, which develops soon after PKP, is delayed, treatment could be very difficult. Culture of a donor corneoscleral rim may provide a guide to early diagnosis and successful treatment in cases of fungal endophthalmitis following PKP.
Aged ; Amphotericin B ; Anterior Chamber ; Candida albicans ; Cataract ; Cornea ; Early Diagnosis ; Endophthalmitis ; Endothelial Cells ; European Continental Ancestry Group ; Fingers ; Fuchs' Endothelial Dystrophy ; Humans ; Keratoplasty, Penetrating ; Lens Implantation, Intraocular ; Microscopy ; Phacoemulsification ; Tissue Donors ; Visual Acuity ; Vitrectomy

A peroneal dislocation is a rare disease that is often misdiagnosed as a simple sprain and can be treated inadequately in the acute phase.For this reason, it is important to have an appropriate diagnosis in the early stages because it can progress to chronic and recurrent conditions. Surgical treatment is considered mainly when progressing to chronic recurrent dislocation. Recently, patients with an acute peroneal dislocation tend to prefer surgical treatment, so accurate initial diagnosis and management are very important. This paper reports a case of chronic recurrent peroneal tendon dislocation in both ankle joints, which was treated by a superior peroneal retinaculum reconstruction and a groove deepening procedure.

Most acute patella dislocations can be reduced closely using a spontaneous or simple maneuver, but it may not be possible if accompanied the by anomalies, such as rotation of the patella, osteophyte ridge protruding from the femur, or anatomical variations. This case report outlines irreducible acute patella dislocation with anatomical variations, a notched patella. If the reduction of an acute patella dislocation fails, an additional radiological examination and reduction under general anesthesia may be necessary with the possibility of an anatomical variant in mind.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of cheap tinted contact lenses on corneal swelling and ocular surface inflammation, compared to hydrogel and silicone hydrogel contact lenses. METHODS: Forty eyes of 20 New Zealand white rabbits were randomly assigned to 4 groups. Two types of tinted contact lenses, hydrogel lenses, and silicone hydrogel lenses were each applied to 10 rabbit eyes. Corneal thickness and tear lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity were measured at 1 and 4 days after contact lens wear, and the inflammation of ocular surface was scored at 4 days after contact lens wear. The internal surface of the cheap tinted lens was examined with a scanning electron microscope to compare the surface quality between the tinted and non-tinted area. RESULTS: Although the corneal swelling of the silicone hydrogel lens group was significantly lower than the other 3 lens groups after contact lens wear (p<0.01), the common hydrogel lens group was not different from the 2 tinted contact lens groups (p>0.1). Tear LDH activity at 1 and 4 days after contact lens wear showed no significant difference among the 4 groups (p>0.29). The scores of ocular surface inflammation in the 2 tinted contact lens groups were greater than the hydrogel and silicone hydrogel lens groups (p=0.03). The scanning electron microscope revealed the internal surface of the tinted area in the tinted contact lens was coarse and irregular though the surface of the non-tinted area was relatively smooth. CONCLUSIONS: Regarding corneal swelling and tear LDH activity, the cheap tinted contact lenses used in Korea were not significantly different from the common hydrogel contact lenses. However, tinted contact lenses showed a greater tendency to provoke ocular surface inflammation than other lenses. The coarse and irregular surface of the tinted area in the tinted contact lens appears to play a role in provoking severe ocular surface inflammation.
Contact Lenses ; Electrons ; Eye ; Hydrogel ; Inflammation ; Korea ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; Rabbits ; Silicones

Experinece in the management of 74 patients with delayed traumatic intracranial hemorrhage(DTICH) of 474 head injury from January 1996 to December 1996 is poresented with emphasis on the incidence, occurring time, risk factors and outcome. The incidence of DTICH was 15.6% of all hospitalized head-injury patients. After an injury, every patient had an immediate computerized tomography(CT) scan to diagnose intracranial pathology and then CT follow-up was carried out according to intial CT finding and reurological deficit. The lesion was almost occurred in patients with initial abnormal CT finding(85.1%). 82.4% of DTICH were noted within 72 hours after injury. The delayed epidural hematoma and intracerebral hemorrhage were almost noted in first 72 hours(>90%), but the delayed subdural hemorrhage was found after a time interval varying from 6 hours to 10 days. So we strongly recommend CT follow-up in 4-8hour, 24-72hour, and then 7th day after head injury, especially in patients with initial abnormal CT findings. The risk factor of the delayed lesion was not hypotension, hypoxia, and consciousness level, but age of patients and the initial CT finding. The development of DTICH was not heralded by neurological deterioration. The prognosis of DTICH was not worse than non-DTICH. The patient with delayed subdural hemorrhage was better than the patient with non-delayed lesion(including hemorrhage and normal CT finding).
Anoxia ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Consciousness ; Craniocerebral Trauma* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head* ; Hematoma ; Hematoma, Subdural ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Incidence ; Intracranial Hemorrhages* ; Pathology ; Prognosis ; Risk Factors

No abstract available.
Bone Diseases, Developmental/diagnosis/drug therapy/*genetics ; Child ; Fibrillin-1/*genetics ; Hand/diagnostic imaging ; Heterozygote ; Human Growth Hormone/therapeutic use ; Humans ; Limb Deformities, Congenital/diagnosis/drug therapy/*genetics ; Male ; Pelvis/diagnostic imaging

Intramural pregnancy is an unusual ectopic gestation located within the uterine wall, completely surrounded by myometrium and separate from the uterine cavity, fallopian tube, or round ligament. It is known to be difficult to diagnose, and associated with a high rate of uterine rupture. We report a case of intramural pregnancy in which early diagnosis was made and successful treatment was done by dilatation and curettage. Diagnostic laparoscopy confirmed the absence of uterine rupture during the procedure. Therefore, conservation of fertility can be possible with early diagnosis of intramural pregnancy. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of intramural pregnancy following IVF-ET in Korea.
Animals ; Dilatation and Curettage ; Early Diagnosis ; Embryo Transfer* ; Embryonic Structures* ; Fallopian Tubes ; Female ; Fertility ; Fertilization in Vitro* ; Korea ; Laparoscopy ; Mice ; Myometrium ; Pregnancy* ; Round Ligaments ; Uterine Rupture