C-arm fluoroscopy is useful equipment in interventional pain management because it helps to guide correct needle targeting for the accurate injection and drug delivery. However, due to increased use of C-arm fluoroscopy in various pain procedures, the risk of radiation exposure is a significant concern for pain physicians. The harmful biological effects of ionizing radiation on the human body are well known. It is therefore necessary to strive to reduce radiation exposure. Lead aprons with thyroid shields are the most fundamental radiation protective devices for interventional procedures, and are very effective. However, the operator's radiation safety cannot be guaranteed because pain physicians seem to lack sufficient interest, knowledge, and awareness about radiation safety. Also, inappropriate care and use of radiation protective devices may result in a higher risk of radiation exposure. The purpose of this article was to review the literature on radiation safety with a focus on lead aprons and thyroid shields and present recommendations related to those devices during C-arm fluoroscopic-guided interventions by pain physicians.
Fluoroscopy ; Human Body ; Needles ; Pain Management ; Protective Devices ; Radiation Exposure ; Radiation Protection ; Radiation, Ionizing ; Thyroid Gland

Intense pulsed light (IPL) Quantum SR(TM) systems are high-intensity light sources, which emit polychromatic light. Unlike laser systems, these flashlamps work with noncoherent light in a broad wavelength spectrum of 560-1200 nm. IPL Quantum SR(TM) has been effective for the treatment of photoaging skin as a nonablative method. Three patients with photoaged skin were treated with fifth full-face treatments at 3-4 week intervals using IPL Quantum SR(TM). The cut-off filters of 560 nm and integrated contact cooling system were utilized for treatments. After the last treatments, the patients showed the overall improvement in clinical appearance, reduction in pigmentation and telangiectasia and fine wrinkle with smoothening of skin textures. Histological evaluations showed new collagen production after treatment. Full-face photorejuvenation using IPL Quantum SR(TM) can be an effective treatment modality for photoaged skin. We report herein IPL photorejuvenation is safe and effective in skin rejuvenation.
Collagen ; Humans ; Pigmentation ; Rejuvenation ; Skin ; Telangiectasis

PURPOSE: To report a case of refractive change with intraocular pressure change following trauma. METHODS: Changes in intraocular pressure, refractive power, lens thickness, depth of anterior chamber, and axial length of an 8-year-old girl were measured. RESULTS: During the early period after trauma, the patient showed low intraocular pressure and shallow anterior chamber depth. The refractive power changed to transient high myopia. With temporary high intraocular pressure, the refractive power changed to hyperopia and the refractive power recovered toward emmetropia as the intraocular pressure fell to the normal level. Refractive alteration is a result of changes in intraocular pressure and depth of the anterior chamber by cyclodialysis cleft and its adhesion is induced by trauma to the eye. Herein, the authors show evidence for a relationship between refractive change and posttraumatic ocular change.
Anterior Chamber ; Child ; Emmetropia ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperopia ; Intraocular Pressure* ; Myopia

Striae Distensae is a very common cosmetic problem. The effectiveness of various lasers, such as the 585-nm pulsed dye laser on the treatment of striae distensae has recently been reported. However, the potential pigmentary alteration of dark skin by pulsed dye laser is known. Thermage is a radiofrequency capable of delivering higher energy fluences to a greater volume of tissue than nonablative lasers, with no epidermal injury. We report three patients who had striae distensae. They were treated with Thermage and 585-nm pulsed dye laser. The treatment was effective and safe for dark skin.
Humans ; Lasers, Dye ; Skin ; Striae Distensae*

Trichoderma spp. cause large crop losses of the cultivated shiitake mushroom, Lentinula edodes. We bred several shiitake strains that are resistant to Trichoderma spp. using di-mon mating to establish a useful method for controlling the greenmold disease. We examined the competitive ability of L. edodes against Trichoderma spp. using a dual culture system to select resistant strains. By screening Trichoderma-resistant strains, we found that among 11 parental strains, 4 strains, including KFRI 36, were confirmed resistant strains. They showed especially strong resistance to T. harzianum, which formed deadlock after mycelial contact and then invaded into the territory of T. harzianum. KFRI 171 also showed resistance to T. atroviride strains. Among 13 strains, which were made by hybridization of shiitake strains, 5 were confirmed to be resistant to Trichoderma, including KFRI 58-1. Their resistance was not correlated to the resistant activity of their parents' strains. Two strains lose resistance and two strains acquire resistance compared to their parents' strains. In SEM observation, the mycelium of L. edodes at the interaction zone of Lentinula-Trichoderma was rugged and swollen by T. harzianum.
Breeding ; Chimera ; Humans ; Lentinula ; Mass Screening ; Mycelium ; Parents ; Shiitake Mushrooms ; Trichoderma

Background: Botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) injection is being widely used off-label for muscular hypertrophy, including deltoid muscle hypertrophy. However, very few studies have evaluated the optimal dosage and its clinical response. Objective: This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of different doses of Prabotulinum toxin A (PBoNT) for treating deltoid muscle hypertrophy. Methods: Twelve particiapants with bilateral deltoid muscle hypertrophy were enrolled and randomly received either 16 U or 32 U of PBoNT. In each participant, the same dose was administered to both deltoid muscles. Both participants and evaluators were blinded. Deltoid muscle thickness and upper arm circumference were measured on day 0, and weeks 2, 4, and 12 after the PBoNT injection. Results: Upper arm circumference significantly decreased in both groups; however, deltoid muscle thickness was reduced in the 16 U group only. No major complications were reported in both groups. However, a few minor complications were reported in the 16 U injection group. Conclusion Both 16 U and 32 U of PBoNT intramuscular injections are safe and effective in treating deltoid hypertrophy.

Hemorrhagic cystitis is defined by lower urinary tract symptoms that include dysuria, hematuria, and hemorrhage and is caused by viral or bacterial infection or chemotherapeutic agents. Reports of hemorrhagic cystitis caused by non-typhoidal salmonella (NTS) are extremely rare. We report a case of a 41-year-old man with hemorrhagic cystitis from NTS that caused massive bleeding and shock. The patient was hospitalized for uncontrolled diabetes and obstructive uropathy related to severe cystitis. A urine culture was positive for group D NTS. This case demonstrated that hemorrhagic cystitis in a patient with a risk factor such as diabetes can be a manifestation of local extraintestinal NTS infection.
Adult ; Bacterial Infections ; Cystitis ; Dysuria ; Hematuria ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms ; Risk Factors ; Salmonella ; Salmonella Infections ; Shock

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to find changes in percentage obesity and the factors associated with the changes after its treatment in obese children and adolescents. METHODS: A total of 42 obese children from 3- to 17- year-olds (males 60%) were enrolled in an obesity treatment program at least 3 times. They were provided with an individual weight control program that included dietary, activity, and behavioral change information. The paired t-test, Kruskal-Wallis test, Mann-Whitney test, and linear regression were used for analyses. RESULTS: The means of BMI, percent body fat, and percent obesity were 27.4 kg/m2, 39.4%, and 52.3%, respectively. Among them, 85.3% of obese children had one or more abnormalities on biochemical tests and 32.4% of them had 3 or more abnormalities. There was a significant reduction in weight (1.4 kg), BMI (1.1 kg/m2), percent body fat (1.8%) and percent obesity (7.1%), whereas height increased significantly by 1.3 cm after the treatment. The decrease in percent obesity was associated significantly with the number of follow-up, the number of accompanied biochemical abnormality, and the duration of treatment. The decrease in percent obesity was 12.9% among obese children who were followed-up 6 times or more, by 12.2% among those who did not accompany biochemical abnormality and by 13.3% among those who were retained in the program for 76 days or over. However, the change in % obesity was not associated with sex, age groups (<12, >or=12-year-old), severity of obesity and parental obesity. The percent obesity decreased by 5.2% as the number of follow-up (n=3/4, 5/6~17) increased after adjusting for sex, age groups and the number of biochemical abnormalities. The number of follow-up also explained 38% for the variance of change in percent obesity in that model. CONCLUSIONS: Continuous program retention was an effective factor to reduce percent obesity. Therefore, further investigation is needed to develop methods to enforce program retention.
Adipose Tissue ; Adolescent* ; Child* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Obesity* ; Parents ; Pediatric Obesity

PURPOSE: We aimed to examine the effectiveness of the head-up tilt test (HUT) for the diagnosis of syncope or presyncope in children and adolescents. METHODS: HUT results and clinical features of 160 children and adolescents with syncope or presyncope were studied from May 2003 through March 2008 at the Chonbuk National University Hospital. The children and adolescents were subjected to 70degrees HUT for 45 minutes. The testees were divided into 2 groups: group I (children) comprising 39 children in the age range 7-12 years (mean, 10.59+/-1.60 years) and group II (adolescents) comprising 121 adolescents in the age range 13-20 years (mean, 15.93+/-2.28 years). Positive result rates of the HUT and types of hemodynamic response to the test in the 2 groups were compared. RESULTS: Of the 160 testees, 92 (57.5%) showed positive HUT results; they showed 3 patterns of response to tilting. Twelve patients showed a predominantly vasodepressor response; 10 patients showed a cardioinhibitory response; and 70 patients showed a mixed response. The positive result rates were 43.6% (17/39) and 62.0% (75/121) in groups I and II, respectively. Mixed response was the predominant positive hemodynamic response in both the groups. CONCLUSION: The HUT is a useful diagnostic tool for evaluating the condition of pediatric patients, including adolescents, with syncope. Further, it may be considered as the first step for evaluating the condition of such patients.
Adolescent ; Child ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Resin Cements ; Syncope

Eosinophilic pancreatitis is a rare disorder that frequently accompanies peripheral eosinophilia and/or eosinophilic gastroenteritis. Eosinophilic pancreatitis can mimic a pancreatic neoplasm by forming a pancreatic mass with focal pancreatic eosinophilic infiltration. Because eosinophilic pancreatitis responds well to steroid treatment, it is important to distinguish eosinophilic pancreatitis from pancreatic neoplasm. Thus, fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) should be considered in patients with a pancreatic mass accompanied by peripheral eosinophilia and/or eosinophilic gastroenteritis. We describe a case of eosinophilic pancreatitis with annular pancreas that was diagnosed by FNAB. This is the first reported case of eosinophilic pancreatitis with annular pancreas diagnosed by FNAB.
Biopsy ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Enteritis ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils* ; Gastritis ; Gastroenteritis ; Humans ; Pancreas* ; Pancreatic Diseases ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; Pancreatitis*