No Abstract Available.
Humans

PURPOSE: To investigate the actual adherence to treatment with preservative-free dorzolamide-timolol fixed combination (DTFC) eyedrops of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients by counting the number of unused single-dose units of DTFC. METHODS: This study included 34 POAG patients newly prescribed with preservative-free DTFC eyedrops (formulated in single-dose units). The enrolled patients were asked to bring the unused DTFC units on their next visit after 2 weeks of treatment with DTFC. On their second visit, they were asked to complete a questionnaire regarding the self-reported adherence and the number of unused DTFC single-dose units was counted. The actual adherence (%) was calculated by dividing the expected number of used DTFC units by the actual number of used DTFC units. The correlation between the self-reported adherence and the measured adherence was assessed. RESULTS: Twenty-nine (93.5%) patients answered they adhered to the medication by more than 90% and 2 (6.5%) answered they instilled the eyedrops at 80-90% of the dosing schedule. However, after counting the unused DTFC single-dose units, 9 (29.0%) patients showed an actual adherence of <90%. Moreover, the actual adherence of 3 (9.7%) patients was <60%. Unexpectedly, 4 (12.9%) patients showed the actual adherence exceeding 100% (196%, 1 patient; 107-132%, 3 patients). CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated a large difference between the self-reported and the actual adherence to treatment by counting the unused single-dose units of eyedrops. Preservative-free topical anti-glaucoma medications (formulated in single-dose units) provide clinicians an opportunity to assess the actual adherence of glaucoma patients by counting the unused units of eyedrops.
Appointments and Schedules ; Glaucoma ; Glaucoma, Open-Angle ; Humans ; Ophthalmic Solutions ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of fat suppression technique for MR imaging of the knee. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-eight knees of 26 patients were imaged at a 1. 5 T MR system. Sagittal and coronal T2-Weighted spin echo images (SET2) and sagittal fat suppression SET2(FSSE) were obtained in all cases. We used a chemical shift imaging method for fat suppression. We compared FSSE with SET2 in terms of the conspicuity of lesions of menisci, cruciate ligaments, cartilage, bone and soft tissue of the knee. RESULTS: Meniscal lesions were detected on FSSE and SET2 as well. FSSE depicted the lesion more conspicuously in 6 cases. For the depiction of ACL tear, SET2 was superior to FSSE in 5 cases. FSSE was better for the visualization of the normal structure of cartilage and it also depicted the cartilaginous lesions more conspicuously in 3 cases. Though bone bruise could be detected on both techniques, FSSE was better. CONCLUSION: FSSE could provide the improved delineation of menisci, cartilage, bone bruise and other soft tissues except the injuries of anterior cruciate ligament. Although FSSE is a reliable method, it can not replace SET2. It may be used as a complemental method in the imaging of the knee.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament ; Cartilage ; Complement System Proteins ; Contusions ; Humans ; Knee* ; Ligaments ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging*

PURPOSE: Acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis(APSGN) follows infection of group A beta-hemolytic streptococci. The prognosis of APSGN has been reported as favorable. However, several studies have reported that some patients progress to chronic renal failure. In an attempt to clarify this, we analyzed the clinical course of patients with APSGN. METHODS: Between January 2000 and December 2004, a total of 48 children who were diagnosed with APSGN according to the presence of hematuria, transient hypocomplementemia and evidence of group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal infection were evaluated. RESULTS: Six(12.5%) patients showed elevation of serum creatinine level but there was no patient with persistent renal dysfunction. Blood pressure was controlled with ease in all patients and there was no case of persistent hypertension. Renal biopsy was done in 5 patients who showed heavy proteinuria or renal insufficiency and the outcomes showed findings consistent with ordinary APSGN except one with findings of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis(RPGN). Serum complement levels normalized within 8 weeks(92.9%). Hematuria disappeared within 6 months(79%) and proteinuria within 6 months(100%) from the disease onset. CONCLUSION: Prolonged renal dysfunction or heavy proteinuria found in five patients(10.4%) led to renal biopsy. All these problems resolved within 6 months. Our data support that the prognosis of childhood APSGN is favorable without any serious sequela.
Biopsy ; Blood Pressure ; Child* ; Complement System Proteins ; Creatinine ; Glomerulonephritis* ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Prognosis* ; Proteinuria ; Renal Insufficiency ; Streptococcal Infections

Objective: It is essential to measure the effect of burnout on doctors because burnout can affect doctors’ mental health as well as the functioning of medical practice. This study aims to validate a Korean version of the single-item burnout measure (SIBM), which was developed to quickly measure the level of burnout among doctors. Methods: Through an online survey, a self-report questionnaire was administered to 324 public health doctors in Korea. The Korean version of the SIBM was validated against the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey (MBI-GS), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) screening tool, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and the Vaccination Attitudes Examination (VAX) scale. Pearson correlation coefficients and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to determine the association between the SIBM and other scales. ANOVA was additionally used to determine the associations between the subscales of the MBI-GS and those of the SIBM. Results: The correlation coefficient between the SIBM and the MBI-GS, PHQ-9, GAD-7, and PSS was positive (p<0.01), and the correlation coefficient between the SIBM and the VAX scale was not significant. Therefore, convergent and discriminant validity was verified. Exhaustion and cynicism, which were correlated with the SIBM, with r2=0.43 (p<0.01) and 0.48 (p<0.01), yielded R2 scores of 0.27 (p<0.01) and 0.20 (p<0.01) in ANOVA. Conclusion The Korean version of the SIBM is an appropriate screening tool for burnout. It can be evaluated in a short time, thereby enhancing continuous follow-up observations and response rates to burnout.

Total abdominal hystrectomy is the most common surgery of Gynecology. It's complication are taken very important. Although neuropathy, especially femoral nerve injury, is rare, recently we have experienced a case of femoral neuropathy after total abdominal hystrectomy. We present this case with a brief review of literature.
Femoral Nerve* ; Femoral Neuropathy ; Gynecology

BACKGROUND: As indicators of obesity, waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), and adiponectin are well known risk factor for diabetes mellitus. The objectives of this study were to measure the independent association between these obesity indicators and diabetes and to examine the combined effect of these indicators on diabetes in a Korean population. METHODS: The WC, BMI, and serum adiponectin were measured in 6,505 healthy Koreans and were classified into tertile groups for men and women. The independent and combined associations of the obesity indicators with diabetes were measured using logistic regression analyses. Diabetes was defined as fasting serum glucose greater than 126 mg/dL or taking medication. RESULTS: Levels of adiponectin were inversely associated with BMI and WC and directly associated with age and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) cholesterol (P <0.001). After adjusting for age, WC, and other lifestyle factors, low levels of adiponectin were associated with an increased prevalence of diabetes. Further adjustment for HDL cholesterol and triglyceride attenuated this association in both men and women. The best cut-off value of adiponectin in terms of identifying the presence of diabetes was 5.5 /ml with a sensitivity and specificity of 46.7% and 63.9% for men and 9.5 /ml with a sensitivity and specificity of 68.2% and 55.2 for women. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that adiponectin was associated with diabetes. The association was independent of WC and was partly modified by HDL and triglyceride. There were no effect modifications of adiponectin with WC on diabetes.
Adiponectin* ; Blood Glucose ; Body Mass Index ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Fasting ; Female ; Humans ; Life Style ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Obesity ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Triglycerides ; Waist Circumference

No abstract available.
Carcinoma*

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to investigate the prevalence of impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and its related characteristics among healthy adults in some Korean rural areas. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study using the data from 1352 adults who were over the age 40 and under the age 70 and who were free of diabetes mellitus (DM), cardiovascular diseases and other diseases and who participated in a survey conducted as part of the Korean Rural Genomic Cohort Study. IFG was defined as a serum fasting glucose level between 100 and 125 mg/dL. RESULTS: The prevalence of IFG was 20.4% in men, 15.5% in women and 12.7% overall. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the independent risk factors for IFG were male gender, having a family history of DM, the quartiles of gamma glutamyltransferase and high sensitive C-reactive protein and the waist circumference. The homeostatis model assessment for insulin resistance was very strongly associated with IFG. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) and MS components was higher in the subjects with IFG then in those with normal fasting glucose (NFG). CONCLUSIONS: The result of study could supply evidence to find the high risk population and to determine a strategy for treating IFG. Further research is needed to explain the causal relationship and mechanisms of IFG.
Adult ; Aged ; Body Weights and Measures ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; *Fasting ; Female ; Glucose Intolerance/*epidemiology ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Rural Population ; Sex Factors ; Socioeconomic Factors