PURPOSE: To evaluate the incidence of disc extrusion and neurologic deficit, the relation between disc extrusion and neurologic deficit and the treatment results according to our basic treatment principles in lower cervical facet joint fracture and dislocations MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve patients were evaluated, 8 male and 4 female with an average age of 41 years comprised the group. Six injuries were attributable to automobile accidents, 5 to fall from building, bed, floor and hill, and one to stand on her head. One case was distractive-flexion stage (DFS) 1, 9 cases with DFS 2 and 2 cases with DFS 3. Plain X-ray, CT, Myelo CT and MRI were used as a diagnostic tools. As a treatment criteria, feasibility of closed reduction, status of neuroglogic injury, and stability of injured spine were considered. Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion in accompanied disc extrusion, posterior reduction and fusion with triple wiring in unreduced dislocation, and anterior decompression and fusion in incomplete cord and root injury were selected as a basic treatment principles. RESULTS: Ten out of 12 cases (83%) showed neurologic deficits, 2 complete cord injury, 1 incomplete cord injury, and 7 radiculopathy. Nine out of 12 (75%) demonstrated disc extrusion and all disc extruded patients had neurologic deficits. Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) were performed in 5 cases, ACDF and posterior reduction with triple wiring (PRTW) in 4 cases, PRTW in 1 case, and skull traction and philadelphia brace in 2 cases. Seven radiculpathy patients were completely recovered and one incomplete cord injury patient can ambulate with spastic gait after surgery. There were 2 bed sore and 1 pneumonia in complications. CONCLUSION: Soft disc extrusion should be evaluated carefully with MRI and CT in lower cervical spine injury with the facet joint fracture-dislocations before the decision of treatment. As disc extrusion always accompanies neurologic deficit, it must be surgically treated by anterior cervical discectomy and fusion.
Automobiles ; Braces ; Decompression ; Diskectomy ; Dislocations* ; Female ; Gait Disorders, Neurologic ; Head ; Humans ; Incidence ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Pneumonia ; Pressure Ulcer ; Radiculopathy ; Skull ; Spine ; Traction ; Zygapophyseal Joint*

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and effect of various cryopreservation method on the survival and the cytoskeletal stability of metaphase II mouse oocyte. METHODS: Mouse ovulated oocytes were collected and cryopreserved by a modified slow-freezing method with 1.5 M 1,2-propanediol (PrOH)+0.1 M sucrose or by vitrification using cryo loop and EM grid with 40% ethylene glycol+0.6 M sucrose. Four hours after thawing, intact oocytes were fixed and stained with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-conjugated monoclonal anti-beta-tubulin antibody to visualize spindle and propidium iodide (PI) to visualize chromosome. Spindle morphology was classified as follows: normal (barrel-shaped), slightly and absolute abnormal (multipolar or absent). RESULTS: Survival rate of the frozen-thawed oocytes in vitrification group was significantly higher than that of slow-freezing group (62.7% vs. 24.4%, p<0.01). Vitrification with cryo loop showed significantly higher survival rate than that with EM grid (67.7% vs. 53.5%, p<0.05). On the other hand, proportion of normal spindle and chromosome configurations of the frozen-thawed oocytes between two vitrification group was not significantly different. CONCLUSION: For mouse ovulated oocytes, vitrification with cryo loop may be a preferable procedure compared to slow-freezing method. Further study should be needed to investigate developmental competency of frozen-thawed mouse oocytes.
Animals ; Cryopreservation* ; Fluorescein ; Hand ; Metaphase ; Mice* ; Oocytes* ; Propidium ; Propylene Glycol ; Sucrose ; Survival Rate ; Vitrification

PURPOSE: To report the results according to anterior elevation changes following corneal crosslinking (CXL) treatment for keratoconus. METHODS: The present retrospective study included 14 patients (15 eyes) with progressive keratoconus who underwent CXL with a follow-up of 12 months. Patients were classified into 2 groups according to pre and postoperative anterior elevation difference maps. On the preoperative anterior elevation map, distances from maximum anterior elevation to pupil center were compared between the 2 groups. The outcome of best correct visual acuity (BCVA), maximum keratometry and parameters of corneal topography were compared between the 2 groups before CXL as well as 6 and 12 months after CXL. RESULTS: The anterior elevation changes were classified as group 1 (-7.88 +/- 10.53 micrometer) or group 2 (8.71 +/- 5.99 micrometer) (p = 0.001). The preoperative corneal topography of eyes observed in group 1 (0.19 +/- 0.13 mm) had shorter mean distances from maximum anterior elevation to pupil center than eyes in group 2 (0.47 +/- 0.23 mm) (p = 0.018). BCVA (log MAR) improved from 0.68 +/- 0.78 to 0.57 +/- 0.81 (p = 0.115) 12 months after CXL in group 1 and decreased from 0.51 +/- 0.34 to 0.56 +/- 0.38 (p = 0.109) 12 months after CXL in group 2. The maximum keratometry decreased from 63.01 +/- 19.07D to 58.95 +/- 16.32D (p = 0.017) in group 1 and increased from 60.70 +/- 9.46D to 61.29 +/- 7.51D (p = 0.674) in group 2. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical and optical effects improved postoperatively in group 1, and were stabilized in group 2. The preoperative distance from maximum anterior elevation to pupil center and the anterior elevation changes after CXL were factors in predicting the CXL outcome.
Corneal Topography ; Eye ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glycolates ; Humans ; Keratoconus ; Pupil ; Retrospective Studies ; Visual Acuity

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to predict spontaneous labor onset delivery within 7 days in low risk pregnant women at 38 weeks' of gestation by ultrasonographic examination of cervical changes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This prospective study included 110 singleton low risk pregnancies between 37(+0) and 37(+6) weeks of gestation. Fifteen cases were lost during follow-up and finally 95 pregnant women (58 nulliparous, 37 multiparous) were analysed. The study period was from Oct/2005 to May/2007. Four cervical changes (length, gland thickness, funneling and canal formation) were evaluated. Main outcome was remaining day to delivery after the examination. Remaining days to actual delivery with spontaneous labor onset were recorded and the pregnancies were divided into two groups according to remaining days (within 7 days, over 7 days) to compare predicting power of delivery within 7 days. ROC curves were drawn to find out cut-off values of cervical length and gland thickness. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were extracted from four cervical changes. RESULTS: Mean cervical length of pregnant women at 38 weeks' of gestation was 25.8 (+/-10.0) mm and mean cervical gland thickness was 4.3 (+/-1.2) mm. Funnelings of uterine cervix were detected in 13 cases (13.7%), canal formations in 6 cases (6.3%). All four cervical changes were statistically valuable to predict delivery within 7 days and the cervical length showed highest sensitivity. When the cervical length was measured under 20 mm, the possibility of delivery within 7 days was 78.6% (p<0.001). The cervical gland thickness less than 4 mm could predict the delivery within 7 days with sensitivity of 57.1% (p<0.01). Sensitivities of funneling and canal formation for delivery within 7 days were 54.5%, 36.4% each. CONCLUSION: Ultrasonographic examination of the cervical changes in low risk singleton pregnancy at 38 weeks' of gestation are valuable for predicting spontaneous labor onset delivery within 7 days. Among four cervical changes, cervical length is most sensitive ultrasonographic marker.
Cervix Uteri ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Labor Onset ; Parturition* ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women ; Prospective Studies ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity

PURPOSE: We reviewed the result of metatarsophalangeal arthrodesis of the great toe in rheumatoid arthritis and severe hallux valgus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From February 1994 to March 1997, 68 patients were operated on. The follow up averaged 2.8 years. We evaluated the subjective improvement with respect to pain, ability to stand and walk and shoe wear, the radiologic improvement with respect to hallux valgus angle, intermetatarsal angle and dorsiflexion angle. RESULTS: Arthrodesis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint was resulted in a good functional improvement in 91% of hallux valgus and 94% of rheumatoid arthritis with respect to pain relief. Preoperative hallux valgus angle in rheumatoid arthritis was 42.5o, and the postoperative hallux valgus angle 10.1o. Preoperative hallux valgus angle in severe hallux valgus was 38.2o, postoperative hallux valgus 8.7o. CONCLUSION: Arthrodesis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint was an excellent operation for correction of the rheumatoid arthritis and severe hallux valgus, and there were no different result between these two groups.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Arthrodesis* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hallux Valgus* ; Hallux* ; Humans ; Joints* ; Metatarsophalangeal Joint ; Shoes ; Toes

BACKGROUND: Alcohol has much effect on our lives as a taste food that people in almost all of the world generally have had. The effects of alcohol cause social problems as well as physical and psychological problems. Recently, interest about drinkirg increasingly rises as the rate of drinking accident increases in Korea. For this, our study examined the amount of alcohol consumption and early at-risk alcohol intake. METHODS: The prepared questionnaire was presented to subjects who were employees in Inchon . The anonymous, self-administered questionnaire was composed of questionnaire concerning alcohol consumption, early at-risk alcohol intake and doctor's role in drinking behaviour. RESULTS: Among 305 subjects, there were 189 (62%) men, 116 (38%) women whose mean age was 37. 9years. 87(28.5%)subjects were classified as high alcohol group and 218(71.5%) low alcohol group. High alcohol group was defined as early at-risk alcohol intake for men who were consuming 135g of alcohol per day, 630 per week and for women 90g per day, 270g per week. Low alcohol group was defined as early at-risk alcohol intake for men whose consumption was 90g per day, 450 per week and for women 45g per day, 270g per week . Mean alcohol consumption of drinker was 158.9g per week. 3 days per week people should not drink in order to avoid risk Although 54% of respondents thought doctors should ask about their drinkirg habits, only 16.4% of respondents reported ever being asked about alcohol intake on the subject. CONCLUSION: Early at-risk drinking subject in the study was much more than those suggested by NIH(National Institutes of Health). We conclude that primary care physicians should take more interest in screening, treating and preventing alcohol related problems and advise and educate patients to cut down or quit drinking.
Academies and Institutes ; Alcohol Drinking ; Anonyms and Pseudonyms ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Drinking ; Female ; Humans ; Incheon ; Korea ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Physicians, Primary Care ; Social Problems

No abstract available.
Female ; Humans ; Manganese*

PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were: 1) To describe the level of awareness of patient safety culture and nursing care activities for patient safety and, 2) To identify factors affecting nursing care activities for patient safety among oncology nurses working at inpatient care units. METHODS: The study sample included 221 nurses working in oncology wards. After obtaining IRB approval, data collection was done with structured self-administered questionnaires, from September 13 to October 13, 2013. Data analysis was done using SPSS WIN 18.0. RESULTS: The mean score of awareness of patient safety culture was 3.46 and the mean score of nursing care activities for patient safety was 4.31 both on a scale of 5.0. Significant factors affecting nursing care activities for patient safety were the open attitude of the supervisor toward patient safety (beta=.19, p=.005) and the degree of patient safety within a ward perceived by the oncology ward nurses (beta=.23, p=.003). These factors explained 31% of the subjects' nursing care activities for patient safety (F=6.08, p<.001). CONCLUSION: To increase nursing care activities for patient safety in the oncology ward, a strategy such as an education program for increasing the awareness of patient safety is needed.
Data Collection ; Education ; Ethics Committees, Research ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Nursing Care* ; Oncology Nursing ; Patient Safety* ; Safety Management ; Statistics as Topic ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.
Graves Disease* ; Insulin*

No abstract available.
Meningitis* ; Meningitis, Viral*