Three cases of Dupuytrens contracture which developed in hands were reported along with review of literatures. Partial fasciectomy was done as the choice of treatment for them to improve impairment of function of the hands. No attributable causes for the developement of the disease were found.
Dupuytren Contracture ; Hand

No abstract available.
Delivery of Health Care* ; Family Practice* ; Humans ; Inpatients* ; Insurance* ; Korea*

Background: Although total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is considered an effective treatment for knee osteoarthritis, it carries risks of complications. With a growing number of TKAs performed on older patients, understanding the cause of mortality is crucial to enhance the safety of TKA. This study aimed to identify the major causes of short- and long-term mortality after TKA and report mortality trends for major causes of death. Methods: A total of 4,124 patients who underwent TKA were analyzed. The average age at surgery was 70.7 years. The average follow-up time was 73.5 months. The causes of death were retrospectively collected through Korean Statistical Information Service and classified into 13 subgroups based on the International Classification of Diseases-10 code. The short- and long-term causes of death were identified within the time-to-death intervals of 30, 60, 90, 180, 180 days, and > 180 days. Standard mortality ratios (SMRs) and cumulative incidence of deaths were computed to examine mortality trends after TKA. Results: The short-term mortality rate was 0.07% for 30 days, 0.1% for 60 days, 0.2% for 90 days, and 0.2% for 180 days. Malignant neoplasm and cardiovascular disease were the main short-term causes of death. The long-term (> 180 days) mortality rate was 6.2%. Malignant neoplasm (35%), others (11.7%), and respiratory disease (10.1%) were the major long-term causes of death.Men had a higher cumulative risk of death for respiratory, metabolic, and cardiovascular diseases. Age-adjusted mortality was significantly higher in TKA patients aged 70 years (SMR, 4.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.3–5.4) and between 70 and 79 years (SMR 2.9; 95% CI, 2.5–3.5) than that in the general population. Conclusions The short-term mortality rate after TKA was low, and most of the causes were unrelated to TKA. The major causes of long-term death were consistent with previous findings. Our findings can be used as counseling data to understand the survival and mortality of TKA patients.

The survey was undertaken among the 105 ostomates who attended the 2nd Workshop for Stoma Rehabilitation on Aug. 30th, 1997 by the Department of Surgery, Kyung-Hee University Hospital to assess the physical, psychosocial and sexual problems with a stoma. The 97% of ostomates had permanent colostomies following abdominoperineal resection. The 67% of ostomates had one or more physical problems caused by stoma. Frequent bowel movement (94.3%), impairment of irrigation (64.6%), unpleasant odor (27.3%), and urinary frequency (21.3%) were common problems encountered by ostomates. Concerning the psychosocial problems, 3.8% of them suffered from profound restriction of social activities and 1.9% of them had psychologic problems such as depression. 42 of 58 ostomates (72.4%) who were employed before operation returned to their work. Among 71 men, 44 (62%) were impaired by sexual function. Most ostomates suffered physical, social, psychologic and sexual problems in their daily life and needed helps of experts such colorectal surgeons, enterostomal therapists, and ostomy association. Attention is needed more to improve the quality of life for the ostomates.
Colostomy ; Depression ; Education ; Humans ; Male ; Odors ; Ostomy ; Quality of Life ; Rehabilitation

No abstract available.
Child* ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA ; Hematuria* ; Humans ; Nephritis* ; Purpura, Schoenlein-Henoch*

No abstract available.
Alopecia Areata* ; Alopecia* ; Bone Density*

Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance(MGUS) is one of the monoclonal plasma cell disorder. According to the recent reports, polyneuropathy associated with MGUS may be treatable disease due to potential relationship between the monoclonal protein and immune-mediated nerve damage. It is reported that plasmapheresis is highly effective in the treatment of polyneuropathy associated with IgG type MGUS. We present 53-year-old male with slowly progressive motor weakness and sensory change since 1 year ago. Electrophysiologic studies were compatible with demyelinating neuropathy showing conduction block and temporal dispersion in upper and lower extremities. Abnormal arc against anti-lamda on serum immunoelectrophoresis and M-band in the gamma region on serum protein electrophoresis were shown. After the combined therapy of plasmapheresis (5 times) and steroid, clinical and electrophysiologic findings were markedly improved. We report a case of demyelinating neuropathy associated with IgG lamda type MGUS, which showed good response to combined therapy of plasmapheresis and steroid.
Electrophoresis ; Humans ; Immunoelectrophoresis ; Immunoglobulin G* ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance* ; Paraproteinemias* ; Plasma Cells ; Plasmapheresis ; Polyneuropathies

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical features of the patients with episcleritis and scleritis. METHODS: Retrospective chart review was performed for above patients that had been followed from 1986. 8. 8 to 2001. 6. 4. RESULTS: The number of patients with episcleritis was 17 (49%) and that of scleritis was 18 (51%). Ocular complication occurred in 59% of patients with episcleritis and 72% of patients with scleritis. Keratitis was the most common ocular complication. No patient with episcleritis had a decrease in visual acuity, whereas 33% of patients with scleritis did. Systemic diseases were found in 69% of episcleritis whereas 77% of patients with scleritis associated with systemic diseases. Rheumatoid arthritis was the most common one in both groups of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Ocular complications, systemic diseases, and decrease in visual acuity are associated more of commonly with scleritis than episcleritis. When scleritis is suspected, careful examinations for associated ocular complications should be performed and be followed with history taking and evaluation for associated systemic disease.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Humans ; Keratitis ; Retrospective Studies ; Scleritis* ; Visual Acuity

The aim of this study is to elucidate the association of neovascularization in branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) combined with major arterial insufficiency (MAI), compared with BRVO alone. The authors retrospectively reviewed the charts, color photographs, and fluorescein angiograms of 304 patients (308 eyes) who had BRVO from 1990 to 2002 at Hanyang University hospital. Patients with BRVO combined with MAI and patients with BRVO alone were differentiated by angiographic appearance. Of the 308 eyes, 12 (3.9%) had neovascularization, all of which were in the 56 eyes of the MAI group for which the neovascularization rate was 21.4%. Neovascularization in BRVO was more strongly associated with the non-perfusion caused by MAI, rather than with the extent of the non-perfusion area that originated from retinal capillary obstruction. MAI is considered as a risk factor for neovascularization and hence could be a prognostic factor.
Adult ; Aged ; Comparative Study ; Female ; Fluorescein Angiography ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retinal Artery/*physiopathology ; Retinal Diseases/*complications/physiopathology ; Retinal Neovascularization/diagnosis/*etiology/physiopathology ; Retinal Vein Occlusion/*complications/diagnosis/physiopathology ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: This study was performed to investigate the morphological change of the iris and ciliary body of human eyes during fetal period. METHODS: Under the Registry of Congenital malformation, fetuses were supplied by the Department of Pathology of Seoul National University. We selected 81 eyes enrolled with the gestational age between 8 and 40 weeks, and examined under light microscope. RESULTS: The development of iris and ciliary body began from 12 weeks. During the gestational age 15-18 weeks, marginal sinus and the fold of iris and ciliary body were formed. At the gestational age 18 weeks, the iris sphincter located in front of marginal sinus was certainly distinguished, and the vessels of ciliary body formed. During the gestational age 19-22 weeks the minor folds of ciliary body were formed between the original it. During the gestational age 23-27 weeks marginal sinus was being diminished and dilator muscle was seen. During the gestational age 28-30 weeks the dilator muscle of iris was certainly developed and the longitudinal and circular muscle of ciliary body were distinguished. During the gestational age 34-40 weeks the adultlike appearance of the iris and ciliary body became apparent. CONCLUSIONS: The mesenchymal cells located in the anterior rim of optic cup began to develop after the gestational age 12 weeks. If the develpment of the iris and ciliary body was arrested around the gestational age 15-22 weeks, the congenital malformation of the iris and ciliary body could appear.
Ciliary Body* ; Fetus ; Gestational Age* ; Humans ; Iris* ; Pathology ; Seoul