After a lobectomy the apearance of the chest roentgenogram may return so nearly to normal that it isfrequently very difficult to tell which lobe has been moved without refering to the thoracic surgeon's record. Thereriew of literature failed to disclose previous articles concerning the differential diagnosis between upper andlower lobectomy. Clues of a lobectomy may be found in the rib cage, hilar shadows, pleura and disphragms, but they do not specifically incidate which lobe has been removed. In the present study we anlaysed anatomico-spatialchanges of the pulmonary basal arteries, hilar point, vascular redistribution, diaphragm and rib cage on the plainchest films taken before and after a lobectomy in 33 cases seen at the Dept. of Radiology, St. Mary's Hospoital, Catholic Medical College. Firstly we observed the pulmonary basal artery after a lobectomy on plain chest film. In 12 cases of upper lobectomy the pulmonary basal artery was easily identified in every case. However in all of 21cases of lower lobectomy, the pulmonary basal artery was not identified. Next, a shift of the hilar point waschecked after a lobectomy. Regarding to vascular redistribution, the blood vessels was counted at upper and lowerlung fields by simon's method before and after a lobectomy, respectively. Finally, the level of the diaphragm wascompared in the pre. and post-opeative films and resected rib was scrutinized. The present study revealed that themost reliable sign to indicate specifically which lobe has been resected is persistence or disappearance of thepulmonary basal artery. Then i.e. in upper lobectomy the pulmonary basal artery was easily identified, but inlower lobectomy the pulmoanry basal artery was not dectable. Other findings such as vascular redistribution,elevated diaphragm and resected rib were not specific.
Arteries ; Blood Vessels ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diaphragm ; Methods ; Pleura ; Ribs ; Thorax

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) causes a mosquitoborne viral zoonosis that is becoming increasingly important to public health in east and south Asia. Although JEV is primarily associated with reproductive failure in swine, JEV infection can cause fever and headache in humans and is associated with aseptic meningitis and encephalitis. The exact mode of transmission, including host range and possible source of viral amplification within livestock, is still not completely clear. This study consisted of a serological survey of JEV infection in goats. A total of 804 goat serum samples were collected from 144 farms in Korea between May 2005 and May 2006. The incidence of positive cases was 12.1% (97 out of 804 goats). The seroprevalence of JEV infection in the 144 farms screened was 31.3% (45/144), indicating that JEV infection is frequent in goat farms in Korea. In addition, three districts of Korea (mainly in the southern region) had a higher seroprevalence of JEV compared to other areas. The results suggest that goats could be monitored epidemiologically as a sentinel animal for JEV transmission in Korea.
Age Factors ; Animals ; Antibodies, Viral/blood ; Encephalitis Virus, Japanese/*isolation & purification ; Encephalitis, Japanese/epidemiology/*veterinary/virology ; Goat Diseases/*epidemiology/*virology ; Goats ; Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests/veterinary ; Korea/epidemiology ; Seroepidemiologic Studies

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Although surgical resection remains the gold standard of therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), only selected patients can undergo resection because of the severity of the underlying cirrhosis or due to the diffuse distribution of the tumor. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has recently shown comparable results to surgical resection for the treatment of HCC. We compared the results of RF ablation and surgical resection for the treatment of HCC. METHODS: From January 2000 to December 2002, one hundred-sixty patients who had undergone surgical resection or RFA were analyzed retrospectively. The patients with a tumor size less than 5 cm in diameter, with less than 3 tumors in number, with tumor having a Child-Pugh class A classification and no evidence of extrahepatic metastasis were enrolled in the study. The recurrence pattern was classified into local and distant recurrence. We compared the recurrence patterns, the survival rates, the recurrence rates and the complications between the two groups. RESULTS: 1) The local recurrence rate was 9.8% for surgical resection and 18.2% for RFA and the distant recurrence rate were 32.8% and 28.3%, respectively. 2) The 1-, 2- and 3-year overall cumulative survival rates after RFA and surgery were 95.8%, 86.8%, 80.0%, 98.3%, 87.0% and 77.4%, respectively. 3) The incidence of complication was similar between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Radiofrequency ablation shows comparable results to surgical resection for the treatment of HCC. Therefore, RFA should be considered as the treatment of choice those patients who are not candidates for resection. However, intrahepatic recurrence of tumor after RFA was as frequent as that seen after surgical resection. Further investigation is warranted to clarify whether the current RFA technology could offer improved long-term results.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/mortality/secondary/*surgery ; *Catheter Ablation ; Comparative Study ; English Abstract ; Female ; *Hepatectomy ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/mortality/pathology/*surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Survival Rate

Cytomegalovirus(CMV) infections are common in immune compromised situations such as human immunodeficiency virus infection and organ transplantation. However CMV colitis had been rarely found in immunocompetent individuals. We experienced a case of an 83-year-old female patient, initially immune competent, who developed a massive lower gastrointestinal bleeding caused by CMV colitis. Previously, multiple antibiotics were used for nontuberculous Myco- bacterium and other bacterial infections after total knee arthroplasty. Colonoscopy revealed multiple ulcerations and mucosal congestion with hemorrhage. In spite of ganciclovir therapy, our patient did not recover.
Aged, 80 and over ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Arthroplasty ; Bacterial Infections ; Colitis ; Colonoscopy ; Cytomegalovirus ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Female ; Ganciclovir ; Hemorrhage ; HIV ; Humans ; Knee ; Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous ; Nontuberculous Mycobacteria ; Organ Transplantation ; Transplants ; Ulcer

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The safety and efficacy of outpatient cardiac catheterization was established. We evaluated our patient population and complications selected for outpatient procedures and our experience with transradial approach. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 346 outpatient cardiac catheterization (31% of all diagnosticprocedures),performed with transradial approach, was compared with 788 in patient diagnostic procedures in terms of patient population, clinical and angiographic features, complications of examinations. RESULTS: 1) Indications of outpatient coronary angiography were as follows: follow-up of coronary interventions or bypass surgery (41.6%), recent-onset or aggravated angina (31.2%), atypical chest pain (19.4%), stable angina (3.8%), recent myocardial infarction (2.9%), variant angina (0.9%), preoperative evaluation of valvular or congenital heart disease (0.3%). 2) Significant coronary lesions were found in 216 (62.5%) patients and left main disease in 1 2 (3.5%). Coronary spasm test, internal mammary artery or saphenous vein graft angiography, aorto-ileofemoral angiography, and bilateral carotid angiography were safely performed as indicated. 3) Success rate of examination by primary approach was 94.5%, similar to 94.9% of inpatients. Alternative brachial or femoral approaches were needed in 19 (5.5%) patients. 4) No death, cerebral thromboembolism or myocardial infarction were observed and one-day admission was required in 13 (3.7%) patients. Initial 254 patients (33%) showed good radial pulse (94%), weak or absent radial pulse (6%), abnormal reverse Allen test (6%) up to 61+/-25 days. However, no claudication was observed. CONCLUSION: Cardiac catheterization and angiography was safely performed in the outpatient population selected using much extended inclusion criteria. Transradial approach is useful to set up outpatient procedures with less facilities and personnels and makes it available in the daytime with low readmission rate.
Angina, Stable ; Angiography* ; Cardiac Catheterization* ; Cardiac Catheters* ; Chest Pain ; Coronary Angiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Mammary Arteries ; Myocardial Infarction ; Outpatients* ; Radial Artery ; Saphenous Vein ; Spasm ; Thromboembolism ; Transplants

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The safety and efficacy of outpatient cardiac catheterization was established. We evaluated our patient population and complications selected for outpatient procedures and our experience with transradial approach. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 346 outpatient cardiac catheterization (31% of all diagnosticprocedures),performed with transradial approach, was compared with 788 in patient diagnostic procedures in terms of patient population, clinical and angiographic features, complications of examinations. RESULTS: 1) Indications of outpatient coronary angiography were as follows: follow-up of coronary interventions or bypass surgery (41.6%), recent-onset or aggravated angina (31.2%), atypical chest pain (19.4%), stable angina (3.8%), recent myocardial infarction (2.9%), variant angina (0.9%), preoperative evaluation of valvular or congenital heart disease (0.3%). 2) Significant coronary lesions were found in 216 (62.5%) patients and left main disease in 1 2 (3.5%). Coronary spasm test, internal mammary artery or saphenous vein graft angiography, aorto-ileofemoral angiography, and bilateral carotid angiography were safely performed as indicated. 3) Success rate of examination by primary approach was 94.5%, similar to 94.9% of inpatients. Alternative brachial or femoral approaches were needed in 19 (5.5%) patients. 4) No death, cerebral thromboembolism or myocardial infarction were observed and one-day admission was required in 13 (3.7%) patients. Initial 254 patients (33%) showed good radial pulse (94%), weak or absent radial pulse (6%), abnormal reverse Allen test (6%) up to 61+/-25 days. However, no claudication was observed. CONCLUSION: Cardiac catheterization and angiography was safely performed in the outpatient population selected using much extended inclusion criteria. Transradial approach is useful to set up outpatient procedures with less facilities and personnels and makes it available in the daytime with low readmission rate.
Angina, Stable ; Angiography* ; Cardiac Catheterization* ; Cardiac Catheters* ; Chest Pain ; Coronary Angiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Mammary Arteries ; Myocardial Infarction ; Outpatients* ; Radial Artery ; Saphenous Vein ; Spasm ; Thromboembolism ; Transplants

BACKGROUND: During the past two decades, laser treatments have been increasingly performed by various personnel in Korea. However, as a result, adverse events related to laser treatments have also increased. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to characterize cutaneous adverse events associated with laser treatments in Korea and to consider feasible ways to minimize possible laser-associated adverse events. METHODS: Adverse event reports after laser treatments were collected from the members of the Korean Dermatological Association. A retrospective analysis of clinical data was performed regarding the pre-treatment lesion, specific laser type applied, personnel who performed the procedure, and consequences in terms of treatmentrelated complications. RESULTS: A total of 69 reported cases of adverse events associated with laser treatment were collected. The most frequently reported adverse event was postinflammatory dyspigmentation, followed by secondarily induced dermatological disease, treatment-inflicted burn, and residual scar. CONCLUSION: Both expected and unexpected adverse events occur after laser treatments. Most adverse events are not serious, but proper dermatological attention should be given to avoid complications. It should be noted that the safest and the most successful laser treatment can be provided only by qualified personnel.
Burns ; Cicatrix ; Hyperpigmentation ; Korea ; Laser Therapy ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: Understanding the burden of disease is important to establish cost-effective treatment strategies and to allocate healthcare resources appropriately. However, little reliable information is available regarding the overall economic burden imposed by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Korea. METHODS: This study is a multicenter observational research on the COPD burden in Korea. Total COPD costs were comprised of three categories: direct medical, direct non-medical, and indirect costs. For direct medical costs, institutional investigation was performed at 13 medical facilities mainly based on the claims data. For direct non-medical and indirect costs, site-based surveys were administered to the COPD patients during routine visits. Total costs were estimated using the COPD population defined in the recent report. RESULTS: The estimated total costs were approximately 1,245 million US dollar (1,408 billion Korean won). Direct medical costs comprised approximately 20% of the total estimated costs. Of these, formal medical costs held more than 80%. As direct non-medical costs, nursing costs made up the largest percentage (39%) of the total estimated costs. Costs for COPD-related loss of productivity formed four fifths of indirect costs, and accounted for up to 33% of the total costs. CONCLUSION: This study shows for the first time the direct and indirect costs of COPD in Korea. The total costs were enormous, and the costs of nursing and lost productivity comprised approximately 70% of total costs. The results provide insight for an effective allocation of healthcare resources and to inform establishment of strategies to reduce national burden of COPD.
Delivery of Health Care ; Efficiency ; Health Care Costs ; Humans ; Korea* ; Nursing ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive*

BACKGROUND: Topical tacrolimus is an effective anti-inflammatory therapy for acute and chronic states of atopic dermatitis (AD) in both adults and children. Topical tacrolimus has particular use at sensitive areas such as the face, anogenitals, and skin folds of neck and extremities. However, many AD patients also experience aggravated symptoms on trunk. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of topical tacrolimus for AD patients with truncal lesions. METHODS: AD patients with truncal lesions who were aged ≥2 years were recruited from 20 centres in Korea. They received treatment with topical tacrolimus ointment twice daily during 4 weeks. The primary end point was change of the local eczema area and severity index (EASI) of the trunk from baseline to day 28. The secondary end points were changes in the patient global assessment (PGA) score and itch visual analogue scale (VAS) score of the trunk between baseline and day 28. RESULTS: Two hundred and ninety-one patients were recruited, and 176 patients completed the full 4-week treatment course. By the end of the treatment, the mean local EASI of the trunk (2.2±4.71) was significantly decreased from that at baseline (4.71±4.03, p < 0.001). PGA (1.71±1.15) and itch VAS score of the trunk (2.61±2.19) on day 28 were also profoundly decreased compared with the baseline (2.96±1.07 and 5.15±2.47, respectively). No serious adverse events were observed during the study period. CONCLUSION: Topical tacrolimus is an effective and safe therapy for truncal lesions in AD patients.
Administration, Topical ; Adult ; Child ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Eczema ; Extremities ; Humans ; Korea ; Neck ; Skin ; Tacrolimus*

PURPOSE: To compare the variable inflammatory parameters of acute pyelonephritis patients treated with inpatient therapy at 13 hospitals, according to the age and gender distributions. MATERIALS AND MATHODS: A total of 3,544 medical records of patients with confirmed acute pyelonephritis, and admitted to hospital between January 2000 and December 2005, were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 43.2+/-16.2 years old, with a male:female ratio of 1 : 5.1. The average duration of hospital admission was 7.9+/-5.3 days. Underlying diseases were found in 23.0% (749/3,252 patient), largely due to diabetes (35.1%). Radiological abnormal findings were found in 13.7%. The leukocyte count, ratio of segmented form, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), c-reactive protein, pyuria, positive blood culture, positive urine culture were 11,014+/-5,778/mm(3), 74.8+/-14.5%, 44.0+/-32.0 mm/hr, 12.4+/-9.3mg/dl, 83.9%, 10.5% and 46.7%, respectively. E. coli grow in 79% of the urine culture positive patients. In a comparison of 3 age groups (<40 years, 40-60 years, >61 years), the elderly patients had a greater number of underlying diseases and more pathogens in cultured blood. When divided into males and females, the elderly male patients had more pathogen in cultured urine, but contrary to the male patients, the elderly female patients had elevated leukocyte count and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Also, the old patient group had more resistance to ampicillin when they had E. coli as the uropathogen (p=0.021). Patients with higher ESR required longer hospital admission periods. CONCLUSIONS: It was found that variable clinical parameters of acute pyelonephritis patients treated with inpatient therapy differed according to both gender and age group in Korea. Therefore, these factors should be taken into account in the treatment plan.
Aged ; Ampicillin ; Blood Sedimentation ; C-Reactive Protein ; Female ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Korea ; Leukocyte Count ; Male ; Medical Records ; Pyelonephritis* ; Pyuria ; Retrospective Studies