PURPOSE: To find the optimal parameter of the optic nerve head (ONH) analysis using Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and to form a diagnostic classification for the detection of glaucoma in Koreans. METHODS: The subjects of this study were 799 eyes of 400 patients at Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital from June 2003 to March 2004. Complete ophthalmic examinations containing the visual field test and OCT ONH analysis (StratusOCT, software ver. 3.0, Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc, Dublin, CA, USA) were performed and the results were analyzed in the normal, glaucoma suspect and glaucoma groups. RESULTS: In the 799 eyes, there were 378 glaucomatous eyes. There was a statistically significant difference between glaucoma and non-glaucoma patients in all parameters of OCT ONH analysis except for the disc area. The horizontal integrated rim area (HIRA) was most significantly correlated with the visual field indices (MD and CPSD) and was the most useful parameter in glaucoma detection. Based on age and HIRA, the new discriminant formula = -1.858 - 0.028 x Age + 2.518 x HIRA was obtained and its accuracy, sensitivity and specificity were 72.8%, 71.5% and 73.8% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: HIRA was the most useful parameter in the detection of glaucoma. The new discriminant formula from OCT ONH analysis is expected to be useful in the diagnosis and follow-up of glaucoma in Koreans.
Classification ; Diagnosis* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glaucoma* ; Humans ; Optic Disk* ; Optic Nerve* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tomography, Optical Coherence* ; Visual Field Tests ; Visual Fields

PURPOSE: We investigated whether pattern visual evoked potential (VEP) and flicker electroretinogram (ERG) are helpful in detecting the progression of glaucomatous field defect on standard automated perimetry. METHODS: We investigated 50 eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) (n=18), glaucoma suspect (n=21), and control (n=11) tested with high frequency pattern VEP and flicker ERG at first visit in our hospital from 1998 to 2002. The results were applied as a prospective study. RESULTS: Thirteen eyes (study group) showed progressive defects, whereas 37 eyes (control group) showed no progression. The hit ratio, sensitivity and specificity were 78.0%, 84.6% and 75.7%, respectively, according to retino-cortical time (RCT) of 88 msec using the receiver operating characteristic curves. The mean survival time for the group with RCT less than 88.0 msec (41.95 months) was longer than that for the group with RCT more than 88.0 msec (31.0 months). The group which had more than 88.0 msec in RCT showed a hazard ratio of glaucomatous field defect progression of 7.855 compared to the other group (RCT: difference between P100 latency in VEP and a wave implicit time in ERG). CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that high frequency pattern VEP and flicker ERG were significant in the progression of glaucomatous field defect.
Evoked Potentials, Visual ; Glaucoma ; Glaucoma, Open-Angle ; Prospective Studies ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Survival Rate ; Visual Field Tests ; Visual Fields*

We report a case of hypersensitivity pneumonitis in a 30-yr-old female housewife caused by Penicillium species found in her home environment. The patient was diagnosed according to history, chest radiograph, spirometry, high-resolution chest CT, and transbronchial lung biopsy. To identify the causative agent, cultured aeromolds were collected by the open-plate method. From the main fungi cultured, fungal antigens were prepared, and immunoblot analysis with the patient's serum and each fungal antigen was performed. A fungal colonies were isolated from the patient's home. Immunoblotting analysis with the patient's sera demonstrated a IgG-binding fractions to Penicillium species extract, while binding was not noted with control subject. This study indicates that the patient had hypersensitivity pneumonitis on exposure to Penicillium species in her home environment.
Adult ; Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic/*etiology/immunology/*microbiology ; Antibodies, Fungal/blood ; Antigens, Fungal ; Environmental Microbiology ; Female ; Housing ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G/blood ; Korea ; Penicillium/*immunology/isolation and purification/*pathogenicity

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: IgG subclass deficiency has been reported in patients with bronchial asthma and is associated with recurrent respiratory tract infections. This study was done to identify prevalence of IgG subclass deficiency and to evaluate the possible difference between atopic and non-atopic asthmatics. Subjects and METHODS: We measured serum levels of IgG and IgG subclass in 35 asthmatic patients and 50 healthy controls using nephelometry. Reference values of each IgG subclass was defined as cumulative percentile between 2.5% to 97.5% of controls. RESULTS: Total IgG, IgG1 and IgG2 of asthmatics were significantly lower than for those of controls(p<0.05, respectively). In atopic asthmatics, compared with non-atopic asthmatics, IgG4 level was significantly higher (p<0.05). The frequency of IgG subclass levels below the reference value was eight (22.9%) of 35 asthmatics. CONCLUSION: IgG, IgG1 and IgG2 were significantly lower in asthmatic patients. Some patients had IgG subclass levels below reference value. Further studies will be needed to evaluate their clinical significance.
Asthma* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G* ; Nephelometry and Turbidimetry ; Prevalence ; Reference Values ; Respiratory Tract Infections

PURPOSE: To evaluate the factors influencing the refractive changes and to predict the ideal intraocular lens powers in children who had undergone cataract surgery. METHODS: The medical records of the pediatric patients with aphakia or pseudophakia who were followed for more than 5 years postoperatively were reviewed retrospectively. They were grouped according to the age at surgery and were followed-up every six months postoperatively. The myopic changes and the factors associated with these changes among the groups were evaluated and compared. RESULTS: The follow-up time was 5 years. In the age-matched subset of patients, no statistically significant difference in the refractive change were found between the aphakic and pseudophakic eyes as well as between the unilateral and bilateral cataracts. Children operated on at 1 month to 1 year of age had a mean myopic shift of -5.58D (range -1.88 to -12.85) and children operated on at 1 to 3 years of age had a shift of -4.25D (range -1.78 to -8.71). The mean myopic shift decreased as the age at operation increased. Children operated on at 10 to 15 years of age had a shift of -1.46D (range 0 to -5.28). CONCLUSIONS: During the first 5 years after surgery, no statistically significant difference in refractive change was observed between the aphakic eyes and pseudophakic eyes as well as between the unilateral and bilateral cataracts. The increasing difficulty in deciding the ideal IOL-power is expected in young children as the refractive change becomes more unpredictable when surgery is performed on younger patients.
Aphakia ; Cataract* ; Child ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lenses, Intraocular ; Medical Records ; Pseudophakia ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: We evaluated the clinical and radiological outcomes of double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction using an outside-in technique with a follow-up of two- to six-years, especially in terms of the sports activity level and radiological degeneration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-seven patients who were available for a minimum two-year follow-up after double-bundle ACL reconstruction using an outside-in technique were retrospectively evaluated. The mean follow-up period was 43.7 months. The knee function and stability were evaluated before the operation, one year after the operation (short-term follow-up), and more than two years after the operation (last follow-up). RESULTS: Regarding the knee function, the Lysholm score, International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) evaluation, and hop test showed significant improvement. Regarding the stability, the Lachman test, pivot shift test, KT-2000 arthrometer data, and anterior drawer radiographs using Telos showed significant improvement. Regarding the sports activity level, the patients who returned to pre-injury level activity was 68.7% according to the Tegner activity score and 76.1% according to the Cincinnati sports activity scale score. The incidence of aggravated degeneration or development of greater than IKDC grade A degeneration after surgery was 10.4%. CONCLUSIONS: Double-bundle ACL reconstruction using an outside-in technique showed favorable clinical and radiological outcomes with respect to the knee function and stability, joint degeneraion, and, especially, return to pre-injury sports activity.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Humulus ; Incidence ; Joints ; Knee ; Retrospective Studies ; Sports

PURPOSE: This study was aimed to understand the experience and adjustment process of organ transplantation recipients in Korea, using grounded theory method. METHODS: Eight patients after liver transplantation and two patients after heart transplantation were selected for this study, for whom minimum follow-up duration was at least 6 months after transplantation. Data was collected from July to November 2005 through in-depth individual interviews either at home or hospital. The data were analyzed using a constant comparative method in which new data was continuously coded into categories and properties. RESULTS: Data analysis revealed that "safekeeping the graft" was the core category in experience of organ transplantation recipients. In order to safekeep transplanted organ, recipients used seven different strategies to deal with various problems and conflicts which occurred during the recovery process: 1) altering the role function of family, 2) complying the treatment regimen, 3) developing the know-how for self-care, 4) returning to the normal life, 5) keeping the positive thinking, 6) concerning for the donor, and 7) improving the self-fulfillment. CONCLUSION: The results of this study provided deep understanding on the recovery process after organ transplantation and these would help establishing more appropriate intervention to improve quality of life for organ transplantation recipients.
Adaptation, Psychological ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Transplantation ; Humans ; Korea* ; Liver Transplantation ; Organ Transplantation* ; Qualitative Research ; Quality of Life ; Self Care ; Social Adjustment ; Statistics as Topic ; Thinking ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants*

Nowadays, the increasing use of antibiotics induces many complications including pseudomembranous colitis. Isolates of toxigenic Clostridium difficile, the most frequent cause of antibiotic-associated pseudomembranous colitis, are almost always highly susceptible to rifampicin. However, resistant isolates exist and have been associated with colitis in humans. We report a case of pseudomem- branous colitis associated with rifampicin administration.
Aged* ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Clostridium difficile ; Colitis ; Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous* ; Humans ; Rifampin*

PURPOSE: To raise awareness of the clinical importance of, and the need for proper management of acute focal bacterial nephritis(AFBN), we analyzed 22 AFBN patients and 22 other upper urinary tract infection patients by use of comparative studies. METHODS: From January 2000 to May 2002, 22 AFBN patients aged from 1 month to 12 months were selected. As a control group, 22 UTI patients with no radiologic abnormalities were selected and matched by age and sex. RESULTS: The incidence of AFBN was more common in boys than in girls. Since both groups had similar symptoms, it was difficult to diagnose AFBN by clinical presentations alone. ESR and CRP were significantly higher in AFBN patients. The most common causative organism was E. coli in both groups. On the sonographic findings, the most lesions were seen on the upper lobe of the kidney; more frequently, on left kidney. The lesions showed globular or wedge-shaped increased echogenecity. 99mTc-DMSA scan showed the complete coincidence of the location, size and shape in all cases compared to the findings of renal sonography. CONCLUSION: The roles of renal sonography and DMSA scan were very important, and ultrasonography was an excellent initial tool in diagnosing AFBN. Since the degree of infection in AFBN is more severe than other urinary tract infections and evollution into a renal abscess is possible, early diagnosis and appropriate antibiotics therapy is essential.
Abscess ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Child* ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Kidney ; Nephritis* ; Succimer ; Technetium Tc 99m Dimercaptosuccinic Acid ; Ultrasonography ; Urinary Tract Infections

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to identify better methods of determining the severity of triage by comparing triage results and clinical outcome of patients categorized by the modified Canadian Triage Acuity Scale (mCTAS) and modified Emergency Severity Index (mESI). METHODS: Subjects enrolled in this study consisted of 1,000 adult patients (age 16 years or older) who visited the emergency room of a university affiliated hospital between September 15, 2011 and September 30, 2011 and were categorized into five levels by mCTAS and mESI. RESULTS: 1) Good confidence was verified based on weighted kappa values of 0.70 between the physicians group and nurses group. 2) Upon evaluation of triage by mESI, the majority of patients were at level 3 among 5, followed by level 4, 2, 1 and 5 in order. The same level orders were shown upon evaluation of triage by mCTAS beside differences in patient numbers. 3) Comparing clinical outcome according to the mCTAS and the mESI revealed similar results in both triage tools, with a higher triage level being associated with a higher admission rate and lower triage level and the discharge rate became higher. CONCLUSION: Triage by mESI showed good agreement among asserters and high agreement between physicians and nurses. Clinical results based on mCTAS and mESI triage showed similar rates of admission to the ward or intensive care unit and rates of discharge. Although these two triage protocols are similar in many aspects, the use of mESI is perceived as a better because mCTAS requires knowledge of various diseases and mESI has a short training period.
Adult ; Emergencies ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Triage