No abstract available.
Animals ; Burns* ; Rats*

PURPOSE: To analyze the effects of topical 10% N-acetylcysteine on patients with refractory filamentary keratitis. METHODS: The present study included 29 eyes from 20 patients diagnosed with filamentary keratitis. We analyzed the cause of filamentary keratitis, types of treatments, symptom scores, number of filaments, fluorescein staining, degrees of remission, and recurrence of the disease. RESULTS: A total of 19 eyes treated with filament removal, therapeutic contact lenses, topical antibiotics, topical steroids, topical 0.05% cyclosporine, artificial tears, and punctal plugs showed improvements. Topical 10% N-acetylcysteine was added to 10 patients who did not respond to the usual treatment for more than 1 month. Seven eyes showed a complete remission of disease at an average of 56.22 ± 24.52 days. Two eyes showed a partial remission with less than 1–2 fillaments. One eye stopped 10% N-acetylcysteine treatment because of an irritable sensation. CONCLUSIONS Topical 10% N-acetylcysteine was an effective treatment for refractory filamentary keratitis.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of MR imaging of pathologic fractures of the long bones. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 18 patients aged between four and 75 (mean, 25.8) years with histologically confirmed pathologic fractures of the long bones, plain radiographs and MR images were retrospectively analyzed. The former were examined with regard to location and type of fracture, and the presence or absence of underlying disease causing fracture; and the latter in terms of underlying disease, extraosseous mass formation, and soft tissue change. RESULTS: The long bones involved were the femur in nine patients, the humerus in six, and the tibia in three. Underlying diseases were metastatic tumor (n=6), benign bone tumor (n=5), primary malignant bone tumor (n=4), osteomyelitis (n=2), and eosinophilic granuloma (n=1). Plain radiographs showed the fracture site as the metaphysis in ten cases, the diaphysis in five, and the metadiaphysis in one. Fractures were either transverse (n=10), oblique (n=3), spiral (n=1), vertical (n=1), or telescopic (n=1). In two cases, the fracture line was not visible. MR images revealed underlying diseases in all cases. A solid mass was present in all cases of malignant bone tumor, and an extraosseous mass in five such cases. Two benign bone tumors took the form of a cystic mass, two were a cystic mass containing an enhanced solid portion, and one was a solid mass. A soft tissue hematoma was seen in three cases. CONCLUSION: Where pathologic fracture of a long bone had occurred, or a pathologic fracture in which the findings of plain radiography were equivocal, MR imaging was useful for evaluating the pattern and extent of an underlying lesion.
Diaphyses ; Eosinophilic Granuloma ; Femur ; Fractures, Spontaneous* ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Humerus ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Osteomyelitis ; Radiography ; Retrospective Studies ; Tibia

The authors present a case of respiration arrest after posterior lumbar interbody fusion. This rare complication occurred because of the tension pneumoperitoneum and pneumomediastinum. We report the pathophysiology and treatments.
Mediastinal Emphysema* ; Pneumoperitoneum* ; Pneumothorax* ; Respiration

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the surface roughness of Ni-Cr-Be alloy(Verabond ~, Aalba Dent Inc. USA) according to electrolyte concentration and etching time. Total of 150 metal specimens (12x 10 X 1.5mm) composed of 5 polisded specimens, 5 sandblasted specimens, 140 etched specimens were prepared. Etched groups were divided into 28 groups by the HC1O4 con= centrations(10, 30, 50, 70%) and etching times(15, 30, 60, 120, 180, 240, 300 seconds). The mean surface roughness(Ra) and the etching depth were measured with Optical 3-dimensional surface roughness measuring machine(Accura 1500M, Intek Engineering Co., Korea) and observed under SEM. The results obtaind were as follows 1. Surface roughness(Ra) and etching depth were affected by the order of etching time, electrolyte concentration, and their interaction (NO.05) . 2. Surface roughness(Ra) and etching depth were increased with etching time in 10%, 30% electrolyte concentrations, but they had no significant difference with etching time in 70%(P<0.05). 3. Surface roughness(Ra) and etching depth decreased in the order of 30, 10, 50, 70% electrolyte concentrations from 120 seconds etching time(p<0.05). 4. The remarkable morphologic changes in etched surface were observed along the grain boundaries in 15, 30 seconds of 10%, 30% concentrations and the morphologic changes could be denoted in the grains themselves as well as along the boundaries with the lapse of time. Even though the noticeable morphologic changes also took place in etched surface with 50% concentration, the degree of changes were less than that of changes with 10%, 30%. However, there were little morphologic changes with 70% concentration regardless of etching time. 5. Surface roughness(Ra) of sandblasting group with 50um A1203 had no significant difference with 30%-30 seconds etched group(p<0.05).
Alloys* ; Edible Grain

To elucidate iron utilization patterns of Staphylococcus aureus according to the growth, we checked the residual iron concentration and the production of siderophores at the indicated times while culturing S. aureus ATCC 6538 and 25923 strains in brain heart infusion broth. By using streptonigrin susceptibility test and investigating growth curves in three culture media of which iron concentration is 0.2, 20, 45 uM, respectively, we found out that iron metabolism of 6538 strain was more active than that of 25923 strain. In point of tendency of iron consumption, 6538 strain steeply consumed iron just before the onset of stationary phase, but 25923 strain did gradually iron throughout the growth phase. Nevertheless, total amount of iron consumed by each strain during the growth was almost no difference between the strains. CAS diffusion assay in detecting siderophores showed that siderophore production followed iron consumption. These results suggest that the siderophores play significant role in iron utilization in vitro.
Brain ; Culture Media ; Diffusion ; Heart ; Iron* ; Metabolism ; Siderophores ; Staphylococcus aureus* ; Staphylococcus* ; Streptonigrin

PURPOSE: We report a case of cryotherapy for fungal corneal ulcers that did not respond to antifungal agents. CASE SUMMARY: A 58-year-old man was transferred to our hospital with a left eye corneal ulcer due to pain and visual impairment in his left eye for two weeks, and he was suspected to have a history of fungal infection. At the time of admission, corneal opacity and progressive ulcerative lesions were observed at 5 o'clock in the left eye and visual acuity was 0.025, uncorrected. The corneal ulcer marginal resection, bacterial culture, and potassium hydroxide preparation (KOH) test were performed on lesion sites. Cultures of Candida albicans were reported to grow, topical antibiotics (Fortified tobramycin, Fortified cefazolin, moxifloxacin), and anti-fungal agents (fortified amphotericin B, 0.5%, Natamycin) were administered, but no improvement was observed for 2 weeks. On the 14th day after admission, Cryotherapy was performed. After surgery, eye drops were equally applied, and there was no other discomfort other than pain for 3 days after the operation. He discharged 10 days after surgery, the corneal lesion was healed and the visual acuity was improved to 0.32, uncorrected. CONCLUSIONS: We report a case of cryotherapy for fungal corneal ulcers that did not react with topical antifungal drugs and improved visual acuity and symptom improvement.
Amphotericin B ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Antifungal Agents ; Candida albicans ; Cefazolin ; Corneal Opacity ; Corneal Ulcer* ; Cryotherapy* ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Ophthalmic Solutions ; Potassium ; Tobramycin ; Ulcer ; Vision Disorders ; Visual Acuity

No absract available.
Follow-Up Studies* ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms* ; Urinary Bladder*

No abstract available.
Male ; Penile Erection*

PURPOSE: Pharmacotherapy using selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors(SSRls) for men with primary premature ejaculation(PE) is promising. Specially, a strategy taking a pill "as needed" may offer an attractive option. To investigate the possibility of self therapy, patients treated for PE with sertraline "as needed" basis were evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Since 1996 we have treated 24 males with sertraline "as needed" basis for primary PE. We chose sertraline among SSRIs because alarge dose need not to be divided and peak plasma levels occurring 4-8 hours after oral administration makes 5 p.m. suitable for the time of administration. Five p.m. is the time the ordinary men usually fix their evening schedule including intercourses. Each patient was started on 50mg qd for 2 weeks and then the dose was adjusted to 50 or 100mg only on the day of intercourse. RESULTS: After 6 weeks, 18 men continued to take medication and 6 had dropped out. Of 18 men, mean ejaculation latency were 23 +/-19sec before treatment, 5.9 +/-4.2min after 2wks 50mg qd, 5.1 +/-3.8min after 2wks 50/100mg pm and 4.5 +/-2.7min after 4wks 50/100mg prn and mean sexual satisfaction scores ('5"=extremely satisfied, "0"=extremely unsatisfied) of men were 0.8 +/-0.8 before treatment, 3.8 +/-1.2 after 2wks 50mg qd, 3.4 +/-1.0 after 2wks 50/100mg pm and 3.2 +/-0.7 after 4wks 50/100mg pm. And mean sexual satisfaction scores of partners were 1.1 +/-0.7 before treatment, 3.2 +/-1.6 after 2wks 50mg qd,3.1 +/-1.4 after 2wks 50/100mg pm and 3.3 +/-1.2 after 4wks 50/100mg pm. Side effects were intermittent excessive delay in 1 patient, fatigue in 2 patients, numbness in 1 patient. CONCLUSIONS: If our results were supported by additional clinical long term study, self therapy with sertraline given pm at 5 pm in treatment of PE could be as attractive as self injection therapy in the treatment of erectile dysfunction.
Administration, Oral ; Appointments and Schedules ; Drug Therapy ; Ejaculation ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Fatigue ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Male ; Plasma ; Premature Ejaculation* ; Serotonin ; Sertraline*