No abstract available.
Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine* ; Spinal Cord Diseases*

PURPOSE: Lipiodol CT is a important modality for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma and compared is usually performed at 2-3 week after Lipiodol injection. Therefore, we assessed and the diagnostic value and merits of immediate CT after chemoembolization from there of 2-3 week delayed Lipiodol CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty three cases of chemoembolization which were performed both immediate CT after chemoembolization and 2-3 week delayed Lipiodol CT were reviewed retrospectively. They were divided into four grades according to pattern of lipiodol uptake by three radiologists. The diagnostic value of immediate Lipiiodol CT was compared to delayed Lipiodol CT. RESULTS: Grade 0 was two cases(3.0%) and Grade 1 was seven cases(21.2%). In the cases of Grade 2(23/33, 69.7%) tumor uptake could be dishng wished from parenchymal uptake of Lipiodol by its density and pattern. Tumor uptake showed dense and homogeneous pattern, but parenchymal uptake revealed less dense and hepatoram-like wedge shaped pattern. Lipiodol uptake of tumor in Grade 3(1/24, 3.0%) was equal to that in delayed Lipiodrl CT. Grade 3 and 2(72.7%) of the immediate Lipiodol CT were not inferior to delayed Lipiodol CT in its diagnostic value. CONCLUSION: The immediate Lipiodol CT could make rapid establishment of treatment plan and are expected to be more convenient than delayed CT for the patients.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Diagnosis ; Ethiodized Oil ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: To evaluate injury patterns of facet joints and associated soft tissue injuries in patients withacute traumatic cervical facet joint injuries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From among patients with cervical spinetrauma, 27 with facet joint injuries, as seen on CT and MRI, were chosen for this study. CT scans were analyzedwith regard to the location of facet joint injury, the presence or absence of facet dislocation or fracture, andother associated fractures. MR images were analyzed with regard to ligament injury, intervertebral disc injury,intervertebral disc herniation, and spinal cord injury. RESULTS: The most common location of facet joint injurywas C6-7 level(n=10), followed by C5-6(n=8). Among these 27 patients with facet joint injuries, 12(44%) hadbilateral injuries and 15(56%) unilateral injuries. Facet fractures were present in 17 cases(63%) and the fractureof inferior facet was more frequent than superi-or. Patterns of fracture were vertical, transverse, or comminuted,but vertical fracture was the most common. Various degrees of dislocation were observed in patients with facetfractures. Fractures other than facet includ-ed pillar(n=11), lamina(n=6), transverse process(n=14), body(n=13),and spinous process(n=3). On MR im-ages, anterior longitudinal ligament injury was found in 8 patients(30%),posterior longitudinal ligament injury in 4(15%), and interspinous ligament injury in 20(74%). Twelvepatients(44%) had spinal cord injuries includ-ing edema(n=8) and hemorrhage(n=4). Among patients with discabnormalities, 11(41%) had intervertebral disc injuries, and traumatic disc herniations were found in nine. CONCLUSION: Traumatic cervical facet joint injuries were manifested as various patterns and frequentlyassoci-ated with other fractures or soft tissue injuries. Analysis of CT and MR findings of these injury patternshelped formulate a therapeutic plan and determine of prognosis.
Dislocations ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; Ligaments ; Longitudinal Ligaments ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Prognosis ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; Spine* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Zygapophyseal Joint*

Fractures, Comminuted ; Humans ; Immobilization ; Incidence ; Mandibular Fractures ; Wounds and Injuries

Objectives: While older adults using community care services are known to be vulnerable for depression, community care utilization (CCU) may help to improve the mental health of these elderly. To date, however, it is much less clear how CCU affects depressive symptoms in the elderly population. This study focuses on the trajectory of depressive symptoms across years of CCU among older adults in Korea. Methods: Using the 2006-2019 Korean Welfare Panel Survey, this study is focused on elderly born in 1940 or earlier and selected 3281 persons for baseline interviews in 2006. This consisted of 35 800 person-year observations during a period of 14 years. Panel data analysis were employed to construct years of CCU. Results: After controlling for covariates, linear term of years using community care was negatively associated with depressive symptoms, but a quadratic term was positively significant. The trajectory of depressive symptoms across the years of CCU follows a U-shaped curve. Older adults in the first year of using community care reported the highest level of depressive symptoms. However, a significant and steady decrease in depressive symptoms was observed during the following 9 years of CCU, which then gradually increased. The level of depressive symptoms at the 14th year of using community care remains significantly lower than the level at the outset of its utilization. Conclusions This finding implies that CCU could be beneficial for improving mental health among older adults.

PURPOSE: In order to obtain basic data for treatment plan in radiosurgery, we measured small fields of 6 MV X-rays and compared the measured data with our Monte Carlo simulations for the small fields. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The small fields of 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 cm in diameter were used in this study. Percentage depth dose (PDD) and beam profiles of those fields were measured and calculated. A small semiconductor detector, water phantoms, and a remote control system were used for the measurement. Monte Carlo simulations were performed using the EGS4 code with the input data prepared for the energy distribution of 6 MV X-rays, beam divergence, circular fields and the geometry of the water phantoms. RESULTS: In the case of PDD values, the calculated values were lower than the measured values for all fields and depths, with the differences being 0.3 to 5.7% at the depths of 2.0 to 20.0 cm and 0.0 to 8.9% at the surface regions. As a result of the analysis of beam profiles for all field sizes at a depth of 10cm in water phantom, the measured 90% dose widths were in good agreement with the calculated values, however, the calculated penumbra radii were 0.1 cm shorter than measured values. CONCLUSION: The measured PDDs and beam profiles agreement with the Monte Carlo calculations approximately. However, it is different when it comes to calculations in the area of phantom surface and penumbra because the Monte Carlo calculations were performed under the simplified geometries. Therefore, we have to study how to include the actual geometries and more precise data for the field area in Monte Carlo calculations. The Monte Carlo calculations will be used as a useful tool for the very complicated conditions in measurement and verification.
Radiosurgery ; Semiconductors ; Water

BACKGROUND: The diabetic patients have a tendency to develop onychomycosis more frequently than non-diabetic populations have. The overall risk ratio of individuals with diabetes having onychomycosis is 2.77 compared with age- and sex- matched non-diabetic controls. OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to find out whether the nail growth rates of diabetic patients are more slower than those of non-diabetic persons with or without onychomycosis and to observe the differences of the toenail growth rates according to the affected area of onychomycosis (less than 50% and more than 50%) within the diabetic and non-diabetic groups respectively. METHOD: The growth rates of the great toenails of 74 diabetic patients and 121 non-diabetic controls with or without onychomycosis were measured. To compare the toenail growth rates between the two groups, we classified the patients in each group into 3 subgroups according to the presence and degree of onychomycosis. Thus the two groups were divided into 6 groups. RESULTS: The growth rates of diabetic toenails without onychomycosis were slower than those of non-diabetic controls with statistical significance (p< 0.05). And the growth rates of the great toenails in non-diabetic patients were more slower according to their affected area, so to say, the more, the slower (p< 0.05). But, in diabetic patients, the growth rates of the great toenails were not different according to the affected area of onychomycosis (p> 0.05). CONCLUSION: Slow nail growth may play a role in the development of onychomycosis because the nail growth rate was slower in diabetic patients than non-diabetics. But the treatment of onychomycosis in diabetic patients should be encouraged because the toenail growth rates are not different statistically between diabetic and non-diabetic patients when the great toenails are affected.
Diabetes Mellitus ; Humans ; Nails* ; Odds Ratio ; Onychomycosis*

Human fascioliasis is a zoonosis caused by Fasciola hepatica, and this is a trematode that infests cattle and sheep. Humans are accidental hosts in the life cycle of this parasite. People are infected by ingestion of the water or the raw aquatic vegetables that are contaminated with the metacercaria. This fluke's worldwide distribution occurs in areas where sheep, cattle and goats are raised, and there is a life-cycle niche for this fluke in lymnaeid snails. However, it is a rare disease in Korea. We experienced four human fascioliasis which were difficult to differentiate from hepatic malignancy in three patients, and this was misdiagnosed as common hepatic duct tumor in one patient. The patients manifested only vague abdominal symptoms. Intrahepatic fascioliasis showed multiple ill-defined hypoattenuating lesions and filling defects of the lesion lumens on radiologic study. A striking eosinophilia from the patients' blood was identified and a positive finding of a serum enzyme linked immunosorbent assay for the Fasciola hepatica was also noted in three of four patients. The therapeutic trial with triclabendazole and praziquantel was not successful.
Adult ; Bile Duct Neoplasms/*diagnosis ; *Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; Cholangiocarcinoma/*diagnosis ; Diagnostic Errors ; English Abstract ; Fascioliasis/*diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Diseases, Parasitic/*diagnosis ; Middle Aged

PURPOSE: To review the radiological findings of retroanastomotic hernia and to derive the useful US and CT criteria to assist in the diagnosis of the condition in patients who had previously undergone gastrojejunostomy. METHODS: During a recent period, 8 consecutive cases of retroanastomotic hernia were encountered. Of the patients involved, seven underwent US and CT imaging. The US and CT scans were reviewed retrospectively to determine the abnormal findings. Surgical confirmation was available in all cases. RESULTS: The efferent loop was herniated through the defect created behind the anastomosis in seven cases, and the afferent loop in one case. Retroanastomotic hernia was suggested prospectively in all cases. Among the seven cases of efferent loop herniation, the US and CT signs of retroanastomotic hernia included whirling of the mesenteric vessels, jejunal loops, and mesentery in the periumbilical abdomen (7/7); mural thickening of the herniated bowel loops (5/7); dilatation of the herniated bowel loops (2/7); and US showed decreased peristalsis of the herniated bowel loops (2/6). In one case, the US and CT signs of retroanastomotic hernia of the afferent loop included dilatation and whirling of a short length of the afferent loop behind the anastomosis. One out of the eight patients had reVersible bowel ischemia, and one had bowel necrosis. CONCLUSION: Retroanastomoic hernia is an important condition, and the US and CT findings might be used for its diagnosis.
Abdomen ; Diagnosis ; Dilatation ; Gastric Bypass* ; Hernia* ; Humans ; Intestines ; Ischemia ; Mesentery ; Necrosis ; Peristalsis ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed