No abstract available.
Humans ; Infant*

PURPOSE: To investigate the visual prognosis, the interval, and the rate of development of after-cataract following cataract surgery in atopic dermatitis. METHODS: Twenty eyes of 13 patients diagnosed as cataract associated with atopic dermatitis were operated between January, 1994 and January, 2000. Visual acuity, postoperative inflammatory reaction, the interval, and the rate of development of after-cataract were investigated and compared with the cataract cases without atopic dermatitis. RESULTS: The average preoperative best corrected visual acuity of 20 eyes was 0.23+/-0.22. The average postoperative best corrected visual acuity at 1, 2, 7, and 12 months after surgery were 0.78+/-0.23, 0.83+/-0.16, 0.78+/-0.23, 0.83+/-0.26, respectively. These values showed no significant difference compared to the postoperative visual acuity of the cataract cases without atopic dermatitis. Aqueous flares measured with laser flare meter were 15.09+/-9.20, 11.15+/-4.68, and 7.38+/-0.75 photon counts/millisecond at 10 days, 1, and 2 months after surgery, which did not seem to influence the final visual acuity and the development of after-cataract (p>0.05). Among the 20 eyes, 66.67% finally developed after-cataract and the average time interval of the development of after-cataract was 11.25+/-4.22 months. CONCLUSIONS: Visual prognosis following cataract surgery in atopic dermatitis is good, while after-cataract seems to develop more frequently and earlier compared to the cases without atopic dermatitis.
Aqueous Humor ; Cataract* ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Humans ; Prognosis* ; Visual Acuity

No abstract available.
Hemoptysis*

Ground-glass opacity is a frequent but nonspecific finding seen on high-resolution CT scans of lung parenchyma. Histologically, this appearance is observed when thickening of the alveolar wall and septal interstitium is minimal or the alveolar lumen is partially filled with fluid, macrophage, neutrophils, or amorphous material. It has been shown that ground-glass opacity may be caused not only by an active inflammatory process but also by fibrotic processes. When a focal area of ground-glass opacity persists or increases in size, the possibility of neoplasm-bronchioloalveolar carcinoma or adenoma, or lymphoma, for example- should be considered. Diffuse nonsegmental ground-glass opacity in both lung fields was incidentally found on follow up abdominal CT in a stomach cancer patient and signet-ring cell-type metastatic lung cancer was confirmed by transbronchial lung biopsy. We report a case of diffuse ground-glass opacity seen in metastatic lung cancer from adenocarcinoma of the stomach.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Adenoma ; Biopsy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Lung* ; Lymphoma ; Macrophages ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Neutrophils ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Stomach* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Though exercise T1-201 myocardial perfusion-scintigraphy is an important test in the diagnosis and evaluation of coronary artery disease, this test is limited in cases with poor physical conditions and unstable angina and the physical characteristics of thallium are not ideal for nuclear imaging of the myocardium. Recently, technetium-99m-labelled agent(99mTc-MIBI) has been developed to improved the quality of imaging and for easy usage in myocardial perfusion scan. Therefore, we performed dipyridamole 99mTc-MIBI myocardial scintigraphy and coronary angiography on 25 subjects who were suspeced to have coronary artery disease and the results obtanined were as follows ; 1) The overall diagnostic sensitivity of dipyridamole 99mTc-MIBI perfusion scintigraphy was 73.4%, while specificity was 66.7%. 2) Per vessel sensitivity for coronary artery disease diagnosis by the test was 71.4% and a per vessel specificity for coronary artery disease was 95.7%. 3) In all 75 coronary arteries, LAD had a sensitivity of 66.7%(10/15) and a specificity of 100%(10/10); RCA had a sensitivity of 75%(6/8) and a specificity of 82.4%(14/17); LCX had a sensitivity of 60%(3/5) and a specificity of 100%(20/20). 4) After infusion of dipyridamole, the most frequent adverse effect was chest pain which was seen in 8 cases(32%). The headache was seen in 7 cases(28%). Most of the symptoms were mild in severity and subsided spontaneously but 3 subjects were severe enough to require intravenous administration of aminophylline. In conclusion, dipyridamole 99m2011-06-17Tc-MIBI myocardial perfusion scintigraphy is a useful and safe test for diagnosis of coronary artery disease.
Administration, Intravenous ; Aminophylline ; Angina, Unstable ; Chest Pain ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Diagnosis ; Dipyridamole* ; Headache ; Myocardial Perfusion Imaging* ; Myocardium ; Perfusion ; Perfusion Imaging ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Thallium

PURPOSE: The effect of PTK inhibitors (herbimycin A and genistein) on the induction of radiation-induce d apoptosis in Ph-positive K562 leukemia cell line was investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: K562 cells in exponential growth phase were irradiated with a linear accelerator at room temperature. For 6 MV X-ray irradiation and drug treatment, cultures were initiated at 2x10' cells/mL. The cells were irradiated with 10 Gy. Stock solutions of herbimycin A and genistein were prepared in dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO). After incubation at 37C for 0-48 h, the extent of apoptosis was determined using agarose gel electrophoresis and TUNEL assay. The progression of cells throughth the cel l cycle after irradiation and drug treatment was also determined with flow cytometry. Western blot analysis was used to monitor bcl-2, bcl-X and bax protein levels. RESULTS: Treatment with 10 Gy X-irradiation did not result in the induction of apoptosis. The HMA alone (500 nM) also failed to induce apoptosis. By contrast, incubation of K562 cells with HMA after irradiation resulted in a substantial induction of nuclear condensation and fragmentation by agarose gel electro-phoresis and TUNEL assay. Genistein failed to enhance the ability of X-irradiation to induce DN A fragmentation. Enhancement of apoptosis by H MA was not attributable to downregulation of the bcl-2 or bcl-X anti-apoptotic proteins. When the cells were irradiated and maintained with HMA, the percentage cf cells in G2/M phase decreased to 30-40% at 48 h. On the other hand, cells exposed to 10 Gy X-irradiation alone or maintained with genistein did not show marked cell cycle redistribution. CONCLUSION: We have shown that nanomolar concentrations of the PTK inhibitor HMA synergize with X-irradiation in inducing the apoptosis in Ph (+) K562 leukemia cell line. While, genistein, a PTK inhibitor which is not selective for p2 10""'' failed to enhance the radiation induced apoptosis in K562 cells. It is unlikely that the ability of HMA to enhance apoptosis in K562 cells is attributable to bcl-2 family. It is plausible that the relationship between cell cycle delays and cell death is essential for drug development based on molecular targeting designed to modify radiation-induced apoptosis.
Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; Apoptosis* ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Death ; Cell Line ; Dimethyl Sulfoxide ; Down-Regulation ; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel ; Flow Cytometry ; Genistein ; Hand ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; K562 Cells* ; Leukemia ; Particle Accelerators ; Sepharose

PURPOSE: Use of inappropriate statistical methods may lead to incorrect conclusions and a waste of valuable resources. The goal of this study was to assess the frequency and the types of several common statistical errors in the published articles of the Journal of the Korean Academy of Prosthodontics (JKAP) for a 5-year period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of 336 articles in the JKAP published from 2006 to 2010, 255 articles using statistics were reviewed and classified by statistical method and year. The frequency and types of the statistical methods were examined, and the statistical errors were evaluated by the appropriateness of the experimental design, assumption check, independent outcomes, proper sample size and suitable use of statistical method. Statistical guidelines were completed based on the appropriateness. RESULTS: Of the 255 articles using statistics, 193 articles (75.9%) used inferential statistics and 153 articles used SPSS statistical software (60.0%). Of the articles using inferential statistics, the three most frequently used statistical methods were ANOVA (41.5%), t-test (20.0%), and the nonparametric method (16.9%). The average rate of statistical errors was 61.2 percent, similar to the rate reported by several studies completed for the medical journal. CONCLUSION: After the whole analysis of the difference among the groups, post-hoc tests for the pairwise comparisons are required. The optimal sample size calculation is an essential part of this study protocol. To minimize the occurrence of statistical errors, statistical guidelines were developed according to each statistical test procedure and will contribute to the academic improvement in the JKAP.
Prosthodontics ; Research Design ; Sample Size

BACKGROUND: Biodegradable microspheres are a useful method of drug delivery because they are both injectable and biodegradable. Previous work in our group has characterized implantable preparations of local anesthetics in pellets for prolonged regional anesthesia. In this paper we evaluated injectable suspensions of lidocaine-polymer microspheres for extended period of percutaneous sciatic nerve blockade in rats. METHODS: Microspheres were prepared using poly (lactide-co-glycolide) loaded with 50 wt% lidocaine by a solvent evaporation method. In vitro release rate of lidocaine from microspheres was determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Percutaneous blockade of the rat sciatic nerve was performed, and sensory blockade of the nerve was assessed using an analgesiometer. RESULTS: Lidocaine was released in a controlled manner in vitro. In general 60% of the drug released in the first day, 80% in two days. Sciatic nerve blockade duration ranged from 8 to 12 hours. Incorporation of dexamethasone 0.05 wt% into the microspheres resulted in significant prolongation of block. CONCLUSION: Prolonged percutaneous blockade of peripheral nerve is achieved using biodegradable polymeric lidocaine microspheres.
Anesthesia, Conduction* ; Anesthetics, Local ; Animals ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Dexamethasone ; Lidocaine* ; Microspheres* ; Peripheral Nerves ; Polymers* ; Rats ; Sciatic Nerve ; Suspensions

BACKGROUND: Aging is a significant issue worldwide, and Korea is one of the most rapidly aging countries. Along with the demographic transition, the age structure of intensive care unit (ICU) patients changes as well. METHODS: The aim of this study was to analyze the change in age distribution of the ICU patients over the last 10 years and its effect on clinical outcomes. Single-center, retrospective analysis of all patients aged ≥18 years admitted to either the medical or surgical ICU at St. Paul's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, between January 2005 and December 2014 was conducted. For clinical outcome, in-hospital mortality, duration of ICU stay, and hospital stay were analyzed. Cost analysis was performed to show the economic burden of each age strata. RESULTS: A total of 10,366 ICU patients were admitted to the chosen ICUs during the study period. The proportion of elderly patients aged ≥65 years increased from 47.9% in 2005 to 63.7% in 2014, and the proportion of the very elderly patients aged ≥80 years increased from 12.8% to 20.7%. However, this increased proportion of elderly patients did not lead to increased in-hospital mortality. The percent of ICU treatment days attributable to elderly patients increased from 51.1% in year 2005 to 64.0% in 2014. The elderly ICU patients were associated with higher in-hospital mortality compared to younger age groups. CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of elderly patients admitted to ICUs increased over the last decade. However, overall in-hospital mortality has not increased during the same period.
Age Distribution ; Aged* ; Aging ; Costs and Cost Analysis ; Critical Care* ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units* ; Korea* ; Length of Stay ; Mortality ; Population Dynamics ; Retrospective Studies*

INTRODUCTION: There was increase in a fall injury at the field of construction work, nowadays. There was also increase in penetrating injury by an iron reinforcing bar associated with a fall or slip injury. But this is not widely discussed in the surgical literature. The purpose of this study was to define the characteristics of injury, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of the penetrating injury by an iron reinforcing bar associated with a fall or slip injury. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We reviewed retrospectively medical records of 17 patients who admitted and managed at Yongdong Severance hospital, Yonsei university college of medicine due to penetrating injury by an iron reinforcing bar associated with a fall or slip injury from Nov. 1987 to Dec. 1996. RESULTS: The penetrating injuries by an iron reinforcing bar associated with a fall or slip injury were 5 cases of a slip injury and 12 cases of a fall injury. The insertion site of an iron reinforcing bar was perineum in all of a slip injury. In a fall injury, insertion site was flank and back in 5 cases, perineum 4 cases, chest 2 cases and abdomen 1 case. In a fall injury, 9 patients had two or more organ injuries. CT scan was taken in 3 cases, sigmoidoscopy 3 cases and fistulogram 1 case in a slip injury. CT scan was done in 5 cases, sigmoidoscopy 1 case, cystogram 2 cases and intravenous pyelogram 1 case in a fall injury. 2 cases was cured conservatively, and operation was done in 3 cases in a slip injury in contrast to 2 cases of conservative management and operation 10 cases in a fall injury. There was no negative celiotomy. Complication was only one wound infection in a slip injury. There were wound infection 6 cases, pulmonary complication 4 cases, sepsis 1 case, necrotizing fascitis 1 case, anal sphincter injury 1 case, intraabdominal abscess 1 case and neurogenic bladder 1 case in a fall injury. There was no mortality. CONCLUSION: The penetrating injuries by an iron reinforcing bar associated with a fall or slip injury had characteristics of both penetrating and blunt injury. The chest and abdominal penetrating injuries lead to multiple organ injury. In perineal penetrating injury, we should evaluate the injury of urinary bladder, rectum and genital organ.
Abdomen ; Abscess ; Anal Canal ; Diagnosis ; Fasciitis, Necrotizing ; Genitalia ; Humans ; Iron* ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Perineum ; Prognosis ; Rectum ; Retrospective Studies ; Sepsis ; Sigmoidoscopy ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic ; Wound Infection ; Wounds, Nonpenetrating