No abstract available.
Head* ; Orthognathic Surgery* ; Posture* ; Prognathism*

BACKGROUND: The external jugular vein (EJV) is a useful intravenous (IV) cannulation site for anesthesiologists, although it has a relatively high failure rate. Unlike other central veins, visualization of the EJV is important during IV cannulation, and the Valsalva maneuver distends the jugular venous system. However, the relationship between the maneuver and EJV visibility remains unknown. This study compared EJV visibility before and after the Valsalva maneuver. METHODS: This was a prospective observational study that included 200 participants. After the induction of anesthesia, EJV visibility grade, depth from the skin to the EJV superficial surface (EJV depth), and EJV cross-sectional area (CSA) before the Valsalva maneuver were measured. The same parameters were measured after the Valsalva maneuver was performed. The EJV visibility grade was defined as grade A: good appearance and good palpation, grade B: poor appearance and good palpation, and grade C: poor appearance and poor palpation. RESULTS: Patient body mass index and EJV depth affected the EJV visibility grade before the Valsalva maneuver (p < 0.05), although EJV CSA did not. The Valsalva maneuver distended EJV CSA and reduced EJV depth, although these changes were not correlated with EJV visibility grade. With regard to EJV visibility, 34.0% of grade B cases and 20.0% of grade C cases were improved by the Valsalva maneuver. CONCLUSIONS: Although the Valsalva maneuver improved EJV CSA and EJV depth, it did not greatly affect EJV visibility grade.
Anesthesia ; Body Mass Index ; Catheterization ; Humans ; Jugular Veins* ; Observational Study ; Palpation ; Prospective Studies ; Skin ; Ultrasonography ; Valsalva Maneuver* ; Veins

We managed 118 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia by transurethral resection during January 1994 and December 1995 in Eul Ji Medical Center and all patients were operated upon by 2 staff doctors. Among 118 cases, 7 cases with intraoperative complications such as bladder injury or severe prostatic capsule injury and 8 cases with combined neuropathic bladder or chronic urinary retention and 2 cases with urethral stricture were excluded. The average age of 101 cases were 66.4 years old (50-92), and average weight of resected adenoma was 10.0 gm (2-32). We categorized these patients randomly into 2 groups. In group I (n=48), we removed the urethral catheter within 2 days after TURP and in group II (n=53), we removed it after 3 days (mean 4.2 days) following surgery. The average hospital stay postoperatively was4.1 days in group I and 7.4 days in group II. Recatheterization rate was 8.3% (4/48) in group I and 5.6% (3/53) in group II (p>0.05). There was no statistical difference in other complication including failure to void, intraoperative bleeding, urethral stricture, incontinence and TUR syndrome. This study supports early catheter removal after TURP would become an accepted and routine postsurgical practice following uncomplicated TURP.
Adenoma ; Catheters* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Intraoperative Complications ; Length of Stay ; Prospective Studies* ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate* ; Urethral Stricture ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic ; Urinary Catheters ; Urinary Retention

No abstract available.
Humans ; Inpatients*

The visual acuity changes following strabismus surgery are generally short-lived and tend to disappear with time. However, some cases of persistent decreased vision is considered to be caused by changes of corneal curvature following strabismus surgery, resulting in increased corneal astigmatism. To investigate the amount and frequency of corneal astigmatiy changes following horizontal strabismus surgery, the authors periodically examined pre-and postoperative corneal curvature using keratometer in 56 eyes of 34 patients who had undergone horizontal strabismus surgery from March, 1987 to February, 1989 at Gyeongsang National University Hospital and Masan Koryo General Hospital. An average of 0.41D in horizontal curvature and an average of 0.05D in vertical curvature was decreased at 8 weeks after operation. The changes of +0.5D or more were present in 53.6% in horizontal curvature and 42.9% in vertical curvature. In comparison of one muscle operation with two muscle operation in one eye, both horizontal and vertical curvature showed no significant changes statistically(p>0.05).
Astigmatism* ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Strabismus* ; Visual Acuity

There are many controversies concerning therapeutic guidelines for the treatment of Kienbock's disease. We experienced 17 cases of stage II or III Kienbock's disease(Lichtman's classification), which were treated with triscaphe fusion from March 1983 to March 1992. The mean Follow-up peri- od was 25 months. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical and radiological result of triscaphe fusion of 17 cases of Kienbock's disease. 1. The pain was relieved in all cases, but range of motion was not improved after operation. 2. The postoperative results of triscaphe fusion were evaluated by Licthman's method. 9 cases (53%) were rated as satisfactory and 8 cases as unsatisfactory. 75%(3 cases of 4) were rated sat isfactory in IIIA a group and 22%(2 casaes of 9) were rated satisfactory in IIIB group. 3. The psudoarthrosis was noted in 2 cases of 17.
Follow-Up Studies ; Methods ; Osteonecrosis ; Range of Motion, Articular

Purpose: Edible insect extracts have been used as an alternative source for medicinal supplements due to their significant antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activity. Recent studies have reported that anti-microbial peptides from insects have neuroprotective effects on dopamine toxins. The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective functions of mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) extract (MWE) on N-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)–induced cellular toxicity in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. Methods: Cellular toxicity induced by the MPTP toxin and the impact of MWE on cell survival were analyzed using MTT assays. DAPI staining was performed to observe apoptotic phenomena caused by MPTP. Changes in caspase-3 activity and protein expression were observed using enzyme activity assays and western blot assays, respectively. Results: MWE exerted significant antioxidant activity, which was measured by both DPPH and ABTS radical assays, with a dose-dependent relationship. Furthermore, MWE resulted in cellular proliferation in SH-SY5Y cells in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, MWE pretreatment significantly inhibited MPTP-induced cytotoxicity, with a dose-dependent relationship. The morphological characteristics of apoptosis and increased reactive oxygen species induced by MPTP were also significantly reduced by MWE pretreatment. Conclusion MWE treatment significantly attenuated MPTP-induced changes in the levels of proteins associated with apoptosis, such as caspase-3 and PARP. These findings suggest that MWE exerts neuroprotective effects on human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells subject to MPTP-induced dopaminergic neurodegeneration.

OBJECTIVES: This study was to evaluate the impacts of simultaneous exposure to noise and mixed solvents on workers'hearing threshold level (HTL) over five-year period. METHODS: The study was conducted by interview and annual audiometric test on workers in ship building industry from 1994 to 1998. The cases(workers who exposed to noise and mixed solvent simultaneously) were 43 male workers and controls (workers who exposed to nolle) were selected by matching method with regard to age, sex, carrier, and noise exposure level. To assess the impacts of solvent exposure on hearing threshold level, with considering other factors, general liner model was used. RESULTS: 1. The audiogram of all subjects showed typical sensorineural hearing loss pattern. The mean HTLe were increased at high frequency (4000HB and 8000Hz) for study period. 2. The HTLs of cases were more increased than those of controls at high frequencies (4000Hz and 8000Hz), but there was not statlstical significance. 3. The impact of age on the HTL was statistically significant at 250Hz and 500Hz (p(0.05), and the impact of noise on the HTL was statistically significant at 250Hz, 2000Hz and 4000Hz (p(0.05), but the impact solvent exposure on the HTL was not significant. 4. The changes in HTLs of cases were higher than those of controls at high frequency, there were not statistical significance at 4000Hz, but only at 8000Hz (p=0.087). 5. Statistical analysis of the general linear model implicated that the changes in HTL was impacted by noise exposure bevel significantly (p=0.031) and Impacted by solvent exposure weakly (p=0.087) at 8000Hz. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that workers who simultaneously exposed to noise and mixed solvent were at risk for more affected HTL than those exposed to noise exposure only, but we could not find definitive evidence. Further detailed studies must be made in large number of workers.
Construction Industry ; Hearing Loss* ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; Hearing* ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Male ; Noise ; Ships ; Solvents

Myxoinflammatory fibroblastic sarcoma (MIFS) is a rare neoplasm that is frequently located in the distal extremities. Emerging evidence suggests that MIFS can also affect the proximal limbs, trunk, and scalp, and aggressive clinical courses have been noted. We report a case of MIFS that occurred suddenly in the patient’s forearm and grew rapidly within 2 weeks. A level of Ki-67 was observed in the patient’s lesion, which constitutes a considerable finding compared with most MIFS cases. The patient underwent surgical tumor removal, and no evidence of recurrence was noted. We highlight this case in view of its sudden occurrence and rapid local progression, which contradicts the usual features of this disease, suggesting that this clinical course might be attributable to the high Ki-67 value.

OBJECTIVES: To ascertain whether some result of hematological examination could be as reference data for health management of welders. METHOD: The authors conducted the hematological examination of 1,018 welders and 531 control workers of a shipbuilding industry in Ulsan using automatic blood analyzer. RESULTS: The WBC count of welders was lower than that of control on controlling the age and the duration of employment, but changes of other blood cells were not observed. CONCLUSION: We could use the results of hematological examination such as WBC counts as an indicator for subtle changes of health status of welders.
Blood Cells ; Employment ; Ulsan