No abstract available.
Calcinosis*

Over the past 30 years, there has been an increase in the incidence of multifetal pregna-ncies, primarily because of the introduction of ovarian stimulants for ovulation induction and assisted reproductive technology ( ART ) in infertile patients. It is well established that multifetal pregnancies are associated with an increased frequency of the maternal complications and gre-ater perinatal morbidity and mortyality. The adverse outcome of multifetal pregnancies is dire-ctly proportional to the number of fetuses, primarily as an consequence of prterm delivery. Re-duction in the number of fetuses in multifetal pregnancies has been proposed as a way to impr-ove the perinatal outcome in this situation. Therefore, selective fetal reduction ( SFR ) is sugges-ted as a therapeutic option for continuation of pregnancy with fetuses mature enough to survi-ve. In this paper, we report our infertility clinic experiences with 6 patients who carried mult- ifetal pregnancies including 1 quintuplet, 1 quadruplet, and 4 triplets. from January, 1991 to May, 1996, transabdominal SFR was accomplished by fetal intrathoracic KCl injection at 9~10 weeks of gestation. After the prcedure, 4 patients remained as twin pregnancies, and 2 patients as single pregnancy. There have been 3 sets of twin deliveries and the 2 sets of single delivery. One case was aborted. Two patients were delivered after 37 weeks of gestation, 2 patients were at 35 weeks, and 1 patient at 24 weeks. All babies have been healthy after birth in patients after 35 weeks gestation. There was no fetal anomaly related to the procedure in the 6 cases. We concluded that transabdominal SFR is a rather safe and useful procedure that may improve the outcome of multifetal pregnancies.
Fetus ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infertility ; Ovulation Induction ; Parturition ; Pregnancy Reduction, Multifetal* ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnancy, Twin ; Quadruplets ; Quintuplets ; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted ; Triplets ; Twins

Low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma (LGESS) with intravascular extension is very rare, with only 26 cases having been reported. We experienced a case of LGESS with inferior vena cava (IVC) extension. A 60-year-old female presented with left leg edema. She had a history of total hysterectomy, and was diagnosed of leiomyoma at that time. On imaging study, tumor masses were located around both common iliac veins (CIV), and within the CIV and IVC. The pelvic masses on both side and IVC mass were resected, and then the patient received adjuvant hormonal therapy and radiotherapy over the remnant pelvic masses. LGESS with IVC extension is difficult to distinguish from intravascular leiomyomatosis. LGESS is a malignant disease and commonly recurs, even in early stages. Accurate diagnosis, complete resection, proper adjuvant therapy and close follow-up are very important.
Diagnosis ; Edema ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Iliac Vein ; Korea ; Leg ; Leiomyoma ; Leiomyomatosis ; Middle Aged ; Radiotherapy ; Sarcoma, Endometrial Stromal* ; Vena Cava, Inferior*

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to correlate the CT and histopathologic findings of abscess wall. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The CT findings of 12 patients with pathologically proven brain abscess were retrospectively analyzed with particular attention to the thickness, smoothness and uniformity of enhancing abscess wall, and the results were correlated with histopathologic findings. RESULTS: Two patients with acute cerebritis showed an isodense ring on non-contrast CT(NCCT), but a true capsule formation could not be identified at pathologic examination. Six other patients with isodense ring on NCCT consisted of early to late cerebritis(3 cases), late cerebritis to early capsule(1 case), early capsule(1 case), and late capsule(1 case). These 6 cases showed ring enhancement on contrast enhanced CT(CECT) and true capsule formation pathologically. There was no isodense ring on NCCT in the remaining four patients. They consisted of early to late cerebritis(2 cases), late cerebritis(1 case), and late cerebritis to early capsule formation(1 case). These also showed ring enhancement on CECT and true capsule formation pathologically. CONCLUSION: We found that it is difficult to predict the exact stage of brain abscess on preoperative CT findings. It is suggested that clinical findings and sequential dynamic CT may provide more detailed informations for evaluation of abscess staging.
Abscess ; Brain Abscess* ; Brain* ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to investigate influence of cellular phone videos and games on dry eye syndrome in university students. METHODS: A randomized comparison group pre-post design is used. Sixty university students were randomly assigned to either a video or a game group. Frequencies of blinking, dry eye symptoms scores and amounts of tears were measured. Thirty subjects watched cellular phone video programmes and the other 30 subjects played cellular phone games for 61 minutes. In addition, frequencies of blinking were measured three times during treatment, once immediately after a treatment and twice at an interval of 20 minutes after subsequent treatments. RESULTS: Post-test scores of frequencies of blinking significantly decreased, dry eye symptoms scores including amounts of tears significantly increased greater than pre-test scores in both groups. But there were no significant differences between the groups. Frequencies of blinking were significantly different with respect to the time spent using cellular phone. In both groups, the lowest frequencies of blinking were shown after 40 minutes of cellular phone use. CONCLUSION: This study shows that using cellular phone has negative influence on dry eye syndrome and eyes require a resting period after cellular phone use over 40 minutes.
Blinking ; Cellular Phone* ; Dry Eye Syndromes* ; Humans ; Tears

Objective: To compare two clinically available MR volumetry software, NeuroQuant® (NQ) and Inbrain® (IB), and examine the inter-method reliabilities and differences between them. Materials and Methods: This study included 172 subjects (age range, 55–88 years; mean age, 71.2 years), comprising 45 normal healthy subjects, 85 patients with mild cognitive impairment, and 42 patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Magnetic resonance imaging scans were analyzed with IB and NQ. Mean differences were compared with the paired t test. Inter-method reliability was evaluated with Pearson’s correlation coefficients and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Effect sizes were also obtained to document the standardized mean differences. Results: The paired t test showed significant volume differences in most regions except for the amygdala between the two methods. Nevertheless, inter-method measurements between IB and NQ showed good to excellent reliability (0.72 < r < 0.96, 0.83 < ICC < 0.98) except for the pallidum, which showed poor reliability (left: r = 0.03, ICC = 0.06; right: r = -0.05, ICC = -0.09). For the measurements of effect size, volume differences were large in most regions (0.05 < r < 6.15). The effect size was the largest in the pallidum and smallest in the cerebellum. Conclusion Comparisons between IB and NQ showed significantly different volume measurements with large effect sizes.However, they showed good to excellent inter-method reliability in volumetric measurements for all brain regions, with the exception of the pallidum. Clinicians using these commercial software should take into consideration that different volume measurements could be obtained depending on the software used.

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to establish whether FHR recording tape and telemetry system at home interpreted by remote telemedicine link is comparable to interpretation at hospital in a high-risk patient population. Patients and METHODS: Twenty women whose pregnancy was suspected as high risk were entered to study. All pregnancies were at term(7 at 38th weeks, 7 at 39th weeks, 6 at 40th weeks). Remote FHR monitoring at hospital was made for consecutive 6 days, using FHR-telemetry system at home which already developed and used by authors from 1991. Patients recorded FHR sound using recording tape for 5 days. On the 5th day, real-time transmitting of FHR sound to the hospital was also done via telephone lines after recording of FHR sound. On the 6th day, FHR test(NST) was performed at hospital. The signal loss(%), baseline FHR(bpm), and FHR variability were compared using computerized FHR analysis system(HYFM-I) after re-play of 5-days recording tapes at hospital with real-time transmitting data and in-hospital FHR test results. RESULTS: The signal loss was highest with real-time transmiting data when comparing with in-hospital FHR analysis. No significant differences were observed among 5-days data of FHR recording tapes. CONCLUSIONS: Frequent antenatal visit of high-risk pregnancy patients were in diHuities of their pregnancy outcomes. And many rural areas of our country are without adequate access to basic maternity services. From this point of view, a fetal telemedicine service is needed, and in fact, technically and clinically feasible. Our demonstration suggests that such a service reduces the need for hospital visit of high risk pregnancy women. Further evaluation in a variety of clinical settings is now indicated, along with cost-benefit analysis.
Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Female ; Fetal Heart* ; Heart Rate, Fetal* ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnancy, High-Risk ; Telemedicine ; Telemetry ; Telephone

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether polymorphisms of gene encoding CYP1B1 is associated with the risk of endometriosis in Korean women. METHODS: We investigated 199 patients with histopathologically confirmed endometriosis rAFS stage III/IV and 183 control group women who were surgically proven to have no endometriosis. The genetic distribution of four different CYP1B1 polymorphisms at G119-T, G432-C, T449-C, and A453-G were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism of PCR products. RESULTS: We found no overall association between each individual CYP1B1 genotype and the risk of endometriosis. The odds ratio of genotype GG/GC+GG/TC+TT/AA compared to GG/CC/CC/AA (reference) was calculated as 2.06 with a 95% confidence interval of 1.003~4.216. CONCLUSIONS: This results suggest that CYP1B1 genetic polymorphism may be associated with development of endometriosis in Korean women.
Endometriosis* ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Odds Ratio ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli is increasing rapidly worldwide. Treatment options for ESBL-producing E. coli are limited, and infections caused by this organism are associated with improper antibiotic use, a long hospital stay, and increased mortality. Thus, the assessment and early recognition of the risk factors of nosocomial infections due to ESBL-producing E. coli are important for the infection control and proper treatment. METHODS: A case-control study was performed that included nosocomial episodes of ESBL-producing E. coli bacteremia at a tertiary care hospital from January 2004 to December 2007. For each case patient, three controls were randomly selected and data on predisposing factors were collected. RESULTS: Fifty-five cases of nosocomial ESBL-producing E. coli bacteremia were studied. Carbapenem usage (OR: 11.3, 95% CI: 1.1-115.9, p=0.041), quinolone usage (OR: 4.5, 95% CI: 1.1-18.8, p=0.042), biliary obstructive disease (OR: 11.8, 95% CI: 3.0-46.7, p<0.001) and the APACHE II score (OR: 1.3, 95% CI: 1.2- 1.5, p<0.001) were analyzed as independent risk factors of nosocomial ESBL-producing E. coli bacteremia. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that physicians caring for patients with risk factors of nosocomial bacteremia should consider ESBL-producing E. coli as the causative organisms of the disease.
APACHE ; Bacteremia* ; beta-Lactamases* ; Case-Control Studies ; Causality ; Cross Infection ; Escherichia coli* ; Escherichia* ; Humans ; Infection Control ; Length of Stay ; Mortality ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors* ; Tertiary Healthcare

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli is increasing rapidly worldwide. Treatment options for ESBL-producing E. coli are limited, and infections caused by this organism are associated with improper antibiotic use, a long hospital stay, and increased mortality. Thus, the assessment and early recognition of the risk factors of nosocomial infections due to ESBL-producing E. coli are important for the infection control and proper treatment. METHODS: A case-control study was performed that included nosocomial episodes of ESBL-producing E. coli bacteremia at a tertiary care hospital from January 2004 to December 2007. For each case patient, three controls were randomly selected and data on predisposing factors were collected. RESULTS: Fifty-five cases of nosocomial ESBL-producing E. coli bacteremia were studied. Carbapenem usage (OR: 11.3, 95% CI: 1.1-115.9, p=0.041), quinolone usage (OR: 4.5, 95% CI: 1.1-18.8, p=0.042), biliary obstructive disease (OR: 11.8, 95% CI: 3.0-46.7, p<0.001) and the APACHE II score (OR: 1.3, 95% CI: 1.2- 1.5, p<0.001) were analyzed as independent risk factors of nosocomial ESBL-producing E. coli bacteremia. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that physicians caring for patients with risk factors of nosocomial bacteremia should consider ESBL-producing E. coli as the causative organisms of the disease.
APACHE ; Bacteremia* ; beta-Lactamases* ; Case-Control Studies ; Causality ; Cross Infection ; Escherichia coli* ; Escherichia* ; Humans ; Infection Control ; Length of Stay ; Mortality ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors* ; Tertiary Healthcare