Generalized narrowing of the retinal vessels has been recognized for glaucomatous and nonglaucomatous optic neuropathies. To evaluate how closely peripapillary retinal vessel diameters were related to functional and structural optic nerve damage in primary open-angle glaucoma, the data of the vessel diameters were correlated with intra- and peripapillary morphometric parameters and visual field indices. The diameters of the superior temporal and inferior temporal retinal artery and vein were measured at the opticdisc border from optic disc photographs of 234 eyes of 141 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma and 139 eyes of 86 normal subjects. Only one eye per patient and subject was taken for statistical analysis. The diameters of the inferior temporal and superior temporal retinal artery were significantly correlated with the intrapapillary parameters, the peripapillary parameters and the visual field indices. The correlation coefficients were highest for the neuroretinal rim data (r>0.37, p=0.0001), followed by mean deviation, vertical cup to disc ratios, whereas total peripapillary atrophy data, zone beta and zone alpha data were relatively low. Concerning the vessel diameter, the highest correlation coefficients were calculated for the inferior temporal artery, followed by the superior temporal artery. No correlation was found with age and refraction. The results indicate that, in primary open-angle glaucoma, the vessel diameter redduces with decreasing area of the neuroretinal rim, increasing visual field defects and increasing peripapillary atrophy. Its evaluation can be helpful for the diagnosis of glaucoma and possibly also for follow-up.
Atrophy ; Diagnosis ; Glaucoma ; Glaucoma, Open-Angle ; Humans ; Optic Nerve Diseases ; Optic Nerve* ; Retinal Artery ; Retinal Vessels* ; Retinaldehyde* ; Temporal Arteries ; Veins ; Visual Fields

To confirm the value of the peripapillary atrophy(PPA) for the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with glaucoma, we performed magnification-corrected morphometry of photographs of 234 eyes of 141 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma and 139 eyes of 86 normal subjects. For the data analysis, only one eye of each patient was randomly selected. Both groups did not differ significantly in age. refractive error and disc area. According to the neuroretinal rim/disc area ratio, the glaucoma group was divided into four stages(1; more than 0.61, 2; 0.60~0.41, 3; 0.40~0.21, 4; less than 0.20). PPA differentiated into two different zones(alpha and beta). Zone alpha(0.76+/-0.55mm2 vs 0.47+/-0.32mm2) and zone beta(0.50+/-0.63mm2 vs 0.06+/-0.15mm2) and the total PPA(1.26+/-0.97mm2 vs 0.54+/-0.38mm2) were significantly larger(p=0.0001), and zone beta occurred more often(59.5% vs 17.4%, P=0.0001) in the glaucoma group than in the normal group. The area, angular extent and width of both zones enlarged significantly with increasing stage of glaucoma. The frequency of zone beta increased with advancing stage of glaucoma. These findings suggest that both zone alpha and beta increase continuously with advancing neural rim damage. Therefore, the PPA is useful for the diagnosis and progression of glaucomatous nerve damage.
Atrophy* ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glaucoma ; Glaucoma, Open-Angle* ; Humans ; Refractive Errors ; Statistics as Topic

Split cord malformations (SCMs) usually present in childhood, and are rarely reported in adults. And also, a cervicothoracic SCM associated with tethered cord syndrome has very rarely been reported in the literature. We report a case of SCM associated with tethered cord and spina bifida in an adult. This report describes the case of a 34-year-old woman who presented for evaluation of neck pain, back pain, and intermittent paraparesis of several months duration. The MRI and CT showed a SCM at the cervicothoracic level and a fibrous septum at the thoracic level. She underwent surgery for the SCM and tethered cord syndrome, and was followed for 7 years. Patient presented complete recovery in the follow-up. The authors discuss this unusual lesion and describe the anatomical relationship of the level of cord duplication and fibrous septum.
Adult* ; Back Pain ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; General Surgery ; Humans ; Neck Pain ; Neural Tube Defects* ; Paraparesis ; Spinal Dysraphism

BACKGROUND: In Korea before the enforcement of the medical reform in July 2000, it was generally difficult to analyze the conditions of prescriptions in hospitals and clinics. It was true that the circulation process of prescribed medicine was unclear and that there was no support between medical and pharmaceutical industries with the government. Also with the reality of high rate of pharmaceutical expenses among medical costs in Korea, it was necessary to enforce reform of medical and pharmaceutical industries and for our citizens to follow the new reform as well in order to prevent drug abuse and reduce medical costs. This research was to provide basis for future studies on prescription conditions and related factors through compared analysis of before and after the medical reform by analyzing university hospital prescriptions. METHODS: A comparison and analysis of patients, who visited a university hospital for medical treatment, was dpme. There were 23,974 patients in March 2000, and 22,550 patients in March 2001. During these periods 16,870, 12,919 prescriptions were each issued, respectively. RESULTS: There was a total of 46,524 outpatients with 29,789 prescription issued. There were 23,974 outpatients in March 2000 and 22,550 in March 2001 with 16,870 and 12,919 prescriptions, respectively. Among the outpatients, there were 20,769 men (44.6%) and 24,471 women (52.6%) with 13,527 and 16,209 prescriptions, respectively. In comparing the outpatients and prescription issued patients in March 2000 and in March 2001, both men and women showed decrease in the number of prescriptions (P <.001). Also in the ages between 0-15, 16-40 and 41-65, there was a clear evidence of decrease in the number of both outpatients and prescription issued patients (P<0.001). However in the age group of 65 and over there was an increase of 4,453 patients from 3,956 outpatients. The patient analysis in March 2000 and March 2001 excluding the outpatients in emergency, urology, dentistry and radiology shows a decrease in the number of patients in medical departments in general. Also except for the increase of prescription authorized patients in dentistry, urology and family health, it showed a decrease. In general, there was a decrease in the number of cases in the issuance of prescriptions excluding few item changes in the upper 1st to 10th medicine categories in prescribed frequencies. For prescribed medicine categories no vast difference existed. In total medicine categories, there was a decrease in injections from 24.5% to 12.3% and increase of oral medications from 64.5% to 73.8%. Also there was a significant decrease of prescriptions in injections for antibiotics and significant increase of prescription for anti-hypertensive agents such as Angiotensin Converting Enzyme inhibitors. CONCLUSION: This study involved before and after the reform of prescription conditions and obtained related factor information. The results may differ depending on the type of a hospital, patient distribution and local area, but has provided valuable basic research information which did not exist in previous university hospital unit. Hence in relation to the before and after the medical reform, future studies on diseases and on significant changes in elderly patient care, antibiotic usage and in categories of anti-hypertensive agents may be necessary.
Aged ; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Antihypertensive Agents ; Dentistry ; Drug Industry ; Emergencies ; Family Health ; Female ; Hospital Units ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Outpatients* ; Patient Care ; Prescriptions* ; Substance-Related Disorders ; Urology

BACKGROUND: With the rapid increase in elderly population arousing from development of medical technology and in standards of living, mental disorders as well as organic disorders according to aging constitute a serious social problem. This study aimed to find a factor related closely to cognitive impairment by analyzing the risk factors influencing cognitive impairment, which is one of the typical geriatric neuropsychiatric conditions. METHODS: This study was conducted using a questionnaire survey and history taking and physical examination was done in 200 elderly patients over sixty-five, who had visited either of the four universities hospitals in the Kyongin district from July 1997 to June 2002. A variety of factors being widely known to be related to cognitive impairment by was investigated using the existing comprehensive geriatric assessment. By using MMSE-K (Korea version of Mini- Mental State Examination), the relation between cognitive impairment and each variable was analyzed by using chi-square test and logistic regression analysis with SPSS 10.0k/PC statistical program. RESULTS: The number of males and females was 73 (36.5%) and 127 (63.5%), respectively, among the total number of 200 examinees. Males and females having symptoms of cognitive impairment was 25 (34.2%) and 49 (38.6%) among the total number of 74 (37%), respectively. Total mean point of MMSE-K was 24 5.4, 24 5.3 in males and 23.9 5.5 in females. According to the results of multi-variable quantities analysis, it was shown that the cognitive impairment had positive relation to age (P= 0.004), but negative relation to regular exercising (P= 0.016), instrumental activities of daily living (P=0.039) and social support (P=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: The factors having a close relation to cognitive impairment of elderly people were social support, age, regular exercising and instrumental activities of daily living.
Activities of Daily Living ; Aged* ; Aging ; Female ; Geriatric Assessment ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Mental Disorders ; Physical Examination ; Risk Factors ; Social Problems ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.
Melanoma* ; Paget Disease, Extramammary*

We reviewed twenty-six tibial bone defects which had been treated by internal bone transport to evaluate the results and complications and of the Ilizarov method. The causes of defects were open fracture(13 cases) and infected non-union(13 cases) The mean bone defect was 8.2 cm, ranging from 2 cm to 20 cm, in open fracture and 6.5 cm, ranging from 2 cm to 17 cm, in infected nonunion. All cases attained bone union. The mean radiologic consolidation index was 1.3 month/cm. The mean external fixation time was 18.5 months, ranging from 4 months to 33 months. Complications were pin-tract infection(20 cases), equines contracture of ankle(4 cases), knee flexion contracture(1 case), axial deviation(5 cases), valgus deformity of ankle(1 case), leg length discrepancy(7 cases), stress fracture at corticotomy site(2 cases), delayed union(1 case), infection recurrence(1 case), soft tissue invagination(3 cases) and refracture(2 case). The Ilizarov method is a useful treatment for tibial bone defects. Bone grafting at the docking site is recommended in order to shorten the treatment time and to avoid refracture and nonunion.
Bone Transplantation ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Contracture ; Fractures, Open ; Fractures, Stress ; Ilizarov Technique ; Knee ; Leg

PURPOSE: To compare initial CT findings of non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) pulmonary infection between stable and progressed groups and determine whether they could be used to predict disease prognosis and treatment response. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From July 2006 to October 2013, 71 patients with NTM infection were retrospectively reviewed. Lung lesion pattern of CT finding, specific species, disease duration, and follow-up period were analyzed. These patients were classified into NTM stable (n = 46) and progressed (n = 25) groups. RESULTS: The most common CT findings of NTM infection were small nodules (n = 71, 100%) and bronchiectasis (n = 67, 94%). Large consolidation (> 2 cm, n = 34, 48%) and involvement of more than four lobes (n = 49, 69%) were also commonly observed. According to disease prognosis, large consolidation (n = 18, 72%, p = 0.003), cavitary lesion (n = 17, p = 0.002), and involvement of four or more lobes (n = 21, p = 0.044) on CT were significantly more frequent in disease progressed group than that in the stable group. CONCLUSION Among common CT findings of NTM disease, some CT findings such as large consolidation, cavitary lesion, and disease extent are good predictors of response to treatment in NTM pulmonary disease.

Objective: : The Act on Life-Sustaining Treatment (LST) decisions for end-of-life patients has been effective since February 2018. An increasing number of patients and their families want to withhold or withdraw from LST when medical futility is expected. This study aimed to investigate the status of the Act on LST decisions for patients with acute cerebrovascular disease at a single hospital. Methods: : Between January 2017 and December 2021, 227 patients with acute cerebrovascular diseases, including hemorrhagic stroke (n=184) and ischemic stroke (n=43), died at the hospital. The study period was divided into the periods before and after the Act. Results: : The duration of hospitalization decreased after the Act was implemented compared to before (15.9±16.1 vs. 11.2±18.6 days, p=0.127). The rate of obtaining consent for the LST plan tended to increase after the Act (139/183 [76.0%] vs. 27/44 [61.4%], p=0.077). Notably, none of the patients made an LST decision independently. Ventilator withdrawal was more frequently performed after the Act than before (52/183 [28.4%] vs. 0/44 [0%], p<0.001). Conversely, the rate of organ donation decreased after the Act was implemented (5/183 [2.7%] vs. 6/44 [13.6%], p=0.008). Refusal to undergo surgery was more common after the Act was implemented than before (87/149 [58.4%] vs. 15/41 [36.6%], p=0.021) among the 190 patients who required surgery. Conclusion : After the Act on LST decisions was implemented, the rate of LST withdrawal increased in patients with acute cerebrovascular disease. However, the decision to withdraw LST was made by the patient’s family rather than the patient themselves. After the execution of the Act, we also observed an increased rate of refusal to undergo surgery and a decreased rate of organ donation. The Act on LST decisions may reduce unnecessary treatments that prolong end-of-life processes without a curative effect. However, the widespread application of this law may also reduce beneficial treatments and contribute to a decline in organ donation.