No abstract available.
Estradiol* ; Female ; Humans ; Plasma* ; Progesterone*

PURPOSE: Recently the use of penile prostheses in patients with spinal cord injury(SCI) has been beneficial for sexual dysfunction, maintenance of external devices and the treatment of penile skin lacerations. We reviewed 50 patients with SCI who had been followed for more than five years after penile prosthetic implantation, particularly in regard to surgical success rate and complication rate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 1988 to 1993, 102 penile prostheses were implanted in 50 patients with SCI. Penile prosthetic implantation was done for sexual dysfunction in 29 patients and for sexual dysfunction and urinary management in 21 patients. The types of penile prostheses were malleable in 13 patients, Dynaflex in 35 patients and AMS 700 CXM in two patients. RESULTS: We experienced prosthetic infection in six patients, mechanical failure in three patients, urethral erosion in two patients and penile skin necrosis in one patient. The overall surgical success rate was 88% and the five-year complication rate was 24%. CONCLUSIONS: Though the complication rate of penile prosthetic implantation in patients with SCI was higher than in the general population, penile prosthetic implantation improves the quality of life with regard to sexual function and urinary management in patients with SCI.
Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Lacerations ; Necrosis ; Penile Prosthesis* ; Quality of Life ; Skin ; Spinal Cord Injuries* ; Spinal Cord*

PURPOSE: The study was done to introduce the new small incision sutureless extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) surgical technique and its safety using phaco prechopper. METHODS: After 4.5 mm scleral frown incision from 2 mm surgical limbus, continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis and complete hydrodissection, nucleus was divided into 2 fragments with phaco prechopper which is special forceps for nuclear divider in the bag. One piece of lens was drawn into anterior chamber from capsular bag using Sinskey hook and removed it with Wilder lens loop (size:4 x15 mm) from anterior chamber. The other piece of lens was removed with the same method. To evaluate the safety of new method compared to phacoemulsification (P.E), analysis of the serial changes of the corneal endothelial cell density, hexagonal pattern and mean cell sizes before and 3months after the operation in 40eyes (ECCE group : 20eyes, P.E group : 20eyes) was made. RESULTS: There were no significant complications such as posterior capsular rupture, vitreous loss, capsulorhexis tear but transient corneal edema was found. The mean percentage of corneal endothelial cell loss was 9.05+/-6.5% in ECCE group and 9.80+/-6.7% in the P.E group. CONCLUSIONS: This new method is safe, easy and does not require expensive instrumentation. It can be of great help for the phaco beginners to practice capsulorhexis, hydrodissection and the use of phaco system. We think it is an alternative method for phacoemulsification in cataract surgery.
Anterior Chamber ; Capsulorhexis ; Cataract ; Cataract Extraction ; Cell Size ; Corneal Edema ; Corneal Endothelial Cell Loss ; Endothelial Cells ; Phacoemulsification ; Rupture ; Surgical Instruments

A case of Korean hemorrhagic fevery confirmed by fluorescent antibody technique in a 8years old boy was reported with a brief review of references.
Fluorescent Antibody Technique* ; Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome* ; Humans ; Male

Carcinoma Showing Thymus-Like Differentiation (CASTLE) is a rare tumor, which occurs in the thyroid gland and surrounding soft tissue, or soft tissue of the neck. It is thought to originate from ectopic thymus or branchial pouch remnants. We report a case of CASTLE of the thyroid gland in a 42-year-old woman. Grossly, a nodular, partly well demarcated, grayish yellow, 3.0 2.0 cm sized, solid mass was found in the right thyroid gland. Microscopically, the tumor was divided into lobules of variable size and shape, nests and cords with thin and thick fibrous septa which were infiltrated by lymphocytes and plasma cells. The tumor cells were large, polygonal and had vesicular nuclei with prominent nucleoli and eosinophilic cytoplasm. Some cells, especially in the central portion of the nests had abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm and showed squamoid feature.
Adult ; Cytoplasm ; Eosinophils ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; Neck ; Plasma Cells ; Thymus Gland ; Thyroid Gland*

BACKGROUND: Atracurium is a benzylisoquinolium nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocking drug. It releases histamine upon the rapid administration of more than 2 x ED95. Cisatracurium is about three to four times more potent than atracurium, less likely to release histamine, and has weaker cardiovascular or autonomic effects. Mivacurium releases histamine to about the same degree as atracurium at the same dose. This study was undertaken to reevaluate the experimental model for the evaluation of effects on the autonomic nervous system, and to determine the neuromuscular blocking profiles and the vagolytic effects of atracurium, cisatracurium and mivacurium in cats. METHODS: Cats, either sex, anesthetized with pentobarbital, were used. Neuromuscular blocking effects were assessed using the effects on the anterior tibialis muscle twitch evoked with supramaximal stimuli (0.2 ms-duration, 0.1 Hz). Inhibition of the parasympathetic nervous system was assessed in response to bradycardia to vagal nerve stimulation with ten-second trains of square-waves (0.5 ms-duration, 20 Hz). The dose-response curves for both neuromuscular blocking and vagolytic actions were determined for each animal. The dose-response curves were constructed in cumulative fashion. The response for vagal stimuli was measured two minute after each dosing. Vagal ID50 (The doses that produced 50% inhibition of the response to vagus nerve stimulation) were determined. RESULTS: NMB ED95 and NMB ED50, respectively, were 102.0 +/- 28.3 and 143.7 +/- 40.5 microgram/kg for atracurium, 81.4 +/- 13.3 and 110.7 +/- 18.8 microgram/kg for cisatracurium, and 56.8 +/- 17.4 and 74.2 +/- 25.0 microgram/kg for mivacurium. Vagal ID50 was 2,654 +/- 1,651 microgram/kg for atracurium, 655 +/- 389 microgram/kg for cisatracurium, and 606 +/- 182 microgram/kg for mivacurium. The vagal ID50/NMB ED95 and vagal ID50/NMB ED50 were 18.5 and 26.0 for atracurium, 5.9 and 8.1 for cisatracurium, and 8.2 and 10.7 for mivacurium. CONCLUSIONS: Atracurium has a wider margin of safety only for vagal stimulation as compared with cisatracurium and mivacurium. However, we couldn't exclude that either sympathetic stimulation or histamine release might contribute to heart rate.
Animals ; Atracurium* ; Autonomic Agents ; Autonomic Nervous System ; Bradycardia ; Cats* ; Heart Rate ; Histamine ; Histamine Release ; Models, Theoretical ; Neuromuscular Blockade* ; Parasympathetic Nervous System ; Pentobarbital ; Vagus Nerve ; Vagus Nerve Stimulation

Acanthamoeba keratitis is uncommon and rarely reported in Korea. It has been reported in world literature as a very severe, progressive necrotizing stromal keratitis due to a non-parasitic free-living amoeba. It is frequently associated with minimal corneal trauma especially from contact lens but sometimes occurs in patients without any past history. We report a case of acanthamoeba keratitis without a specific past history in a 42-year-old man. Light and electron microscopy demonstrated severe stromal keratitis with numerous thick-walled cysts, 10~15 m in diameter, scattered in the superficial and deep stroma. Because this keratitis is most often mistaken for fungal, bacterial or herpetic keratitis, early confirmatory diagnosis by direct smear, biopsy or culture is essentially required for the prevention of visual loss or devastating eyeball loss.
Acanthamoeba Keratitis* ; Acanthamoeba* ; Adult ; Amoeba ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Keratitis ; Keratitis, Herpetic ; Korea ; Microscopy, Electron

BACKGROUND: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a common respiratory disorder in children, which necessitates hospitalization. Bacterial pneumonia, especially lobar pneumonia and parapneumonic effusions, is associated with considerably severe clinical course and extensive alveolar infiltrates. Serum procalcitonin (PCT) level has been used to distinguish bacterial from viral infections, but its usefulness is disputed. The diagnostic accuracy and usefulness of PCT, C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and white blood cell (WBC) count were determined by comparing their values in the patients with CAP with those in healthy controls. METHODS: The serum PCT levels, as well as CRP level, ESR, and WBC counts, were measured in 76 hospitalized patients with CAP (lobar pneumonia, 16; bronchopneumonia, 60) and 18 healthy controls. Serum PCT level was measured using VIDAS(R) BRAHMS PCT (Biomerieux, France), and ROC curve analysis was performed to evaluate its diagnostic accuracy. RESULTS: Serum PCT levels were higher in the patients with CAP than in healthy controls, especially in the patients with lobar pneumonia than in those with bronchopneumonia. Serum CRP level was also significantly elevated in the patients with CAP, especially in those with lobar pneumonia. The diagnostic accuracy of serum PCT level for the diagnosis of lobar pneumonia was better than those of serum CRP level and ESR. The serum PCT level was significantly correlated with the CRP level, ESR, and WBC count. CONCLUSIONS: Serum PCT level was a better marker than CRP level or ESR for the diagnosis of lobar pneumonia in children with CAP.
Adolescent ; Biological Markers/blood ; Blood Sedimentation ; Bronchopneumonia/complications ; C-Reactive Protein/analysis ; Calcitonin/*blood ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Community-Acquired Infections/complications/*diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Leukocyte Count ; Male ; Pneumonia/complications/*diagnosis ; Protein Precursors/*blood ; ROC Curve

PURPOSE: Environmental factors may increase risk for childhood asthma. The objective of this study was to investigate the association of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure and home environment with the development of wheeze and asthma. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 969 elementary school students. Data included questions about asthma and wheeze symptoms, exposure to tobacco smoke, and home environment including history of moving into a new house within 1 year of age after birth, use of fragrance at home, recent purchase of new furniture. Logistic regression and Pearson chi statistics were used to estimate these associations. RESULTS: ETS exposure was associated with current wheeze and nocturnal sleep disturbance. Paternal smoking over 20 cigarettes per day was associated with 4 or more episodes of wheeze during the past 1 year. However, there were no significant differences in pulmonary function, serum total IgE levels, blood eosinophil counts, and atopy between children with ETS exposure and non-exposure. Moving into a new house within 1 year of birth was associated with current asthma or wheeze. Use of fragrance at home and purchase of new furniture during the past 1 year were associated with current wheeze, current physician-diagnosed asthma, and nocturnal cough. CONCLUSION: Exposure to ETS, moving into a new house after birth, and indoor fragrance are risk factors for wheeze and asthma in schoolchildren.
Asthma ; Child ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Eosinophils ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Interior Design and Furnishings ; Logistic Models ; Parturition ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Tobacco ; Tobacco Products

Tyrosinemia type 1 is an autosomal recessive inborn error of tyrosine metabolism that caused a mutation in the gene coding for the enzyme fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase(FAH). As a result, maleylacetoacetate(MAA) and fumarylacetoacetate(FAA) are formed. The accumulated FAA is converted into succinylacetone(SA) and succinylacetoacetate(SAA) which are excreted in urine. The first report with typical clinical and biochemical findings was presented by Sakai in 1957. Clinically, the disorder is characterized by progressive liver damage with liver failure, a high risk of hepatocellular carcinoma and renal tubular dysfunction hypophosphataemic rickets. Some patients have porphyria-like episodes. Liver transplantation has been the ultimate treatment of tyrosinemia. However pharmacological therapy with 2-(2-nitro-4-trifluoromethylbenzoyl) -1,3-cyclohexanedione(NTBC) has offered a new therapeutic option in addition to dietary restriction of tyrosine and phenylalanine. We experienced a case of tyrosinemia type 1 with cytomegalovirus infection in a 4-month-old male who improved by dietary restriction of tyrosine and phenylalanine.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Clinical Coding ; Cytomegalovirus Infections* ; Cytomegalovirus* ; Humans ; Infant ; Liver ; Liver Failure ; Liver Transplantation ; Male ; Metabolism ; Phenylalanine ; Rickets ; Tyrosine ; Tyrosinemias*