No abstract available.
Hearing* ; Polychondritis, Relapsing* ; Vertigo*

The effect of lumboperitoneal(LP) shunt and the prognostic factors of 40 cases of communicating hydrocephalus confirmed by brain computerized tomography(CT) and/or magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) and radioisotope cisternography(RI) were analyzed. Possible prognostic factors such as disease entity, CT or MRI findings, and the type of radioisotope cisternography were compared to improvement of clinical status after LP shunt. The etiology of communicating hydrocephalus in the analyzed 40 cases included trauma in 13 cases(32.5%), subarachnoid hemorrhage(SAH) in 12 cases(30%), intracerebral hemorrhage(ICH) in 10 cases(25%), and idiopathic in 5 cases(12.5%). An overall clinical improvement after LP shunt was seen in 22 cases(55%). However, in 17 cases of SAH and idiopathic group, improvement after LP shunt was seen in 13 cases(75%), indicating that LP shunt is more effective in SAH/idiopathic group than trauma/ICH group(p<0.05). Many findings of brain CT/MRI such as Evan's index, periventricular low density, 3rd ventricular width, obliteration of cerebral sulci, rounding of frontal horn, and cortical atrophy were analyzed as prognostic factors. Except for the absence of cortical atrophy(p<0.05), none of the factors were related to the patient's outcome. The type of abnormal RI cisternography findings(Typ I, II, III) also did not show any relationship with the effectiveness of LP shunt. These findings suggest that SAH/idiopathic group were more favorable candidates for LP shunt than trauma/ICH group, and that there are no reliable brain CT/MRI findings indicating a good prognosis after LP shunt except for the absence of cortical atrophy. RI cisternography findings are also not a reliable diagnostic tool in evaluating the indication of LP shunt in communicating hydrocephalus.
Animals ; Atrophy ; Brain ; Horns ; Hydrocephalus* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Prognosis

This study was conducted to evaluate three different mixed formulations of sodium hyaluronate (SH) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) using a low-humidity air flow-induced rat dry eye model and determine the most suitable mixture. The total thickness of the cornea, corneal epithelial thickness, corneal stroma thickness, damaged corneal epithelium percentage region, thickness of the bulbar conjunctiva epithelium, number of goblet cells, goblet cell occupation percentage region, and damaged bulbar conjunctiva epithelium percentage region were measured by histomorphological evaluation. After 5 h exposure to drying airflow, the thickness of the cornea and conjunctiva was decreased with desquamation of the corneal and conjunctiva epithelium. However, these dry eye symptoms were markedly inhibited by treatment with the reference and test formulations. More favorable effects on decreased thickness were detected in response to the CMC than the SH. However, SH had a greater protective effect against corneal and conjunctiva epithelial damage. The application of a mixture of 0.1% SH and 0.2% CMC showed more favorable effects on the corneal and conjunctival damage and the stabilization of the ocular surface than SH or CMC alone.
Animals ; Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium* ; Conjunctiva ; Cornea ; Corneal Stroma ; Epithelium ; Epithelium, Corneal ; Goblet Cells ; Hyaluronic Acid* ; Occupations ; Rats* ; Sodium*

The prevalence of periodontal disease was steadily increased. The best prevention methods for periodontal disease are teeth brushing and scaling. The purpose of this study was to investigate the status of scaling experience and related factors among some workers. Total 455 workers in 5 manufacturing companies in Gwangju were selected using convenience sampling method. General characteristics, work-related characteristics, oral health-related characteristics and scaling experience were collected by self-reported questionnaires. Chi-square tests, t-tests and multiple logistic regression analysis were performed to investigate the factors influencing the scaling experience using SPSS software. Statistical significance was defined as a p-value<0.05. The proportion of scaling experience during the past year was 47.0%. In simple analysis, age, current working position, number of oral disease, interest in oral health, use of secondary oral products, oral health screening use, oral health education experience and awareness of scaling inclusion in the National Health Insurance (NHI) coverage were associated with scaling experience. Finally, the odds ratios (ORs) for scaling experience were significantly higher in younger subjects (adjusted OR [aOR], 3.09; 95% confidence internal [CI], 1.60∼5.96), assistant manager (aOR, 2.68; 95% CI, 1.55∼4.63), subjects with high interest in oral health (aOR, 2.15; 95% CI, 1.02∼4.52), subjects with oral health screening use (aOR, 2.76; 95% CI, 1.50∼5.11) and awareness of scaling inclusion in the NHI coverage (aOR; 2.91, 95% CI, 1.80∼4.72) in multiple logistic regression analysis. Scaling experience was relatively low (47.0%). The related factors with scaling experience were age, working position, use of screening and awareness of scaling inclusion in the NHI coverage. Considering these factors will increase the utilization rate of scaling.
Dental Scaling ; Education ; Employment ; Gwangju ; Logistic Models ; Mass Screening ; Methods ; National Health Programs ; Occupations ; Odds Ratio ; Oral Health ; Periodontal Diseases ; Prevalence ; Tooth

Anastomotic stenosis of the colon is not an uncommon finding; however, its frequency varies from one study to another. Traditionally, postoperative colonic stenosis is managed surgically. However, endoscopic therapy has recently become the preferred treatment modality over traditional surgery. Good short-term success has been achieved with use of endoscopic balloon dilation; however, restenosis may occur over time in 14% to 25% of patients. The current report showed the effectiveness and usefulness of an insulated-tip knife (IT-knife) for electrocautery therapy of a patient with symptomatic anastomotic colonic stenosis.
Aged ; Colonoscopy ; Constriction, Pathologic/*therapy ; Electrocoagulation/instrumentation/*methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rectal Neoplasms/radiography/*surgery ; Sigmoid Neoplasms/radiography/*surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: We studied the prevalence of snoring and its association with diseases, obesity and environmental factors, as well as sleep disturbance arising from snoring, in school-aged children. METHODS: The survey was performed by a special questionnaire on 1,707 children at elementary schools from 1 to 30 July 2001 in Gwangju City. The prevalence of snoring, associated factors, and sleep disturbance were evaluated. RESULTS: 266(16.5%) of the children snored at least once a week. 73(4.3%) of the children snored almost every day. Regarding the associated factors of snoring : There was a statistically significant difference between snoring and nonsnoring groups due to gender, obesity, sinusitis, tonsillar hypertrophy, bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis. Of them, male gender, tonsillar hypertrophy, and obesity were significant risk factors for development of snoring. Especially, the odds ratio increased to 1.048(CI, 1.004-1.659), 1.748(CI, 1.175-2.599), and 2.266(CI, 1.300-3.950) in children with an obesity index of 20-29%, 30-49%, >or=50%, respectively. There was a statistically significant association of snoring with decreased sleep duration, sleep talking, and drowsiness during the day as a result of sleep disturbance. CONCLUSION: 16.5% of school-aged children snored at least once a week. The association of snoring with tonsillar hypertrophy, obesity and gender as risk factors was demonstrated in this study.
Asthma ; Child* ; Gwangju ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Male ; Obesity ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Rhinitis ; Risk Factors ; Sinusitis ; Sleep Stages ; Sleep-Wake Transition Disorders ; Snoring*

This study was carried out to assess the present level of atmospheric metals. Five metals-lead, cadmium, chromium, manganese, vanadium-were checked on the industrial(Sasang) and residental area(Daeshindong) in the city of Pusan sampling period was the year of 1986, 1990, and 1994, and the sampling time was 2 days of each site. As the result of comparison with the atmospheric standard of ASHRAE(1980) the average concentrations of lead was above the standard, the average concentrations of chromium was around the standard, and the average concentrations of cadmium and vanadium was below the standard. The average concentrations of manganese was above the standard of industrial environment. And the average concentrations of five metals was higher in the industrial area than the residental area The average concentrations of lead cadmium and chromium showed the increase tendency by the year, and the average concentrations of vanadium showed no change, and the average concentrations of manganese showed the decrease tendency. As a result of correlation analysis, lead and cadmium(r=0.31), vanadium and manganese(r=0.24), vanadium and chromium(r=0.19) showed significance.
Busan* ; Cadmium ; Chromium ; Manganese ; Metals ; Metals, Heavy* ; Vanadium

PURPOSE: We studied the prevalence and long-term trend of childhood obesity after puberty to help in managing and treating obesity. METHODS: We surveyed obesity index of children at age 13 and 17 who was diagnosed as obesity at their age 7. 1,559 students consisting of 753 boys and 806 girls had followed up since 1992 until 2002. Obesity was defined as the obesity index over 20 percent. RESULTS: The prevalence of obesity was 3.1% at age 7, 7.1% at age 13 and 13.0% at age 17, which increased significantly with getting older in age in both sex. Among obese children at age 7, 67.5 percent remained obese at age 17. 66.6% of the obese boys at age 7 and 68.4% of the obese girls at age 7 remained obese at age 17. The proportion of severe obesity in obese boys was increased as they were old, but not in obese girls. The progression to moderate and severe obesity at age 17 was prominent for obese boys at age 7, compared to the obese girls. 12.7% of normal weight boys at age 7 and 9.8% of normal weight girls at age 7 became obese at age 17. CONCLUSION: We think that the prevention and treatment of obesity during puberty is as important as those in the childhood.
Adolescent ; Child ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Obesity ; Obesity, Morbid ; Pediatric Obesity* ; Prevalence ; Puberty*

Appendiceal bleeding is a kind of lower gastrointestinal bleeding. For treatment, it is essential to identify the location of the lower gastrointestinal tract bleeding. Appendiceal bleeding has some diagnostic difficultie. It is a very rare condition, and colonoscopy shows only the appendiceal orfice. Recently, multidetector computed tomography has increasingly been used in the diagnostic evaluation of most vascular diseases. Herein, we report the case of an appendiceal bleeding diagnosed by using abdominal multidetector computed tomography, and we present a the literature.
Appendix* ; Colonoscopy ; Hemorrhage* ; Lower Gastrointestinal Tract ; Multidetector Computed Tomography* ; Vascular Diseases

Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome has been defined as perihepatitis accompanying pelvic inflammatory disease caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis. In the acute phase, patients usually complain of severe right upper quadrant pain of sudden onset. The pain is sharp, pleuritic and most intense at the level of the right lower rib margin and thus it is frequently confused with acute cholecystitis or pleurisy. Definitive diagnosis of Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome needs invasive procedures such as laparoscopy or laparotomy, but considering that Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome is a benign condition that can be cured by oral administration of appropriate antibiotics, noninvasive diagnosis is desirable. Recently, we have experienced two cases of Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome in acute phase accompanied with sharp and pleuritic right upper quadrant pain. In one case, pelvic inflammatory disease was not definite, so at first we mistook it for acute cholecystitis and reactivation of chronic hepatitis B. In the other case, Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome followed the preceding, typical pelvic inflammatory disease. Both cases were diagnosed noninvasively and treated successfully by oral administration of antibiotics.
Adult ; Chlamydia Infections/*diagnosis ; *Chlamydia trachomatis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Gonorrhea/*diagnosis ; Hepatitis/*diagnosis ; Humans ; Pelvic Inflammatory Disease/*diagnosis ; Syndrome