BACKGROUND: Effective evaluation of an article's scientific merit requires familiarity with the methodology described, especially when quantitative techniques, such as statistical procedures, are invoked to clarify research findings or to summarize data. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to describe the frequency with which various statistical concepts were reported in journals important to dermatology. From these results, dermatologists can identify the major statistical skills needed to critically evaluate their literature. METHODS: All 376 original articles of the Korean Journal of Dermatology(KJD) and the Annals of Dermatology(KAD) during 1990-1994 were chosen for review. Each article was re-viewed to determine the statistical content. RESULTS: The two most commonly used statistical techniques in the two journals were mean and standard deviation. The t-test was the next most frequently used statistical technique in the reviewed journals, followed by non-parametric, chi-square test, orphan p, ANOVA, and correlation/regression. CONCLUSION: These results indicate the need for wider education about the use of descriptive and basic comparative statistics. It is impossible to evaluate the dermatological literature critically without these skills.
Child ; Child, Orphaned ; Dermatology* ; Education ; Humans ; Recognition (Psychology)

Dural metastasis associated with chronic subdural hematoma is very rare in patients with malignant neoplasms; it may be difficult to distinguish malignant neoplasms from chronic subdural hematoma. Chronic subdural hematoma is usually a late manifestation of malignant tumors, which contributes to the severity of the prognosis. The scans obtained by using magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography may be misleading when a subdural hematoma masks the underlying tumor. Herein, we report a case of a subdural hematoma with dural metastasis of unknown origin in a 45-year-old woman; however, the neoplasm was not detected until autopsy.
Adenocarcinoma ; Autopsy* ; Female ; Hematoma, Subdural* ; Hematoma, Subdural, Chronic ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Masks ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis

No abstract available.
Sarcoma*

In the condition of diabetic retinopathy, the vascular changes are localized primarily in the retinal capillaries and are presumed to promote angiogenesis. To investigate the change of retinal blood flow velocities and morphological parameters in diabetic retinopathy, we measured perifoveal capillary blood velocities(v) and the size of foveal avascular zones(FAZ). Thirteen patients with diabetic maculopathy and nine healthy volunteers were included in this study. The scanning laser technique in conjunction with an image analysing system were used to assess the morphological and hemodynamic changes in diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic maculopathy group showed a slower capillary blood velocity than normal group(2.44+/-0.39mm/sec vs2.75+/-0.61 mm/sec, p>0.18). The foveal avascular zone was significantly larger in diabetic maculopathy group than in normal group(313.5+/-64.6micrometervs. 238.9+/-93.8micrometer, p<0.05). This results indicate that the retinal microcirculation is altered in diabetic patients compared with healthy subjects. These alterations may be due to the change of the capillary wall and blood viscosity in diabetic patients. The determination of these parameters can be utilized in monitoring the progress of diabetic maculopathy.
Blood Flow Velocity ; Blood Viscosity ; Capillaries ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Healthy Volunteers ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Microcirculation ; Retinaldehyde

Orbital lymphangiomas are benign vascular hamartomas that may be found in the conjunctiva, the eyelids, the orbit, or elsewhere in the head and neck region. Deep lymphangiomatous lesions are classically characterized by acute onset of a fulminant proptosis resulting from spontaneous hemorrhage within the orbit. Complete surgical excision is often difficult because of the infiltrative nature of the tumor.We report one case of lymphangiomas considered to be associated with cavernous hemangioma which could not be removed completely by several surgical excisions and was exenterated because of orbital abscess of unknown origin and septic condition.
Abscess* ; Conjunctiva ; Exophthalmos ; Eyelids ; Hamartoma ; Head ; Hemangioma, Cavernous ; Hemorrhage ; Lymphangioma ; Neck ; Orbit*

Although there have been several reported cases of enterocolitis caused by Yersinia enterocolitica, its colonoscopic findings have not been reported in Korea. We recently experienced two cases of Y. enterocolitica enterocolitis, where the colonoscopic examinations were performed. Two patients visited our hospital due to right lower quadrant pain. The thickened terminal ileum and right side colon with enlarged mesenteric nodes were observed on ultrasonography using graded compression method. Y. enterocolitica was isolated from stool in both cases, The colonascopy revealed nodular elevations, erosion., hyperemia, and edema on the terminal ileum and small hyperemic erosions or aphthoid ulcers on the colon, especially on the right side of the colon. In one of the cases, the aphthoid ulcers could be also seen on the sigmoid colon. Their clinical symptoms and signs improved 3-5 days after their visit without using antibiotics. We report these cases with a review of the relevant literature.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Colon ; Colon, Sigmoid ; Colonoscopy ; Edema ; Enterocolitis* ; Esophagus* ; Humans ; Hyperemia ; Ileum ; Intestines* ; Korea ; Lymphadenitis* ; Stomach* ; Ulcer ; Ultrasonography ; Yemen* ; Yersinia enterocolitica* ; Yersinia*

PURPOSE: Since 1995, we have annually surveyed the members of the Korean Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (KSCRS) on cataract surgery technique, anesthesia, intraocular lens and refractive surgery to understand the current situation and future trends in these fields. METHODS: Eighth annual survey forms consisted of 114 multiple-choice questions mailed in Feburary 2003 to 385 ophthalmologists of the KSCRS. Approximately 28.1% of the questionaires mailed were returned. Current data were compared with previous annual survey and data from Japan and USA. RESULTS: Hospitalized period is decreased annually and use of topical anesthesia (44%) increased. Self sealing wound construction was the main wound closure technique in phacoemulsification accounted for 54%. Most preferred intraocular lenses for small incision cataract surgery are acrylic (58%), increased highly. The number of members performing excimer laser keratomileusis for refractive surgery was increased (77%). Most respondants preferred LASIK without regard to diopter range. Legal problems on excimer laser and LASIK is in increased. The implantation of phakic IOL is performed by 17% of the members and 91% of members are interested in it. CONCLUSIONS: From this survey, we found current trend and change in cataract and refractive surgery in Korea are similar to those of Japan and USA.
Anesthesia ; Cataract* ; Japan ; Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ ; Korea* ; Lasers, Excimer ; Lenses, Intraocular ; Phacoemulsification ; Postal Service ; Refractive Surgical Procedures* ; Wound Closure Techniques ; Wounds and Injuries

PURPOSE: To report the case of a silastic sheet that was found during an endoscopic transnasal dacryocystorhinostomy for treatment of acute dacryocystitis with necrosis of the lacrimal sac. METHODS: A thirty-two year old male presented with painful swelling on the nasal side of his left lower lid two weeks prior to visiting this clinic. Fourteen years ago, the patient was involved in a traffic accident and underwent surgery to reconstruct the ethmoidal sinus. Lacrimal sac massage showed a regurgitation of a purulent discharge from the left lower punctum. Therefore, the patient was diagnosed with acute dacryocystitis and an endoscopic transnasal dacryocystostomy was performed the next day. RESULTS: The surgical finding showed severe necrosis around the lacrimal sac and a 20 x 15-mm sized silastic sheet was found crumpled within the purulent discharge. The sheet was removed, the lacrimal sac was irrigated with an antibiotic solution, and a silicone tube was intubated into the lacrimal pathway. After surgery, the painful swelling on the nasal side of left lower lid resolved gradually, and there were no symptomatic complications three months later. CONCLUSIONS: We report the first case where a silastic sheet applied during a facial reconstruction had migrated adjacent to the lacrimal sac resulting in severe inflammation.
Silicones/*adverse effects ; Reoperation ; Prosthesis Implantation ; Prosthesis Failure ; Male ; Intraoperative Period ; Humans ; Foreign-Body Migration/*complications/surgery ; Facial Injuries/surgery ; Ethmoid Sinus/injuries/surgery ; *Endoscopy ; Dimethylpolysiloxanes/*adverse effects ; Dacryocystorhinostomy/*methods ; Dacryocystitis/*etiology/surgery ; Adult

PURPOSE: We describe a very rare the leiomyosarcoma that developed in the conjunctiva. METHODS: A 59-year-old man was treated at another hospital two months before presenting to our institution. He had not gotten any better and so was admitted to our hospital. He had normal visual acuity and intraocular pressure. However, we found a geographic, highly vascularized mass involving the corneal limbus in the medial bulbar conjunctiva, from which a pterygium had been removed a year previously. An excision of the mass was carried out to detect a suspected conjunctival intraepithelial neoplasm. RESULTS: Tissue obtained from operation had cells with thin nuclei, spindle cells with pleomorphic cigar-shaped nuclei and eosinophilic cytoplasm, atypical cells, and from four to five mitotic figures under ten high power field. In immunohistochemical staining, Vimentin, Smooth muscle actin (SMA), Desmin, CD68 stained positively and cytokeratin, Cam5.2, S-100, HMB-45, CD 34 stained negatively. We found no clues of other origins from the general physical examination. Considering these factors, we conclude that this was a Stage I, G2T1aN0M0 leiomyosarcoma with moderate differentiation. CONCLUSIONS: Analysis by immunohistochemical staining is necessary to detect leiomyosarcoma in the conjunctiva, as it is very rare and hard to diagnose by the histologic method alone. We report a leiomyosarcoma of the conjunctiva after pterygium excision, and suggest that it be considered a differential diagnosis of conjunctival masses, even though it is very rare.
Actins ; Adult ; Carcinoma in Situ ; Conjunctiva* ; Cytoplasm ; Desmin ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Eosinophils ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Keratins ; Leiomyosarcoma* ; Limbus Corneae ; Middle Aged ; Muscle, Smooth ; Physical Examination ; Pterygium ; Vimentin ; Visual Acuity

No abstract available.
Antigens, CD20/metabolism ; Colonic Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology/surgery ; Colonoscopy ; Humans ; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone/*diagnosis/pathology/surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/metabolism