This study was performed in order to evaluate the sero-epidemiological status of toxoplasmosis in pregnant Korean women. Among 5, 175 sera and 750 amniotic fluid samples obtained from pregnant women, 41 serum samples (0.79%) and 10 (1.33%) amniotic fluid samples tested positive for IgG antibodies by ELISA. Fifty one cases showing a score more than 0.25 on ELISA were tested for PCR reaction against the SAG1 gene. Only one case of the 51 ELISA positive cases exhibited a positive reaction on all tests. This case had a history of acute nephropyelitis during early pregnancy, but fortunately, had delivered a phenotypically healthy baby. In this study, the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women was found to be comparatively low, consistent with previous reports from Korea. However our trials, performed with a variety of diagnostic tools, were considered to be useful for the precise diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis.
Adult ; Animals ; Antibodies, Protozoan/*blood ; Female ; Humans ; Korea/epidemiology ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications/diet therapy/*epidemiology ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Toxoplasma/*immunology ; Toxoplasmosis/*epidemiology

The Clinical Resemblance of the rare carcinoma of the meibomian gland to the relatively frequent chalazion should be kept in mind by anyone performing eye lid surgery. The author recently experienced two cases of Meibomian gland adenocarcinoma of upper lid. In the first case a 65-year old female visited our hospital in March, 1976 with a large mass in the right upper eyelid which had showed progressive enlargement of two years duration. A Diopsy was carried out and the histopathological examination revealed sebaceous adenocarcinoma. She was treated with local resection with full thickness containing normal tissue around the lesion of upper lid and reconstructive surgery for upper eyelid. A radiation therapy was performed with good result. In second case, a 80-year old female visited our hospital in Dec. 1975 with a large mass in the left upper eye lid which had showed progressive enlargement of one year duration. The tumor was resected and the histopathologic examination revealed sebaceous adenocarcinoma. A radiation therapy was performed with good result.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Adenocarcinoma, Sebaceous ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Chalazion ; Eyelids ; Female ; Humans ; Meibomian Glands*

Of 43 eyes with retinal detachment reviewed for this slit lamp biomicroscopic study, 35 eyes (81.4%) were associated with retinal breaks. Most attention has been concerned with the degenerative changes that so frequently occur in the retina: these together with associated degenerations of the vitreous gel, posterior vitreous detachments and the part played by the adherence of membranes and bands to the retina in determining the origin of a tear in this tissue. The authors are of the opinion, that total posterior vitreous detachment with collapse, is one of the predisposing factors to lead to a horseshoe tear. In posterior vitreous detachment with collapse, the solid vitreous in the superior part is found only anteriorly next to the vitreous base. In event of trauma and sudden movement of the eyeball, vitreoretinal adhesion, which when located in superior part of peripheral fundus may be pulled anteriorly and tangentially from the internal surface of the retina and so the base of the operculum deflects toward the ora serrata. (S.Fig. 9A) On the other hand, in simple total posterior vitreous detachment, a round hole often occurs in the equator as well as in the macular region, because the solidification power or the formed vitreous operates as the force on the vitreoretinal adhesion toward the center of the eyeball. (S.Fig. 9 Band C) With various advantages of the slit lamp biomioroscopic findings of vitreous and retina, retinopexies (diathermies and cryothermies) and vitrectomies could be effectively performed. Postoperative progress of 32 eyes were observed with slit lamp and compared with postoperative findings related with various methods of operations. In emmetropic and slight myopic eyes, only surface diathermy produced sufficient effects for retina surgery; so far there is no mechanical hindrances to the apposition of the retina to its bed caused by retraction bands in the vitreous or fixed retinal folds. In macular break, we prefer to manage by mean of cryopexy; a more dramatic effect could be attained by additional implantation of amniotic tissue in the posterior pole. Dextran, as a vitreous substitute, which was proposed by Won Sik Yoon in his animal experiments, is not suitable, because it has a tendency to retract solid vitreous.
Animal Experimentation ; Causality ; Dextrans ; Diathermy ; Hand ; Membranes ; Retina ; Retinal Detachment ; Retinal Perforations ; Retinaldehyde ; Vitrectomy* ; Vitreous Detachment

The nfa1 gene was cloned from a cDNA library of pathogenic Naegleria fowleri by immunoscreening; it consisted of 360 bp and produced a 13.1 kDa recombinant protein (rNfa1) that showed the pseudopodia-specific localization by immunocytochemistry in the previous study. Based on the idea that the pseudopodia-specific Nfa1 protein mentioned above seems to be involved in the pathogenicity of N. fowleri, we observed the effect of an anti-Nfa1 antibody on the proliferation of N. fowleri trophozoites and the cytotoxicity of N. fowleri trophozoites on the target cells. The proliferation of N. fowleri trophozoites was inhibited after being treated with an anti-Nfa1 polyclonal antibody in a dose-dependent manner for 48 hrs. By a light microscope, CHO cells co-cultured with N. fowleri trophozoites (group I) for 48 hrs showed severe morphological destruction. On the contrary, CHO cells co-cultured with N. fowleri trophozoites and anti-Nfa1 polyclonal antibody (1: 100 dilution) (group II) showed less destruction. In the LDH release assay results, group I showed 50.6% cytotoxicity, and group II showed 39.3%. Consequently, addition of an anti-Nfa1 polyclonal antibody produced a decreasing effect of in vitro cytotoxicity of N. fowleri in a dosedependent manner.
Animals ; Antibodies, Protozoan/*immunology ; Antigens, Protozoan/genetics/*immunology ; CHO Cells ; Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic ; Female ; Hamsters ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Naegleria fowleri/growth & development/immunology/*pathogenicity ; Protozoan Proteins/genetics/*immunology ; Recombinant Proteins/immunology ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

An extracapsular lens extra.ction usually provides an excellent functional result and leaves an eye whose anatomic integrity in some ways exceeds that seen after an intracapsular lens extraction. This technique has the advantage of a smaller incision and a shorter convalescence. In the prevention of certain complications such as operative vitreous loss and postoperative cystoid macular edema, well planned extracapsular lens extraction before surgery is followed by far fewer complications than the misfortune of a ruptured capsule of an immature cataract. Cataract extraction was performed as usual conventional method. Intracapsular lens extraction was performed in 21 eyes and extracapsular lens extraction in 15 eyes. Although the incidence of iris adhesion to the cornea or vitreous, iris peaking, vitreous adhesion to the posterior corneal wound and operative rupture of the anterior hyaloid membrane were higher than those of the intracapsular lens extraction, sorious complications were not resulted. Fundus fluorescein angiograms were taken in all patients within 6 months postoperatively. The incidence of cystoid macular edema in the extracapsular lens extraction (33%) was lower than that of the intracapsular lens extraction(43%).
Cataract Extraction ; Cataract* ; Convalescence ; Cornea ; Fluorescein ; Humans ; Incidence ; Iris ; Macular Edema ; Membranes ; Rupture ; Wounds and Injuries

The purpose of this paper is to describe the most appropriate surgical techniques in the repair of retinal dialyses up to 180 degrees. In this sesies, silicon bands were used as an encircling element with conserved sclera implant. Perhaps a circling buckle will decrease a traction of vitreoretinal pathology located in equatorial area and reduce the rate of recurrence in patients who are exposed to an active life with repeated minor traumata. Retinal dialyses up to 90 degrees have been treated with a shorter and higher implant because the ends stretch the retina circumferentially by the sloping ends of the buckle. All of the 37 eyes with a dialysis up to 90 degrees and a clinical retinal detachment maintained successful reattachment of the retina. In retinal dialyses between 90-180 degrees a long, broad and lower implant was applied. The sclera was lamellarly dissected into two flaps extending approximately one hour of the clock beyond each end of the tear. In five of ten eyes with giant break, the posterior edge of tear could be settled on the underlying pigment epithelium during slight compression on sclera with Eisner's contact lens ane in five eyes the flap was everted and immobile. The retina was intentionally incarce rated on the buckle when the flap was everted and immobile. By this technique a giant dialysis could be transformed into two neighbouring dialyses up to 90 degrees. Of those eyes without everted three out of five were successfully reattached and of those eyes with an everted immobile flap four out of five eyes. 93.6% of the consecutive 47 cases of dialyses with a clinical retinal detachment were successfully reattached. If the patient with a postequatorial large horseshoe-shaped tear and a case with chorioretinohyalopathy and neovascularization of the chamber angle were excluded, the success rate rose to 97.9%. Three cases of the successful reattachment required a second operation. This report reviewed the results of the technique in the treatment of retinal detachment caused by dialyses up to 180 degrees. In a previous study, the management yielded a 95.7% success rate in retinal detachment caused by equatorial break operated by one of us. No comparison can be made between the success rate of these two types of tears (P>0.05) since all gave consistently excellent result.
Dialysis* ; Epithelium ; Humans ; Intention ; Pathology ; Recurrence ; Retina ; Retinal Detachment ; Retinal Perforations ; Retinaldehyde* ; Sclera ; Silicones ; Traction

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the prevalence rate of Taenia spp. infection and distribution of taeniasis caused by T. solium among Koreans in several localities in Korea during the period from 1977 to 1980. A total of 1,946 stool specimens collected from students and inhabitants of Chungcheong Bug Do and Gyeongsang Nam Do were examined by cellophane thick smear method. Among them, 40 persons were detected as Taenia egg positive cases. The overall positive rate of Taenia spp. shows 2.1 percent. The prevalence rate of male (2.3 percent) is relatively higher than that of female (1.4 percent). In order to observe the distribution of Taenia solium infection, the whole worms or a part of proglottids of Taenia spp. were collected from the stools of egg positive cases by normal defecation or anthelmintic treatment. For the species identification, expelled proglottids were examined microscopically by the number of branches of the uterus, presence of a vaginal sphincter or the accessory ovarian lobe etc. Among 199 egg detected cases in this study 59 (39.1 percent) out of 151 cases in Seoul, 12(40.0 percent) of 30 cases in Gyeongsang Nam Do and 2 (25.0 percent) from 8 taeniasis cases in Cheju Do were infected with T. solium. But none of T. solium infection was found from 10 egg positive cases in Chungcheong Bug Do. As a whole, the composition of species shows 36.7 per cent of T. solium infection and 55.8 percent of T. saginata infection, and in 7.5 per cent the species were not identified.
parasitology-helminth-trematoda ; Taenia spp. ; Taenia solium ; Taenia saginata

Pregnancy-induced hypertension(PIH) is a syndrome of hypertension, proteinuria, generalized edema and occasionally superimposed convulsions after the 20th weeks of gestation. It is a cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. Causes of marternal mortality from PIH include intracranial hemorrage, cerebral edema and pulmonary edema. Mitral regurgitation(MR) is the second most common valvular defect in pregancy, but well tolerated by pregnant women. The reduced systemic vascular resistance characteristic of pregnancy may even reduce the intensity of the murmur of MR becauce of increased forward flow and less backward flow. Acute MR result in a sudden and dramatic increase in left atrial pressure that can lead to pulmonary congestion, pulmonary hypertension and right heart failure. This is a case report of patient with toxemia and MR who underwent emergency cesarean section. She was treated with oxygen, diuretics, steroids, bronchodilators, digitalis, semisitting position, suction and positive end-expiratory pressure(PEEP). She recovered completely.
Atrial Pressure ; Brain Edema ; Bronchodilator Agents ; Cesarean Section* ; Digitalis ; Diuretics ; Edema ; Emergencies* ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Female ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency* ; Mortality ; Oxygen ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Proteinuria ; Pulmonary Edema* ; Seizures ; Steroids ; Suction ; Toxemia* ; Vascular Resistance

The authors carried out the funduscopic examination in 53 cases of leukemia (acute myeloblastic leukemia 17, acute lymphoblastic leukemia 2.0, acute monocytic leukemia 9, chronic myelogenous leukemia 5, acute progranulocytic leukemia 2) and 51 cases of various anemias (aplastic anemia 37, iron deficiency anemia, secondary anemia due to bleeding 4, miscellaneous 4) which were confirmed by hematological studies at Kyung-Pook National University Hospital from October 1969 to October 1975. The following results were obtained. 1) Of 53 cases of leukemia, 62% revealed retinopathy with retinal homorrhage. In 65% of 17 cases of acute myeloblastic leukemia, 55% of 2.0 cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, 77 % of 9 cases of acute monocytic leukemia, and 4.0% of 5 cases of chronic myelogenous leukemia, retinopathies were noted. 2) Of 51 cases of anemia, 45% revealed retinopathy with retinal hemorrhage. In 49% of 37 cases of aplastic anemia, and 33% of 6 cases of iron deficiency anemia, retinopathies were noted, but none of secondary anemia due to blood loss had retinal hemorrhage. 3) Acute leukemia had more retinal hemorrhage frequency than chronic leukemia. 4) The extent of the retinal hemorrhages seemed to parallel the severity of the anemia in aplastic anemia. 5) Generally the thrombocytopenia was noted in the aplastic anemia but the extent of the retinal hemorrhages not seemed to parallel the severity of the thrombocytopenia. 6) The extent of the retinal hemorrhages seemed to parallel the severity of the anemia in iron deficiency anemia. 7) Specific retinal pictures could not be noted in the various blood dyscrasias. 8) With the retinal pictures, no differentiation on type of the leukemia and the anemia could be noted.
Anemia* ; Anemia, Aplastic ; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency ; Granulocyte Precursor Cells ; Hemorrhage ; Leukemia* ; Leukemia, Monocytic, Acute ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; Retinal Hemorrhage ; Retinaldehyde ; Thrombocytopenia

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the appropriateness of prehospital emergency care by 119 rescue services in Seoul. METHODS: We enrolled all patients who used 119 rescue services in Seoul between January and Sepember 2006 and analyzed the 119 ambulance patient care record databases. Major emergencies were defined and categorized into four groups: cardiopulmonary complaint (CP), neurologic complaint (NR), cardiorespiratory arrest (CA) and major trauma (MT). Interventions provided by emergency medical technicians were scored as 2:essential, 1:optional and 0:unnecessary in each category of major emergency. We summed scores of provided interventions per patient and graded them into four levels for conducting the appropriateness review. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the relationship of risk factors to the appropriateness of intervention. RESULTS: Total number of cases was 171,112 of which 36,065 were major emergencies. The proportion of "very low" level appropriate was 40.1% for CP (N=11,522). 49.3% for NR (N=15,239), 14.5% for CA (N=1,591), and 32.7% for MT (N=7,713). The proportion of "high" level was less than 3% except for CA(11.3%). Variables affecting the "moderate" or "high" level of appropriateness of prehospital emergency care, as determined by multivariate logistic regression analysis, were age > or =65(OR: 1.425, 95% CI: 1.337-1.520), female gender (OR: 0.880, 95% CI: 0.828-0.935), and type of complaint in the order CP (OR: 0.181, 95% CI: 0.161-0.204), NR (OR: 0.184, 95% CI: 0.164-0.207), and MT (OR: 0.202, 95% CI: 0.178-0.229). CONCLUSION: The prehospital emergency care of 119 rescue services in Seoul was frequently inappropriate and was influenced by patient's age, gender and chief complaints.
Ambulances ; Emergencies ; Emergency Medical Services ; Emergency Medical Technicians ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Patient Care ; Regional Health Planning ; Risk Factors