PURPOSE: To compare the levels of calcium and phosphorus in the aqueous humor and serum of diabetics and non-diabetics. METHODS: We divided patients into two groups: seventy-six non-diabetic cataract patients and fifty-two diabetic cataract patients. The diabetic group was divided again into three subgroups: twenty-six patients with no diabetic retinopathy, thirteen patients with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, and thirteen patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy. The authors compared the levels of calcium and phosphorus in the serum and aqueous humor of cataract patients. Statistic analysis was performed to form two comparisons: 1) a comparison between non-diabetics and diabetics and 2) a comparison among non-diabetics and the three subgroups of diabetics. RESULTS: In serum, calcium levels did not statistically differ between non-diabetics and diabetics. The phosphorus level was also not significantly different. In the aqueous humor, however, while calcium levels did not differ significantly, the phosphorus levels in diabetics were considerably higher than those in non-diabetics. When non-diabetics were compared to the three diabetic subgroups, calcium levels did not differ in serum or aqueous humor, but the phosphorus levels in diabetics with proliferative diabetic retinopathy were significantly higher than those in non-diabetics, diabetics without diabetic retinopathy, and diabetics with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy. CONCLUSIONS: The level of phosphorus in the aqueous humor and serum of diabetics was significantly increased, especially in diabetics with proliferative diabetic retinopathy. This result may be related to hydrophilic acrylic IOL opacification. Future studies regarding the pathogenic role of a high concentration of aqueous humor and serum phosphorus are required.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aqueous Humor/*chemistry ; Biological Markers/analysis ; Calcium/*analysis ; Cataract/complications/*metabolism ; Diabetic Retinopathy/complications/*metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phosphorus/*analysis ; Regression Analysis ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: To compare the levels of calcium and phosphorus in the aqueous humor and serum of diabetics and non-diabetics. METHODS: We divided patients into two groups: seventy-six non-diabetic cataract patients and fifty-two diabetic cataract patients. The diabetic group was divided again into three subgroups: twenty-six patients with no diabetic retinopathy, thirteen patients with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, and thirteen patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy. The authors compared the levels of calcium and phosphorus in the serum and aqueous humor of cataract patients. Statistic analysis was performed to form two comparisons: 1) a comparison between non-diabetics and diabetics and 2) a comparison among non-diabetics and the three subgroups of diabetics. RESULTS: In serum, calcium levels did not statistically differ between non-diabetics and diabetics. The phosphorus level was also not significantly different. In the aqueous humor, however, while calcium levels did not differ significantly, the phosphorus levels in diabetics were considerably higher than those in non-diabetics. When non-diabetics were compared to the three diabetic subgroups, calcium levels did not differ in serum or aqueous humor, but the phosphorus levels in diabetics with proliferative diabetic retinopathy were significantly higher than those in non-diabetics, diabetics without diabetic retinopathy, and diabetics with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy. CONCLUSIONS: The level of phosphorus in the aqueous humor and serum of diabetics was significantly increased, especially in diabetics with proliferative diabetic retinopathy. This result may be related to hydrophilic acrylic IOL opacification. Future studies regarding the pathogenic role of a high concentration of aqueous humor and serum phosphorus are required.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aqueous Humor/*chemistry ; Biological Markers/analysis ; Calcium/*analysis ; Cataract/complications/*metabolism ; Diabetic Retinopathy/complications/*metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phosphorus/*analysis ; Regression Analysis ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: To investigate the difference in corneal endothelial cell loss between diabetic and non-diabetic patients who were divided by the degree of phacoemulsification time after phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation. METHODS: Forty eyes of 30 patients with diabetes and 47 eyes of 36 patients without diabetes were divided by phacoemulsification time into 3 groups: less than 40 seconds, from 40 to 80 seconds and over 80 seconds. The corneal endothelial cell density was compared before and 1, 4 and 16 weeks after phacoemulsification by one-way ANOVA. Bivariate correlation analysis was used to identify the correlation between phacoemulsification time and the endothelial density before and 1, 4 and 16 weeks after phcoemulsification. RESULTS: The endothelial cell densities in diabetic and non-diabetic patients with different phacoemulsification time were not significantly different when compared before and 1, 4 and 16 weeks after phacoemulsification (P>0.05). Phacoemulsificaiton time and endothelial cell loss at 1, 4 and 16 weeks also showed no significant correlation. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes and differences in phacoemulsification time had no significant influence on corneal endothelial cell loss. This result suggests uncomplicated phacoemulsificaion is a safe method for cataract extraction in patients with or without diabetes.
Cataract ; Cataract Extraction ; Cornea ; Corneal Endothelial Cell Loss ; Endothelial Cells* ; Endothelium ; Humans ; Lens Implantation, Intraocular ; Phacoemulsification*

Tubular apocrine adenoma and papillary eccrine adenoma are rare sweat gland neoplasms that appear as a small solitary lesion on the scalp or extremities, respectively. Although these lesions are thought to be distinct entities, there are enough similarities between them to group them under the term tubulopapillary hidradenoma or papillary tubular adenoma. We describe a case showing many tubular structures with papillary projection, syringocystadenoma-like structures, and eccrine hirocystoma-like structures in the axillary area. The term of papillary tubular adenoma or tubulopapillary hidradenoma may be prefered in this case.
Acrospiroma ; Adenoma* ; Extremities ; Scalp ; Sweat Gland Neoplasms

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare three types of hernioplasty using a mesh: Lichtenstein, Mesh-plug and Prolene Hernia System. METHODS: From February 2002 to April 2007, we retrospectively studied the clinical outcome of 138 cases of adult inguinal hernia patients who had operations performed with the use of mesh. Three types of mesh operations were composed of Lichtenstein repair group (LR group; N=18), Mesh plug repair group (MR group; N=38) and Prolene hernia system group (PHS group; N=82). The Clinical features and outcomes of the three groups were compared by age, sex, operation time, lengths of hospital stay, numbers of post-operative intravenous analgesics, complications, and recurrence. RESULTS: Mean age of three groups was 50.2+/-20.7, 51.0+/-18.4 and 61.5+/-15.9 years for LR. MR, PHS groups, respectively. The PHS group was significantly older than other two groups (P=0.002). The sex, operation time and lengths of hospital stay were not significantly different among the three groups. Numbers of intravenous analgesics used after the operations were 1.7+/-1.2, 2.7+/-2.2, 3.3+/-2.0 in the LR, MR, PHS groups, respectively. A lesser amount of IV analgesics was injected into the LR group than the PHS group. Although some complications occurred such as wound infection, hematoma, dehiscence, testicular edema in the three groups, there were no significant differences among the three groups. There were no recurrences in all three groups. CONCLUSION: We could not find any better outcome among the LR, MR and PHS groups.
Adult ; Analgesics ; Edema ; Hematoma ; Hernia ; Hernia, Inguinal ; Herniorrhaphy ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Length of Stay ; Polypropylenes ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Wound Infection

No abstract available.
Cesarean Section* ; Female ; Pregnancy ; Pulmonary Embolism*

BACKGROUND: Baseline prostate volume (PV) is related with the progression of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Although recent studies have reported the relationship between BPH and metabolic syndrome, the findings are inconsistent. Thus, this study was performed to investigate the association of PV with metabolic factors and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in individuals with normal PV and clarify the factors associated with benign prostate enlargement (BPE), including PSA. METHODS: We selected 3,915 health examinees aged >40 yr with a PSA level <4 ng/mL who underwent ultrasonography of the prostate as part of a routine health check-up. These individuals were classified into two groups according to PV: normal PV (PV <30 mL) and BPE (PV > or =30 mL). We investigated the association of PV with metabolic factors and PSA using multiple linear regression analysis, and clarified the factors associated with BPE using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The factors associated with PV were PSA, age, and waist circumference in individuals with normal PV. The factors associated with BPE were age, body mass index (BMI), and PSA. The logistic regression analysis adjusted for age and confounding factors showed that individuals with a BMI of 23-24.9 kg/m2, 25-29.9 kg/m2, and > or =30 kg/m2 had higher odds ratios of 1.580 (95% confidence interval, 1.171-2.131; P=0.003), 1.767 (1.332-2.344; P<0.001), and 2.024 (1.042-3.933; P=0.038), respectively, for BPE than individual with a BMI <23 kg/m2. CONCLUSIONS: Abdominal obesity was significantly associated with PV in individuals with normal PV, whereas obesity was an associated metabolic factor of BPE. PSA level was positively associated with PV.
Body Mass Index ; Linear Models ; Logistic Models ; Obesity ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Odds Ratio ; Prostate* ; Prostate-Specific Antigen* ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Ultrasonography ; Waist Circumference

The effect of hyperbaric tetracaine spinal anesthesia was studied in 40 patients having genitourinary surgery in the horizontal lithotomy position. Patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups, after spinal injection, patients in one group were placed immediately in the supine and horizontal lithotomy position, and patients in the second group were placed immediatley in the supine and horizontal position for 10 minutes and then placed into the horizontal 1thotomy position. There were no statistically significant differences in anesthesia sensory level and heart rate of patients placed immediately in the horizontal lithotomy position compared to the patients kept in the supine position for the first 10 minutes after receiving the spinal anesthetic. The ranges of systolic blood pressure were all within normal limits, although systolic blood pressure showed a difference at 5,10 and 60 minute intervals after anesthesia. We conclude that immediate application of the horizontal lithotomy position can be safely practiced in the anesthesia of genitourinary surgery.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, Spinal* ; Blood Pressure ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Injections, Spinal ; Supine Position ; Tetracaine*

BACKGROUND: Treatment of toenail onychomycosis requires long term oral medication of antifungal agent. So many factors such as preferred treatment option can affect the compliance and cure rate. OBJECTIVES: The objective of the present study was to identify most preferred treatment options for toenail onychomycosis patients. METHODS: This study was undertaken on 190 patients treated toenail onychomycosis, who visited Hanyang University Guri hospital, Konkuk University hospital and Asan Medical center during the period between March 2008 to April 2008. RESULTS: 1. Mean age of patients was 53.5+/-15.5 years old, 108 patients (56.8%) were female and 82 patients (43.2%) were male. 2. Mean duration of disease was 7 years 11 months (7.9+/-8.8 years). 3. The motives of treatment for toenail onychomycosis were 'ugly appearance' (39.8%) and 'pruritus' (33.9%). 4. Seventy six percent of patients had history of treatment for toenail onychomycosis. Most of them (43%) visited dermatologist's office and 14% of them used folk remedy. 5. Continuous therapy was the most common method (47%) in previous treatment. And it was the most common treatment option irrespective of age, disease duration and gender. 6. The most preferred treatment option was also continuous therapy (57%). And 69% of patients who received continuous therapy preferred it, but it was only 48% in pulse therapy group and 38% in weekly pulse therapy group. 7. Sixty six percent of the toenail onychomycosis patients had associated disease. CONCLUSIONS: Continuous therapy was the most convenient method for toenail onychomycosis patients who visited general hospital.
Compliance ; Female ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Nails ; Onychomycosis

PURPOSE: We evaluated the validity of laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) with systemic lymphadenectomy for early gastric cancer in elderly patients compared with younger patients. METHODS: Seventeen elderly patients (aged 70 years or more) and 113 younger patients who underwent LADG for early gastric cancer between May 1998 and July 2004, at the department of Surgery, Dong-A University Medical Center, were studied. Postoperative outcomes were compared. RESULTS: In elderly patients, co-morbidity was more common than in younger ones (P=0.0220) and postoperative complication rate was more common, too (P=0.0480). Operation time (P=0.7301), time to first flatus (P=0.4766), postoperative hospital stay (P=0.4860), mortality (P=0.2453), were similar in these two groups. CONCLUSION: Because LADG with systemic lymphadenectomy in elderly patients has more co-morbidity and complications than younger ones, great cares should be given to treat co-morbidity preoperatively and prevent complications during operation and postoperative period in elderly patients.
Academic Medical Centers ; Aged* ; Flatulence ; Gastrectomy* ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Lymph Node Excision* ; Mortality ; Postoperative Complications ; Postoperative Period ; Stomach Neoplasms*