No abstract available.
Peanut Hypersensitivity

PURPOSE: This study investigated the relationship among types of attribution tendencies, academic stress, coping efficacy, and academic adjustment in medical students and identified the means by which the academic adjustment of medical students can improve. METHODS: Four hundred forty-two subjects from 2 medical schools in Korea were analyzed; 202 were male, 206 were female, and 34 did not identify their gender. We surveyed their academic adjustment, attribution tendencies, academic stress, and coping efficacy. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, and stepwise multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: The male group scored higher on academic adjustment, internal attribution tendency, and coping efficacy but lower on academic stress than the female group. Coping efficacy and internal attribution tendency affected the academic adjustment positively while academic stress influenced it negatively. CONCLUSION: The study indicates that students with higher scores on coping efficacy and internal attribution tendency and who have lower scores on academic stress tend to adjust better academically in medical school. Therefore, these findings may be helpful for medical schools in designing effective academic adjustment programs to improve coping efficacy and internal attribution tendency and reduce academic stress. Further, these findings have important implications for planning learning consultation programs, especially in Year 1.
Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Learning ; Male ; Schools, Medical ; Students, Medical

Meningeal irritation signs sometimes develop after myelography due to bacterial infection by contamination during the procedure or chemical irritiation by contrast media itself. CSF profiles of chemical meningitis often mimick those of bacterial meningitis, sometimes causing difficulty in differentiation, but in that case clinical course soon reverse in short time without any complication. Postmyelography chemical meningitis by metrizamide (AmipaqueR) has been well described but iohexol (OmnipaqueR) has rarely been reported to cause chemical meningitis. We experienced a patient of chemical meningitis by iohexol and here descibe the case.
Bacterial Infections ; Contrast Media ; Humans ; Iohexol ; Meningitis* ; Meningitis, Bacterial ; Metrizamide ; Myelography*

Fibrovascular polyp of the esophagus is a rare and benign pedunculated intraluminal tumor. The tumor consists of varying amount of vascular fibrous and adipose tissue that arises in the submucosa and is covered by squamous epithelium. We report the typical radiographic, CTand MR findings of a case of giant fibrovascular polyp of the esophagus.
Adipose Tissue ; Epithelium ; Esophagus* ; Polyps*

PURPOSE: To report a case of white-centered retinal hemorrhage in infective endocarditis. CASE SUMMARY: A 45-year-old patient complained of acute visual loss. The patient had a history of epidural anesthesia for the relief of back pain. On the day of admission the patient showed no light perception and had a white-centered retinal hemorrhage and cotton wool spot in the left eye upon fundus examination. Other ocular manifestations were not specific and there were no specific findings on a brain MRI and visual evoked potential. The patient was diagnosed with pyogenic spondylitis and was treated by abscess drainage and systemic antibiotics therapy. The patient's near vision improved up to 0.4/0.5. He was diagnosed with infective endocarditis based on the echocardiogram with epidural and subarachnoid hemorrhage. CONCLUSIONS: Roth spot can occur in many diseases such as diabetes, leukemia, anemia, and trauma, but most commonly in sepsis due to infective endocarditis. Therefore, medical evaluation and an echocardiogram for patients with white-centered retinal hemorrhage should be considered.
Abscess ; Anemia ; Anesthesia, Epidural ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Back Pain ; Brain ; Drainage ; Endocarditis* ; Evoked Potentials, Visual ; Humans ; Leukemia ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Retinal Hemorrhage* ; Retinaldehyde* ; Sepsis ; Spondylitis ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; Wool

Alendronate sodium (Fosamax(R)) is an aminophosphonate used in treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis by inhibition of osteoclastic activity. Esophageal ulcers related to alendronate use have been reported at the rate of 2~6%. However, there have been no reports of esophagitis or esophageal ulcer by alendronate in Korea. We present a case of esophageal ulcer caused by alendronate. The patient presented with retrosternal pain and severe odynophagia for a few days. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed multiple deep ulcers at the esophagus. Her symptoms resolved completely after stopping alendronate. A follow-up esophagogastroduodenoscopy 6 weeks later revealed complete healing of the ulcers.
Alendronate* ; Endoscopy, Digestive System ; Esophagitis ; Esophagus ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Korea ; Osteoclasts ; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal ; Ulcer*

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to identify retrospectively the different computed tomography markers and sonography in a series of surgically and pathologically proven cases of tubo-ovarian abscesses in order to achieve correct preoperative diagnosis of this life-threatening condition. METHODS: A review of the medical and pathological records from the department of obstetrics and gynecology, Catholic University Medical College from January 1993 to January 2003 confirmed 79 patients with the diagnosis of tubo-ovarian abscess. Patient were divided into two groups. From this group 15 patients who underwent CT prior to therapy were identified, and the medical records, pathologic reports and CT of these patients were retrospectively reviewed and correlated. RESULTS: All 79 patients underwent operative surgery and were confirmed tubo-ovarian abscess. CT findings of tubo-ovarian abscess present in our patients were (a) a thick-walled fluid-density mass in an adnexal location, (b) septation or partial septation within the mass, (c) indistinct borders with the uterus and adjacent bowel loops, (d) anterior displacement of the mesosalpinx, indicating a probable adnexal origin, and (e) bilateral or unilateral hydronephrosis with hydroureter. CONCLUSION: Tubo-ovarian abscess must be considered in the differential diagnosis of cystic unilateral or bilateral pelvic masses identified on CT. CT usually plays a secondary role in the diagnosis of tubo-ovarian abscess but can be valuable in difficult cases. Lack of a typical clinical presentation should not dissuade the radiologist from suggesting this diagnosis; indeed, the atypical presentation may be the reason why the patient is being evaluated initially with CT rather than with ultrasound.
Abscess* ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Medical Records ; Obstetrics ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography ; Uterus

PURPOSE: To report the clinical features and treatment of canaliculitis associated with SmartPlug punctal plug insertion. METHODS: Case selection criteria included patients with canaliculitis, who were managed at Seoul National University Hospital from January 2006 to October 2008, presenting with a history of punctal plug insertion. The operation reports were reviewed to identify patients in whom SmartPlug was discovered during the operation. Six patients (8 eyes) were identified, and a retrospective chart review was performed for all the patients. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 34.3+/-8.6 years, and there were 1 men and 5 women. Common symptoms were mucous discharge (6 eyes) and conjunctival injection (2 eyes). The mean time from insertion of the plug to onset of symptoms was 27.0+/-27.0 months (range 4 to 77 months). All patients underwent surgical removal of the punctal plug by one-snip punctoplasty, canalicular retrograde compression using 2 cotton-tipped applications (2 eyes), or canalicular curettage (6 eyes). All patients had resolution of symptoms after the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Canaliculitis should be considered when there is conjunctival discharge or injection in patients with SmartPlug. One-snip punctoplasty and retrograde compression of canaliculus can be attempted preferentially as a minimally-invasive treatment option.
Corneal Ulcer ; Curettage ; Dacryocystitis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Patient Selection ; Retrospective Studies ; Canaliculitis

BACKGROUND: Tacrolimus (FK 506) ointment is a recently developed topical immunomodulator, and preliminary studies suggest that topical application of tacrolimus is effective in the treatment of atopic dermatitis. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of 0.1% tacrolimus ointment for the treatment of moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD) in Korea. METHOD/Patients: A total of 57 patients, 2 to 49 years of age, with moderate to severe AD applied 0.1% tacrolimus ointment twice daily for up to 4 weeks. The mean age of patients was 16.7 years. One-third of the patients had severe atopic dermatitis at baseline. Efficacy was evaluated by the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) score. Other evaluations were based on the physician's and patient's global evaluation of clinical response. RESULT: Significantly more patients (p<0.001) achieved clinical improvement with 0.1% tacrolimus ointment 90.0% or better. Marked improvements in the signs and symptoms of atopic dermatitis, the EASI score and the patient's assessment of pruritus were also observed early in treatment and were maintained throughout the study. Transient skin burning and itching on the application site were the most common adverse events. Occurrence of these symptoms decreased after first few days of treatment. There was no increase in incidence of other significant adverse events. CONCLUSION: 0.1% tacrolimusimus ointment is safe and effective for the treatment of Korean AD patients.
Burns ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Eczema ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Pruritus ; Skin ; Tacrolimus*

PURPOSE: To report a rare case of solitary eyelid schwannoma. CASE SUMMARY: A 60-year-old female visited our clinic with a small cyst-like mass of the left upper eyelid, which had developed 3 years earlier. A 3x3 mm-sized, nonpigmented, cyst-like mass was located in the lateral area of the left upper eyelid margin. We performed an excisional biopsy under local anesthesia. The tumor was well encapsulated, easily dissected, and could be completely removed. Histopathologic examination showed cellular areas of spindle cells with Verocay bodies forming palisades and less cellular myxoid areas. Immunohistochemical analysis for S-100 protein showed a strongly positive reaction. Based on the histopathologic features, a diagnosis of benign Schwannoma was made. CONCLUSIONS: Schwannoma should be also considered in the differential diagnosis of a well-circumscribed mass lesion in the eyelid.
Anesthesia, Local ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Eyelids ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neurilemmoma ; S100 Proteins