We evaluated 206 eyes of 105 patients who recieved LASIK with Meditec Mel 60 excimer laser and followed up for at least 6 months. We used 6 mm optical ablation zone to every passible patients and excuted photorefractive ablation after making corneal hinge flap using a 160 micrometerplate. The range of refractive error was from -1.75D to -13.50D and patients were divided into 3 group according to their manifest refraction error(spherical equivalent): Group I(<-6.00D, 120 eyes), Group II(-6.25D to -10.00D, 72 eyes), Group III(>-10.25D, 14 eyes). Mean preoperative spherical equivalent was -3.81D in group I, -7.63D in group II and -12.56D in group III. Mean spherical equivalent after LASIK at 1 Month was +0.05+/-0.60D in group I, 0.00+/-0.74D in group II, -0.12+/-0.99D in group III and at 3 Months, -0.11+/-0.58D, -0.19+/-0.75D, -0.59+/-0.90D and at 6 months -0.21+/-0.59D, -0.34+/-0.78D, -1.11+/-0.86D respectively. In group I, 90.6% of eyes were within 1D of attemped correction at 6 Months as were 80.6% in group II and 46.0% in group III. Mean UCVA at 6 month after LASIK was 1.02 in group I, 0.90 in group II, 0.75 in group III and uncorrected visual acuity of 0.8 or better was achieved in 91.6% of 118 eyes in group I, 88.5% of 67 eyes in group IIand 76.9% of 13 eyes in group III. LASIK done experienced surgeon appears to be safe, accurate, efficient to correct myopic refractive error.
Humans ; Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ* ; Lasers, Excimer ; Myopia* ; Refractive Errors ; Visual Acuity

OBJECTIVE: To determine if birth weight greater than 4000gm can be predicted by ultrasound measurement of abdominal circumference(AC) and if shoulder dystocia in macrosomic infants can be predicted by ultrasound measurement of the difference between the abdominal diameter(AD) and biparietal diameter(BPD). METHODS: A Retrospective study was performed of births occuring from March, 1998 to August, 1999 at department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University. Among neonates of birth weight greater than 4000 gm, 50 cases in that ultrasound examination was done within 2 weeks before delivery were selected for macrosomic group and 50 cases were selected for control group during the same period, among neonate of birth weight from 3100gm to 3900gm. RESULTS: 1) Normal spontaneous vaginal delivery(NSVD) was 41 cases in control group and 30 cases in macrosomic group. Among NSVD, shoulder dystocia was 1 case in 41 cases of control group and was 7 cases in 30 cases of macrosomic group. 2) On ultrasound measurement, 6 cases had AC greater than 35 cm in control group and 45 cases in macrosomic group. Among 30 cases in NSVD was done in macrosomic group, difference between AD and BPD was 2.9 0.271 cm when shoulder dystocia was existed and was 2.1 0.409 cm when shoulder dystocia was not existed. Between the two groups, statistically significant difference was detected. 3) When AC(cutoff value of 35cm) was used for screening of macrosomia, sensitivity for macrosomia was 88.2% and specificity was 89.8% and when AD-BPD difference(cutoff value of 2.6cm) was used for prediction of shoulder dystocia, sensitivity for shoulder dystocia was 66.6% and specificity was 95.2%. CONCLUSIONS: In prenatal ultrasound measurement, AC measurement at third trimester of pregnancy will be a valuable indicator for macrosomia screening. The AD-BPD difference of shoulder dystocia group was greater than uncomplicated group in macrosomia and the AD-BPD difference cutoff value of 2.6cm was significant value statistically.
Birth Weight ; Dystocia* ; Female ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Mass Screening ; Obstetrics ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Shoulder* ; Ultrasonography*

Unilateral retinoblastoma has revealed good prognosis after enucleation in long term follow-up period. But unilateral retinoblastoma with delayed diagnosis may result in poor prognosis due to invasion of the optic nerve or choroid or extraocular spread. Medical records of 26 patients(26 eyes) with unilateral retinoblastoma confirmed by biopsy result after enucleation, were reviewed at the Department of Ophthalmology, Yeungnam University College of Medicine from December, 1983 through February, 1998. Age of the patient, ocular findings, diagnostic methods, treatment modality and clinical results were analyzed. Age ranged from 1 to 60 months(average 26 months). Leukocoria was the most prominent ocular sign and retinal detachment or mass was observed by funduscopic examination in most cases. Enucleation was performed in all 26 cases. Chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy were carried out in 19 cases(73.1%). During the postoperative period of 7 months to 15 years(average 5.8 years), any of 26 eyes has not developed the second tumor, but distant metastases were observed in 4 eyes. The regions of distant metastasis were bone marrow, brain, combined bone marrow and brain, and abdomen. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy were performed in those 4 cases, yet 3 of them were died. Twenty-two patients who did not develop distant metastasis are still alive at the final follow-up.
Abdomen ; Biopsy ; Bone Marrow ; Brain ; Choroid ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Ophthalmology ; Optic Nerve ; Postoperative Period ; Prognosis ; Radiotherapy ; Retinal Detachment ; Retinoblastoma*

Retained intraorbital foreign body after penetrating orbital injury may affect adjacent tissue and lead to many ophthalmological sequeles such as visual disturbance, EOM limitation, diplopia, strabismus, orbital cellulitis and orbital abscess. If intraorbital foreign body intrudes into adjacent CNS system, it may lead to fatal complications such as meningitis and brain abscess. We should diagnose and treat intraorbital foreign body early and accurately to prevent complications, and rehabilitate damaged tissue anatomically and functionally. A patient with retained intraorbital foreign body after penetrating lower lid injury was transferred to our hospital for lid swelling and periocular pain. We diagnosed and confirmed intraorbital foreign body with use of plain X ray and orbital CT, and removed it with lateral orbitotomy surgical approach.
Abscess ; Brain Abscess ; Diplopia ; Foreign Bodies* ; Humans ; Meningitis ; Orbit ; Orbital Cellulitis ; Strabismus

Retained intraorbital foreign body after penetrating orbital injury may affect adjacent tissue and lead to many ophthalmological sequeles such as visual disturbance, EOM limitation, diplopia, strabismus, orbital cellulitis and orbital abscess. If intraorbital foreign body intrudes into adjacent CNS system, it may lead to fatal complications such as meningitis and brain abscess. We should diagnose and treat intraorbital foreign body early and accurately to prevent complications, and rehabilitate damaged tissue anatomically and functionally. A patient with retained intraorbital foreign body after penetrating lower lid injury was transferred to our hospital for lid swelling and periocular pain. We diagnosed and confirmed intraorbital foreign body with use of plain X ray and orbital CT, and removed it with lateral orbitotomy surgical approach.
Abscess ; Brain Abscess ; Diplopia ; Foreign Bodies* ; Humans ; Meningitis ; Orbit ; Orbital Cellulitis ; Strabismus

No abstract available.
Epidermolysis Bullosa ; Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne ; Ornithine Carbamoyltransferase ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Preimplantation Diagnosis*

Ketoprofen, a propionic acid derivative is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug with analgesic activity and it is used in the symptomatic treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. When exposed to sunlight, ketoprofen is broken down into various benzophenones. 3-ethyl-benzophenone as the major photoproduct is responsible for the photoallergic reaction to ketoprofen. A 30-year-old male presented with well-demarcated erythematous patches with itching sensation on both his ankle areas. He had applied Ketotop(R) plasters on both his ankle areas for arthralgia, and then the Ketotop(R) plaster-detached areas were exposed to sunlight. Patch test and photopatch test with?as is?showed positive reaction in photopatch test and the ingredients of Ketotop(R) plaster revealed positive reaction to the ketoprofen contained in Ketotop(R) plaster in photopatch test.
Adult ; Ankle ; Arthralgia ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Benzophenones ; Dermatitis, Photoallergic* ; Diethylpropion ; Humans ; Ketoprofen* ; Male ; Osteoarthritis ; Patch Tests ; Pruritus ; Sensation ; Sunlight

OBJECTIVES: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease involving the upper and lower motor neuron of the brain and spinal cord, leading ultimately to death due to respiratory failure in most cases. The etiology of ALS is currently unknown, but several studies show that lead exposure might be one of the potential environmental causes of ALS. In this perspective, we introduce a case involving an ALS patient exposed to lead while maintaining mechanical equipment in a waste treatment plant. METHODS: The patient was interviewed and his medical records were investigated to confirm the final diagnosis of ALS. The results of his health examination and working environment measurement were reviewed in order to evaluate the relation of his work with ALS. We also performed an analysis of lead concentration from samples taken from his workplace when we visited the plant to survey the work environment. RESULTS: Based on the patient's clinical information, work environment, relatively high level of blood lead concentration, and several studies proposing the occupational relationship between lead and ALS, his ALS may possibly have been caused by lead exposure at his workplace. CONCLUSIONS: Given the recent situation where the causal association between lead exposure and ALS is still unclear, this case report could be used as a basis to support the relevance of lead exposure with ALS, and to help improve the health and work environment of other workers who are likely to be exposed to lead.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ; Brain ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Motor Neurons ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; Occupational Exposure ; Plants ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Spinal Cord

In this report, we descrbed a case of multiple brain abscesses associated with diffuse congenital pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVM). Although the cases of brain abscesses associated with congenital PAVM are very rare, the brain abscess could be an initial clinical manifestation in asymptomatic PAVM as in the case presented in this report. PAVM may contribute to the development of a brain abscess by allowing easy bacterial access to systemic circulation through the right-to-left pulmonary vascular shunt, bypassing the filtering effect of the pulmonary capillaries. Hence, this association should be considered in cases with brain abscesses of undetermined etiologic factors.
Arteriovenous Malformations/*complications/radiography ; Brain Abscess/*etiology/radiography ; Capillaries ; Child ; Humans ; Male ; *Pulmonary Circulation ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Cytokines and growth factors are important regulatory proteins controlling the growth and differentiation of normal and malignant glial cells. In this study, we investigated the expression and origin of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) in the subacute brain injury after a single high-dose irradiation using 60 Sprague-Dawley rats. The right cerebral hemispheres of rats were exposed to a single 10 Gy dose of gamma rays using Ir-192. The radiation effect was assessed at 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 6 weeks, and 8 weeks after irradiation, and the results were compared with those in sham operation group. Histological changes characteristic of radiation injury were correlated with the duration after the single dose irradiation. The loss of cortical thickness also increased with the lapse of time after irradiation. The TNF-alpha expression in the irradiated cerebral hemispheres was significantly increased compared with that in the sham operation group. TGF-beta 1 expression was also increased in the irradiated hemispheres. Immunohistochemical study revealed that TGF-beta 1 was expressed predominantly by infiltrating macrophages and astrocytes around the necrotic areas. These findings indicate that TNF-alpha and TGF-beta 1 may play prominent roles in the radiation injuries after a single high-dose irradiation.
Animals ; Brain/immunology/pathology/*radiation effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation ; Immunohistochemistry/methods ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Time Factors ; Transforming Growth Factor beta/*biosynthesis ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/*biosynthesis