The use of intravitreal corticosteroids in the management of endophthalmitis remains controversial. This study was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of dexamethasone(DXM) in Candida endophthalmitis. In rabbits, Candida albicans(3,000 blastospore: Group A, 30,000 blastopore: Group B) was inoculated intrabitreally. At 24, 48, and 72 hours postinoculation, single intravitreal dose of amphotericin B(AMP, 5microgram/0.1ml) with DXM(400microgram/0.1ml) or AMP alone was given. Clinical examination, protein analysis, electrophysiological and histopathologic measures were utilized to rate DXM effectiveness. Dosage of 5microgram AMP resulted in no culture in both Group A and B, On examinations including the electrophysiologic and histopathologic studies, eyes treated with AMP and DXM did not differ from eyes treated with AMP alone in the Group A(p>0.05). On protein analysis for vitreous in the Group B, however, eyes treated with AMP alone at 24 and 48 hours postinoculation(p<0.05). On electrophysiologic study the decrease rate of the amplitude showed the difference between at 24 hours postinoculation and at 48 or 72 hours postinoculation(p<0.05). Histologic preparations showed a mild or moderate cellular infilteration in the vitreous and swelling in the sensory retina, but small abscess in the vitreous observed when treatment was delayed more than 72 hours following inoculation in both Group A and B. DXM in the experimental Candida endophthalmitis had the beneficial effect in eyes with 30,000 blastspore inoculation and in eyes treated with AMP and DXM at 24 hours postinoculation.
Abscess ; Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Amphotericin B ; Candida* ; Dexamethasone* ; Endophthalmitis* ; Gastrula ; Intravitreal Injections ; Rabbits ; Retina

No abstract available.
Pregnancy*

No abstract available.
Female ; Humans ; Ovarian Diseases*

Giant cell tumor is a predominantly benign condition but often the tumor is locally aggressive and tends to have high rate of recurrence and it can evolve into a malignant tumor. Thus the lesions have a practically difficult therapeutic problem for the orthopaedic surgeon and any method of treatment has not been satisfied. Between March 1984 and March 1993, clinical observation was carried out on 22 cases of giant cell tumor of bone to analyse the recurrence rate and functional evaluation of the joint according to the treatment methods, pathological grade and cortical destruction. The mean follow-up time was 75. 2 months. The recurrence rate of the intralesional excision group was 54.5% and that of the wide excision group was 9%, There was no relationship between the pathologic grade and recurrence rate. There was no recurrent case in the grade I cortical destruction but almost all of recurrence was occurred in the grade I or II cortical destruction. The functional result of the giant cell tumor occurred around the knee joint was that the mean ratings in the intralesional excision group were 79% and in the wide excision group were 51%. In conclusion, to achieve better joint function and less recurrence rate, intralesional or marginal excision with heat using bone cement or with chemical cauterization using phenol and alcohol can be used for cases of radiological grade I or II, and wide excision for grade III.
Cautery ; Follow-Up Studies ; Giant Cell Tumor of Bone ; Giant Cell Tumors ; Giant Cells ; Hot Temperature ; Joints ; Knee Joint ; Methods ; Phenol ; Recurrence

OBJECTIVES: From February 1995 to April 1998, those patients who had visited for evaluation of infertility, shown abnormal endometrial pattern on hysterosalpingography underwent resectoscopic operation. We evaluated about its therapeutic effect, recurrence rate of uterine adhesion and effectiveness of its assisted method. METHOD: We have reviewed 45 cases of intrauterine adhesion, classified as a central type, marginal type and multiple type. We used 26F resectoscope made in Storz for operation and inserted Lippes loop or pediatric foley catheter for prevention of readhesion. For promoting reepithelialization, conjugated estrogens(premarin) 5mg daily for 30 - 50 days were given and then 10mg of medroxyprogesterone acetate(provera) were added daily for the last 10 days. We evaluated the uterine cavity condition preoperatively and postoperatively by using hysterosalpingography. RESULT: In 45 cases, 41 cases were followed up postoperatively. 21 cases were markedly improved, 12 cases were improved and 8 cases were not improved or recurred on hysterosalpingography. In 41 cases, for prevention of readhesion 20 cases were used pediatric foley catheter and 5 cases(25%) were recurred. 21 cases were used Lippes loop and 3 cases(14%) were recurred. Pregnancy outcome was as follows;15 cases were pregnant and 10 cases delivered a viable infant, 3 cases aborted spontaneously, 1 case was ectopic pregnancy and laparoscopic salpingectomy was done, 1 case was ongoing pregnancy. CONCLUSION: This report suggests that resectoscopic operation is very effective in the treatment of intrauterine adhesion(therapeutic rate of 81%) and that the use of Lippes loop seems like to have the less recurrence rate than the use of pediatric foley catheter in prevention of postoperative readhesion, but more experience and further follow-up are necessary to obtain more detailed conclusions.
Catheters ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hysterosalpingography ; Infant ; Infertility ; Medroxyprogesterone ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy, Ectopic ; Recurrence ; Salpingectomy

High frequency jet ventilation(HFJV) induces adequate gas exchange with tidal volume smaller than that of other conventional ventilation method. In critically ill patients, HFJV reduces the unwanted hemodynamic effects of conventional ventilation caused by the increase in intrathoracic pressure. But general anesthesia with jet ventilator has been dependent only on intravenous anesthetics. Therefore, this study was done to administer inhalation anesthetics(N2O, enflurane) during HFJV. This study was carried out from June 1992 to January 1993 in the 64 operated patients who beIonged to ASA class I, II in Chung Ang University Hospital The 22 patients using conventional ventilation were control group and the other 42 patients who had inhalation anesthesia by using HFJV were experimental group. In all patients, blood pressure and heart rate were checked on preinduction, postinductive 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 30 minutes. The result were as follows I) Systolic blood pressure was increased just on postinduction in both groups(P<0.05). It was decreased from postinductive 5 minutes to 30 minutes in control group, but there was no change in experimental group(P<0.05). 2) Diastolic blood pressure was increaeed just on postinduction in both groups(P<0.05). But it was increased from postinductive 5 minutes to 30 minutes in experimental group(P<0.05). 3) Mean blood pressure was increased just on postinduction in both groups(P<0.05). It was increased from postinductive 5 minutes to 15 minutes in control group and from postinductive 5 minutes to 30 minutes in experimental group(P<0.05). 4) Heart rate was increased just on postinduction and postinductive 5 minutes in control groupg <0.05), and increased from postinductive 0 minute to postinductive 30 minutes in experimental group(P<0.05). 5) pH was increased on postinductive 30 minutes compared to that of preinduction in both groups(P <0.05). 6) PaCO2 was more decreased on postinductive 30 minutes than preinduction in both groups (P<0.05), but there was no clinical significance. And PaO2 was increased at postinductive 30 minutes(P<0.05), which resulted from the increase of FiO2. As above results, inhalation anesthesia with HFJV is supposed to be useful if the difficulty of controlling the concentration of inhalation anesthetics and the contamination of operating room by expelled inhalation anesthetics were solved.
Anesthesia, General ; Anesthesia, Inhalation* ; Anesthetics, Inhalation ; Anesthetics, Intravenous ; Blood Pressure ; Critical Illness ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; High-Frequency Jet Ventilation* ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Inhalation* ; Operating Rooms ; Tidal Volume ; Ventilation ; Ventilators, Mechanical

BACKGROUND: We described a surgical method for osteosynthesis and reported the resultant strength after application of a PHILOS plate through the anterolateral approach for the treatment of fractures of the distal humerus. METHODS: Between February 2010 and March 2012, open reduction and internal fixation operations with the PHILOS plate for treatment of fracture of the distal humerus were performed on a total of nine patients (five men, four women). The mean age was 40.8 years (range, 24-50 years), and the average follow-up period was 9.1 months (range, 6-15 months). Clinical evaluations were performed 6 months after the operation. Clinical assessment included determination of the range of motion of the elbow, the Mayo and Oxford elbow scores, and any postoperative complications. RESULTS: Fracture union was noted in all patients, with an average period of 12.4 weeks. The average Mayo elbow and Oxford elbow scores were 87.2 (of a total of 100) and 43.3 (of a total of 48), respectively. For the postoperative range of motion of the elbow, all patients showed complete recovery to the preoperative range of motion. No other conditions, such as neurolepsis, plate breakage, or rotational deformity, were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Open reduction and internal fixation of distal humerus fractures with a PHILOS plating system via anterolateral approach can be effective. A high rate of union with good outcomes can be assumed.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Elbow ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation ; Humans ; Humeral Fractures ; Humerus* ; Male ; Postoperative Complications ; Range of Motion, Articular

Pyoderma gangrenosum is uncommon neutrophilic dermatosis characterized by richness of the mature neutrophilic polynuclear dermal infiltrate. Pyoderma gangrenosum is associated with variable diseases, most commonly inflammatory bowel disease, hematological diseases, malignancies, but it is reported rarely in rheumatoid arthritis. We report a case of pyoderma gangrenosum in rheumoid arthritis patient. A 50-year-old woman admitted to our hospital due to painful pretibial ulcerative skin lesions. She had been treated as rheumatoid arthritis for 8 years. At admission, body temperature was 36.5degrees C and other vital sign was unremarkable. Physical examination revealed right pretibial ulceration, multiple pustules on left pretibial area and both palms. Laboratory studies revealed WBC count 7,600/uL (neutrophils 60.3%, eosinophil 3.2%), hemoglobin 11.4 g/dL, platelet count 319,000/uL, ESR 65 mm/hour. Other lab findings were also unremarkable. Skin biopsy was done, which showed dense dermal infiltrate of neutrophils and wound culture were negative. By 8 weeks after systemic high dose corticosteroid (1 mg/kg/day), cyclosporine A (5 mg/kg/day), sulfasalazine 2 g therapy, symptoms and skin ulceration were being improved. Without skin relapse, she is followed up our hospital with low dose corticosteroid and sulfasalazine.
Arthritis* ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Biopsy ; Body Temperature ; Cyclosporine ; Eosinophils ; Female ; Hematologic Diseases ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Middle Aged ; Neutrophils ; Physical Examination ; Platelet Count ; Pyoderma Gangrenosum* ; Pyoderma* ; Recurrence ; Skin ; Skin Diseases ; Skin Ulcer ; Sulfasalazine ; Ulcer ; Vital Signs ; Wounds and Injuries

PURPOSE: Response time is an important factor in determining the quality of prehospital Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Our objective was to analyze the Daegu Korean Fire Department's ambulances' response time by use of the Geographic Information System (GIS) and to suggest general factors for quality improvement of EMS. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed computerized ambulance calls of the Daegu Korean Fire Department. During the period from July 2006 to June 2007, computerized ambulance calls could be pinpointed geographically by the GIS. Patients were divided into injury and disease groups. And each group was subdivided into emergency and non-emergency groups at triage. We reviewed the EMS response time, response velocity, distance from 119 safe center to scene, and distance from scene to hospital. RESULTS: Of 46,606 patients, 27,825 patients could be pinpointed geographically by the GIS. The mean response time was 5.5+/-18.9 minutes. Among injury patients, there were no significant differences between emergency and non-emergency groups in mean response time and mean response velocity. In disease patients, however, emergency group response time was shorter than for the non-emergency group, and response velocity was faster for the emergency group. Distance from 119 safe center to scene and from scene to hospital was greater among all total patients for the emergency group than for the non-emergency group. CONCLUSION: Using GIS, we evaluated response velocity as a measure of the quality of prehospital EMS. We found that in injury patients, prehospital triage and transportation were not properly managed. We suggests that EMS could be more effective if GIS is used as a tool for the improvement of EMS quality.
Ambulances ; Emergencies ; Emergency Medical Services ; Fires ; Geographic Information Systems ; Humans ; Quality Improvement ; Reaction Time ; Retrospective Studies ; Transportation ; Triage

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the prevalence of reading and mathematical learning disabilities of students at primary schools in Jeju Island, South Korea. We examined major causes of learning disabilities including reading disorder, mathematical disorder, attention deficit, and other causes including socioemotional factors. METHODS: We conducted screening processes to 659 participants (340 male, 51%) in 4 elementary schools in Jeju Island. To identify the causes of learning problems, 84 children were administered tests such as the Korean-Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-fourth edition, the Comprehensive Learning Test-Reading/Math, and the Comprehensive Attention Test. RESULTS: This study found that 13% of elementary school students in the Jeju region had learning disabilities. Among learning disabilities, specific reading and mathematical disorders accounted for 9% of study subjects. In addition, 2% of participants had intellectual impairment and 1% had other causes such as socioemotional factors. 65% of children with learning disabilities and 74% of children with reading or mathematic disorders had concurrent attention deficit disorder. 68% of children with reading disorders also had comorbid mathematical disorder. CONCLUSION: The prevalence, causes, and comorbidity of reading and mathematical learning disabilities of students in Jeju Island, South Korea did not differ from those in foreign countries. Because most learning disabilities are complex, comprehensive evaluations and tailored interventions are necessary to help children with learning disabilities.
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity ; Child* ; Comorbidity ; Dyscalculia ; Dyslexia ; Epidemiology ; Humans ; Intelligence ; Korea ; Learning Disorders* ; Learning* ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Mathematics ; Prevalence*