From January to December of 1990, we have evaluated VDRL reactivity among 17,142 apparently normal Korean adults which consisted of 9,151 blood donors in Seoul area, 2,682 pregnant woman delivered at Severance Hospital, Yonsei University and 5,309 physical examinees. The VDRL-positive rates were 0.3% in the blood donors, 0.1% in the pregnant women and 0.8% in the physical examinees but the rates were higher in the age group of 50 years or older. The VDRL titers were below 1:2 in 94% of the VDRL-positive pregnant women and physical examinees. From the comparison of the results obtained by the present author group since 1977, i.e., 2.5 % in 1977, 1.1 % in 1981, 0.6 % in 1986 and 0.4 % in 1990, it is evident that the prevalence of syphilis in Korea is continually decreasing.
Adult ; Blood Donors ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Pregnant Women ; Prevalence* ; Seoul ; Syphilis*

The purpose of the present study was to examine a number of various times of Lipo-PGE1 administration in an attempt to determine the most effective time. In addition, this study examined the possible role of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) on Lipo-PGE1 stimulation of a TRAM flap in the rat. Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups and a left inferior epigastric vessel pedicled TRAM flap, sized 5.0x3.5cm was created on the upper abdomen of each rat. Experimental groups included group 1(control): the flap was dissected and replaced, group 2(pharmacologic delay): Lipo-PGE1(0.5microgram) was given intraperitoneally for 5 days before elevation of flap daily, group 3(flap enhancement): Lipo- PGE1(0.5microgram) was given intraperitoneally for 5 days after flap elevation daily, group 4(pharmacologic delay and flap enhancement): Lipo-PGE1(0.5microgram) was given intraperitoneally for 5 days before elevation of flap then for 5 days after elevation of flap daily. On postoperative 5th day, we evaluated and compared the results of flap survival area, the number of blood vessel, and the VEGF expression using the western blot method. The results were as following: First, the mean percentage of the flap survival area of group II(63.9+/-12.6%), III(54.9+/-20.5%), IV(68.1+/- 18.2%) were higher than that of group I(28.7+/-15.2%) significantly(p<0.05). Second, the number of blood vessels were of group II(3.8+/-1.4), III(3.5+/-1.8), IV(4.0+/-1.5) were higher than that of group I(1.0+/-0.6) significantly(p<0.01). Third, the western blot method demonstrated a qualitatively greater amount of VEGF expression in the experimental groups. These results suggest that Lipo-PGE1 increased VEGF production and that Lipo-PGE1 may thereby enhance flap survival through VEGF production regardless of the time of Lipo-PGE1 administration.
Abdomen ; Alprostadil* ; Animals ; Blood Vessels ; Blotting, Western ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

The aim of surgery for vestibular schwannoma is to accomplish complete tumor removal while preserving facial function and hearing ability. The middle cranial fossa approach represents one such surgical approach for resection of vestibular schwannoma with hearing preservation. As more experience has been gained with this approach, hearing preservation rates have increased. However, even if gross tumor removal is done completely, residual tumor can show regrowth microscopically. Such residual vestibular schwannoma may be treated by different options. We present a case of residual vestibular schwannoma treated with revision middle cranial fossa approach to preserve facial function and hearing ability.
Cranial Fossa, Middle ; Facial Nerve ; Hearing ; Neoplasm, Residual ; Neuroma, Acoustic

Acute hemorrhagic leukoencephalitis (AHLE) is an acute, rapidly progressing, fulminant demyelinating disease. It is a rare disease of the central nervous system with high mortality; survivors commonly present with significant neurological deficit. We report the case of a 16-month-old girl who survived AHLE and presented with the associated neurologic deficit. The patient came into the emergency department with febrile seizure. She showed bilateral pinpoint-sized pupils and hyperactive deep tendon reflexes. Her mental status was initially drowsy and rapidly progressed to stupor. Extensive demyelination and microbleeds were found in the cerebral white matter, thalamus and left cerebellum on Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Her mental status was improved by intravenous administration of immunoglobulin and methylprednisolone. Five months after being discharged, increased white matter connectivity was found on color-coded follow-up MR diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) as compared to previous MRI. We therefore suggest adding the DTI technique when a follow-up MRI is performed in patients with AHLE. It could be useful to visualize the status of axonal injury and to encourage patients and their parents to continue the rehabilitation program.
Administration, Intravenous ; Axons ; Central Nervous System ; Cerebellum ; Child ; Demyelinating Diseases ; Diffusion Tensor Imaging* ; Diffusion* ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; Infant ; Leukoencephalitis, Acute Hemorrhagic* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Methylprednisolone ; Mortality ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Parents ; Pupil ; Rare Diseases ; Reflex, Stretch ; Rehabilitation ; Seizures ; Seizures, Febrile ; Stupor ; Survivors ; Thalamus ; White Matter

Acute hemorrhagic leukoencephalitis (AHLE) is an acute, rapidly progressing, fulminant demyelinating disease. It is a rare disease of the central nervous system with high mortality; survivors commonly present with significant neurological deficit. We report the case of a 16-month-old girl who survived AHLE and presented with the associated neurologic deficit. The patient came into the emergency department with febrile seizure. She showed bilateral pinpoint-sized pupils and hyperactive deep tendon reflexes. Her mental status was initially drowsy and rapidly progressed to stupor. Extensive demyelination and microbleeds were found in the cerebral white matter, thalamus and left cerebellum on Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Her mental status was improved by intravenous administration of immunoglobulin and methylprednisolone. Five months after being discharged, increased white matter connectivity was found on color-coded follow-up MR diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) as compared to previous MRI. We therefore suggest adding the DTI technique when a follow-up MRI is performed in patients with AHLE. It could be useful to visualize the status of axonal injury and to encourage patients and their parents to continue the rehabilitation program.
Administration, Intravenous ; Axons ; Central Nervous System ; Cerebellum ; Child ; Demyelinating Diseases ; Diffusion Tensor Imaging* ; Diffusion* ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; Infant ; Leukoencephalitis, Acute Hemorrhagic* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Methylprednisolone ; Mortality ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Parents ; Pupil ; Rare Diseases ; Reflex, Stretch ; Rehabilitation ; Seizures ; Seizures, Febrile ; Stupor ; Survivors ; Thalamus ; White Matter

Schwannomas rarely present as intraocular tumors and are often misdiagnosed as malignant melanoma. We describe a choroidal schwannoma confirmed by sclerouvectomy. A 30-year-old woman presented with a large nonpigmented intraocular mass of the choroid in the right eye and underwent surgical excision by sclerouvectomy. Histologically, the tumor was composed of a mixture of cellular solid components (Antoni A) and loose myxoid components (Antoni B). The tumor was eventually diagnosed as a schwannoma. Currently available ancillary studies are still of little value in definitively differentiating schwannomas from other choroidal tumors. In the case of atypical findings for a malignant melanoma, a benign neoplasm should be included in the differential diagnosis. This patient avoided enucleation by first having the mass excised. We are unaware of previous reports in which a choroidal schwannoma was diagnosed by surgical excision.
Adult ; Choroid/*pathology ; Choroid Neoplasms/*diagnosis/surgery ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Eye Enucleation/*methods ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neurilemmoma/*diagnosis/surgery

Objectives: Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable disease. However, smokers have shown poor compliance with smoking cessation clinics. Smartphone applications present a promising opportunity to improve this compliance. This study aimed to explore the relationship between nicotine dependence, smartphone usage patterns, and anticipated compliance with a smoking cessation application among smokers, with the goal of informing future development of such applications. Methods: A total of 53 current smokers were surveyed using a questionnaire. Nicotine dependence was assessed using the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND). Variables included the number of hours spent using a phone, willingness to quit smoking, number of previous quit attempts, desired number of text messages about smoking cessation, expected duration of application usage, and FTND scores. Kendall’s partial correlation, adjusted for age, was employed for the analysis. Results: The amount of time smokers spent on their mobile devices was negatively correlated with the number of smoking cessation text messages they wanted to receive (τ coefficient = –0.210, p = 0.026) and the duration they intended to use the cessation application (τ coefficient = –0.260, p = 0.006). Conversely, the number of desired text messages was positively correlated with the intended duration of application usage (τ coefficient = 0.366, p = 0.00012). Conclusions Smokers who spent more time on their mobile devices tended to prefer using the cessation application for shorter periods, whereas those who desired more text messages about smoking cessation were more inclined to use the application for longer durations.

Objectives: Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable disease. However, smokers have shown poor compliance with smoking cessation clinics. Smartphone applications present a promising opportunity to improve this compliance. This study aimed to explore the relationship between nicotine dependence, smartphone usage patterns, and anticipated compliance with a smoking cessation application among smokers, with the goal of informing future development of such applications. Methods: A total of 53 current smokers were surveyed using a questionnaire. Nicotine dependence was assessed using the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND). Variables included the number of hours spent using a phone, willingness to quit smoking, number of previous quit attempts, desired number of text messages about smoking cessation, expected duration of application usage, and FTND scores. Kendall’s partial correlation, adjusted for age, was employed for the analysis. Results: The amount of time smokers spent on their mobile devices was negatively correlated with the number of smoking cessation text messages they wanted to receive (τ coefficient = –0.210, p = 0.026) and the duration they intended to use the cessation application (τ coefficient = –0.260, p = 0.006). Conversely, the number of desired text messages was positively correlated with the intended duration of application usage (τ coefficient = 0.366, p = 0.00012). Conclusions Smokers who spent more time on their mobile devices tended to prefer using the cessation application for shorter periods, whereas those who desired more text messages about smoking cessation were more inclined to use the application for longer durations.

Objectives: Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable disease. However, smokers have shown poor compliance with smoking cessation clinics. Smartphone applications present a promising opportunity to improve this compliance. This study aimed to explore the relationship between nicotine dependence, smartphone usage patterns, and anticipated compliance with a smoking cessation application among smokers, with the goal of informing future development of such applications. Methods: A total of 53 current smokers were surveyed using a questionnaire. Nicotine dependence was assessed using the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND). Variables included the number of hours spent using a phone, willingness to quit smoking, number of previous quit attempts, desired number of text messages about smoking cessation, expected duration of application usage, and FTND scores. Kendall’s partial correlation, adjusted for age, was employed for the analysis. Results: The amount of time smokers spent on their mobile devices was negatively correlated with the number of smoking cessation text messages they wanted to receive (τ coefficient = –0.210, p = 0.026) and the duration they intended to use the cessation application (τ coefficient = –0.260, p = 0.006). Conversely, the number of desired text messages was positively correlated with the intended duration of application usage (τ coefficient = 0.366, p = 0.00012). Conclusions Smokers who spent more time on their mobile devices tended to prefer using the cessation application for shorter periods, whereas those who desired more text messages about smoking cessation were more inclined to use the application for longer durations.

Objectives: Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable disease. However, smokers have shown poor compliance with smoking cessation clinics. Smartphone applications present a promising opportunity to improve this compliance. This study aimed to explore the relationship between nicotine dependence, smartphone usage patterns, and anticipated compliance with a smoking cessation application among smokers, with the goal of informing future development of such applications. Methods: A total of 53 current smokers were surveyed using a questionnaire. Nicotine dependence was assessed using the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND). Variables included the number of hours spent using a phone, willingness to quit smoking, number of previous quit attempts, desired number of text messages about smoking cessation, expected duration of application usage, and FTND scores. Kendall’s partial correlation, adjusted for age, was employed for the analysis. Results: The amount of time smokers spent on their mobile devices was negatively correlated with the number of smoking cessation text messages they wanted to receive (τ coefficient = –0.210, p = 0.026) and the duration they intended to use the cessation application (τ coefficient = –0.260, p = 0.006). Conversely, the number of desired text messages was positively correlated with the intended duration of application usage (τ coefficient = 0.366, p = 0.00012). Conclusions Smokers who spent more time on their mobile devices tended to prefer using the cessation application for shorter periods, whereas those who desired more text messages about smoking cessation were more inclined to use the application for longer durations.