PURPOSE: The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate the effects of mechanical interventions for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis in surgical intensive care unit (SICU) patients. METHODS: The participants were assigned to the intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) and graduated compression stocking (GCS) intervention. Patients who met the criteria were selected for comparison from our previous study. Data for 140 patients were included in the final analysis. RESULTS: The mean age was 57.5 (+/-15.7) and 61.4% were men. About forty-seven percent of the participants were 61 years or over. In the second duplex scan, 3, 2 and 1 critically ill patients developed deep vein thrombosis in the control, GCS, and IPC groups, respectively. Incidences of DVT were 6.0%, 5.0%, and 2.0% for the control, GCS, and IPC groups, respectively. This difference was not significant. Relative risks of no intervention were 3.0 and 1.2 compared with IPC and GCS application. There were no significantly different variables among the three groups before the intervention except for diagnosis on admission. CONCLUSION: Although it may difficult to conclude that mechanical prophylaxis effectively prevents DVT among SICU patients because there was no statistical significance in this study, but incidence rates among the three groups differed greatly. The findings reveal that further study should be conducted with larger samples and randomized controlled trial for SICU patients.
Critical Care ; Critical Illness ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Incidence ; Critical Care ; Intermittent Pneumatic Compression Devices ; Male ; Pilot Projects* ; Stockings, Compression* ; Venous Thrombosis*

Apolipoprotein E (ape E) has three common alleles (ape epsilon 2, epsilon 3 and epsilon 4) that code for three major isoforms E2, E3 and E4. The isoforms differ from each other by a single amino acid substitutions at two positions and also differ in their binding affinity for the apo E receptors. Moreover, recently a strong association between the apo epsilon 4 allele and late-onset Alzheimer disease (AD) was demonstrated. In this study, were analyzed the apo E genotypes using the Hhal digestion of PCR amplified samples, and the apo epsilon 4 allele frequency from 70 AD patients and 106 normal population in Korea. The results suggested that the frequency of epsilon 4 allele among the AD patients (35.7%) was 3 times higher than that among the control population (13.7%). The data, which are in agreement with recent reports, suggests that the apo epsilon 4 allele is associated with AD in Korea.
Alleles ; Alzheimer Disease* ; Amino Acid Substitution ; Apolipoproteins E ; Apolipoproteins* ; Digestion ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Korea ; Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-1 ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Protein Isoforms

From 39 eyes of 31 cases which received the cataract operation performed under the surface anesthesia by 2 specialists, 2 senior, 1 third and 1 first year residents at Red cross Society, the following results were obtained. 1. The maximal value of intraocular pressure was 19.0mmHg, minimal value, 11.5mmHg and the average, 14.9mmHg just before the cataract operation. 2. The rupture of the capsule was 21.4% and the loss of vitreous body, 7.1% in intraocular lens extrations. 3. The degree of anteior projetion of the eyes had not direct relationship with the intracapsular lens extraction. 4. All patients who received the cataract operation were required sufficient akinesia sedation. 5. Within normal intraocular pressure, the intraocular pressure didn't seem to have any effect to the loss of vitreous body.
Anesthesia ; Cataract* ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure* ; Lenses, Intraocular ; Red Cross ; Rupture ; Specialization ; Vitreous Body

The occurrence of sebaceous gland hyperplasia commonly develops in elderly individuals. Clinical appearance is a papule with a central umbilication corresponding to the histological opening of sebaceous duct in the center. The usual size is 2 to 3mm in diameter. The histological features include hyperplastic mature sebaceous lobules grouped around a widely dilated sebaceous duct. We report a case of a 7-year old child with mental retardation and giant size of sebaceous gland hyperplasia which lead us to such clinical impressions as a nevus sebaceus
Aged ; Child ; Humans ; Hyperplasia* ; Intellectual Disability ; Nevus* ; Sebaceous Glands*

Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis(AGEP) is characterized by acute onset of widespread pustular eruption in association of fever and leukocytosis. Most cases appear to be related to drugs, mainly antibiotics, but viral infections and hypersensitivity to mercury may cause AGEP. Histologically, AGEP is composed of neutrophilic subcorneal and spongiform pustules. A 4-year-old female, with no history of psoriasis, was given ampicillin for scarlet fever. One day after taking the medication, pustular eruptions appeared on the whole body. We describe a 4 year old girl with AGEP secondary to ampicillin. This is an uncommon condition in children.
Acute Generalized Exanthematous Pustulosis ; Ampicillin ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Child* ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Fever ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Leukocytosis ; Neutrophils ; Psoriasis ; Scarlet Fever

Gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD) is the most common esophageal disorder in children. Achalasia occurs less commonly but has similar symptoms to GERD. A nine-year old boy presented with vomiting, heartburn, and nocturnal cough. The esophageal impedance-pH monitor revealed nonacidic GERD (all-refluxate clearance percent time of 20.9%). His symptoms persisted despite medical treatment for GERD, and he was lost to follow up. Four years later, he presented with heartburn, solid-food dysphagia, daily post-prandial vomiting, and failure to thrive. Endoscopy showed a severely dilated esophagus with candidiasis. High-resolution manometry was performed, and he was diagnosed with classic achalasia (also known as type I). His symptoms resolved after two pneumatic dilatation procedures, and his weight and height began to catch up to his peers. Clinicians might consider using high-resolution manometry in children with atypical GERD even after evaluation with an impedance-pH monitor.
Candidiasis ; Child* ; Cough ; Deglutition Disorders ; Dilatation ; Electric Impedance ; Endoscopy ; Esophageal Achalasia* ; Esophageal pH Monitoring ; Esophagus ; Failure to Thrive ; Gastroesophageal Reflux* ; Heartburn ; Humans ; Lost to Follow-Up ; Male ; Manometry* ; Vomiting

BACKGROUND: Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous disorder. Connexin32 (Cx32) gene mutations on Xq13.1 cause the X-linked form of CMT disease, and PMP22 gene duplication on 17p11.2-p12 causes CMT1A. The aim of the present study is to determine the clinical and electrophysiological characteristics between X-linked CMT patients with Cx32 missense mutations and CMT1A patients with PMP22 duplications. METHODS: We screened for 17p11.2-p12 duplication, and for point mutations in Cx32 genes of 48 Korean CMT families. Both neurological examination and nerve conduction studies were performed in all patients. RESULTS: Frequency of CMTX (6.3%) in our study was similar to Japanese, and was lower than those in European peoples. CMTX patients displayed no man-to-man transmission, and had cranial nerve involvement. CMTX patients showed more wide range of motor and sensory nerve conduction velocities than CMT1A patients. We found one family with axonal neuropathy and two families with demyelinating neuropathy in CMTX patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that mutations in Cx32 are probably less frequent in Asian CMT patients than European patients, and CMTX neuropathy is intermediary between CMT1 and CMT2. In addition, inheritance pattern and cranial nerve involvement are useful in differentiating CMTX from CMT1A with duplication.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Axons ; Cranial Nerves ; Gene Duplication ; Humans ; Inheritance Patterns ; Mutation, Missense* ; Neural Conduction ; Neurologic Examination ; Point Mutation

We report a case in which routine chest roentgenograms of an 840 g infant led to the belief that the peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) was appropriately positioned within the superior vena cava when, in actuality, it was within the azygous arch. Although many cases of pleural effusions have been reported to be caused by a central venous catheter, a right-sided hydrothorax caused by azygous vein rupture from the use of a PICC is an extremely rare complication. Sudden changes in the condition of a preterm infant with PICC should raise the suspicion of a catheter- related problem.
Azygos Vein* ; Catheterization, Central Venous ; Catheters* ; Central Venous Catheters ; Humans ; Hydrothorax* ; Infant ; Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight* ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Pleural Effusion ; Rupture ; Thorax ; Veins ; Vena Cava, Superior

Remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting edema (RS3PE) is a rare form of seronegative polyarthritis which is characterized by sudden onset of a symmetrical and peripheral polysynovitis, prominent pitting edema of both hands in elderly patient. It has a benign course and remits completely after steroid treatment. We describe a 77-year-old Korean man of RS3PE syndrome He presented with sudden onset polyarthritis and pitting edema of the dorsum of both hands and both feet. Rheumatoid factor was negative and erythrocyte sedimentation rate was high. Bone scintigraphy showed increased uptake in both wrist, knee, and ankle joints. His synovitis and pitting edema completely disappeared after steroid treatment.
Aged ; Ankle Joint ; Arthritis ; Blood Sedimentation ; Edema* ; Foot ; Hand ; Humans ; Knee ; Radionuclide Imaging ; Rheumatoid Factor ; Synovitis* ; Wrist

BACKGROUND: Intra-lesional triamcinolone injection is a widely used treatment modality of onychodystrophy. However, clinical evaluation has rarely been performed for the therapeutic effect of intra-lesional triamcinolone injection in the treatment of idiopathic onychodystrophy, except for psoriatic nail. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of intra-lesional triamcinolone injection on idiopathic onychodystrophy. METHODS: A total of 43 patients diagnosed as idiopathic onychodystrophy were enrolled in this study. At first 2 visits, triamcinolone acetonide (2.5mg/ml) was injected into the proximal nail fold of each nail using the dermo-jet. Thereafter, intra-lesional injection was performed at 4-week intervals with two-fold increased concentration of triamcinolone acetonide (5mg/ml). After a total of 7 treatments, the treated nails were scored by both doctor and patient between 0 and 10 according to the severity. RESULTS: In 26 patients treated for more than 12-weeks, 189 nails were eventually assessed by four grade scale. Therapeutic effects were as follows; excellent improvement in 19.8%, good in 28.8%, moderate in 11.6%, and poor in 38.6%. Onycholysis responded well to this treatment, with 81.1% of good to excellent improvement, whereas trachyonychia was resistent with 78.1% of poor to moderate improvement. There was no significant side effect, except pain on the injection site. CONCLUSION: According to our results, intra-lesional injection of triamcinolone acetonide is an effective and safe treatment modality of idiopathic onychodystrophy. It is suggested that, with intra-lesional triamcinolone injection, the morphologic classification is an important prognostic factor in the treatment of idiopathic onychodystrophy.
Classification ; Humans ; Onycholysis ; Triamcinolone Acetonide ; Triamcinolone*