No abstract available.

Currently several modalities are available for performing intracorporeal lithotripsy including ultrasound, electrohydraulic and laser procedures. We report our initial clinical experience with a new and unique technology for performing intracorporeal lithotripsy, namely the Swiss Lithoclast. 35 patients were performed for removal of ureteral stone. This device successfully fragmented 31 of 35 ureteral calculi (89%). Complications of stone removal were gross hematuria (3 cases), high fever (2 cases). All complications were treated successfully with conservative management. In conclusion, we have found the ability of the Swiss Lithoclast to fragment stones safely and without significant complications.
Fever ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Lithotripsy ; Ultrasonography ; Ureter* ; Ureteral Calculi ; Urinary Calculi

Phenylepherine HCI widely used as a mydriatic and vasoconstrictor, have been generally considered safe and innocuous. But hypertension caused by instillation of phenylepherine HCI is frequently reported, and even severe systemic adverse reactions, such as myocardial in farction, sudden death etc. are reported, recently. For the purpose of studying alteration of B.P. and systemic adverse reactions that are caused by instillation of phenylephrine HCI. we divided 42 patients into 2 groups; group 1 includes 20 patients who are instilled once a drop of 10% phenylephrine HCI viscous solution into the conjunctival cul-de-sac of bOth eyes, group 2 includes 22 patients who are instilled twice a drop at 2 minute intervals. We observed alteration of B.P. and systemic adverse reactions in both groups, next made a comparative study, and mydriatic effect too. The results was generally there was no severe reaction, but marked increase of B.P. that statistically significant was observed in 3 patients. There was no significant difference between the 2 groups. In mydriatic effect, the significant difference was not observed between the 2 groups or according to the age. When a clinician does its instillation, he should keep possible adverse reactions in mind. and especially in cardiac disease, hypertensjon, aneurysms, advanced arteriosclerosis, infants and the elderly etc., who have much chance of accompanying severe adverse reactions, he should use phenylepherine HCI cautiously. (this time it is desirable that he use low percentage of phenylepherine HCI).
Aged ; Aneurysm ; Arteriosclerosis ; Death, Sudden ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Infant ; Mydriatics ; Phenylephrine*

No abstract available.
Hypertension, Pulmonary*

PURPOSE: To investigate the asymmetry of the retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) with respect to the horizontal and vertical meridian and between the right and left eye in normal subjects. METHODS: The RNFLT was measured in 121 normal volunteers by optical coherence tomography (OCT). The RNFLT was analyzed by dividing the circle scanning area (diameter 3.4 mm) around the optic disc into 4 quadrants and 12 sectors. RESULTS: There was a significant difference between the RNFLT of the nasal and temporal quadrant in individual eyes. There was a significant difference between the RNFLT of corresponding sectors with respect to the vertical or horizontal meridian in individual eyes. The nasal and temporal RNFLTs were asymmetrical between the right and left eye in the quadrant and sector analysis. The RNFLT of the nasal and temporal quadrant was thicker in the right eye. The nasal and inferior RNFLT measured by OCT had a significant correlation with degree of refractive error. CONCLUSIONS: In normal subjects without significant anisometropia, there was significant asymmetry of the RNFLT for each eye as well as between the right and left eye.
*Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Retinal Ganglion Cells/*ultrastructure ; Retina/*cytology ; Reference Values ; Optic Disk/cytology ; Nerve Fibers/*ultrastructure ; Male ; Humans ; Female ; Adult

Occupational asthma (OA) is the leading occupational respiratory disease. Cases compensated as OA by the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service (COMWEL) (218 cases), cases reported by a surveillance system (286 cases), case reports by related scientific journals and cases confirmed by the Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute (OSHRI) over 15 yr from 1992 to 2006 were analyzed. Annual mean incidence rate was 1.6 by compensation and 3.5 by surveillance system, respectively. The trend appeared to increase according to the surveillance system. Incidence was very low compared with other countries. The most frequently reported causative agent was isocyanate followed by reactive dye in dyeing factories. Other chemicals, metals and dust were also found as causative agents. OA was underreported according to compensation and surveillance system data. In conclusion, a more effective surveillance system is needed to evaluate OA causes and distribution, and to effectively prevent newly developing OA.
Air Pollutants, Occupational ; Asthma/*epidemiology/*etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Occupational Diseases/*epidemiology/etiology ; Occupational Exposure ; Population Surveillance ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Workers' Compensation

No abstract available.
Cardiac Catheterization* ; Cardiac Catheters* ; Child* ; Cineangiography* ; Heart Diseases* ; Heart* ; Humans ; Statistics as Topic*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the incidence,. degree, and clinical significance of non-obstructive intrahepatic bile duct di'latation encountered on follow up CT after gastrectomy for gastric carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed follow-up abdominal CT of 65 patients who had undergone gastrectomy with truncal vagotomy and subtotal gastrectomy for gastric carcinoma. We classified those patients who showed intrahepatic duct dilatation into non-obstructive or obstructive groups depending on the presence or absence of the lesions obstructing the duct. We also evaluated the incidence, degree and pattern, and appearance time of non-obstructive type of duct dilatation. RESULTS: Non-obstructive and obstructive biliary dilatations were present in 8 cases(12.3%) and 9 cases(13. 8%), respectively. The degree of non-obstructive group was mild in 6 cases(75%) and moderate in 2 cases (25%) who had taken cholecystectomy during the follow up period, and patterns were proportional dilatation of the central and peripheral intrahepatic ducts. It appeared on follow up CT obtained 6 to 12 months after operation in 7 cases and 3.5 months in one case. No statistical significance was noted between the type of surgery and the incidence of non-obstructive dilatation(p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Mild dilatation of the central intrahepatic ducts without evidence of mechanical biliary obstruction can be seen on follow-up CT obtained more than 6 months after gastrectomy for gastric carcinoma, and the incidence is about 12%. We think that this finding is non-obstructive and clinical evaluation is unnecessary.
Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; Cholecystectomy ; Dilatation* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrectomy* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vagotomy, Truncal

Aplastic anemia following hepatitis is uncommon disease and it has a poor prognosis. Recently authors expirienced a case of aplastic anemia following hepatitis in 13-year-old boy. He was admitted due to jaundice and ecchymosis for 1 month. During admission, pancytopenia developed and there was marked hypocellularity of all elements in bone marrow examination. His clinical course was not improved in spite of multiple transfusion and therapy with corticosteroid. A brief review related literatures are also presented.
Adolescent ; Anemia, Aplastic* ; Bone Marrow Examination ; Ecchymosis ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Jaundice ; Male ; Pancytopenia ; Prognosis

PURPOSE: To investigate the surgical outcomes of patients with femoral mid-diaphyseal fractures treated with minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO), which were difficult to intramedullary nailing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated 11 patients with femoral mid-diaphyseal fractures who were treated with MIPO. There were 7 males and 4 females and the mean age was 47 years (20-85 years). According to AO/OTA classification, there were 1 type of A1, 5 types of A3, 1 of B2 and 4 of B3. The reason of plate fixation instead of intramedullary nailing is as follows: femoral vessel and severe soft tissue injuries-2 cases, polytrauma patients with chest injury-6 cases, and narrow medullary canal diameter-3 cases. Six out of 11 cases were treated with initial external fixation as a damage control orthopedics. RESULTS: The mean union time of 6 cases was 3.7 months (3-5 months). There were 5 cases (45%) of nonunion, which should be treated with autogenous bone graft. All cases of nonunion resulted from severe soft tissue damage and polytrauma, which needed initial external fixation. There was no case of malalignment and implant-related complication. CONCLUSION: In cases of difficult intramedullary nailing for the femoral mid-diaphyseal fractures, MIPO could be an alternative surgical option, but concurrent soft tissue injuries and multiple trauma may increase the risk of nonunion in spite of biological fixation.
Female ; Femur ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Humans ; Male ; Multiple Trauma ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; Thorax ; Transplants