The myofascial pain syndrome patients usually have characteristic personalities. The purpose of this study is to investigate the psychological characteristics of myofascial pain syndrome patients. We reviewed medical records of fifty-four patients with myofascial pain syndrome for their Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, Visual Analogue Scale, and psychological interview notes. On MMPI profile, the patients scored high in hypochondriasis, hysteria and depression scales, which are the triad of neurosis. According to stress factors and occupations, the psychologic responses were different. We have compared the severity of pain according to different life stress and occupations. VAS scores of the student group were higher statistically in the occupation comparison and of the marital problem group were higher in the life stress comparison. It is suggested that psychologic intervention on myofascial pain syndrome patients should be stressed for the management of pain.
Depression ; Humans ; Hypochondriasis ; Hysteria ; Interview, Psychological ; Medical Records ; MMPI ; Myofascial Pain Syndromes* ; Occupations ; Psychology ; Rehabilitation ; Stress, Psychological ; Weights and Measures

PURPOSE: In a preliminary series of 36 eyes with partial nasolacrimal duct obstruction, the types of dacryoscintigraphy result were classified and the results of silicone tube intubation were analysed. METHODS: The results of dacryoscintigraphy, performed in 36 eyes of 29 patients with partial nasolacrimal duct obstruction, were classified into the following 3 types: pre-lacrimal sac type, proximal nasolacrimal duct type and distal nasolacrimal duct type. Punctoplasty accompanied by silicone tube intubation was conducted selectively. RESULTS: In dacryoscintigraphy, symptoms improved in 6 eyes among 6 in distal nasolacrimal duct type (100%), 14 eyes among 18 in proximal nasolacrimal duct type (77.8%) and 8 eyes among 12 in pre-lacrimal sac type (66.7%). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that dacryoscintigraphy predicts the results of silicone tube intubation. Furthermore, silicone tube intubation was effective in proximal nasolacrimal duct type and distal nasolacrimal duct type, but less effective in pre-lacrimal sac type of partial nasolacrimal duct obstruction.
Humans ; Intubation* ; Nasolacrimal Duct* ; Silicones*

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to compare inter-fragmentary compression pressures after fixation of a simulated type II odontoid fracture with the headless compression Herbert screw and a half threaded cannulated lag screw. METHODS: We compared inter-fragmentary compression pressures between 40- and 45-mm long 4.5-mm Herbert screws (n=8 and n=9, respectively) and 40- and 45-mm long 4.0-mm cannulated lag screws (n=7 and n=10, respectively) after insertion into rigid polyurethane foam test blocks (Sawbones, Vashon, WA, USA). A washer load cell was placed between the two segments of test blocks to measure the compression force. Because the total length of each foam block was 42 mm, the 40-mm screws were embedded in the cancellous foam, while the 45-mm screws penetrated the denser cortical foam at the bottom. This enabled us to compare inter-fragmentary compression pressures as they are affected by the penetration of the apical dens tip by the screws. RESULTS: The mean compression pressures of the 40- and 45-mm long cannulated lag screws were 50.48±1.20 N and 53.88±1.02 N, respectively, which was not statistically significant (p=0.0551). The mean compression pressures of the 40-mm long Herbert screw was 52.82±2.17 N, and was not statistically significant compared with the 40-mm long cannulated lag screw (p=0.3679). However, 45-mm Herbert screw had significantly higher mean compression pressure (60.68±2.03 N) than both the 45-mm cannulated lag screw and the 40-mm Herbert screw (p=0.0049 and p=0.0246, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our results showed that inter-fragmentary compression pressures of the Herbert screw were significantly increased when the screw tip penetrated the opposite dens cortical foam. This can support the generally recommended surgical technique that, in order to facilitate maximal reduction of the fracture gap using anterior odontoid screws, it is essential to penetrate the apical dens tip with the screw.
Polyurethanes

PURPOSE: We report a case of orbital abscess secondary to acute dacryocystitis in which the patient had been cared for chronic dacryocystitis. METHODS: A 59-year-old woman presented to our clinic with a history of chronic sinusitis from childhood and right chronic dacryocystitis treated for 6 years. She had sufferred from influenza 2 weeks previously and complained of painful lid swelling, limitation of ocular movement, exophthalmos, chemosis, and decreased vision of the right eye for 2 weeks. An orbital CT scan was taken and bacterial culture and sensitivity tests were done from the discharge. RESULTS: CT scan showed inflammation and abscess formation around the right nasolacrimal duct orifice which was swollen and widened. Some of the inflammation tissues extended into the retrobulbar portion. Streptococcus pyogenous was cultured. Lid swelling, pain, exophthalmos, and visual acuity improved after external dacryocystorhinostomy, and surgical drainage. CONCLUSIONS: We should be careful in a case of acute dacryocystitis underlying chronic dacryocystitis as it easily causes complications, and in such a case early surgical management as well as antibiotics therapy is more effective.
Abscess* ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Dacryocystitis* ; Dacryocystorhinostomy ; Drainage ; Exophthalmos ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Influenza, Human ; Middle Aged ; Nasolacrimal Duct ; Orbit* ; Sinusitis ; Streptococcus ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Visual Acuity

BACKGROUND: There are different models of skin substitutes, but no skin substitutes have the characteristics of native skin. It was reported that the incubation of skin substitutes in medium containing ascorbic acid extends cellular viability and promotes formation of an epidermal barrier in vitro. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to observe the effects of ascorbic acid on the proliferation of keratinocytes and on the reconstruction of epidermis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Normal human keratinocytes and fibroblasts were isolated and used for culturing living skin equivalent (LSE). RESULTS: When ascorbic acid was added, the expression of p63 and a6 integrin was definitely increased compared to control models. In addition, ascorbic acid increased the proliferation of normal human keratinocytes at a dose dependent manner. Especially, ascorbic acid induced the phosphorylation of ERK and up-regulation of EGF-R CONCLUSION: Results suggest that ascorbic acid is essential in the control of keratinocyte proliferation and basement membrane formation. Ascorbic acid-related keratinocytes proliferation is seemed to be mediated by ERK phosphorylation and EGF-R up-regulation.
Ascorbic Acid* ; Basement Membrane ; Epidermis ; Fibroblasts ; Humans ; Keratinocytes* ; Phosphorylation ; Skin* ; Skin, Artificial ; Up-Regulation

Purpose: To predict the presence of tractional retinal detachment (TRD) in eyes with dense vitreous hemorrhage (VH) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) by evaluating the status of posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) in fellow eyes using optical coherence tomography (OCT). Methods: A total of 44 eyes from 22 patients who underwent vitrectomy due to dense VH with PDR were enrolled. Using OCT, the PVD status in the fellow eye was divided into two groups (incomplete and complete PVD). The incomplete PVD group included eyes without PVD and eyes with partial PVD. B-scan ultrasonography was performed on eyes with dense VH to evaluate the presence of TRD. Both OCT and B-scan images were reviewed by four ophthalmologists (two novices and two experienced), and the interobserver agreement was evaluated. Results: There was a difference in the interobserver agreement regarding the presence of TRD in eyes with dense VH evaluated by B scan between novice and experienced ophthalmologists (novice, κ = 0.421 vs. experienced, κ = 0.814), although there was no difference between novice and experienced ophthalmologists in the interobserver agreement regarding the status of PVD in the fellow eye evaluated by OCT (novice, κ = 1.000 vs. experienced, κ = 1.000). All observed TRD during vitrectomy occurred in eyes with incomplete PVD in the fellow eye. Logistic regression analysis revealed a statistically significant relation between TRD and the age of the patient (odds ratio [OR], 0.874; p = 0.047), and between TRD and incomplete PVD in the fellow eye evaluated by OCT (OR, 13.904; p = 0.042). Conclusions Evaluation of the PVD status in the fellow eye using OCT may be a useful predictor for detecting the presence of TRD in eyes with dense VH and PDR.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have implicated paraoxonase (PON), an HDL-associated enzyme, in providing protection against LDL oxidation, thus affecting the risk of coronary heart disease in general population. Serum PON activity is affected by PON gene polymorphism. We investigated the correlation between the PON2 codon 311 polymorphism (Cys-->Ser) and coronary heart disease in Koreans. METHODS: The subjects consisted of 145 healthy controls and 72 patients with coronary heart disease who were diagnosed by coronary angiography in Soonchunhyang University Hospital. The polymorphism at 311 codon in the PON2 gene was assessed by PCR-RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism) in their blood leukocyte DNA. RESULTS: PON2 genotype frequencies among 145 healthy controls were 7.6% CC, 37.2% CS and 55.2% SS (C:S = 0.250:0.750). PON2 genotype frequencies among 72 patients with coronary heart disease were 4.2% CC, 41.7% CS and 54.1% SS (C:S = 0.262:0.738). There was no significant difference between the two groups in genotype frequency or the allele frequency. There was no correlation between the PON2 polymorphism and HDL cholesterol level. CONCLUSIONS: The polymorphism at codon 311 in the PON2 gene are not associated with coronary heart disease in Koreans.
Aryldialkylphosphatase* ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Codon ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Disease* ; DNA ; Gene Frequency* ; Genotype ; Humans ; Leukocytes

BACKGROUND: Increased prevalence of diabetes in recent years is linked with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Apolipoprotein E (apo E) polymorphism is well known to be related to hyperlipidemia and coronary heart disease, but only a few studies investigated the association between apo E polymorphism and diabetes or insulin resistance. In Korea, two studies with relatively small subjects reported controversial results. Therefore, we investigated the association between apo E polymorphism and diabetes in elderly community population. METHODS: 982 elderly people aged 65 or over in Seongnam city were enrolled. We measured anthropometric variables and blood pressure and performed biochemical tests including fasting glucose, fasting insulin, HbA1c, and lipid profiles. Apo E polymorphism was determined by PCR-RFLP method. RESULTS: Frequencies of apo E isoforms and alleles were similar to those of other reports. Subjects with e4 allele had significantly higher total and LDL-cholesterol levels. However, there were no differences in cholesterol levels between normal subjects and diabetes. Diabetes was not related to apo E polymorphism. CONCLUSION: In Korean aged 65 or over, subjects with diabetes didn't have increased total or LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, and decreased HDL-cholesterol levels. Diabetes and apo E polymorphism were not related.
Aged ; Alleles ; Apolipoproteins ; Apolipoproteins E ; Blood Pressure ; Cholesterol ; Coronary Disease ; Fasting ; Glucose ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; Insulin ; Insulin Resistance ; Korea ; Prevalence ; Protein Isoforms

PURPOSE: Nonfunctioning endocrine tumors of the pancreas have no specific symptoms. Therefore, diagnosis is usually delayed and the malignancy rate at the time of diagnosis is reported to be higher than 50%. However, it is difficult to discriminate malignant from benign nonfunctioning endocrine tumors preoperatively. The purpose of this study was to investigate clinical characteristics of nonfunctioning endocrine tumors of the pancreas, including predictive factors of malignancy and prognostic factors affecting long-term survival. METHODS: Between 1992 and 2010, clinicopathological data of 53 patients with nonfunctioning endocrine tumors proven by surgical pathology were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: Of the 53 patients, mean age was 54 years-old and the male to female ratio was 1:1.2 Median follow up was 32.1 months. At the time of diagnosis, liver metastasis was detected in 4 patients. Curative resection was achieved in 49 patients, and 17% of them had recurrence, which was most common in liver. The overall 5-year survival rate was 85.1%. Both the WHO classification (p<0.001) and AJCC staging (p<0.001) correlated well with long-term survival. Univariate analysis revealed preoperative body weight loss (p<0.001), weak enhancement at the early arterial phase (p=0.043), lymph node metastasis (p<0.001), liver metastasis (p=0.001), perineural invasion (p=0.001), or lymphovascular invasion (p=0.010) as prognostic factors. CONCLUSION: Nonfunctioning endocrine tumor of the pancreas has favorable survival outcomes. Lymph node metastasis (p<0.001), liver metastasis (p=0.001), perineural invasion (p=0.001), and lymphovascular invasion (p=0.010) are poor prognostic factors.
Body Weight ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Liver ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neuroendocrine Tumors ; Pancreas ; Pathology, Surgical ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Survival Rate

We investigated the demographic characteristics and risk factors of Korean patients with naIve central or branch retinal vein occlusion (CRVO or BRVO). This study enrolled 41 clinical sites throughout Korea and included 557 consecutive patients with retinal vein occlusion (RVO) from May through November 2010. A total of 557 patients with new-onset RVO participated in this study. Two hundred and three (36.4%) patients were diagnosed with CRVO and 354 (63.6%) patients were diagnosed with BRVO. Comparisons between the two groups showed that the prevalence of diabetes mellitus was significantly higher in CRVO patients and hypertension was significantly higher in BRVO patients (P = 0.001 and 0.002, respectively). Poor baseline visual acuity was significantly associated with female and old age in BRVO patients (P = 0.002 and 0.013, respectively), whereas the wide intraretinal hemorrhage (CRVO, P = 0.029; BRVO, P < 0.001) and the macular ischemia (CRVO, P < 0.001; BRVO, P < 0.001) were associated with both groups. The study results show the clinical features of RVO in Korean patients. Hypertension is strongly associated with BRVO and diabetes mellitus is more strongly associated with CRVO in Korean patients with RVO. As the first nationwide study performed by the Korean Retinal Society, the results of this study can be applied to future studies on RVO.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Demography ; Diabetes Complications ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension/complications ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Regression Analysis ; Republic of Korea ; Retinal Hemorrhage/complications ; Retinal Vein Occlusion/complications/*diagnosis ; Risk Factors ; Sex Factors ; Young Adult