PURPOSE: We performed this study to evaluate the most common site of the nasolacrimal systemic obstruction and causes of the nasolacrimal stent insertion failure and reobstruction following the insertion of the stent. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Nasolacrimal stent insertion was attempted in 26 cases(24 patients) of 30 cases (25 patients) with complete obstruction of the nasolacrimal system at the dacryocystography. We retrospectively assessed the obstruction site of nasolacrimal system, and evaluated the rate and causes of stent insertion failure and reobstruction following insertion of the stent on follow-up. RESULT: The obstructive sites of then asolacrimal system were junction level of the lacrimal sac and nasolacrimal duct(80%), common canaliculi(10%),and nasolacrimal duct(10%). In seven cases, we failed to insert the nasolacrimal stent. Four of the seven cases had a history of previous operation on paranasal sinus or nasolacrimal system. At 4 weeks follow up, epiphorare developed in four of 10 cases(reobstruction rate, 40%). Inflammatory process around the nasolacrimal duct stent was conndered to be the cause of reobstruction in two of the four reobstructed cases. CONCLUSION: Success rate of nasolacrimal duct stent insertion was 73%, and failure rate was 27%. The causes of the stent insertion failure included fibrosis and granulation tissue due to the previous operation around nasolacrimal duct system and paranasal sinus area. Inflammatory process around the stent caused recurrent obstruction.
Fibrosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Granulation Tissue ; Nasolacrimal Duct* ; Stents*

Tracheal intubation for general anesthesia is usually performed using a rigid laryngoscope and reguires the mandible to be opened with forward and upward traction of the patient's jaw which may at times result in the inadvertant injury to temporomandibular joint(TMJ). The injury may include internal derangement, dislocation and hematoma of TMJ; subsequent intraarticular adhesion formation ; dislocation of the meniscus, and rarely auriculotemporal nerve damage from traumatic TMJ dislocation. We studied in 200 patients the size of mouth opening during intubation, the change of mouth opening by tracheal intubation evaluated after operation, and any TMJ disorder arising after tracheal intubation. The results were as follows; 1) The mean size of mouth opening before operation was 42.7+/-7.0 and 40.6+/-6.2mm in male and female patients, respectively. 2) The mean size of mouth opening during intubation was 24.7+/-2.6 and 23.4+/-2.7mm in male and female patients, respectively. When vecuronium was used to prevent fasciculation, the mean was 24.3+/-3.1 and 25.2+/-2.0mm in male and female patients, respectively. 3) One week following operation The mean size of mouth opening one week postoperation was 48.3+/-8.9 and 42.2+/-6.3mm in male and female patients, respectively. When vecuronium was used to prevent fasciculation, the mean size of mouth opening was 55.5+/-5.3 and 43.2+/-6.2mm in male and female patients, respectively. 4) Five patients complained of discomfort around TMJ after tracheal intubation. It seems that upward 45 mandibule lifting by laryngoscope caused trauma to TMJs.
Anesthesia, General ; Dislocations ; Fasciculation ; Female ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Intubation ; Intubation, Intratracheal* ; Jaw ; Laryngoscopes ; Lifting ; Male ; Mandible ; Mouth ; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders ; Temporomandibular Joint* ; Traction ; Vecuronium Bromide

Mesenteric vein thrombosis is a rare disease that can be fatal, as it can cause ischemia or infarction of bowels. The mortality rate is 13~50%. The predisposing factors of mesenteric vein thrombosis are numerous, and one of them is diverticulitis. Diverticulitis is a rare disease and mesenteric vein thrombosis caused by diverticulitis has not been reported in Korea. We report a patient with superior mesenteric vein thrombosis associated with diverticulitis of ascending colon, and it was diagnosed by computed tomography and barium enema. After antibiotic therapy, the thrombosis was resolved and the patient was completely recovered.
Barium ; Causality ; Colon, Ascending ; Diverticulitis* ; Enema ; Humans ; Infarction ; Ischemia ; Korea ; Mesenteric Veins* ; Mortality ; Rare Diseases ; Thrombosis*

BACKGROUND: Cellulite is a 'cottage cheese-like' cutaneous change caused by subcutaneous fat bulging into the dermis that usually leads to cosmetic problems. Slimming cream containing 3.5% water-soluble caffeine and xanthenes exhibits a lipolytic effect with penetration into the dermis. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of slimming cream for the treatment of cellulite. METHODS: Fifteen subjects with cellulite applied slimming cream to the thighs and inner side of the upper arms twice daily for 6 weeks. Efficacy was assessed using a standard visual scale, changes in the circumferences of the thighs and upper arms, and patient satisfaction by a questionnaire at baseline, week 3, and week 6. Safety was assessed by inquiring about adverse events through questionnaires. RESULTS: The standard visual scale score improved significantly by 0.49 points (19.8%) at week 6. Thigh and upper-arm circumferences decreased by 0.7 cm (1.7%) and 0.8 cm (2.3%), respectively, at week 6. Slight itching and transient flushing were commonly reported, but no serious adverse event occurred. CONCLUSION: The slimming cream tested appears to be effective for the treatment of cellulitis without serious adverse effects. However, additional large clinical trials are required to confirm the efficacy and safety of slimming cream for the treatment of cellulitis.
Arm ; Caffeine* ; Cellulitis ; Dermis ; Flushing ; Patient Satisfaction ; Pruritus ; Subcutaneous Fat ; Thigh ; Xanthenes* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Inflammatory pseudotumor (IPT) is an uncommon benign neoplasm of unknown etiology presenting as an incidental mass, fever, malaise, anemia, and weight loss. Generally, IPT in the lung is asymptomatic. A case of pulmonary IPT presenting as prolonged fever in a 59 year old man is presented with clinicopathological findings. The patient had been febrile for three months before admission. Five months before admission, a chest X-ray showed a small left pulmonary mass which was regarded as old tuberculosis. An chest X-ray taken on admission revealed a left pulmonary mass two times the size of the one on the first x-ray. Percutaneous needle aspiration and biopsy were performed, and the microscopic examination revealed a plasma cell reaction with myofibroblastic proliferation, consistent with IPT. As prolonged unexplained fever is a frequent symptom in patients with IPTs, this disease entity should be included in the differential diagnosis of fever of unknown origin.
Anemia ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Fever of Unknown Origin* ; Fever* ; Granuloma, Plasma Cell ; Humans ; Lung ; Middle Aged ; Myofibroblasts ; Needles ; Plasma Cell Granuloma, Pulmonary* ; Plasma Cells ; Thorax ; Tuberculosis ; Weight Loss

Inflammatory pseudotumor (IPT) is an uncommon benign neoplasm of unknown etiology presenting as an incidental mass, fever, malaise, anemia, and weight loss. Generally, IPT in the lung is asymptomatic. A case of pulmonary IPT presenting as prolonged fever in a 59 year old man is presented with clinicopathological findings. The patient had been febrile for three months before admission. Five months before admission, a chest X-ray showed a small left pulmonary mass which was regarded as old tuberculosis. An chest X-ray taken on admission revealed a left pulmonary mass two times the size of the one on the first x-ray. Percutaneous needle aspiration and biopsy were performed, and the microscopic examination revealed a plasma cell reaction with myofibroblastic proliferation, consistent with IPT. As prolonged unexplained fever is a frequent symptom in patients with IPTs, this disease entity should be included in the differential diagnosis of fever of unknown origin.
Anemia ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Fever of Unknown Origin* ; Fever* ; Granuloma, Plasma Cell ; Humans ; Lung ; Middle Aged ; Myofibroblasts ; Needles ; Plasma Cell Granuloma, Pulmonary* ; Plasma Cells ; Thorax ; Tuberculosis ; Weight Loss

It is difficult to distinguish a lung cancer from a pulmonary tuberculoma or other benign nodule. It is even more difficult to identify the type of lesion if the mass shows no change in size or demonstrates slow growth. Only a pathological confirmation can possibly reveal the nature of the lesion. A 61-year-old-woman was referred for a solitary pulmonary nodule. The nodule showed no change in size for the first two years and continued to grow slowly. Pathological and immunological analyses were conducted for confirmation of the nodule. The nodule was identified as a well-differentiated primary pulmonary adenocarcinoma. An LULobectomy was performed, and the post surgical stage of the nodule was IIIA (T2N2M0). Even though there are few risk factors, there is still the possibility of a malignancy in cases of non-growing or slow growing solitary pulmonary nodules. Therefore, pathological confirmation is encouraged to obtain a firm diagnosis.
Adenocarcinoma ; Lung Neoplasms ; Risk Factors ; Solitary Pulmonary Nodule ; Tuberculoma

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability of computer-aided replica technique (CART) by calculating its agreement with the replica technique (RT), using statistical agreement analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prepared metal die and a metal crown were fabricated. The gap between the restoration and abutment was replicated using silicone indicator paste (n = 25). Gap measurements differed in the control (RT) and experimental (CART) groups. In the RT group, the silicone replica was manually sectioned, and the marginal and occlusal gaps were measured using a microscope. In the CART group, the gap was digitized using optical scanning and image superimposition, and the gaps were measured using a software program. The agreement between the measurement techniques was evaluated by using the 95% Bland-Altman limits of agreement and concordance correlation coefficients (CCC). The least acceptable CCC was 0.90. RESULTS: The RT and CART groups showed linear association, with a strong positive correlation in gap measurements, but without significant differences. The 95% limits of agreement between the paired gap measurements were 3.84% and 7.08% of the mean. The lower 95% confidence limits of CCC were 0.9676 and 0.9188 for the marginal and occlusal gap measurements, respectively, and the values were greater than the allowed limit. CONCLUSION: The CART is a reliable digital approach for evaluating the fit accuracy of fixed dental prostheses.
Crowns ; Dental Prosthesis ; Prostheses and Implants* ; Replica Techniques* ; Silicon ; Silicones

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine the behavioral and emotional problems associated with nocturnal enuresis in Korean children. METHODS: Three hundred eighteen children with nocturnal enuresis, together with their parents, completed the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), Disruptive Behavior Disorder Scale according to DSM-IV (DBDS), Children's Depression Inventory (CDI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC), and Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale (PHCSC). Ninety-three normal students were selected as the control group. RESULTS: Compared to the normal control group, the mean scores with regard to the withdrawn, social problems, attention problems, delinquent behavior, aggressive behavior, externalizing problems and total problems profiles were significantly higher in the nocturnal enuresis group according to the CBCL results. The nocturnal enuresis group also scored significantly higher in the ADHD and ODD profiles of the DBDS. The nocturnal enuresis group was more depressed and anxious than the control group according to the results of the CDI and STAI. The mean score of the PHCSC was significantly lower in the nocturnal enuresis group when compared to the normal control group. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that children with nocturnal enuresis in Korea have clinically relevant behavioral and emotional problems. The findings support the link between nocturnal enuresis and psychopathology in Korean children.
Anxiety ; Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders ; Checklist ; Child Behavior ; Child* ; Depression ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Humans ; Korea ; Nocturnal Enuresis* ; Parents ; Psychopathology ; Social Problems