PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the diagnostic accuracies of chest radiographs and chest CTin the diagnosis of a solitary pulmonary nodule(SPN), and to determine the role of CT and CT findings which aid inthe differential diagnosis of nodules. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was done on 54 patients inwhom SPN was found on chest radiographs and chest CT was carried out. The study involved 25 benign and 29 malignant nodules, confirmed histopathologically and clinically. Chest radiographs and CT scans were reviewed separately in randomized order by two chest radiologists who for each film listed the three most likely diagnose sin descending order. The radiologists recorded the confidence value of the most probable diagnosis, and also the marginal and internal characteristics of nodules and their size, as nodules seen on chest CT scans. RESULTS: Diagnostic rates in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant nodules were 65.7% by radiography and 77.8% by CT. Correct first-choice diagnosis was by radiography in 30.6 % of cases, and by CT in 41.7%. Using radiographs, and the correct diagnosis was among the top-three choices in 61.1% of cases ; with CT, the corresponding figure was 76.8%. Overall, a confident diagnosis was reached more often with the CT(41.7%) than with the chest radiograph(21.4%) ; diagnaotic accuracy was 60.0% and 52.2%, respectively. CT findings which imply abenign nodule include smooth margins and diffuse internal calcifications, whereas marginal lobulations, air-bronchograms, internal low density without cavitation, eccentric calcifications, and large size suggest malignancy. We faund that CT findings such as well-defined margins, spiculations, pleural tail or internal homogeneity did not contribute in the differentiation between benign and malignant nodules. CONCLUSION: CT issuperior to chest radiography in the differential diagnosis of the solitary pulmonary nodule. Using CT, diagnosis was accurate and made with a high level of confidence, especially with the application of CT findings which aid inthe differential diagnosis of nodules.
Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential* ; Humans ; Radiography* ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Retrospective Studies ; Solitary Pulmonary Nodule* ; Thorax* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: The most concerning issue in children with urinary tract infection(UTI) is the probability of underlying genitourinary anomalies and vesicoureteral reflux(VUR), which is frequently associated with renal scarring and eventually end-stage renal disease. Therefore, voiding cystourethrography(VCUG) is usually recommended at the earliest convenient time for children with UTI. However, VCUG is an invasive procedure that requires catheterization and exposure to X-ray. In this study, we aimed to determine the predictability of clinical, laboratory and imaging parameters for VUR in children with UTI. METHODS: Data of children with bacteriologically proven UTI who underwent VCUG were evaluated retrospectively for clinical(age, gender, fever), laboratory(leukocytosis, ESR, CRP, pyuria, blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine) and imaging(renal ultrasound and DMSA renal scan) findings. First, children with UTI were divided into two groups according to the presence of VUR as non-VUR group and with VUR group, and clinical, laboratory variables were compared between these groups. Second, patients who had VUR were reclassified as low- grade VUR(grade I-II) group and high-grade(grade III-V) VUR group according to grading of VUR, and clinical, laboratory and imaging variables were compared between these groups. RESULTS: Among 410 children with UTI, 137 had VUR and 78 high-grade VUR. Fever, leukocytosis, ESR, CRP, pyuria were associated with VUR. In addition, abnormal findings of ultrasonography and DMSA renal scan were closely related to VUR. However, these clinical and laboratory variable in patients with high grade VUR were not different significantly, compared to those with low-grade VUR group. CONCLUSIONS: Fever, leukocytosis, ESR, CRP seems to be potentially useful predictors of VUR in pediatric patients with UTI. In addition, renal ultrasonography and DMSA renal scan findings supported the presence of VUR. Further study of these findings could limit unnecessary VCUG in patients with UTI.
Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Child ; Cicatrix ; Fever ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Leukocytosis ; Pyuria ; Retrospective Studies ; Succimer ; Urinary Tract ; Vesico-Ureteral Reflux

BACKGROUND: Flood is the most common natural disaster in our country. Lots of victims occurred during the period of flood in the northern territory of Kyoungkido on August 5, 1998. We tried to describe the characteristics of the flood-related injury and illness, management and medical requirements. METHODS: We interviewed the patients admitted to 8 hospitals in Ujungbu and reviewed medical records from aug 5 to Aug 14, 1998. RESULTS: There were total 102 patients, male were 52%and women were 48% Most of patients were between 30's and 60's. Most of them were minor, and less than 3%of them needed critical care. The diagnosis were laceration(39.2%, contusion(22.5%, fracture(13.7%, infectious disease(7.8%, ligament rupture(7.8%, aggravation of chronic illness(5.9%, dermatitis(2.0% and traumatic hyphema(1.0%. The laceration occurred in the foot(37.9%, lower leg(27.0%, thigh(16.2%, hand(10.8% and head(8.1%. The location of ligament injury were achilless tendon(62.5%, hand(25% and knee(12.5%. The 67.5%of flood-related laceration patients progressed cellulitis, especially in sutured wound and a typical tetanic patient was developed. Of hospitalized patients, 2 patients showed evidence of post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD). CONCLUSION: During flood, civils have better to be educated about prevention of injury, such as wearing of shoes and clothes. Although laceration was minor, lacerated wounds should be thoroughly irrigated, debrided the margin and considered delayed closure, tetanus immunization. Reportedly, there is an increased prevalance of PTSD and depression after disasters. Therefore mental health care will be required in the future.
Cellulitis ; Critical Care ; Depression ; Diagnosis ; Disasters ; Female ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Immunization ; Lacerations ; Ligaments ; Male ; Medical Records ; Mental Health ; Northern Territory ; Shoes ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic ; Tetanus ; Wounds and Injuries

PURPOSE: To compare anterior segment parameters in angle-closure glaucoma (ACG), primary open angle glaucoma (POAG), and normal subjects (N) using a Schiempflug camera. METHODS: Central corneal thickness (CCT), lens thickness (LT), axial length (AL), anterior chamber angle (ACA), anterior chamber depth (ACD), and anterior chamber volume (ACV) were measured in ACG (93 eyes of 92 patients), POAG (90 eyes of 87 patients), and normal (91 eyes of 88 subjects) with Pentacam(R) and A-scan. All of the results and measurements were then compared. RESULTS: Compared to normal and POAG patients, ACG patients presented with significantly different measurements of CCT, LT, AL, and ACA, ACD, and ACV (p<0.05). Further, correlations were high between three measurements (ACA, ACD, ACV) in ACG, and the best correlations were found in acute angle-closure glaucoma (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: By using a Schiempflug camera it was possible to assess the correlation between anterior segment parameters (ACA, ACD, ACV) in glaucoma patients. The best correlations were found in acute angle-closure glaucoma, and thus anterior segment parameters can offer reciprocally complementary information.
Anterior Chamber ; Eye ; Glaucoma ; Glaucoma, Angle-Closure ; Glaucoma, Open-Angle ; Growth Hormone ; Humans ; Peptide Fragments

Phenobarbital is a long-acting barbiturate causing generalized depression of neuronal activity in the brain. Its effect is primarily achieved through enhanced GABA-mediated synaptic inhibition. Its use as an antiepileptic agent was first described in 1912. Before the introduction of phenytoin, phenobarbital is used as sedative-hypnotics. It is used for the treatment of epilepsy and status epilepticus. All barbiturates, including phenobarbital, have a high potential far abuse. They were frequently used for suicide attempts in the past, but they have in large part been replaced by benzodiazepines. the onset of symptoms depends on the drug and the route of administration. Mild to moderate barbiturate intoxication resembles ethanol inebriation with slurred speech, ataxia, and lethargy. Severe acute barbiturate intoxication is life threatening. Early deaths are generally cardiovascular-related. Hypotension, shock, pulmonary edema, and cardiac arrest that occurs with large doses are caused by depression of central sympathetic tone and as well as by direct depression of cardiac contractility. The potentially fatal oral dose of phenobarbital is 6-l0g. We describe an 23-year-old woman with pulmonary edema and cardiac arrest after ingestion of 18 grams of phenobarbital. She was completely recovered by successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation and hemoperfusion. We report a case with literature review.
Ataxia ; Barbiturates ; Benzodiazepines ; Brain ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Depression ; Eating ; Epilepsy ; Ethanol ; Female ; Heart Arrest* ; Hemoperfusion ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Lethargy ; Neurons ; Phenobarbital* ; Phenytoin ; Pulmonary Edema* ; Shock ; Status Epilepticus ; Suicide ; Young Adult

Isoniazid(Isonicotinic acid hydrazide) is an antimicrobial drug used since 1952 as a fast line agent for the prophylaxis and treatment of tuberculosis. Isoniazid is well known for problems in population having a high prevalence of isoniazid use for prophylaxis or treatment of tuberculosis. But intentional or accidental isoniazid overdose is uncommon. The ingestion of toxic amounts of isoniazid causes recurrent seizures, profound metabolic acidosis, coma and even death. In adults, toxicity can occur with the acute ingestion of as little as 1.5g of isoniazid. Doses larder than 30mg per kg often produce seizures. When ingested in amounts of 80-150mg per kg or more, isoniazid can be rapid fatal. 40-year-old woman having previous pulmonary tuberculosis ingested 7 gram of isoniazid(140mg/kg) to attempt suicide approximately 30 minutes prior to visit to our emergency medical center. She had recurrent generalized tonicclonic seizures and metabolic acidosis. We report one patient treated with pyridoxine, which was equivalent to the amount of isoniazid ingested and administered as a intravenous dose and oral dose.
Acidosis ; Adult ; Coma ; Eating ; Emergencies ; Female ; Humans ; Isoniazid* ; Prevalence ; Pyridoxine ; Seizures* ; Suicide ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

Sternomastoid tumor has long been recognized as a peculiar fibrous growth of the sternocleidomastoid muscle that usually appears during first several weeks of life. Sternomastoid tumor has often been referred to as "congenital torticollis" or "congenital muscular torticollis" because it is often associated with muscular torticollis. Some authors prefer to discuss them separately as either "sternomastoid tumor" when mass is palpable, or "muscular torticollis" when only tightness of sternomastoid muscle is present. Although it is disputed whether sternomastoid tumor will lead to muscular torticollis, 1/4-1/3 numbers of sternomastoid tumor does progress to muscular torticollis. However, muscular torticollis may occur in children without history of a mass in the sternocleidomastoid muscle. We present two cases of sternomastoid tumor that is combined with torticollis, one case was treated by physiotherapy and the other by surgery.
Child ; Humans ; Torticollis

OBJECTIVES: Some reports have suggested that 5-HT5A polymorphism allelic association was associated with depression, however, there has been no report about relationship between the 5-HT5A gene and antidepressant response. We conducted the association study of the 5-HT5A receptor gene polymorphisms (-19G/C,12A/T) and response to citalopram in Korean patients with major depressive disorder(MDD). METHODS: A total of 106 patients with major depressive disorder were included in this study. The patient's symptoms were measured by 21-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale(HAMD) at baseline, week 1, week 2, week 4 and week 8 during citalopram treatment. A Responder to citalopram was defined by 50% reduction of total HAMD scores. To analyze genetic polymorphisms, a polymerase chain reaction based method was used. RESULTS: At week 8, responders were 62, non-responders were 44. No significant differences of genotypes or allelic association in 19G/C and 12A/T polymorphisms were observed between responsive and non-responsive patients. CONCLUSION: These results do not support the hypothesis that this polymorphism of the HT5A receptor gene is involved in the therapeutic response to citalopram.
Citalopram ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder, Major ; Genotype ; Humans ; Pharmacogenetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Receptors, Serotonin

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to assess whether isolated oligohydramnios is associated with adverse perinatal outcomes in low-risk term pregnancy. METHODS: Women delivered between March 2001 and July 2003, who underwent ultrasonography from 37 to 41(+6) weeks gestation were analyzed. Women undergoing labor induction for oligohydramnios were matched by gestational age and parity to women with normal amniotic fluid index measurements. Oligohydramnios was defined as an amniotic fluid index (AFI) 5.0 cm with respect to maternal age, parity, nulliparity, gestational age at delivery. The study (N=21) and control groups (N=100) had similar the primary outcome (rate of total cesarean delivery and rate of cesarean delivery for fetal distress) as well as the secondary outcome variables such as birthweight, Apgar score<7 at 5-min, meconium stained amniotic fluid, and NICU admission >8 day. There were no differences between pregnancies with 5th percentile of AFI with respect to maternal age, parity, nulliparity, and the secondary outcome variables such as birthweight, Apgar score<7 at 5-min, meconium stained amniotic fluid, and NICU admission >8 day. However, pregnancies with 5th percentile of AFI. Rate of cesarean delivery for fetal distress was not significantly different in the two groups. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that oligohydramnios in low-risk term pregnancy does not affect the increased perinatal morbidity and mortality. Therefore, isolated oligohydramnios may not be a marker for fetal compromise in low-risk term pregnancy, and induction of labor may not be warranted in most cases.
Amniotic Fluid ; Apgar Score ; Birth Weight ; Female ; Fetal Distress ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Maternal Age ; Meconium ; Mortality ; Oligohydramnios* ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Parity ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: To evaluate the radiologic, clinical results between who had intertrochanteric fracture, treated with Compression Hip Screw (CHS) and Proximal Femoral Nail Antirotation (PFNA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed each 36 and 48 patients of intertrochanteric fracture which were treated with CHS or PFNA by one surgeon from January 2005 to June 2009. We evaluated mean operation time, amount of bleeding, radiologic results, and the clinical outcomes with the mobility score of Parker and Palmer, social function scoring system. RESULTS: The mean operation time, amount of bleeding were less in the PFNA group, there were 116.7 min, 486.1 ml for the CHS group versus 87.7 min, 289.6 ml for the PFNA group. The radiologic results were not significantly different. Decrease of mobility score of Parker and Palmer, social function score were similar. Proximal migration of leg screw and perforation of femoral head was 2 case and deep infection was 1 cases in CHS group. CONCLUSION: There were no significant differences that are clinical and radiological results in treatment of intertrochanteric fracture using the CHS and PFNA. But PFNA is less invasive device than CHS, therefore it may be useful device in elderly patients.
Aged ; Femoral Fractures ; Femur ; Head ; Hemorrhage ; Hip ; Humans ; Leg ; Nails ; Retrospective Studies