PURPOSE: To report a patient with asteroid hyalosis, which induced reduction of the visual acuity after cataract surgery.CASE SUMMARY: A 79-year-old female with no ophthalmic history visited our clinic with decreased vision. Her best-corrected visual acuity in both eyes was 20/100 in the right eye and 20/60 in the left eye. She had senile cataract in both eyes, and asteroid hyalosis in the left eye. After cataract surgery, her visual acuity in the left eye decreased to finger count. There were no specific findings that could have caused the visual disturbance, except dense asteroid bodies on fundus examination. After removal of the asteroid bodies by vitrectomy, the best-corrected visual acuity of the left eye recovered to 20/20.CONCLUSIONS: In patients with asteroid hyalosis, it is possible that decreased vision may be affected by changes of asteroid body properties in the vitreous gel after cataract surgery. The vision should improve after vitreous surgery.
Aged ; Cataract ; Female ; Fingers ; Humans ; Visual Acuity ; Vitrectomy

No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans ; Infant* ; Intussusception*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of each phases in two and three phase spiral CT in the detection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two phase spiral CT images of 18 patients and three phasespiral CT images of 12 patients with pathologically-proven pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma were retrospectively compared. Using a single spiral scan, images of early and delayed phases were obtained at 43 seconds and 2 ~ 3 minutes respectively initiating the after administration of 100-120 cc of contrast material (2 ~ 3 cc/sec),Images of arterial, portal and delayed phases were also obtained at 25 and 60 seconds, and 3 ~ 4 minutes,respectively, by the use of a double spiral scan. CT scans were performed with 10 mm collimation at 1 : 1 pitchtable speed. Contrast between the tumor and adjacent pancreatic parenchyma were compared and graded and enhancement pattern of the tumor were analysed together. RESULTS: In 12 patients (66.7%), images of the earlyphase were superior to those of the delayed phase. images of the portal phase were superior to those of thearterial phase. Enhancement of tumor was seen in four patients ; all tumors were less than 3cm in size. CONCLUSION: The early phase of two phase spiral CT is superior to the delayed phase and the portal phase of three phasespiral CT is superior to the arterial phase. Both arterial and portal phases are superior to the delayed phase.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Humans ; Pancreatic Ducts ; Tomography, Spiral Computed* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: To compare the effect of using fibrin glue or 10-0 nylon sutures on the clinical outcome of patients undergoing pterygium excision and conjunctival autografting. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 52 eyes from 46 patients who underwent pterygium excision and conjunctival autografting and were followed up for more than 3 months. The operation duration, postoperative inflammation, complications, and recurrence rates were compared between groups of 20 patients (22 eyes) for whom fibrin glue was used (fibrin glue group) and 26 patients (30 eyes) for whom suturing was performed with 10-0 nylon (suture group) in pterygium excision and conjunctival autografting. RESULTS: The operation duration was 27.71 (5.22) minutes in the fibrin glue group and 43.30 (8.18) minutes in the suture group (p = 0.000). Seven days after the operation, the fibrin glue group showed milder conjunctival inflammation than the suture group (p = 0.000). Postoperative complications and corneal recurrence rates were not statistically different between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The use of fibrin glue in pterygium excision with conjunctival autografting is likely to be a more effective, safer procedure than suturing.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Conjunctiva/*transplantation ; Female ; Fibrin Tissue Adhesive/*pharmacology ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Patient Satisfaction ; Pterygium/*surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Suture Techniques/*instrumentation ; *Sutures ; Time Factors ; Tissue Adhesives/pharmacology ; Transplantation, Autologous

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess the microbiological quality of unchlorinated drinking water in Korea, 2010. One hundred and eighty unchlorinated drinking water samples were collected from various sites in Seoul and Gyeonggi province. METHODS: To investigate bacterial presence, the pour plate method was used with cultures grown on selective media for total bacteria, total coliforms, and Staphylococcus spp., respectively. RESULTS: In the 180 total bacteria investigation, 72 samples from Seoul and 33 samples from Gyeonggi province were of an unacceptable quality (>10(2) CFU/mL). Of all the samples tested, total coliforms were detected in 28 samples (15.6%) and Staphylococcus spp. in 12 samples (6.7%). Most of the coliform isolates exhibited high-level resistance to cefazolin (88.2%), cefonicid (64.7%) and ceftazidime (20.6%). In addition, Staphylococcus spp. isolates exhibited high-level resistance to mupirocin (42%). Species of Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Cupriavidus, Hafnia, Rahnella, Serratia, and Yersinia were isolated from the water samples. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that consumption of unchlorinated drinking water could represent a notable risk to the health of consumers. As such, there is need for continuous monitoring of these water sources and to establish standards.
Acinetobacter ; Bacteria ; Cefazolin ; Cefonicid ; Ceftazidime ; Cupriavidus ; Drinking ; Drinking Water ; Hafnia ; Korea ; Mupirocin ; Pseudomonas ; Rahnella ; Serratia ; Staphylococcus ; Water ; Yersinia

Purpose: Propranolol is widely prescribed to psychiatric patients to control adrenergic symptoms. However, propranolol poisoning can be fatal due to cardiovascular complications. We analyzed associations between blood levels of propranolol and patients’ clinical features, with the aim of predicting progression to severe complications. Methods: Data were collected from patients aged 18 years or older who presented to the emergency department with propranolol poisoning between January 2016 and May 2022. We retrospectively analyzed their medical records and compared blood levels of propranolol between those who had cardiovascular complications and those who did not. Results: Two hundred patients were included in this study. The blood levels of propranolol were significantly higher in patients with hypotension, bradycardia, and prolonged QT intervals, with median values of 247.0 ng/mL (interquartile range [IQR], 56.5–333.8 ng/mL), 275.8 ng/mL (IQR, 154.3–486.4 ng/mL), and 159.0 ng/mL (IQR, 33.9–310.8 ng/mL), respectively. In the predictive analysis of cardiovascular complications using a receiver operating characteristic curve, the area under the curve was 0.729 with a cut-off value of 72.40 ng/mL (sensitivity, 0.667; specificity, 0.819). In addition, the correlation coefficient between blood levels and the amount of drug described during the history-taking at the time of presentation was 0.634, which was found to have a significantly higher relationship. Conclusion Because blood levels of propranolol can be used as predictors of exacerbation in patients with propranolol poisoning, patients with blood levels above 72.40 ng/dL require careful treatment and observation from their initial presentation at the emergency department.

The pattern of distribution in rat spinal cord and changing pattern during normal aging of c-Fos, Bcl-2, Bax, and p53 expression were investigated by immunohistochemical staining. Male Sprague-Dawley rats at the age of one week, five months, and two years were studied. C-Fos immunoreactivity was observed diffusely in gray matters in neonatal rats, preferentially located in deep dorsal horn and around central canal. Compared with those of neonatal rats, immunoreactive cells decreased prominently in adult rats. In aged rats, these cells were not seen in any segments. In a transverse section, spatial expression of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins showed a diffuse distribution pattern with immunore-activity more prominent in the anterior horn. Continuing expression of these proteins was shown in each age group. In adult rats, Bcl-2 immunoreactivity was decreased drastically compared to that of neonatal rats. The immunoreactivity was higher in aged than in adult rats, but the number of immunoreactive cells was not different between aged and neonatal rats. The number of Bax-immunoreactive cells was greater in adult than in neonatal rats; in aged rats, it was similar with that of adult rats. The spinal cords of neonatal rats were not p53-immunoreactive, though p53-positive cells were detected in all segments of adult spinal cord. P53-positive cells were stained along the cellular margin, with a pale central portion. The pattern of p53 immunoreactivity in adult and aged rats was similar; the number of p53-positive cells, however, was higher in aged rats than in adult. In conclusion, we demonstrated that the expression patterns of c-Fos, Bcl-2, Bax, and p53 proteins in rat spinal cord change during normal aging for the first time.
Adult ; Aging* ; Animals ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; Horns ; Humans ; Male ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spinal Cord*

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to investigate the difference between male and female in some clinically meaningful aspects and to prevent intentional poisoning in children and adolescents. METHODS: Retrograde medical records review of patients who visited the emergency department of two secondary hospitals for drug ingestion from March 2010 through March 2013 was performed. Unintentional ingestion or ingestion by others was excluded. RESULTS: A total of 138 cases were reported, male 25.4% (n=35), female 74.6% (n=103). The reason for poisoning was intentional in 132 cases (95.7%) and misuse in six cases (4.3%). In female patients, non-prescription drugs was the most common cause of intentional poisoning (68.9%). Male patients tend to use life substances for intentional poisoning more frequently (20.0%) than female (3.9%). Seven male patients and 12 female patients had previous psychiatric history and 34.3% of male and 41.7% of female were consulted to the psychiatric department. CONCLUSION: Female adolescents are more likely to ingest drugs intentionally for suicide attempt than males of comparable ages. The drugs they ingested were, in many cases, obtained with ease from the drug store nearby and, remarkably, most of the drugs they obtained in that way were acetaminophen-containing. This suggests that some guidelines or control in the pharmacy that restrict children or adolescents from obtaining potentially or possibly life-threatening drugs might be necessary. In addition, education regarding drugs is thought to be necessary in school for teenagers as they tend to misuse them with incorrect acknowledgement.
Adolescent* ; Child* ; Eating ; Education ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Female ; Humans ; Intention ; Male ; Medical Records ; Nonprescription Drugs ; Pharmacy ; Poisoning* ; Suicide

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Among the many factors having influence on seasonal incidence of thrombotic disease, we studied the seasonal variation of fibrinolytic activity, which might be thought to have influence on seasonal incidence of thrombotic disease. SUBJECT AND METHOD: Seasonal plasma tissue type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and euglobulin fibrinolytic activity (EFA) were measured in 18 male and 22 female normal volunteers during a year. RESULT: The level of t-PA was higher in winter than in spring (p<0.05), but was not significantly different in the other couples of four seasons. The level of EFA was higher in winter than in summer and in autumn (p<0.01), and was slightly higher in winter than in spring without significance. The level of EFA was higher in spring than in summer (p<0.05). There was no correlation between the level of t-PA and that of EFA in any of the seasons. CONCLUSION: The fibrinolytic activity is higher at lower temperature than at higher temperature. Thus, it seems that a rise in fibrinolytic activity in cold weather counters certain changes which make a thrombotic event.
Family Characteristics ; Female ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Plasma ; Seasons* ; Tissue Plasminogen Activator ; Weather

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study of surgically managed patients. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the results of posterior stabilization of a thoracolumbar fracture, without fusion, followed by the removal of metal implants within an appropriate period. Changes in the sagittal alignment and the restoration of segmental motion were also investigated. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: In managing unstable thoracolumbar and lumbar fractures, posterior fusion, using a transpedicular screw system, has been the treatment of choice, but results in the permanent loss of segmental motion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve patients with thoracolumbar and lumbar spine fractures, under 40 years of age (mean 28.4 years), were managed using this non-fusion method. Implants were removed at mean 9.2 months after the initial fixation of the fracture. For metal-fixed segments, the sagittal alignment, such as the angle of kyphosis, height of body, recovered motion range in flexion-extension and right-left bending view, were measured radiologically and compared with a control group. Clinical aspects, such as gross deformity and functional ability, were also investigated. RESULTS: The average sagittal angle at the time of injury was average 17.2 degrees, but became 1.7 degrees post-fixation, which increased after removal of the implants, reaching 9.8 degrees at the final follow up. The height of the fractured body was maintained until the final follow-up. The mean segmental motion measured in the sagittal and coronal planes were 11.7 and 9.5 degrees, respectively. Most patients were satisfied with the final gross appearance and functional outcomes. Only one patient showed considerable development of kyphotic angulation, but the functional outcome was good. CONCLUSION: The author's non-fusion method seems to be effective in achieving stability and sagittal alignment, as well as in regaining segmental motion of the fixed segments. The non-fusion method seems to be an effective method for managing thoracolumbar fractures, especially for young active persons.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Kyphosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fractures* ; Spine