No abstract available.
Cryptococcus neoformans* ; Cryptococcus* ; Interleukin-2* ; Lymphocytes*

The first author as a medical doctor has elaborated four-frame comic strips on health information. The comic strips can be easily converted into the animations by means of PowerPoint (animation function) and additional software. The first purpose of the present study was to enhance national health by distributing the animations on health information. The second purpose was to help the interested people make their own animations with minimal technology.The comic strips in Adobe Illustrator file were imported to PowerPoint. Using animation tools of PowerPoint, sequential appearance of the figures and texts was arranged; the various movements of the figures were adjusted. On Vocalware homepage, Korean texts were changed into voices, which were recorded using Gomrecoder; the voices were inserted into PowerPoint file. On PowerPoint, animation displaying the figures, texts, and voices was carried out and recorded using Bandicam. As the final products, the animations of 42 episodes (MP4 files) were uploaded to YouTube.The presented method to make the animation on PowerPoint, etc. has the advantage: to learn the method easily, to perform the method at inexpensive cost, to expand the method for further applications.

The first author as a medical doctor has elaborated four-frame comic strips on health information. The comic strips can be easily converted into the animations by means of PowerPoint (animation function) and additional software. The first purpose of the present study was to enhance national health by distributing the animations on health information. The second purpose was to help the interested people make their own animations with minimal technology.The comic strips in Adobe Illustrator file were imported to PowerPoint. Using animation tools of PowerPoint, sequential appearance of the figures and texts was arranged; the various movements of the figures were adjusted. On Vocalware homepage, Korean texts were changed into voices, which were recorded using Gomrecoder; the voices were inserted into PowerPoint file. On PowerPoint, animation displaying the figures, texts, and voices was carried out and recorded using Bandicam. As the final products, the animations of 42 episodes (MP4 files) were uploaded to YouTube.The presented method to make the animation on PowerPoint, etc. has the advantage: to learn the method easily, to perform the method at inexpensive cost, to expand the method for further applications.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. OBJECTIVES: We retrospectively evaluated the clinical efficacy of postganglionic nerve block in symptomatic Schmorl nodules (SNs). SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: SNs are common lesions that are often asymptomatic. In certain cases, SNs have been reported to cause severe axial back pain, thereby considerably impacting patients' quality of life. No consensus currently exists on the treatment of symptomatic SNs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From October 2015 to October 2017, a total of 21 patients with symptomatic SNs diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that did not respond to conservative treatment after 4 weeks were included in the study. All patients received postganglionic nerve block. We evaluated effective pain relief (improvement of back pain of more than 50% compared with before the intervention) and functional improvements, assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index scores obtained at 4 hours, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months after the procedure. RESULTS: Symptomatic SNs were more common at the L2-3 level, and the lower end plate was more commonly involved than the upper end plate. Eighteen of the 21 patients (85.7%) showed effective pain relief, and no deterioration was observed within the follow-up period. Throughout the follow-up period, the VAS remained significantly improved compared to before the procedure (p < 0.05). Complications were not reported in any cases. CONCLUSIONS: Postganglionic nerve block for symptomatic SNs that do not respond to conservative treatment is a non-invasive modality for pain relief.
Back Pain ; Consensus ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Nerve Block ; Quality of Life ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVES: We retrospectively evaluated the clinical efficacy of postganglionic nerve block in symptomatic Schmorl nodules (SNs).SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: SNs are common lesions that are often asymptomatic. In certain cases, SNs have been reported to cause severe axial back pain, thereby considerably impacting patients' quality of life. No consensus currently exists on the treatment of symptomatic SNs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From October 2015 to October 2017, a total of 21 patients with symptomatic SNs diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that did not respond to conservative treatment after 4 weeks were included in the study. All patients received postganglionic nerve block. We evaluated effective pain relief (improvement of back pain of more than 50% compared with before the intervention) and functional improvements, assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index scores obtained at 4 hours, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months after the procedure. RESULTS: Symptomatic SNs were more common at the L2-3 level, and the lower end plate was more commonly involved than the upper end plate. Eighteen of the 21 patients (85.7%) showed effective pain relief, and no deterioration was observed within the follow-up period. Throughout the follow-up period, the VAS remained significantly improved compared to before the procedure (p < 0.05). Complications were not reported in any cases. CONCLUSIONS Postganglionic nerve block for symptomatic SNs that do not respond to conservative treatment is a non-invasive modality for pain relief.

No abstract available.
Interleukin-6* ; Lymphocytes*

Stabilization of the unstable spine created by the posterior decompression is as important as the decompression itself in the treatment of spinal stenosis. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of C-D pedicle screw fixation in stabilization after lumbar decompression, in reduction of spondylolisthesis and in restoration of the lumbar sagittal curvature. C-D pedicle screw fixation was performed in 102 spinal stenosis patients after posterior lumbar decompression and fusion during the period from March 1987 to December 1988. Their age ranged from 15 to 72 years with an average of 49.1 years. There were 34 males and 68 females. The follow up was from 6 to 21 months with an average of 12.5 months. The causes of spinal stenosis were degenerative in 50 patients, spondylolisthesis in 39, iatrogenic in 9 and degenerative lumbar scoliosis in 4. Objective clinical results showed significant improvement of claudication, SLR limitation, motor weakness, sensory and DTR changes in most patients. Following results were obtained from the study of C-D pedicle screw fixation after posterior decompression in lumbar spinal stenosis.1. C-D pedicle screws provide the secure fixation that allows early ambulation and shorter hospital stay. 2. C-D pedicle screws enable the reduction of spodylolisthesis at the time of posterior stabilization. 3. C-D pedicle screw fixation is successful in the restoration and maintenance of sagittal curvature of the lumbar spine. 4. C-D pedicle screw fixation enables the correction of scoliosis at the time of posterior decompression.
Decompression ; Early Ambulation ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Pedicle Screws ; Scoliosis ; Spinal Stenosis ; Spine ; Spondylolisthesis

OBJECTIVES: In HFRS, there is a varying degree of disseminated intravascular coagulation which was evident in the early phase of the illness. It is believed also that DIC would be the consequence, at least in part, of functional changes of endothelium resulting in kinin activation and clinical syndrome. This study investigated the role of adhesion molecule in the pathogenesis of Hantaan virus-related disease. METHODS: The expression of ICAM-1 antigen on the cell membrane of human umbilical vein endothelial cells was assessed by immunohistochemistry, and ICAM-1 mRNA in the endothelial cells was assessed by in situ hybridization after Hantaan virus infection (2.6 x 10(4) PFU/mL) with the time course. RESULTS: In immunohistochemistry, the number of ICAM-1 positive cells increased with time during the 12 or 24 hours after infection. 5 to 10% of HUVECs had been positive after 12-24 hours and the number of positive cells decreased abruptly after 24 hours. Hantaan antigen had been noticed after 12 hours focally on the HUVECs but continued to proliferate into day 7 post-infection when most of HUVECs were infected by Hantaan virus. In situ hybridization showed identical patterns of ICAM-1 mRNA expression after Hantaan virus infection. CONCLUSION: It implies that the Hantaan virus infection on HUVECs would express more ICAM-1 on their surface and implicated in the pathogenesis of early clinical syndrome of HFRS.
Cell Line ; Endothelium, Vascular/virology ; Endothelium, Vascular/immunology ; Gene Expression ; Hantaan Virus/pathogenicity* ; Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome/immunology* ; Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome/genetics ; Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome/etiology ; Human ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Hybridization ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1/metabolism* ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1/genetics* ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism ; RNA, Messenger/genetics

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to analyze the characteristics of work-related musculoskeletal diseases (MSD) and the factors for approving MSD by the parts of the body. METHODS: The analysis was done using the data which were drawn from the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance that is operated by the Korea Worker's Compensation & Welfare Service. The data were composed of total cases related to the work-related diseases from 2006 to 2009. In addition, MSD data input by an investigator were collected. The factors associated with MSD were analyzed using x2 and multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: MSD approved cases have increased since 2006 and the proportion of the approved work-related MSD cases in the workers with work-related diseases in 2009 were 33.4%. Spinal approved cases were the highest percentage and upper and lower extremities cases gradually increased. The factors for approving upper extremity were found to be age, company size, type of industry, working duration, and in the case of spine to be company size and heavy lifting. CONCLUSION: Work-related MSD have increased and the factors that affected MSD by the parts of the body varied. Management strategy must be established to prevent MSD by the parts of the body.
Accidents, Occupational ; Compensation and Redress ; Humans ; Insurance ; Korea ; Lower Extremity ; Musculoskeletal Diseases ; Research Personnel ; Spine ; Upper Extremity ; Workers' Compensation

This study was done to evaluate the effect reducing artificial dead space on intubated children. Data were collected from July 1st, 1998 to August 31st, 1999. The subjects were selected from a pediatric intensive care unit of 'S' hospital and intubated with 3.5 mm or 4.5 mm endotracheal tube after open heart surgery. They were composed of 34 patients : 17 patients were assigned to the experimental group and the rest of them were placed in the control group. The artificial airway volume was minimized in the experimental group, and the control group maintained the artificial airway volume. ETCO2, PaCO2, SPO2 were measured as indicators of pulmonary ventilation. The tools of this study were GEM-Premier and Space-Lab patient monitors. The data were analyzed using the SPSS/PC+ program. The Chi2 -test was used to find general characteristics. The t-test was used to test the homogenety of the pulmonary ventilation status and mechanical ventilation setting before intervention between the two groups. Also, the paired t-test was used to examine the hypothesis. The results can be summerized as : 1. CO2 can be expelled effectively from the body in case artificial dead space was decreased. 2. As the artificial dead space was reduced, the difference between ETCO2 and PaCO2 was decreased, in other words pulmonary ventilation was improved. 3. If the artificial dead space occupied above 15 percent of tidal volume, the effect of CO2 was retention revealed in the body. 4. If the artificial dead space occupied below 1.5 percent of tidal volume, there was no dead space effect. Based on the results, the following is suggested to be applied practically : 1. A kind of the ventilator circuit acting artificial dead space should be removed from the intubated children with mechanical ventilaion. 2. The endotracheal tube should not be cut because extra-body space of the endotracheal tube did not have an effect on the dead space of the intubated children. Since the researcher could not cover this aspect in the study, they recommend the following. 1. The study should be extended to the other pulmonary disease patients for the effect of improving pulmonary ventilation. 2. Also, further studying with a more narrow interval in the extra-body space of the artificial airway will be able to explain the point of artificial dead space with proper ventilation.
Child* ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Lung Diseases ; Pulmonary Ventilation* ; Respiration, Artificial* ; Thoracic Surgery ; Tidal Volume ; Ventilation ; Ventilators, Mechanical