Seventeen patients with classical rheumatoid arthritis have been treated with gold sodium thiomalate(G.S.T) injection and followed up for 1.7 years on average. The results obtained are as follows: 1. Clinical improvement was obtained in 12(70.3%) out of 17 cases, but only in 5 cases(29.3%) marked and persisting improvement was obtained. Such improvement was first noticed when the total dose of the gold sodium thiomalate reached 500mg or more, and also noticed about 10 weeks after initiation of G.S.T therapy. 2. Changes in laboratory parameters such as hemoglobin, hematocrit, eosinophilia, titers of rheumatoid factor and C-reactive protein, and proteinuria began to appear at the time of the clinical improvement. 3. Adverse reaction consisted mostly of mucocutaneous lesions. The main causes of drop-out during therapy also are severe skin rashes and pruritus. Most of the adverse reactions appeared when the total dose of G.S.T. administered reached over 500mg. In two severe cases skin rashes terminated the gold therapy. Our findings suggest, because of high incidence of adverse reaction during G.S.T therapy, repeated careful clinical and laboratory examination of the patient are mandatory especially when the total dose of G.S.T is reached 500mg. In spite of the well documented reports of the maintenance gold therapy for rheumatoid arthritis it is felt that the maintenance gold therapy should be studied further before it can be safely used as a routine in daily rheumatology practice because of its toxicity.
Arthritis ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; C-Reactive Protein ; Eosinophilia ; Exanthema ; Gold Sodium Thiomalate ; Hematocrit ; Humans ; Incidence ; Proteinuria ; Pruritus ; Rheumatoid Factor ; Rheumatology ; Sodium

Repeated throwing of baseballs by juvenile pitchers is known to cause damages to bone and cartilage as well as soft tissue in the involved upper extremity. Authors present 4 cases of osteochondral lesion at capitellum of the humerus as a result of repeated insult by throwing baseballs in the juvenile pitchers. Pain and limitation of extension of the affected elbow were the commonest symptoms. Cystic change or osteochondral loose body was found on plain X-ray. Treatment consisted of rest and analgesic administration in the patient who has no loose body, while in case of having loose body it was removed surgically without further treatment to the crater. In spite of the rapid relief of the pain by these treatment, limitation of extension persisted for considerable period of time. It is strongly suggested not to overlook elbow pain in young adolescent whose bone is still growing and who can hardly withstand repeated insult to prevent the development of baseball elbow.
Adolescent ; Baseball ; Cartilage ; Elbow ; Humans ; Humerus ; Osteochondritis ; Upper Extremity

BACKGROUND: To investigate the possibie difference, if any, between office blood pressure(BP) and home BP may be important in the diagnosis and treatment of hypersensive patients. This report deails the difference between the two BP's and the usefulness of digital electronic sphygmomanometer(DES) for self-monitoring of home BP. METHODS: The BP's of 14 patients with essential hypertension were measured with mercury sphygmomanometers at outpatient department by physician and with DES at home(twice a day) by the patients. Patients were followed up every 2 weeks for 4 weeks and previous 2 weeks' average home BP's were compared with the office BP's of each 2 weeks' end. RESULTS: There was a significant difference between office and home BP(both systolic and diastolic) ; office average BP(151/95mmHg) was higher than home average BP(136/86mmHg). CONCLUSION: Caution may be needed in the interpretation of office BP unless it is measured several times after adequate rest.
Blood Pressure* ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Outpatients ; Sphygmomanometers*

The scleral fixation of a posterior chamber intraocular lens is known to be a technique for managing cataract, aphakia, lens dislocation, pseudophakic bullous keratopathy with incomplete zonular or capsular support. We performed a retrospective review of longterm results and complications of 86 patients(103 eyes) who had a minimum of 12 months follow-up after scleral fixation of a posterior chamber intraocular lenses. At the last examination, mean postoperative corrected visual acuity is 0.7 +/- 0.28 and 62 eyes(57.4%) had a vision of 0.8 or better. Especially in aphakia, postoperative corrected visual acuity was significantly improved. The complications related to scleral fixation were exposed scleral fixation suture, glaucoma, cystoid macular edema, subluxation of intraocular lenses, retinal detachment, herpetic keratitis, vitreous hemorrhage and vitreous opacity. The other factors influenced on visual acuity were age-related macular degeneration, optic atrophy, diabetic retinopathy and clinical significant macular edema, and corneal opacity. Though these longterm results suggest that overall prognosis for visual acuity is quite good, careful assessment preoperatively and proper management are important.
Aphakia ; Cataract ; Corneal Opacity ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glaucoma ; Keratitis, Herpetic ; Lens Subluxation ; Lenses, Intraocular* ; Macular Degeneration ; Macular Edema ; Optic Atrophy ; Prognosis ; Retinal Detachment ; Retrospective Studies ; Sutures ; Visual Acuity ; Vitreous Hemorrhage

Aortopulmonary fistula is an exceedingly rare vascular malformation. It is commonly derived after chest injuly or from complication of chest operation and aortic dissection and congenital aortopulmonary fistula is only several cases combined with Tetralogy of Fallot or aortic stenosis. But a congenital aortopulmonary fistula without any hemodynamic abnormalities was not reported. A 56-year old man with exertional dyspnea was admitted. In an examination on admission, there were no abnomalities. Aortography showed an aortopulmonary fistula that branches from the ascending aorta adjacent to the right coronary artery, running to the main pulmonary artery. Transcatheter coil embolization was performed and he was discharged 7 day after embolization without complication. Exertional dyspnea disappeared and careful follow up has be performed periodically.
Aorta ; Aortic Valve Stenosis ; Aortography ; Coronary Vessels ; Dyspnea* ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Fistula* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Artery ; Running ; Tetralogy of Fallot ; Thorax ; Vascular Malformations

In order to evaluate the long-term effect of single lateral rectus muscle recession for the moderate angle exotropia(20-3-PD), we retrospectively studied 30 cases which were recessed by 8-9mm. The average follow-up period was 35.8 month. At 6 month postoperatively, the success rate was 75% in 8mm recession group and 84% in 8.5mm group, 88% in 9mm group. At the last follow-up, the success rate was 62%, 38%, 22% respectively. The recession of single lareral rectus muscle for the moderate angle exotropia was successful during the early postoperative period. But, its success rate was gradually decreased in the long-term follow-up especially for exotropia over 25PD. So, we should consider to recess lateral rectus muscle more than 8-9mm or choose the classic surgical method such as both lateral rectus recession or recession-resection for exotropia over 25PD.
Exotropia* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Postoperative Period ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: It is well known that systemic blood pressure oscillates with low(0.04~0.1Hz), mid(0.1~0.15Hz), and high(respiratory) frequency range. But there has been no study about oscillation of pulmonary artery pressure(PAP). METHOD: We measured PAP for 5 minutes in 32 patients of ventricular septal defect and stored them to computer files. Power spectral density curve was obtained. Low, mid, respiratory frequency power were measured by integrating the area within each frequency range below the power density curve. RESULT: The incidence of significant low frequency power(more than 5% of total power) were higher in patients of high PAP and hign Rp/Rs than those of low PAP and Rp/Rs(p<0.01 and p<0.005 respectively). The low frequency power positively correlates with PAP and Rp/Rs(r=0.62, p<0.0005 and r=0.61, p=0.0005 respectively). CONCLUSION: It can be said conclusively that as PAP and pulmonary vascular resistance elevates, the PAP tends to definitively oscillate in low frequency range.
Blood Pressure ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; Humans ; Incidence ; Pulmonary Artery* ; Vascular Resistance

No abstract available.
Coronary Sinus*

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness for vagal stimulation by ice water aplication to face during metronome-controlled respiration of 15 breaths/minute was examed. The importance of basal vagal tone and sympathovagal interaction in the individual variability of responsiveness to the vagal stimulation was investigated. METHOD: Fifty three 12~13 year old healthy volunteers were included. Vagal tone and sympathovagal interaction before and after application of ice water to the face were assessed by power spectral analysis of RR interval(heart rate) variability. RESULT: Basal heart rate, high frequency power, and low to high frequency power ratio were 81+/-13(58~110 beats/min), 791+/-1061(56~4161 msec2) and 1.08+/-1.22(0.04~4.85) during controlled respiration. After ice water application twenty three children developed 5 more nodal escape beats due to severe bradycardia. Minimum heart rate, high frequency power and low to high power ratio changed to 42+/-12(19~72/min), 1890+/-1882(221~7258msec2) and 0.64+/-0.43(0.12~1.46). The increased ratio of high frequency power, maximum heart rate decrement and its percent after stimulation were 5.44+/-5.62(0.63~24.26), 39+/-14(10~81/min) and 47+/-15(16~81%) respectively. The increased ratio of high frequency power was correlated with basal logarithmic high frequency power(r=-0.60, p=0.0004). Maximum heart rate decrement was correlated with basal logarithmic high frequency power(r=-0.41, p=0.0018) and low to high frequency power ratio(r=0.27, p=0.04). CONCLUSION: Application of ice water to the face during controlled respiration produces powerful vagal stimulation and bradycardia, however, there is a wide individual variability of responsiveness to it. The absolute basal vagal tone contribute to this individual variability.
Bradycardia ; Child ; Healthy Volunteers ; Heart Rate* ; Heart* ; Humans ; Ice* ; Respiration* ; United Nations ; Water*

Choroidal metastatic carcinoma is very rare. We recently experienced a case of lung adenocarcinoma which presented to the clinic with ocular symptoms. This 57-year-old Korean male patient visited the department of ophthalmology due to decreased visual acuity and pain of the left eye. On MRI scan, a nodule was attached to the retina of the left eyeball. On simple chest radiograph, a large amount of pleural effusion was noted in the left pleural cavity. Emergency enucleation of the left eyeball was done with an impression of malignant melanoma causing an intractable ocular pain. Grossly, the lesion in the eyeball was rising from the choroid. On histologic examination, tumor cells formed many irregular, small gland-like structures. The tumor cells showed alcian blue-positive mucin in the cytoplasm and glandular lumens and were positive for CEA. Chest CT scan was performed postoperatively and showed a huge mass in the left lower lobe and multiple nodular opacities in both lung fields. Bronchoscopic biopsy revealed moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma similar to that of the eyeball.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Biopsy ; Choroid* ; Cytoplasm ; Emergencies ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Lung* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Melanoma ; Middle Aged ; Mucins ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Ophthalmology ; Pleural Cavity ; Pleural Effusion ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Retina ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Visual Acuity