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Background: Reporting rate of notifiable communicable diseases has been assumed to be low in Korea. To encourage timely reporting of notifiable communicable diseases and to improve the reporting process by the Infection Control Unit, a disease code-based electronic surveillance and in-house electronic reporting system was developed and implemented in February 2003. We evaluated the reporting rates of notifiable communicable diseases before and after the implementation of the electronic reporting- system. METHODS: The electronic reporting system, which was integrated to the computerized physician order entry system, was designed to monitor KCD-4 codes at the time of every order entry. Whenever the system recognized the predetermined codes of notifiable communicable diseases, it generated an alert box to recommend reporting: and then a physician could fill up an electronic report form, which was collected and faxed to the local public health authority by the Infection Control Unit. Reporting rate of notifiable communicable diseases in 2002, when the conventional paper-based reporting system was used, was assumed comparing the number of cases reported actually and that of cases identified to be reported by reviewing the medical records and electronic database. RESULTS: From March to July 2003, 181 cases with tuberculosis and 14 with other communicable diseases were reported whereas 106 and 9 cases were reported respectively for the same 5-month period in 2002. Reporting rate using the conventional reporting system in 2002 was assumed to be 61% and 39% respectively. Conclusions: Using a disease code-based electronic reporting system, reporting of notifiable communicable diseases could be improved compared with conventional paper-based reporting system.
Communicable Diseases* ; Disease Notification ; Infection Control ; Korea ; Medical Informatics Applications ; Medical Order Entry Systems ; Medical Records ; Public Health ; Tuberculosis

Cysts of the meniscus are rare lesion of the knee. They may present as a local tumor or mimic signs of an internal derangement of the knee. So it is difficult to diagnose and apt to overlook in physical examination. Also they almost always have combined pathology of the involved meniscus, such as, meniscal tear or discoid meniscus. The pathologic basis of the meniscal cyst is controversial, but rece 2. Most of the patients had tear of the involved meniscus, but the patients with discoid meniscus did not have gross tears or previous trauma history. nt works suggest the etiology is infiltration of joint fluid through micro and macro tears in the meniscus. In the past, complete excision of the meniscus as well as cyst was thought to be the treatment of choice to prevent recurrences. But nowadays, the trend is changed as preserving the involved meniscus, when no tear of the meniscus is found to prevent enevitable degenerative changes after total meniscectomy. We experienced 6 cases of meniscal cyst during recent 2 years and obtained following results. 1. Precise joint line evaluation is much more important in the diagnosis of the meniscal cyst before making special study. 2. Most of the patients had tears of the involved meniscus, but the patients with discoid meniscus did not have gross tears or previous trauma history. 3. When the cyst is located anteriorly in the joint line, it is prominent in flexed position of the knee; and when located posteriorly, prominent in extended position of the knee. 4. Excision of the cyst and reattachment of the meniscus were thought to be good method when the cyst was located in the parameinscal area without gross tear of the involved meniscus.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Joints ; Knee ; Methods ; Pathology ; Physical Examination ; Recurrence ; Tears

14 eyes of 11 patients with chronic angle-closure glaucoma(CACG) undergoing extracapsular cataract extraction(ECCE) with posterior chamber intraocular lens(PCIOL) implantation(group 1) and 14 eyes of 12 patients without glaucoma undergoing ECCE/PCIOL(group 2) were studied to assess the effect on anterior chamber depth, anterior chamber angle, and intraocular pressure (IOP). We measured the anterior chamber depth and angle using the EAS-1000 Scheimpflug camera. Following ECCE/PCIOL in group 1, the anterior chamber depth increased 1.00 +/- 0.25mm(p=0.0001), the anterior chamber angle widened 15.36 +/- 5.61 degrees(p=0.0001), and the postoperative IOP drop of 4.7mmHg(23.9%) showed statistical significance. Group 2 showed the increase of anterior chamber depth 0.22 +/- 0.44mm(p=0.0964), the widening of anterior chamber angle 2.51 +/- 2.65 degrees(p=0.0047), and the decrease of IOP 0.9mmHg(6.2%, p=0.0933). The effects on anterior chamber depth, anterior chamber angle, and rap were statistically significant between the two groups. Based on these results, we recommend that eyes with cataract and CACG may be considered for ECCE/PCIOL implantation as a first procedure rather than combined cataract and filtering surgery.
Anterior Chamber ; Cataract Extraction* ; Cataract* ; Filtering Surgery ; Glaucoma ; Glaucoma, Angle-Closure* ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure

OBJECTIVE: To report the prevalence of lupus anticoagulants and anticardiolipin antibodies in patients with recurrent spontaneous abortion and infertility. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Lupus anticoagulants and anticardiolipin antibodies were analyzed by Diluted Russell's Viper Venom Test (DRVVT) and solid phase enzyme immunoassay, respectively. RESULTS: In 200 patients with infertility, there were 6 cases (3%) with positive lupus anticoagulants or anticardiolipin antibodies. Of these, 3 patients (1.5%) showed positive lupus anticoagulants and anticardiolipin antibodies, respectively. In 120 patients with recurrent spontaneous abortion, there were 13 cases (10.8%) of positive lupus anticoagulants or anticardiolipin antibodies. Of these, one patient (1%) showed lupus anticoagulants and 12 patients (10%) showed anticardiolipin antibodies. But in two groups, there was no cases with positive lupus anticoagulants and anticardiolipin antibodies. CONCLUSION: Lupus anticoagulants and anticardiolipin antibodies are definite cause of recurrent spontaneous abortion. There has been a speculation that they might be associated with infertility and repeated IVF failures. But it was found that the role of lupus anticoagulants and anticardiolipin antibodies in these cases are not clear.
Abortion, Spontaneous* ; Antibodies, Anticardiolipin* ; Anticoagulants* ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Infertility* ; Pregnancy ; Prevalence ; Russell's Viper ; Venoms

In order to compare the corneal sensation after phacoemulsification and the planned extracapsular cataract extraction(p-ECCE), we studied 40 eyes of 31 patients prospetively. A Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometer was used to measure corneal sensitivity preoperatively and at one day, three day, one week, one month, and two months postoperatively, by the same surgeon using the same technique. There was no difference in corneal sensation between phacoemulsification and p-ECCE group preoperatively. The mean corneal sensitivity at 10:00(2:00) o`clock in phacoemulsificantion/p-ECCE was 17.3+/-7.0(18.2+/-6.7)/9.9+/-1.5(10.3+1.9), 22.1+/-6.9 (23.2+/-6.3)/14.1+/-2.3(14.3+/-2.3), 29.4+/-7.7(30.6+/-7.2)/17.7+2.2(18.7+/-2.2), 37.7+/-9.3(37.8+/-9.4)/26.3+/-7.9(27.7+/-8.4), 56.3+/-7.6(56.3+7.9)/59.2+/-3.8(59.4+/-2.7)mm after 1, 3, 7, 30, 60 days, respectively. Corneal sensation at the center and the 3, 6, and 9 o`clock positions was not changed in all eyes. Corenal sensitivity was significantly more recovered in phacoemulsification group than the p-ECCE group at postoperative onemonth(p<0.05). However, there were no statistically significant difference in recovery of corneal sensation between phacoemulsification group and p-ECCE group at postoperative two months. Conclusively corneal sensation returned to peroperative level at two months postoperatively in both groups.
Cataract Extraction* ; Cataract* ; Humans ; Phacoemulsification* ; Sensation*

Failure of a glaucoma filtering operation mainly results from scarring at the filtering wound, and postoperative proliferation and migration of fibroblasts play an important role histologically in the formation of scar tissue. As an inhibitory agent for fibroblast proliferation, gamma-interferon has been introduced, and the application of gamma-interferon following filtering surgery is now being made on a trial basis. We studied the effect of gamma-interferon histologically on the fibroblast proliferation and collagen synthesis occurring at the filtering site by comparing the effect of gamma-interferon on the experimental group with that of 5-fluorouracil on the control group, using 10 rabbits (20 eyes) after posterior lip sclerectomy. Both groups showed similar flat and diffused bleb grossly and also showed a similar inhibitory effect on fibroblast proliferation and collagen fiber synthesis histologically. Our findings seem to justify the clinical use of gamma-interferon. Further studies on adequate dosage, method of administration, and local and systemic complications would be desired.
Animals ; Anterior Chamber/drug effects ; Cell Division/drug effects ; Collagen/*biosynthesis ; Fibroblasts/drug effects ; Fluorouracil/pharmacology ; Glaucoma/pathology/*surgery ; Interferon-gamma/*pharmacology ; Rabbits ; Sclera/pathology ; *Sclerostomy

Generally, the postoperative failure of glaucoma filtrationsurgery(GFS) is caused by scarring of filtering site. Mitomycin C(MMC) has been commonly used for preventing the scarring of filtering site. Though the antifibroblastic effect of this drug is approved clinically, its cytotoxic side effect cannot be overlooked,. alpha-tocopherol is known to inhibit proliferation of fibroblast without cytotoxic complications. In this study, we used alpha-tocopherol in GFS of rabbits and investigated the maintenance of bleb formation, complications and inhibition of fibroblast proliferation compared with MMC. Thirty six rabbits were divided into 6 groups Negative control groups were the balanced salt solution soaked group and the 19% ethanol soaked group and positive control group was soaked with 0.2mg/ml MMC during GFS. As experimental groups, group I, II, III were soaked with 100micrometer, 1mM and 10mM alpha-tocopherol. The results were as follows: For the maintenance of bleb formation, at postoperative 2 weeks, all extinguished in negative control groups and each experimental groups from I to III showed 16.7%, 33.3%, 50%, with highest rate of 66.7% in MMC soaked group, but at 2 months, group III and MMC soaked group showed 33.3% equally. Various complications were present in MMC soaked group but rare in alpha-tocopherol soaked groups. On histologic examinations, proliferation of fibroblast and infiltration of lymphocyte in group II, III and MMC soaked group except group I were much less than those of negative control groups and the degree of inhibition was proportional to concentration of tocopherol. There was no statistic difference(P>0.05) in area of reticulin fibers between group III and MMC soaked group and antifibroblastic effects were also similar between these two groups. These result suggest when directlyconcentration(1mM<) as much as MMC. Moreover, it is expected to be used more safely during GFS withous serious cytotoxic complications. However, application method, dosageand possible long term complications.
alpha-Tocopherol* ; Blister ; Cicatrix ; Ethanol ; Fibroblasts* ; Filtering Surgery* ; Filtration* ; Glaucoma* ; Lymphocytes ; Mitomycin ; Rabbits* ; Reticulin ; Tocopherols

BACKGROUND: Photodynamic therapy(PDT) is a type of photochemotherapy that is designed to kill targeted tumor cells. OBJECTIVE: The Clinical effects of PDT were analysed for response rates, post-treatment healing and adverse effects on several cutaneous carcinoma in situ. METHOD: PDT with topical 5-aminolevulinic acid-based irradiation of corresponding 630+5nm light was performed in 6 carcinoma in situ patients who had actinic keratosis, Bowen' disease or cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. RESULT: In all patients the clinical results were exellent with respect to initial complete responses and cosmetic outcome. CONCLUSION: PDT might be chosen as a first line treament for cutaneous carcimoma in situ.
Carcinoma in Situ* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Humans ; Keratosis, Actinic ; Photochemotherapy* ; Skin*

Postoperative endophthalmitis has been greatly improved over the past decade by the use of improved medical therapy and the use of vitrectomy. However, the appropriate use of the different treatment modalities and the appropriate time of vitrectomy in the treatment of postoperative endophthalmitis remains controversial. We have experienced consecutive endophthalmitis following 2 cases of cataract surgery, 1 case of glaucoma filtering surgery with cataract operation and 1 case of secondary posterior chamber intraocular lens(PCL) implantation. We report the presumed cause of endophthalmitis and its therapeutic results. 1. Four of five patients who underwent cataract and combined glaucoma surgery were detected Pseudomonas aeruginosa and its infective cause presumed to be the I and A Kit of phacoemulsifier(Cavltron Kelman 8000). 2. More severe 3 of 4 patients who developed postoperative endohthalmitis were treated with vitrectomy and mild 1 patient was treated medically. 3. At the time of follow-up(mean, 11 months), the final corrected average visual acuity of 20/30 was achieved.
Cataract ; Endophthalmitis* ; Filtering Surgery ; Glaucoma ; Humans ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; Visual Acuity ; Vitrectomy