No abstract available.

BACKGROUND: Scuba diving has become increasingly popular in Korea. Medical problems are common with dives, especially decompression sickness(DCS). This study was performed to obtain an useful information of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in DCS in Korea. METHOD: We reviewed the 62 cases of Korean divers, who were diagnosed as DCS and received recompression therapy according to U.S. Navy Standard Recompression Treatment Table at Ocean and Underwater Medical Research and Training Center of ROK Navy, for 6 years from Jan. 1993 to Nov. 1998. RESULT: 1) the mean no-decompression limit excess time between type I DCS group(72.7 min.) and type II DCS group(92.8min.) showed significant difference. 2) The rate of symptoms appeared on surfacing and within 10min. after surfacing of type I and type II DCS were 41.4%and 72.7% respectively. 3) The cure late of type I and type II were 75.9%and 42.4% respectively. In type II DCS group, the cure rate of the group within 12 hour-delayed recompression treatment and the group above 12 hour-delayed treatment were 64.3%and time 26.3% respectively, and in type I DCS group, 100% and 66.7% respectively. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the education of safety, the strict observance of the standard decompression table, and the avoidance of excessive repeated diving are important for reducing the risk of diving related disease. And to offer proper management of DCS, there should be more multiplace hyperbaric oxygen chambers, the suitable transport system, and the specialist of diving medicine or hyperbaric medicine in Korea.
Decompression Sickness* ; Decompression* ; Diving ; Education ; Hyperbaric Oxygenation* ; Korea ; Oxygen ; Specialization

Soft Contact Lenses(SCL) are used widely instead of glasses among young female, especially university students, for cosmetic purpose. Usually Shirmer test has been used to evaluate the tear production state however more objective method is the tear film break up time. Authors evaluated the effect of soft contact lenses on BUT. We selected 40 femalse wearing on Hyper-Thin soft contact lenses, and One Soflens(Baush and Lomb) as soft contact lens wearing group and 30 females without no evidence of systemic disease or ocular disease affecting on tear production as normal control group. And authors studied mean value of BUT at each group, difference of BUT between 2 groups and finally evaluated the BUT change accord ing to duration of wearing. The results were as follows. 1. The mean value of tear film break up time(BUT) was 8.64 +/- 3.91 seconds and 11.12 +/- 4.94 seconds in soft contact lens wearing group and normal control group respectively. 2. There was a statistically significant difference of BUT between each group(P<0.05). 3. There was statistically significant difference of BUT between more than 4 years of soft contact lens wearing group and less than 3 years of wearing gorup(P<0.05).
Contact Lenses, Hydrophilic* ; Eyeglasses ; Female ; Glass ; Humans ; Tears*

A retrospective analysis was made to evaluate the value of early surgical exploration of acute scrotum in 19 children. Testicular torsion (9 cases ) was the most frequent cause followed by epididymitis(4), hematocele(2). appendix testis torsion(2), infected hydrocele(1) and benign cystic teratoma(1). The age distribution of testicular torsion showed a biphasic pattern, neonatal and pubertal and 3 out of 9 torsed testes showed transverse lie in standing position on physical examination. The pyuria was present only in l out of 4 cases with epididymitis and leukocytosis was found in 7 cases, 6 with testicular torsion and 1 with epididymitis. Preoperative ultrasonographic diagnoses were correct in 2 out of 4 cases, 3 with testiculer torsion and 1 with epididymitis. Testicular salvage was possible in 3 torsed testes if surgery was performed within 14 hours from the onset of the symptom. In summary. testicular torsion was the most frequent cause of acute scrotum in children and early surgical exploration was necessary to improve the salvage of torsed testes.
Age Distribution ; Appendix ; Child* ; Diagnosis ; Epididymitis ; Humans ; Leukocytosis ; Male ; Physical Examination ; Pyuria ; Retrospective Studies ; Scrotum* ; Spermatic Cord Torsion ; Testis

The incidence of impalpable testis is approximately 20 percent of undescended testis population and some may possess vascular pedicle shortening that prohibits scrotal placement in one stage orchiopexy. From July 1987 through April 1988, 12 patients with 17 impalpable testicles were explored by lower midline incision and the following results were obtained : 1. We could identify and prove the location of testis and/or anorchia without postoperative complication : 10 intraabdominal testes (59%), 3 intracanalicular (18%), 4 anorchia (23%). 2. Among 10 intraabdominal testes 5 testes were brought down by transabdominal orchiopexy, 3 testes by Fowler-Stephens method, and 1 testis by staged orchiopexy and remaining testis were removed. 3. Among 3 intracanalicular testes 2 testes were brought down by transabdominal orchiopexy and one testis was removed. 4. Follow up testicular examination of fixed testes revealed no testicular atrophy in all transabdominal orchiopexed testes and no testicular atrophy in 1 of 3 testes which were performed by Fowler-Stephens method.
Atrophy ; Cryptorchidism ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Orchiopexy ; Postoperative Complications ; Testis*

No Abstract Available.
Hepacivirus* ; Hepatitis C* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction*

No Abstract Available.
Hepacivirus* ; Hepatitis C* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction*

We evaluated the acute and long term intraocular pressure(IOP) lowering effect of diode laser contact transscleral cyclophotocoagulation by applying G probe to argon laser induced high tension pigmented rabbits through the changes in IOP and histopathology. Eighteen eyes of 18 high tension pigmented rabbits were treated with diode laser contact transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (24-30 application) 0.5mm posterior to the limbus over 360degrees and the other eyes were used as controls. The rabbits were divided into 3 groups according to the energy levels of diode laser (1st group; 0.8J of energy, 2nd; 1.0J of energy, and 3rd; 1.2J of energy). There were mean decrease in IOP of 24.4%, 38.4%, and 38.7% in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd groups respectively during 5 weeks after tratment (p<0.05). After treatment, microendoscopic findings of the ciliary body revealed blenching in 1.0 and 1.2J groups. Light microscopy 1 day after treatment revealed coagulation necrosis of the pigmented and nonpigmented ciliary epithelium, congestion of vessels, thrombosis, and pigment dispersion in all energy groups, with destruction increasing in relation to power. Five weeks after treatment, atrophy and fibrosis of the ciliary nonpigmented and pigmented epithelium and stroma were observed in all groups.
Argon ; Atrophy ; Ciliary Body ; Epithelium ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Fibrosis ; Lasers, Semiconductor* ; Microscopy ; Necrosis ; Rabbits ; Thrombosis

A frequent dilemma facing the anesthesiologist is the patient with respiratory tract symptoms. The risks of anesthesia and surgery in these patients have not been clearly established. We present a case in which a potentially serious respiratory complication had arisen. The patient had symptoms of coughing and mucous production. She was a heavy smoker. However, there was no history of pulmonary disease. This report describes a patient who developed left upper lobar collapse after induction of general anesthesia and tachydysrhythmia resulting in ventricular tachycardia and myocardial ischemia.
Anesthesia* ; Anesthesia, General ; Cough ; Humans ; Lung Diseases ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Pulmonary Atelectasis* ; Respiratory System ; Tachycardia, Ventricular*

Since Memmalaar first reported the use of bladder mucosa graft technique in penoscrotal hypospadias in 1947, this technique has been used with reasonable success for the reconstruction of new urethra for the posterior hypospadias and hypospadias cripples. The a bladder mucosa is abundantly available, sterile and has good elasticity. This mucosa does not produce hair, does not excoriate, and does not desquamate from the exposure of the urin. Two new urethrae in patients with posterior hypospadias, aged 11 and 21, were successfully reconstructed with bladder mucosal graft technique. A minor meatal stricture developed in one patient. However, the over-all results of this technique appear to be satisfactory.
Constriction, Pathologic ; Elasticity ; Female ; Hair ; Humans ; Hypospadias* ; Male ; Mucous Membrane ; Transplants* ; Urethra ; Urinary Bladder*