The diagnosis of diabetics itself was frequently delayed in diabetic patients diagnosed over 30 years old. Therefore, fundus examination should be carried out at the time of diagnosis. The purpose of this study was to determine the delayed time of the initial fundus examination by ophthalmologists after diagnosis of diabetes and the reason for not having fundus examination in diabetic patients diagnosed when they were over 30 years of age. From January, 1998 to July, 1998, two hundred fifty-seven such diabetic patients were examined fundus for the first time in Department of Ophthalmology of the Kyungpook National University Hospital. Among these patients,the average delayed time of the initial fundus examination by ophthalmologists after the diagnosis of diabetes was 6.2 years and the morbidity rate was 39.7% (102 patients). At these patients,mild,moderate and severe nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy were 22.6% (58 patients), 10.1% (26 patients),2.7% (7 patients)respectively and proliferative diabetic retinopathy was 4.3% (11 patients). In conclustion, the delayed fundus examination was due to not knowing about timely necessity of the fundus examination. Diabetic patients as well as doctors who treat them should beeducated for the fundus examination at the time of diagnosis.
Adult ; Diabetic Retinopathy* ; Diagnosis ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Ophthalmology

Autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia(ADCA) is an unusual, familial hereditary disorder that ha been called olivopontocerebellar atrophy. ADCA type II is usually accompanied with severely decreased visual acuity and cerebellar ataxia. We experienced a 39 year-old female with ADCA type II who had the severely decreased visual acuity and progressive familial cerebellar ataxia. The diagnosis for ADCA type II was made through several ophthalmic examinations. brain magnetic resonance imaging, and chromosomal study. When ophthalmologists encounter a patient with decreased visual acuity and cerebellar ataxia, this disorder should not be overlooked. We report this unusual case with literature review.
Adult ; Brain ; Cerebellar Ataxia* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Olivopontocerebellar Atrophies ; Optic Atrophy* ; Visual Acuity

In order to verify exact dose distributions in the state-of-the-art radiation techniques, a newly designed three-dimensional dosimeter and technique has been took strongly into consideration. The main purpose of our study is to verify the optimized parameters of polymer gel as a real volumetric dosimeter in terms of the various study of MRI. We prepared a gel dosimeter by combing 8% of gelatin, 8% of MAA, and 10 mM of THPC. We used a Co-60 gamma-ray teletherapy unit and delivered doses of 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 Gy to each polymer gel with a solid phantom. We used a fast spin-echo pulse to acquire the characterized T2 time of MRI. The signal noise ratio (SNR) of the head & neck coil was a relatively lower sensitivity than the body coil; therefore the dose uncertainty of head & neck coil would be lower than body coil's. But the dose uncertainty and resolution of the head & neck coil were superior to the body coil in this study. The TR time between 1,500 ms and 2,000 ms showed no significant difference in the dose resolution, but TR of 1,500 ms showed less dose uncertainty. For the slice thickness of 2.5 mm, less dose uncertainty of TE times was at 4 Gy, as well, it was the lowest result over 4 Gy at TE of 12 ms. The dose uncertainty was not critical up to 6 Gy, but the best dose resolution was obtained at 20 ms up to 8 Gy. The dose resolution shows the lowest value was over 20 ms and was an excellent result in the number of excitation (NEX) of three. The NEX of two was the highest dose resolution. We concluded that the better result of slice thickness versus NEX was related to the NEX increment and thin slice thickness.
Animals ; Comb and Wattles ; Gelatin ; Head ; Neck ; Noise ; Organophosphorus Compounds ; Polymers ; Uncertainty

As the radiotherapy technique development, the needs for using of medical electronic chart in the department of radiation oncology is growing. However, the complexity of affairs of radiation oncology make it difficult to develop a electronic medical chart. In this study, we introduce the electronic medical chart developed by domestic hospital. The function and example of electronic medical chart designed as radiation treatment progress was showed and the future study was presented.
Electronics ; Electrons ; Radiation Oncology

As the radiotherapy technique development, the needs for using of medical electronic chart in the department of radiation oncology is growing. However, the complexity of affairs of radiation oncology make it difficult to develop a electronic medical chart. In this study, we introduce the electronic medical chart developed by domestic hospital. The function and example of electronic medical chart designed as radiation treatment progress was showed and the future study was presented.
Electronics ; Electrons ; Radiation Oncology

BACKGROUND: A spirometric reference equation was recently developed for the general population in Korea. The applicability of the new Korean equation to clinical practice was examined by comparing it with the Morris equation, which is one of the most popular reference equations used for interpreting the spirometric patterns and for grading the disease severity in Korea. METHODS: Spirometry was performed on 926 men and 694 women, aged 20 years or older, in November 2004 at the Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. The subjects' age, gender, height, weight, and spirometric values (FEV1 [forced expiratory volume in one second], FVC [forced vital capacity], and FEV1/FVC) were obtained. The spirometric patterns and disease severity were evaluated using both equations, and the results of the Korean equation were compared with the Morris equation. The spirometric patterns were defined as normal, restrictive, obstructive, and undetermined according to the level of FEV1/FVC and FVC. The disease severity was defined according to the level of FEV1 level for subjects with an airflow limitation, and according to the FVC level for those subjects without an airflow limitation. RESULTS: Spirometric patterns were differently interpreted in 22.5% (208/926) of the men and 24.8% (172/694) of the women after the application of the Korean equation compared with the Morris equation. Of the subjects with airflow limitation, disease severity was differently graded in 30.2% (114/378) of the men and 39.4% (37/94) of the women after the application of the Korean equation. Of the subjects without airflow limitation, disease severity was differently graded in 27.9% (153/548) of the men and 30.2% (181/600) of the women after the application of the Korean equation. CONCLUSION: Achange in the reference equation for spirometry could have an effect on the interpretation of spirometric patterns and on the grading of disease severity.
Chungcheongnam-do ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Seoul ; Spirometry

The purpose of this was to investigate the measurement of fluence dose map for the specific patient quality assurance. The measurement of fluence map was performed using 2D matrixx detector. The absorbed dose was measured by a glass detector, Gafchromic film and ion chamber in Hybrid Optimized VMAT Phantom (HOVP). For 2D Matrixx, the results of comparison were average passing rate 85.22%+/-1.7 (RT_Target), 89.96%+/-2.15 (LT_Target) and 95.14%+/-1.18 (G4). The dose difference was 11.72%+/-0.531, -11.47%+/-0.991, 7.81%+/-0.857, -4.14%+/-0.761 at the G1, G2, G3, G4. In HOVP, the results of comparison for film were average passing rate (3%, 3 mm) 93.64%+/-3.87, 90.82%+/-0.99. We were measured an absolute dose in steep gradient area G1, G2, G3, G4 using the glass detector. The difference between the measurement and calculation are 8.3% (G1), -5.4% (G2), 6.1% (G3), 7.2% (G4). The using an Ion-chamber were an average relative dose error -1.02%+/-0.222 (Rt_target), 0.96%+/-0.294 (Lt_target). Though we need a more study using a transmission detector. However, a measurement of real-time fluence map will be predicting a dose for real-time specific patient quality assurance in volume modulated arc therapy.
Chimera ; Glass ; Humans

Because a cavitary pulmonary metastasis is rare, it may not be readily identified. However, various types of cancers can metastasize to the lung in the form of cavities. We report a case of a multiple cavitary metastases to the lung from a cholangiocarcinoma in a 60-year-old man. He complained of generalized weakness and a poor oral intake for 2 months. The plain chest radiography and the chest computed tomography showed multiple small thick-walled cavities and nodules the both lungs. A bronchoscopic examination revealed a focal irregularly elevated surface of the mucosa at the orifice of the superior segment of the right lower lobe and the biopsy demonstrated an infiltrative metastatic adenocarcinoma. The abdomen-pelvis computed tomography showed an ill-marginated and irregularly low-dense area in the right lobe of the liver and a diffuse dilatation of the peripheral intrahepatic bile ducts. The esophagogastroscopy and colonoscopy showed no abnormal findings. It was concluded that the cholangiocarcinoma of the liver metastasized to the lung in the form of cavities. Thereafter, the patient underwent six cycles of the systemic chemotherapy with gemcitabine and cisplatin, and the follow-up imaging studies showed a partial response.
Adenocarcinoma ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; Biopsy ; Cholangiocarcinoma* ; Cisplatin ; Colonoscopy ; Dilatation ; Drug Therapy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Liver ; Lung ; Middle Aged ; Mucous Membrane ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Radiography ; Thorax

Idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) is a disorder characterized by prolonged eosinophilia without an identifiable cause and eosinophil related tissue damage in multiple organs including heart, lung, skin, gastrointestinal tract, liver, and the nervous systems. Pulmonary involvement occurs in about 40% of HES cases, but pleural effusion due to pleuritis and bilateral pneumothoraces are very rare manifestations. We report a case of hypereosinophilic syndrome presented with bilateral pleural effusions and recurrent bilateral pneumothoraces in a 44 year-old male with brief review of the literature.
Adult ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Heart ; Humans ; Hypereosinophilic Syndrome* ; Liver ; Lung ; Male ; Nervous System ; Pleural Effusion* ; Pleurisy ; Pneumothorax ; Skin

BACKGROUND: This study compared the bronchodilator efficacy and safety of tiotropium inhalation capsules (18microgram once daily) with a ipratropium metered dose inhaler (2 puffs of 20microgram q.i.d.) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHOD: After the initial screening assessment and a two-week run-in period, patients received either tiotropium 18microgram once daily or ipratropium 40microgram four times daily over a period of 4 weeks in a double blind, double dummy, parallel group study. The outcome measures were the lung function, the daily records of the peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), the patients' questionnaire, and the use of concomitant salbutamol. The forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and the forced vital capacity (FVC) were measured 5 minutes before inhalation, and 0.5, 1, 2 and 3 hours after inhaling the study drug on days 0, 14 and 28. RESULT: In 16 centers, 134 patients with a mean (SD) age of 66 (7) years and a predicted FEV1 of 42 (12)% were analyzed. The trough FEV1 response was significantly higher in the tiotropium group than in the ipratropium group after a four-week treatment period. The weekly mean morning PEFR of the tiotropium group was consistently higher than that of the ipratropium group during the 4-week treatment period with differences ranging from 12.52 to 13.88 l/min, which were statistically significant. Tiotropium was well tolerated by the COPD patients during the 4-week treatment period and had a similar safety profile to ipratropium. CONCLUSION: This study shows that tiotropium administrated once daily has a superior bronchodilator effect with a similar safety profile in treating COPD patients compared with ipratropium, inhaled four times daily.
Adult* ; Albuterol ; Bronchodilator Agents ; Capsules ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Ipratropium* ; Lung ; Mass Screening ; Metered Dose Inhalers ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Vital Capacity ; Tiotropium Bromide