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

The time course of recovery in vestibular neuritis varies between individuals. The aim of this study was to identify the predictors for the early or late recovery of vestibular neuritis. The inclusion criteria were patients 1) who had an acute onset of vertigo lasting at least 24 hours, 2) with a horizontal-torsional unidirectional spontaneous nystagmus, and 3) with a canal paresis of 20% or more on the bithermal caloric tests. The primary endpoint for this study was an early or late recovery of vestibular neuritis as a dependent variable. A functional level scale was used to define the late recovery (5 or more points) at seven days after the symptom onset. The secondary endpoint was the duration of hospitalization. One hundred twenty eight patients met the inclusion criteria for this study, and among them, 71 patients had an early recovery. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that diabetes mellitus was the only independent significant variable for the prediction of a late recovery of vestibular neuritis. In addition, the diabetes mellitus was a predicting variable for long duration of hospitalization. Diabetes mellitus was a predictor for a late recovery of vestibular neuritis.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the effects of an oral vitamin supplementation on cognitive function in the elderly, 254 elderly people(experiment group) who were received an oral vitamin supplement for one-year was compared with 292 elderly who were treated as the control group in Koje city during the study period(from February 1997 to March 1998). METHODS: The cognitive function was tested by mini-mental state examination Korea(MMSE-K). Multiple regression analysis was done to control other confounding variables such as gender, age, educational level, smoking, alcohol, a past 15-day medical history, satisfaction for living cost, family number, cognitive function of the baseline survey. RESULTS: In the baseline survey, the prevalence of cognitive impairment was 31%(mild impairment 12.5% and severe impairment 18.5%). There was a significant difference(0.76) in cognitive change in the elderly between two groups, 0.68 improved in the experiment group and 0.08 worsen in the control group(p<0.01). In multiple regression analysis, the significant variables were an oral vitamin supplementation, a past 15-day medical history, family number, cognitive function of baseline survey(p<0.05). The improvement of cognitive function was observed in those who do not have a past 15-day medical history, have a large family number, and have a low cognitive function of the baseline survey. CONCLUSIONS: It appears that an oral vitamin supplementation was effective in improving the cognitive function in the elderly and more effective in the cases with abnormal cognitive function.
Aged* ; Confounding Factors (Epidemiology) ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Gyeongsangnam-do ; Humans ; Prevalence ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Vitamins*

Object: To treat hydrocephalus by ventriculo-peritoneal shunt operation, the correct positioning of the proximal catheter in the ventricle is very important. The purpose of this study was to develop the "shunt guiding kit" for the proper positioning of the proximal shunt catheter to the ventricle in the ventriculo-peritoneal shunt operation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The "shunt guiding kit" is made of tungsten alloy and it consists of one frame, two screws and one guider. Through the guider, the proximal shunt catheter operates by mechanically coupling the posterior burr hole to the anterior target point. RESULTS: We have treated three hydrocephalus patients with use of the "shunt guiding kit", and achieved good location of proximal shunt catheters. CONCLUSION: We developed the "shunt guiding kit" for the proper positioning of the proximal shunt catheter to the ventricle, and this would be very useful for preventing ventriculo-peritoneal shunt malfunction and preventing possible brain injury during the procedures.
Alloys ; Brain Injuries ; Catheters* ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Lateral Ventricles* ; Tungsten ; Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt*

We report a case of an erythrodermic form of mycosis fungoides in a 68-year-old male, who showed generalized erythroderma with scales for 3 months. Lymphadenopathies in the inguinal and neck areas were present. Histopathological findings showed epidermotropism, perivascular atypical lymphocyte infilteration in the upper dermis, and dermatopathic lymphadenopathy in the inguinal lymph node. T cell markers were positively stained in the immunohistochemical study. These clinicopathological features were consistent with an erythrodermic form of mycosis fungoides(TNM IIl). The patient was treated with PUVA therapy and low dose chemotherapy.
Aged ; Dermatitis, Exfoliative ; Dermis ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Lymphocytes ; Male ; Mycosis Fungoides* ; Neck ; PUVA Therapy ; Weights and Measures

Recurrent zoster myelitis is quite rare. We present a previously healthy 27-year-old woman who developed recurrent attacks of myelopathy shortly after the characteristic skin rashes of herpes zoster. Magnetic resonance imaging studies demonstrated each lesion in the spinal cord at the same segments as the skin lesions. She had two attacks at opposite sites at the same spinal cord level and complete recovery after being treated with intravenous acyclovir. We suspect that direct invasion of varicella zoster virus was the cause of recurrent myelopathy in our patient.
Adult ; Case Report ; Female ; Herpes Zoster/complications* ; Human ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Myelitis/virology* ; Myelitis/diagnosis ; Recurrence

Papillary eccrine adenoma, first described by Rulon and Helwig in 1977, is a rare benign adnexal neoplastn. It is usually present as a solitary dermal nodule on the distal extremities. It has characteristic histopathological findings, consisting of dilated ducts that contain eosinophilic secretions and are associated with intralummal papillations. On the basis of histological and histochemical studies it is believed to be an adnexal neoplasm of possible eccrine differentiation. We report two recent cases of papillary eccrine adenomas occuring in two young male patients without subjective symptoms who had firm dermal nodules on the extremities.
Adenoma* ; Eosinophils ; Extremities ; Humans ; Male

Kaposi's sarcoma is one of the important features of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients, renal transplanted patients, young African men, and elderly Ashkenazi Jews. It is well recognized as the most common malignancy asssociated with AIDS and there is also an increased incidence among patients with iatrogenic immunosuppression secondary to renal transplantation. However, a few cases of Kaposi's sarcoma in immunosuppressed patients not related to the renal trans-plantation had been reported. In this study, we present a case of Kaposi's sarcoma involving the oropharynx and the skin of a patient who was not associated with AIDS nor treated with special immunosuppressive agents for renal transplantation.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; Aged ; Humans ; Immunosuppression ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Incidence ; Jews ; Kidney Transplantation ; Male ; Oropharynx* ; Sarcoma, Kaposi* ; Skin*

The coronary vasospasm has usually been readily reversible by sublingual, intravenous or intracoronary nitroglycerin. Relief of spasm, either spontaneous or following nitrate therapy, results in reperfusion. Occurence of ventricular tachyarrhythmia during release of coronary spasm is attractive as a possible cause of sudden death because of significant proportion of sudden death victims do not have acute myocardial infarction. Recently, we experienced a 36 year old man who developed spontaneous coronary vasospasm, and the patients suffered from repetitive reperfusion ventricular tachyarrhythmia, and died suddenly in spite of administration of isosorbide dinitrate, lidocaine and several trials of cardioversion and cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and we report.
Adult ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Coronary Vasospasm ; Death, Sudden* ; Electric Countershock ; Humans ; Isosorbide Dinitrate ; Lidocaine ; Myocardial Infarction ; Nitroglycerin ; Reperfusion* ; Spasm ; Tachycardia*

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Transitional Cell* ; Female ; Ovary