PURPOSE: Although the pudendal nerve terminal motor latency (PNTML) is normally used, there is no definite test that accurately reflects the function of the pudendal nerve. This study was undertaken to determine the relative accuracy of the various methods in measuring the function of the pudendal nerve. METHODS: Thirty one female patients (age 51.3+/-15.7) with a defecation disorder (constipation 20, fecal incontinence 11) were evaluated prospectively using a neurophysiologic test and balloon reflex manometry. Five parameters such as the right and left PNTML, anal mucosal electrosensitivity, latency and the amplitude of the rectoanal contractile reflex (RACR) were analyzed statistically for their correlation. RESULTS: There was no significant inter-test correlation among the parameters. However, the intra-test correlations between the parameters such as the right and left PNTML (r=0.9629, P<0.001)/latency and the RACR amplitude (r= -0.3770, P=0.0366) were found to be significant. CONCLUSION: The accuracy of these tests in evaluating the pudendal neuropathy could not be determined. However, because it can be assumed that a measurement of the RACR in addition to RNTML is technically accurate, it there will need to be more study for it to be used as an alternative to a PNTML measurement.
Defecation ; Fecal Incontinence ; Female ; Humans ; Manometry ; Prospective Studies ; Pudendal Nerve* ; Pudendal Neuralgia ; Reflex

BACKGROUND: Rapid and accurate identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex is important in the diagnosis, treatment, and assessment of prognosis of tuberculosis. But, the conventional identification procedures such as niacin test usually requires considerable time. In this study, we compared the diagnostic value of a gene probe method with that of the niacin test for the differentiation of M. tuberculosis complex from mycobacteria other than tuberculosis (MOTT). METHODS: Commercially available gene probe kit(AccuProbeTM, Gen-Probe, Inc. , San Diego, Calif.) and Niacin test strip were used to identify 78 strains of mycobacteria isolated from patients at Asan Medical Center. One ATCC strain (M. tuberculosis complex) and one MOTT strain were used as controls. Polymerase chain reaction(PCR) was used when the above two tests yielded discordant results. RESULTS: Fifty isolates were identified as M. tuberculosis complex by both gene probe method and niacin test. Likewise 25 isolates were identified as MOTT by the both methods. For the remaining 5 isolates, the results of the two tests differed from each other: M. tuberculosis complex by gene probe and MOTT by niacin test. By PCR, however. these strains were identified as M. tuberculosis. The time required for identification was 1 to 2 hours by gene probe method and 1 to 3 weeks by niacin test. CONCLUSION: Gene probe is simple, rapid and reliable and is a very practical diagnostic tool that can be used in any clinical laboratory.
Chungcheongnam-do ; Diagnosis ; Genes, vif* ; Humans ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis* ; Mycobacterium* ; Niacin ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prognosis ; Tuberculosis

PURPOSE: To describe the characteristics of patients who visited Korean ophthalmology clinics complaining of visual symptoms and were diagnosed with migraine. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed by evaluating the patterns of visual symptoms, timing of headaches, and results of ophthalmologic examinations in 31 migraine patients who were recruited from a neuro-ophthalmology clinic. RESULTS: The patients consisted of 9 men and 22 women, with a mean age of 38.1 years (range, 12-71). The average age of symptom onset was 35.7 years (range, 12-64 years). The most common three visual symptoms were blurred vision (35.5%), blind spots (22.6%), and flashes of bright lights (22.6%). Visual symptoms disappeared within 5 minutes in 16 patients (51.6%) and 13 patients (41.9%) experienced visual symptoms before the onset of a headache. Brain magnetic resonance imaging findings in 14 cases revealed normal results and the remaining three patients showed minimal small vessel disease. Except for one patient who had exotropia, there was no other specific abnormality observed upon ophthalmologic examinations. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the migraine patients who first visited an ophthalmology clinic with visual symptoms had no definite ocular abnormalities. Thus, ophthalmologists must be aware that migraines could first present with various visual symptoms in order to make an early diagnosis of migraine.
Brain ; Early Diagnosis ; Exotropia ; Female ; Headache ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Migraine Disorders* ; Ophthalmology ; Optic Disk ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to aid in the prediction of tumor cell tolerance to radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human epidermoid carcinoma A-431 cell line were irradiated by 2, 4, 6, 8, 10Gy at a dose rate of 210cGy/min using 60Co Irradiator ALDORADO 8 and then were exposed to bleomycin or cisplatin at concentration of 2mug/mul for 1 hour. The viable cells were determined for each radiation dose and/or each drug at the 4th day and cell surviving curves were obtained using semiautomated MTT assay. RESULTS: The surviving fraction after irradiation of 2Gy was 0.99, and there was not significant difference of surviving fraction in comparison with the control group on A-431 cell line(p>0.05). But there were significant differences of surviving fractions at doses of 4, 6, 8, 10Gy in comparison with the control group(p<0.05). The cytotoxicity of bleomycin or cisplatin was significantly different in comparison with the control group on A-431 cell line (p<0.05). And the cytotoxicity of cisplatin was greater than that of bleomycin on A-431 cell line (p<0.05). There were significant differences of surviving fractions after irradiation of 2, 4, 6, 8, 10Gy with bleomycin or cisplatin in comparison with each group of irradiation only on A-431 cell line(p<0.05). There were significant differences of surviving fractions between the groups of irradiation with bleomycin and cisplatin at doses of 2, 4Gy(p<0.05), but there were not significant differences of surviving fractions at doses of 6, 8, 10Gy on A-431 cell line (p>0.05).
Bleomycin ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cell Line* ; Cisplatin ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Radiation Tolerance* ; Radiotherapy

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to aid in the prediction of tumor cell tolerance to radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human epidermoid carcinoma A-431 cell line were irradiated by 2, 4, 6, 8, 10Gy at a dose rate of 210cGy/min using 60Co Irradiator ALDORADO 8 and then were exposed to bleomycin or cisplatin at concentration of 2mug/mul for 1 hour. The viable cells were determined for each radiation dose and/or each drug at the 4th day and cell surviving curves were obtained using semiautomated MTT assay. RESULTS: The surviving fraction after irradiation of 2Gy was 0.99, and there was not significant difference of surviving fraction in comparison with the control group on A-431 cell line(p>0.05). But there were significant differences of surviving fractions at doses of 4, 6, 8, 10Gy in comparison with the control group(p<0.05). The cytotoxicity of bleomycin or cisplatin was significantly different in comparison with the control group on A-431 cell line (p<0.05). And the cytotoxicity of cisplatin was greater than that of bleomycin on A-431 cell line (p<0.05). There were significant differences of surviving fractions after irradiation of 2, 4, 6, 8, 10Gy with bleomycin or cisplatin in comparison with each group of irradiation only on A-431 cell line(p<0.05). There were significant differences of surviving fractions between the groups of irradiation with bleomycin and cisplatin at doses of 2, 4Gy(p<0.05), but there were not significant differences of surviving fractions at doses of 6, 8, 10Gy on A-431 cell line (p>0.05).
Bleomycin ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cell Line* ; Cisplatin ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Radiation Tolerance* ; Radiotherapy

The incidence of colorectal cancer in Korea has increased dramatically over the past few decades. According to the National Cancer Registry, the age-standardized incidence rates increased from 27.1 to 44.5 per 100,000 for men and from 17.2 to 24.3 per 100,000 for women between 1999 and 2007. The overall incidence of colorectal cancer increased by 7.0% annually in men and 5.3% in women from 1999 to 2007, while the incidence rates of the most common cancers, such as stomach and liver cancers, decreased during the same period. Epidemiologic studies have suggested that higher intakes of red and processed meat, a lack of physical activity, obesity, and alcohol drinking are risk factors for colorectal cancer. During the past few decades, significant socio-economic changes have taken place in Korea with respect to the economy, industrial structure, dietary habits, physical activity, and prevalence of obesity. Changes in dietary habits and lifestyle-related factors are believed to be the reasons for the increase in the incidence of colorectal cancer in Korea.
Alcohol Drinking ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Female ; Food Habits ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; Incidence ; Korea ; Life Style ; Liver Neoplasms ; Male ; Meat ; Mitochondrial Diseases ; Motor Activity ; Obesity ; Ophthalmoplegia ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Stomach

Varicella zoster virus (VZV)-induced brachioplexitis is a rare disease, characterized by exacerbating ipsilateral upper extremity pain, muscular weakness, and delay in recovery. We report a 54-year-old female patient who made an early recovery from VZV-induced brachioplexitis via the treatment with stellate ganglion blocks, which may have prevented pain sensation, vasoconstriction, and nerve scarring during the early treatment period.
Cicatrix ; Female ; Herpesvirus 3, Human ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Muscle Weakness* ; Rare Diseases ; Sensation ; Stellate Ganglion ; Upper Extremity ; Vasoconstriction

No abstract available.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Humans ; Male ; Oxidoreductases*

Two schizophrenic patients who had been taking medication for a long period presented with visual disturbance of 6-month duration. Slit-lamp examination revealed fine, discrete, and brownish deposits on the posterior cornea. In addition, bilateral star-shaped anterior subcapsular lens opacities, which were dense, dust-like granular deposits, were noted. Although we strongly suspected that the patient might have taken one of the drugs of the phenothiazine family, we were unable to obtain a history of medications other than haloperidol and risperidone, which were taken for 3 yr. We performed a drug profiling test using urine samples and detected methotrimeprazine. The patient underwent surgery for anterior subcapsular lens opacities. Visual acuity improved in both eyes, but the corneal deposits remained. We report an unusual case of methotrimeprazine-induced corneal deposits and cataract in a patient with psychosis, identified by using the urine drug profiling test.
Adult ; Antipsychotic Agents/*adverse effects/therapeutic use/urine ; Cataract/*chemically induced ; Corneal Diseases/*chemically induced ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mental Retardation/diagnosis/drug therapy ; Methotrimeprazine/*adverse effects/therapeutic use/urine ; Middle Aged ; Schizophrenia/diagnosis/drug therapy ; Visual Acuity