PURPOSE: To evaluate the correlation between nuclear density measured using the Pentacam(R) (Oculus Optikgerate GmbH, Wetzlar, Germany) Scheimpflug imaging system and phacoemulsification parameters. METHODS: The nuclear density was measured using maximal nuclear density with ImageJ, Pentacam(R) nucleus staging (PNS), average value and maximal value in lens densitometry. Intraoperatively, effective phaco time (EPT) and balanced salt solution (BSS) used were noted and compared with the nuclear density calculation methods. As an index of corneal endothelial cells, the changes in cell density (CD) were compared with the nuclear density. RESULTS: Regarding EPT, maximal nuclear density with ImageJ (r = 0.379, p < 0.01) and PNS (r = 0.367, p < 0.01) were correlated positively, but the other methods were not correlated. Concerning BSS used, maximal nuclear density with ImageJ (r = 0.279, p = 0.03) and PNS (r = 0.286, p = 0.04) were positively correlated, but the other methods were not correlated. The specular microscopy showed that as the nuclear density increased, the postoperative CD tended to decrease, but without statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative nuclear density measurements using maximal nuclear density with ImageJ or PNS were correlated with phacoemulsification parameters.
Cell Count ; Densitometry ; Endothelial Cells ; Microscopy ; Phacoemulsification*

Severely worn dentition causes various complications such as loss of tooth structure, discoloration, pulp complications and loss of function and aesthetics. In this case, the patient showed particularly severe attrition in the anterior teeth and lack of space for restoration. The amount of vertical dimension was determined based on the diagnostic wax up, and the patient’s adaptation was evaluated by using a removable occlusal splint for 6 weeks. Thereafter, the coordination of the muscular nervous system, aesthetics, temporomandibular joint were re-evaluated for 3 months by restoring the fixed provisional restoration. Through the above treatment process, the final restoration was completed with full mouth fixed prosthesis using monolithic zirconia, and functionally and aesthetically stable results were obtained.

PURPOSE: Breast conserving surgery using mesh can effectively fill the defective space, but there is the risk of infection. METHODS: From June 2007 to August 2010, 243 patients who underwent breast conserving surgery with polyglactin 910 mesh insert for breast cancer at our institution were retrospectively studied. RESULTS: Infection occurred in 25 (10.3%) of 243 patients. When comparing the infection and non-infection groups in multivariate analysis, there was no significant difference in age, underlying disease, preoperative biopsy methods, mass location, axillary lymph node dissection, operative methods, neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy use, mass size and removed breast volume. The infection appeared more common only in patients with body mass index (BMI) greater than 25. Infection symptoms occurred, on average, 119.5 days after surgery, and the average duration of the required treatment was 34.4 days. Out of 25 patients with postoperative infection complications, 16 (64%) patients underwent incision and drainage with mesh removal, whereas the remaining 9 (36%) only required conservative treatment. CONCLUSION: During breast conserving surgery, the risk of infection is increased in patients with high BMI, and should be taken into account when considering insertion of a polyglactin 910 mesh. Patient's age, underlying disease and perioperative treatment methods were not significant risk factors for developing mesh infection. Given that most infections seem to develop symptoms one month after surgery, a long enough observation period should be initiated. Early detection and appropriate conservative treatments may effectively address infections, thus reducing the need for more invasive therapies.
Biopsy ; Body Mass Index ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Drainage ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Mastectomy, Segmental ; Multivariate Analysis ; Polyglactin 910 ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

No abstract available.

In oriental medicine, classification of the Sasang constitutional types (Tae-Yang, Tae-Eum, So-Yang, and So-Eum) is important for the treatment. To classify the Sasang constitutional types, the old methods such as pulse palpation are not objective; the recent methods such as immunohematology are expensive, painful, and time consuming. To overcome this problem, a body measurement, one of the anthropological methods, has been developed. The purpose of this study was to define whether the fingerprint, other one of the anthropological methods, is helpful to classify the Sasang constitutional types. Thus, we looked for the interrelationship between the fingerprint and Sasang constitutional types. Before analyzing the fingerprint, two kinds of questionnaires for classifying the Sasang constitutional types were surveyed on 760 Koreans (465 males, 295 females). As there was no Tae-Yang individual, we only could find the fingerprint characteristics of Tae-Eum(288 persons), So-Yang (193 persons), and So-Eum(279 persons) individuals. In the fingerprints of Tae-Eum individual, the arch types were more frequent, and the loop types were less frequent. These characteristics were prominent in female, right, second, and fifth fingers. In those of So-Yang individual, the arch types were less frequent, and the whorl types were more frequent. These characteristics were prominent in male, female, left, first, second, third, and fifth fingers. In those of So-Yang individual, fingerprint ridge count was greater in fourth finger. In those of So-Eum individual, loop types were more frequent, and whorl types were less frequent. These characteristics were prominent in male, right, left, first, third, and fifth fingers. In those of So-Eum individual, fingerprint ridge count was lesser. These characteristics were prominent in male, fourth, and fifth fingers. The fingerprint seems to be helpful to classify the Sasang constitutional types.
Classification ; Dermatoglyphics* ; Female ; Fingers ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, East Asian Traditional ; Palpation ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.
Thyrotoxicosis*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety of a laparoscopic cholecystectomy in acute, or complicated, cholecystitis in patients older than sixty. METHODS: A prospective study was performed, at the Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital, on a series of elderly patients (>60 years; n=137) who had undergone a laparoscopic cholecystectomy due to acute, or complicated, cholecystitis between March 1997 and December 2001. We divided the patients into 3 groups; ASA 1 (n=33, 24.1%), ASA 2 (n=79, 57.7%) and ASA 3 (n=25, 18.3%), according to their ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologist) classification. No patient was categorized as either ASA 4, 5 or 6. RESULTS: The mean age of the ASA 3 patients was 71.9+/-6.9 years, which was older than the 65.7+/-6.0 years of the ASA 1 patients (P<0.05). The preoperative hospital stay for the ASA 3 patients was 8.8+/-5.6 days, compared to 5.6+/-3.7 days for the ASA 1 patients (P<0.05). The incidences of complicated cholecystitis were lower in the ASA 1 (n=8, 24.2%) than in both the ASA 2 (n=40, 50.6%) and 3 patients (n=12, 66.7%) (P<0.05). The mean operating times for the ASA 2 and 3 patients were longer, at 111.0+/-58.2 and 114.0+/-62.7 minutes, retrospectively, than the 85.0+/-33.1 minutes for the ASA 1 patients (P<0.05). Drain insertions were more frequently performed in the ASA 2 (n=33, 44.4%) and 3 (n=15, 60.0%) than in the ASA 1 patients (n=10, 30.3%) (P<0.05). Postoperative morbidity was more frequent in the ASA 3 (n=5, 20.0%) than ASA 1 (n=3, 9.1%) patients. However, in terms of the postoperative recovery parameters (time to diet, hospital stay), there were no difference between the three groups (P>0.05). One death, due to acute myocardial infarction, occurred in one of the ASA 3 patients. CONCLUSION: A laparoscopic cholecystectomy in acute, or complicated, cholecystitis could be an option in elderly-high risk patients.
Aged ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic* ; Cholecystitis ; Cholecystitis, Acute* ; Classification ; Diet ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Length of Stay ; Myocardial Infarction ; Prospective Studies ; Retrospective Studies

Cytomegalovirus(CMV) ocular infection is one of the common ocular complications seen in immunocompromised condition, such as AIDS or organ transplant recipient receiving immunosuppressive drugs, CMV papillitis is known to be care. CMV papillitis has, however, a poor visual prognosis because the treatment is more resistant to than that of CMV retinitis. We report a case of CMV papillitis after the renal transplantation which has good result with long-term ganciclovir administration.
Cytomegalovirus ; Eye Infections ; Ganciclovir ; Kidney Transplantation ; Papilledema* ; Prognosis ; Retinitis ; Transplantation* ; Transplants

PURPOSE: To compare a laparoscopic common bile duct (CBD) exploration with the open method with regards to the clinical outcome in the treatment of a CBD stone. METHODS: A comparative study was performed on 88 patients who underwent surgical treatment for a CBD stone at Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital from February 1997 to December 2001. The patients were divided into three groups; a group treated by a laparoscopic CBD exploration (group L, n=59), a group treated by open surgery (group O, n=22), and a group converted to open surgery during laparoscopic treatment (group C, n=7). The medical records were reviewed, and the follow-ups study of the quality of life was assessed with a questionnaire on the symptoms associated with cholangitis. RESULTS: Among the 3 groups, there was no difference in the preoperative status of the patients (age, sex, preoperative comorbidity and previous abdominal operation history). The mean operating time were 230.7 minutes in group L, 182.0 minutes in group O, and 247.9 minutes in group C (P>0.05). The time to diet and hospital stay was longer in group C than the others (P<0.05). The postoperative complications were 10.5% in group L, 40.9% in group O and 14.3% in group C. The symptoms of cholangitis by the questionnaire during the follow-up period were 2.7% in group L, 33.3% in group O, and 66.7% in group C. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic CBD exploration has acceptable operative difficulties, less morbidity, and good follow-up quality of life compared to the open method in treating CBD stones.
Cholangitis ; Common Bile Duct* ; Comorbidity ; Diet ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Length of Stay ; Medical Records ; Postoperative Complications ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Peritoneal calcifying fibrous tumor is a rare tumor in the peritoneal cavity. In this case, plain radiography showed multiple conglomerated calcifications and several separate calcifications scattered in the lower abdomen and pelvic cavity. CT showed several well-circumscribed masses with a group of conglomerated nodular calcifications in their centers, and these were surrounded by three bands with different attenuation. Ultrasonography showed a well-circumscribed mass with strong posterior shadowing from its anterior surface and hyperechoic calcifications in its center. The histopathological diagnosis was calcifying fibrous tumor. The mass was well circumscribed and non-encapsulated and it was mainly composed of hyalinized fibrosclerotic tissue and dystrophic calcification with no inflammatory cells. We report here on a case of peritoneal calcifying fibrous tumor, along with a review of the relevant literature.
Abdomen ; Hyalin ; Peritoneal Cavity ; Peritoneum ; Shadowing (Histology) ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed