STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study of the effectiveness of traction thoracolumbosacral orthosis (TLSO) in idiopathic scoliosis. OBJECTIVE: To compare the results of traction TLSO and conventional TLSO. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW : No report has been published about longitudinal traction and lateral force before cast molding in the nonoperative treatment of idiopathic scoliosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-one cases of traction TLSO (group I) and 17 cases of conventional TLSO (group II) were studied. Traction TLSO was made as follows: 1. Cervical traction was applied to the patient standing under the frame with application of lateral force with compression pad. 2. Cast molding. 3. Fabrication of plastic jacket and application of pads. The mean age of group I was 12 years and of group II, 13 years. We evaluated the effectiveness of traction TLSO with Cobb`s angle reduction, trunk pain and dyspnea. Statistical analysis was made with SPSS. RESULTS: In group I, mean pre-brace Cobb`s angle was 31.1 degrees and in group II, 29.6 degrees. Flexibility of the curves was 78% and 75%, respectively. Mean reduction rate of Cobb`s angle after 3 days of brace application was 59.5% and 15.4%, respectively. One year later, reduction of Cobb`s angle was 15.4 degrees in group I and 2.7 degrees in group II. Reduction rate of Cobb`s angle after 1 year of brace application was 54.2% and 7.9%, respectively. Post-brace pain and dyspnea were similar in both groups. CONCLUSION: Traction TLSO was superior to conventional TLSO in terms of angle reduction, but was similar in subjective symptoms.
Braces ; Dyspnea ; Fungi ; Humans ; Orthotic Devices* ; Plastics ; Pliability ; Retrospective Studies ; Scoliosis* ; Traction*

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous hemopneumothorax is characterized by the accumulation of air and more than 400 mL of blood in pleural cavity without any apparent cause. It is a rare disease and can cause life-threatening situation. We analyzed clinical reviews of two medical centers to aid in optimal management. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Retrospective review between March 2003 and August 2010 with 18 spontaneous hemopneumothorax patients was made. RESULT: These 18 patients were comprised of 15 male and 3 female with average 24.6 years (range 15~46 years). Almost patients (16) underwent a closed thoracostomy initially and 15 patients received video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). Mean postoperative chest tube removal was 2.9 days and one complication was post-removal pneumothorax. During the follow-up periods there were no other complications and recurrence. CONCLUSION: Proper initial diagnosis and management of spontaneous hemopneumothorax prevent significant hypovolemic shock. Video-assisted thoracic surgery should be considered an early surgical management in spontaneous hemopneumothorax. However conservative manage without bleb excision may be effective in selected patients.
Blister ; Chest Tubes ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemopneumothorax ; Hemothorax ; Humans ; Male ; Pleural Cavity ; Pneumothorax ; Rare Diseases ; Retrospective Studies ; Shock ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; Thoracostomy

Coronary restenosis is still regarded as Achilles' Hill of interventional cardiology despite relentless efforts of many investigators. Recent experimental and clinical studies have suggested that both gamma and beta radiation can be reduce restenosis after angioplasty. Currently, intracoronary brachytherapy for the prevention of restenosis has become a new evolving treatment modality in interventional cardiology. This report discusses a physical aspect of gamma and beta radiation, initial clinical results and delivery systems used in intracoronary brachytherapy. We shall take a brief overview of methods and their advantages in intracoronary brachytherapy. Future work should provide further insight for the best way of treating restenosis.
Angioplasty ; Beta Particles ; Brachytherapy ; Cardiology ; Coronary Restenosis ; Humans ; Research Personnel

Following diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occulusion is probably the most common retinal vascular disorder. Author studied 47 cases of occlusion of the retinal vein in aspects of sex, age, laterality, change of visual acity, associated diseases and location of the affected vein. The results were as follows; 1. There was no significant difference in mobidity rate of retinal vein occlusion between male and female or right and left. 2.73% of BRVO affected superior temporal branch of retinal vein. 3. The incidence of BRVO is 2.2 times of that of CRVO. 4. The visual acuities of initial visit were below 0.1 in 73% of CRVO and 46% of BRVO. 5. 40% of CRVO retained or regained vision of 0.1 or better. 6. The most common associated disease was systemic hypertension.
Diabetic Retinopathy ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Male ; Retinal Vein Occlusion* ; Retinal Vein* ; Retinaldehyde* ; Veins ; Visual Acuity

BACKGROUND: Recently, various effective and rapid acting treatment modality for depression have been massively developed. Thus, early detection and treatment of depression is vitally important to improve community mental health. Using BDI, primary practitioner can easily find depressive symptoms that can complicate other physical diseases. Finding and treating depression early can improve general prognosis of physical diseases. The purpose of this study was to find out the prevalence of depression and depressive symptoms and their correlates among residents in Jeju and to provide baseline data. METHODS: The study subjects were 1,086 residents consisting of 531 males and 555 females of 10-Li in rural Jeju island and the data was gathered from trained interviewer using BDI and questionnaire about sociodemographic factors and health behavior. Depression was defined as BDI total score over 23 in males and over 24 in females. Depressive symptom was defined as BDI STEN score over 7. RESULTS: The prevalence of depression in rural Jeju island was 5.8% in total, 4.9% among males, 6.5% among females. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 16.7% in total, 14.9% among males, 18.4% among females. The risk factors of depressive symptoms were self-assessed living standard, education years, perceived health status, self-assessed level of stress, perceived social support, body image, breakfast intake, and sleep. Sex, marital status and drinking habit were not statistically significant risk factors. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of depression and depressive symptoms in rural Jeju island was very low, especially among females. With intensive mental health service for those who are in low socioeconomic class and low education level and those who have poor health behavior, early detection of depressive symptoms from community will be important to improve general health status.
Body Image ; Breakfast ; Depression* ; Drinking ; Education ; Female ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Male ; Marital Status ; Mental Health ; Mental Health Services ; Prevalence* ; Prognosis ; Risk Factors ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires

To report a case of bilateral endophthalmitis as the initial presentation of bacterial meningitis in a young, immunocompetent Korean patient. A 35-year-old female with a one day history of bilateral swollen eyes, visual disturbance, headache, petechial skin rash, and nausea visited our clinic. She was diagnosed as having endogenous endophthalmitis associated with bacterial meningitis. Intravenous broad spectrum antibiotic therapy was initiated with cefotaxime 3 g and ubacillin 3 g, four times daily. Intravitreal antibiotic (vancomycin 1 mg/0.1 mL and ceftazidime 2 mg/0.1 mL) injections were performed in both eyes. Two weeks post presentation, the best corrected visual acuity in both eyes improved to 0.7, and inflammation of the anterior chamber and vitreous cavity was decreased. We recommend that when endogenous endophthalmitis is suspected along with meningitis, or if it is known to be present, intravitreal and intravenous antibiotics should be promptly administered to preserve vision.
Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Endophthalmitis/diagnosis/drug therapy/*etiology ; Eye Infections, Bacterial/diagnosis/drug therapy/*etiology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Meningitis, Bacterial/*complications/diagnosis/drug therapy ; Ophthalmoscopy

PURPOSE: To report a case of a young male patient with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) accompanied by vitritis and neovascularization of the optic disk in both eyes who underwent unilateral vitrectomy for the treatment of vitreous hemorrhage in the right eye. CASE SUMMARY: An 8-year-old boy visited our clinic with a complaint of night blindness. Both eyes showed inflammatory cells in the anterior vitreous and neovascularization of the optic disk confirmed by fluorescein angiography. Extensive vitreous hemorrhage developed in his right eye and he underwent unilateral vitrectomy. His final visual acuity was 0.6 in both eyes. CONCLUSIONS: Vitreous hemorrhage may be related to chronic inflammation in the vitreous and is a very rare RP complication. Vitrectomy can be an effective treatment option for RP complicated by vitreous hemorrhage.
Eye ; Fluorescein Angiography ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Male ; Night Blindness ; Optic Disk ; Retinitis ; Retinitis Pigmentosa ; Visual Acuity ; Vitrectomy ; Vitreous Hemorrhage

PURPOSE: To report a case of chronic hypotony maculopathy caused by traumatic cyclodialysis cleft and treated with 20% sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) gas tamponade with cyclocryotherapy. CASE SUMMARY: A 39-year-old woman with a history of blunt trauma developed a unilateral chronic ocular hypotony in her left eye. She was treated with topical atropine sulphate 1% for 2 months. Three years later, she was referred to our clinic for evaluation and treatment of persistent hypotony. The intraocular pressure (IOP) was 4 mm Hg and the best corrected visual acuity was 0.4. B-scan echography revealed a choroidal effusion and fundus examination showed choroidal detachment and macular folds. Gonioscopy examination revealed cyclodialysis cleft from the direction of 7 o'clock to 11 o'clock. A single bubble of SF6 20% (0.4 cc) was injected into the vitreous cavity and transconjunctival cyclocryotherapy was performed under retrobulbar anesthesia. Six months later, the IOP was 12 mm Hg and the best corrected visual acuity was 1.0. B-scan echograpy and fundus examination showed the disappearance of the choroidal effusion. CONCLUSIONS: Gas tamponade with cyclocryotherapy may be useful in cases of cyclodialysis cleft that failed to respond to medical therapy.
Adult ; Anesthesia ; Atropine ; Choroid ; Eye ; Female ; Gonioscopy ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Ocular Hypotension ; Sulfur Hexafluoride ; Visual Acuity

Cicatrix ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Eye ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lip ; Nose ; Palate ; Succinates

The ectopic bone formation is a condition in which mature lamellar bone is formed in tissues that do not normally ossify, which was first described by Riedel in 1883. It has been observed at sites of chronic infection, hemorrhage, fibrous scarring or contracture. The pathophysiology of ectopic bone formation is not clearly identified but has complex and multifaceted causes, which resulted to differentiate the non-circulating pluripotent mesenchymal cells to osteoblastic stem cells. The local environment conditions of trauma, disruption of soft tissues and periostium, bone debris, hematoma, damaged muscle, uncommitted fibroblasts are suspected to be one of the causes of this condition. Comparing to simple soft tissue calcification, the ectopic bone has all the morphologic and biochemical characteristics of orthotopic bone, which is subjected to turnover and even has the ability for bone marrow formation. A case of late occlusion in a femoro-post. tibial PTFE graft about 5 months after vascular reconstruction due to ectotopic bone formation, which is confirmed by pathology around the graft is presented. After excision of the ectopic bone around the inflow vascular anastomosis site with re-vascularization, the patient was free from the ischemic leg symptoms. We reported a case of occlusion of vascular anastomosis site by ectopic bone formation with review of literature.
Bone Marrow ; Cicatrix ; Contracture ; Fibroblasts ; Hematoma ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Leg ; Osteoblasts ; Osteogenesis ; Pathology ; Polytetrafluoroethylene ; Stem Cells ; Transplants