In order to evaluate the confounding factors of neurobehavioral tests and the neurobehavioral effects in the workers exposed to organic solvents, NCTB was carried out on 100 workers. 46 workers had never been exposed to neurotoxic substances, and the others were being exposed to the solvents, mainly toluene. Simple reaction time, digit symbol, Santa Ana dexterity test and persuit aiming were different with age in non exposure group. Simple reaction time was carried out well in males, and digit symbol and persuit aiming were in females. There was no difference at educational level when the subject was educated over 12 years. Santa Ana dexterity and Benton visual test differed according to exposure level to toluene, however simple reaction time didn't. The acute neurotoxic effect was not excluded in this study. But, NCTB could be used to evaluate and prevent neurobehavioral changes in workers exposed to neurotoxic solvents in Korea.
Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Reaction Time ; Solvents* ; Toluene

BACKGROUND: Endoprosthetic reconstruction is widely applied for pathological fractures of the proximal humerus; however, functional impairment is usually unsatisfactory. The aims of the current study are to evaluate the reliability of interlocking intramedullary (IM) nailing with cement augmentation as a fixation method in proximal humeral lesions and to assess functional outcomes. METHODS: We reviewed 32 patients with pathological fractures of the proximal humerus who underwent interlocking IM nailing and cement augmentation. Functional scores and pain relief were assessed as outcomes. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 14.2 months. The mean Musculoskeletal Tumor Society functional score and Karnofsky performance status scale score were 27.7 and 75.6, respectively. Improvement of pain assessed using the visual analogue scale was 6.2 on average. Thirty-one patients (97%) experienced no pain after surgery. The mean ranges of forward flexion and abduction were 115° and 112.6°, respectively. All patients achieved stability and had no local recurrence without failure of fixation until the last follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Proximal interlocking IM nailing with cement augmentation appears to be a reliable treatment option for pathological or impending fractures of the proximal humerus in selected patients with metastatic tumors, even with extensive bone destruction.
Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary* ; Fractures, Spontaneous* ; Humans ; Humerus* ; Karnofsky Performance Status ; Methods ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Recurrence

No absract available.
Follow-Up Studies* ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms* ; Urinary Bladder*

BACKGROUND: Since the nonsurgical treatment of mitral stenosis using a single balloon has been introduced by Inoue et al. in 1984. percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty has became an accepted therapeutic modality for selected patients with mitral stenosis. Zeibag et al. demonstrated the double balloon technique showed a better outcome than the single balloon in obtainning the optimal mitral valve area. On the other hand, there are several reports that single balloon technique was comparable with the double balloon technique. Therefore, there are still controversies in efficacy, benefit and complications between balloon techniques. METHOD: To compare the efficacy and complications of percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty with the double balloon or the Inoue balloon technique, 40 patients were studied consecutively by random method in selecting the balloon technique. RESULTS: In all cases, percutaneous mitral valvulopasty was performed successfully. Optimal outcome defined as mitral valve area larger than 1.5cm2 was obtained in 12 cases out of 16(75%) in double balloon group and 15 out of 24(63%) in Inoue balloon group(p=NS). Mitral valve area was significantly increased after valvulopasty in both technique but there was no different between both groups(Mean+/-SD ; 0.9+/-0.3 to 1.7+/-0.2 vs 0.9+/-0.2 to 1.9+/-0.2cm2). There were also hemodynamic improvement significantly in mean mitral gradient(MG). pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and left atrial pressure(LAP) after PMV but there were no difference between groups (18+/-8 to 7+/-2 vs 21+/-13 to 9+/-4 mmHg for MG. 29+/-12 to 22+/-9 vs 28+/-9 to 18+/-5mmHg for PAP and 22+/-8 to 11+/-5 vs 21+/-6 to 11+/-4 for LAP respectively). Mitral requrgitation greater than grade 2 occurred in 2 cases of the double balloon group and one case of the Inoue balloon group(p=NS). New development of atrial shunt was found in 3 cases in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: The double and Inoue balloon techniques were quite comparable in immediate outcome and complications.
Hand ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Mitral Valve ; Mitral Valve Stenosis* ; Prospective Studies* ; Pulmonary Artery

PURPOSE: Non-blood transfusion is of increasing interest as more patients are refusing a blood transfusion because of religious belief, infection, or fear of a blood-transmitted disease such as AIDS. This study analyzed clinical findings to help the treatment and management of patients who want a non-blood transfusion. METHODS: Of the 83 patients who visited the non-blood transfusion center in Chosun University Hospital from June 2001 to December 2003, 59 patients had a sufficient clinical record, and these were reviewed retrospectively. We investigated sex, age, the reason for the visit, the reason for refusing a blood transfusion, the degree of anemia, the necessity of the blood transfusion, the histories of transfusion and attempted non-blood transfusion, and the histories of visits to emergency departments and the outcomes. RESULTS: The male-to-female ratio was 1:2.93, and the most prevalent ages of the patients were in the forties (26 patients) and thirties (10 patients). The reasons for refusing a blood transfusion were religion (48 patients, 81.4%), risk of infection (1 patients, 1.7%), and other (10 patients, 16.9%). Among the specialty departments, the proportions of patients from the departments of obstetrics and gynecology, internal medicine, general surgery and orthopedics were 40.7% (24 patients), 25.4%, 11.9%, and 6.8%, respectively. Of the patients, 28 patients (47.5%) were admitted directly to the emergency department, and 39 patients (66.1%) were operated on. A blood transfusion was considered to be necessary for 16 patients (27.1%), but only a 2 patients (3.4%) actually received a blood transfusion. Of those 14 patients, 3patients (21.4%) died. After admission, 17 patients (29.8%) received a non-blood transfusion. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the patients visited the non-blood transfusion center for religious reasons, and the majority of the patients were admitted from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Many of the patients medically should have received blood transfusion, but only a few actually did.
Anemia ; Blood Transfusion* ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Internal Medicine ; Obstetrics ; Orthopedics ; Religion ; Retrospective Studies

Cytomegalovirus retinitis (CMV), an opportunistic infection of a immunocompromised patient, is a necrotizing retinitis occurred in AIDS or the patient using immunosuppressants. A 31-years-old male taken immunosuppressants after renal transplantation, had white granular foci and perivascular sheathings in the uper temporal retina of both eyes. Serologic test demonstrated positive response to bith IgG and IgM antibody against CMV. Argon laser photocoagulation was done and ganciclovir was intravenously treated 300 mg every 12 hours for three weeks without maintenance therapy. Nine months after treatment, there was no recurrence of retinitis. This result suggests CMV retinitis of renal transplanted patient may not need the maintenance therapy of ganciclovir.
Argon ; Cytomegalovirus Retinitis* ; Cytomegalovirus* ; Ganciclovir* ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Kidney Transplantation ; Light Coagulation ; Male ; Opportunistic Infections ; Recurrence ; Retina ; Retinitis ; Serologic Tests

We studied the utility of hand held autorefractometer on the cycloplegic refraction for poor coorperated children by analyzing the data taken from hand held autorefractometer(Retinomax) and Canon R-10 autorefractometer. Seventy patients(140 eyes) were studied. We divided them into two groups according to the age: Group I included patients less than 4 years, Group II over 4 years. There were no statistic significant differences in the spherical and cylindrical values regardless of age and cooperability in cases of less than 6 diopter but statistic significant difference in cases of high refractive errors (>6 diopter) or cylindrical axis values. In Conclusion, this study revealed that hand held autorefractometer was useful for checking refraction of the poor coorperated children and the spherical and cylindrical values of Retinomax have no differences from the values of R-10 in the cases of less than 6 diopter.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Child* ; Hand* ; Humans ; Refractive Errors

No abstract available.
Osteoarthropathy, Primary Hypertrophic*

0.05). 2. At the total success rate, osteotome group was 92.4% and Hatch reamer group was 94.9%. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). 3. On the discomfort during the operation by using numerical rating scale, osteotome group was 2.87 +/- 0.83 and Hatch reamer group was 1.12 +/- 0.64. There was statistically significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). The Hatch reamer group' clinical results was similar to osteotome group and we thought that Hatch reamer technique can overcome the faults of osteotome technique.]]>
Alveolar Bone Loss ; Dizziness ; Floors and Floorcoverings ; Humans ; Maxilla ; Transplants

Secondary involvement of the gallbladder by systemic lymphoma is exceedingly rare and relapsed diffuse large B cell lymphoma of the gallbladder has not been reported. A 78-year-old man was admitted to the hospital due to epigastric pain and jaundice. His past medical history was remarkable for diagnosis with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the ileum 5 years ago. He underwent right hemicolectomy and three cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy and had complete remission. Abdominal computed tomography showed choledocholithiasis and focal thickening at fundus of the gallbladder. The patient underwent open cholecystectomy. Pathologic examination revealed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. We report a case of solitary, relapsed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the gallbladder with literature review.
Aged ; B-Lymphocytes* ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Cholecystectomy ; Choledocholithiasis ; Diagnosis ; Gallbladder* ; Humans ; Ileum ; Jaundice ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, B-Cell* ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; Recurrence