Using Burian-Allen bipolar contact lens electrode, Authors examined the normal 120 eyes of 120 subjects(male 57, female 63), age ranged 7 to 83 years(mean 44.5 years), with the method which was same as the ISCEV standard. There was no statistically significant differences between the value obtained using Burian-Allen electrode and the value obtained using ERG-jet electrode(p>0.05). We expect that this data would be useful testing method to evaluate the retinal disease. And this data may provide new reference value in the study of electroretinogram.
Electrodes* ; Electroretinography* ; Female ; Humans ; Reference Values* ; Retinal Diseases

A combined technique for lid retraction that includes levator recession and Mullerectomy without spacers and levator and Muller muscle recession without spacers was presented. Eight procedures on eight patients were reviewed. Four patients with lid retraction had hyperthyroidism, one patient showed idiopathic lid retraction,and three patients was due to overcorrection of ptosis. Three patients showed excellent cosmetic appearance during the follow-up period of 6 to 22 months; but four patients mild limitation in elevation, and one patient insufficent correction.
Eyelids* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism

No abstract available.
Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Vessels*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Optimal international normalized ratio (INR) in elderly atrial fibrillation (AF) patients at higher risk of hemorrhagic events remains unclear. We investigated the efficacy and safety of low-intensity warfarin therapy (target international normalized ratio [INR], 1.6-2.6) in elderly Korean patients with nonvalvular AF (NVAF). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We enrolled 528 NVAF patients (mean age, 67±9 years; 361 men) who were actively taking warfarin. Major events were defined based on the annual rates of ischemic stroke, systemic embolism, and major bleeding events requiring blood transfusion or hospitalization. Time in therapeutic range (TTR) was 45±19% for all patients. RESULTS: Ischemic stroke and systemic embolism occurred in 20 patients with INR between 1.00 and 2.44 (16 ischemic strokes and 4 systemic embolisms) and major bleeding in 37 patients with INR between 1.74 and no coagulation (exceed laboratory detection capability, more than 10 [7 intracranial hemorrhages, 21 gastrointestinal bleedings, and 9 others]). Incidence rates of ischemic or hemorrhagic events at INR<2.00, 2-3, and >3 were 3.0%, 1.4%, and 20.1% per year, respectively. In patients who were ≥70 years old, CHADS₂, CHA₂DS₂VASc, and HAS-BLED scores were significantly higher compared with those in patients who were <70 years old. When we applied the INR between 1.6 and 2.6, as recommended by the Japanese AF Guideline for patients≥70 years old, the TTR increased from 43.8% to 58.6%. In addition, ischemic or hemorrhagic event rates decreased from 1.9% to 1.2% within the optimal INR range. CONCLUSION: Low-intensity warfarin therapy (INR, 1.6-2.6) should be considered in elderly Korean patients with NVAF.
Aged* ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Atrial Fibrillation* ; Blood Transfusion ; Embolism ; Hemorrhage ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Incidence ; International Normalized Ratio* ; Intracranial Hemorrhages ; Stroke ; Warfarin*

A 30-year-old female patient with known hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCMP) was admitted for recurrent syncope episodes. Electrocardiogram (ECG) showed 2 : 1 atrioventricular (AV) block. Stress echocardiography with bicycle showed high grade AV block at high stage of the exercise associated with exercise intolerance and dyspnea. Twenty-four hour ECG monitoring also revealed high grade AV block and 1 episode of non-sustained ventricular tachycardia. Implantable cardioverter/defibrillator-pacemaker (ICD-P) was inserted. After implantation of ICD-P, conduction disturbance and exercise intolerance were improved. AV block is a rare complication HCMP. There are just a few case reports that present symptoms caused by conduction disturbance in HCMP. This case describes repeated syncope episodes and exercise intolerance caused by conduction disturbance during exercise in HCMP patient. For evaluating the cause of syncope in HCMP, stress echocardiography can be helpful to understand the probable mechanism of syncope.
Adult ; Atrioventricular Block ; Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic* ; Dyspnea ; Echocardiography, Stress ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Syncope* ; Tachycardia, Ventricular

Accurate measurement of the volume status in hemodialysis patients is important as it can affect mortality. However, no studies have been conducted regarding volume management in cases where a sudden change of body fluid occurs, such as during puerperium in hemodialysis patients. This report presents a case in which the patient was monitored for her body composition and her volume status was controlled using a body composition monitor (BCM) during the puerperal period. This case suggests that using a BCM for volume management may help maintain hemodynamic stability in patients with a rapidly changing volume status for a short term period, such as during puerperium.
Body Composition ; Body Fluids ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Organothiophosphorus Compounds ; Postpartum Period ; Renal Dialysis

BACKGROUND: The oxidative modification of lipids and the endothelial expression of adhesion molecules are key events in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The appropriate antioxidants that protected and slowed the progression of the disease were reported. We measured the antioxidant enzyme activities and the levels of soluble cellular adhesion molecules in order to evaluate whether antioxidant vitamin supplementation affected the oxidative changes and the expression of cellular adhesion molecules. METHODS: Seventy-seven patients participated in a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trial. The test group (38 patients) was given antioxidant vitamin doses including a daily dose of vitamin C 500 mg, beta-carotene 15 mg, vitamin E 400 IUs, and selenium 50 microgram, The control group (44 patients) received placeboes for three months. We measured the vitamin serum levels, intercellular adhesion molecules-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), E-selectin and activities of erythrocyte enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) before and at 3 months after supplementation. RESULTS: After supplementation, the serum vitamin levels increased significantly (P<0.05) and the activity of the erythrocyte SOD significantly increased by 0.85 unit/mg hemoglobin (P<0.05) in the test group. Soluble ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and E-selectin levels did not change significantly in the test group after supplementation. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the antioxidant vitamin supplementation may affect erythrocyte SOD activity, but not soluble cellular adhesion molecule levels.
Antioxidants ; Ascorbic Acid ; Atherosclerosis ; beta Carotene ; Catalase ; E-Selectin ; Erythrocytes ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; Humans ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; Selenium ; Superoxide Dismutase ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; Vitamin E ; Vitamins*

Kidney cortex necrosis is a relatively rare cause of acute kidney injury and is characterized by complete or partial destruction of the renal cortex, but sparing of the medulla. Tranexamic acid has antifibrinolytic activity and is used to reduce bleeding. We report a rare case of kidney cortex necrosis caused by tranexamic acid. A 49-year-old woman complained of coughing up blood-tinged sputum. She had a history of bronchiectasis and was treated with tranexamic acid for 3 days. Four days after admission, she developed anuria and azotemia. Computerized tomography showed enhancement of the renal medulla, but not the bilateral renal cortex. The patient was treated with hemodialysis, and has since been maintained on hemodialysis for 6 months. Due to the development of kidney cortex necrosis in patients treated with tranexamic acid, all its potential complications should be considered.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Anuria ; Azotemia ; Bronchiectasis ; Cough ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Kidney ; Kidney Cortex ; Kidney Cortex Necrosis ; Middle Aged ; Renal Dialysis ; Sputum ; Tranexamic Acid

Malnutrition and inflammation are related to high rates of morbidity and mortality in hemodialysis patients. Resistin is associated with nutrition and inflammation. We attempted to determine whether resistin levels may predict clinical outcomes in hemodialysis patients. We conducted a prospective evaluation of 100 outpatients on hemodialysis in a single dialysis center (male, 46%; mean age, 53.7 +/- 16.4 yr). We stratified the patients into 4 groups according to quartiles of serum resistin levels. During the 18-month observational period, patients with the lowest quartile of serum resistin levels had poor hospitalization-free survival (log rank test, P = 0.016). After adjustment of all co-variables, patients with the lowest quartile of serum resistin levels had poor hospitalization-free survival, compared with reference resistin levels. Higher levels of interleukin-6 were an independent predictor of poor hospitalization-free survival. In contrast, serum resistin levels were not correlated with interleukin-6 levels. The current data showed that low resistin levels may independently predict poor hospitalization free survival in hemodialysis patients.
Adult ; Aged ; Diabetes Complications ; Female ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Interleukin-6/blood ; Kidney Failure, Chronic/blood/*mortality ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Prospective Studies ; *Renal Dialysis ; Resistin/*blood ; Survival Analysis

PURPOSE: To know whether the changes in the risk factors of nosocomial sepsis had an impact on the occurrence of nosocomial sepsis (NS) in extremely low birth weight infants (ELBW I). METHODS: ELBW I who were admitted to the NICU at Samsung Medical Center from October 1994 to December 2000 were devided into three groups according to periods (period I:1994.10-1996.9, period II:1996.10-1998.12, period III:1999.1-2000.12), and charts were reviewed retrospectively for demographic profile, incidence of NS, and changing patterns of risk factors of NS. RESULTS: Gestational age and birth weight of ELBW I decreased and the incidence of NS increased significantly during third period. However, cumulative incidence of NS corrected by hospital days was not changed irrespective of periods. Among the risk factors of NS in 3rd period, use of antibiotics in the 1st day, postnatal dexamethasone and use and duration of indwelling umbilical catheters decreased significantly and the use of nasal continuous positive airway pressure increased significantly especially, in ELBW I under 800 g of birth weight. In the ELBW I under 800 g of birth weight, cumulative incidence of NS and mortality among the infants who suffered from NS decreased significantly in 3rd period. CONCLUSION: Efforts to decrease the risk factors of NS can prevent the increase in incidence of NS in ELBW I.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Birth Weight ; Catheters ; Continuous Positive Airway Pressure ; Dexamethasone ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Infant* ; Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Low Birth Weight* ; Infant, Newborn ; Mortality ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors* ; Sepsis*