Acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy usually occurs in young or middle-aged adults and is usually bilateral. This syndrome is characterized by the acute onset of multiple, flat, yellow-white lesion of the posterior pole at the level of the retinal pigment epithelium and by the rapid loss of vision. These lesions resolve spontaneously, leaving extensive degeneration of pigment epithelium within a few weeks and visual acuity spontaneously improves in most cases. In the acute stage, fluorescein angiographic appearance of condition is characterized by placoid lesions blocking transmission of choroidal fluorescence in the initial phase, which are gradually stained and fluorescence faintly in the late phase. Older lesions represent residual defects in the pigment epithelium and appear as transmission defect without late staining or leakage of dye. Authors experienced and treated a case of acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy in 19-years old male patient, and had a good visual improvement.
Adult ; Choroid ; Epithelium ; Fluorescein ; Fluorescence ; Humans ; Male ; Retinal Pigment Epithelium ; Visual Acuity ; Young Adult

We surveyed the causes of blindness among the 6692 eye patients of 3 hospitals(Seoul, Chunan, Kumi) in 1984. Blindness is defined as visual acuity of 0.1(20/200) or less in better eye with best correction. The representation of the diagnosis of the ocular diseases is based on the examination of the ophthalmologists. The estimated number of blindness is 259(6.74%)in Seoul, 106(8.92%) in Chunan, 70(4.21%) in Kumi with total of 435(6.5%) among the 6692 eye patients. The leading causes of blindness for individual districts are cataract(28.19%), retinal and vitreous diseases(20.46%), trauma (15.06%), diseases of optic nerve(10.81%), corneal diseases(8.10%) in Seoul; cataract(35.81%), corneal diseases(18.87%), global diseases(13.21%), trauma(10.38%), retinal and vitreous diseases(6.60%) in Chunan; and cataract(34.29%), corneal diseases(14.21%), trauma (12.86%), global diseases(8.57%), retinal and vitreous diseases(8.50%) in Kumi. Rates of the blind eyes for the age groups are; 1.2%(under the age of 5), 4.1%(6~9), 10.3%(10~19), 30.8%(20~39), 23.5%(40~59), and 30.1%(above 60). Important causes of blindness in each age group are trauma(43.48%), optic nerve diseases(13.04%), and global diseases(13.04%) for below the age of 10, trauma(28.89%), retinal diseases(17.78%), and optic nerve diseases(13.33%) in 10~19 age group, corneal diseases(19.40%). cataract(18.66%), and retinal diseases(16.42%) in 20~39 age group, cataract(28.43%), retinal diseases(18.63%), and corneal diseases(10.78%) in 40~59 age group and cataract(59.54%), retinal diseases(9.92%), and glaucoma(8.40%) for above 60. There are no significant differences between male and female, right eyes and left eyes in the causes of the blind eyes, and also we make some comparisons with different statistics of domestic and foreign countries.
Blindness* ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Male ; Optic Nerve ; Retinaldehyde ; Seoul ; Visual Acuity

Introduction: Current prognostic markers have improved survival prediction, however, it has not advanced treatment strategies. Gene expression profiling may identify biological markers suitable as therapeutic targets. Leukaemia stem cell is associated with adverse outcome, however, its biological characteristics are still being investigated. We observed higher in vitro cell viability in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) samples with poor prognosis, which may be stem cell related. Objective: The objective of this study was to profile highly expressed genes in an AML sample of poor prognosis/high viability and compare with a sample of good prognosis/low viability. Method: Subtractive hybridization was performed on two AML samples with high blast counts (>80%), a poor prognosis, PP (disease free survival, DFS<12 months) and a good prognosis, GP (DFS>12 months) sample. The PP sample had higher CD34+ counts (73% vs 46%) and higher cell viability than the GP sample. cDNA libraries were subsequently cloned and sequenced. Results: cDNA subtracted from the PP samples was identified as genes active during fetal/embryonic development (LCOR, CNOT1, ORMDL1), HOX- related genes (HOXA3, PBX3, SF3B1), hematopoiesis (SELL, IL-3RA) and aerobic glycolysis/hypoxia (PGK1, HIGD1A) -associated genes. Majority of GP clones isolated contained genes involved in oxidative phosphorylation, OXPHOS (COXs, ATPs, MTND4 and MTRNR2), protein synthesis (including ribosomal proteins, initiating and elongation factors), chromatin remodeling (H2AFZ, PTMA), cell motility (MALAT1, CALM2, TMSB4X), and mitochondria (HSPA9, MPO) genes. Conclusion: Thus, the PP sample exhibited stem cell-like features while the GP sample showed cells at a high level of cell activity. These genes are potential prognostic markers and targets for therapy.
Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute

PURPOSE: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major nosocomial pathogen in the intensive care units (ICUs). The purpose of this case-control study is to identify risk factors for acquisition of MRSA during ICU stays in patients with and without MRSA. METHOD: The study was conducted in a 16 beds-neurosurgical intensive care unit of a 2200-bed tertiary care university hospital in Seoul, Korea. Medical record and Critical Classification Scoring System were reviewed retrospectively in patients who were admitted more than 3 days from August 1, 2003 to May 30, 2004. Cases and controls were matched for age and gender. The obtained specimens were nasal swab and sputum. RESULT: There were 950 patients' admissions during the period. Among them, MRSA was isolated from twenty-three patients who were considered as hospital acquired. Artificial airway (p=.045), frequency of suction (p=.002), nasogastric tube (p=.004), wound drain (p=.045), and vancomycin (p=.019) were risk factors for MRSA acquisition in univariate analysis. Frequency of suction (p=.012, OR 3.5) was revealed as the only risk factor in multivariate conditional logistic regression. CONCLUSION: Our findings give support to recent studies that suggest that frequent physical contact may increase the nosocomial acquisition of MRSA in a neurosurgical ICU.
Case-Control Studies* ; Classification ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Critical Care* ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Medical Records ; Methicillin Resistance* ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus* ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors* ; Seoul ; Sputum ; Suction ; Tertiary Healthcare ; Vancomycin ; Wounds and Injuries

Dextran is a macromolecular polymer of dextrose. Dextran is used as a plasma expander with reduction in blood viscosity and disruption of red cell aggregates. It also inhibits platelet aggregation and prothrombin activation. It has been reported that a hemostatic defect characterized by a prolonged bleeding time in subject receiving large amount of dextran. The present study was undertaken to observe the effect of dextran on bleeding time and platelet aggregation by increasing volume. In this study, bleeding time was checked and sampling was done at before infusion, after 5 ml/kg, 10 ml/kg and 15 ml/kg infusion of dextran in 15 patients with spinal or regional anesthesia. The results were as follows: 1) There was prolonged bleeding time by increasing volume of dextran 40, but within nonnal limit. 2) There was no platelet aggregation with 15ml/kg of dextran.
Anesthesia, Conduction ; Bleeding Time ; Blood Platelets* ; Blood Viscosity ; Dextrans* ; Glucose ; Humans ; Plasma ; Platelet Aggregation ; Polymers ; Prothrombin

Physostigmine, by inhibiting the acetylcholinesterase, leads to accumulation of acetylcholine and hence to cholinergic stimulation at both peripheral and central receptor sites and facilitates cholinergic transmission. To investigats the effects of physostigmine on excitement, delirium, somnolence, and shivering after halothane anesthesia, physostigmine to experimental group or 0.9% NaCl(1ml) to the control group was administered intravenously by slow injection. No other medication affecting the central nervous system was give. Postoperatively, the difference in the level of sedation, blood pressure, and pulse rate between the experimental group and the control group was observed for 2 hours. Sedation was assessed by and independent observer. The arousal time averaged 23.10+/-18.67min. in the experimental group and averaged 42.38+/-24.97min. in the control group. This study suggests that physostigmine effectively reversed the postoperative somnolence, delirium and excitement due to halothane. There was little difference between the two groups concerning changes of mean arterial pressure and pulse rate during the 2 hours. The results were as follows: 1) When physostigmine was administered intravenously to patients after halothane anesthesia, consclousness rapidly returned. 2) There was no statistical significance in the changes of mean arterial pressure and pulse rate between the experimental group and the control group.
Acetylcholine ; Acetylcholinesterase ; Anesthesia* ; Arousal* ; Arterial Pressure ; Blood Pressure ; Central Nervous System ; Delirium ; Halothane* ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Physostigmine* ; Shivering

BACKGROUND: When central venous catheter (CVC) related sepsis is suspected based on clinical symptoms, removal of catheter is both diagnostic and therapeutic, but this approach leads to wastage of many sterile lines. Therefore, a reliable method to diagnose or exclude CVC sepsis without catheter removal is desirable. We performed differential quantitative blood cultures for the diagnosis of CVC related sepsis, in catheterized patients who had previous positive blood cultures. METHODS: Differential quantitative blood cultures were performed by collecting the blood specimens simultaneously via catheter and peripheral vein in 1.5 mL Isolator tubes (Wampole, USA). Sixty-three samples from 61 catheterized patients were taken and the colony counts from catheter blood samples were compared with those from peripheral samples. RESULTS: In 17 samples (27%), the colony counts from catheter blood samples were 5-fold higher than those from peripheral samples (the C/P ratio, > OR =5), suggesting CVC related sepsis; in 7 samples the C/P ratio was below 5, suggesting that sepsis was not CVC related. Of 35 samples (56%) in which no organisms were cultured, 2 samples were diagnosed as CVC related sepsis by the catheter tip culture. In 19 cases with proven CVC related sepsis, Candida spp. (n=8) and Gram-negative rods (n=7) were the predominant causative organisms and 16 cases (84%) were improved after catheter removal. CONCLUSIONS: This data show that quantitative blood culture method using Isolator may be very useful for diagnosing CVC related sepsis, especially in patients with positive blood cultures.
Candida ; Catheters ; Central Venous Catheters ; Diagnosis* ; Humans ; Sepsis* ; Veins

Postoperative respirative depression is a major factor limiting the use and safety of intraoperative narcotics. The need for an effective and safe narcotic antagonist to reverse this side effect without complication persists more than three decades of research. While narcotic induced respiratory depression can be reversed by appropriate, specific narcotic antagonist, it has not been possible to nulify the frespiratory depressant effects of narcotic without simultaneously nullifying the analgesic effects. Doxspram hydrochloride, respiratory stimulant, has been found to be significantly potent and selectively respirogenic. The present study undertakes to determine whether doxapram is ablereverse the respiratory depressnat effect of mrphine without mullifying the analgesic effects. In this study, 20 patients in 29 ASA class l patients given intravenous morphine, 0.5mg/kg, for elective surgery, produce postoperative respiratory depression. Inadequate spontaneous respiration at the end of anesthesia were treated with doxapram. The results were as follows: 1) Doxapram (mean 21.6mg) was able to reverse the respiratory depressant effect of morphine without nullifying the analgesic effect. 2) There was no hemodynamic alteration during reversal.
Anesthesia ; Depression ; Doxapram* ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Morphine* ; Narcotics ; Respiration ; Respiratory Insufficiency*

To evaluate historical trends, anesthetic experiences of 14, 337 in the total performed at the Korea University Hospital from Jan. 1966 through Dec. 1977 were analyzed statistically according to age, sex, department, methods, physical status, duration of anesthesia, induction agents, main agents and anesthetic techniques. The results were as follows: 1) General anesthesia has been used as almost the main method of anesthesia. 2) Patients were about half in the 21~40 group of age. 3) Male patients were 2. 2 times more than females. 4) The most largest department for surgery was of patients in general surgery. 5) According to the ASA, classification of physical status, patients in class 1 were 43. 5%, and elective surgery to emergency ratio was 1. 3 to 1. 6) Patients in the 1~ 2 hour duration group were 41. 7%. 7) Thiopentone has mainly been used for intravenous induction. 8) Ether had mainly been used for a main anesthetic agent until 1970, but balanced anesthesia has been used with increasing favor since that time. 9) In almost all cases, a semiclosed circle absorption system has been employed and non- rebreathing system has recently been used with increasing favor for pediatric anesthesia.
Absorption ; Anesthesia* ; Anesthesia, General ; Balanced Anesthesia ; Classification ; Emergencies ; Ether ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Methods ; Thiopental

There are many predisposing factors for acute pulmonary edema, namely, left ventricular failure due to cardiac disease or fluid overloading, hypoalbuminemia, pulmonary capillary endothelial damage from bacterial toxins or irritant gases, rare central nervous system injuries pulmonary hyersensitivity reactions, etc. Acute pulmonary edema following operations is a rare complication especially in a patient whose preoperative cardiopulmonary status was within normal limits. We present a case of unilateral pulmonary edema immediately following operation in a 46 year old male patient who had a modified pull-through operation due to tongue cancer and who had no evidence of preoperative cardiopulmonary disorders. The edema was relieved after 9 hours with intensive care of pulmonary edema such as IPPB with Omorphine, diuretics, corticosteroid, asemi-sitting position and frequent tracheal suction.
Bacterial Toxins ; Capillaries ; Causality ; Central Nervous System ; Diuretics ; Edema ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Hypoalbuminemia ; Critical Care ; Intermittent Positive-Pressure Breathing ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Noble Gases ; Pulmonary Edema* ; Suction ; Tongue Neoplasms