Endoscopic microwave coagulation therapy was applied to two cases of postoperative anastomotic stenosis. Clinical symptoms and endoscopic findings were improved by endoscopic microwave coagulation tberapy in both cases. It is concluded that this method will be a safe and sure method for the treatment of anastomotic stenosis after gastrointestinal operation
Constriction, Pathologic* ; Microwaves*

PURPOSE: To present prospective clinical results of laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) using a solid-state laser system for the correction of mild to moderate myopia with or without astigmatism. METHODS: Thirty-eight eyes underwent LASIK using a 213 nm solid-state laser (Pulzar Z1trade mark, CustomVistrade mark, Australia). Uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), refractive errors, higher order aberrations (HOA) and contrast sensitivity were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively. RESULTS: The preoperative and postoperative mean spherical and cylindrical refractive errors were -3.27+/-0.85D, +1.04+/-0.69D, -0.36+/-0.7D and +0.14+/-0.2D, respectively. UCVA over 20/25 was obtained in 27 eyes (93%). A result within 1.00D of the desired correction was achieved in 90% of the eyes. There were no decreases in BCVA within the study group. The preoperative and postoperative root-mean-square of HOA at 3 months were 0.196+/-0.092 microm and 0.326+/-0.107 microm respectively. The preoperative and postoperative contrast sensitivity values were similar. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical outcomes of LASIK using a solid-state laser system were comparable to the conventional refractive surgery in mild to moderate myopia. The 213 nm solid state laser may be an alternative option for refractive surgery.
Aniline Compounds ; Astigmatism ; Contrast Sensitivity ; Eye ; Follow-Up Studies ; Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ ; Lasers, Solid-State ; Myopia ; Prospective Studies ; Refractive Errors ; Refractive Surgical Procedures ; Visual Acuity

No abstract available.
Humans ; Male ; Spinal Cord Injuries* ; Spinal Cord*

A 52-year-old women, suffering from generalized pruritus due to intrahepatic and common hepatic duct stones, was treated with astemizole, 30mg daily. Sixty one days later, convulsions and syncope developed suddenly during hospitalization. She had no history of arrhythmia, heart disease, electrolytes imbalance, or CNS disorders. As another case, a 44-year-old man suffering from pruritus due to liver cirrhosis, was treated with astemizole, 30mg daily. Thirty two days later, palpitations and syncope also developed suddenly during hospitalization. He was diagnosed liver cirrhosis, 3 years ago and there was no history of arrhythmia, heart disease, electrolytes imbalance, or CNS disorders. Administration of astemizole was stopped immediately. The laboratory investigations revealed the normal range of serum potassium, calcium and magnesium in both cases. The ECG finding showed the prolongation of QTc interval, frequent VPCs and intermittent polymorphic drugs. On 1st and 3rd day, after discontinue of astemisole, the ECG abnormalities disappeard. It is suggested that astemizole overdose can induce prolongation of QTc interval and torsade de pointes, especially in the patient with liver disease.
Adult ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Astemizole* ; Calcium ; Electrocardiography ; Electrolytes ; Female ; Heart Diseases ; Hepatic Duct, Common ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Liver Diseases ; Magnesium ; Middle Aged ; Potassium ; Pruritus ; Reference Values ; Seizures ; Syncope ; Torsades de Pointes*

No abstract available.
Edema* ; Humans ; Hydrops Fetalis* ; Infant, Newborn*

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate morphological change at the craniovertebral junction (CVJ) region using computed tomography. METHODS: A total of 238 patients were included in this study, and mean age was 47.8+/-21.3 months. Spinal canal diameter, Power's ratio, McRae line, antero-posterior C1 ring height, atlantoaxial joint space, C2 growth, epidural space from the dens (M-PB-C2) and longitudinal distance (basion to C2 lower margin, B-C2) were measured. The mean value of each parameter was assessed for individual age groups. The cohorts were then divided into three larger age groups : infancy (I) (< or =2 years), very early (VE) childhood (2-5 years) and early (E) childhood (5> or = years). RESULTS: Spinal canal diameter increased with age; however, this value did not increase with statistical significance after VE age. A significant age-related difference was found for all C2 body and odontoid parameters (p<0.05). Mean McRae line was 8.5, 8, and 7.5 mm in the I, VE, and E groups, respectively. The M-PB-C2 line showed up-and-down dynamic change during early pediatric periods. CONCLUSION: Expansion of the spinal canal was restricted to the very early childhood period (less than 5 years) in the CVJ region; however, the C2 body and odontoid process increased continuously with age. The above results induced a dynamic change in the M-PB-C2 line. Although C2 longitudinal growth continued with age, the McRae line showed relatively little change.
Atlanto-Axial Joint ; Cohort Studies ; Epidural Space ; Humans ; Odontoid Process ; Spinal Canal ; Spine*

The prevalence of parasitic infections was investigated in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients (n = 105) who visited Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea, during the period from 1995 to 2003. Fecal samples were collected from 67 patients for intestinal parasite examinations, and sputum or bronchoalveolar lavage samples from 60 patients for examination of Pneumocystis carinii. Both samples were obtained from 22 patients. Thirty-three (31.4%) of the 105 were found to have parasitic infections; Cryptosporidium parvum (10.5%; 7/67), Isospora belli (7.5%; 5/67), Clonorchis sinensis (3.0%; 2/67), Giardia lamblia (1.5%; 1/67), Gymnophalloides seoi (1.5%; 1/67), and Pneumocystis carinii (28.3%; 17/60). The hospital records of the 11 intestinal parasite-infected patients showed that all suffered from diarrhea. This study shows that parasitic infections are important clinical complications in HIV-infected patients in the Republic of Korea.
AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections/*parasitology ; Adult ; Feces/parasitology ; Female ; HIV Infections/*complications ; Humans ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Parasitic Diseases/*epidemiology ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the usefulness of percutaneous umbilical blood sampling (PUBS) and prevalence of fetal infection in the pregnant women with suspicious fetal rubella infection. METHODS: Between June 1996 and May 2002 in Chonnam National University Hospital, the rubella specific IgG, IgM antibody and RT-PCR were checked in fetal blood obtained from 31 pregnant women with high risk of rubella infection. Eighteen women (58.1%) had rubella specific IgM, 11 women (35.5%) high titer of rubella specific IgG, and 2 women had a history of recent rubella vaccination within 3 months. RESULTS: PUBS was performed in all cases, successful in 27 cases (87.1%) and failed in 4 cases (12.9%). Cardiocentesis was performed in failed cases. Performing the PUBS, fetal bradycardia was observed in 7 cases (25.9%), fetal tachycardia in 1 case (14.8%), and preterm labor in 2 cases (7.4%). Performing cardiocentesis, fetal bradycardia was observed in 1 case (25.0%), fetal tachycardia in 2 cases (50.0%), and preterm labor in 1 case (25.0%). There was no fetal death. All samples of fetal blood were positive for rubella specific IgG but rubella specific IgM was detected in only 1 case. RT-PCR was negative in all cases. CONCLUSION: Fetal blood sampling is relatively safe and a great precaution is necessary before termination of pregnancy with suspicious fetal rubella infection and without typical maternal rash to reduce unnecessary termination of pregnancy. Several tests such as rubella specific IgM and PCR from placental villi, amniotic fluid, and fetal blood should be considered before termination of pregnancy.
Amniotic Fluid ; Bradycardia ; Chorionic Villi ; Cordocentesis* ; Exanthema ; Female ; Fetal Blood ; Fetal Death ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Jeollanam-do ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women* ; Prenatal Diagnosis* ; Prevalence ; Rubella* ; Tachycardia ; Vaccination

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous mitral commissurotomy(PMC) has been known as an effective therapeutic modality for moderate to severe mitral stenosis. However, long-term results and factors influencing late outcome after PMC remain to be elucidated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three hundred and forty-six patients received PMC at Seoul National University Hospital between August, 1988 and March, 1996. We evaluated long-term results of these patients and assessed demographic, clinical, echocardiographic and hemodynamic variables in order to identify predictors of immediate and late outcomes. RESULTS: PMC was completed without major complication or technical failure in 339(98%) out of 346 cases. A good immediate result was obtained in 67% of cases. Multivariate study identified echocardiographic score(P=0.004) and left atrial volume(P=0.009) as independent predictors of immediate outcome. The estimated 3-year and 5-year event-free survival rates were 95.8+/-2.5% and 90.6+/-4.3%, respectively. According to multivariate analysis, the independent predictors of late outcome were pre-PMC left atrial volume(P=0.03), post-PMC mitral valve area(P=0.01), and severity of mitral regurgitation after PMC(P=0.03). CONCLUSION: Percutaneous mitral commissurotomy as a treatment for patients with mitral stenosis is safe, and achives good long-term results. Pre-procedural echocardiographic score, left atrial volume, post-procedural mitral valve area, and severity of mitral regurgitation affect the immediate and late outcomes after PMC.
Disease-Free Survival ; Echocardiography ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Mitral Valve ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; Mitral Valve Stenosis ; Multivariate Analysis ; Seoul

In 1938, Jarcho and Levin initially described shortening of the trunk, prominent occiput, broad forehead, multiple vertebral defects and ribs anomaly, short neck, increased anteroposterior chest diameter, lordosis, kyphoscoliosis. After that, Jarcho-Levin syndrome is an eponym that has been used to describe a variety of clinical phenotypes. We examined a girl who was suspected as suffering from Jarcho-Levin syndrome because she had shortening of the trunk, multiple vertebral defects and ribs anomaly, short neck, increased anteroposterior chest diameter, lordosis, kyphoscoliosis. We report a case of Jarcho-Levin syndrome with intrathoracic kidney, and review related literature.
Animals ; Eponyms ; Female ; Forehead ; Humans ; Kidney* ; Lordosis ; Neck ; Phenotype ; Ribs ; Thorax