We retrospectively evaluated change of the intraocular pressure(IOP) after extracapsular cataract extraction with posterior chamber intraocular lens insertion without a filtering procedure in patients who have had high IOP preoperatively. The study included 1geyes of 15 patients with a mean age of 57 years. The follow-up period ranged from 3 months to 24 months(average 7 months). Their mean preoperative IOP was 19.35 mmHg and was 14.29 mmHg about seven months after operation. The mean reduction of rap was 5.06 mmHg(26%). Mean IOP reduction was 4.82 mmHg(25%) in open-angle glaucoma and 6.09 mmHg(32%) in angleclosure glaucoma. In this study 15 of 19 eyes(79%) required glaucoma medication preoperatively. However, 6 of 15 eyes(40%) required a smaller number of medication postoperatively. Postoperatively, 18 of the 19 eyes of 95% achieved 0.6 or better visual acuity. One eye with visual acuity 0.2 was not improved due to diabetic retinopathy. Complications during surgery were not detectable. But immediate postoperative complications included hyphema(1 eye), prolonged punctate keratitis(2 eyes), cyclitic membrane(1 eye), and coneal abrasion(1 eye).
Cataract Extraction ; Cataract* ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glaucoma ; Glaucoma, Open-Angle ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure* ; Lenses, Intraocular ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the minimum ten-year result of primary total hip arthroplasty with a non-cemented Multilock femoral stem. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty five total hip replacements in forty-four patients using a non-cemented Multilock femoral stem and Harris-Galante 2 acetabular component were performed between January 1992 and December 1994. Forty-four hips in thirty-six patients were available for follow up for an average of eleven years (range, ten to twelve years). The clinical results were evaluated based on the Harris hip scores. A detailed radiography analysis was performed by an evaluation of the radiolucent lines, femoral osteolysis, and fixation stability by Engh Method. RESULTS: The average Harris hip score improved from 54.3 points preoperatively to 93.6 points postoperatively. Non-progressive radiolucencies < 2 mm in width were observed in nine (20.5%), and femoral osteolysis was observed in thirteen cases (29.5%). For the fixation stability, osseous ingrowth was noted in thirty nine cases (88.6%) and fibrous ingrowth was observed in two (4.5%). There were three (6.8%) cases with unstable fixation. Two hips underwent revision. The survival rate of the femoral component was 93.2% (forty one cases) after a minimum ten-year follow up. CONCLUSION: The non-cemented Multilock femoral component provided excellent clinical and radiographic results. However, the rate of femoral osteolysis was relatively high (mostly restricted to zone 1 and 7).
Acetabulum ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip* ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Hip ; Humans ; Osteolysis ; Radiography ; Survival Rate

Although atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) has no apparent direct effect on human health, it does have direct effects on plants. The present study evaluated the influence of increased CO₂ levels on the concentration of allergens from common ragweed pollen by setting up a chamber study to model future air conditions and a field study to evaluate current air conditions. For the chamber study, we established 20 ragweed plants in an open-top chamber under different CO₂ levels (380–400, 500–520, 600–620, and 1,000–1,100 parts per million [ppm]). For the field study, we established ragweed plants in rural (Pocheon, Gyeonggi-do; mean CO₂ 320±54.8 ppm) and urban (Gangnam, Seoul; mean CO₂ 440±78.5 ppm) locations. Seeds of the common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) were obtained from Daejin University. The Amb a 1 protein content of pollen extracts was quantified using a double sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In our chamber study, the median concentration of Amb a 1 in pollen increased with increasing in CO₂ concentration (1.88 ng/µg in 380–400 ppm CO₂; 3.14 ng/µg in 500–520 ppm CO₂; 4.44 ng/µg in 600–620 ppm CO₂; and 5.36 ng/µg in 1,000–1,100 ppm CO₂). In our field study, we found no significantly different concentration of Amb a 1 between the pollen extracts at the Pocheon (mean±standard deviation, 1.63±0.3 ng/µg pollen in 320±54.8 ppm CO₂) and the Gangnam (2.04±0.7 ng/µg pollen in CO₂ in 440±78.5 ppm CO₂) locations, although the concentration of Amb a 1 was increased in the Gangnam than in the Pocheon locations. Our results suggest that future increases in CO₂ levels to more than 600 ppm will significantly elevate the Amb a 1 content in common ragweeds, although the current different CO₂ levels do not cause differences in the Amb a 1 content of ragweed pollen.
Allergens ; Ambrosia* ; Carbon Dioxide ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Pollen ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal ; Seoul

PURPOSE: Carcinomas of the male breast constitutes only 1% of all breast cancer and less than 1.5% of all malignant tumors in men. The low incidence of this disease prevents therapeutic questions from being addressed in prospective randomized trials. Our aim was to cover the characteristics of the etiology, presentation and treatment of male breast cancer; and therefore provide an overview of knowledge in this area. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 16 male breast cancer patients, who had been treated between 1983 and 1992 at the Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, The Catholic university of Korea. RESULTS: The peak age of incidence was in the 7th and 8th decades. The most common symptom was a palpable mass in the breast (75.1%), and the duration of symptom varied between 3 days and 10 years. According to the TNM staging system, there were 18.8%, 31.3%, 18.8%, 12.5%, 6.3%, at stages 0, I, II, III and IV, respectively, and 12.5% with an unknown stage. A modified radical mastectomy was performed in 11 patients (68.8%) and postoperative adjuvant therapy in 12 patients (75.1%). The mean duration of following up was 41.2 months, during which time 2 patients were lost. CONCLUSION: Sixteen male breast cancer patients were encountered and men with breast cancer were observed to be older, have a longer duration of symptom, and more likely to have a familial tendency. However, our review revealed that male breast cancer was not as far advanced and had more chance of cure than initially thought. Therefore, the early detection and aggressive treatment of breast cancer are important for improving the survival.
Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Breast Neoplasms, Male* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Male ; Male* ; Mastectomy, Modified Radical ; Neoplasm Staging ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: To investigate the results of percutaneous repair technique of Achilles tendon ruptures, and to describe the surgical technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the outcomes of 73 patients with ruptured Achilles tendon from October 1995 to September 2009. 28 patients were excluded due to short follow up period. 34 patients were male and 11 patients were female. The mean patient age was 37.19 (10~62) years. The location of rupture site was 6.58 cm proximal to the tendon insertion into the calcaneus on average. Mean follow up period was 55 months and All patients were surgically repaired using percutaneous technique with sural nerve isolation. RESULTS: Arner-lindholm score were excellent in 32 (71%), good in 12 (27%), poor in 1 (2%) case. 44 cases (98%) had the score more than good. Mean American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Ankle-Hindfoot function score was 92.93 (67~100). We had 1 case of superficial infection, 1 case of soft tissue irritation by suture knot. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous repair with sural nerve isolation in treating ruptured Achilles tendon showed low complication rate and reliable clinical outcome.
Achilles Tendon ; Animals ; Ankle ; Calcaneus ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Foot ; Humans ; Male ; Organic Chemicals ; Orthopedics ; Retrospective Studies ; Rupture ; Sural Nerve ; Sutures ; Tendons

Chylous leakage is an extremely rare complication of surgery for breast cancer. We experienced a case of chylous leakage after axillary lymph node dissection. A 38-year-old woman with invasive ductal carcinoma in the left breast underwent a modified radical mastectomy after four cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The postoperative serosanguinous drainage fluid became "milky" on the fourth postoperative day. After trying conservative management, we re-explored the axilla and ligated the lymphatic trunk. Although the success of many cases supports conservative management, timely surgical intervention represents an alternative in cases where leakage persists or where the output is high.
Adult ; Axilla ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Carcinoma, Ductal ; Chyle ; Drainage ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; Mastectomy, Modified Radical

PURPOSE: To investigate the effectiveness and to compare the degree of axonal regeneration with the control after the topical application of dexamethasone, hyaluronic acid and amniotic fluid at the repair site of the peripheral nerve. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The left sciatic nerves of 40 adult Sprague-Dawley rats were transected and neurorrhaphy was performed. The nerves were divided into four groups according to the solution applied around the repair site: control group (group 1), 0.3 ml normal saline: experimental groups, 0.3 ml dexamethasone (group 2), 0.3 ml hyaluronic acid (group 3), and 0.3 ml amniotic fluid (group 4). The thickness of the perineural scar tissue, the count of the myelinated nerve fiber and axonal regeneration on the repair site were evaluated electromyographically and histologically 4 and 12 weeks after surgery. RESULTS: The peak amplitude of the compound motor action potential was observed in group 2, at postoperative 4 weeks and group 3 at postoperative 12 weeks. The increase in the number of myelinated nerve fibers was most prominently in group 3 at 4 and 12 weeks after surgery. The degree of perineural scarring was lowest in group 2 at postoperative 4 weeks and in group 3 at postoperative 12 weeks. CONCLUSION: A single dose topical application of Dexamethasone, HA and Amniotic fluid is more effective in preventing perineural scar formation as well as in facilitating the nerve regeneration process in a rat hind-limb model than using saline.
Adult ; Male ; Female ; Humans ; Rats ; Animals

True pancreaticoduodenal artery aneurysms are relatively rare, approximately 50% of which are associated with stenosis or occlusion of the celiac axis. It is imperative to treat the condition immediately after diagnosis, considering that its rupture has a mortality rate of approximately 50%. The current most commonly used method to treat pancreaticoduodenal artery aneurysms is transcatheter arterial embolization. Here, we report three cases of embolization of inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery aneurysm with celiac stenosis or occlusion along with a literature review.

The Duhamel procedure has been the authors' treatment of choice for children with Hirschsprung's disease over the last 15 years. Owing to advancements in instrumentation and technique, laparoscopic correction of some congenital anomalies, including congenital megacolon, have become possible. In March and May of 1997, laparoscopic Duhamel procedures were performed on a girl and boy aged 7 months and 2 years and 9 months, respectively. The primary diagnosis in both patients was Hirschsprung's disease, which was confirmed by barium-enema and mucosal suction biopsy. The boy did not need construction of a loop colostomy, while the girl had a colostomy made neonatally. Using 4 trocars, the sigmoid colon, proximal rectum, and posterior rectal wall were mobilized laparoscopically. Immdeiately after severing the proximal resection line, the proximal end was pulled down posterior to the dentate line for side-to-side anastomosis with GIA and Endo-GIA staplers perineally. The colonic remnant was then resected with staplers and harvested through the right lower quadrent port site. Operative time was 210 minutes for the boy and 200 minutes for the girl. No perioperative complications were noted, and conversion to laparotomy was never required. Regular diet was resumed 4 days (boy) and 2 days (girl) after the operations. Postoperative hospital stay was 7 days in the two cases. We successfully performed laparoscopic Duhamel procedures for the first time in Korea, and think it feasible, safe, andminimally invasive owing to size reduction of the incision and avoidence of intraperitoneal opening of the bowel.
Biopsy ; Child ; Colon ; Colon, Sigmoid ; Colostomy ; Diagnosis ; Diet ; Female ; Hirschsprung Disease* ; Humans ; Korea* ; Laparoscopy ; Laparotomy ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Operative Time ; Rectum ; Suction ; Surgical Instruments

Wernicke's encephalopathy is a neurological disorder that is caused by a thiamine deficiency, and characterized by acute confusion, ataxia, a change in the patient's state of mind and abnormal eye movement (op-thalmophlegia and nystag-mus). This encephalopathy can be found in patients with chronic alcoholism, anorexia nervosa, hemodialysis, AIDS and gastroplasty for morbid obesity. The diagnosis of this disease is difficult because not all cases display the typical symptoms. However, this disease can be confirmed not only by the clinical symptoms but also by the brain MRI findings, low thiamine level and clinical response to thiamine replacement therapy. We experienced two cases of Wer-nicke's encephalopathy in patients who underwent a gas-trec-tomy for gastric cancer. However, this condition was not diagnosed until the patients showed neurological symptoms and the typical MRI findings. These patients improved after vitamin B(1) (thiamine) replacement.
Alcoholism ; Anorexia Nervosa ; Ataxia ; Brain ; Diagnosis ; Eye Movements ; Gastrectomy* ; Gastroplasty ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Nervous System Diseases ; Obesity, Morbid ; Renal Dialysis ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Thiamine ; Thiamine Deficiency ; Vitamins ; Wernicke Encephalopathy*