The development of Information technology affects the medical field a lot. Even though the PACS is developed for filmless hospital, the initial cost is very high and the investment effect is not clear yet. The purpose of this paper is to develop a costeffective hospital PACS which can be integrated with existing hospital information systems. Even though the PACS is developed for small sized hospitals, it has all the important functions of the large-scaled PACS system can provide such as image processing, clinic and patient information management, image file transfer through communication, and report generator functions for various types of hard output. Also, the developed system is designed for future expansion and compatibility with other hospital information systems.
Hospital Information Systems ; Humans ; Information Management ; Investments

Cybex evaluation of muscle strength was performed on 15 patients with chronic anterior cruciate ligament tears following arthroscopic reconstruction using central one-third patella tendon autograft. Cybex testing was done preoperatively and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months postoperatively. Peak torque and total work of the quadriceps and hamstrings at the angular velocity of 60 degree/sec and 180 degree/sec were measured and analyzed. The results were as follows: l. At the angular velocity of 60 degree/sec, the muscle strength of the quadriceps showed 45.4% deficit in peak torque and 50.9% deficit in total work compared to the contralateral normal knee preoperatively, 48.2% and 49.0% deficit respectively at 3 months after operation, 40.3% and 37.7% deficit at 6 months, 30.6% and 32.5% deficit at 9 months and 23.4% and 24.7% deficit at 1 year after operation. 2. At the angular velocity of 60 degree/sec, the muscle strenggth of the hamstrings showed 32.3% deficit in peak torque and 42.9% deficit in total work compared to the contralateral normal knee preoperatively, 39.3% and 42.4% deficit respectively at 3 months after operation, 27.3% and 32.3% deficit at 6 months, 21.2% and 22.3% deficit at 9 months and 17.9% and 18.4% deficit at 1 year after operation. 3. At the angular velocity of 180 degree/sec, the muscle strength of the quadriceps showed 38.4% deficit in peak torque and 42.0% deficit in total work compared to the contralateral normal knee preoperatively, 41.1% and 47.54% deficit respectively at 3 months after operation, 34.4% and 33.7% deficit at 6 months, 28.5% and 28.6% deficit at 9 months and 21.0% and 22.1% at 1 year after operation. 4. At the angular velocity of 180 degree/sec, the muscle strength of the hamstrings showed 26.9% deficit in peak torque and 31.8% deficit in total work compared to the contralateral normal knee preoperatively, 41.2% and 45.2% deficit respectively at 3 months after operation, 32.3% and 36.0% deficit at 6 months, 21.4% and 25.1% deficit at 9 months and 16.1% and 15.7% at 1 year after operation.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament ; Autografts ; Humans ; Knee ; Muscle Strength ; Patellar Ligament ; Tears ; Torque

The local laser solidification treatment among the therapys of age-related macular degeneration, which is immensely important in the field of ophthalmology, has been admited to be of effect. The accurate scope and the times of the cure not only play a important role of convalescence but also have a great influence on eyesight in the laser remedy. The retinal image photographed by a recent technology of ICG(Indocyanine Green) give us easy observation of avascular zone, and let us understand and predict objectively the degree of age-related macular degeneration. In this paper, we introduce the ICGI Analyzer and explain ICG image analysis methods that masure in quantities regions of hyperfluorescein area by choroidal neovascularization and detect transformations of it by image processing techniques. Also, we descript a method that ophthalmologist classify ICGA into several types on the basis of position of CNV(Choroidal NeoVascularization) using this system. We present results of applying ICG retinal image of patients to ICG Analyzer and typical frequency of age-related macular degeneration investigated by experts for testing the objectivity and accuracy of proposed methods.
Angiography* ; Choroidal Neovascularization ; Convalescence ; Humans ; Indocyanine Green* ; Linear Energy Transfer ; Macular Degeneration ; Ophthalmology ; Retinaldehyde*

The effect of temperature on the pH-dependence of actomyosin superprecipitation was studied, using actomyosin extracted from the rabbit and frog skeletal muscle tissues. The pH optima of superprecipitation was rather broad in both the rabbit and frog actomyosin. In the frog, superprecipitation measured at 16-42 degrees C was relatively independent of pH variations between 6.7 to 8.5, but it was significantly inhibited at pHs outside of this range, showing a sharp inflection of the curve. The pH at the inflection point was inversely proportional to the incubation temperature, but the (OH-)/(H+) ratio at the inflection point was not changed with temperature. The log (OH-)/(H+) was approximately -0.6 on the acidic side and 3.16 on the alkaline side. Similarly, superprecipitation of the frog actomyosin was virtually independent of the medium pH of the intermediate range (approximately 6.0-8.5); but it was drastically inhibited at pHs below or above this range, thus revealing a sharp inflection of the curve. Again, the pH at the inflection point changed inversely with temperature, preserving a constant (OH-)/(H+) ratio. The log (OH-)/(H+) ratio at the inflection point was approximately -2 on the acidic side and 3.5 on the alkaline side. The above pH effects were not associated with irreversible protein damage or with the changes in buffer species. These results strongly suggest that suppression of the superprecipitation of rabbit and frog actomyosin gels, at a low and high pH, be due to alterations in the fractional dissociation of histidine-imidazole and cysteine-SH groups, respectively.
Actomyosin* ; Animal ; Calcium/physiology ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Muscle Contraction ; Precipitation ; Rabbits ; Temperature*

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Manganese could be toxic to the human nervous system. Therefore, it is important to detect the over-exposed patients in their early course of intoxication. The aim of this study is to find a valuable methods of clinical examination and applicable parameters for early detection of manganese intoxication. METHODS: we investigated the 35 men who had been exposed to manganese over 5 years. All the subjects were examined and video monitored by three physicians. We separated them into the two groups(Group A: clinically suspicious, Group B: clinically normal) in terms of their motor functions, gait, posture, expression. Motor functions(finger and foot tapping, rapid alternating movement, pegboard exam, writing and walking velocity etc.), MRIs, and biochemical data were measured and compared. RESULTS: No one showed significant effects of manganese intoxication . Also there were no significant differences between the two groups for their biochemical data except for elevated serum Adenosine deaminase(ADA) in clinically suspicious group. But there was a trend that motor functions were decreased especially for the finger and foot tapping, walking velocity and stride, writing velocity. A large number of subjects showed MRI changes in both groups. So MRI is not necessarily correlated with clinical findings and not a specific diagnostic tool for manganese intoxication but a sensitive one for the exposed subjects to manganese. CONCLUSION: From this study, the decreased motor functions were the only clinically significant neurologic manifestation in those who over-exposed subjects to manganese. The level of serum ADA and brain MRI could be a helpful supportive diagnostic tools for the over-exposure. Even if the subjects with these positive results do not show any significant sign of intoxication , we ought to modify their working environment to reduce further exposure.
Adenosine ; Brain ; Fingers ; Foot ; Gait ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Manganese* ; Nervous System ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Posture ; Walking ; Writing

PURPOSE: To investigate the efficacy and safety of topiramate monotherapy in children with recent-onset seizures. METHODS: An open-label, randomized, parallel group trial compared the efficacy and tolerability of topiramate monotherapy versus oxcarbazepine monotherapy in 54 children with newly diagnosed epilepsy. RESULTS: Of the 54 patients treated with topiramate (N=25) or oxcarbazepine (N=29), 51 patients completed the full study period of 16 weeks. In topiramate group, 64% became seizure free, 20% demonstrated a greater than 50% degree in seizure frequency, and 4% got worsened in seizure frequency. In oxcarbazepine group, 59% became seizure free, 24% experienced a greater than 50% reduction in seizure frequency. The efficacy was not statistically different between the two groups. Adverse events were usually only mild to moderate and the tolerability of therapy was similar between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Topiramate monotherapy was highly effective in controlling seizures of children with newly diagnosed epilepsy (seizure free rate : 64%).
Child* ; Epilepsy ; Humans ; Seizures*

BACKGROUND: The apolipoprotein E (APOE) epsilon4 allele is over-represented in Alzheimer's disease, atherosclerosis, and ischemic heart disease. We investigated whether specific APOE polymorphism is a risk factor for ischemic cerebrovas-cular disease in the Korean population. METHODS: We compared 98 patients with ischemic cerebrovascular disease with 209 controls similar in age and dwelling areas. APOE genotypes were determined by restriction fragment-length poly-morphism analysis. The association of the APOE with: stroke subtypes, white matter hyperintensities, lipid profiles, and potential vascular risk factors, including: age, sex, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, lipid disorders, smoking habit, cardiac diseases, presence of past history and family history of ischemic cerebrovascular diseases, was examined. RESULTS: Overall, patients with ischemic cerebrovascular disease had no difference in APOE allele frequency with controls (p>0.05). Also, neither stroke subtypes nor white matter high signal intensities were associated with APOE polymorphism (p>0.05). APOE epsilon4 carriers exhibited more frequent personal stroke histories compared with non-epsilon4 subjects (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggests that the APOE epsilon4 is not associated with ischemic cerebrovascular disease in the Korean population. However, an association between APOE epsilon4 and personal history supports the possibility that the APOE is a susceptibility locus for the risk of ischemic cerebrovascular diseases. (J Korean Neurol Assoc 19(1):19~23, 2001
Alleles ; Alzheimer Disease ; Apolipoprotein E4* ; Apolipoproteins E ; Apolipoproteins* ; Atherosclerosis ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype* ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Korea* ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Stroke

BACKGROUND: Subthalamic nucleus (STN) activity increases in patients and animal models of Parkinson's disease. It has been proposed that the STN may play a role in the progressive death of nigral dopamine (DA) neurons in PD. We studied the role of the excitatory afferents from the STN in the death of nigral DA neurons after a striatal 6-hydroxy-dopamine (6-OHDA) injection in a 6-OHDA-induced early Parkinson rat model. METHODS: Nigral DA neurons were counted using of tyrosine hydroxylase immunolabeling. Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to unilateral, ibotenic acid-induced destruction of the STN 3 weeks after producing the early Parkinson model by injecting an intrastriatal 6- OHDA (8.75 microgram). Sham lesions of the STN were made by injecting phosphate-buffered saline. One week after STN ablation, lesions of nigrostriatal DA neurons were induced by repeated intrastriatal injections of 6-OHDA (8.75 microgram). RESULTS: Intrastriatal injections of 6-OHDA caused a progressive loss of nigral tyrosine hydroxylase-positive DA neurons in a dose dependent manner (3.5 microgram, 8.75 microgram, 17.5 microgram). The dose of 8.75 microgram of 6-OHDA was suitable for the early Parkinson model. Previous ablation of the STN significantly attenuated the loss of DA neurons in rats receiving 6-OHDA. Sham lesions of the STN did not affect DA neuron death induced by the toxin. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that excitatory inputs from the STN may contribute to the 6-OHDA-induced death of nigral DA neurons in the early state of Parkinson's disease.
Animals ; Dopamine ; Dopaminergic Neurons* ; Humans ; Models, Animal* ; Neurons ; Oxidopamine ; Parkinson Disease* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Substantia Nigra ; Subthalamic Nucleus ; Tyrosine ; Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase

We have studied thirty two cases of inappropriately treatable and intractable epileptics to various anti-convulsants. Zonisamide had a definite anti-epileptic activity in eleven subjects(52.4%) of intractble epilepsy. Five patients(45.5%), who were previously inappropriately treatable epileptic patients became seizure free on zonisamide. Two subjects were withdrawn from study because of side effect and two subjects were also withdrawn because of uncontrolled seizure. Zonisamide is not only effective in intractable epileptic patients but also in first trial for untreated epileptic patients.
Epilepsy ; Humans ; Seizures

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Dysthyroid ophthalmopathy is consider to be an autoimmune disorder and the disease is permanent in about 70% of the patients. Endoscopic intranasal approach for the decompression has been described by Kennedy in 1990. However a limitation of the approach is that decompression of the orbital floor lateral to the infraorbital nerve is not possible. So we modified caldwell- Luc's approach combined intranasal decompression by endoscopy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed the orbital decompressions in 5 cases with the exophthalmos. When the inferior bony wall was removed, medial and lateral to the inferior orbital nerve were removed separately and bony ridge was created to protect the nerve. Upper one-third of the lateral wall was penetrated to make an space for herniation of orbital content in case of severe exphthalmos. RESULT: All of the cases were satisfied with the surgery and there has been no evidence of the recurrence so far. CONCLUSION: These combined techniques produce satisfactory results, especially in severe cases.
Decompression* ; Endoscopy ; Exophthalmos ; Graves Ophthalmopathy* ; Humans ; Orbit* ; Recurrence