No abstract available.
Chylous Ascites*

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical outcome based on topographic supported customized corneal ablation (TOSCA). METHODS: The 20 patients (20eyes), who had already undertaken excimer laser surgery at least 6 months ago, resulting in decrease of best-corrected visual acuity, were included. Topography-guided corneal ablation was performed to correct de-centered ablation or irregular astigmatism using with the Mel-70-scan (ascleapion Meditec Inc. Germany) equipped with a Gaussian spot beam. RESULTS: The average uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in Log MAR scale was 0.52 +/- 0.35 and 0.33 +/- 0.14, preoperatively. The average of UCVA and BCVA was improved to 0.29 +/- 0.29 and 0.11 +/- 0.14, respectively after TOSCA was done. It was statistically significant difference (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: TOSCA may be considered as effective method to improve BCVA in patients who suffer from decrease of BCVA in duced by decentered ablation.
Astigmatism ; Humans ; Lasers, Excimer ; Visual Acuity

No abstract available.
Intervertebral Disc* ; Zygapophyseal Joint*

To measure the fertility rate and pregnancy wastage of women in rural area, 3,780 married women under 50 years old who were not sterilized either woman or husband in Gunwee county were followed up for 2 years. Seventeen Myun health workers visited these women periodically to check the status of their family planning practice and menstruation. Pregnant women were interviewed for their past obstetric history and followed up to the time of delivery. Family planning was practiced in 51.6% of the 6,826 women-years observed during the period from April 1, 1985 to March 31, 1987. Pregnancy, abortion and delivery covered 7.6% of the observed women years and family planning was not practiced in 36.5% of the women-years. When sterilized women at the beginning of the study were included, the family planning practice rate was 72.1% which was slightly higher than the national family planning practice rate. However, 28% of the women of 30-39 years old had not practiced family planning although they had 2-3 children and they used more such less effective methods as safe-period method and condom than the women of 20-29 years old. Overall pregnancy rate was 14.3 per 100 woman-years. Women of 25-29 years old had the highest pregnancy rate of 27.4 per 100 woman-years. Pregnancy wastage including spontaneous and induced abortions and still births was 22.0% of all pregnancies and it increased with the age of women; 15.8% in women less than 30 years old and 43.7% in women of 30 years and over. Women who terminated the pregnancy with induced abortion had more pregnancies, more previous induced and spontaneous abortions and shorter pregnancy interval than those women who terminated with live birth. Pregnant women terminated with a live birth had received 4.2 prenatal cares on the average. Eighty-five percent of deliveries occurred at a medical facility and 15% at home which was substantially lower home delivery rate than the other rural area of Korea. This may be due to the effects of the demonstration project for the primary health care in 1970s in Gunwee county. These findings suggest that family planning service in rural area should be strengthened by promoting the use of more effective contraceptive method among women over 30 years of age.
Abortion, Induced ; Abortion, Spontaneous ; Adult ; Birth Intervals ; Birth Rate ; Child ; Condoms ; Contraception ; Family Planning Services ; Female ; Fertility* ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Korea ; Live Birth ; Menstruation ; Middle Aged ; Parturition ; Pregnancy Rate ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women ; Primary Health Care ; Spouses

BACKGROUND: Many patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing hemodialysis (HD) experience depression. Depression influences patient quality of life (QOL), dialysis compliance, and medical comorbidity. We developed and applied a group cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) program including mindfulness meditation for ESRD patients undergoing HD, and measured changes in QOL, mood, anxiety, perceived stress, and biochemical markers. METHODS: We conducted group CBT over a 12-week period with seven ESRD patients undergoing HD and suffering from depression. QOL, mood, anxiety, and perceived stress were measured at baseline and at weeks 8 and 12 using the World Health Organization Quality of Life scale, abbreviated version (WHOQOL-BREF), the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II), the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D), the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Biochemical markers were measured at baseline and after 12 weeks. The Temperament and Character Inventory was performed to assess patient characteristics before starting group CBT. RESULTS: The seven patients showed significant improvement in QOL, mood, anxiety, and perceived stress after 12 weeks of group CBT. WHOQOL-BREF and the self-rating scales, BDI-II and BAI, showed continuous improvement across the 12-week period. HAM-D scores showed significant improvement by week 8; PSS showed significant improvement after week 8. Serum creatinine levels also improved significantly following the 12 week period. CONCLUSION: In this pilot study, a CBT program which included mindfulness meditation enhanced overall mental health and biochemical marker levels in ESRD patients undergoing HD.
Anxiety ; Biomarkers ; Cognitive Therapy* ; Comorbidity ; Compliance ; Creatinine ; Depression ; Dialysis ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Meditation ; Mental Health ; Mindfulness* ; Pilot Projects ; Quality of Life ; Renal Dialysis* ; Temperament ; Weights and Measures ; World Health Organization

No abstract available.
Diagnosis, Differential*

No abstract available.
Polycystic Kidney Diseases*

Thyroid hemiagenesis is considered to be a rare congenital anomaly, but its incidence is propabley underestimated because the diagnosis is usually incidental. The left lobe is absent four times as often as the right and women are about three times more likely to have this developmental defect. Many of these patients are hyperthyroid or medical attention. We present the case of a 14-year-old women with right thyroid hemiagenesis associated without other thyroid disorders. The diagnosis of hemiagenesis was established by isotope imaging and thyroid ultrasound. In most of the clinical reports on thyroid hemiagenesis, an association with other thyroid disorders was found such as hyperthyroidism, multinodular goitre, hypothyroidism, benign adenama, Graves' disease, acute and subacute thyroiditis, and carcinoma. Even if morphology and function of thyroid gland is normal on diagnosis, a follow-up survey should be recommended.
Adolescent ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Graves Disease ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism ; Hypothyroidism ; Incidence ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroiditis, Subacute ; Ultrasonography

Thyroid hemiagenesis is considered to be a rare congenital anomaly, but its incidence is propabley underestimated because the diagnosis is usually incidental. The left lobe is absent four times as often as the right and women are about three times more likely to have this developmental defect. Many of these patients are hyperthyroid or medical attention. We present the case of a 14-year-old women with right thyroid hemiagenesis associated without other thyroid disorders. The diagnosis of hemiagenesis was established by isotope imaging and thyroid ultrasound. In most of the clinical reports on thyroid hemiagenesis, an association with other thyroid disorders was found such as hyperthyroidism, multinodular goitre, hypothyroidism, benign adenama, Graves' disease, acute and subacute thyroiditis, and carcinoma. Even if morphology and function of thyroid gland is normal on diagnosis, a follow-up survey should be recommended.
Adolescent ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Graves Disease ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism ; Hypothyroidism ; Incidence ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroiditis, Subacute ; Ultrasonography

No abstract available.
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip*