This study was designed to compare the outcomes between my ocardial infarction' participation and not-participation in cardiac rehabilitation, so explain how participation in cardiac rehabilitation can be a worthwhile intervention that facilitates recovery from MI. B furthermore this research is intended to provide the fundamental backgrounds in developing cardiac rehabilitation program that can help to improve the patients' the quality of life. A total of 80 out-patients were selected as subject to data collection from April 1th to May 10 1996. The rehabilitated group, consisting of the 40 out-patients had participated with the non-rehabilitation group of 40 out-patients had received usual care during hospitalization. The tools for this study were state-anxiety scale devised by Spielberger(1976) performance health behavior scale developed by Lee(1992) and quality of life scale producted by McGirr(1990). The data were analyzed by use of chi test, ANCOVA, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation and simple regression using the SPSS program. The study was concluded as follows : 1. Hypothesis 1 : that "the rehabilitation group's anxiety was lower than the non-rehabilitation group's was accepted(t=-2.60, p=0.011). 2. Hypothesis 2 : that "the rehabilitation group's level of performance health behavior was higher than the non-rehabilitation group's" was accepted(t=6.39, p=0.000). 3. Hypothesis 3 : that "the rehabilitation group's quality of life was higher than the non-rehabilitation group's was accepted(t=2.73, p=0.008). 4. The correlations between anxiety, performance health behavior and quality of life. The relationship between anxiety and performance health behavior revealed a significant correlation(r=-.4433, p<.05). And the relationship between anxiety and quality of life revealed a significant correlation(r=-.7679, p<.05), the relationship between performance health behavior and quality of life revealed a significant correlation(r=3934, p<.05). As a result, it was found that the cardiac rehabilitation groups' anxiety was lower than the non-rehabilitation group's, the rehabilitation group' level of performance health behavior was higher than the non-rehabilitation group's. And the rehabilitation group's quality of life was higher than the non-rehabilitation group's. Therefore this study explained how participation in cardiac rehabilitation can be a worthwhile intervention that facilitates recovery from MI.
Anxiety ; Data Collection ; Health Behavior ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Outpatients ; Performance Anxiety ; Quality of Life ; Rehabilitation*

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome(NMS) is an uncommon but potentially fatal idiosyncratic reaction to neuroleptics, characterized by muscular rigidity, fever, autonomic dysfunction, and altered consciousness. The major theories to explain NMS is central dopaminergic blockade, but it is unclear. Risperidone is a new antipsychotic drug, a benzisoxazole derivative that blocks dopamine D2 receptor and serotonin type 2 receptor. The comparatively greater serotonin-blocking activity is believed to give risperidone the specific property of not causing any more extrapyramidal side effects than conventional antipsychotics at the optimal dose of 4-8mg/day. It is postulated that risperidone is unlikely to cause NMS. Here, we report a case of risperidone induced neuroleptic malignant syndrome.
Antipsychotic Agents ; Consciousness ; Fever ; Muscle Rigidity ; Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome* ; Receptors, Dopamine D2 ; Risperidone ; Serotonin

PURPOSE: To report a case in which radiotherapy damaged the microvasculatures of the retinal vessels and developed cotton-wool patches and retinal hemorrage as well as rubeosis iridis and intractable neovascular glaucoma. METHODS: A 64-year-old female presented with visual loss in her left eye two years after radiotherapy for malignant melanoma of the nasal cavity. The visual acuity of her left eye was counting fingers. Although any specific signs were not shown in the cornea or lens, multiple cotton-wool patches and retinal hemorrhages were noted around the optic disc. RESULTS: Multiple cotton-wool patches and retinal hemorrhages disappeared gradually. Finally, rubeosis iridis and intractable neovascular glaucoma developed which could not be controlled by panretinal photocoagulation. CONCLUSIONS: Radiotherapy for malignancy of the nasal cavity was associated with intractable neovascular glaucoma.
Cornea ; Female ; Fingers ; Glaucoma, Neovascular* ; Humans ; Light Coagulation ; Melanoma ; Middle Aged ; Nasal Cavity ; Radiotherapy ; Retinal Hemorrhage ; Retinal Vessels ; Retinaldehyde ; Visual Acuity

No abstract available.
Diagnosis ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; Endarteritis ; Pulmonary Embolism

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a radiometric analysis of radicular cysts and periapical granulomas is useful in the differential diagnosis. In this experiment, twenty-nine periapical radiographs of the radicular cyst and those periapical granuloma were used. The periapical radiography was taken by intraoral paralleling device. The X-ray film was digitized and digitally filtered to reduce film-grain noise. We estimated density difference of the inner/outer area, roundness or circularity, bone profile or scan line of the margin and cumulative percentage frequency curve of radicular cyst & periapical granuloma. The obtained results were as follows ; 1. The differences in density between ROIs of inner and outer area of radicular cysts were smaller than those of periapical granulomas. 2. The equivalent circular diameter was over 6.3mm, there was significant difference between periapical cyst and periapical granuloma. 3. In differential diagnosis of radicular cyst and periapical granuloma using bone profile, sensitivity, spicificity and accuracy were considerably high(0.83, 0.86, 0.86) respectively. 4. Cumulative percentage frequency curve of the radicular cyst was closer to the pseudo-pixel value of 50 than average curve, whereas periapical granuloma was closer to that of 0. Hence we conclude that digital radiometric features might be useful in the differential diagnosis between radicular cyst and periapical granuloma.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Noise ; Periapical Granuloma* ; Radicular Cyst* ; Radiography ; X-Ray Film

Early CT findings of transient radiographic progression (TRP) during treatment of active pulmonary tuberculosis including subpleural, interlobular or intralobular septal thickening and micronodules are shown in the present case. Late CT findings of TRP are subpleural, enhancing nodular infiltration with internal low attenuation. These CT features accompanied by a lack of clinical worsening in young patients taking antituberculous medication due to pulmonary tuberculosis can help to differentiate TRP from other disease entities.
Humans ; Lung ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

BACKGROUND: Norwegian scabies is a highly infectious disease characterized by crust formation, different from ordinary scabies, and is caused by Sarcoptes scabiei. After the patient in our case was diagnosed with Norwegian scabies, active measures were taken to prevent its transmission within the hospital. Methods: A 66-year-old female patient was admitted to the general ward of a university hospital on January 23rd, 2008 and 6 days later, she was found to have been infected with Norwegian scabies all over the body. For epidemiological investigation, those who had been in contact with the patient were identified and interviewed. The patient was advised to follow the contact precaution, and linen the patient used was cleaned thoroughly. The surrounding environment was decontaminated by applying surface disinfectant. Preventive cream against the Norwegian scabies was distributed to staff members and patients who had been exposed to the patient, and appointed a dermatologist to educate them on how to use of medicine, what the mechanism of the disease is, what cautions must be taken, and how to write an ex post facto report. RESULTS: After the confirmation of the 1st case, no additional cases have been reported in the hospital during the ensuing 2 months. Therefore, prompt prevention and infection control activities against Norwegian scabies can be thought to have been successful. CONCLUSION: Whena patient with an uncertain skin disease is admitted, pertinent measures must be taken from the moment the patient is admitted and contact precaution should be applied both to the patients and the staff members. When a scabies patient is detected in an institution, the medical staff must enforce as much active preventive measures as possible, and by doing so, there will be a better chance to prevent the outbreak of scabies in the hospital.
Aged ; Bedding and Linens ; Communicable Diseases ; Cross Infection ; Female ; Humans ; Infection Control ; Medical Staff ; Patients' Rooms ; Sarcoptes scabiei ; Scabies ; Skin Diseases

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated which CT findings could be used to predict the negative results of a sputum smear in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis and multiple cavities. METHODS: Thirty-eight patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis and multiple cavities on CT were classified into 2 groups: smear-positive (n = 30) and -negative (n = 8). The CT findings were reviewed retrospectively. The maximum internal diameter of the largest cavity, the number of the cavities and lobes with cavities, and the characteristics of the associated findings such as consolidation, ground glass opacity, micronodules and nodule were accessed. The number of cavities above 20 mm in the maximum internal diameter and a necrotizing pneumonia-like pattern were also evaluated. RESULT: The maximum internal diameter and number of cavities was 32.23 +/- 17.66 mm and 15.50 +/- 11.12 mm (p = 0.0042), and 5.53 +/- 3.17 and 2.43 +/- 1.13 (p = 0.0002) in the smear-positive and -negative group, respectively. Three or more cavities were observed at 76.7% and 12.5% in the smear-positive and -negative group, respectively (p < 0.005). There were 2.00 +/- 1.34 and 0.25 +/- 0.46 (p = 0.001), and 1.5 +/- 1.50 and 0.38 +/- 0.52 (p =0.0016) lobes with consolidation and ground glass opacity in the smear-positive and -negative group, respectively. A necrotizing pneumonia-like pattern was observed in 43.3% of the smear-positive group only. The other findings were similar in both two groups. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value for the presence of at least a finding of consolidation, more than 3 cavities or the largest cavity > 20 mm in the maximum internal diameter were 100%, 62.5%, 90.9%, and 100%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Two cavities 20 mm or less in the maximum internal diameter without consolidation on CT might be associated with a negative result of the sputum smear in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis and multiple cavities.
Glass ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Sputum* ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary*

Membranous lipodystrophy is a peculiar type of fat necrosis, present in patients with various types of skin diseases. It is charaeterized by the presence of microcysts and macrocysts lined by amorphous eosinophilic material with a crenelated arabesque appearance and microgranules in the subcutis with massive fat necrosis. The eosinophilic lining and microgranules stain positively with periodic acid-Schiff, are resistant to diastase, and also stain with Sudan black B. We report three cases of subcutanous membranous lipodystrophy in patients with erythema induratum, posttraumatic panniculitis and morphea with typical clinical and histopathologic findings.
Amylases ; Eosinophils ; Erythema Induratum ; Fat Necrosis ; Humans ; Lipodystrophy* ; Panniculitis ; Scleroderma, Localized ; Skin Diseases ; Sudan