We have studied the overcorrection, undercorrection, astigmatic change and its incidence on time sequence after the excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy, and its relation with the degree of preoperative myopia, sex, and age. The study has been done with 429 eyes which we could assess for 6 months or more after excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy of myopia from July 1993 to march 1997. Overcorrection of more than -1D was common during the early postoperative periods and then gradually decreased with time. Overcorrection has been seen in 261 eyes(60.84%) after 1 month, but only 33 eyes(13.47%) after 1 year, and 13 eyes(11.02%) after 2 years. Undercorrection has been seen in 2 eyes(0.47%) after 1 month, but 25 eyes(10.20%) after 1 year, and 20 eyes(16.95%) after 2 years. Surgically induced astigmatism increased to 0.54+/-0.84D after 10 days and then decreased 0.19+/-0.75D after 12 months. Also, surgical induced astigmatism developed 1.13+/-1.10D in 247 eyes (57.58%) after 1 month, but decreased 0.89+/-0.45D in 107 eyes(43.67%) after 12 months. The occurrence of overcorrection and undercorrection was related to the severity of preoperative myopia(p<0.05), but with sex and age, it had no statistical correlation(p>0.05). The amount of postoperative astigmatism was related to preoperative astigmatism(p<0.05), but it had no statistical correlation with the degree of preoperative myopia, age, sex, and development and increase of surgically induced astigmatism(p>0.05).
Astigmatism ; Incidence ; Lasers, Excimer* ; Myopia* ; Photorefractive Keratectomy* ; Postoperative Period

No abstract available.
Gastroschisis* ; Hernia, Umbilical*

PURPOSE: To determine (1) the relationship between the cortical defects seen on 99 mTc-DMSA renal scans and age, and (2) the presence and degree of vesicoureteral reflux, and then to depict the risk factors for cortical defects in children with acute urinary tract infection (UTI). Furthermore, to assess the diagnostic value of VCUG in predicting a defect on 99 mTc-DMSA renal scans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 134 kidneys in 67 children aged 15 days-10 years (M:F=39:28) in whom symptomatic UTI was present. In all these children, both DMSA renal scans and voiding cystourethrography (VCUG) were performed. Scanning took place within 7 days of diagnosis and VCUG was performed after one month of diagnosis. Scintigraphic findings were graded according to the extent and number of cortical defects. We evaluated the relationships between the cortical defects seen on DMSA scans and age, and the grade of vesicoureteral reflux. The diagnostic value of VCUG in predicting cortical defects was analysed. Results: The prevalence of cortical defects was greater in patients older than two years (38/54, 70%) than in those aged less than two (38/80, 48%). The frequency of cortical defects was related to vesicoureteral reflux (p<0.05) and grade of reflux (p<0.05). As this latter increased, the extent of cortical defects also increased (p<0.05), and DMSA scans revealed the presence of these in 76 of the 134 kidneys (57%) with acute UTI. In 30 of these 76 (39.5%), VCUG demonstrated the presence of vesicoureteral reflex. On the other hand, vesi-coureteral reflex was found in 36 of the 134 kidneys (27%), and in 30 of these 36 (83%), cortical defects were noted. The sensitivity of VCUG in predicting cortical defect was 39.5%, while specificity was 89.7%. The positive predictive value for defects was 83.3%, and the negative predictive value was 53.1%. The relative risk of cortical defect in the presence of vesicoureteral reflux was 1.78. CONCLUSION: Renal cortical defects are significantly related to age and grade of vesicoureteral reflux. Risk factors for developing cortical defects were older age (> or =2yrs) at the time of acute UTI, and high grade of vesicoureteral reflux. The specificity of VCUG in predicting cortical defects is relatively high but the sensitivitiy is low, and a significant proportion of cortical defects therefore occurred in the absence of vesicoureteral reflux.
Child* ; Diagnosis ; Hand ; Humans ; Kidney ; Prevalence ; Radionuclide Imaging* ; Reflex ; Risk Factors* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Succimer* ; Urinary Tract Infections* ; Urinary Tract* ; Vesico-Ureteral Reflux

Crohn's disease is one of the chronic inflammatory disorders of unknown cause involving the gastrointestinal tract. The inflammation may occur in the colon, either alone or with small intestine. Crohn's disease has been associated with increased risk for coloretal carcinoma in patients with long-standing colitis, strictures and fistulae. Recently, we experienced a case of Crohn's disease complicating carcinoma in a 85 year old male. Ten years ago, he compained severe abdominal pain and diarrhea. and was detected colon obstruction and enteric fistula. But, he spontaneously improved. Recently, the patient was admitted complaining abdominal pain. He complaind abdominal pain and indigestion chronically and aggravated recently. He was examined with colonofibroscopy, and computered tomography, and carcinoma was detected at the site of Crohn's disease.
Abdominal Pain ; Aged, 80 and over ; Colitis ; Colon* ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Crohn Disease* ; Diarrhea ; Dyspepsia ; Fistula ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Intestine, Small ; Male

OBJECTIVES: A number of studies on the trends of socioeconomic differences in suicide mortality have indicated that these inequality gaps have widened over time and highlight that certain occupations have more suicide risk than others. However suicide rates according to occupation based socioeconomic position have not been frequently studied in Korea. The purpose of this study is to report trends and inequality of suicide according to occupation based social class during 1993-2007 in Korea and to identify occupations with significantly high standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) and proportional mortality ratios (PMRs) for both men and women. METHODS: Korean census records for the years 1995, 2000, and 2005 were linked with the cause of death records from Korean National Statistical Office (KNSO) for the periods 1993-1997, 1998-2003, and 2004-2007 respectively. This data was used to calculate age adjusted proportional mortality ratios (PMRs) and standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) for both men and women aged 25~54 years according to five occupation based socioeconomic positions. RESULTS: Among men, the agricultural-fishery-forestry group had the greatest suicide rate (SMR: 341) with a high PMR (113) and the manual labor group showed the highest PMR (118), while the managers-professional occupation group showed the lowest sPMR (78) and SMR (21). Among women, the agricultural-fishery group had the highest score in SMR (316) and PMR (130), and the technical-artificer group showed the lowest sPMR (71) and SMR (27). The inequality gaps in the suicide mortality rate according to occupation had widened during 1998-2002, but showed a recovery trend plot after 2003. CONCLUSIONS: Although the occupation based socioeconomic inequalities show a recovery trend after 2003, the excess inequality from suicide remains as high as it was prior to the 2002 year in some occupational groups. The results of the current study indicate that the manual and agricultural-fishery-forestry groups were high risk groups of suicide.
Aged ; Cause of Death ; Censuses ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Occupational Groups ; Occupations ; Social Class ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Suicide

Three Acanthamoeba isolates (KA/E9, KA/E17, and KA/E23) from patients with keratitis were identified as Acanthamoeba triangularis by analysis of their molecular characteristics, a species not previously recognized to be a corneal pathogen. Epidemiologic significance of A. triangularis as a keratopathogen in Korea has been discussed. Morphologic features of Acanthamoeba cysts were examined under a microscope with differential interference contrast (DIC) optics. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of the ocular isolates KA/E9, KA/E17, and KA/E23 were digested with restriction enzymes, and the restriction patterns were compared with those of reference strains. Complete nuclear 18S and mitochondrial (mt) 16S rDNA sequences were subjected to phylogenetic analysis and species identification. mtDNA RFLP of 3 isolates showed very similar patterns to those of SH621, the type strain of A. triangularis. 16S and 18S rDNA sequence analysis confirmed 3 isolates to be A. triangularis. 18S rDNA sequence differences of the isolates were 1.3% to 1.6% and those of 16S rDNA, 0.4% to 0.9% from A. triangularis SH621. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report, confirmed by 18S and 16S rDNA sequence analysis, of keratitis caused by A. triangularis of which the type strain was isolated from human feces. Six isolates of A. triangularis had been reported from contaminated contact lens cases in southeastern Korea.
Acanthamoeba/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Acanthamoeba Keratitis/*drug therapy/*parasitology ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Animals ; Antiprotozoal Agents/therapeutic use ; Biguanides/therapeutic use ; DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics ; DNA, Protozoan/genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics

BACKGROUND: There have been several studies showing that angiotensin II and the angiotensin convertingenzyme (ACE) contribute to the activation of fibroblast including the pulmonary fibrosis, and apoptosis of the al veolar epithelium in idiopathic intersititial pneumonia. This study was performed to identify the relationship between the serum angiotensin II. ACE and the pulmonary function test (PFT), the dyspnea score, and the cell fraction of the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). METHODS: Twenty three patients with idiopathic interstitial pneumonia from March, 1999 to October, 2001 at Gachon medical school were enrolled in this study. They were divided into IPF(UIP) (16) and NSIP (7) group. Twelve of the idiopathic interstitial pneumonia patients (UIP : 5, NSIP: 7) were diagnosed by an open lung biopsy, 11 of IPF patients were diagnosed by the American Thoracic Society (ATS) diagnostic criteria. The PFT values, dyspnea score, serum ACE and angiotensin II were measured, and a bronchoscopy was performed to obtain the BALF. RESULTS: Of all the patients, 7 were in the normal range and 14 showed an increase in the serum level of angiotensin II. In terms of the serum ACE level, 14 patients had an increased level. The DLCO% of the angiotensin II. increased group was significantly lower than the not-increased group (p=0.021). Other factors did not correlate with the serum ACE or the angiotensin II increased group and not-increased group. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that an increased angiotensinII serum level may be associated with in crease in the of alveolar capillary block in the progression of pulmonary fibrosis in idiopathic interstitial pneumonia.
Angiotensin II* ; Angiotensins* ; Apoptosis ; Biomarkers* ; Biopsy ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; Bronchoscopy ; Capillaries ; Dyspnea ; Epithelium ; Fibroblasts ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonias* ; Lung ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A* ; Pneumonia ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; Reference Values ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Schools, Medical

Core needle biopsy (CNB) has been suggested as a complementary diagnostic method to fine-needle aspiration in patients with thyroid nodules. Many recent CNB studies have suggested a more advanced role for CNB, but there are still no guidelines on its use. Therefore, the Task Force Committee of the Korean Society of Thyroid Radiology has developed the present consensus statement and recommendations for the role of CNB in the diagnosis of thyroid nodules. These recommendations are based on evidence from the current literature and expert consensus.
Advisory Committees ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Biopsy, Large-Core Needle* ; Consensus* ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Methods ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; Thyroid Nodule

Minimally invasive treatment of symptomatic thyroid nodules is now commonplace. Ethanol ablation (EA) of thyroid cystic nodules has been performed since the 1990s, but there is no global consensus or guideline. Although various limitations of EA have been described, recommendations for practical application are necessary. Therefore, the Task Force Committee of the Korean Society of Thyroid Radiology initiated the present consensus statement and here we provide recommendations for the role of EA in the management of symptomatic thyroid nodules. These recommendations are based on evidence to date from the literature and expert opinion.
Advisory Committees ; Consensus ; Ethanol ; Expert Testimony ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; Thyroid Nodule

Thermal ablation using radiofrequency is a new, minimally invasive modality employed as an alternative to surgery in patients with benign thyroid nodules and recurrent thyroid cancers. The Task Force Committee of the Korean Society of Thyroid Radiology (KSThR) developed recommendations for the optimal use of radiofrequency ablation for thyroid tumors in 2012. As new meaningful evidences have accumulated, KSThR decided to revise the guidelines. The revised guideline is based on a comprehensive analysis of the current literature and expert consensus.
Advisory Committees ; Catheter Ablation* ; Consensus ; Humans ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; Thyroid Nodule ; Ultrasonography