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

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

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

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

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy, on the basis of CT findings, of high dose methyl prednisolone for treating acute lung injury that was induced by oleic acid injection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 30 healthy rabbits (1.8-2.2 kg) were included in this study. Group I included 10 rabbits in which 0.2 mL oleic acid was injected through their ear veins. Group IIa included 10 rabbits in which 30 mg/kg methyl prednisolone and 0.2 mL oleic acid were intravenously injected at the same time. Group IIb included 5 rabbits in which 30 mg/kg methyl prednisolone was injected 6 hours prior to the 0.2 mL oleic acid intravenous injection. The other 5 rabbits (Group III) were injected intravenously with 30 mg/kg methyl prednisolone without the oleic acid. After that, 30 mg/kg methyl prednisolone per every 12 hours was injected in the non-sacrificed rabbits of Group II and Group III. Nonenhanced Chest CT scans were performed prior to and 30 minutes, 4 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours, and 72 hours after the intravenous injection of oleic acid or methyl prednisolone. We randomly sacrificed one rabbit of groups I, II and III 30 minutes, 4 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours after CT scanning. The distribution, extent, and pattern of the lesions on the CT scan were analyzed. The analyzed pattern of the lesions was ground glass attenuation, consolidation and interstitial thickening. Pathologic correlation was then done. RESULTS: The main CT findings of Group I were peripheral, wedge shaped, ill-defined ground glass attenuations and/or consolidations. The pathologic findings of Group I were interstitial or intraalveolar edema, intraalveolar hemorrhage and coagulation necrosis. Diffuse ground glass opacities with interstitial thickening were noted in 20% (n=2/10) of Group I and in 60% (n=9/15) of Group II at the 30 minute CT; however, there was no statistical difference between the two groups (p=0.09). Consolidations with air bronchogram were noted in 22.2% (2/9) of Group I and in 38.5% (5/13) of Group II at the 4 hour CT. The main pathologic findings of consolidations were intraalveolar hemorrhage and coagulation necrosis. There was no statistical difference in the extent of the lesions between Group I and Group II (p=0.20, 0.14, 0.59 and 0.46 at 4, 24, 48 and 72 hours, respectively). The CT findings of Group IIa and Group IIb were not significantly difference. The CT findings of Group III were normal in all 5 rabbits. CONCLUSION: Because there was no significant difference for the extent of lung injury induced by oleic acid between the group treated with high dose methyl prednisolone and non-treated group on CT scans, high dose steroid therapy for acute respiratory distress syndrome and pulmonary fat embolism may not be effective in the acute stage.
Acute Lung Injury ; Ear ; Edema ; Embolism, Fat ; Glass ; Hemorrhage ; Injections, Intravenous ; Lung Injury* ; Lung* ; Necrosis ; Oleic Acid ; Prednisolone ; Rabbits* ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult ; Steroids* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Veins

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*