PURPOSE: Widely used fiberglass splints are made from straight-form material. These prove difficult to mold at joints and form wrinkles, causing complications such as pain, pressure sores, and peripheral nerve palsy. We compared the usefulness of wave-form splints with straight-form splints and the level of satisfaction of these designs from care providers and wearers. METHODS: Eighty-nine (n=89) emergency physicians and orthopedic surgeons participated in this study. The subjects (acting as care providers and mock patients) used wave-form and straight-form material to construct and wear short leg splints, long arm splints, and sugar tong splints. The clinicians were surveyed on their satisfaction as providers and wearers. All questions were measured on scores from 0 and 10(10=maximum score). After splints were removed, subjects were surveyed on the extent of splint wrinkling with scores from 1 to 3(3=maximum wrinkling). RESULTS: Provider satisfaction scores for wave-form splints versus straight-form splints in short leg splint applications were 7.76+/-1.30 vs 6.74+/-1.25 (p=0.000). Provider satisfaction scores for wave-form splints versus straight-form splints in long arm splint applications were 7.73+/-1.33 and 6.73+/-1.59 (p=0.004), respectively. The subjects felt more comfortable wearing wave-form splints, compared to straight-form splints (7.79+/-1.49 vs. 6.79+/-1.58, respectively; p=0.004) and more satisfied (8.03+/-1.35 vs. 7.18+/-1.33, respectively; p=0.003). The frequencies of wrinkle occurrence in wave-form and straight-form splints were 29.7% and 42.2%, respectively (p=0.02). CONCLUSION: Wave-form splints may be more practical for molding and wearing than traditional straight-form splints.
Arm ; Casts, Surgical ; Emergencies ; Fungi ; Glass ; Immobilization ; Joints ; Leg ; Orthopedics ; Paralysis ; Peripheral Nerves ; Pressure Ulcer ; Splints

This erratum is being published to correct of title.

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autosomal recessive disease characterized by recurrent episodes of fever accompanied by peritonitis, pleuritis, arthritis, or erysipelas-like erythema. It is known to occur mainly among Mediterranean and Middle Eastern populations such as non-Ashkenazi Jews, Arabs, Turks, and Armenians. FMF is not familiar to clinicians beyond this area and diagnosing FMF can be challenging. We report a 22-yr old boy who presented with fever, arthalgia and abdominal pain. He had a history of recurrent episodes of fever associated with arthalgia which would subside spontaneously or by antipyretics. Autosomal recessive periodic fever syndromes were suspected. Immunoglobulin D (IgD) level in the serum was elevated and DNA analysis showed complex mutations (p.Glu148Gln, p.Pro369Ser, p.Arg408Gln) in the MEFV gene. 3D angio computed tomography showed total thrombosis of splenic vein with partial thrombosis of proximal superior mesenteric vein, main portal vein and intrahepatic both portal vein. This is a case of FMF associated with multiple venous thrombosis and elevated IgD level. When thrombosis is associated with elevated IgD, FMF should be suspected. This is the first adult case reported in Korea.
Abdominal Pain/etiology ; Arthralgia/etiology ; Cytoskeletal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Familial Mediterranean Fever/complications/*diagnosis ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin D/*blood ; Male ; Mesenteric Veins ; Mevalonate Kinase Deficiency/complications/*diagnosis ; Mutation ; Portal Vein ; Republic of Korea ; Splenic Vein ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Venous Thrombosis/complications/*diagnosis ; Young Adult

We attempted to detect and identify virus types quickly by improving an RT-PCR-based dot-blot hybridization test for echoviruses, important human pathogens mainly causing aseptic meningitis. This test was applied to reference viruses of seven echovirus serotypes prevalent in Korea (E6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 25, and 30) and seventy isolates of echovirus isolated in Korea between 2002 and 2004. The primers for target DNA and hybridization probes (25mer, 50mer, and 70mer) were designed within the VP1 region of the echovirus. In RT-PCR, a nonradioactive digoxigenin-DNA labeling mix was added instead of dNTP to initiate PCR. The PCR product was then hybridized against 25mer, 50mer, and 70mer probe DNA spotted on nylon membranes and the reaction was observed. To investigate the optimal conditions for hybridization, various concentrations of target DNA (0.1, 1, 10, and 100 ng/micron l), size of probe DNA (25mer, 50mer, and 70mer), concentrations of probe DNA (10~50 pM), and reaction time were included. In the test zone, the optimal condition in terms of time and cost was a reaction time of 1 h with 10 ng/micron l target DNA concentration and 10 pM of a 50mer probe. We found 100% diagnosis of the serotypes for seven reference echoviruses and 90% (63/70) sensitivity for clinical isolates. Also, tests with this probe for reactivity with seven reference echoviruses by using DNA chips showed that diagnostic identification was possible without other serotype cross-reactivity. Therefore, efficiency analysis of probe and target DNA on clinical specimens by using dot-blot analysis indicated that this system can be applied to the prestages of the DNA chip and that the dot blot analysis itself can be used in applications to develop a tool for diagnosing specific viral serotypes.
Diagnosis ; DNA ; Enterovirus B, Human* ; Humans ; Korea ; Membranes ; Meningitis, Aseptic ; Nylons ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reaction Time

PURPOSE: We identified the causative viruses from patients with aseptic meningitis, acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis and other enterovirus-related diseases to understand the epidemiological patterns and prevailing strains of enterovirus infections each year. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During 1999-2003, we examined 3,260 specimens from 2,939 patients with aseptic meningitis or other clinical manifestations for the presence of enteroviruses by using both cell culture/ neutralisation test and reverse transcription-polymerse chain reaction-sequencing. To investigate the etiological agents which caused an epidemic of acute haemorrhagic conjunctivitis, conjunctival swab samples from acute haemorrhagic conjunctivitis patients showing cytopathic effects in HEp2 cells were tested by enteroviral specific PCR. RESULTS: We identified 603 isolates of enteroviruses (20.5%) among 2,939 cases and 22 serotypes of human enteroviruses were isolated during this 5 year period. Echovirus 13 and coxsackievirus A24 in 2002 and coxsackievirus A9 in 2003 were the first enterovirus to be indentified in Korea since we began the enterovirus surveillance in 1993. While an epidemic of echovirus 13 infection in Korea began in Gwangju and Jeolla province in 2002 and spread to Seoul, Gyunggi, Busan, Ulsan and other regions, echovirus 6 isolates in 2002 were mainly detected in Busan specimens and some Gwangju samples. From the nucleotide sequencing of enteroviral PCR products of conjunctival swab specimens, we found 85% nucleotide homology to coxsackievirus A24 (D90457). CONCLUSIONS: We isolated 603 enteroviral isolates among 2939 cases during 1999-2003. Echovirus 13 and coxsackievirus A24 were the first enterovirus to be identified in Korea and caused nationwide epidemics in 2002.
Busan ; Conjunctivitis ; Conjunctivitis, Acute Hemorrhagic ; Echovirus 6, Human ; Enterovirus B, Human ; Enterovirus Infections ; Enterovirus* ; Gwangju ; Humans ; Korea* ; Meningitis, Aseptic ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Seoul ; Ulsan

PURPOSE: We identified the causative viruses from patients with aseptic meningitis, acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis and other enterovirus-related diseases to understand the epidemiological patterns and prevailing strains of enterovirus infections each year. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During 1999-2003, we examined 3,260 specimens from 2,939 patients with aseptic meningitis or other clinical manifestations for the presence of enteroviruses by using both cell culture/ neutralisation test and reverse transcription-polymerse chain reaction-sequencing. To investigate the etiological agents which caused an epidemic of acute haemorrhagic conjunctivitis, conjunctival swab samples from acute haemorrhagic conjunctivitis patients showing cytopathic effects in HEp2 cells were tested by enteroviral specific PCR. RESULTS: We identified 603 isolates of enteroviruses (20.5%) among 2,939 cases and 22 serotypes of human enteroviruses were isolated during this 5 year period. Echovirus 13 and coxsackievirus A24 in 2002 and coxsackievirus A9 in 2003 were the first enterovirus to be indentified in Korea since we began the enterovirus surveillance in 1993. While an epidemic of echovirus 13 infection in Korea began in Gwangju and Jeolla province in 2002 and spread to Seoul, Gyunggi, Busan, Ulsan and other regions, echovirus 6 isolates in 2002 were mainly detected in Busan specimens and some Gwangju samples. From the nucleotide sequencing of enteroviral PCR products of conjunctival swab specimens, we found 85% nucleotide homology to coxsackievirus A24 (D90457). CONCLUSIONS: We isolated 603 enteroviral isolates among 2939 cases during 1999-2003. Echovirus 13 and coxsackievirus A24 were the first enterovirus to be identified in Korea and caused nationwide epidemics in 2002.
Busan ; Conjunctivitis ; Conjunctivitis, Acute Hemorrhagic ; Echovirus 6, Human ; Enterovirus B, Human ; Enterovirus Infections ; Enterovirus* ; Gwangju ; Humans ; Korea* ; Meningitis, Aseptic ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Seoul ; Ulsan