PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of a single intravitreal injection of 4.0 mg/0.1ml triamcinolone acetonide on intraocular pressure (IOP). METHODS: Retrospective studies were conducted by reviewing the charts of 26 eyes of 24 patients that were followed up for 16 weeks after intravitreal triamcinolone injection. The IOPs before and after triamcinolone injection were measured with Goldmann applanation tonometer. RESULTS: Within 16 weeks after intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection, 23 of 26 eyes (88.5%) demonstrated an increment in IOP of 5 mmHg or greater, and 6 of 26 (23.1%) had an increment of 10 mmHg or greater. The mean duration of the increase in IOP of 5 mmHg or greater was 5.5 weeks (standard deviation=4.4), and the mean time to reach maximum IOP was 6.6 weeks (standard deviation=4.4). The difference between the mean pre-injection IOP (14.12 mmHg, n=26) and the maximum post-injection IOP (24.65 mmHg, n=26) was statistically significant (P<0.001). All eyes that needed treatment responded to topical glaucoma medication. CONCLUSIONS: An increment in IOP is a common complication after a single intravitreal injection of 4.0 mg/0.1ml triamcinolone acetonide and despite this serious increment in IOP, it was controlled by topical glaucoma medication.
Glaucoma ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure* ; Intravitreal Injections ; Retrospective Studies ; Triamcinolone Acetonide* ; Triamcinolone*

BACKGROUND: Psychiatric disorders have been known to occur by the interaction of biologic, psychologic and social factors. A family can affect the occurrence of psychiatric disorders as a primary social factor. On the other hand, psychiatric disorders can affect family function. There fore, we studied to compare family function between the families of psychiatric inpatients and those of normal persons, using Family APGAR and FACES III. METHODS: Between July 1, 1999 and August 31, 1999, we examined the subject group as 40 relatives to visit psychiatric inpatient and the control group as 40 persons whose family members did not have chronic diseases or psychiatric disorders, using questionnaire of socio-demographic factors and family function. RESULTS: Family APGAR scores in subject group were lower than those of control group, but not statistically different. But the degrees of 'Partnership' of the Family APGAR in subject group were significantly lower than those of control group.(P<0.05) Adaptability scores of FACES III in two groups were not different. Cohesion scores of FACES III in subject group were lower than those of control group but not statistically different. The Family APGAR scores in the families of the schizophrenics were significantly lower than those of control group. The duration of psychiatric disorders did not affect family function. CONCLUSION: The family function of subject group was worsened but not statistically different. But in the families of the schizophrenics, the Family APGAR scores were significantly lower than those of control group. Therefore, we should consider serious family dysfunction in the families of schizophrenics.
Chronic Disease ; Hand ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: Individual propensity towards depressive mood has been influenced by various socio-demographic factors. Studies on the relationship between socio -demographic variables and degree of individual depressive mood in korea do not seem sufficient. In order to see the correlation of education level with the degree of depressive mood we surveyed to provide available data which are useful in the treatment of depression. METHODS: We randomly sampled 315 out of 452 patients based on the availability of chart record and questionnaire sheet. They were admitted to the department of family medicine in one university medical center in Seoul between Jan. 3. 1999 and Mar. 31. 2000. Out of 315 patients. we chose 271 patients between 30 and 80 years of age according to socio - demographic variables. Korean Beck Depression Index (BDI) questionnaire sheet method with 21 questions was used to collect the data for the degree of individual depression. The study group was subdivided into three (Group 1: group less educated than high school level, Group 2: group educated in high school, Group 3: group educated in college or above) BDI of each group was compared using ANOVA test. RESULTS: Age and sex among the three groups showed a significant difference. Other socio-demographic variables were not significantly different. The average of BDI was as follows : Group 1(19.6), Group 2(15.2), Group 3(13.2). After controlling for the socio-demographic variables, the BDI revealed significant difference among the groups according to education level. When Tukey method was applied to see the inter-group difference, Group1 BDI was higher than Group2 and Group3 BDls. No significant difference was found between Group2 and Group3. CONCLUSIONS: People educated below high school level revealed more propensity towards depressive mood with a statistical significance. Such result implies that education leved be considered in the treatment of depressive patients.
Academic Medical Centers ; Depression ; Education* ; Humans ; Korea ; Seoul ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUD: A lot of "Folk Remedies" on rheumatoid arthritis treatment prevail in Korea, but they have never been evaluated or investigated systemically. Therefore we studied folk remedies used in rheumatoid arthritis patients. METHODS: We delivered 12 questionnaires to 106 rheumatoid arthritis out -patients of family medicine, internal medicine, and orthopedics, located in Seoul and Kyungki area. These questionnaires addressed to demographic characteristics, duration of rheumatoid arthritis, current treatments, kind of folk remedies experienced, decision to choose folk remedies and its subjective effects, and volition to try new folk remedies. RESULTS: There were up to 27 kinds of folk remedies used by 77 people (72.8% of total). Lower education level was proved to be correlated with folk remedies experience. Most patients began their remedies introduced by relatives or close friends (83.1%) . Many Patients on folk remedies were skeptical about its effect, but they were still willing to try new folk medicine (80.6%). Many rheumatoid arthritis patients experienced folk remedies and were skeptical about its effects, but they were still willing to try new folk medicine. Therefore, education on folk remedies is needed.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Education ; Friends ; Humans ; Internal Medicine ; Korea ; Medicine, Traditional* ; Orthopedics ; Seoul ; Volition ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: Trichophyton(T.) mentagrophytes is one of common dermatophytes in Korea. The strain has a various colonial morphology; the colonial morphology of granular and powdery forms is very similar to Microsporum(M.) persicolor. OBJECTIVE: We tried to evaluate the mycologic features of T. mentagrophytes and to investigate the possibility of existence of M. persicolor among granular forms of T. mentagrophytes isolated in Korea. METHODS: Fifty strains of T. mentagrophytes var. mentagrophytes were examined and compared with standard strain of RV 28710 Nannizzia (Arthroderma) persicolor(+), RV 28709 Nannizzia (Arthroderma) persicolor (-), RV 27960 Arthroderma vanbreuseghemii(+), RV 27961 Arthroderma vanbreuseghemii (-), RV 26678 Arthroderma benhamiae (+) and RV 26680 A
Arthrodermataceae ; Daegu* ; Humans ; Korea ; Microsporum* ; Tinea* ; Trichophyton*

Cantrell's pentalogy may be defined as a failure of fusion of the midline from the sternum to the umbilicus. Thus, this malady consists of multiple anomalies of the sternum, heart, pericardium, diaphragm and umbilicus or anterior abdominal wall. According to the degrees of each anomaly, various operations can be planned as a one-stage operation or as a multi-stage operation and then palliative or corrective operations. The authors experienced a case of Cantrell's pentalogy that consisted of a bifid sternum, ventricular septal defect, atrial septal defect, ventricular diverticulum, dextrocardia, pericardial defect, anterior diaphragmatic defect and diastasis recti; all of these problems were corrected by a one-stage operation.
Abdominal Wall ; Dextrocardia ; Diaphragm ; Diverticulum ; Heart ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; Pentalogy of Cantrell ; Pericardium ; Sternum ; Umbilicus

PURPOSE: To evaluate treatment outcome of patients with high risk locally advanced gastric cancer after postoperative chemoradiotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between May 2003 and May 2012, thirteen patients who underwent postoperative chemoradiotherapy for gastric cancer with resection margin involvement or adjacent structure invasion were retrospectively analyzed. Concurrent chemotherapy was administered in 10 patients. Median dose of radiation was 50.4 Gy (range, 45 to 55.8 Gy). RESULTS: The median follow-up duration for surviving patients was 48 months (range, 5 to 108 months). The 5-year overall survival rate was 42% and the 5-year disease-free survival rate was 28%. Major pattern of failure was peritoneal seeding with 46%. Locoregional recurrence was reported in only one patient. Grade 2 or higher gastrointestinal toxicity occurred in 54% of the patients. However, there was only one patient with higher than grade 3 toxicity. CONCLUSION: Despite reported suggested role of adjuvant radiotherapy with combination chemotherapy in gastric cancer, only very small portion of the patients underwent the treatment. Results from this study show that postoperative chemoradiotherapy provided excellent locoregional control with acceptable and manageable treatment related toxicity in patients with high risk locally advanced gastric cancer. Thus, postoperative chemoradiotherapy may improve treatment result in terms of locoregional control in these high risk patients. However, as these findings are based on small series, validation with larger cohort is suggested.
Chemoradiotherapy ; Chemoradiotherapy, Adjuvant ; Cohort Studies ; Disease-Free Survival ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Seeds ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND: Because doxylamine succinate (DS) is an over-the-counter medicine, it can be obtained easily and is frequently used in suicidal attempts. Patients usually recover without serious complications, but occasionally rhabdomyolysis and even death can occur in DS intoxication. In this study, the authors tried to find out the independent predictors of high peak serum CK levels, i.e. probable rhabdomyolysis in DS intoxication. METHODS: The medical records of 41 patients who visited a hospital for DS intoxication from January 1, 2002 to April 30, 2003, were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: In the group of DS only, initial occult blood of urine (P=0.003), initial WBC count (P=0.003) and confusion (P=0.007) were the best predictors of the peak serum CK level (2=0.724). In the group of DS with other drugs intoxication, initial creatinine level (P=0.003) and initial occult blood of urine (P=0.007) were the best predictors of the peak serum CK level (r2=0.784). In the cases of rhabdomyolysis patients, the time taken for the CK level to be increased over 1,000 IU/L was 1.9level to be increased over 1,000 IU/L was 1.9+/-0.6 days. CONCLUSION: In DS only intoxication, occult blood in initial urine analysis, initial high WBC count and confusion can be thought of as useful clinical predictors for high peak serum CK level case. In DS with other drugs intoxication, initial creatinine level and initial occult blood of urine can be considered as the best predictors. More than 2 days will be needed for the observation of serious complications in DS intoxication.
Creatinine ; Doxylamine* ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Occult Blood ; Retrospective Studies ; Rhabdomyolysis ; Succinic Acid

BACKGROUND: Minerals are essential nutrients of human body and related with various diseases. Some minerals may be associated with endocrine function. Especially, chromium is known to enhance the action of insulin. The correlation of minerals with DM has not been studied in Korea yet. Therefore, to know whether there is any significant difference of minerals concentration and component between DM patient and non-DM patient, the quantity of each mineral in the hair of patients and controls was measured. If there is any significance, a guideline of nutritional therapy with minerals could be proposed and recommended. METHOD: An analysis of hair was performed on the type II diabetic patients and non-diabetic patients who visited Severance hospital outpatient clinic from April, 2001 to January, 2002. Hairs were obtained from each subject and were analyzed into the concentration of mineral using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The concentration of each element between the two groups was compared by t-test analysis. RESULTS: The concentration of copper, sodium, chromium, sulfur, and antimony was significantly different; the level of copper was significantly lower in the diabetic group (P=0.013). On the other hand, the levels of sodium, chromium, sulfur, and antimony were significantly higher in the diabetic group (P=0.013, 0.0001, 0.010, 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Previous studies have suggested that the concentration of chromium in diabetic patients' blood was lower than those in normal population. However, this study showed that the measured amount of chromium in hair was significantly higher in the diabetic group. This result warrants a study on the correlation between the concentration of chromium in blood and hair, and also, on the mutual relationship of other minerals (copper, sodium, sulfur, and antimony) which also showed significant difference in this study.
Absorption ; Antimony ; Chromium ; Copper ; Hair* ; Hand ; Human Body ; Humans ; Insulin ; Korea ; Minerals ; Outpatient Clinics, Hospital ; Sodium ; Sulfur

pidural abscess in hemodialysis patient is uncommon diseases, but it causes severe neruological complication if diagnois is delayed. In the clinical practice, diagnosis of epidural abscess is often delayed because it is difficult to differentiate epidural abscess with simple back pain. Therefore, it is important to make early diagnosis and treatment of epidural abscess to prevent neurological sequellae. We here report a case of epidural abscess with early diagnosis and successful treatment. A 54-year-old male patient was admitted to back pain and fever. Under the presumptive diagnosis of epidural abscess, MRI was performed, and it revealed epidural abscess. Intravenous antibiotic treatment was started and drain of abscess was subsequently performed since back pain was persisted. He discharged without neurologic sequellae. Our case strongly suggests that epidural abscess should be considered in patients and early radiologic evaluation and treatment are mandatory to prevent neurological complication.
Abscess ; Back Pain* ; Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Epidural Abscess* ; Fever* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Renal Dialysis*