Cysts of the meniscus are rare lesion of the knee. They may present as a local tumor or mimic signs of an internal derangement of the knee. So it is difficult to diagnose and apt to overlook in physical examination. Also they almost always have combined pathology of the involved meniscus, such as, meniscal tear or discoid meniscus. The pathologic basis of the meniscal cyst is controversial, but rece 2. Most of the patients had tear of the involved meniscus, but the patients with discoid meniscus did not have gross tears or previous trauma history. nt works suggest the etiology is infiltration of joint fluid through micro and macro tears in the meniscus. In the past, complete excision of the meniscus as well as cyst was thought to be the treatment of choice to prevent recurrences. But nowadays, the trend is changed as preserving the involved meniscus, when no tear of the meniscus is found to prevent enevitable degenerative changes after total meniscectomy. We experienced 6 cases of meniscal cyst during recent 2 years and obtained following results. 1. Precise joint line evaluation is much more important in the diagnosis of the meniscal cyst before making special study. 2. Most of the patients had tears of the involved meniscus, but the patients with discoid meniscus did not have gross tears or previous trauma history. 3. When the cyst is located anteriorly in the joint line, it is prominent in flexed position of the knee; and when located posteriorly, prominent in extended position of the knee. 4. Excision of the cyst and reattachment of the meniscus were thought to be good method when the cyst was located in the parameinscal area without gross tear of the involved meniscus.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Joints ; Knee ; Methods ; Pathology ; Physical Examination ; Recurrence ; Tears

To delineate the coronary anatomy and the left ventricular function during early myocardial infarction, coronary arteriography and left ventriculography were performed prospectively in 28(34%) of 83 patients who were admitted to the coronary care unit at Severance Hospital from November 1983 to August 1984 within 30 days(median : 14 days;range : 4 hours to 30 days) after the onset of symptoms. The frequency of total occlusion of the infarct related artery was evaluated in the time course of infarction. To prove spontaneous recanalization, 3 patients who had total coronary occlusion underwent serial study within 11-20 days after the first study. We categorized the patients into two comparable groups according to the infarction site, coronary angiographic findings, and age. Comparison of clinical and angiographic findings between each group was made. The following results were obained. 1) There were 23 patients with transmural myocardial infarction(82.1%) and 5 with nontransmural infarction(17.9%). Among 23 patients with transmural infarction, 14 had anterior infarction(60.9%) and 9(39.1%) inferior infarction. 2) The mean age was 51.3 years(range : 31-79 years). The ratio of male to female was 3.7:1. 3) Fifteen patients(53.6%) had one-vessel disease, 10(35.7%) two-vessel disease and 2(7.1%) three-vessel disease, One patient(3.6%) had insignificant disease(less than 50% reduction in luminal diameter). Nontransmural infarction had a tendency to be associated with higher prevalence of multivessel disease than transmural infarction(80% vs 34.8%). 4) In 23 patients with transmural infarction, 12(52.2%) had complete occlusion and 11(47.8%) incomplete occlusion of the infarct related artery. Three patients(13.0%) had subtotal occlusion(90-99%) and 4(17.4%) had lesions of 70-89% luminal diameter narrowing. Three patients(13.0%) had 50-69% lesions and the remaining 1(4.4%) had insignificant obstructive lesions. 5) Of the 23 patients with transmural infarction, 12 were studied within 14 days and 11 in 15-30 days after the onset of symptoms. The frequency of total coronary occlusion was significantly higher in the patients studied within 14 days of symptom onset vs those studied in the 15-30 days period(83.3% vs 18.2%;p<0.001). Serial studies of 3 patients with total coronary occlusion at the initial study demonstrated occurrance of spontaneous recanalization in 2 patients. 6) The left ventricular-ejection fraction was higher in the patients with nontransmural infarction, inferior infarction, and incomplete coronary occlusion(65+/-14%, 58+/-16% and 57+/-17%) than that of the patients with transmural infarction, anterior infarction, and complete coronary occlusion(51+/-15%, 47+/-14% and 46+/-13, p<0.05). But there was no significant difference in left ventricular ejection fraction between the young(<45 year) and the old(> or =45 year) age groups. And also 0-1 vessel disease and 2-3 vessel disease groups did not show significant difference in ejection fraction. The degree of congestive heart failure was more severe in the patients with anterior infarction than in those with inferior infaction. multi-vessel disease group was significantly older than 0-1 vessel disease group(55+/-8 yrs vs 46+/-12 yrs, p<0.05), and the young age group had a tendency to be associated with higher prevalence of single vessel disease. 7) As for the complications of angiocardiography in this study, there was ventricular finbrillation in 2 patients(7.1%) without mortality. It is concluded that coronary arteriography can be safely performed within one month after acute myocardial infarction;high prevalence of one-vessel disease in acute myocardial infarction in the Korean adult patients admitted to a general hospital;lower incidence of total coronary occlusion in the late time course of infarction due to spontaneous recanalization;better left ventricular function in the patient groups with nontransmural infarction, inferior infarction and incomplete coronary occlusion.
Adult* ; Angiocardiography ; Angiography ; Arteries ; Coronary Care Units ; Coronary Occlusion ; Female ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infarction ; Male ; Mortality ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Phenobarbital ; Prevalence ; Prospective Studies ; Stroke Volume ; Ventricular Function, Left

Injuries of the cervical spine from C3 down to C7 are complex and potentially devastating injuries. The treatment of this condition is complicated and controversial. However, there is an increasing tendency to stabilize unstsble cervical spine injuries surgically with the benefit of good stability of the spine, easy nursing care, early mobilization and rehabilotation. We analysed clinically the 26 patients with unstable lower cervical spine injuries st the department of orthopaedics, National Medical Center from Jan. 1979 to Dec. 1988. The results obtained were as follows:1. The prevalent age distribution was between 20 and 50 years of age(71%), and the ratio between male and female was 6: l. 2. The most common cause of the injury was traffic accident(42%), and the most frequent mechanism of injury was distractive-flexion type(42%). 3. In the overall clinical evaluation, 73% of the patients were judged to have had excellent and good results, and the range of the motion was more limited in the patient who underwent posterior fusion due to wide level of fusion. 4. The patients with distractive-flexion injuries with minimal neurologic deficit were at risk of late instability following conservative treatment, and therefore open reduction and posterior fusion may be advisable. 5. The patients who were given posterior fusion were noted to have a few significant late changes, but the patient with anterior fusion carried a high incidence of progressive kyphotic deformity and persisting, pain. 6. When anterior fusion is used in the patient with posterior instability for the purpose of cord decompression, anterior cervical plate is valuable than the fusion with graft only in view of preventing progressive kyphotic deformity.
Age Distribution ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Decompression ; Early Ambulation ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Nursing Care ; Spine ; Transplants

A quantitative assessment of the testicular biopsy, and serum hormone levels( testosterone, prolactin, and follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormones) were studied in 10 spinal cord injured men and comparison of these parameters to normal controls were performed. The mean number of Sertoli cells, mature spermatids, tubular diameter and tubular wall thickness were determined in both groups and analyzed. In the spinal cord injury group the mean number of mature spermatids per tubule was significantly lower and the mean number of Sertoli cells per tubule was significantly higher than in controls(p<0.05). Serum testosterone and luteinizing hormone values were significantly higher in the spinal cord injury group than in controls(p<0.05). These significant differences of the quantitative parameters of the testicular biopsy and hormonal values that may contribute to the reproductive dysfunction.
Biopsy ; Humans ; Lutein ; Luteinizing Hormone ; Male ; Prolactin ; Sertoli Cells ; Spermatids ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; Spinal Cord* ; Testis ; Testosterone

Cell Proliferation ; Head ; Melanoma ; Mucous Membrane ; Neck ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; Seoul

BACKGROUND/AIMS: There is a growing emphasis on quality management in endoscope reprocessing. Previous surveys conducted in 2002 and 2004 were not practitioner-oriented. Therefore, this survey is significant for being the first to target actual participants in endoscope reprocessing in Korea. METHODS: This survey comprised 33 self-filled questions, and was personally delivered to nurses and nursing auxiliaries in the endoscopy departments of eight hospitals belonging to the society. The anonymous responses were collected after 1 week either by post or in person by committee members. RESULTS: The survey included 100 participants. In the questionnaire addressing compliance rates with the reprocessing guideline, the majority (98.9%) had a high compliance rate compared to 27% of respondents in 2002 and 50% in 2004. The lowest rate of compliance with a reprocessing procedure was reported for transporting the contaminated endoscope in a sealed container. Automated endoscope reprocessors were available in all hospitals. Regarding reprocessing time, more than half of the subjects replied that reprocessing took more than 15 minutes (63.2%). CONCLUSIONS: The quality management of endoscope reprocessing has improved as since the previous survey. A national survey expanded to include primary clinics is required to determine the true current status of endoscope reprocessing.
Anonyms and Pseudonyms ; Committee Membership ; Compliance ; Endoscopes* ; Endoscopy ; Humans ; Korea ; Nurses' Aides ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.
Occupational Diseases*

Background/Aims: Capsule endoscopy (CE) is widely used for the diagnosis of small bowel diseases. The clinical performance and complications of small bowel CE, including completion rate, capsule retention rate, and indications, have been previously described in Korea. This study aimed at estimating the recent changes in clinical performance and complications of small bowel CE based on 17-year data from a Korean Capsule Endoscopy Registry. Methods: CE registry data from 35 hospitals were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical information, including completion rate, capsule retention rate, and indications, was collected and analyzed. In addition, the most recent 5-year data for CE examinations were compared with the previous 12-year data. Results: A total of 4,650 CE examinations were analyzed. The most common indication for CE was obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB). The overall incomplete examination rate was 16% and the capsule retention rate was 3%. Crohn’s disease was a risk factor for capsule retention. Inadequate bowel preparation was significantly associated with capsule retention and incomplete examination. An indication other than OGIB was a risk factor for incomplete examination. A recent increasing trend of CE diagnosis of Crohn’s disease was observed. The most recent 5-year incomplete examination rate for CE examinations decreased compared with that of the previous 12 years. Conclusions The 17-year data suggested that CE is a useful and safe tool for diagnosing small bowel diseases. The incomplete examination rate of CE decreased with time, and OGIB was consistently the main indication for CE. Inadequate bowel preparation was significantly associated with capsule retention and incomplete examination.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Magnetocardiography (MCG) is a noninvasive method for the registration of the magnetic component of electromagnetic fields in the heart that arise from electrical activity during the cardiac cycle. It has a theoretical advantage, over ECG, for the detection of coronary artery disease (CAD), mainly due to its higher sensitivity for local currents and better spatial resolution. However, its clinical value in the diagnosis of CAD, compared to other diagnostic tools, remains untested. The feasibility of MCG for detecting myocardial ischemia was studied. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Ninety three patients (54 male, 39 female) with chest pain were enrolled in this study. Patients with a pacemaker or other metal implants, as well as those in unstable conditions, were excluded. Coronary angiography was performed on all the patients, following ECG and MCG measurements, on the same day. Coronary artery disease was diagnosed when intraluminal narrowing was greater than 70%. The ECG and MCG findings were compared to those of the coronary angiography, which was used as the gold standard. RESULTS: Forty two patients were diagnosed with CAD by the coronary angiography. The sensitivities and specificities of MCG and ECG for detecting a CAD were 76.2 and 47.1%, and 38.1 and 86.3%, respectively. Seventy patients showed non-diagnostic ECG for CAD. The sensitivity and specificity of MCG for detecting a CAD in this group of patients were 69.2 and 52.3%, respectively. CONCLUSION: MCG is a novel noninvasive technique for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease, but further investigation for the optimization of the efficacy of this technology will be required.
Chest Pain ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Diagnosis ; Diagnostic Techniques, Cardiovascular ; Electrocardiography* ; Electromagnetic Fields ; Heart ; Humans ; Magnetocardiography* ; Male ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to integrate the results of studies assessing the association between chronic noise exposure and blood pressure. METHODS: Using a MEDLINE search with noise exposure, blood pressure and hypertension as key words, we retrieved articles from the literature that were published from 1980 to December 1999. The criteria for quality evaluation were as follows: 1) the study subjects must have been workers employed at a high noise level area 2) The paper should use average and cumulative noise exposure as method for exposure evaluation. 3) Blood pressure in each article should be reported in a continuous scale Among the 77 retrieved articles, six studies were selected for quantitative meta-analysis. Before the integration of the regression coefficients for the association between blood pressure and noise level, homogeneity tests were conducted. RESULTS: All studies were a cross-sectional design and the study subjects were industrial workers. Five papers used a time-weighted average for noise exposure and only one paper calculated the cumulative noise exposure level. The measurement of blood pressure in the majority of studies were accomplished in a resting state, and used an average of two or more readings. The homogeneity of studies was rejected in a fixed effect model, so we used the results in a random effect model. The results of the quantitative meta-analysis, the weighted regression coefficient of noise associated with systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure were 0.05 (95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.03, 0.13) and 0.06 (95% CI: -0.01, 0.13), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggested that chronic exposure to industrial noise does not cause elevated blood pressure.
Blood Pressure* ; Hypertension ; Noise* ; Reading