BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to analyze the relation between intramedullary high signal intensity (IMHS) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), radiographic parameters, and clinical symptoms in cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) patients. METHODS: Two hundred forty-one patients, who underwent simple radiography, computed tomography (CT), and MRI were included in the present study. As radiographic parameters, the OPLL occupying ratio and occupying area were measured on CT images. Dynamic factors were assessed by measuring cervical range of motion (ROM) on simple radiographs. Visual analog scale (VAS) for neck and arm pain, and Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores were evaluated for clinical analysis. The differences in radiographic and clinical findings were assessed between patients with IMHS on T2-weighted MRI findings (group A) and patients without IMHS (group B). RESULTS: Eighty-one patients were assigned to group A and 160 patients to group B. The occupying ratios were found to be higher in group A than in group B on both sagittal and axial views (p < 0.01). Group A also showed a higher area occupying ratio (p < 0.01). The length and area of underlying spinal canal on the sagittal and cross-sectional planes were lower in group A than in group B (p < 0.01). No significant difference in ROM was observed (p = 0.63). On the clinical findings, group A had a lower JOA score (p < 0.001), and no intergroup differences in VAS scores were observed. CONCLUSIONS: In cervical OPLL cases, IMHS on MRI was associated with manifestation of myelopathic symptom. Occupying ratio was associated with high signal intensity on MRI, whereas no association was found with ROM. Occurrence of high signal intensity increased inversely with the length and area of underlying spinal canal.
Adult ; Aged ; Cervical Vertebrae/*pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/*classification ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neck Pain ; Ossification of Posterior Longitudinal Ligament/*classification/*pathology ; Pain Measurement

PURPOSE: To evaluate the incidence and clinical features of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in Korea. METHODS: Web-based (www.armd-nova.or.kr) registration was conducted for AMD patients aged 50 or more who were newly diagnosed by retinal specialists in Korea from August 20, 2005 to August 20, 2006. Patient data including ophthalmologic examination, fundus photography, fluorescein angiogram and/or indocyanin green angiogram (ICG), past medical history, behavioral habit, combined systemic diseases were up-loaded. RESULTS: Among finally enrolled 1,141 newly diagnosed AMD patients, 690 patients (60.5%) were male and 451 patients (39.5%) were female. The average age of AMD patients was 69.7+/-8.0. Early AMD was observed in 190 patients and 951 patients had late AMD. Classic choroidal neovascular membrane (CNVM) was observed in 18.6% of exudative AMD patients and 63.4 % had occult CNVM. Subfoveal CNVM was observed in 80.4% of the patients with CNVM. Among the 580 exudative AMD eyes that performed indocyanin green angiography (ICG), 184 eyes (31.7%) had polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) and 36 eyes (6.2%) showed retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP). Age, male gender, smoking, diabetes and hypertension significantly increased the risk of the AMD among Koreans. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the low rate of participation by retinal specialists, definite incidence of AMD was not obtainable. However, the estimated 1-year AMD incidence in the Pusan area of Korea is at least 0.4%. In contrast to Western people, 31.7% of exudative AMD cases were revealed to be PCV and 6.2% were revealed to be RAP. This discrepancy between ethnic groups should be considered in the diagnosis and treatment modality selection of Korean AMD patients.
Aged ; Angiography ; Choroid ; Ethnic Groups ; Eye ; Female ; Fluorescein ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Korea ; Macular Degeneration ; Male ; Membranes ; Photography ; Retinaldehyde ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Specialization

PURPOSE: To prospectively investigate the change of clinical manifestations after 1 year of administration of anthocyanoside (Tagen-F(R)) to patients with NPDR-associated macular edema. METHODS: One hundred seventy-five eyes in 88 patients were enrolled in this study, at 5 centers, from March, 2005 to October, 2005. Patients took 3 capsules of Vaccinium myrtillus extract (170 mg/capsule, Tagen-F(R), Kukje pharmaceutical) per day. The primary endpoints were corrected visual acuity and contrast sensitivity which were checked at 2 months following the beginning of treatment [East 1]. The secondary endpoints were the number of hard exudates, microaneurysms, leaking points and the changes of foveal thickness. These were examined at the beginning of, 6 months after, and 12 months after treatment. RESULTS: Corrected visual acuity showed no significant changes during 12 months. Contrast sensitivity improved gradually, especially in 12, 16 cycles per degree [East 2]. There was no statistically significant changes in the numbers of hard exudates, microaneurysms, and leaking points. Foveal thickness measured by OCT was maintained and there was no aggravation of macular edema. CONCLUSIONS: There was marked improvement of contrast sensitivity in patients with NPDR after 1 year of administration of anthocyanoside (Tagen-F(R)), and it might contribute to the quality of vision and the satisfaction of patients. Visual acuity and macular edema were maintained without aggravation.
Anthocyanins ; Capsules ; Contrast Sensitivity ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Exudates and Transudates ; Eye ; Humans ; Macular Edema ; Prospective Studies ; Vaccinium myrtillus ; Vision, Ocular ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of repeated photodynamic therapy (PDT) for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in Korean patients. METHODS: Clinical data of patients who were treated with repeated (3 times or more) PDT for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization secondary to AMD and followed up for more than 6 months were collected from 17 hospitals around the country. Visual outcomes at 12 and 24 months, follow-up were compared between subtypes of choroidal neovascularization. The factors related to final visual prognosis and PDT-related adverse effects were evaluated. RESULTS: 244 patients (244 eyes) were recruited (male: 60%, age: 67.7+/-9.1 years). The portion of patients with predominantly classic, minimally classic, and occult without classic choroidal neovascularization was 57%, 13%, and 24%, respectively and that of patients with visual improvements or less than moderate visual loss at 24 months follow-up were 28%, 38%, 30% and 47%, 56%, and 65%, respectively. Baseline visual acuity and age were significantly related to the final visual prognosis (p<0.05). PDT-related adverse events developed in 15 (6.1%) patients, but most were mild and transient. CONCLUSIONS: Repeated PDT for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization secondary to AMD has effects comparable to those of previous prospective, controlled trials without any significant safety concerns in Korea.
Choroid* ; Choroidal Neovascularization* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Korea ; Macular Degeneration* ; Photochemotherapy* ; Prognosis ; Visual Acuity

Chemical burns onto oral mucosa which are infrequent, may result from contact with a wide variety of chemical agents. The degree of injury depends on the chemical, its concentration, duration of contact, and the natural penetrability and resistance of the tissues involved. Chemicals do not usually "burn" in that they do not cause destruction by hyperthermic activity. Rather, they damage tissue by causing coagulation of protein by one of several processes, reduction, oxidation, desiccation, corrosion, or vesication. Paraquat(Gramoxon) is the most frequently agricultural chemicals that induce the severe toxic reactions onto the organs of human body in Korea. The toxic reaction are composed of pulmonary edema and fibrosis, formation of hyaline membrane, inflammatory reaction and bleeding tendency, owing to the cell damage by the production of superoxide radicals. The contents of essential treatment in paraquat intoxication are commonly airway and breathing maintenance, gastric lavage, much hydration and diuresis, hemoperfusion and medications for the removal of the chemicals and the prevention of various complications. The sedative oral dressings, such as, orabase ointment application, warm saline gargling, lidocaine viscous gargling and oral gargling by the mixed solutions(tetracycline, prednisolone and 10% dextrose water) are important for the improvement of chemical oral mucositis and the comfortable feeding of diet. The authors managed properly two cases of oral chemical mucositis that were occurred by the incorrect use of agricultural chemicals(paraquat) and report the cases with the review of literatures about care of the chemical intoxication and oral mucositis.
Agrochemicals ; Bandages ; Blister ; Burns, Chemical* ; Corrosion ; Desiccation ; Diet ; Diuresis ; Fibrosis ; Gastric Lavage ; Glucose ; Hemoperfusion ; Hemorrhage ; Human Body ; Hyalin ; Korea ; Lidocaine ; Membranes ; Mouth Mucosa ; Mucositis ; Paraquat ; Prednisolone ; Pulmonary Edema ; Respiration ; Stomatitis* ; Superoxides