Diagnostic Value of Plain Abdominal Radiography in Stroke Patients With Bowel Dysfunction

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic value of plain abdominal radiography in stroke patients with bowel dysfunction. METHODS: A total of 59 stroke patients were recruited and assigned into constipation or non-constipation group. Patients were interviewed to obtain clinical information, constipation score, and Bristol stool form scale. The total and segmental colon transit time (CTT) was measured using radio-opaque markers (Kolomark). The degree of stool retention was evaluated by plain abdominal radiography and scored by two different methods (Starreveld score and Leech score). The relationship between the clinical aspects, CTT, and stool retention score using plain abdominal radiography was determined. RESULTS: Average constipation score was 4.59+/-2.16. Average Bristol stool form scale was 3.86+/-1.13. The total and segmental CTTs showed significant differences between the constipation and non-constipation groups. There was statistically significant (p<0.05) correlation between the total CTT and constipation score or between Starreveld score and Leech score. Each segmental CTT showed significant correlation (p<0.05) between segmental stool retention scores. CONCLUSION: The stool retention score showed significant correlation with constipation score as well as total and segmental CTT. Thus, plain abdominal radiography is a simple and convenient method for the evaluation of bowel dysfunction in stroke patients.

Influence of Cellular Phone Videos and Games on Dry Eye Syndrome in University Students

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to investigate influence of cellular phone videos and games on dry eye syndrome in university students. METHODS: A randomized comparison group pre-post design is used. Sixty university students were randomly assigned to either a video or a game group. Frequencies of blinking, dry eye symptoms scores and amounts of tears were measured. Thirty subjects watched cellular phone video programmes and the other 30 subjects played cellular phone games for 61 minutes. In addition, frequencies of blinking were measured three times during treatment, once immediately after a treatment and twice at an interval of 20 minutes after subsequent treatments. RESULTS: Post-test scores of frequencies of blinking significantly decreased, dry eye symptoms scores including amounts of tears significantly increased greater than pre-test scores in both groups. But there were no significant differences between the groups. Frequencies of blinking were significantly different with respect to the time spent using cellular phone. In both groups, the lowest frequencies of blinking were shown after 40 minutes of cellular phone use. CONCLUSION: This study shows that using cellular phone has negative influence on dry eye syndrome and eyes require a resting period after cellular phone use over 40 minutes.

Multiorgan With Renal Infarction Following Treatment of Cerebral Infarction

Acute renal infarction is a rare disease and it is often difficult to make a clinical diagnosis due to the non-specific clinical presentations and lack of the physicians' awarenesses. We experienced a case of a 72-year-old man who was diagnosed as multiorgan with renal infarction during the bridge therapy of cerebral infarction with atrial fibrillation. Computed tomogram (CT) with intravenous contrast of the abdomen and pelvis revealed left renal infarction with renal artery occlusion, multifocal splenic infarction, and ischemic colitis on rectum and sigmoid colon. The patient was treated with low molecular weight heparin for 10 days, his symptoms were improved and laboratory findings were normalized. Follow-up CT was performed on the 43th day, there were persisted left renal infarction with atrophic change shown and the splenic perfusion was improved.