A case of isolated Crohn's disease of appendix is reported. It is a rare disease which commonly mimics the symptoms of acute appendicitis. Review of 221 identical cases previously reported in the world literature revealed slight male predominance(1.17:1) and peak age of incidence in the third decade(24.3 yrs). In contrast to typical Crohn's disease, the rate of postoperative fistula and recurrence was minimal; 1.0% and 3.8%, respectively. Due to these differences, many consider it to be a separate disease entity from Crohn, and a new diagnostic term - "Idiopathic Granulomatous Appendicitis" - has gained wide acceptance in recent years.
Appendicitis* ; Appendix* ; Crohn Disease* ; Fistula ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Rare Diseases ; Recurrence

BACKGROUND: There are many evidences that inflammation is an important determinant of the development of atherosclerosis and one of the systemic markers of inflammation, C-reactive protein(CRP), is associated with extent of coronary artery disease and risk of coronary events. We assessed the time response of CRP response after coronary angioplasty and it's influence on the clinical restenosis in angina patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients included 36 angina patients undergoing single vessel angioplasty. Levels of CRP were measured before and 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours after angioplasty. Clinical restenosis was assessed at 6 months after procedure. RESULTS: Baseline CRP level was 0.30+/-0.01 mg/dL in stable and 0.46+/-0.28 mg/dL in unstable angina patients(p<0.05). After angioplasty, CRP level was increased with peak at 24 hour and persisted to 72 hours after angioplasty. At 24 hour after angioplasty, the magnitude of CRP change was 0.32+/-0.31 mg/dL in stable and 0.79+/-0.73 mg/dL in unstable angina patient(p<0.05). The change of CRP level was not associated with troponin-T after angioplasty. In unstable angina patients, clinical restenosis was developed in 8% of patients with low baseline CRP levels and in 50% of those with high baseline CRP levels more than 0.6 mg/dL(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: In unstable angina patients, inflammatory response is more increased than stable angina patients, and increased inflammatory response effects on the restenosis after coronary angioplasty.
Angina, Stable ; Angina, Unstable ; Angioplasty* ; Atherosclerosis ; C-Reactive Protein* ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Troponin T

The 8 cases of left ventricular thrombus detected by the 2 D echocardiography or left ventriculography, after acute transmural anterior myocardial infarction were effectively lysed by the thrombolytic agents and heparin therapy. The thrombolytic agents were either urokinase or tissue plasminogen activator. Urokinase was infused intravenously at a dose of 1.0 million unit for three days. And tissue plasminogen activator was infused at a dose of 100mg for a day. In all cases, the thrombi were completely lysed. At follow up, no recurrence of left ventricular thrombus was found. We have experienced 2 cases of peripheral embolization in which, left ventricular thrombi were protruding nonmobile type. The one was the embolic cerebral infarction, the other was transient hoarseness and paresthesia on the left foot, which may be transient ischemic attack. These results show that left ventricular thrombi can be treated by intravenous thrombolytic agents without life-threatening complication. However, for the better establishment of the risk and benefit of therapy further investigation is needed.
Cerebral Infarction ; Echocardiography ; Fibrinolytic Agents ; Follow-Up Studies ; Foot ; Heparin ; Hoarseness ; Ischemic Attack, Transient ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Paresthesia ; Recurrence ; Thrombolytic Therapy* ; Thrombosis* ; Tissue Plasminogen Activator ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator

PURPOSE: Anterior vaginal wall sling operation (by Raz`s method )for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence(SUI) associated with intrinsic sphincter dysfunction(ISD) may produce postoperative suprapubic discomfort and suture related problem such as pull-through and loosening. Stabilization of the bladder neck to the pubic bone decreases the tension placed on the anterior rectus fascia and lessens the possibility of suture-related pain and the risk of entrapment of ilioinguinal neve branches. At present, bone anchoring system is available in Korea but its cost sometimes limit the use of the kit. Therfore, we developed self-made titanium screw which is anchored to pubic bone at the time of anterior vaginal wall sling operation and acquired good short-term results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Total 16 women who had SUI with ISD were treated by in-situ anterior vaginal wall sling using self-made titanium screw anchored to pubic bone to support the bladder neck and midurethra. Postoperative results were analyzed for 16 patients who has been followed up for more than 3 months after surgery. RESULTS: Overall cure rate was 100% at 3 months of follow-up. Complication included anemia in 2 patients, mild dysuria in 2 patients and osteitis pubis in 1 patient. After resting and antibiotic therapy, complications were subsided. CONCLUSIONS: In short term follow-up, anterior vaginal wall sling using self-made titanium screw was shown to be very effective treatment of SUI with ISD with simple technique and had relatively low cost, low complication rates. Long-term followup will be necessary to define the efficacy of this method.
Anemia ; Dysuria ; Fascia ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Korea ; Neck ; Osteitis ; Pubic Bone ; Suture Anchors ; Sutures ; Titanium* ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Incontinence*

BACKGROUND: Given the nature and chronicity of diabetes mellitus (DM), the role of self care and adequate patient education, in addition to the support of medical professional, is essential in its management. The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of positive messages and negative messages in DM education and to identify the superior method of motivation for self care behaviors. METHODS: A total of 99 DM patients (50 positive message group: 49 negative message group) at Gyeongsang National University Hospital participated in the study. The collected data were analyzed by Chi square and t-test. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the attitude of messages and in the attitude of self care behaviors between the positive and negative message group, though the negative message group had a significantly higher intention of self care behaviors than did the positive message group. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the negative messages are more effective than positive messages for increasing the intention of self care behaviors in patients with DM.
Diabetes Mellitus ; Humans ; Intention ; Motivation ; Patient Education as Topic ; Self Care

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to determine the efficacy of caudal epidural injection in relieving pseudoclaudication of patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. METHOD: Fifteen patients with a spinal stenosis which was confirmed by the magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) studies, received a caudal epidural steroid injection of triamcinolone acetate 120 mg, in a solution mixed with 2 ml of 1% lidocaine, and 15 ml of normal saline. RESULTS: The visual analogue scales checked at 1 hour prior to injection, 1 hour postinjection, and 1 month postinjection were 8.1+/-0.8, 3.7+/-1.7, and 6.4+/-1.9, respectively. The exercise tolerance on the treadmill with 0o ramp inclination and 1.8 km/h speed was measured at 1 hour prior to injection, 1 hour postinjection, and 1 month postinjection. The time intervals to the first symptom of the pseudoclaudication were 2.3+/-0.8 minutes, 6.5+/-0.7 minutes, and 4.6+/-1.9 minutes, respectively. CONCLUSION: In our study, the caudal epidural injection offered a significant short-term relief for the pseudoclaudication. Also it appeared to be a reasonable therapeutic option among patients with lumbar spinal stenosis after 1 month postinjection.
Architectural Accessibility ; Exercise Tolerance ; Humans ; Injections, Epidural* ; Lidocaine ; Spinal Stenosis* ; Triamcinolone ; Weights and Measures

No abstract available.
Adult* ; Humans ; Spondylolisthesis*

No abstract available.

We performed the same day dipyridamole stress/rest myocardial SPECT in 14 healthy young men, reconstructed the polar maps according to Cedars-Sinal method and quantitated the radioactivity of myocardial wall. We divided the whole myocardium to 9 sectors. The latero-anterior wall contains the highest count. The infero-septal wall contains the lowest count. There isn't any significant differences of radioactivity in each segment between stress and rest polar map. The hemodynamic parameters after dipyridamole injection in the subjects were significantly changed except systolic blood pressure : the heart rate was increased and diastolic blood pressure was decreased. Adverse effects were reported in 85.7%. We suggest that these data can be used to dectect perfusion defect in the coromary artery disease.
Arteries ; Blood Pressure ; Dipyridamole* ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Male ; Methods ; Myocardium ; Perfusion ; Radioactivity ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*

No abstract available.
Echocardiography, Transesophageal*