Reflex sympathetic dystrophy(RSD) defines as a chronic pain syndrome with sympathetic manifestations that afflicts individuals who haute suffered a trauma to the hand. Persistent pain and dysfunctions of the hand are frequently overlooked by the surgeons. The exact pathophysiology of RSD is not known but severity of injury and prolonged immobilization of the joints are considered as resonable causes on the retrospective studies. The diagnosis of reflex sympathetic dystrophy is based on clinical manifestations, simple X-ray and three-phase bone scan. Confirmative diagnosis absolutely depends on the presence of a diffusely abnormal pattern of uptake in phase III in a patient haying pain with underlying cause and strong clinical signs of sympathetic overactivities. As with most disease processes, early diagnosis and treatment is a goal of management of RSD. Surgical restoration of anatomical structures such as tendon, nerve and joint goes ahead of any kind of procedures and it made the VAS pain score decrease from 7.8 to 3.4 in 16 patients. Also, decrease of pain could be achievable with sympathetic or stellate ganglion block with steroid medication. Active physical therapy after surgery is also verb helpful to functional recovery of the hands. Once the appropriate diagnosis is made, combined therapy composed of surgical restoration of anatomical structure, physiotherapy and steroid medication with sympathetic block will be free from pain and produce early functional recovery.
Chronic Pain ; Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Hand Injuries* ; Hand* ; Humans ; Immobilization ; Joints ; Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy* ; Reflex* ; Retrospective Studies ; Stellate Ganglion ; Tendons

No abstract available.
Animals ; Histamine Release* ; Histamine* ; Mast Cells* ; Rats*

In order to assess the biocompatibility of domestic dynamic compression plates and screws manufactured at KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technclogy), hematological, serological, histological, and metallurgical studies were carried out on sixty rabbits through thirty-two weeks. The rabbits were divided into two groups, group I: thirty rabbits for KAIST plates and screws, group II: thirty rabbits for Osteo plates and screws. The plate and screws were fixed on the fixed tibial shaft. All the resulg of hematological, serological, histological, and metallurgical study revealed that there were no meaningful differences between the two groups. This, in fact, enco.urages us to use domestic KAIST plates and screws clinically and to develop more complicated designs including total joint replacement system.
Animal Experimentation ; Animals ; Joints ; Rabbits ; Stainless Steel

No abstract available.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Female ; Mammaplasty* ; Mastectomy*

BACKGROUND: Angiogenesis is crucial for many biological processes such as embryogenesis, cyclic changes in the endometrium and wound healing. It is also critical for the growth, invasion and metastasis of solid tumors. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) acts as a mitogen for endothelial cells and is expressed by the presence of various tumor cells. The objective of this study is to evaluate if angiogenesis is involved in the mouse skin carcinogenesis and if VEGF is related to angiogenesis. METHODS: We induced premalignant and malignant lesions on mouse (BALB/c) skin using the two stage chemical carcinogenesis moedl, DMBA (7,12-dimethylbenzanthracene) initiation and TPA (tetra decanoyl-phorbol-acetate) promotion. And we analysed the microvessel densities (MVD) and expression of VEGF in various stages of premalignant and malignant lesions by immunohistochemical studies. RESULTS: Squamous papillomas, keratoacanthoma, dermatofibroma, and squamous cell carcinomas were developed in 20 weeks. There were no differences in the incidence of benign and malignant tumors between 10-week and 20-week promotion groups. There were significant increases in MVD from normal and hyperplastic skin through premalignant lesion to invasive squamous cell carcinoma (p<0.0005). But the degree of VEGF expression neither correlated with neither MVD nor the tumor groups. CONCLUSIONS: Increased angiogenesis begins from the hyperplastic stage. VEGF produced by tumor cells may not play major roles in the angiogenesis in the two stage chemical carcinogenesis model of the mouse skin.
9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene ; Animals ; Biological Processes ; Carcinogenesis* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Embryonic Development ; Endometrium ; Endothelial Cells ; Female ; Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous ; Incidence ; Keratoacanthoma ; Mice* ; Microvessels ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Papilloma ; Pregnancy ; Skin* ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A* ; Wound Healing

A new hypolipidemic drug, pravastatin, hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor was administered to 33 patients with primary hyperlipidemia, 10mg daily for 8 weeks and sequential changes of lipid profile were analysed as follows. 1) Mean value at baseline period of total cholesterol, triglyceride, high and low density lipoprotein cholesterol were 260, 220, 51 and 163mg/dl respectively. 2) Total cholesterol showed 21% decrease at the end of 8 weeks and that of LDL-cholesterol were 30%. 3) Triglyceride decreased 16% at the end of 8 weeks and increment of HDL-cholesterol was 8% at the end of 8 weeks. 4) No serious side reactions were observed except one patient, who showed generalized skin rash which last 3 days and did not prevent further medication. In conclusion, pravastatin is a safe and useful hypolipidemic agent for the patient with primary hyperlipidemia.
Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Coenzyme A ; Exanthema ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias* ; Oxidoreductases ; Pravastatin* ; Triglycerides

No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans ; Poisoning*

Crescentic glomerulonephritis in rheumatoid arthritis is described recently with increasing frequency. It can occur directly as a manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis or may be a reaction to drugs such as D-penicillamine and bucillamine. We report a case of crescentic glomerulonephritis in a 46-year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis for 20 years who had been treated intermittently with herb medicine or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). Light microscopic examination showed severe focal segmental and global necrotizing glomerulonephritis with crescent formation in 50% of the glomeruli. Immunofluorescent study revealed scanty amount of mesangial granular deposits of IgA, IgM, C3 and fibrinogen in a diffuse pattern.
Female ; Humans

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate bradycardia as an adverse effect after administration of dexmedetomidine during 33degrees C target temperature management. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on patients who underwent 33degrees C target temperature management in the emergency department during a 49-month study period. We collected data including age, sex, weight, diagnosis, bradycardia occurrence, target temperature management duration, sedative drug, and several clinical and laboratory results. We conducted logistic regression for an analysis of factors associated with bradycardia. RESULTS: A total of 68 patients were selected. Among them, 39 (57.4%) showed bradycardia, and 56 (82.4%) were treated with dexmedetomidine. The odds ratio for bradycardia in the carbon monoxide poisoning group compared to the cardiac arrest group and in patients with higher body weight were 7.448 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.834-30.244, p = 0.005) and 1.058 (95% CI 1.002-1.123, p = 0.044), respectively. In the bradycardia with dexmedetomidine group, the infusion rate of dexmedetomidine was 0.41 +/- 0.15 microg/kg/h. Decisions of charged doctor's were 1) slowing infusion rate and 2) stopping infusion or administering atropine for bradycardia. No cases required cardiac pacing or worsened to asystole. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the frequent occurrence of bradycardia after administration of dexmedetomidine during 33degrees C target temperature management, bradycardia was completely recovered after reducing infusion rate or stopping infusion. However, reducing the infusion rate of dexmedetomidine lower than the standard maintenance dose could be necessary to prevent bradycardia from developing in patients with higher body weight or carbon monoxide poisoning during 33degrees C targeted temperature management.
Atropine ; Body Weight ; Bradycardia* ; Carbon Monoxide Poisoning ; Dexmedetomidine* ; Diagnosis ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Heart Arrest ; Humans ; Hypothermia, Induced ; Logistic Models ; Odds Ratio ; Retrospective Studies

No abstract available.
Knee* ; Popliteal Artery*