The incidence of myocardial ischemia and silent myocardial infarction are higer in diabetic than in nondiabetic patients. We had a case of a disbetic, myocardial ischemic female patient, 54years old, who had cardiac arrest during an emergency surgery. The patient was admitted via emergency room with the diagnosis of rupture of basilar artery aneurysm. During the dissection for the exposure of the artery. The aneurysm ruptured. causing massive hemorrhage. At this time, cardiac arrest was revealed at the monitoring EKG, cardiopulmonary resuscitation with DC shock were performed to reverse venticular fibriliation but the EKG monitor showed T wave inversion and sinus tachycardia in several leads. And the blood pressure was hardly audible with systolic of about 50mmHg. So nitroglycerin 0.05mg, intravenous bolus injection was given twice and the systolic went up to 110mmHg with a diastolic of 80mmHg. So the operation proceeded and finished. The patient was sent to the ICU. On the third postoperative day, the patient again had cardiac arrest but this time could not be resuscitated. We experienced the dramatic effect of nitroglycerin on this ischemic patient during cardio pulmonary resuscitation and we would like to share this experience with our colleagues.
Aneurysm ; Arteries ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation* ; Diagnosis ; Electrocardiography ; Emergencies ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Female ; Heart Arrest ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Nitroglycerin* ; Rupture ; Shock ; Tachycardia, Sinus

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to analyze the outcomes of patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) of the stomach who were treated in our hospital. MATENRIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively studied 31 patients who were treated for primary gastrointestinal stromal tumors of the stomach from 1990 to 1999 at Korea University Guro Hospital. Clinical characteristics, including age, sex and tumor size were analyzed. In addition, the relation between the 5-year survival rate and tumor size, operative procedure, and malignancy were analyzed to identify the factors that predict survival. RESULTS: The malignant GISTs were 11 cases, borderline GISTs were 2 cases, and benign GISTs were 18 cases. The overall 5-year cumulative survival rate of the patients was 84.6%, and the 5-year survival rates according to malignancy were 100% for benign and borderline GISTs and 78.1% for malignant GISTs, p=0.1119. The 5-year survival rates according to tumor size were 100% for tumor sizes smaller than 5 cm and 78.4% for tumor sizes larger than 5 cm, p=0.0453. The 5-year survival rate according to lymph node dissection during operative procedure of malignant GISTs was not significant statistically. CONCLUSION: GISTs of the stomach are infrequently encountered tumors. Tumor size was the most important factor for predicting survival in a clinical situation, and performing a complete resection of the tumor, especially tumors larger than 5 cm, will improve the outcome of treatment.
Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors* ; Humans ; Korea ; Lymph Node Excision ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach* ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; Survival Rate

BACKGROUND: Periampullary cancer is a relatively common malignancy, and its incidence is increasing. Prognosis in these patients depends upon resection of the tumor because surgery is the only effective treatment for irradicating the disease. There has, therefore, been a renewed interest in the role of serological markers early diagnostic tools for periampullary cancer. The potential role of serological markers is not limited only to early detection, but may also be of assistance in the difficult clinical dilemma of differentiating periampullary cancer from other diseases. Furthermore, serological markers of periampullary cancer might be used in follow-up patients after treatment, particularly after surgical resection, in order to select those with minimal disease likely to respond better to adjuvant treatment and/or radiotherapy. METHODS: From March 1989 to May 1997, 54 patients were admitted to Sanggye Paik Hospital, InJe University, and had pathologically confirmed periampullary cancer. Of those, 28 patients underwent a biliary bypass or a drainage procedure [Group I], and the others received resection procedures (Whipple's operation or pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy)[Group II]. Preoperative and postoperative serum levels of bilirubin, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and carbohydrate antigen 19-9(CA19-9) were measured in all patients. We evaluated the relation of the postoperative increase or decrease in those tumor markers to survival, and we discuss the usefulness of those markers as prognostic indicators in periampullary cancer. In this study, we focused on the changes in the CEA and the CA19-9 levels as function of the serum bilirubin concentration change. RESULTS: The bilirubin, CEA, and CA19-9 concentrations decreased significantly in Groups I and II after operation. The correlation between the decreases of the bilirubin and the CEA levels was statistically significant, but that between the bilirubin and CA19-9 had no statistical significance, in spite of the fact that the preoperative and the postoperative tumor marker concentrations had changed markedly. The reason for the statistical insignificance of the CA19-9 result may be the its relatively small sample size and the wide standard variation. The overall median and mean survival time of Group I were 4 months and 11 months, respectively, and those of Group II were 17 months and 21 months. CONCLUSION: We found that the serum the CEA and the CA19-9 levels could be used as a useful prognostic indicator change according to the serum bilirubin concentration even after a biliary drainage procedure and a biliary bypass. We conclude that various biliary bypass and drainage procedures can be effective treatments in periampullary cancer. However, because it is thought that many tumor markers are greatly affected by hyperbilirubinemia, liver dysfunction or cholestasis, further studies of the exact mechanism for the decrease or the increase in the tumor marker level as a function of the serum bilirubin concentration are mandatory. Precise information obtained by using multivariate analysis of large samples is essential for more accurate evaluation.
Biomarkers, Tumor ; Bilirubin* ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; Cholestasis ; Drainage* ; Humans ; Hyperbilirubinemia ; Incidence ; Liver Diseases ; Multivariate Analysis ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy* ; Prognosis ; Pylorus* ; Radiotherapy ; Sample Size ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVES: Posttraumatic stress disorder(PTSD) has been primarily associated with emotional problems. Recently, however, the impact of PTSD on cognitive processes has interested a growing number of researchers. The current study is aimed at investigating the cognitive aspects of PTSD at both behavioral and neurological levels. METHODS: We recruited individuals with PTSD who survived the Daegu subway explosion in 2003 as well as non-PTSD individuals as a control group. To evaluate the inhibitory processes and the neural mechanisms, we had these individuals perform the negative priming task simultaneously with functional MRI scanning. RESULTS: Behaviorally, the negative priming effect was intact in the control group but was not evident in the PTSD group. In the imaging results, only the PTSD group showed the negative priming effect (i.e., increased activation of the negative priming condition as opposed to the neutral condition) in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, and inferior temporal gyrus. The PTSD group also showed increased activity for the positive priming condition as opposed to the neutral condition in the claustrum. These results confirm and extend the previous findings that the integrity of the ACC is compromised in the trauma survivors due to disrupted white matter tract. CONCLUSIONS: The current results suggest that deteriorated performance of the PTSD group may be due to the functional problem as well as the structural abnormalities.
Basal Ganglia ; European Continental Ancestry Group ; Explosions ; Gyrus Cinguli ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Magnetics ; Magnets ; Prefrontal Cortex ; Railroads ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic ; Survivors

PURPOSE: We evaluated the effect of cable fixation of the lesser trochanter for treating unstable intertrochanter fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, we assessed the availability of cable fixation of the lesser trochanter and the cause of complications in a series of 47 unstable intertrochanteric femoral fractures that were seen between February 2001 to May 2008 at our hospital. The fractures were classified using the Evans-Jensen classification system. The lesser trochanters were fixed in 21 cases. The correlations between the lag screw position, comminution of the fracture site and the radiological results were studied. Nonunion was diagnosed if patients experienced pain and the radiographs revealed a persistent, radiolucent defect at the fracture site 6 months after fracture fixation. RESULTS: Union was observed in 43 cases (91.5%). The average union time was 3.75 months. Nonunion was observed in 4 cases (8.5%) 1 in group l and 3 in group ll. The average sliding distance of the lag screw was 8.76 mm. In groups l and ll, the distance was 4.92 mm and 12.45 mm, respectively. Excessive sliding, which was defined as more than 15mm, developed in 9 cases, and 7 of these 9 cases were in group ll. The average neck-shaft angle change was 1.28degrees and 5.81degrees, respectively. CONCLUSION: Additional cable fixation of the lesser trochanter for treating intertrochanter fractures, including large posteromedial fragments, is recommended for preventing the excessive sliding of lag screws and varus deformity.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Femoral Fractures ; Femur ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies

3degrees).CONCLUSION: This study evaluated the amount of horizontal relapse, and the degree of relapse. Stable results were obtained. Although there was no statistical significance between the degree of openbite and the amount of horizontal relapse, the group with a greater amount of openbite had a greater amount of relapse.]]>
Genioplasty ; Humans ; Malocclusion ; Mandible ; Open Bite ; Organothiophosphorus Compounds ; Orthognathic Surgery ; Recurrence

The advent and wide use of antibiotics have decreased the incidence of deep neck infection. When a deep neck infection does occur, however, it can be the cause of significant morbidity and death, resulting in airway obstruction, mediastinitis, pericarditis, epidural abscesses, and major vessel erosion. In our clinic, a patient with diffuse chronic osteomyelitis of mandible and fascial space abscess and necrotic fasciitis due to odontogenic infection at the time of first visit came. We successfully treated the patient by early diagnosis using contrast-enhanced CT and follow up dressing through the appropriate use of radiographic images.
Abscess ; Airway Obstruction ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bandages ; Early Diagnosis ; Epidural Abscess ; Fasciitis ; Fasciitis, Necrotizing ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mandible ; Mediastinitis ; Neck ; Osteomyelitis ; Pericarditis ; Porphyrins

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Toxocariasis rarely causes a liver abscess. We assessed clinical and laboratory manifestations as well as therapeutic responses in patients with toxocariasis presenting as a liver abscess. METHODS: Fourteen patients with toxocariasis presenting as a liver abscess were analyzed retrospectively. Symptoms, occupational history, dietary habits, contact with pets, allergic disease, peripheral eosinophil count, serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) level, and invasion to other organs were evaluated. After treatment with albendazole, follow-up was conducted with abdominal computed tomography (CT) and the measurement of serum eosinophil and IgE levels. RESULTS: Among 568 patients with a liver abscess, 14 were diagnosed with active toxocariasis. The mean age of the patients was 48 years, and nine (64%) were men. Four (28.6%) patients had pain in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen or epigastric area, one had cough, and the others (64.3%) had no symptom. Pulmonary involvement was noted in five patients and colon involvement in one. Six (42.9%) patients had a recent history of eating raw meat. Initial laboratory findings showed increased eosinophil and IgE levels in all patients. The initial CT showed one or multiple ill-defined, hypodense lesions in the liver. After 1 month of albendazole treatment, eosinophil counts were normalized or had decreased in 13 (93%) patients. On follow-up CT, liver abscesses disappeared within 6 months after therapy in 92% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Symptoms, laboratory findings, and treatment of a liver abscess caused by toxocariasis differ from those of a pyogenic liver abscess. Early serologic testing may increase diagnostic yield and efficacy of treatment in patients with a liver abscess and peripheral eosinophilia.
Abdomen ; Albendazole ; Colon ; Cough ; Eating ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils ; Follow-Up Studies ; Food Habits ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulins ; Liver ; Liver Abscess ; Liver Abscess, Pyogenic ; Male ; Meat ; Retrospective Studies ; Serologic Tests ; Toxocariasis

BACKGROUND: Conservative management for the trigger fingers includes splinting, steroid injection and other adjuvant methods. If conservative treatment fails, a surgical release of the A1 pulley is offered. Although the success rate of the surgical intervention is high, the complications, for example, a digital nerve injury, bowstringing, infection and continued triggering, have been reported. Percutaneous release with an 18 guage needle has been reported as a safe and effective procedure for the trigger fingers. This study evaluates the safety and efficacy of the percutaneous release. METHODS: 33 patients received the percutaneous release of the A1 pulley with an 18 guage needle and steroid injection (Group A) and 36 patients did the only administration of steroid as a control group (Group B). Patients were examined with a clinical staging for the Watanabe stage (W stage) and 0-10 points verbal numerical rating scale (VNRS) score at 1 week, 3 months, 1 year after the initial treatment. RESULTS: After 1 year of the follow-up, 93.5% in the group A and 57.6% in the group B had complete release of the trigger fingers in the W stage. VNRS after the initial treatment demonstrated that the decrement of the pain score was more significant in the group A. CONCLUSIONS: We need to consider the percutaneous release with steroid injection at an early stage of the trigger fingers because of the more effective resolution of the symptoms and the better long-term prognosis than a steroid injection alone.
Fingers ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Needles ; Prognosis ; Splints

BACKGROUND: HIV-1 p24 antigen assay is useful for the detection of circulating viruses, and infection prior to seroconversion. However, circulating HIV-1 p24 antigen may be complexed with HIV antibody and prevent it from being detected by antigen capture assay. To detect HIV-1 p24 antigen in the specimen, it is necessary to dissociate immune complexes and confirm the presence of HIV-1 p24 antigen after the neutralization with the specific antibody. METHODS: We tested 32 sera from HIV-1 infected persons who were diagnosed from 1987 tO1996 in Korea for HIV-1 p24 antigen by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA.) with or without the dissociation of immune complexes. And we confirmed the antigen assay results by the neutralization with HIV-1 specific antibody as a confirmatory test. We also calculated the concentration of HIV-1 p24 antigen in each specimen. RESULTS: Eleven of 32 sera tested were initially positive for HIV-1 p24 antigen. After the dissociation of immune complexes for 29 sera except two of which signal/cutoff ratios were higher than 7.0 and except one which was not enough for the assay,13 were shown to be positive for HIV-1 p24 antigen and their signal/cutoff ratios were increased by 10 times. Five of antigen negative cases were turned to be positive after the immune complex dissociation. After neutralization with HIV-1specific p24 antibody for sera of 13 which were positive for HIV-1 p24 antigen with or without the immune complex dissociation, all were shown to be neutralized. We have observed more than 90% neutralization reduction for 12 sera and more than 50% less than 90% for one. The average concentration of HIV-1 p24 antigen was8.76pg/ml by antigen assay and was increased to 76.81~g/m~ after immune complex dissociation. CONCLUSION: We concluded that the sensitivity and the specificity of HIV-1 p24 antigen assay could be increased by dissociation of the immune complexes and neutralization with the specific antibody.
Antigen-Antibody Complex* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; HIV ; HIV-1* ; Humans ; Korea* ; Sensitivity and Specificity