No abstract available.
Amphibians* ; HIV* ; Humans* ; Oocytes*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The role of Helicobacter pylori in bile reflux gastritis (BRG) is uncertain. We show the role of H. pylori and pathology in BRG. METHODS: Thirty seven patients, including 5 patients who had undergone subtotal gastrectomy, were diagnosed with BRG by gastroscopic findings of bile-stained mucosa with hyperemia/ erosions. We measured total bile acid (TBA) concentration and compared the H. pylori positivity between BRG patients and 70 non-BRG patients. We showed how often we could see the pathologic findings of reactive gastritis in BRG and compared the grade of lymphoplasma cell and neutrophil infiltration between H. pylori positive and negative group in BRG. RESULTS: TBA concentration of 10 patients was 7,376.7+/-5,482.6micro mol/L. H. pylori positive rate of BRG was 45.9% and that of non-BRG was 70% (p=0.015). The gastric pit elongation and tortuosity were found only in 3 cases with gastric surgery. The grade of lymphoplasma cell and neutrophil infiltration was 2.41+/-0.51 and 1.88+/-0.86 in H. pylori positive BRG and 1.55+/-0.69 and 0.55+/-0.76 in H. pylori negative BRG, respectively (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: H. pylori infection in BRG was lower than that in non-BRG. The gastric pit elongation and tortuosity of BRG were not seen often. The lymphoplasma cell and neutrophil infiltration were relatively sparse in H. pylori negative BRG.
Bile Reflux* ; Bile* ; Duodenogastric Reflux ; Gastrectomy ; Gastritis* ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Humans ; Mucous Membrane ; Neutrophil Infiltration ; Pathology

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the frequency of gut inflammation in the ankylosing spondylitis and the role of gut lesion in the pathogenesis of the ankylosing spondylitis. METHODS: Ileocolonoscopy and biopsy were performed in 24 patients with. ankylosing spondylitis. RESULTS: 1) Endoscopic lesions were observed in 7 patients(29.2%) of 24 patients and more often in the terminal ileum(6/7) than in the colon(I/7). Among 7 patients with endoscopic lesions, 5 patients were presented as juvenile chronic arthritis. 2) Histologic signs of gut inflammation were detected in 14 patients(58. 3%). Actue lesions were seen in 2 patients (8. 3%) and chronic lesions were seen in 12 patients (50%). 3) In 12 patients without the involvement of peripheral joints, acute lesion was not seen(0%), and chronic lesions were seen in 6 patients(50%). In 12 patients with the involvement of peripheral joints, acute lesions were seen in 2 patients (16.7%), and chronic lesions were seen in 6 patients(50%). Gut inflammations were more frequent in patients with the involvement of peripheral joints than in those without the involvement of peripheral joints. 4) In 12 patients without the administration of sulfasalazine, acute lesion was not seen(0%), and chronic lesions were seen in 7 patients(58.7%) In 12 patients with the administration of sulfasalazine, acute lesions were seen in 2 patients (16.7%), and chronic lesions were seen in 5 patients(41.6%). The frequency of gut lesions in patients without the administration of sulfasalazine was not different from that in patients with the administration. of sulfasalazine (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Gut inflammation was frequently found in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Chronic gut inflammation could play a role in the pathogenesis of the ankylosing spondylitis.
Arthritis, Juvenile ; Biopsy ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Joints ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing* ; Sulfasalazine

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the factors which affect pulmonary function in shipyard workers in order to build a body of basic information that can be used to prevent and manage pulmonary disorders in the future. METHODS: We studied the respiratory symptoms, smoking history, chest radiographies, and pulmonary functions of 793 workers associated with two shipyards from April 2009 to July 2009. The workers were subdivided into 3 groups by job type: welders, grinders, and machinist-managers. The data was analyzed according to job type and other possible impact factors. RESULTS: Significant differences among job type were seen with dyspnea and coughing during working hours and in the morning. In pulmonary functions, there were significant differences in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), peak expiratory flow (PEF), and maximal mid-expiratory flow (MMEF) (except FEV1/FVC%) among job types. Grinders especially showed significantly lower figures in the indices of FEV1, FVC, and MMEF. CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary function was significantly lower in grinders. Grinders seem to be affected by exposure to a combination of dust particles (silica, lead, and manganese) and irritant gases in the workplace. These results suggested that workers and health officials should work together to adopt technical preventive measures, such as having well- ventilated work areas and appropriate respiratory protective devices.
Cough ; Dust ; Dyspnea ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Gases ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Respiratory Protective Devices ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Thorax ; Vital Capacity ; Welding

BACKGROUND: Multiple studies have reported that allografts are acceptable alternatives to autografts for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructions. Our clinical practice allows patient involvement in graft decision-making. This study examined the patients' preference for graft selection and the factors affecting their decision. METHODS: Patients scheduled to undergo an ACL reconstruction surgery (n = 129) at a university medical center in Korea were enrolled in this study. Information leaflets with graft descriptions were provided prior to hospital admission, and the patients were allowed to choose one of two surgical graft types. The patients were asked to complete a questionnaire that reflected their decision-making processes, and the patients' trends and factors affecting their choice of graft were analyzed based on their responses. RESULTS: Most patients (54.3%) selected autografts for the ACL reconstruction. The surgeon's explanation was the most important factor affecting the final patient decision followed by the information derived from Internet searches. Patients who derived the majority of their understanding of the graft types from the Internet chose allografts at significantly higher rates. CONCLUSIONS: Patient graft selection is a reasonable way of designating the type of surgical procedure. Most patients selected autografts for their ACL reconstruction. However, patients who performed significant Internet-based research tended to prefer allografts.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament/*surgery ; Choice Behavior ; Female ; Humans ; Internet ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Patient Education as Topic ; *Patient Preference ; Questionnaires ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Tendons/*transplantation ; *Transplantation, Autologous ; *Transplantation, Homologous ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are more likely to experience certain urinary symptoms. The aims of this study were to investigate the association between lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and IBS, and to determine their impact on the quality of life. METHODS: E-mails were sent to 23,594 men who were registered at an internet survey company. Subjects were requested to fill out the questionnaires regarding IBS and LUTS assessed by the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS). RESULTS: Among 601 subjects (mean age, 35.5+/-8.4) included in the final analysis, 118 (19.6%) fulfilled the Rome II criteria for the diagnosis of IBS. The total mean IPSS of IBS subjects was 9.6, which was significantly higher than the 7.0 of non-IBS subjects (p<0.01). When IPSS was subcategorized into mild, moderate, and severe symptom categories, the proportions with the moderate and severe symptoms among IBS subjects were 33.9% and 13.6% respectively, which were significantly higher than those of non-IBS subjects; (26.9 and 5.2%) (p<0.01). In multivariate analysis, statistically significant association was found between IBS and moderate to severe LUTS (OR, 1.91; 95% CI, 1.27-2.88). IBS subjects also showed a poorer quality of life score than non-IBS subjects (2.24 vs. 1.65, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: LUTS in adult men with IBS are more severe and have a more negative impact on the quality of life than in non-IBS subjects.
Adult ; Age Factors ; Humans ; Internet ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome/complications/*diagnosis ; Male ; Male Urogenital Diseases/complications/*diagnosis ; Middle Aged ; Quality of Life ; Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: Angina with normal coronary angiogram has been called syndrome X or microvascular angina, but pathophysiologic mechanisms for chest patin in this group of patients are not known exactly. To observe the changes of left ventricular function in patients with angina and normal coronary angiogram, the authors analyzed the left ventricular systolic and diastolic function with echocardiogram and cardiac catheterization. METHODS: The authors performed resting and treadmill exercise electrocardiogram, 201TI dipyridamole scan, M-mode and Doppler echocardiogram, cardiac catheterization and coronary angiogram in patients with angina and normal coronary angiogram. The systolic and diastolic left ventricular function indices from M-mode and Doppler echocardiogram, left ventricular catheterization and coronary angiogram were analyzed in 12 patients excluding diabetes, hypertension, cardiomyopathy and esophageal motility disorders among 1626 patients who underwent coronary angiogram between Jan. 1991 and Aug. 1992 in Chonnam University Hospital. RESULTS: 1) Studied subjects were 12 patients, 5 male and 7 female, mean age was 51+/-9.4 year-old. Resting electrocardiograms were normal in 8 cases and ST-T changes in 4 cases. Ischemic ST-T changes were observed in all cases during treadmill exericise test and perfusion defects in 3 cases out of 8 cases during 201TI dipyridamole scan. 2) On echocardiogram, ejection fraction(EF) was 68.9+/-4.5%, fractional shortening(FS) 37.4+/-4.4%, ratio of left atrial to aortic root dimension(LAD/AOD) 1.2+/-0.1, OR slope 3.8+/-0.8c,/sec, mitral valve Doppler E/A velocity ratio[E/A(V)] 0.9+/-0.2, mitral valve Doppler E/A area ratio[E/A(a)]1.3+/-0.3, early diastolic deceleration rate(EDDR) 4.3+/-1.3m/sec2, isovolumic relaxation time(IVRT) 96.2+/-15.7msec, isovolumic contraction time(IVCT) 38.1+/-9.1 msec and aortic valve Doppler peak flow velocity[Ao(V)] 0.8+/-0.2m/sec. EF, FS, IVCT and A(V) were normal. LAD/AOD and IVRT were increased, but E/A(V), E/A(a), OR slope and EDDR were decreased compared to normal subjects. 3) On cardiac catheterization and angiogram, mean left ventricular end-diastolic pressure was 15.3+/-5.1mmHg and ejection fraction by left ventriculogram 78.2+/-7.4%. There was no regional wall motion abnormality. CONCLUSION: Above results suggest that angina with normal coronary angiogram may be associated with impaired left ventricular diastolic function.
Aortic Valve ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Cardiomyopathies ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Deceleration ; Dipyridamole ; Electrocardiography ; Esophageal Motility Disorders ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Jeollanam-do ; Male ; Microvascular Angina ; Mitral Valve ; Perfusion ; Relaxation ; Thorax ; Ventricular Function, Left*

BACKGROUND: Diabetes is a major risk factor for restenosis and high mortality after percutaneous coronary intervention. The impact of coronary stenting on the clinical outcome of diabetic patients remains controversial. METHOD: The in-hospital and long-term clinical outcomes of 104 consecutive diabetic (60+/-8 year-old, 74 male) and age-matched 193 control (57+/-10 year-old, 162 male) patents underwent coronary stenting between January 1998 and March 1999 at Chonnam National University Hospital were compared. RESULTS: 1) Coronary stenting was successful in 98% of diabetic patients and 97% of non-diabetic patients. Post-procedural minimal luminal diameter (MLD) was not different between two groups(2.89+/-0.42 vs. 2.95+/-0.62 mm), but follow-up MLD was lower in diabetics than that in non-diabetics (1.70+/-0.96 vs. 2.05+/-0.72 mm, P < 0.05). 2) Restenosis rate on follow-up coronary angiograpy was not different between two groups (40.7% in diabetics and 32.0% in non-diabetics. 3) In-hospital outcome was not different between two groups. Long-term clinical follow-up (16+/-11 months) revealed higher overall major adverse cardiac events in diabetics than in non-diabetics (38.7 vs. 30.7 %, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Coronary stenting in diabetics can be performed with acceptable short-term results. However, long-term clinical outcome in diabetic patients was worse than in non-diabetics.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Jeollanam-do ; Mortality ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Phenobarbital ; Risk Factors ; Stents*

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery stent has been introduced recently to overcome major problems of percutaneous trausluminal coronary angioplasty(PTCA). To evaluate the success rate, complications and predictive factors associated with restenosis in coronary artery stenting, clinical analysis after coronary srtery stent was performed. METHODS: Sixteen patients who underwent coronary artery stent in Chonnam University Hospital beteen Apr. 1992 and Dec. 1993 were observed. The authors analyzed the stent dilivery success, rate complications and restenosis after follow-up coronary angiogram. RESULTS: 1) The palmaz-Schatz stents were implanted in 16 patients(12 male, 4 female, mean age : 53.3 years) and clinical diagnosis of patients were 7 myocardial infarction, 8 unstable angina and one stable angina. Stents were implanted in 10 cases of left anterior descending arteries and 6 cases of right coronary arteries. Three stents were implanted in a patient with long spiral dissection after middle right coronary artery PTCA, single stent was implanted in the other patients. 2) Stent delivery was successful in all cases, but acute stent thrombosis developed just after bail-out procedure for PTCA-induced intimal dissection in myocardial infarction patient who had multivessel lesion and intracoronary thrombus. Subacute stent thrombosis and major bleeding requiring transfusion were not documented. 3) On follow-up coronary angiogram in 10 patients, no restenosis observed in 5 right coronary arterial stents, but restenosis developed in 3 of 5 left anterior descending artery stents. Restenosis was observed in none of 4.0mm stents, two of six 3.5mm stents and one of two 3.0mm stents. 4) Stent restenosis was observed in 3 cases of positive201TI dipyridamole scan which was performed one month after coronary artery stenting. CONCLUSION: Coronary artery stent is a safe and effective in elective procedure. The restenosis rate after intracoronary stent is lower in right coronary artery than left anterior descending artery and larger stent.
Angina, Stable ; Angina, Unstable ; Arteries ; Coronary Vessels* ; Diagnosis ; Dipyridamole ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Jeollanam-do ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; Stents* ; Thrombosis

BACKGROUND: One of major limitations of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty(PTCA) is restenosis. The reliable factors predicting restenosis after successful PTCA might be important in the prevention and treatment of coronary restenosis after PTCA. METHODS: To see whether any of the clinical, angiographic. or procedural factors is likely coronary angiography due to recurrent ischemic symptoms and positive stress tests among 529 patients recived PTCA between Jul '90 and Sep '93 at the Chonnam University Hospital were analysed. RESULTS: 1) Follow-up coronary angiogram demonstrated restenosis in 67 patient(group A, 55.1+/-10.3 year, 58 male, 9 female) and no restenosis in 27 patients(group B, 55.4+/-10.3 year, 24 male, 3 female) demonstrating restenosis rate of 60.6% in this clinically suspicious group. 2) Age, sex, class and duration of angina, and clinical diagnosis were not different from each other between two groups. But the time interval from PTCA to follow-up angiogram was shorter in group A (5.3 +/-5.2 months) than in group B(9.1+/-5.6 months) and hypertension was more prevalent in group A (83.3%) than in group B(16.7%). 3) Angiographic findings such as AHA lesion types, lesion sites, TIMI flow, angulation, lesion length, branching lesion, dissection and residual stenosis were similar in two groups. But all of the eleven lesions with coronary artery calcification were found to develop restenosis. 4) As procedural factors, total ballon inflation time, the numbers of repeated inflations and maximal inflation pressure were not significantly different between two groups. CONCLUSION: Above results show that any single or combined clinical and angiographic findings except symptoms or signs suggesting myocardial ischemia, hypertension and coronary calcification could not predict the development of coronary restenosis ie the patients with shorter duration from PTCA to the clinical evidence suggestive of myocardial ischemia, hypertension and coronary calcification demonstrated by cineangiography were more likely to develop subsequent restenosis.
Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary* ; Cineangiography ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Restenosis ; Coronary Vessels ; Diagnosis ; Exercise Test ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Inflation, Economic ; Jeollanam-do ; Male ; Myocardial Ischemia