Nasal congestion is one of the most common symptoms of medical complaints. Snoring is caused by vibration of the uvula and the soft palate. Nasal obstruction may contribute not only to snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) but also impair application of continuous nasal positive airway pressure (CPAP), which is the most widely employed treatment for OSA. Total or near-total nasal obstruction leads to mouth breathing and has been shown to cause increased airway resistance. However, the exact role of the nasal airway in the pathogenesis of OSA is not clear and there is no consensus about the role of nasal obstruction in snoring and sleep apnea. Some reports have failed to demonstrate any correlation between snoring and nasal obstruction. On the other hand, opposing reports suggest that nasal disease may cause sleep disorders and that snoring can be improved after nasoseptal surgery. Reduced cross-sectional area causes increased nasal resistance and predisposes the patient to inspiratory collapse of the oropharynx, hypopharynx, or both. Discrete abnormalities of the nasal airway, such as septal deformities, nasal polyps, and choanal atresia and with certain mucosal conditions such as sinusitis, allergic rhinitis and inferior turbinate hypertrophy can cause snoring or OSA. Thus, these sources of nasal obstruction should be corrected medically or surgically for the effective management of OSA and adjunctive for CPAP.
Airway Resistance ; Choanal Atresia ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Consensus ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Hand ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Hypopharynx ; Mouth Breathing ; Nasal Obstruction ; Nasal Polyps ; Nose ; Nose Diseases* ; Oropharynx ; Palate, Soft ; Rhinitis ; Sinusitis ; Sleep Apnea Syndromes* ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; Sleep Wake Disorders ; Snoring* ; Turbinates ; Uvula ; Vibration

No abstract available.
Humans ; Pericardial Effusion* ; Rheumatic Fever*

PURPOSE: For the early diagnosis of Henoch-Schonlein purpura(HSP) presenting with acute abdominal pain preceding skin rash. METHODS: The clinical, endoscopic and radiological records of 23 cases of HSP, presenting with gastrointestinal symptoms preceding skin rash were reviewed. RESULTS: The intervals from the onset of abdominal pain to the development of the skin rash were one day to 30 days(median five days), most of them were within two weeks. The presenting abdominal symptoms were abdominal pain(23 cases), vomiting(16 cases), hematochezia or melena(eight cases) and hematemesis(three cases). The abnormal endoscopic findings include coalescing erythematous lesions, areas of submucosal hemorrhage and superficial erosions and ulcers. The upper gastro intestinal endoscopy showed the abnormalities in 21 of 23 cases, which were observed in the duodenum(21 cases), the stomach(12 cases) and the esophagus(one case). Duodenitis with hemorrhage and/or erosions in the descending duodenum was the sole endoscopic abnormality in two cases and was the most marked finding in three cases. Sigmoidoscopy showed the abnormalities in six of eight cases. The abdominal ultrasonogram showed abnormalities in 12 of 17 cases, which included small bowel wall thickening(eight cases) and intramural hemorrhage(three cases). Recurrences after three months of symptom free intervals developed in four cases; three of them had persistent nephritis beyond one year. CONCLUSION: The erosive hemorrhagic duodenitis in the descending duodenum in the upper endoscopy and the small bowel wall thickening in the abdominal ultrasonogram can be useful findings in the diagnosis of HSP presenting with acute abdomen.
Abdomen, Acute ; Abdominal Pain* ; Diagnosis ; Duodenitis ; Duodenum ; Early Diagnosis ; Endoscopy ; Exanthema* ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Hemorrhage ; Nephritis ; Purpura* ; Recurrence ; Sigmoidoscopy ; Skin* ; Ulcer ; Ultrasonography

No abstract available.
Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women*

OBJECTIVE: An application service provider (ASP) is a business that provides computer-based services to customers over a network. The need for ASPs has developed due to increasing costs of information systems, which have far exceeded the price-range of small to medium sized businesses. The ASP could be considered as a potential strategy in hospital information systems (HIS). This study investigates significant factors influencing the adoption of an ASP in hospitals. METHODS: Two survey instruments were developed for information technology (IT) experts in hospitals and IT companies, respectively, and a total of 101 responses were analyzed using SAS, version 9.1. Respondents' characteristics were presented using descriptive statistics, while factor analyses were performed for ASP characteristics and influencing factors for ASP adoption. Regression analyses enabled the understanding of relationships between factors and attitudes toward ASP adoption. RESULTS: Nine factors were derived: efficiency, availability, responsiveness, security, resistancy, service quality, attitude toward information-oriented work of CEO or IT experts, environment, and user attitude. Except for responsiveness and CEO or IT experts' attitude, the seven factors had significant effects on the adoption of an ASP in hospitals. In particular, security and user attitude showed negative effects on ASP adoption. There were variations in the subsystems of HIS. CONCLUSION: For adopting ASP in hospitals, efficiency, availability, security, resistancy, service quality, environment, and user attitude need to be considered, especially security and user attitude. This study allowed the understanding and comparative analysis of user (hospitals) and supplier (IT companies) perspectives of information systems in terms of ASP adoption in hospitals.
Adoption ; Commerce ; Hospital Information Systems ; Information Systems ; Phenothiazines ; Viperidae ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Angioedma is a group of disorders with multifactorial etiology but a similar clinical expression, is characterized by swelling of subcutaneous or submucosal tissue. Systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE) is a chronic multi-systemtic disease characterized by inflammation and tissue damage resulting from deposition of auto-antibodies and immune complex. We experienced a case of angioedema which was the first manifestation of SLE in 24-year-old female patient. She had suffered from severe facial edema and multiple lymphadenopathy for six months and she also had pleural effusion, positive anti-nuclear and anti-DNA antibody test. Marked decrease of C3 and C4 levels was noted with normal antigenic level, and activity of Cl esterase inhibitor. The angioedema was not improved with anti-hitamine agents and instead disappeared with use of corticosteroid and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Complement levels normalized after corticosteroid treament. We report a case of SLE which initial manifestation was angioedema.
Angioedema ; Antigen-Antibody Complex ; Complement System Proteins ; Edema ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Pleural Effusion ; Young Adult

No abstract available.

Neurocutaneous melanosis is a very rare congenital syndrome characterized by the presence of large or multiple congenital melanocytic nevi and benign or malignant melanotic tumors of the central nervous system. We report herein a case of neurocutaneous melanosis with leptomeningeal melanosis and a malignant melanoma of the right temporal lobe in a 46-year old man. The case is exceptional as regards the late onset of symptoms and death. Even without a malignant melanoma, the symptomatic neurocutaneous melanosis has a fatal course. The syndrome is rare but lethal, so the dermatologist should be aware of this syndrome when evaluating the patients with large or numerous congenital melanocytic nevi so as to watch for the usual signs of increased intracranial pressure and to take prompt palliative measures.
Central Nervous System ; Humans ; Intracranial Pressure ; Melanoma ; Melanosis* ; Nevus, Pigmented ; Temporal Lobe

Fractures in the subtrochanteric region of the femur present more formidable problems in treatment than do other trochanteric fractures, because such severe stresses exit at the fracture site. Therefore, as a rule we prefer to treat subtrochanteric fractures by operative means if possible. Many internal fixation devices have been recommanded for use in subtrochanteric fractures and each of these devices have advantages in certain types of subtrochanteric fractures, and their selection should be based on the individual fracture anatomy. A total of 20 patients with fracture of the subtrochanteric region of the femur, who were treated by internal fixation with Judet plate between January 1982 and December 1988 have been reviewed. Our conclusions were as follows; 1. Average age was 38 years old and most common cause of injury was traffic accident. 2. Cast immobilization was done after Judet plate fixation. Partial weight bearing ambulation was enabled from POD 10 weeks and full weight bearing ambulation was enabled from POD 16 weeks. 3. 18 in 20 cases, primary bony union was happened and the mean duration of radiological bony union was 24 weeks. 4. 3 cases of complications, metal failure with refracture (2 cases) and screw loosening (1 case), were occured due to early weight bearing in the post operative course. 5. Judet plate fixation was gave satisfactory result in uncomminuted subtrochanteric fracture, especially Seinsheimer's type I, II-A,B,C or Fieldings type I, II. 6. From a consideration of these series, Judet plate showed easy to use, perfect adaptation and rigid fixation. We thought Judet plate is one of a good implants for rigid fixation of subtrochanteric fracture without severe medial cortical disruption.
Accidents, Traffic ; Clinical Study ; Femur ; Hip Fractures ; Humans ; Immobilization ; Internal Fixators ; Walking ; Weight-Bearing

PURPOSE: Renal tumors consist of heterogeneous groups that frequently show complex and overlapping morphology, thus making it difficult to make a correct diagnosis. One of the most problematic differential diagnoses is to distinguish chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (RCC) from oncocytoma. These should be distinguished by differences in their behavior and clinical outcome. Our study was performed to identify whether caveolin-1 and MOC-31 are useful immunohistochemical markers for differentiating chromophobe RCC from oncocytoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We selected 23 chromophobe RCCs, 8 oncocytomas, and 25 clear cell RCCs and performed immunohistochemical staining for caveolin-1 and MOC-31. RESULTS: Caveolin-1 was positive in 20 (87%) of 23 chromophobe RCCs, 0 of 8 oncocytomas, and 21 (84%) of 25 clear cell RCCs. MOC-31 was positive in 22 (96%) of 23 chromophobe RCCs, 2 (25%) of 8 oncocytomas, and 14 (56%) of 25 clear cell RCCs. There was a statistically significant difference in the expression of caveolin-1 and MOC-31 between chromophobe RCC and oncocytoma (p<0.001). In addition, clear cell RCC was also significantly different from oncocytoma in the expression of caveolin-1 (p<0.001) and was significantly different from chromophobe RCC in the expression of MOC-31 (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Caveolin-1 and MOC-31 can be useful markers in the differential diagnosis of chromophobe RCC, oncocytoma, and clear cell RCC.
Adenoma, Oxyphilic ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; Caveolin 1 ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Kidney Neoplasms