PURPOSE: To determine the metabolic characteristics of recurrent stone formers (RSF), we investigated urinary lithogenic factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The 24-hour urine samples of 151 RSF (114 men, 37 women) and 70 normal controls (33 men, 37 women) were analyzed for excretion rate differences of lithogenic and inhibitory constituents such as volume, sodium, phosphorus, uric acid, calcium, magnesium, oxalate, and citrate. The incidence and spectrum of metabolic abnomality in REF were aldo determined. RESULTS: The RSF showed significantly increased excretion of phosphorus (p=0.004), uric acid (p=0.003), and calcium (p=0.007) and decreased in that of citrate (p=0.044). No significant differences were found between the RSF and normal controls with regard to the excretions of sodium, magnesium, oxalate, and volume. The most frequent metabolic abnormality in RSF was hypocitraturia (43.7%), followed by hypernatriuria (41.7%), hypercalciuria (23.2%), and hyperuricosuria (20.5%). At least one metabolic abnormality was found in 118 of out of 151 RSF (78.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that RSF had different urinary excretions of citrate as well as phophorus, uric acid, and calcium compared to the normal subjects and metabolic abnomalities were found up to 80% of them. The 24-hour urine study would be an effective means for metabolic evaluation in RSF although diagnostic accuracy increases with repeated examination.
Calcium ; Citric Acid ; Humans ; Hypercalciuria ; Incidence ; Magnesium ; Male ; Phosphorus ; Sodium ; Uric Acid ; Urolithiasis

No abstract available.
Gambling* ; Humans ; Inpatients*

No abstract available.
Gambling* ; Humans ; Inpatients*

No abstract available.

To investigate the effect of hyperoxia on EKG findings and to evaluate the applicability of EKG as noninvasive monitoring index of oxygen toxicity, 38 rabbits were continuously exposed to 6 different conditions-3 hyperbaric oxygenations (HBO-2.5, 3.5 and 5ATA, 100% O2), normobaric oxygenation (NBO, 100% O2), hyperbaric aeration (HBA-5ATA, 21% O2) and normobaric aeration (NBA, 21% O2)-for 120 minutes and their EKG and time to dyspnea and convulsion were recorded. Dyspnea and death were observed in exposure conditions of HBO-3.5 and HBO-5 (Positive rate of dyspnea; 10%, 100%, death; 10%, 25%, respectively) only, and convulsion in 4 oxygenation groups (NBO; 20%, HBO-2.5; 20%, HBO-3.5; 20%, HBO-5; 88%). Abnormal EKG findings included arrhythmia and ST-T changes and the incidences was increasing with doses(partial pressure of oxygen). In addition to EKG change, findings observed during exosure were dyspnea and convulsion in the order of appearence and when non specific ST-T change was accepted as positive (abnormal) finding, the frequency of abnormal EKG was statistically significant(p<0.01), but when it was excluded from positive results, the frequency of EKG change was not significant(p>0.05). These results suggest that the effect of hyperoxia on heart is myocardial ischemia and arrhythmia, that oxygenation more than 3.5ATA causes myocardial damage in 120 minutes exposure, and that EKG is valuable as monitoring index of oxygen toxicity.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Dyspnea ; Electrocardiography* ; Heart ; Hyperbaric Oxygenation ; Hyperoxia* ; Incidence ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Oxygen ; Rabbits* ; Seizures

A malignant granular cell tumor (MGCT) occurred in the left shoulder of a 62-year-old man. The patient underwent wide marginal excision followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy. A metastatic tumor was identified in the axillary lymph node 22 months after the excision of the shoulder mass. The primary tumor was a poorly circumscribed mass measuring 5 5 4 cm. On cut section, it was a solid mass with yellowish tan color. Histologically, both primary and metastatic tumor consisted of polygonal cells with abundant granular cytoplasm and a vesicular nucleus with a prominent nucleolus. Two to three mitotic figures per ten high power fields at 200 were counted. Tumor cells were weakly stained with periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) preparation both before and after diastase digestion, and were positive for S-100 protein, neuron-specific enolase (NSE), and vimentin. By electron microscopy, the cytoplasm was filled with numerous autophagolysosomes containing myelin figures, mitochondria, and fragmented rough endoplasmic reticula. Basal laminae and angulated bodies were also noted. These findings suggest schwannian differentiation of this tumor.
Amylases ; Basement Membrane ; Cytoplasm ; Digestion ; Drug Therapy ; Granular Cell Tumor* ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymph Nodes ; Microscopy, Electron ; Middle Aged ; Mitochondria ; Myelin Sheath ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase ; Radiotherapy ; S100 Proteins ; Shoulder* ; Triacetoneamine-N-Oxyl ; Vimentin

The presence and distribution of pan-neuroendocrine markers such as neuron-specific enolase (NSE), chromogranin (CG), and synaptophysin (SYP) were investigated by immunohistochemistry in 15 cases of neuroblastic tumors, including four cases of neuroblastomas, six cases of ganglioneuroblastomas, and five cases of ganglioneuromas. Three cases of normal sympathetic ganglion were used for the normal control group. NSE was observed in all cases and both in ganglion cells and in neuropils. NSE was detected not only in the majority of the neuroblasts showing signs of differentiation, but also in some poorly differentiated neuroblasts. All cases of neuroblastic tumors were positive for CG, however, some variability of staining intensity and distribution patterns were noted. CG was found mainly in differentiated neuroblasts with enlarged cytoplasm and nuclei along the periphery of the perikaria, and was also found in the perinuclear regions of some undifferentiated cells. SYP was positive in 9 of 11 cases. In all of the 9 cases, SYP was detected in some differentiating neuroblasts and differentiated neuroblasts, as well as the mature ganglion cells. However, it has scarcely stained in dot or granular pattern. Two CG-negative tumors were also negative for SYP. Our data indicate that antibodies against NSE and CG are helpful as a diagnostic aid for neuroblastic tumors.
Antibodies ; Cytoplasm ; Ganglia, Sympathetic ; Ganglion Cysts ; Ganglioneuroblastoma ; Ganglioneuroma ; Immunohistochemistry ; Neuroblastoma ; Neurons* ; Neuropil ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase* ; Synaptophysin*

BACKGROUND: Infarct size determines left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic dysfunctions after acute myocardial infarction, and also may affect the recovery from functional impairment. We studied the differences of LV remodeling and changes of systolic and diastolic functions of LV during two weeks after acute myocardial infarction, according to Killip class at admission. METHODS: Echocardiographic examinations were performed within two days (23.9+/-2.3 hours), and two weeks after the attack in 27 patients with acute myocardial infarction, and the results were compared with those of 19 controls. Patients were divided into two groups according to Killip class at admission; 18 patients in Killip class I (group I) and 9 patients in Killip class II to IV (group II). Group II had larger infarct, reflected by higher levels of peak serum cardiac enzymes. RESULTS: LV systolic function was more depressed in group II. Regional wall motion score index decreased in group I after two weeks, but not in group II. LV systolic and diastolic volume indexes increased after two weeks in group II but not group I. E/A ratio of mitral inflow was less than 1, and isovolumic relaxation time was prolonged in group I immediately after the attack. Group II had E/A>1 and shorter deceleration time (DT) of mitral inflow, and higher peak reverse flow velocity associated with atrial contraction (AR) of pulmonary venous flow than those of controls immediately after the attack. In group II, E/A ratio was greater, DT was shorter, peak systolic/diastolic flow velocity ratio of pulmonary venous flow was less, and AR was higher than those of controls after two weeks. CONCLUSION: Infarct size affected remodeling and changes of systolic and diastolic functions of LV after acute myocardial infarction. In patients with large infarct, LV was dilated and regional wall motion was not improved during two weeks. Restrictive pattern of LV filling, which was more aggravated during two weeks, was noted immediately after the attack. In patients with small infarct, LV was not dilated and regional wall motion was improved during two weeks. LV filling pattern showed relaxation abnormality.
Deceleration ; Echocardiography ; Heart Ventricles* ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Relaxation

BACKGROUND: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a major cause of disability, particularly in the elderly. The factors determining disability remain unclear and have not been defined in Korea. The aim of this study was to assess the various aspects of the quality of life, and to define the determinant factors of disability in patients with knee OA. METHODS: The Korean version of AIMS2 (K-AIMS2) and CMCHS (Catholic Medical Center Health Survey) were administered to a cohort of 239 outpatients with symptomatic OA of the knee who attended 7 participating University Hospitals in Seoul, Ilsan and Taejon. The scores of K-AIMS2 12 subscales by demographic variables and body mass index were compared using Student t-test. And the determinant factors of the lower extremity disability were analysed by stepwise multiple regression method. RESULTS: The study subjects (n=239) were 61.6+/-9.1 years old, comprised of 197 (82.4%) females and 42 (17.6%) males, had been sick with knee osteoarthritis for 6.2+/-6.5 years, and had 24.7+/-3.1 kg/m2 BMI. Among K-AIMS2 12 subscales 'Walking and bending' (5.82+/-2.17), 'Arthritis pain' (5.19+/-1.98), 'Social activities' (3.97+/-2.04), and 'Mobility level' (3.61+/-1.74) showed high scores, while subscales related with upper extremities function showed low scores, reflecting the costruct validity of K-AIMS2 in patients with symptomatic knee OA. After adjustment for the presence of sociodemographic variables, we found bodily pain (P<0.001), age (P<0.001), emotional function (P=0.033), and education level (P=0.099) as determinant factors of K-AIMS2 lower limb function. CONCLUSION: IIt is recommendable that the knee OA patients should be treated properly in the emotional aspect as well as the bodily pain aspect. In addition, it is suggested that education level be considered as an important factor when teaching the OA patients about coping with knee disabilities.
Aged ; Body Mass Index ; Cohort Studies ; Daejeon ; Education ; Female ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Knee ; Korea ; Lower Extremity* ; Male ; Osteoarthritis ; Osteoarthritis, Knee* ; Outpatients ; Quality of Life* ; Seoul ; Upper Extremity ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:Traditionally, down beat nystagmus is regarded as a sign of central nervous system dysfunction. But, several years has passed since Herdman et al reported the down beat nystagmus developed during treatment maneuvers for posterior semicircular canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo(BPPV). We undertook this study to evaluate the character and clinical analysis of the positional or positioning down beat nystagmus, to discuss the clinical significance of positional or positioning down beat nystagmus as a diagnostic criteria of superior semicircular canal BPPV, and to propose the new treatment method. MATERIALS AND METHOD:From November 1999 to March 2004, we sampled the 103 patients with positional or positioning down beat nystagmus. Of these patients, we selected 16 patients except for the patients with central nervous system dysfunction, nonspecific or artifact result, idiopathic origin. RESULTS:All of 16 patients had no sign and radiologic result of central nervous system disorder. 10 patients was reported or suspected the diagnosis of posterior semicircular canal BPPV. Fatigability was reported in 9 patients and reversibility was reported in 1 patient. Average latency was checked less than 2 seconds. CONCLUSION:Although the diagnostic criteria of superior semicircular canal BPPV that we reported was not controversial, we expect that this criteria is useful in diagnosis for patients with atypical positional or positioning down beat nystagmus. And the new treatment method that we reported will has the better results than previous method.
Artifacts ; Central Nervous System ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Semicircular Canals ; Vertigo*