Hypercalcemia is a common complication in CAPD patients treated with calcium-containing phosphate binders and using the standard dialysate (SCD) calcium concentration of 3.5mEq/L. We performed a retrospective study in 25 CAPD patients to determine whether a low calcium dialysate (LCD) containing 2.5mEq/L calcium would reduce the incidence of hypercalemia with adequate control of serum inorganic phosphate levels and diminish the need to use aluminum-containing phosphate binders. All patients had previously used SCD before converting to LCD. The incidence of hypercalcemia (more than 2 episodes of corrected serum calcium > or = 10.5mg/dL) tended to be lower after converting to LCDl 0.27 (0-2.76) vs. 0 (0-1.97) episodes/patient-yearl. Intact PTH level increased from 38.8 (0.1-1599.3)pg/mL to 70.6 (9.5-1540.0)pg/mL after conversion, but there was no statistical sifnificance. Serum calcium, inorganic phosphate, alkaline phosphatase and bicarbonate levels did not change after converting to LCD. We were able to reduce aluminum hydroxide dosagel 1.09 (0-10.88) vs. 0 (0-3.26)g/day/patientl and increase calcium carbonate dosage (1.95 0.92 vs. 2.98 2.14g/day/ patient) after conversion significantly (P<0.05). The frequency of peritonitis was similar in LCD and SCD period. In conclusion, low calcium dialysate is useful in diminishing aluminum-containing phosphate binder dosage and increasing calcium carbonate dosage to maintain a similar phosphate value. Its effects on renal osteodystrophy remain to be assessed.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Aluminum Hydroxide ; Calcium Carbonate ; Calcium* ; Humans ; Hypercalcemia ; Incidence ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory* ; Peritonitis ; Renal Osteodystrophy ; Retrospective Studies

Angiosarcomas are rare tumors that are derived from vascular endothelial cells. They may occur in various sites, including the skin, breast, visceral organs and deep soft tissues. The pleura usually a metastatic site from angiosarcomas. However, thirty one cases of primary pleural angiosarcomas have been reported worldwide. Here, we report a 61-year-old man with a primary angiosarcoma of the pleura with a brief review of the literature.
Breast ; Endothelial Cells ; Hemangiosarcoma* ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Pleura* ; Skin

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. OBJECTIVES: To confirm the clinical outcomes of coccygectomy for intractable chronic coccygodynia. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Coccygectomy has been reported to be one of the good options for the failure of conservative treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted, including nine patients who underwent coccygectomy for intractable chronic coccygodynia. RESULTS: Improvements in the mean visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, from 5.6 to 2.1, were observed. As for patient satisfaction, there were four cases with excellent outcomes, three with good outcomes, one with a fair outcome, and only one with a poor outcome. Surgical complications, such as wound infection, did not occur in any of the cases. CONCLUSIONS: Irrespective of the causes, coccygectomy for chronic coccygodynia, for which nonsurgical management, including cushions, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and corticosteroid injections, has no effect, is considered a useful method because it brings definite pain relief and leads to high patient satisfaction.
Humans ; Patient Satisfaction ; Retrospective Studies ; Wound Infection

Eclampsia is defined as the occurrence of convulsions, not caused by any coincidental neurologic disease such as epilepsy, in a woman whose condition also meets the criteria for preeclampsia. Intracerebral hemorrhage with eclampsia is rare but maternal mortality is 30-40%. Fetal outcome parallels that of the mother and reflects the maternal condition as well as gestational age at delivery. With noninvasive imaging technique of CT, the early diagnosis and proper management of intracerebral hemorrhage in a patient can be achieved. The syndrome of Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzyme, Low Platelets (HELLP) is considered to be complication of severe preeclampsia-eclampsia. We report a case of intracerebral hemorrhage and HELLP syndrome in a patient with eclampsia.
Cerebral Hemorrhage* ; Early Diagnosis ; Eclampsia* ; Epilepsy ; Female ; Gestational Age ; HELLP Syndrome* ; Hemolysis ; Humans ; Liver ; Maternal Mortality ; Mothers ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy ; Seizures

BACKGROUND: P300 component of the long latency auditory evoked potentials (LLAEPs) provides information on conscious and cortical funtion. The P300 wave occures only for stimuli that somehow capture the patients attention. Therefore LLAEPs implys a degree of cognitive processing. We studied sedation scale and P300 wave to determine if LLAEPs could be utilized as electrophysiologic predictors of sedation. METHODS: The P300 component of LLAEPs from vertex was recorded from 10 ASA physical status I and II patients undergoing elective surgery while they listened via headphones to a series of clicks which were interrupted unpredictably by a tone burst (2 KHz) before and after diazepam 0.04 mg/kg and 0.08 mg/kg IV. The patients were asked to concentrate on the clicks and to press a button whenever they detected a 2 KHz tone. And sedation scale also was measured. RESULTS: Amplitude of P300 was decreased and latency of P300 was increased in a dose-dependent manner with IV diazepam. Amplitude was greatest and latency was shortest in awake. And sedation scale also was increased according to increased IV diazepam adminstration. CONCLUSIONS: Both amplitude and latency may be highly related to the sedation scale with progressively increasing dose of diazepam. Therefore we conclude that P300 component of LLAEPs can be utilized as an electrophysiologic predictor of awareness and sedation.
Diazepam* ; Event-Related Potentials, P300* ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory* ; Humans

Pancreatic tuberculosis is very rare, though dissemination to the gastrointestinal tract and mesenteric lymph nodes is common. We describe a case of pancreatic tuberculosis presenting as a cystic mass in the pancreatic head, with biliary obstruction, in a patient with miliary pulmonary tuberculosis. Surgery for the curative treatment of jaundice was performed, and the histopathologic findings indicated that a pancreatic abscess with caseous necrosis was present, consistent with tuberculosis.
Abscess* ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Head ; Humans ; Jaundice ; Jaundice, Obstructive* ; Lymph Nodes ; Necrosis ; Pancreas* ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

The clinical trial was carried out with carteolol in 30 patients with essential hypertension. The results were as follows : 1) Before medication and after 2,4,6 and 8 weeks of medications, the overall average systolic and diastolic blood pressure were 175+/-17.7/105+/-9.3, 144+/-8.9/92+/-6.9, 143+/-11.2/90+/-6.6, 141+/-8.4/88+/-6.9, and 142+/-9.0/88+/-7.1 mmHg. As a result, blood pressure significantly fell with carteolol treatment. 2) In 80+/- of all cases, marked or moderate degree of hypotnesive effect was observed within 2 weeks of treatment. 3) Before medication and after 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks of medication, the overall average heart rates were 75+/-11.8, 73+/-9.0, 71+/-8.7, 71+/-8.2 and 71+/-8.6 beats/minute. There was no significant changes in heart rates before and after treatment. 4) Dizziness or fatigability were complained in 4 patients (13+/-) each while receiving carteolol. These side effects were mild in 3 patients, but one patient discontinued treatment due to dizziness. On the basis of these results, carteolol was evaluated to be promising hypotensive drug.
Blood Pressure ; Carteolol* ; Dizziness ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypertension

The aim of this study was to assess the adaptive changes in plasma level of atrial natriuretic peptide(ANP) and its atrial mRNA expression in experimental rat model of chronic renal failure(CRF). Male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 250-300g were divided into control rats, sham operated rats and 5/6 nephrectomized rats. CRF was induced by 5/6 nephrectomy, in that two thirds of the left kidney was ligated and the contralateral kidney was removed 1 week later. In the rats with 2/3 pole ligation, there were no significant changes in mean arterial pressure(MAP), heart rate, BUN and serum creatinine compared to sham operated rats. Expression of atrial ANP mRNA showed initially higher values and plasma renin activity(PRA) was lower than the sham operated rats. After 5/6 nephrectomy, MAP, heart rate, BUN and serum creatinine increased, and PRA showed the sustained lower values than the control rats. The changing pattern of plasma ANP level was similar to the that of ANP mRNA expression that showed biphasic peaks with the first increase at 1 to 3 days and the second increase at 28 days after nephrectomy. There were a significant positive correlation between plasma ANP level and MAP, and a negative correlation between plasma ANP and PRA. These results suggest that the secretion and the synthesis of ANP respond rapidly to the reduced renal mass, and ANP may play an important regulatory role during the renal adapting process in rats with experimental CRF.
Animals ; Atrial Natriuretic Factor* ; Creatinine ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Kidney ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Ligation ; Male ; Models, Animal ; Nephrectomy ; Plasma* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Renin ; RNA, Messenger*

STUDY DESIGN: A rectrospective study of microscopic lumbar decompressions was performed elderly patients suffering from multiple level of lumbar stenosis. OBJECTIVES: The Purpose of this study were to assess the outcome of this procedure performed only microscopic decompression on multiple lesions in 5 years follow up and to identify the clinical features of the elderly patients with multiple stenosis. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: There was a common to perform fusion and instrumentation in spinal stenosis surgery, because of extensive decompression and instability. However the introduction of microscope in spine operation can minimize lesions and the incidence of spinal fusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-one patients were identified as having had a microscopic decompression without arthrodesis, for degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis over 60 years. The follow up period was more than 5 years. The clinical results was evaluated by Low-Back Outcome scale. RESULTS: Ten cases were above good results in two levels involved 14 cases, 4 cases above good results in three levels involved 6 cases, one case above good results in four levels. In the cases of affected duration, 4 of 5 cases in less than 1 year, 8 of 12 cases in 1 to 5 years, 3 of 4 cases in more than 5 years were above good results by the criteria. We had calculated the average score (54.8) and concluded that the long-term outcome of decompressive surgery in the elderly is good. CONCLUSION: Selective microscopic decompression is one of the effective method for the elderly patients or patients with osteoporosis in addition to multiple stenotic lesions. And preoprative root block is also useful for selective microscopic decompression.
Aged ; Arthrodesis ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Decompression* ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Osteoporosis ; Spinal Fusion ; Spinal Stenosis* ; Spine

STUDY DESIGN: Multi institution, double blind, random sample. OBJECTIVES: We conducted a comparative study with Aceclofenac Tab, which is widely used in the clinical field in order to observe the Pelubiprofen Tab's clinical efficiency in patients with back pain. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Among the numerous literatures regarding the chronic back pain, there is are few studies with Pelubiprofen Tab's clinical efficiency. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We computed an experimental model through a case control study, practiced from January, 2010 to January, 2011, and thereby, 298 back pain patients were selected. This study was conducted through a multi institution, double blind, and random sample. We compared the experimental and control groups' clinical efficiency that was estimated by VAS after 28 days of medication. Also, we compared the treatment efficiency of both drugs by using a variation of Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Physician's Global assessment, with a total usage of relief medicine. Also, the side effect and clinical pathologic result were tested. Statistical analysis was done with three different methods, Safety method, ITT (Intent-To-Treat), and PP (Per Protocol). Logistic regression model was used, and this result was compared by a Chi-square or Fisher's Exact test. RESULTS: Comparing the VAS of both groups, VAS decreased with statistical significance. Both groups didn't show a significant difference in VAS (p=0.6764). As the decrement of the total dosage of relief medicine, the decrease in the control group was rather higher, but the difference didn't show any statistical significance (p=0.9955). The experimental group was not inferior than that of the control group in ODI and PGA variation. Analyzing the side effect, both groups didn't show any significant difference (p=0.9843). CONCLUSIONS: As a result of the clinical trial, Pelubiprofen Tab. applied to back pain patients was not inferior to that of aceclofenac Tab., in terms of efficiency, and didn't show any significant difference in safety.
Back Pain ; Case-Control Studies ; Diclofenac ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Models, Theoretical ; Phenylpropionates ; Prostaglandins A