High venous pressure in leg from walking in erect position can lead the development of defective valves and reflux, and superficial veins may become elongated and tortuous. Women are more prone to varicose vein due to hormonal influences and pregnancy. Besides long standing occupation and female gender, there are other risk factors including age, family history, obesity, and prior deep vein thrombosis. Recently developed health related quality of life has contributed to concern more about varicose vein and develop the treatment modalities of varicose vein. Because of the chronicity of the development of varicose vein, most patients are usually accustomed to high venous pressure of their leg and feel minor or no discomfort. Among the reasons to seek for the treatment of varicose vein, cosmetic purpose is the most common. Most patients prefer non-surgical treatment including sclerotheraphy to surgical intervention. High ligation and stripping of varicose vein has remained as the standard treatment of varicose vein with excellent long term results. Minimal invasive non-surgical treatments including radiofrequency ablation and endovenous laser treatment have shown less scars and earlier mobility. Newer treatment modalities have to prove comparable long term results, not merely better cosmetic and short term results. We reviewed about the development of varicose vein and the treatment modalities including preventive measures. Correct comprehension of the patient and proper application of the treatment modality are essential for the good result without recurrence after the treatment of varicose vein.
Cicatrix ; Comprehension ; Cosmetics ; Female ; Humans ; Leg ; Ligation ; Obesity ; Occupations ; Pregnancy ; Quality of Life ; Recurrence ; Risk Factors ; Sclerotherapy ; Varicose Veins ; Veins ; Venous Pressure ; Venous Thrombosis ; Walking

BACKGROUND: It has been demonstrated that brief periods of calcium depletion and repletion (calcium-free preconditioning, CP) have cardioprotective effects as seen in ischemic preconditioning(IP) which enhances the recovery of post-ischemic contractile dysfunction and reduces the incidence of reperfusion-induced arrhythmia or infarct size after a prolonged ischemia. In the present study, we tested this paradoxical phenomenon in isolated rabbit hearts. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Hearts isolated from New Zealand white rabbits(1.5~2.0 Kg body weight) were perfused with Tyrode solution using the Langendorff technique. After stabilizing the baseline hemodynamics, the hearts were subjected to 45 minutes of global ischemia followed by 120 minutes of reperfusion with IP(IP group, n=7) or without IP (ischemic control group, n=7). IP was induced by a single episode of 5 minutes global ischemia and 10 minutes reperfusion. In the CP group(n=7), the hearts were subjected to perfusion with Tyrode solution with calcium depletion for 5 minutes and repletion for 10 minutes, and 45 minutes of ischemia and 120 minutes of reperfusion. Left ventricular function including developed pressure, dP/dt, heart rate, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure and coronary flow was measured. Infarct size was determined by staining with 1% triphenyltetrazolium chloride and planimetry. Data were analyzed by a one-way analysis of variance and Tukey's post-hoc test. RESULT: In comparison with the ischemic control group, IP significantly enhanced the recovery of the left ventricular function including the left ventricular developed pressure, contractility, and coronary flow; in contrast, these functional parameters of the CP group tended to be lower than those of the ischemic control group. However, the infarct size was significantly reduced by IP or CP(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that in isolated Langendorff-perfused rabbit heart model, CP(induced by single episode of 5 minutes calcium depletion and 10 minutes repletion) could not improve.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Calcium ; Heart ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Incidence ; Ischemia ; New Zealand ; Perfusion ; Reperfusion ; Ventricular Function, Left

Diffuse lung disease is amenable to diagnosis by means of clinical evaluation, bronchoalveolar lavage, transbronchial biopsy, and lung biopsy. The recently introduced technique of thoracoscopic wedge biopsy provides the potential advantages of greater selection of biopsy sites and reduced postoperative pain compared with those associated with standard open lung biopsy. Video assisted thoracoscopic lung biopsy was performed in 22 patients for the diagnosis of diffuse lung disease during the period from August 1994 to December 1996, and the following results were obtained: 1. The patients were 14 men and 8 women. The average age was 54.6 years. 2. 13 lung biopsy specimens were obtained from the right lower lobe, 4 from the right upper lobe, 3 from the right middle lobe, 3 from the left upper lobe, and 3 from the left lower lobe. 3. A comparison of pulmonary function tests between preoperative and postoperative values showed no significant differences in FVC, FEV1, and FEV1/FVC(p>0.05). 4. All patients were pathologically diagnosed and the most common disease was usual interstitial pneumonia(8/22). In conclusion, thoracoscopic lung biopsy was a safe and effective diagnostic method of diffuse lung disease.
Biopsy* ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Diseases ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial* ; Lung* ; Male ; Pain, Postoperative ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Thoracoscopy

BACKGROUND: The macrophages activated by lipopolisaccharide produce numerous molecules and proteins, such as tumor necrotic factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1beta, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and free radicals, associated with inflammation. The response was occurred by intracellular cascaded, NF-kappaB pathway. So, the regulation of this pathway is very important in control of inflammation. OBJECTIVE: In this study, the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects of Sophora flavescens that is used empirically in oriental medicine and folk remedy were evaluated and the mechanism of the effects was studied. METHODS: By using the root extracts of Sophora flavescens, we performed experiment in LPS and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)-activated Raw 264.7 cells. We measured the production of NO, PGE2 and expression of iNOS and COX-2 in activated Raw 264.7 cells with Sophora flavescens root extract. Also, we tested anti-oxidant effect of Sophora flavescens root extracts by ELISA kit in activated Raw 264.7 cells, and the free radical scavenging effect of material itself by DPPH assay. RESULTS: The Sophora flavescens root extracts decreased the production of NO (p<0.001) and PGE2 (p<0.01) in Raw 264.7 cells activated by LPS and IFN-gamma. The expression of proteins, iNOS and COX-2, suppressed along with the elevated concentration of Sophora flavescens root extracts. The result of DPPH assay was that the test material itself had scavenging effect for free radical (p<0.001). And the antioxidant activity in activated Raw 264.7 cells was increased with the level of the Sophora flavescens root extracts (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The Sophora flavescens root extracts suppressed the production of NO and PGE2 through the decreased expression of iNOS and COX-2. And the Sophora flavescens root extracts had the scavenging effect about free radicals itself and increased the antioxidant activity in activated macrophages.
Antioxidants ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; Dinoprostone ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Free Radicals ; Inflammation ; Interferon-gamma ; Interleukin-6 ; Macrophages ; Medicine, East Asian Traditional ; Medicine, Traditional ; NF-kappa B ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; Proteins ; Sophora

BACKGROUND: We compared the analgesic effects of an intravenous infusion of remifentanil with local lidocaine injection during endovenous laser treatments (EVLT) for varicose veins. MATERIAL AND METHOD: In order to compare the efficacy of analgesia between the lidocaine group (n=15) and the remifentanil group (n=15), we measure the pain intensity of the patients, with using the visual analogue scale, during EVLT and at the first week, the second week, the third week and the fourth week after EVLT. RESULT: The remifentanil group showed significantly less pain intensity during EVLT (p<0.01), but there were no differences of pain intensity between the two groups from the first week to the fourth week after EVLT (p>0.3). CONCLUSION: The result showed that the intravenous infusion of remifentanil during EVLT can be a good option to reduce pain during EVLT for treating varicose veins.
Analgesia ; Anesthesia, Local ; Humans ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Laser Therapy ; Lidocaine ; Piperidines ; Varicose Veins ; Veins

BACKGROUND: The aims of this study are to determine the predicting factors related with cardiovascular injuries in sternal fractures and to suggest the indication of emergency echocardiography. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A retrospective review of the Ewha Womans University Mok-Dong Hospital trauma registry revealed 40 patients, that visited the hospital with a sternal fracture a over 5-year period. We analyzed 4 factors as predicting factors; 1) presence of restraint, 2) presence of associated injuries, 3) presence of a past medical history involving cardiovascular system, and 4) Revised Trauma Score(RTS). We, also, assessed the utility of conventional study methods involving cardiovascular injuries, such as ECG, chest X-ray, and enzyme level. Based on the methods, we inferred an indication for emergency echocardiography in sternal fractures. RESULT: Statistically significant predicting factors were the presence of a past medical history involving cardiovascular system and abnormal RTS on admission. Usage of emergency echocardiography depended upon the predicting factors and the results from conventional evaluations. We can now suggest the indications of emergency echocardiography in sternal fractures as 1) if more than two studies reveal abnormality without any significant predicting factors, and 2) if more than one study reveals abnormality with any significant predicting factors. CONCLUSION: The past medical history involving cardiovascular system and initial vital signs imply the presence of cardiovascular injuries in sternal fractures. And if needed, emergency echocardiography should be performed.
Cardiovascular System ; Echocardiography ; Electrocardiography ; Emergencies ; Female ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Sternum ; Thoracic Injuries ; Thorax ; Vital Signs

BACKGROUND: It has been documented that brief repetitive periods of ischemia and reperfusion (ischemic preconditioning, IP) enhances the recovery of post-ischemic contractile function and reduces infarct size after a longer period of ischemia. Many mechanisms have been proposed to explain this process. Recent studies have suggested that transient increase in the intracellular calcium may have triggered the activation of protein kinase C(PKC); however, there are still many controversies. Accordingly, the author performed the present study to test the hypothesis that preconditioning with high concentration of calcium before sustained subsequent ischemia(calcium preconditioning) mimics IP by PKC activation. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The isolated hearts from the New Zealand White rabbits(1.5~2.0 kg body weight) METHOD: The isolated hearts from the New Zealand White rabbits(1.5~2.0 kg body weight) were perfused with Tyrode solution by Langendorff technique. After stabilization of baseline hemodynamics, the hearts were subjected to 45-minute global ischemia followed by a 120-minute reperfusion with IP(IP group, n=13) or without IP(ischemic control, n=10). IP was induced by single episode of 5-minute global ischemia and 10-minute reperfusion. In the Ca2+ preconditioned group, perfusate containing 10(n=10) or 20 mM(n=11) CaCl2 was perfused for 10 minutes after 5-minute ischemia followed by a 45-minute global ischemia and a 120-minute reperfusion. Baseline PKC was measured after 50-minute perfusion without any treatment(n=5). Left ventricular function including developed pressure(LVDP), dP/dt, heart rate, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure(LVEDP) and coronary flow(CF) was measured. Myo car ial cytosolic and membrane PKC activities were measured by 32P-gamma-ATP incorporation into PKC-specific pepetide. The infarct size was determined using the TTC (tetrazolium salt) staining and planimetry. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance(ANOVA) variance(ANOVA) and Tukey's post-hoc test. RESULT: IP increased the functional recovery including LVDP, dP/dt and CF(p<0.05) and lowered the ascending range of LVEDP(p<0.05); it also reduced the infarct size from 38% to 20%(p<0.05). In both of the Ca2+ preconditioned group, functional recovery was not significantly different in comparison with the ischemic control, however, the infarct size was reduced to 19~23%(p<0.05). In comparison with the baseline(7.31 0.31 nmol/g tissue), the activities of the cytosolic PKC tended to decrease in both the IP and Ca2+ preconditioned groups, particularly in the 10 mM Ca2+ preconditioned group(4.19 0.39 nmol/g tissue, p<0.01); the activity of membrane PKC was significantly increased in both IP and 10 mM Ca2+ preconditioned group (p<0.05; 1.84 0.21, 4.00 0.14, and 4.02 0.70 nmol/g tissue in the baseline, IP, and 10 mM Ca2+ preconditioned group, respectively). However, the activity of both PKC fractions were not significantly different between the baseline and the ischemic control. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that in isolated Langendorff-perfused rabbit heart model, calcium preconditioning with high concentration of calcium does not improve post-ischemic functional recovery. However, it does have an effect of limiting(reducing) the infart size by ischemic preconditioning, and this cardioprotective effect, at least in part, may have resulted from the activation of PKC by calcium which acts as a messenger(or trigger) to activate membrane PKC.
Calcium* ; Cytosol ; Heart Rate ; Heart* ; Hemodynamics ; Ischemia ; Ischemic Preconditioning ; Membranes ; New Zealand ; Perfusion ; Protein Kinase C* ; Protein Kinases* ; Reperfusion ; Ventricular Function, Left

PURPOSE: A tube thoracostomy is an invasive procedure that places patients at risk for complications. Tube thoracostomies are frequently performed by emergency medicine residents. Thus, the purpose of the study was to assess both the complication rate for tube thoracostomies performed by emergency medicine residents and the factors associated with these complications. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of all patients who had undergone a tube thoracostomy performed by emergency medicine residents between January 2008 and February 2009 was conducted at a university hospital. Complications were divided into major and minor complications and into immediate and delayed complications. Complications requiring corrective surgical intervention, requiring the administration of blood products, or involving situations requiring intravenous antibiotics were defined as major. Complications that were detected within 2 hours were defined as immediate. RESULTS: Tube thoracostomies were performed in 189 patients, and 70 patients(37%) experienced some complications. Most complications were immediate and minor. In multiple logistic regressions, BMI, hypotension and resident seniority were significantly associated with complications. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of complications was similar to these in previous reports on the complications of a tube thoracostomy. Most complications from tube thoracostomies performed by emergency medicine residents were immediate and minor complications. Thus, emergency medicine residents should be allowed to perform closed tube thoracostomies instead of thoracic surgeons.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Emergencies ; Emergency Medicine ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Logistic Models ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Thoracostomy

BACKGROUND: Because of high morbidity and mortality, traumatic diaphragm injury remains a diagnostic challenge. In this study, we evaluate that some factors and scores can be used as predictors. MATERIAL AND METHOD: From May 1995 to June 2003, 23 patients with traumatic diaphragm injury were enrolled. We examined the clinical features of patients. RTS, TRISS, ISS and APACHE II scores for each patient are calculated for analyzing the relationship of mortality and ICU duration. RESULT: The study identified 15 men (65.2%) and 8 women (34.8%). There are right sided diaphragmatic injury in 11 patients (47.8%), left sided in 11 (47.8%), and both sided in 1 (0.4%). Plain X-ray, CT, upper GI contrast study and esophagogastroscopy were used as diagnostic tools. Age, hemodynamic status, early diagnosis are not associated with outcome. As prognostic factor, RTS and ISS are associated with mortality and there was negative relationship between RTS and ICU duration (r=0.737, p=0.026). CONCLUSION: An early diagnosis of traumatic diaphragm injury can frequently be missed in the acute trauma setting. So high index of suspicion and a careful examination are important in multiple trauma patients. An RTS can probably be used effectively as a predictor for the severity and prognosis in patients with traumatic diaphragm injury.
APACHE ; Diaphragm* ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Male ; Mortality ; Multiple Trauma ; Prognosis

BACKGROUND: Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) ligation is usually performed by congenital cardiac surgeons. However, due to the uneven distribution of congenital cardiac surgeons in South Korea, many institutions depend solely on adult cardiac surgeons for congenital cardiac diseases. We report the outcomes of PDA ligations performed by adult cardiac surgeons at our institution. METHODS: The electronic medical records of 852 neonates at Chung-Ang University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea from November 2010 to May 2014 were reviewed to identify patients with PDA. RESULTS: Of the 111 neonates with a diagnosis of PDA, 26 (23%) underwent PDA ligation. PDAs were ligated within 28 days of birth (mean, 14.5±7.8 days), and the mean gestational age of these patients was 30.3±4.6 weeks (range, 26 to 40 weeks) with a mean birth weight of 1,292.5±703.5 g (range, 480 to 3,020 g). No residual shunts through the PDA were found on postoperative echocardiography. There was 1 case of 30-day mortality (3.8%) due to pneumonia, and 6 cases of in-hospital mortality (23.1%) after 30 days, which is comparable to results from other centers with congenital cardiac surgery programs. CONCLUSION: Although our outcomes may not be generalizable to all hospital settings without a congenital cardiac surgery program, in select centers, PDA ligations can be performed safely by adult cardiac surgeons if no congenital cardiac surgery program is available.
Adult* ; Birth Weight ; Cardiac Surgical Procedures ; Diagnosis ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent* ; Echocardiography ; Electronic Health Records ; Gestational Age ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Heart Diseases ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Korea ; Ligation* ; Mortality ; Parturition ; Pneumonia ; Seoul ; Surgeons* ; Thoracic Surgery