BACKGROUND: For ophthalmic surgery anesthesia, it is vital that intraocular pressure (IOP) is controlled. Most anesthetic drugs affect IOP dose-dependently, and inhalational anesthetics dose-dependently decrease IOP. In this study, we compared the effects of desflurane and sevoflurane on IOP and hemodynamics in pediatric ophthalmic surgery. METHODS: Thirty eight pediatric patients from the age of 6 to 15 years, who were scheduled for strabismus surgery and entropion surgery, were randomized to be administered desflurane (group D, n = 19) or sevoflurane (group S, n = 19). IOPs and hemodynamic parameters were measured before induction of anesthesia (B), after induction but immediately before intubation (AI), 1 min after intubation (T1), 3 min after intubation (T3), and 5 min after intubation (T5). RESULTS: The mean arterial pressure (MAP) at T1 and heart rates (HRs) at T1 and T3 were significantly higher in group D than those in group S. There was no significant difference between the groups in IOP, cardiac index (CI) and stroke index (SI). There was a significant difference within the group in IOP, SI, MAP and HR. There was no significant difference within the group in CI. CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference between the groups in IOP and hemodynamic parameters. The two anesthetic agents maintained IOP and hemodynamic parameters in the normal range during anesthetic induction.
Anesthesia ; Anesthetics ; Arterial Pressure ; Entropion ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Intubation ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Isoflurane ; Methyl Ethers ; Reference Values ; Strabismus ; Stroke

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the current status of Internet websites dealing with atopic dermatitis and to evaluate the quality of their contents using an evaluation tool. METHODS: The words "atopic dermatitis" were searched with the four most commonly used Internet search engines between July and August of 2005. The searched websites included commercial medical instrument, oriental medicine, community (i.e., health portal), and medical institution sites. However, we assessed with the evaluation tool, the quality of the contents of only those sites that provided some description of atopic dermatitis-related symptoms, doctor consultations, and treatment and management. RESULTS: A total of 104 web sites were searched. Among them, commercial medical nstrument sites were the most common [53 sites (51%)], followed by oriental medicine sites [28 sites (26.9%)]. The quality of each of these 82 site's contents was analyzed. At the community sites, the purpose of the site's existence was clearer, but the reliability of information was relatively poor, as compared with the other site types. Among the various types of informations on atopic dermatitis, treatment and management, of the greatest interest to users, showed only a low-accuracy rating on the qualitative assessment. CONCLUSION: Commercial medical instrument sites predominated among the four types of site that providing atopic dermatitis-related information in internet. Having assessed the quality of contents of all of the four types of site, we showed that the accuracy of complementary alternative medical information was low. In this regard, it is deemed necessary to formulate a standard for finding and managing correct information.
Delivery of Health Care ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Internet ; Medicine, East Asian Traditional ; Referral and Consultation ; Search Engine

It has been reported that the particulate matter under 10 micrometer (PM10) has deleterious effects on respiratory health. The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of PM10 upon normal children's lung function. The subjects were 368 middle school students in two areas of Incheon Metropolitan City. One (Incheon) is in the central city and the other (Ganghwa) is in the suburbs. Air pollution data in the vicinities of two participating schools were obtained from monthly report of air quality from Korean Ministry of Environment in 2000. Pulmonary function testing (PFT) was done two times, the first one in March and the second one in December with the same students. We analyzed the relationship between the PM10 levels and pulmonary functions (FEV1, FVC) of the children. The monthly average of the PM10 level between the two areas showed no significant difference (55.3 vs. 52.3 microgram/m3 ). In both regions, the difference of the PM10 level between March and December was statistically significant (64 vs. 56 microgram/m3 in Incheon, 64 vs. 54 g/m 3 in Ganghwa). The findings of the PFT values in March were significantly lower than those values found in December for both regions. In conclusion, we suggest that PM10 has some adverse effect on the pulmonary function of normal children.
*Air Pollutants, Environmental ; Air Pollution ; Child ; Environmental Monitoring ; Female ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Korea ; Lung/*drug effects/*pathology ; Male ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Schools ; Seasons ; Vehicle Emissions

BACKGROUND: 2.7% sorbitol-0.54% mannitol has been selected as an alternative irrigating fluid during endoscopic surgery for its theoretical advantages. We compared the influence of 2.7% sorbitol-0.54% mannitol (Urosol(TM), CJ Pharma, Seoul, Korea) and 5% glucose as an irrigating solution for hysteroscopic myomectomy & polypectomy in the occurrence of associated complications. METHODS: Thirty patients scheduled for a hysteroscopic operation were included in a prospective randomized trial comparing 2.7% sorbitol-0.54% mannitol solution (Group S, n = 15) and 5% glucose (Group G, n = 15) as an irrigating fluid. We recorded the amount of the irrigating fluids, the amount of fluid intake, and the duration of the procedure. Serum sodium, chloride, potassium, glucose values, and serum osmolality were measured before (just after the induction, T1), during (when 2 L of irrigation fluid was infused, T2), and after (1 h after the end of the operation, T3) the hysteroscopic procedure. RESULTS: The mean volume of absorbed irrigating fluid was 185.0 +/- 73.5 ml in Group G and 175.4 +/- 50.5 ml in Group S. Transient hyperglycemia occurred in one patient of Group G. No differences were found in the intraoperative and postoperative levels of serum sodium, potassium, chloride, glucose and osmolality in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: There was no clinical evidence of hyponatremic hypoosmolality in any of the patients. We found no difference between 2.7% sorbitol-0.54% mannitol and 5% glucose as an irrigating fluid for hysteroscopic procedures with mild to moderate irrigant absorption.
Absorption ; Glucose ; Humans ; Hyperglycemia ; Hysteroscopy ; Mannitol ; Osmolar Concentration ; Plasma ; Potassium ; Potassium Chloride ; Prospective Studies ; Sodium

No abstract available.
Laparoscopy ; Respiratory Mechanics

Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma occurs in various organs including the upper respiratory tract, the base of the tongue, pharynx, larynx, breast, uterine cervix and anus. It is a rare tumor, but it must be distinguished from other malignancies because of its aggressive clinical behavior. Many cases present in the advanced stage at the time of diagnosis. We present here a case of esophageal basaloid squamous cancer that was diagnosed in 75-year-old male patient who had dysphagia and throat pain, and this was accompanied by squamous cell cancer of the tongue base, as was determined by laryngoscopic and esophagogastroscopic examination.
Aged ; Anal Canal ; Breast ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Cervix Uteri ; Deglutition Disorders ; Diagnosis ; Esophagus ; Female ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; Humans ; Larynx ; Male ; Neoplasms, Squamous Cell ; Pharynx ; Respiratory System ; Tongue*

The presence of severe pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in patients with atrial septal defect (ASD) is still thought to preclude shunt closure, although there are several reports of good clinical outcomes after vasodilator therapy. We report the case of a young woman with ASD and severe PAH who was able to successfully undergo percutaneous shunt closure following 1 year use of the oral endothelin receptor antagonist, bosentan.
Female ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial* ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary* ; Receptors, Endothelin* ; Sulfonamides

BACKGROUND: A Stellate ganglion block (SGB) is a sympathetic nerve block method which has been used most frequently in pain clinics due to its wide range of indications. However, SGB leads to regional sympathetic denervation of the heart and to changes in the hemodynamics. The aim of this study was to compare hemodynamic effects as well as echocardiographic changes after a left SGB (LSGB). METHODS: Fourteen healthy male volunteers were studied. The LSGB was performed with 1% mepicacaine 6 ml. Arterial blood pressure, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic variables were measured before the LSGB, 15 and 30 minutes after the LSGB. RESULTS: Arterial blood pressure, ejection fraction and transmitral inflow velocity variables showed no significant changes compared to pre-LSGB values. P-P interval increased significantly 15 minutes after the LSGB, and the Q-T interval increased significantly 30 minutes after the LSGB. The diastolic pulmonary venous flow velocity decreased significantly 15 minutes after the LSGB. CONCLUSIONS: These results showed that a LSGB decreased the heart rate without detrimental changes of left ventricular relaxation in healthy male volunteers.
Arterial Pressure ; Autonomic Nerve Block ; Echocardiography ; Electrocardiography ; Heart ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Male ; Pain Clinics ; Relaxation ; Stellate Ganglion* ; Sympathectomy ; Ventricular Function, Left* ; Volunteers