No abstract available.
Cause of Death* ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Renal Dialysis* ; Survival Rate*

OBJECTIVES: After introduction of anti-HCV assay as screening test of blood donors, the proportion of trasfusion-associated hepatitis C declined, but the proportion of hepatitis C patients with a history of parenteral drug use increased, HCV, HRV, and H1V share similiar modes of transmission and prevalent among intravenous drug users in America. Recently the number of drug users in Korea has been increasing. Therefore we investigated the prevalence of HCV, HBV, and HIV among drug users in our country. In addition several recent reports showed that anti-HCV were freguently positive in the chronic alcoholics and HCV might play a role in the development of severe liver disease in these patients. We assessed the prevalence of anti-HCV and its re1ationship to the severity of liver disease in chronic alcoholic patients. METHODS: The prevalence of anti-HCV, HHsAg, and anti-HIV among 185 drug users who were admitted at Taegu Medical Center from January 1994 to December 1995 has been studied using ELISA and the history of drug use including sort, route, and duration investigated. In addition, We studied the prevalence of anti-HCV and its relationship to the severity of liver disease in 73 chronic alcoholics. RESULTS: 1) Among 176 methamphetamine intravenous users, the prevalence of anti-HCV was 80%, that of HBsAg was 4%, and there was none with anti-HIV positive in 131 cases tested. Of the 9 marihuana smokers, all of them were negative in anti-HCV or anti-HIV, and only 1 caese(11%) was HBsAg positive. 2) Longer duration of intravenous drug use was significantly associated with anti-HCV seropositivity, Elevated ALT level was found in 80 cases(57%) of the anti-HCV seropositive 140 cases and their mean was 971U/L. 3) The group with higher optical density of anti-HCV showed inclination of elevated ALT level; however there was no significant correlation between anti-HCV optical density and ALT level. 4) The prevalence of anti-HCV was 11% in 73 chronic alcoholic patients, and that of HBsAg was 4%. The seropositivity of anti-HCV correlated with the severity of liver disease: none in patients with no liver problem or fatty liver, 12.5% in patients with chronic liver disease, 1996 in patients with cirrhosis classified by clinical, biochemical, and ultrasonographic findings, However the presence of anti-HCV was not associated with impaired liver function tests in chronic liver disease and cirrhosis groups. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of anti-HCV among intravenous drug users in Korea was 80%, similiar to that in America, By contrast the prevalence of HBsAg was only 4%, lower than that of general population. And there was no HIV-infected cases among intravenous drug users in our study. The seropositivity of anti-HCV among chronic alcoholic patients was 11%. And increased prevalence of anti-HCV in alcoholic patients with severe liver disease might suggest that hepatitis C virus is involved in liver damage in these patients.
Alcoholics* ; Americas ; Blood Donors ; Cannabis ; Daegu ; Drug Users* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fatty Liver ; Fibrosis ; Hepacivirus ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis C* ; Hepatitis* ; Herpesvirus 1, Cercopithecine ; HIV* ; Humans* ; Korea* ; Liver ; Liver Diseases ; Liver Function Tests ; Mass Screening ; Methamphetamine ; Prevalence*

19 cases of non-pineal intracranial germ cell tumors were reviewed retrospectively with both radiologic andclinical featurses. The results were as follows: 1. The age distribution was 8 to 32 year old (16 year old of meanage) and the sex distribution shows male predominence(15:4). 2. The histopathologic diagnosis included 11 cases ofgeminoma, 2 cases of mixed germ cell tumor, 1 case of embryonal cell carcinoma and 5 cases of unknown. 3. Thelocation of tumors was the suprasellar region in 8 cases, the left basal ganglia and thalamus in 5 cases, and theright frontal lobe in 1 case. Among 11 cases of geminoma, 6 cases involve the suprasellar region and 3 cases theleft basal ganglia and thalamus. 4. In clinical features, there were visual disturbance, diabetes insipidus,increased ICP signs, motor weakness, hormonal disorders, and personal changes in order. 5. In tumor marker studyof 6 cases of geminoma, 5 cases show increase in HCG, titie, but all 6 cases were normal in AFP titer. 6. In brainCT, most of all revealed well-defined homogeneous high density with or without small central low density andhomogenous enhancement at solid portion,and there was calcification in only case with mixed germ cell tumor.
Age Distribution ; Basal Ganglia ; Brain ; Diagnosis ; Frontal Lobe ; Germ Cells ; Humans ; Male ; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal ; Retrospective Studies ; Sex Distribution ; Thalamus

A new benzodiazepine derivative, Rohypnol (Ro 5-4200), was used for management of general anesthesia with nitrous oxide, narcotics and muscle relaxants to evaluate the effect on the cardiovascular and respiratory system in 35 surgical patients. In each patient, we observed the blood pressure, pulse rate, minute volume and arterial blood gas analysis and also local effects, postoperative recovery state and amnesia. The results are as follows; 1) Induction dosage of Rohypnol was not constant as other benzodiazepines. 2) Rohypnol showed a little effect an the cardiovascular system. 3) The effects of Rohypnol on the respiratory system were negligible but slight depression was seen. 4) If respiration became shallower or apnea occured during induction with Rohypnol, it was preferred to use assisted or controlled ventilation with 100% oxygen. 5) It was thought better to give oxygen through a nasal catheter for prevention of decreased PaO2 in recovery room. 6) When we used the non-depolarizing muscular relaxants instead of S.C.C. for intubation, we observed that a significantly decreased amount of relaxant was needed for maintenance of general anesthesia.
Amnesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Apnea ; Balanced Anesthesia* ; Benzodiazepines ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiovascular System ; Catheters ; Depression ; Flunitrazepam* ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Intubation ; Narcotics ; Nitrous Oxide ; Oxygen ; Recovery Room ; Respiration ; Respiratory System ; Ventilation

Sine 1961, Dr. Safar postulated the new form of patient, so called "progressive patient care", the hospital service in all countries are fashioned with intensive therapy unit. Particulary the- World Federation Society of Anesthesiologists who have discusincerly at several International congress. we were interested from the literature and visited England, Denmark, United States. and Japan. Of course in Korea, the intensive therapy unit developed from the recovery room and is thus intimately oonnected with anesthesiologists. Here we reviewed with literature and introduced the activities af the intensive therapy unit of Hanyang University Hospital from May 1972 to October 1973, from the point view of the definition, building design, location, capacity, equipment, staff organization and charge of patient, several problems and regulations. Furthermore we recommended with the following new ideas for establishment in hospital of an intensive therapy. unit. a. The design should be arranged on the same floor (OR-RR-Anes.-1TU) and in central part of building. b. Several isolation rooms should be made in 1-T-U. c. One central monitoring system will serve each units. d. The 1-T-U equipment should be used with wall trolly system. e. The regulations of 1-T-U should be noted and advocated by all hospital members. f. The beds in 1-T-U should be arranged with open system.
Denmark ; England ; Humans ; Japan ; Korea ; Recovery Room ; Social Control, Formal ; United States

No abstract available.
Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive*

Malignancy-related cerebral embolism, which is generally attributed to hypercoagulability, is an uncommon cause of ischemic stroke. However, ischemic stroke developed with intracardiac extension of lung cancer has rarely been reported. We report a case of acute embolic stroke caused by pulmonary adenocarcinoma that invaded the right inferior pulmonary vein and extended into the left atrium. Microembolism developing as a result of lung cancer may have been the cause of stroke in this case.
Adenocarcinoma ; Cerebral Infarction ; Heart Atria ; Intracranial Embolism ; Lung Neoplasms ; Pulmonary Veins ; Stroke ; Thrombophilia

No abstract available.
Atrioventricular Block*

Warfarin is widely used for the prevention of cerebral infarction, especially in patients with atrial fibrillation or artificial valve. Although hemorrhagic problems are well known, skin necrosis is a rare complication. Failures of early diagnosis or management may lead to serious results. We report a case of skin necrosis induced by warfarin therapy.
Anticoagulants ; Atrial Fibrillation ; Cerebral Infarction ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Necrosis ; Skin ; Warfarin

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is suggested to be strongly associated with ischemic strokes. Risk factors, stroke subtypes, stroke lesion distribution, and the outcome of SDB in stroke patients remain unclear in Korea. METHODS: We prospectively studied 293 patients (159 men, 134 women; age 68.4+/-10.5) with acute ischemic stroke. Cardiovascular risk factors, stroke severity, sleep-related stroke onset, distribution of stroke lesions, and 3-month score on the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) were assessed. Stroke severity was assessed by the US National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and the mRS. The apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was determined 6.3+/-2.2 days after stroke onset with the Apnea Link portable sleep apnea monitoring device. RESULTS: The prevalence of SDB (defined as an AHI of > or =10) was 63.1% (111 men, 74 women). Those in the SDB group were older, had higher NIHSS and mRS scores, greater bulbar weakness, and a higher incidence of sleep-associated stroke onset. Among risk-factor profiles, alcohol consumption and atrial fibrillation were significantly related to SDB. The stroke outcome was worse in patients with SDB than in those without SDB. The lesion location and specific stroke syndrome were not correlated with SDB. CONCLUSIONS: SDB is very common in acute cerebral infarction. Different risk-factor profiles and sleep-related stroke onsets suggest SDB as a cause of ischemic stroke. The higher NIHSS score and greater bulbar involvement in the SDB group seem to show the influence of ischemic stroke on the increased SDB prevalence.
Alcohol Drinking ; Aluminum Hydroxide ; Apnea ; Atrial Fibrillation ; Carbonates ; Cerebral Infarction ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; National Institutes of Health (U.S.) ; Prevalence ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Sleep Apnea Syndromes ; Stroke