BACKGROUND: Provision of early adequate chest compression remains a standard of care for optimal outcome in cardiopulmonary arrest. Inadequate chest compression during CPR may result in the insufficient blood flow to preserve critical organ function. Therefore, authors performed this study to characterize fatigue-induced deterioration in the adequacy of closed-chest compression performed over period 5 minutes and to determine whether CPR providers recognize the effects of fatigue on compression adequacy. METHOD: Prospectively we carried out the study with an electronic CPR teaching mannequin(ResusciAnnie with Skillmeter; Laerdal) placed on a patient stretcher. The mannequin was equipped with a real-time remote display that records the numbers of total and correct compressions. Compression are judged as correct by the mannequin if both depth and placement are appropriate in keeping with standard advanced cardiac life support guidelines. Our study subjects were 27 nurses and doctors, each with certification of BLS and experience of CPR in ED. Each subject performed a 5 minute session of chest compressions. Also subjects were asked to verbally indicate the point during their 5 minute compression period at which they felt too fatigued to provide effective compressions. For statistical analysis, one-way repeated-measures ANOVA and regression test was used. RESULT: The number of total compressions attempted per minute did not decrease significantly(P=.565). But we found 81.0% of compressions performed during the first 1 minute to be correct. The percentages for minutes 2 through 5 were decreased significantly as follows: 73.0%, 68.0%, 65.0%, 57.0%(P=.0003). Regression analysis revealed a decrement in compression adequacy of 13.0% per minutes after the first 1 minute of compression. The time of indicated fatigue was 220+/-29 seconds(mean+/-SD) CONCLUSION: Although compression rate was maintained over time, chest compression quality declined significantly over the study period. Because CPR providers could not recognize their ability to provide proper compression, cardiac arrest team leaders should carefully monitor compression adequacy and change the CPR providers each 3 minutes during CPR to assure maximally effective care for patients receiving CPR.
Advanced Cardiac Life Support ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation* ; Certification ; Fatigue ; Heart Arrest ; Humans ; Manikins ; Prospective Studies ; Standard of Care ; Thorax

BACKGROUND: To find out characteristics and classification of toxic agents by clinical analysis of pediatric poisoning and to determine the clinical availability of grading by using MSPC score. METHOD: Subjects were patients under 15 years exposed to toxic agents, who visited Ajou university hospital emergency center from June, 1994 to October, 1997. The study was performed retrospectively. RESULTS: The subjects were 126 cases and male to female sex ratio was 1.2:1. Mean age was 29+/-30 months old. The most common route of exposure was ingestion, following contact, inhalation and bite. The most common reason was mistake by the patient, following mistake by caregiver, suicide attempt and accident. The MSPC score distribution of symptomatic patient was as follows; 1 point: 26 cases(63.4%), 2 point: 12 cases(29.2%), 3 point: 1 case(2.4%), 4 point: 2 cases(4.8%). The classification of exposed poison was as follows; therapeutic drugs: 29 cases(23.0%), non-therapeutic drugs: 97 cases(73.0%). The most common exposed poison was household products: 23 patients(18.3%) were admitted to hospital. CONCLUSION: There was statistically significant difference in the classification of poison, MSPC score, treatment modality at hospital, first follow up period after discharge between admitted group and non-admitted group. There was statistically significant difference in the reason of exposure, route of exposure, MSPC score, admission period according to patient's age. severity grading according to MSPC score is regarded as an available method to determine the modality of management.
Caregivers ; Classification ; Eating ; Emergencies ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Household Products ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Male ; Poisoning* ; Retrospective Studies ; Sex Ratio ; Suicide

The authors analysed statically 420 Cases of the ocular trauma among 35,460 patients who visited to the emergency department, from Jul. 1995 to Jun. 1996. Ocular trauma is one of the commonest causes of eye diseases and blindness, but its patterns and incidences are variable according to the environment. A large number of patients can be readily treated in the emergency department. Prevention is, of course, the best management, but when an ocular injury occurs, proper emergency treatment can often prevent permanent damage.
Blindness ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Emergency Treatment ; Eye Diseases ; Humans ; Incidence

OBJECTIVE: Tyrosine kinase inhibitors may be useful in the management of cerebral vasospasm. It has not yet reported whether potassium channel plays a role in tyrosine kinase inhibitors-induced vascular relaxation of cerebral artery. This study is undertaken to clarify the role of potassium channel in tyrosine kinase inhibitors-induced vascular relaxation, and to investigate the effect of tyrosine kinase inhibitors on outward potassium currents in freshly isolated smooth muscle cells from rat basilar artery. METHODS: The isolation of rat basilar smooth muscle cells was performed by special techniques. The whole cell currents were recoreded by whole cell patch clamp technique in freshly isolated smooth muscle cells from rat basilar artery. RESULTS: In present study, genistein(n=10), tyrphostin A-23(n=10), A-25(n=10) 30microM into bath solution increased the amplitude of the outward K+ current which was completely blocked by large conductance calcium-activated potassium channel(BK(Ca)) blocker, iberiotoxin(0.1microM), and calcium chelator, BAPTA, in whole cell mode. In contrast, diadzein 30microM(n=10), inactive analogue of genistein, did not increase the amplitude of the outward K+ current. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as genistein, tyrphostin A-23 and A-25 increase the BK(Ca) channel activity in cerebral basilar smooth muscle cells, thereby contributing to the relaxation of cerebral artery.
Animals ; Basilar Artery ; Baths ; Calcium ; Cerebral Arteries ; Genistein ; Muscle, Smooth* ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle* ; Potassium ; Potassium Channels ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases* ; Rats* ; Relaxation ; Tyrosine* ; Vasospasm, Intracranial

This study was performed to examine the combined effects of gamma linolenic acid and isoflavone supplementation on menopausal symptoms and serum lipids in 73 postmenopausal women. A total subjects were randomly assigned to isoflavone (30 mg) + gamma-linolenic acid (110 mg) group or placebo group. We measured menopausal symptoms by modified Kupperman Index (KI) and oxidized LDL, lipid peroxides, blood components and anthropometric parameters before and after the 12 week intervention period. After the 12 weeks of supplementation, supplement group and placebo group showed a significant reduction of modified kupperman index (p < 0.001). Isoflavone (30 mg) + gamma-linolenic acid (110 mg) supplement group showed a significant reduction of oxidized LDL cholesterol concentration (p = 0.006) whereas placebo group did not show significant change. Isoflavone and gamma-linolenic acid consumption did not significantly affect plasma concentrations of total, LDL, HDL cholesterol, triglyceride, apo A1, B and blood components. The result of present study demonstrated the supplementation of 30 mg isoflavone and 110 mg gamma-linolenic acid per day for 12 weeks may protect LDL cholesterol from oxidative stress.
Apolipoprotein A-I ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Female ; gamma-Linolenic Acid ; Humans ; Lipid Peroxides ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; Oxidative Stress ; Plasma

Purpose: To investigate normal location of the peroneus longus tendon (PL) in the cuboid groove by evaluating it between ankles with no significant abnormality (asymptomatic group) and those with retromalleolar PL dislocation (dislocation group) using three-dimensional isotropic fast spin-echo (3D-FSE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the ankle. Materials and Methods: Thirty-six and 32 3D-FSE ankle MRI were assigned to the asymptomatic group and the dislocation group, respectively. Using multiplanar reformatted 3D-FSE, qualitative PL location (i.e., outside, overlying, and inside in relation to the cuboid groove), quantitative PL location (i.e., distance between the proximal margins of PL and cuboid groove), and cuboid groove size were measured in lateral, middle, and medial levels of the cuboid groove. Results: In the asymptomatic group, 64%, 42%, and 11%, respectively, had the outside or overlying-located PL in lateral, middle, and medial levels of the cuboid groove and the quantitative location gradually decreased from lateral to medial level.Qualitative and quantitative PL locations were not significantly different between the asymptomatic group and dislocation group. Cuboid groove size showed significant negative correlation with quantitative PL location in both groups. Conclusion Outside- or overlying-located PL in lateral and middle levels of the cuboid groove would be a normal finding, regardless of PL status at the retromalleolar level.

OBJECTIVE: Papaverine has been used in treating vasospasm following subarachnoid hemorrhage(SAH). However, its action mechanism for cerebral vascular relaxation is not clear. Potassium channels are closely related to the contraction and relaxation of cerebral smooth muscle. Therefore, to identify the role of potassium and calcium channels in papaverine-induced vascular relaxation, we examine the effect of papaverine on potassium channels in freshly isolated smooth muscle cells from rat basilar artery. METHODS: The isolation of rat basilar smooth muscle cells was performed by special techniques. The whole cell currents were recorded by whole cell patch clamp technique in freshly isolated smooth muscle cells from rat basilar artery. Papaverine was added to the bath solution. RESULTS: Papaverine of 100 microM into bath solution increased the amplitude of the outward K+ current which was completely blocked by BKCa(large conductance calcium dependent potassium channels)blocker, IBX(iberiotoxin), and calcium chealator, BAPTA(1, 2-bis(o-aminophenoxy)ethane-N, N, N', N'-tetraacetic acid), in whole cell mode. CONCLUSION: These results strongly suggest that potassium channels may play roles in papaverine-induced vascular relaxation in rat basilar artery.
Animals ; Basilar Artery ; Baths ; Calcium ; Calcium Channels ; Muscle, Smooth* ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle* ; Papaverine* ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Potassium ; Potassium Channels ; Rats* ; Relaxation

OBJECTIVE: The authors analyze the clinical characteristics of the geriatric brain tumors and suggest the treatment modality. METHODS: Patients older than 65years, managed between Jan 1980 and Feb 2002 in our department, were included in this study and the number of patients was 315. Age, sex, medical history, performance scale, treatment modality, morbidity and mortality as well as the incidence of brain tumor in this age group were analyzed. RESULTS: Geriatric brain tumors were comprised of 7.8% of the adult brain tumors. The mean age was 68.7 years and male to female ratio was 1 : 1.3. The most common one was meningioma(114, 36.2%), followed by metastatic tumor(49, 15.6%), high grade glioma(39, 12.4%), schwannoma(38, 12%) and pituitary adenoma(35, 10.5%) in the order of frequency. The incidence of pre-existing disease, such as hypertension(25%), caridiovascular disease(15%), diabetes melitus(12%) was high. Surgical outcome was good with acceptable operative morbidity and mortality rate 26% and 3% respectively. Frequent postoperative surgical complications were tumor bed bleeding and wound infection. During perioperative course, medical complications such as cardiovascular problem, delirium, pneumonia and sepsis were common. CONCLUSION: Incidence of combined medical problem in the geriatric patients was considerablly high. However, in the case of surgically accesible benign tumor or even malignant tumor, surgical treatment should be considered.
Adult ; Brain Neoplasms* ; Brain* ; Delirium ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Mortality ; Pneumonia ; Preexisting Condition Coverage ; Sepsis ; Wound Infection

The mechanism of the loosening after arthroplasty is considered that micromotion makes a gap between implant and bone, the subsidence of implant and osteolysis around the implant. The loosening of femoral component after total knee arthroplasty(TKA) might be related to the improper support of posterior condylar area, the causes of which may be inaccurate osteotomy, improper cementing technique and poor bone quality, etc. The authors found four cases of flexed displacement and osteolysis around the femoral component after TKA. The types of implant were one case of PS type and three cases of High Flex PS type. Revision arthroplasty was done in three patients who had severe clinical symptoms with diffuse bone loss around the distal femur. We evaluated the mechanism of the early loosening by clinical and radiologic assessment of four patients.
Arthroplasty* ; Femur ; Humans ; Knee* ; Osteolysis ; Osteotomy

Background: Cholecystitis is an important risk factor for gallbladder cancer, but the bile microbiome and its association with gallbladder disease has not been investigated fully.We aimed to analyze the bile microbiome in normal conditions, chronic cholecystitis, and gallbladder cancer, and to identify candidate bacteria that play an important role in gallbladder carcinogenesis. Methods: We performed metagenome sequencing on bile samples of 10 healthy individuals, 10 patients with chronic cholecystitis, and 5 patients with gallbladder cancer, and compared the clinical, radiological, and pathological characteristics of the participants. Results: No significant bacterial signal was identified in the normal bile. The predominant dysbiotic bacteria in both chronic cholecystitis and gallbladder cancer were those belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family. Klebsiella increased significantly in the order of normal, chronic cholecystitis, and gallbladder cancer. Patients with chronic cholecystitis and dysbiotic microbiome patterns had larger gallstones and showed marked epithelial atypia, which are considered as precancerous conditions. Conclusion We investigated the bile microbiome in normal, chronic cholecystitis, and gallbladder cancer. We suggest possible roles of Enterobacteriaceae, including Klebsiella, in gallbladder carcinogenesis. Our findings reveal a possible link between a dysbiotic bile microbiome and the development of chronic calculous cholecystitis and gallbladder cancer.