Most authorities including WHO recommended immununizing infants with BCG as early as possible in areas prevalent with tuberculosis, however the optimal time for immunization has not well been characterized. Therefore the investigation was undertaken by vaccinating various infant groups of different ages with BCG and subsequently evaluating for adverse effects and tuberculin reactions, in order to contribute to undestanding the optimal time for immunization. Four hundred eighty three infants from the newborn nursery and the well baby clinic of Hanyang University Hospital who had no family history of tuberculosis were divided into three groups; group I of infants immunized within 7 days after birth, group II of infants immunized at about 1 month of age and group III of infants immunized at about 3 months of age. To each infant 0.1 ml of BCG(Institute Merieux, France) was administered intradermaly and approximately 3 months later tuberculin skin test using 5 TU PPD (NIH, Korea) was performed. Adverse reactions following BCG vaccination such as temperature elevation, induration alone or with suppuration at or near the injection site, and lymph node enlargement were also analyzed. The summary of the results is as follows. 1) Distribution of diameters of induration on tuberculin skin test illustrated incomplete bimodal configuration in all three different age groups. The means 2 standard deviations of diameters of indurations distributed on the main bells were 10.07 4.52 mm in group I, 10.65 3.82 mm in group II, and 10.83 5.08 mm in group III, and were not significantly different. 2) Criteria for positive tuberculin reaction was diameters of indurations equal to or greater than 6mm, 2 standard deviations below the mean values of diameters of indurations on the main bells. 3) The positive tuberculin reaction rates of 85.8% in group II and 88.6% in group III were significantly greater than 74.1% in group I. 4) Incidence of complications following BCG vaccination including temperature elevation, induration with suppuration, and localized lymphadenopathy was not different among three groups and the serious complications such as temperature elevation and lymphadenopathy were minimal. The data indicate that it is appropriate to immunize infants with BCG at about one month of age and the incidence of complications following BCG vaccination was not different among three infant groups of different ages.
Humans ; Immunization ; Incidence ; Infant* ; Infant, Newborn ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Mycobacterium bovis* ; Nurseries ; Parturition ; Skin Tests* ; Skin* ; Suppuration ; Tuberculin Test ; Tuberculin* ; Tuberculosis ; Vaccination*

BACKGROUNDS: Percutaneous radiofrequency neurotomy of posterior primary ramus has been in use as a treatment for persistent, mechanical low back pain for two decades. However, there has been limited studies regarding to prognostic factors related to outcome. We report our experience with at least 2-year follow up with special aftention on prognostic factors. METHODS: Of total 228 patients who underwent percutaneous radiofrequency neurotomy (PRN) of posterior primary ramus for refractory low back pain during last 3 years, 128 patients whose pain was considered to be originated from facets joints or their surrounding soft tissue and responded to temporary blocks were assigned to a group II. All patients had more than 6 months of pain. These patients were compared with 100 patients to whom PRN were provided for chronic nonspecific low back pain without all inclusion criteria (Group I). RF procedures were done under local anesthesia with C-arm intensifier guidance. Pain reliefs were estimated at 1week, 1month, 6months and 2 years using visual analog scale(VAS). For patients with more that 50% reduction of previous pain was regarded as positive responder. Various clinical variables such as age, sex, symptom duration, types of pain, bilaterality, and previous surgery were studied for prognostic factors. RESULTS: Positive responders were 56% at 1week, 46% at lmonth, 18% at 6months, and 13% at 2years after PRN in group I, and 78.9% at lweek, 75.4% at lmonth, 62.5% at 6months, and 54.7% at 2years in group II. Some variables were found to be significantly related to outcome including prominent local tenderness, percussion tenderness, combination of symptoms with pain on gefting up, extension, transitional movement, pain radiating to buttock and/or posterior thigh, and good immediate response. Age, sex, symptom duration, bilaterality, imaging study results, previous lumbar surgery, and degrees of pain relief from diagnostic block were not related to outcome. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that PRN of posterior primary ramus has a moderate overall long-term beneficial effect, with no morbidity in our series. But, the long-term good results will be anticipated only in properly selected patients with low back pain originating from facet joints and surrounding structures.
Anesthesia, Local ; Buttocks ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Joints ; Low Back Pain* ; Percussion ; Thigh ; Zygapophyseal Joint

No abstract available.
Congenital Abnormalities* ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing*

No abstract available.
Mandibular Fractures ; Osteomyelitis ; Transplants

No abstract available.
Blood Pressure* ; Metoclopramide* ; Rabbits*

Hemangioma of the urinary bladder is a benign, congenital tumor that accounts for 0.6% of all primary bladder neoplasms. The most common symptom is gross hematuria. However, bladder hemangioma as a cause of massive hematuria is rare. The management of patients with hemangioma is controversial and numerous therapeutic approaches are available. Herein, we describe the use of selective arterial embolization to terminate an episode of massive hematuria in an 87-year-old woman with bladder hemangioma.
Female ; Humans ; Hemangioma

No abstract available.
Cutaneous Fistula ; Fistula*

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic surgery is known to be safe and have low morbidity. Herein, all the complications of retroperitoneal laparoscopic procedures were evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 120 retroperitoneal laparoscopic surgeries were performed between January 2002 and December 2005. Every abnormal event was investigated retrospectively, and classified in detail according to the surgical steps and severity. RESULTS: The complication ratio (total complications/total surgeries) was 0.38 (46/120). Open conversion was performed in 5 (4.2%). A transfusion was performed in 8 (6.7%) patients. 5 patients (4.2%) had neuromuscular problem related to position and 9 (7.5%) had access and insufflation related complications, including subcutaneous emphysema, abdominal wall hemorrhage, pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum. The intraoperative complications (5.8%) included peritoneal tearing, vascular injury and diaphragmatic injury. Postoperative complications occurred in 25 patients (20.8%), including pleural effusion, atelectasis/pulmonary infiltrate, wound dehiscence, paralytic ileus, retroperitoneal hematoma and urine leakage. 5 complications (4.2%) were classified as being major; main vascular injury (1.7%), urine leakage (1.7%) and diaphragmatic injury (0.8%). No serious complications, such as death, bowel injury, deep vein thrombosis, with pulmonary embolism, or gas embolism occurred. Other complications (41/46) were minor and managed conservatively, without any problem. CONCLUSIONS: The most common complications of retroperitoneal laparoscopic surgery seem to occur during the postoperative period, and are nonspecific to retroperitoneoscopy. Most complications are subclinical problems, which can be managed by conservative treatment. Retroperitoneal laparoscopic surgery is a safe procedure, with a low potential for complications.
Abdominal Wall ; Embolism, Air ; Hematoma ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Insufflation ; Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction ; Intraoperative Complications ; Laparoscopy* ; Mediastinal Emphysema ; Pleural Effusion ; Pneumothorax ; Postoperative Complications ; Postoperative Period ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Retroperitoneal Space ; Retrospective Studies ; Subcutaneous Emphysema ; Vascular System Injuries ; Venous Thrombosis ; Wounds and Injuries

The present study was undertaken to examine the influence of glucocorticoids on the secretory responses of catecholamines (CA) evoked by acetylcholine (ACh), DMPP, McN-A-343, excess K+ and Bay-K-8644 from the isolated perfused rat adrenal gland and to clarify the mechanism of its action. The perfusion of the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone (10-100 micrometer) into an adrenal vein for 20 min produced a dose-dependent inhibition in CA secretion evoked by ACh (5.32 mM), excess K+ (a membrane-depolarizor 56 mM), DMPP (a selective nicotinic receptor agonist, 100 micrometer for 2 min), McN-A-343 (a muscarinic receptor agonist, 100 micrometer for 4 min), Bay-K-8644 (a calcium channel activator, 10 micrometer for 4 min) and cyclopiazonic acid (a releaser of intracellular Ca2+ 10 micrometer for 4 min). Similarly, the preperfusion of hydrocortisone (30 micrometer) for 20 min also attenuated significantly the secretory responses of CA evoked by nicotinic and muscarinic receptor stimulation as well as membrane-depolarization, Ca2+ channel activation and the release of intracellular Ca2+. Furthermore, even in the presence of betamethasone (30micrometer), CA secretion evoked by ACh, excess K+, DMPP and McN-A-343 was also markedly inhibited. Taken together, the present results suggest that glucocorticoids cause the marked inhibition of CA secretion evoked by both cholinergic nicotinic and muscarinic receptor stimulation from the isolated perfused rat adrenal gland, indicating strongly that this inhibitory effect may be mediated by inhibiting influx of extracellular calcium as well as the release of intracellular calcium in the rat adrenomedullary chromaffin cells.
(4-(m-Chlorophenylcarbamoyloxy)-2-butynyl)trimethylammonium Chloride ; 3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-, Methyl ester ; Acetylcholine ; Adrenal Glands ; Adrenal Medulla* ; Animals ; Betamethasone ; Calcium ; Calcium Channels ; Catecholamines ; Chromaffin Cells ; Dexamethasone ; Dimethylphenylpiperazinium Iodide ; Glucocorticoids* ; Hydrocortisone ; Perfusion ; Rats* ; Receptors, Muscarinic ; Receptors, Nicotinic ; Veins

Background: This study investigated the effect of intrathecal Sec-O-glucosylhamaudol (SOG) on the p38/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathways, nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB)-related inflammatory responses, and autophagy in a spinal nerve ligation (SNL)-induced neuropathic pain model. Methods: The continuous administration of intrathecal SOG via an osmotic pump was performed on male Sprague–Dawley rats (n = 50) with SNL-induced neuropathic pain. Rats were randomized into four groups after the 7th day following SNL and treated for 2 weeks as follows (each n = 10): Group S, sham-operated; Group D, 70% dimethylsulfoxide; Group SOG96, SOG at 96 μg/day; and Group SOG192, SOG at 192 μg/day. The paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) test was performed to assess neuropathic pain. Western blotting of the spinal cord (L5) was performed to measure changes in the expression of signaling pathway components, cytokines, and autophagy. Additional studies with naloxone challenge (n = 10) and cells were carried out to evaluate the potential mechanisms underlying the effects of SOG. Results: Continuous intrathecal SOG administration increased the PWT with p38/JNK mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway and NF-κB signaling pathway inhibition, which induced a reduction in proinflammatory cytokines with the concomitant downregulation of autophagy. Conclusions SOG alleviates mechanical allodynia, and its mechanism is thought to be related to the regulation of p38/JNK MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways, associated with autophagy during neuroinflammatory processes after SNL.