No abstract available.
Cell Line* ; Humans*

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by a severe reduction in the number of circulating platelets. Corticosteroid therapy, which has been used in ITP for many years, has produced a complete or partial response rate of 65% to 75%, although sustained remissions have been reported in only 18% to 32% of the patients. The purpose of the present study is to define response to each treatment and ultimate outcome of adults with ITP. METHOD: A clinical study was done on 35 cases of ITP who had admitted to the department of Internal Medicine, Yeungnam University Hospital from June 1983 to July 1996. The response of each treatment modalities was based on criteria of Defino and Cooperative Latin American Group on Hemostasis and Thrombosis. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 41.9 years old and female to male ratio was 1:0.6 (female:22 cases, male:13 cases). The complete response rate to intravenous gamma-globulin as early therapy was obtained in 72% of the patients and the duration to platelet count above 50,000/ microliter was 3 days after intravenous gamma-globulin therapy. Duration of response was 15 days. The CCR (continuing complete response) to corticosteroid was obtained in 16% of the patients, and no CCR to reinduction with corticosteroid was observed. The CR to splenectomy was obtained in 85% of the patients. The overall results of all therapeutic modalities were CCR 43%, TCR (temporary complete response) 20%, PR (partial response) 31%, and NR (no response) 6%. CONCLUSION: This analysis of ITP in adults suggests that splenectomy remains as the most effective treatment and intravenous gamma-globulin is effective for rapid elevation of platelet count.
Adult* ; Female ; gamma-Globulins ; Hemostasis ; Humans ; Internal Medicine ; Male ; Platelet Count ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic* ; Secondary Prevention ; Splenectomy ; Thrombosis

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is firstly reported in China in 2011. Thereafter it is reported an infectious disease in Japan and Korea. It is caused by bunyavirus, called SFTS virus (SFTSV). The main vector of SFTS is Haemaphysalis longicornis tick. We investigated the distribution and detection of SFTSV in ticks collected from the environment using the dragging method and dry ice fogging method from May to November 2014 in Jeollanam-do, Korea. Sampling was taken from the province Suncheon, Gokseong, Boseong, Goheung where patients have occurred in 2013 and Gurye as control. Among the total 3,048 ticks collected, 3,030 ticks were H. longicornis (99.4%) and 18 were Amblyomma testudinarium. H. longicornis was collected 1,330 ticks in Gokseong, 1,188 ticks in Boseong, 240 ticks in Suncheon, 150 ticks in Goheung and 140 ticks in Gurye. Developmental stages by month of H. longicornis were revealed that nymph (92%) was collected from May to June, adult (30%) and nymph (70%) in July, and 93% of larvae from September to October. These results showed the different dominant stage of ticks according to seasons. However, no SFTSV-specific gene was detected in 3,030 ticks of H. longicornis.
Adult ; China ; Communicable Diseases ; Dry Ice ; Fever* ; Humans ; Japan ; Jeollanam-do* ; Korea* ; Larva ; Methods ; Nymph ; Orthobunyavirus ; Seasons ; Thrombocytopenia* ; Ticks* ; Weather

The morphological change of pelvis in obstetrical part is very important for the partruition and its analysis is also critical in anthropological part studying the morphological differences between male and female pelvises by age. The measurement of dry bones is currently used for analyzing the changes, but this method has some difficulties including in sampling the dry bones. To solve this problem and analyze the morphological changes of pelvis accurately, we used the X -ray photographic films showing whole pelvis, vertebrae, and femur. The whole pelvis and proximal femur's X -ray photographies were taken from 506 individuals who were over 20 - year old age, non -pregnant, and normal posture Korean females. And the several values from the photographies were measured for analysis including maximum pelvic breadth (MPB), sacral breadth (SB), transverse diameter of pelvic inlet (TD), distance between ischial spines (ISD), distance between femoral heads (IHD), and distance between greater trochanters of femur (ITD). The results revealed that the TD values were highly correlated to other pelvic items, but not to ages, suggesting that TD is not anatomically changed to the correlation of parturition times. Also, the IHD values were highly related to the ITD and TD values, but the ISD values had relatively low correlations with MPB and ITD values. Depending on ages, the MPB values were gradually increased, while the ITD values were gradually decreased, indicating that these morphological changes of pelvis by ages are reflecting an aging process.
Aging ; Bays ; Female ; Femur ; Head ; Humans ; Male ; Parturition ; Pelvis* ; Photography ; Posture ; Spine

During the early stage of postherpetic neuralgia, an epidural block on the affected segment is helpful in controlling pain and preventing progression to a chronic state. The main neurologic complication following an epidural block is cord compression symptom due to an epidural hematoma. When neurologic complications arise from an epidural block for the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia, it is important to determine whether the complications are due to the procedure or due to the herpes zoster itself. We report a case of a patient who was diagnosed with herpes zoster myelitis during treatment for postherpetic neuralgia. The patient complained of motor weakness in the lower extremities after receiving a thoracic epidural block six times. Although initially, we believed that the complications were due to the epidural block, it was ultimately determined to be from the herpes zoster myelitis.
Hematoma ; Herpes Zoster ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Myelitis ; Neuralgia ; Neuralgia, Postherpetic ; Urinary Retention

PURPOSE: To evaluate the results of the compression plate fixation and autogenous bone graft in the management of humerus shaft nonunion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighteen cases were treated for humerus shaft nonunion using compression plate fixation and an autogenous iliac bone graft. The mean follow-up period was 28 months. Bony union was confirmed from the serial radiographs and the clinical outcomes were assessed according to ASES scoring system. RESULTS: In 12 cases of initial plate fixation, the causes of nonunion were 6 cases of inadequate plate length, 2 with a broken plate, 2 with screw loosening, 1 infection and 1 noncompliance of a psychiatric patient. In 3 cases of initial intramedullary fixation, the cause of nonunion was a distraction of the fracture site. In 3 cases of external fixation, the cause of nonunion was inadequate fixation. All cases showed bony union after an average of 24 weeks. The clinical outcomes were 11 excellent, 6 good and 1 fair. CONCLUSION: In the treatment for nonunion, compression plate fixation with autogeneous bone graft after complete removal of the fibrous and necrotic tissue is believed to give satisfactory results
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Humerus ; Transplants

Quadricuspid aortic valve is a rare congenital malformation of the aortic valve. A case is reported of a 51 year old woman with quadricuspid aortic valve associated with regurgitation. In the past, quadricuspid aortic valve was recognised at surgery or necropsy, but now transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography play a pivotal role in diagnosing this rare valve malformation. On occasion the transthoracic echocardiogram cannot show the quadricuspid nature of the aortic valve, and transesophageal echocardiography must be performed.
Aortic Valve* ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged*

BACKGROUND: Although a number of visual evoked potentials (VEPs) studies have been performed to elucidate the pathophysiology of migraines, their results have been controversial. We studied the pattern-reversal visual evoked potentials (PRVEPs) during long periods of stimulation to show whether or not PRVEPs in migraines are abnormal. METHODS: Patients were divided into two groups; Group 1 (migraine with aura; MWA, n=29) and Group 2 (migraine without aura ; MOA, n=32) according to the International Headache Society criteria. PRVEPs were performed in both groups and in healthy volunteers (n=62). PRVEPs were averaged in 100 responses for a total duration of 10 minutes after an initial 3 minutes during stimulation and were analysed in terms of latencies and peak to peak amplitudes of N1-P1 and P1-N2 peaks. RESULTS: Amplitudes of PRVEPs in migraines showed significant increases compared to normal subjects (p<0.001), and amplitudes of PRVEPs in MWA showed significant increases compared to those in MOA (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results are explained by cortical hypoexcitability and hyper-responsiveness in migraine and by additional cortical hyper-responsiveness (another hyper-responsiveness) in MWA compared to MOA. We suggest that serotonergic and noradrenergic hyperactivity could be responsible for cortical hypoexcitability and hyper-responsiveness in a migraine brain. Another hyper-responsiveness in MWA could also be thought of as some evidence for cortical neuronal abnormality in MWA in addition to serotonergic and noradrenergic hyperactivity in a migraine brain. (J Korean Neurol Assoc 19(3):239~244, 2001)
Brain ; Epilepsy ; Evoked Potentials ; Evoked Potentials, Visual ; Headache ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Migraine Disorders* ; Neurons*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Myocardial bridge is congenital coronary anomaly and cause myocardial ischemia by milking effect. The general study of myocardial bridge is to be weak, so we examined a clinical study of myocardial bridge. MATERIALS AND METHOD: This study included 36 bridge cases out of 1048 patients who underwent coronary angiography due to chest pain from Jan. 1993 to Jul. 1998. Angiographic film, medical records and interview by telephone were reviewed retrospectively. Total follow-up duration was mean 27 months (1 month to 62 months). RESULTS: Incidence of myocardial bridges diagnosed by angiography was 3.4%. Angiography showed normal in 32, 1 vessel disease in 3 and 2 vessel disease in one patient. Mean reference diameter was 2.97+/-0.36mm, bridge diameter was 2.75+/-0.33mm in diastole, 1.12+/-0.47mm in systole. Myocardial bridge length was 12.50+/-7.44mm, mean % diameter stenosis was 59.26+/-17.7%. Myocardial bridge location was 80.6% in mid LAD and 13.9% in mid & distal LAD and 5.5% in distal LAD. There was no statistically significant correlation with sex, risk factor of coronary heart disease, resting electrocardigraphy, treadmill test, diameter and angulation of coronary artery, clinical symptom in the severity of myocardial bridge. But the severity of myocardial bridge correlated with bridge length(r=.5033). CONCLUSION: Clinical outcomes of bridge patients were relatively good during the mean follow up periods of 27 months. Myocardial bridge was more severe in younger age and longer bridge length.
Angiography ; Chest Pain ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Disease ; Coronary Vessels ; Diastole ; Exercise Test ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Medical Records ; Milk ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Systole ; Telephone

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to analyze how much heart rate variability (HRV) indices discriminatively respond to age and severity of sleep apnea in the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). METHODS: 176 male OSAS patients were classified into four groups according to their age and apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). The HRV indices were compared via analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). In particular, the partial correlation method was performed to identify the most statistically significant HRV indices in the time and frequency domains. Stepwise multiple linear regressions were further executed to examine the effects of age, AHI, body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and sleep parameters on the significant HRV indices. RESULTS: The partial correlation analysis yielded the NN50 count (defined as the number of adjacent R-wave to R-wave intervals differing by more than 50 ms) and low frequency/high frequency (LF/HF) ratio to be two most statistically significant HRV indices in both time and frequency domains. The two indices showed significant differences between the groups. The NN50 count was affected by age (p<0.001) and DBP (p=0.039), while the LF/HF ratio was affected by AHI (p<0.001), the amount of Stage 2 sleep (p=0.005), and age (p=0.021) in the order named in the regression analysis. CONCLUSION: The NN50 count more sensitively responded to age than to AHI, suggesting that the index is mainly associated with an age-related parasympathetic system. On the contrary, the LF/HF ratio responded to AHI more sensitively than to age, suggesting that it is mainly associated with a sympathetic tone likely reflecting the severity of sleep apnea.
Aging ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Heart ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Male ; Sleep Apnea Syndromes ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive