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*

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

BACKGROUND: Several Studies from western institutes were done on the clinical characteristics and long-term prognosis of patients with variant angina. In these reports, 61-92% of patients had significant coronary artery disease, and survival without myocardial infarction at 1 year was approximately 70-83%. These results differ from our clinical experiences with Korean patients with variant angina;however, no detailed study has been reported in Korea. The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics and long-term follow-up data of our Korean patients with variant angina. METHODS: Two hundred four consecutive patients with variant angina(M/F;166/38, mean age 53+/-10 year) were included. The diagnosis of variant angina was made by spontaneous spasm in 53, positive intravenous ergonovine(iv Erg) provocation in 52, intracoronary acetylcholine(ic Ach) provocation in 55, simultaneous iv Erg and ic Ach provocation in 48 and bedside intravenous ergonovine with 2-dimensional echocardiography in 33. The clinical and angiographic characteristics were examined in 204 patients and mean 1.5 year(6 month to 3.5 year) follow-up could be done in 165 for the evaluation of long-trem prognosis. RESULTS: The Korean patients with variant angina were characterized by relatively low prevalences of significant coronary stenosis(25%), myocardial infarction and rate of cardiac death. Futhermore, survival and survival without myocardial infarction for the entire group were significantly better in our observation(1 year survival without myocardial infarction, 98%) than in other studies. During the follow-up period, 4(2%) out of 165 patients died, 1 developed myocarddial infarction and ventricular fibrillation occurred in 2. Three of 4 death caused by stopping medication abruptly. Thirteen patients were angina free after discontinued medications during the follow-up. CONCLUSION: The overall prognosis of variant angina may be better in Korean patients. We believe that less severe coronary atherosclerotic disease and a high rate of treatment with calcium blockers may have contributed to the lower rate of cardiac death and myocardial infarction on our patients compared with those in previous studies.
Academies and Institutes ; Calcium ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Death ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Ergonovine ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Infarction ; Korea ; Myocardial Infarction ; Prevalence ; Prognosis ; Spasm ; Ventricular Fibrillation

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted for development of the Korean version of the Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) Checklist civilian version (PCL-C) by evaluating its reliability and validity for the North Korean defectors population. METHODS: A total of 69 North Korean defectors participated in this study. All patients were recruited from the psychiatric outpatient or inpatient ward. We categorized the participants into two groups according to the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) diagnosis of PTSD (PTSD, n=32 ; Non-PTSD, n=37). All Subjects completed psychometric assessments, including the PCL-C, Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-PTSD), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). RESULTS: Findings provided support for psychometric properties of the Korean version of the PCL-C. The PCL-C showed good internal consistency (Cronbach alpha=0.93), and a significantly positive correlation with CAPS and MMPI-PTSD (r=0.47, r=0.61, respectively). The optimal cutoff point of PCL-C for the North Korean defectors was at a total score of 56 with sensitivity and specificity of 0.88, and 0.50, respectively. CONCLUSION: Overall, the Korean version of the PCL-C appears to be a valid and reliable measure of PTSD symptoms among the North Korean defectors.
Anxiety ; Depression ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Inpatients ; MMPI ; Outpatients ; Psychometrics ; Reproducibility of Results* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic*