No abstract available.
Carbon Dioxide* ; Carbon* ; Respiratory Rate* ; Tidal Volume*

No abstract available.

No abstract available.

Intracranial vasculitis is a rare and disastrous complication of tuberculous meningitis if not treated properly. Focal neurologic deficits according to the vessels involved are common manifestation. Here, we report a 29-year-old man who suffered abrupt, bizarre behavioral changes caused by vasculitis complicating tuberculous meningoencephalitis. The diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis is based upon both the CSF findings and a chest X-ray. His systemic symptoms disappeared by after being administered antituberculous medication but various psychotic features such as hypersomnia, hyperphagia and aggressivebehavior continued. A brain MRI showed multiple small parenchymal tuberculous nodules, and the brain MR angiography revealed a narrowing of the proimal middle cerebral arteries and a reduced visualization of the cerebral vessels, suggesting widespread vasculitis. Intravenous dexamethasone successfully ameliorated his behavioral changes. In addition both the follow up brain MRI and angiography showed a normalization of the previous findings.
Adult ; Angiography ; Brain ; Dexamethasone ; Diagnosis ; Disorders of Excessive Somnolence ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hyperphagia ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Meningoencephalitis* ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Thorax ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Meningeal ; Vasculitis

BACKGROUND: Current guidelines of advanced trauma life support recommend open thoracotomy when pericardiocentesis reveals bloody pericardial effusion in patients with blunt chest trauma. However, open thoracotomy may not be always required for treating patients alive until arriving emergency department, because rapid accumulation of the blood into pericardial space results in immediate death at scene. We report our experiences of treating traumatic pericardial effusion, and discuss the therapeutic modality in patients with traumatic pericardial effusion. METHODS: The study consisted of 37 patients(20 males and 17 females with the mean age 42) sustaining traumatic pericardial effusion. The patients were divided according to treatment modality into 3 groups(group I : patients receiving conservative management, group II : patients treated with pericardiocentesis, group III : patients required emergency thoracotomy). We compared clinical presentations, hemodynamic profiles and echocardiographic findings among three groups. RESULTS: Cardiac tamponade was present in 14 of 37 patients. Pericardiocentesis was performed in 13 patients, and open thoracotomy in 4 patients. Pericardiocentesis was curative in 9 patients. Thoracotomy was performed in only 3(24%) of 13 patients required pericardiocentesis. 3(75%) of 4 patients having moderate or severe pericardial effusion from penetrating injury were required open thoracotomy. CONCLUSION: In selected patients who have traumatic pericardial effusion by blunt chest injury, pericardiocentesis may be curative, and thoracotomy may not be inquired as long as bleeding via indwelling pericardial catheter is not sustained after pericardiocentesis.
Advanced Trauma Life Support Care ; Cardiac Tamponade ; Catheters ; Echocardiography ; Emergencies ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Female ; Hemodynamics ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Male ; Pericardial Effusion* ; Pericardiocentesis ; Thoracic Injuries ; Thoracotomy ; Thorax

PURPOSE: In this study, the effects of laughter therapy on levels of depression, quality of life, resilience and immune responses in breast cancer survivors were examined. METHODS: A quasi-experimental nonequivalent control group, pretest-posttest design was used. Participants (n=37) included breast cancer survivors who finished chemotheraphy and radiation therapy: 16 in the experiment group and 21 in the control group. Data were collected from August to November 2009. The experimental group participated in laughter therapy eight times, twice a week for 60 min per session. Questionnaires were used to me-asure pretest and posttest levels of depression, quality of life and resilience. A blood test was used to analyze changes in Total T cell, T helper, T suppressor, Th/Ts ratio, Total B cell, T cell/B cell ratio and NK cell for immune responses. RESULTS: The results showed that laughter therapy was effective in increasing the quality of life and resilience in breast cancer survivors. but depression and immune responses did not differ significantly between the groups. CONCLUSION: The results of the study indicate that laughter therapy may be an effective nursing intervention to improve quality of life and resilience in breast cancer survivors.
Adult ; Aged ; B-Lymphocytes/immunology/metabolism ; Breast Neoplasms/immunology/*therapy ; *Depression ; Female ; Humans ; *Laughter Therapy ; Middle Aged ; *Quality of Life ; Questionnaires ; *Resilience, Psychological ; T-Lymphocytes/immunology/metabolism

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of 0.15% brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution spray on the luminal changes in the nasolacrimal excretory system. METHODS: A prospective study was performed on 52 eyes in 26 patients complaining of epiphora in both eyes. The randomly-assigned 26 test eyes (cases) received spray of the solution through the nasal cavity, and the other 26 eyes (controls) were irrigated with the same drug through the inferior calnaliculus. Dacryocystography was then performed to observe the luminal changes jn the nasolacrimal excretory system, patient symptoms and physiologic drainage functions. RESULTS: The changes in lumen width of the nasolacrimal duct (NLD) were noted, and the changes in lumen width of the lacrimal sac were not significant in either mode. The upper and middle parts of the NLD were widened more in the irrigation group, and the lower part of the NLD was widened more in the spray group. Though there was no significant difference in the physiologic drainage functions, the patients in both groups reported reduced symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Brimonidine tartrate spray altered the width of the NLD and improved the subjective symptoms of patients. Therefore, the spray can be applied in functional NLD obstruction patients before the surgical procedure.
Drainage ; Eye ; Humans ; Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases ; Nasal Cavity ; Nasolacrimal Duct ; Phenobarbital ; Prospective Studies ; Quinoxalines ; Brimonidine Tartrate

No abstract available.
Dapsone* ; Hand* ; Neutrophils* ; Skin Diseases*

No abstract available.
Dapsone* ; Hand* ; Neutrophils* ; Skin Diseases*

No abstract available.
Krukenberg Tumor*