No abstract available.
Scoliosis*

PURPOSE: The diagnosis of Budd-Chiari syndrome on CT is difficult if CT do not demonstrate obstruction of the IVC or hepatic vein and other parameter is needed for the correct diagnosis. The purpose of our study was to determine the usefulness of measuring the diameter of azygos-hemiazygos vein on CT to differentiate Budd-Chiari syndrome from advanced liver cirrhosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourteen patients who were proven as Budd-Chiari syndrome on vena cavography were studied for analysis. All patients showed evidence of liver cirrhosis on CT. As a control group fifteen cases of advanced liver cirrhosis who underwent endoscopic sclerotheraphy due to esophageal variceal bleeding were also included for comparison. The largest short axis diameter of azygos-hemiazygos vein was measured in all patients at the level of diaphragm on axial CT and the results were compared in both groups. RESULTS: In patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome the largest short axial diameter of azygos-hemiazygos vein ranged from 0.5cm to 2.5cm(mean ;1.5cm). Only one patient who showed hepatic venous obstruction demonstrated a diameter of less than 1 cm(0. Scm). In contrast, the diameter in patients with advanced liver cirrhosis without obstruction of IVC or hepatic vein was less than 1 cm with a range from 0.2cm to 1 cm(mean ;0.6cm). CONCLUSION: The short axis diameter of azygos-hemiazygos vein was an indicator of IVC obstruction (Budd-Chiari syndrome).
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Budd-Chiari Syndrome* ; Diagnosis* ; Diaphragm ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; Hepatic Veins ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Veins*

We report a case of Mycobacterium(M.) fortuitum infection in a 65-year-old female who presented with erythematous to purplish colored tender nodules and plaques with curst and purulent discharge on both upper and lower extremities along the sites of acupuncture. The culture of surgically excised specimen in 3% Ogawa media yielded slightly yellowish colored colonies within 2 days. Several tests for identification of the species were performed and growth on 5% NaCl, negative niacin test, positive results in nitrate reduction, catalase, urease and iron uptake tests were noted. Excision of the lesions followed by administration of minocycline and ciprofloxacin showed no sign of relapse to data a year after treatment.
Acupuncture* ; Aged ; Catalase ; Ciprofloxacin ; Female ; Humans ; Iron ; Lower Extremity ; Minocycline ; Mycobacterium fortuitum* ; Mycobacterium* ; Niacin ; Recurrence ; Urease

No abstract available.
Child* ; Gastritis* ; Humans

BACKGROUND: It has been generally accepted that Cisapride (Prepulsid?or propulsid?), a widely used gastrointestinal prokinetic agent, is associated with Torsades de Points, a life-threatening arrhythmia. Recently, cisapride-induced APD (action potential duration)-prolongation was inhibited by glibenclamide, a KATP channel blocker. But the direct effect of cisapride on K(ATP) channels has not been studied until now. Therefore, we investigated cisapride's effects on KATP channels of isolated rat ventricular myocytes. METHODS: After the isolation of rat ventricular myocytes, we analysed the single channel current with patch pipettes. The method of analysis was the student t-test. RESULTS: 1) Cisapride (10(-6) M- 10(-4) M) inhibited KATP channel opening without changing channel conductance Ki was about 20micronM, and Hill coefficient was 0.75. 2) Cisapride inhibited pinacidil-induced KATP channel opening in the cell attached mode. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that cisapride-induced APD prolongation and arrythmic effects may be partly related to KATP channel inhibition.
Animals ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Cisapride* ; Glyburide ; Humans ; KATP Channels ; Muscle Cells ; Rats

No abstract available.
Pregnancy*

Bilateral hypoplasia of the internal carotid arteries is a rare condition. The authors experienced two cases of bilateral hypoplasia of the internal carotid arteries. In one case, a 46-year-old female patient, presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage. Internal carotid angiograms showed right hypoplastic internal carotid artery and left agenetic internal carotid artery. An aneurysm, believed to be the source of the subarachnoid hemorrhage, took origin from the trunk of the basilar artery. In another case, a 48-year-old male, presented with semicomatous mentality. Brain CT demonstrated intracranial hemorrhage on the parasylvian area, and high density on the basal cistern, quadrigerminal cistern and temporal horn of left lateral ventricle. Initially, aortic arch injection did not visualized the origin of the common carotid arteries. It revealed only the vertebral arteries and both external carotid artery originating from each vertebral artery. A selective left vetebral artery study demonstrated a communication between the hypertrophied basilar artery and the posterior cerebral arteries. The anterior and middle cerebral vessels, in turn, were opacified through the circle of Willis, via the posterior communicating arteries. In addition, an aneurysm, believed to be the sourse of the subarachnoid hemorrhage, took origin from the posterior cerebral artery. The cases of the bilateral hypoplasia of internal carotid artery with intracranial aneurysm are reported as above, together with literature review.
Aneurysm ; Animals ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Arteries ; Basilar Artery ; Brain ; Carotid Artery, Common ; Carotid Artery, External ; Carotid Artery, Internal* ; Circle of Willis ; Collateral Circulation ; Female ; Horns ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm* ; Intracranial Hemorrhages ; Lateral Ventricles ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Posterior Cerebral Artery ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; Vertebral Artery

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to analyze the utilization behaviour and influencing factors of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies among elderly people with chronic diseases. METHODS: The study population was selected among 9 welfare facilities for the aged in 2 cities among Daegu Metropolitan City & Gyeongsangnam Province by two-stage cluster sampling. 250 senior citizens participated in a face-to-face interview using a structured questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the association between the utilization of CAM therapies and various characteristics of the elderly. All statistics were analyzed using the PASW (ver 18.0). RESULTS: Among 233 elderly peoples, 70.4% (164 persons) had used various kinds of CAM therapies (including nutritional methods, pharmacologic and biologic treatments, etc.) more than once during the last year. 48.8% (64 persons) ~ 60.7% (88 persons) of the elderly used CAM therapies without health and medical experts' counsel. The elderly with perceptions of CAM therapy used it 2 times more than those without knowledge of CAM therapies. The number of chronic diseases was more likely to increase the usage of nutritional methods (OR=2.92, 95% CI: 1.07-7.97), manipulative and body-based practices (OR=5.85, 95% CI: 1.97-17.34), pharmacologic and biologic treatments (OR=2.92, 95% CI: 1.49-8.17). Elderly with diabetes used nutritional methods 3.76 (95% CI: 1.49-9.47) more than elderly without diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: CAM therapies use in the aged with chronic diseases appears common. The findings suggest that the clinical efficacy and safety of CAM therapies on medical management of chronic disease may be investigated and that patient-physician communication need to be strengthened.
Aged ; Chronic Disease ; Complementary Therapies ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical and radiological results of patients that underwent total knee replacement arthroplasty (TKRA) using a NexGen(R). implant, and who were followed up for at least 2 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between July 1996 and June 2002, 100 knees in 67 patients, and followed up for at least 2 years following TKRA using a NexGen(R). implant were retrospectively assessed for clinical and radiological results using the assessment standards of the Knee and Functional Score of the American Knee Society. RESULTS: The average preoperative range of motion in patients with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis were 107.4degrees (50-140degrees) and 105.8degrees (70-120degrees), respectively, which had improved to 127.2degrees (85-140degrees) and 125.6degrees (90-140degrees), respectively, at the final follow up. In addition, the preoperative flexion contracture improved from 11.3degrees (0-30degrees) and 10.6degrees (0-30degrees) to 1.3degrees (0-15degrees) and 3degrees (0-15degrees) postoperatively. The results using the assessment standards of the Knee and Functional Score of the American Knee Society were improved from 62 (35-82) and 40 (0-70) to 95.8 (87-100) and 97 (70-100) in patients with osteoarthritis, whereas the patients with rheumatoid arthritis were improved from 53.8 (32-73) and 36 (0-50) to 95.1 (89-98) and 79 (55-95). As a complication, infection occurred in 2 cases; they were given a reimplantation. CONCLUSION: TKRA using a NexGen(R). implant showed satisfactory improvement in pain relief and function, such as range of motion, as well as a lower occurrence rate of complications.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Arthroplasty* ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; Contracture ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Knee* ; Osteoarthritis ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Replantation ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: We compared the measurements of anterior chamber depth (ACD) and anterior chamber angle (ACA) using ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) in the sitting position compared with IOL Master(R), Pentacam(R), and Spectralis optical coherence tomography (OCT) to evaluate the clinical usefulness of UBM in the sitting position. METHODS: We evaluated 92 eyes in 47 healthy adults. ACD was measured by IOL Master(R), Pentacam(R), and UBM. ACA was measured using Pentacam(R), UBM, and Spectralis OCT. UBM was performed in the sitting position using bag/balloon technology. Measured values were compared statistically. RESULTS: ACD measured by IOL Master(R), Pentacam(R), and UBM was 3.57 +/- 0.32 microm, 3.64 +/- 0.33 microm and 3.51 +/- 0.32 microm, respectively. UBM measurements of ACD were significantly shallower than with the other methods (p < 0.001). The results among the 3 methods were strongly correlated (r > 0.8, p < 0.05 in all groups). Mean ACA of 4 directions was not significantly different among the 3 methods (p > 0.05). There was strong correlation between UBM and Spectralis OCT (r = 0.957) but moderate correlation between Pentacam(R) and UBM and Pentacam(R) and Spectralis OCT (r = 0.557, 0.571, respectively, p < 0.05). Specifically, ACA of the superior quadrant showed a low correlation between Pentacam(R) and UBM and Pentacam(R) and Spectralis OCT (r = 0.257, 0.295, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: ACD measured by UBM in the sitting position was shallower compared to the other methods; however, ACD measured by IOL Master(R), Pentacam(R), and UBM showed significant correlations among the methods. The mean ACA measured by Pentacam(R), UBM, and Spectralis OCT showed no significant differences. Due to the high correlation of ACA measurements between UBM and Spectralis OCT in the present study, UBM is expected to be a good tool for measuring anterior segment parameters.
Adult ; Anterior Chamber* ; Humans ; Microscopy, Acoustic ; Tomography, Optical Coherence