BACKGROUND: The initiation of treatment seems to be important in provoking preemptive analgesia and to provide excellent postoperative pain control. To verify the effectiveness of postoperative analgesia and preemptive effects, pre-incisional and post-incisional epidural infusion of morphine and bupivacaine mixture were compared. METHODS: Patients scheduled for elective upper abdominal surgery were divided into 2 groups. Each group received 2 mg of morphine in 10 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine as a bolus followed by 0.1 mg/ml/hr of morphine infusion in 0.125% bupivacaine epidurally. In post-incisional group, the epidural injection of mixture was started 15 minutes after skin incision and in pre-incisional group, the epidural infusion of mixture was started 15 minutes before skin incision. Each groups were evaluated in visual analogue scales (VAS) for pain, pain scores in movement, and total administered doses in postoperative 1, 2, 4, 8, 24, 48, and 72 hours and compared with each others. RESULTS: There were no differences between pre-incisional and post-incisional start of continuous epidural mixture infusion of morphine and bupivacaine in VAS for pain, pain scores at movement, and total amount of infused doses for 72 hours postoperatively. Also, there were no differences in the incidence of complications and satisfactions of patients between two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The continuous epidural mixture infusion of morphine 0.1 mg/ml/hr in 0.125% bupivacaine following a bolus dose of 2 mg morphine in 0.25% 10 ml bupivacaine has no difference in postoperative analgesic effect whether it starts after or before surgical incision.
Analgesia ; Bupivacaine ; Humans ; Incidence ; Injections, Epidural ; Morphine* ; Pain, Postoperative ; Skin ; Weights and Measures

No abstract available.
Sutures*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The incidence and prevalence of hyperthyroidism has been reported to be 0.2-0.9/1000 population/year and 5-10/1000 population in foreign countries, respectively. However, there has been no nationwide survey to evaluate them in Korea. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the incidence and prevalence of hyperthyroidism in Korea using medicare claims data provided by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. Preference for its therapeutic modalities and its change were also analyzed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was performed in 308,584 (men 86,460, women 222,124) Korean patients with hyperthyroidism treated from January 2006 to June 2012. Patients with past history of hyperthyroidism were not included. RESULTS: The incidence of hyperthyroidism was 0.72/1000 population/year (men 0.40, women 1.03), and its prevalence was 3.40/1000 population (men 2.09, women 4.70) in Korea. Its peak prevalence was detected between 45 and 49 years of age. Among 177,487 patients with hyperthyroidism treated from 2007 to 2011, anti-thyroid drugs were prescribed in 97.9%, and radioiodine therapy and surgery were finally performed in 8.2% and 0.9%, respectively. The prescription of propylthiouracil (PTU) has been reduced from 63.3% in 2007 to 42.9% in 2011, but the use of methimazole (MMI) increased from 33.9% in 2007 to 54.8% in 2011. Primary physicians preferred PTU to MMI, but physicians in general hospitals preferred MMI to PTU. CONCLUSION: This is the first nationwide report to investigate the incidence and prevalence of hyperthyroidism in Korea.
Female ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism ; Incidence ; Insurance, Health ; Korea ; Medicare ; Methimazole ; Prescriptions ; Prevalence ; Propylthiouracil

Eight patients with diffuse panbronchiolitis were evaluated with chest radiograph and high-resolution computed tomography(HRCT). Paients consisted of 5 med and 3 women, aged 27-75 years(average, 54 years). Chest radiographic findings were diffuse small nodular densities, linear shadows, and thickened bronchial wall predominantly in both lower lung fields. All 8 patients had pansinusitis. On HRCT, small nodules and branching linear structures, 1-3mm internal to the pleural surface, representing centrilobular bronchiolar lesion, were found along with thickening of medium and small sized bronchial wall. These nodules did not show coalescence. In conclusion, chest radiographs were usually suggestive and high-resolution CT was diagnostic of diffuse panbronchiolitis.
Female ; Humans ; Lung ; Radiography, Thoracic* ; Thorax*

Ultrasound imaging in clinical practice is one of the widely used diagnostic methods because there is no radiation risk, more cost- effective compared to MRI or CT, and possible to perform an intervention through fast real-time imaging. In order to increase the diagnostic value, the studies of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) using an ultrasound contrast agent have been actively conducted since about 50 years ago and are being used clinically in vascularity and microcirculation of internal organs. Although ultrasound is actively used for the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases in musculoskeletal disorders, there are some limitations in diagnosing mild or small lesions, inflammatory reactions, or abnormalities at the molecular level. In this review, the principles, types, and research, and clinical applications of ultrasound contrast agents have been summarized and introduced. If we understand the characteristics of the ultrasound contrast agents and anatomical knowledge, as well as molecular changes, the ultrasound contrast agents are widely applied in musculoskeletal disorders and have tremendous potential for diagnosis and treatment.

To perform effective nerve hydrodissection on the upper extremities, it is essential to first select the target site through subjective and objective examinations based on basic anatomical knowledge of the nerve pathways and sites prone to entrapment. In ultrasound scanning, if the proximal diameter of the nerve increases compared to the distal one or the cross-sectional area of the nerve fascicle within the main nerve increases, it may be confirmed as a lesion site. If necessary, symptoms can be induced directly through stimulation using a nerve stimulator under ultrasound guidance for selection. When approaching the nearby nerve that triggers symptoms, it is important to confirm sufficient separation of surrounding structures that compress and irritate the main nerve through pressure after positioning the needle bevel with a tangential approach to target nerve.

OBJECTIVE: We studied the expression of epidermal growh factor(EGF) and transforming growth factor(TGF)-a and epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR) in human trophoblast and decidua at the first and third trimester. METHODS: To confirm the expression of EGF, TGF-a and EGFR immunohisochemically in human trophoblast and decidua, we used monoclonal antibodies to EGF, TGF-a and EGFR. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical stainings using anti-EGF, anti-TGF- a and anti-EGFR antibodies showed a specific stainings in human trophoblast and decidua at the first and third trimester. The staining intensity of EGF in the trophoblast was light to moderate at the first trimester and moderate at the third trimester, and that in the decidua was light to moderate at the first trimester and light at the third trimester. The patterns of expression of TGF- a in the trophoblast and decidua were similar to that seen with EGF in the trophoblast and that of EGFR in trophoblast and decidua were similar to that seen with EGF in decidua. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that EGF, TGF-a and EGFR may play an important role in human trophoblast and decidua during gestation.
Antibodies ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Decidua* ; Epidermal Growth Factor* ; Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, First ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor* ; Trophoblasts*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the radiologic findings of granulomatous colitis on double contrast barium enema and changes on follow-up studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Serial double contrast barium enemas of six patients with granulomatous colitis confirmed by endoscopic biopsy were reviewed. We analyzed the radiologic findings and their follow-up changes, including aphthous ulcers, lymphoid hyperplasia, deep ulcers, cobble stone appearance, geographic ulcers, asymmetric involvement of ulcers, skip lesions, sinus tract, fistula formation, pseudosacculation, focal stricture, and small bowel involvement. RESULTS: Pretreatment double contrast baruim enema findings were aphthous ulcers in five patients, deep ulcer in six, cobble stone appearance in five, longitudinal geographic ulcers in two, fistulas in one, pseudo-sacculations in two, focal stricture in one, and pseudopolyps in six. Also, anal ulcers were observed in two patients, asymmetric involvement of ulcers in three, skip lesions in four, and small bowel involvement in five in five patients proved to have inactive disease after treatment, aphthous ulcers and deep ulcers disappeared. Geographic ulcers of two patients and anal ulcer of one patients decreased in size or depth. Pseudosacculation in one patient disappeared. Pseudopolyps decreased in two patients, increased in one, and decreased after increase in two. One patient whose disease remained active after treatment showed maintenance or increase of ulcers or fistula. And their pseudosacculation or focal stricture unchanged and pseudopolyps decreased. CONCLUSION: The major radiologic findings of chronic granulomatous colitis on double contrst barium enema are aphthous ulcer, deep ulcer, cobble stone appearance, discontinuity of the lesion, and coexistence of ulcers and pseudopolyps. And, double contrast barium enema is good follow-up modality because its findings correlate with clinical course of the granulomatous colitis after treatment.
Barium* ; Biopsy ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Crohn Disease* ; Enema* ; Fissure in Ano ; Fistula ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Stomatitis, Aphthous ; Ulcer

PURPOSE: To evaluate the radiologic findings of granulomatous colitis on double contrast barium enema and changes on follow-up studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Serial double contrast barium enemas of six patients with granulomatous colitis confirmed by endoscopic biopsy were reviewed. We analyzed the radiologic findings and their follow-up changes, including aphthous ulcers, lymphoid hyperplasia, deep ulcers, cobble stone appearance, geographic ulcers, asymmetric involvement of ulcers, skip lesions, sinus tract, fistula formation, pseudosacculation, focal stricture, and small bowel involvement. RESULTS: Pretreatment double contrast baruim enema findings were aphthous ulcers in five patients, deep ulcer in six, cobble stone appearance in five, longitudinal geographic ulcers in two, fistulas in one, pseudo-sacculations in two, focal stricture in one, and pseudopolyps in six. Also, anal ulcers were observed in two patients, asymmetric involvement of ulcers in three, skip lesions in four, and small bowel involvement in five in five patients proved to have inactive disease after treatment, aphthous ulcers and deep ulcers disappeared. Geographic ulcers of two patients and anal ulcer of one patients decreased in size or depth. Pseudosacculation in one patient disappeared. Pseudopolyps decreased in two patients, increased in one, and decreased after increase in two. One patient whose disease remained active after treatment showed maintenance or increase of ulcers or fistula. And their pseudosacculation or focal stricture unchanged and pseudopolyps decreased. CONCLUSION: The major radiologic findings of chronic granulomatous colitis on double contrst barium enema are aphthous ulcer, deep ulcer, cobble stone appearance, discontinuity of the lesion, and coexistence of ulcers and pseudopolyps. And, double contrast barium enema is good follow-up modality because its findings correlate with clinical course of the granulomatous colitis after treatment.
Barium* ; Biopsy ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Crohn Disease* ; Enema* ; Fissure in Ano ; Fistula ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Stomatitis, Aphthous ; Ulcer