Hemochromatosis is an inherited genetic disorder of iron metabolism which can also occur as a secondary result of iron-overload. It leads to organ damage such as cardiomyopathy, liver cirrhosis, hypogonadism, and diabetes. This paper discusses a case of secondary hemochromatosis associated with repeated transfusions, presenting as asymptomatic hypoparathyroidism and subclinical hypothyroidism with multiple organ involvement. The 29-year-old female, who had severe aplastic anemia, received multiple transfusions totaling approximately 1,400 units of red blood cells over 15 years. During her routine laboratory examination, hypocalcemia was detected with decreased intact parathyroid hormone and increased thyroid stimulating hormone. Serum ferritin, iron, and total iron binding capacity had increased to 27,583.03 ng/mL, 291 microg/dL, and 389 microg/dL, respectively. She had unusually bronze skin and computed tomography revealed iron deposition in the thyroid, liver, and heart. Multiorgan involvement as seen in this case is rare in hemochromatosis associated with secondary transfusions. To the best of the author's knowledge, this is the first case report in Korea of hypoparathyroidism and subclinical hypothyroidism due to iron deposition in the parathyroid and thyroid gland.
Adult ; Anemia, Aplastic ; Cardiomyopathies ; Erythrocytes ; Female ; Ferritins ; Heart ; Hemochromatosis* ; Humans ; Hypocalcemia ; Hypogonadism ; Hypoparathyroidism* ; Hypothyroidism* ; Iron ; Korea ; Liver ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Metabolism ; Parathyroid Hormone ; Skin ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyrotropin

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine neonatal outcomes according to laboratory and clinical features in preeclampsia before 35 weeks gestation. METHODS: The medical records of all patients delivered at the hospital from January 1, 1996 through March 31, 2002 were reviewed for the occurrence of preeclampsia before 35 weeks gestation. We compared their maternal medical and obstetric courses and neonatal outcomes with those in a group of non preeclamptic patients who delivered at similar gestational ages. RESULTS: The preeclampsia group had lower mean birth weight, 1-minute Apgar score and umbilical arterial pH. But there were no difference in the incidence of neonatal death, respiratory distress syndrome, grade 3 and 4 intraventricular hemorrhage, and culture-proven sepsis. Results were similar when analysis was limited to infants born before 32 weeks. CONCLUSION: Maternal preeclampsia does not improve neonatal outcome of infants born before 35 weeks gestation.
Apgar Score ; Birth Weight ; Gestational Age ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature* ; Medical Records ; Pre-Eclampsia* ; Pregnancy* ; Sepsis

BACKGROUND: To study clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of adenocarcinoma of unknown primary site (ACUPS). METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 81 patients who were diagnosed as ACUPS, seen at Samsung Medical Center from May, 1995 to July, 1999, was performed. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 58 years. The common sites of metastases were the lymph node, liver, lung, bone. In 49 of 81 patients (60.5%), the dominant tumor location was below the diaphragm. The majority of patiens (76 of 81) were initially treated with systemic chemotherapy including cisplatin. Responses were evaluable in 70 of 76. Eighteen of 70 patients (25.7%) responded to chemotherapy and complete remission was observed in 6 patients. The overall median survival of 81 patients was 5.6 months. The median survival of the responding patients was 18.3 months but the median survial of the nonresponding patients was 4.6 months (p<0.01). In univariate and multivariate analysis, age, performance status and response to initial chemotherapy were significant prognostic factors for overall survial. CONCLUSION: Poor survival rate and treatment response were observed in ACUPS but complete response and long-term survival were observed in several patients.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Cisplatin ; Diaphragm ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Liver ; Lung ; Lymph Nodes ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

PURPOSE: Important advances in the treatment of acute myelogenous leukemia have been made with the introduction of cytosine arabinoside (ara-C) and anthracyclines (daunorubicin) over the past 20 years. Currently, 60 to 80% of patients with acute myelogenous leukemia achieve complete remission with induction chemotherapy consisting of ara-C and daunorubicin (adriamycin) AD ("7+3"). The one-fourth of complete responders will have extended long-term survival and may be cured. Therefore wetreated patients with acute myelogenous leukemia admitted to our hospital with AD ("7+3") regimen. METHODS: Induction therapy; Thirty four patients with previously untreated acute myelogenous leukemia received AD ("7+3") regimen (ara-C, 200 mg/m2/d by continuous infusion for seven days, and daunorubicin, 45 mg/m2/d for 3 days). The second course of therapy was AD ("5+2"), if the patients failed to enter remission. Consolidation therapy; three cycles of consolidation chemotherapy were administered with at least 4 week interval following remission. Course 1; ara-C at 100 mg/m2 by subcutaneous injection every 12 hour for seven days, 6-thioguanine at every 12 hour 100 mg/m2 orally every 12 hour for 7 days). Course 2; ara-C (same as course 1) at 100 mg/m2 by subcutaneous injection every 12 hour for seven days, vincristine at 1.5 mg/m2 (maximum 2 mg) by bolus injection for 1 day, prednisolone at 40 mg/m2 (maximum 60 mg) orally for 7 days. Course 3; ara-C (same as course 1) daunorubicin at 45 mg/m2 by 1 hour infusion for 3 dyas. RESULTS: Sixty-eight percent of the 34 patients entered complete remission. The remission duration for all patients in complete remission ranged from 4 weeks to 3122+ weeks, with the median of 50 weeks. The median duration of survival in complete responder group was 62 weeks. Twenty-Six percent of patients with complete remission are alive at 5 years. Cases with extramedullary leukemic involvement were found in four patients; M2 with orbital mass, M3 and M4 with CNS leukemia, M5a with subcutaneous nodules. Among the potential prognostic variables including age, initial WBC count, percent of blast in peripheral blood,none was statistically related to prognosis. CONCLUSION: Combination chemotherapy with cytosine arabinoside and daunorubicin is a effective regimen for acute myelogenous leukemia as much as other regimen. Futher clinical trials for effective treatment regimen and method are necessary to raise the complete remission rate.
Anthracyclines ; Consolidation Chemotherapy ; Cytarabine* ; Cytosine* ; Daunorubicin* ; Drug Therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination* ; Humans ; Induction Chemotherapy ; Injections, Subcutaneous ; Leukemia ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute* ; Orbit ; Prednisolone ; Prognosis ; Thioguanine ; Vincristine

Patients with severe acetabular bony deficiency in total hip revision arthroplasties need the use of autogenous or allogenic bone grafts. The Authors performed 28 cases of total hip revision arthroplasties between June 1991 and January 1995 with femoral head allograft for acetabular bony deficiencies and evaluated the clinical and radiological results according to AAOS classification. The clinical result was evaluated by D'Aubigne and Postel score. The mean score was improved from 3.9 points to 5.1 points at follow-up. In radiological evaluation, osseous union of graft was achieved within 12 month and rerevision were performed in two cases (92.8% survival rates) but radiological radiolucent line in at least one zone was seen in five hips in two year follow up. In conclusion, the results of hemispherical microporocoat cup with allogenic bone in segmental or cavitary defect using with acetabular reinforcement ring in combined deficiency were encouraging to date. Success rate of allograft reconsruction of the acetabulum results from a variety of acetabular defect. In our studies, only 40% showed stable bony fixation over short period.
Acetabulum* ; Allografts ; Arthroplasty ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip* ; Classification ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head ; Hip ; Humans ; Transplants*

Myasthenia gravis is a disease characterized by muscle weakness upon exertion of an involved muscle group and partial return of function eithe with rest or the administration of anticholinesterase. It is generally thought that myasthenia gravis is caused by an autoimmune response associated with the thymus gland and thymectomy is considered to be the treatment of choice for countering this autoimmune process. It is a well known fact that perioerative nticholinesterase therapy, muscle relaxant administration during operation and postoperative respiratory management are in dispute. We described a case of a 42 year old male myasthenic patient with mild symptoms who needed 4 days of artificial ventilatory support following thymectomy.
Adult ; Autoimmunity ; Dissent and Disputes ; Humans ; Male ; Muscle Weakness ; Myasthenia Gravis* ; Thymectomy ; Thymus Gland

Recent studies in western countries have reported that the mechanism pf pain are concorded with gate control opiage receptor binding sites and the release of intrinsic morphine like substances, sodium glutamate and also with bradykinin, seroconin, histamine and prostaglandin E. Otherwise the mechanism of the stimulstion producing analgesia has been reported to involve a neurophysiologic and neurohumoral inhibitory effect at the level of spinal cord, brain stem, thalamus and cortex. This has been clarified but further study should improve the chance of understanding the mechanism of pain. From the standpoint of pain management, medications used to manage pain have some unfortunate side effects. nerve blocks cause anesthesia toxicity, major neurosurgical procedures have many complications. Subarachnoidal and epidural analgesics have unknown irritation pneumonia and drug toxicity, and plexus or pituitary gland block with phenol or alcohol has uneventful complication. From January 1980 to December 1982, electrical acupuncture stimulation has been used on 210 cases at HANYANG university hospital in the pain clinic. I found it useful in relieving pain which has not responded to various conventional methods which included medications, nerve blocks, neurosurgical intervantion and neuropolytics. The results are as follows: 1) There are two kinds of treated patients: One is consultation case-12 from internal medicine, 16 from orthopedic surgery, 10 from neurosurgical and 2 from psychiatry. Another 170 cases were patients who directly to the clinic. And the age distribution shows the highset number of patients in the 3rd decade(21%) and in the 4th decade(24.8%). 2) The region of pain was 21% lumbar, 13.8% shoulder, 10% lower leg and head or face with 9.5%. 3) The duration of the pain showed 10 days 25.7%, 1~2 month 18.6%, one year 11.4% and the longest up to 20 years. 4) Patients who were able to walk into the clinic were 19.5%, moderate cases who to be accompanied were 58.6% and bedridden cases were 21.9%. 5) Treatment was conducted mainly on low frequency stimulation with various waves that included the general dynamic activity point plus reactive electro permeable point (REPP) 81.9% and REER plus head in situ needle 18.1%. 6) In 16.7% only one treatment was administered, in 46.1% 2~5 treatments were given, in 28.6% 6~10 treatments were given and in 3 cases more than 100 treatments were administered. 7) Of the 210 cases, 43.3% showed marked improvement, 41.4% were improved, 13.8% showed translent improvement and there were 3 cases of no improvement. The total confidence was 84.7%. 8) There are no serious complications except hypertensive shock case, submucosal hemorrhagic petechia 7 cases and generalized fatigue 18 cases. In conclusion, electrical acupuncture stimulation of the peripheral nervous system can be used to relieve pain replacing such conventional means as medications, nerve blocks, major neurosurgical procedures, neuroytics and physiopsychic therapy which are generally less effective.
Acupuncture ; Age Distribution ; Analgesia ; Analgesics ; Anesthesia ; Binding Sites ; Bradykinin ; Brain Stem ; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ; Electric Stimulation* ; Fatigue ; Head ; Histamine ; Humans ; Internal Medicine ; Leg ; Morphine ; Needles ; Nerve Block ; Neurosurgical Procedures ; Orthopedics ; Pain Clinics ; Pain Management ; Peripheral Nerves* ; Peripheral Nervous System ; Phenol ; Pituitary Gland ; Pneumonia ; Shock ; Shoulder ; Sodium Glutamate ; Spinal Cord ; Thalamus

It is a well known fact that the best method of determinign need ofr transfusion is the accurate measurement of blood loss related to the patient's status and surgical maneuvers during operation. There are many complications of blood transfusion and their pathophysiologic mechanism, and theprevention and management has been discussed. Among the complications of blood transfusion, urticaria is the most common symptom. The pathophysiologic mechanism of urticaria is understood in some degree at the present time but there are many different opinions as to its prevention and management. Furthermore antihistamine has been widely used for the prevention of urticaria but there are many debatable events about the use of antihistamine. This study was undertaken to investigate the recent reports concerning the use of antihistamine for the prevent in and management of urticaria. Two hundred eighty eight transfused patients among the total of six thousand four hundred forty eight surgical cases done at the Hanyang University hospital from January 1st to December 31th 1983. were reviewed. The result are as follows: 1) The incidence of urticaria was 28 cases (9.72%) among the 288 transfused cases and there was no sex difference. 2) The age distribution was 10 cases (12%) in the 2nd decade and 9 cases(11.3%) in the 4th decade. 3) The lowest incidence of urticaria was 5 cases (5.3%) with A blood type and high of incidence with B, O and AB blood type. 4) The physical status of class 3 was seem in 10 cases(43.5%) as the most common occurrence of urticaria. 5) The highest incidence of urticaria was observed in 9(45%) of 20 obstetric cases. 6) There was no significant differnece of urticaria incidence between the groups which did and did not use antihistamine. Also in the group which received histamine 10 minutes before treansfusion there was a significant decreases 6 cases (3.41%) among the 178 transfused cases. 7) There was no significant statistical difference between blood loss and transfused blood volumes. 8) There was no significant statistical change in the mean values of hemoglobin and hematocrit which were measured preoperatively, in recovery room and 24 hours after operation. 9) In the patient's who were tranfused with more than 10 oints of whole blood, urticaria developed in 9 cases (50%) among 18. From the results of this study, I consider the most effective method for the prevention of urticaria to be the administration of histamine 10 minutes before transfusion. Further investigation of this method will be carried out.
Age Distribution ; Blood Transfusion* ; Blood Volume ; Hematocrit ; Histamine ; Humans ; Incidence ; Recovery Room ; Sex Characteristics ; Urticaria

Halothane was introduced in 1956. It has been used worldwidely as a relatively safe inhalation anesthetic but it is generally accepted that it can cause decrease of liver function. But the causative factor has not yet been pinpointed. Enflurane also seems to decrease liver function but the exact cause is not yet known. In order to study the effects of enflurane and halothane on liver function, we used 10 cases of spinal anesthesia as a control group, and 20 cases each of enflurane and halothane anesthesia respectively as experimental group. We then checked serum GOT, GPT, total bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, and eosinophil count in peripheral venous blood before oeration and 6 days after operation and looked for the existence of high fever of more than 39 degrees C 3 days postoperatively. The results are as follows: 1) We found statistical significant change of serum GOT, GPT, total billirubin alkaline phosphatase and eosinophil count in spinal, enflurane, or halothane anesthesia beofre and after operation. There was no statistically significance between the control and experimental groups. 2) No patient developed high fever of more than 39 degrees C until 3 days after anesthesia in any group. 3) No significant change of mean arterial blood pressure was observed before and during anesthesia in each group. In this study no definite conclusion that enflurane and halothane might have affected the liver function.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, Spinal ; Anesthetics* ; Arterial Pressure ; Bilirubin ; Enflurane* ; Eosinophils ; Fever ; Halothane* ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Liver*

Intertrochanteric fractures frequently occur in elderly patients. Early mobilization after rigid internal fixation of unstable intertrochanteric fractures has recently reduced the mortality and morbidity. Between March, 1976 and February, 1980, eighteen patients over 60 years old with unstable intertrochanteric fractures were treated by Jewett nailing after Dimon & Hughstons reduction at the department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chung Nam University. Among the eighteen patients, twelve patients could be followed, ranging from 6 months to 2.1 years, with an average follow-up of 11 months. The results were obtained as follows: 1. The main causes of fractures were falling down and slip down. 2. In treatment of unstable intertrochanteric fractures by medial displacement and valgus nailing with Jewett nail, early ambulation and early weight bearing were possible with satisfactory results. 3. The average time for fracture union in twelve cases who were followed up were 17.1 weeks, but two cases with severe comminution of posterior and medial fragment of the trochanter revealed delayed union. 4. The medial displacement of distal fragment and valgus nailing in unstable intertrochanteric fracture shortened the operation time and reduced complications by early ambulation, but had disadvantages such as some limitation of motion of affected hip joints, shortening of affected extremities and delayed union.
Accidental Falls ; Aged ; Early Ambulation ; Extremities ; Femur ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hip Fractures ; Hip Joint ; Humans ; Mortality ; Weight-Bearing