No abstract available.
Diagnosis* ; Epilepsy*

BACKGREOUND: Cerebral damage caused by hemorrhagic shock presents an important challenge for critical care medicine. The type of fluid to resuscitate hemorrhagic shock is important for the outcome of such patients. Pentastarch is low-molecular-weight hydroxyethyl starch, which increases cerebral blood flow (CBF) by plasma volume expansion and compensatory vasodilation, and improves the microcirculation in the ischemic brain area by reducing the blood viscosity. METHODS: The authors continuously determined CBF and CMRO2 in 10 mongrel dogs weighing 20.1 +/- 0.8 kg with posterior sagittal sinus outflow method. Dogs were subjected to the 20 minute-period of hemorrhagic shock to a mean arterial pressure of 40 mmHg. The shock phase was followed by resuscitation with the same volume of 10% pentastarch as blood loss. The authors assessed the changes of CBF, CMRO2, and CBF/CMRO2 ratio immediately and 30, 60, 90, 120 minutes after pentastarch infusion. Brain water content was assessed by the wet-dry weight method. RESULTS: CBF was increased above the control level, immediately and 30 minutes after 10% pentastarch infusion (p<0.05), and approximated to the control level for the remaining time. CMRO2 was increased, immediately and 30, 60, 90 minutes after 10% pentastarch infusion (p<0.05), and approximated to the control level at 120 minutes. CBF/CMRO2 ratio was recovered to the control level after 10% pentastarch infusion. Brain water content was not significantly different from the normal value of dogs. CONCLUSION: 10% pentastarch may be used with safety to resuscitate hemorrhagic shock because it recovers the balance between the cerebral oxygen supply and demand, and does not cause cerebral edema.
Animals ; Arterial Pressure ; Blood Viscosity ; Brain ; Brain Edema ; Critical Care ; Dogs ; Humans ; Hydroxyethyl Starch Derivatives* ; Microcirculation ; Oxygen* ; Plasma Volume ; Reference Values ; Resuscitation ; Shock ; Shock, Hemorrhagic* ; Starch ; Vasodilation

No abstract available.
Paralyses, Familial Periodic*

BACKGROUND: The Cobas(R) Integra is a new automated chemistry analyzer with continuous and random-access features for routine chemistries, specific proteins, electrolytes, therapeutic drugs and drugs of abuse. The system maintains 68 test-specific reagent cassettes on board and have test principles of absorbance photometry, immunoturbidometry, fluorescence polarization and ISE measurements. We evaluated the usefulness of Cobas(R) Integra in the aspect of accuracy, precision, linearity, comparison study, test speed and general performance. METHODS: We evaluated the analytical performance of the Cobas(R) Integra for T. bilirubin, CRP, BUN, creatinine, sodium, potassium, chloride, valproic acid, phenytoin and carbamazepine according to NCCLS guidelines (EP5-T2, EP6-P, EP9-T and GP10-T). RESULTS: In accuracy study, error ranges(%) of most test items, except sodium and chloride, were within analytic goals. In within-run and between-run precision study, Coefficient of variation (CV, %) of most items, except sodium, were lower than limits suggested by College of American Pathologists Survey 1991. The linearities were maintained well in the range of medically significant levels and were statistically acceptable (p<0.001). The comparison study for most items, except sodium and chloride, indicated good correlation with Hitachi 747 and TDx FLx(TM) and correlation coefficients (r) were above 0.98. Throughput was about 450 tests/hr. CONCLUSIONS: Cobas(R) Integra showed satisfactory accuracy, precision, linearity, good correlation with other analyzers and high throughput. So, we concluded that Cobas(R) integra is highly suitable for not only routine use but also emergency tests in medium to large-sized hospitals because of its high productivity and reliability.
Bilirubin ; Carbamazepine ; Chemistry* ; Creatinine ; Efficiency ; Electrolytes ; Emergencies ; Fluorescence Polarization ; Phenytoin ; Photometry ; Potassium ; Sodium ; Street Drugs ; Valproic Acid

BACKGROUND: The Cobas(R) Integra is a new automated chemistry analyzer with continuous and random-access features for routine chemistries, specific proteins, electrolytes, therapeutic drugs and drugs of abuse. The system maintains 68 test-specific reagent cassettes on board and have test principles of absorbance photometry, immunoturbidometry, fluorescence polarization and ISE measurements. We evaluated the usefulness of Cobas(R) Integra in the aspect of accuracy, precision, linearity, comparison study, test speed and general performance. METHODS: We evaluated the analytical performance of the Cobas(R) Integra for T. bilirubin, CRP, BUN, creatinine, sodium, potassium, chloride, valproic acid, phenytoin and carbamazepine according to NCCLS guidelines (EP5-T2, EP6-P, EP9-T and GP10-T). RESULTS: In accuracy study, error ranges(%) of most test items, except sodium and chloride, were within analytic goals. In within-run and between-run precision study, Coefficient of variation (CV, %) of most items, except sodium, were lower than limits suggested by College of American Pathologists Survey 1991. The linearities were maintained well in the range of medically significant levels and were statistically acceptable (p<0.001). The comparison study for most items, except sodium and chloride, indicated good correlation with Hitachi 747 and TDx FLx(TM) and correlation coefficients (r) were above 0.98. Throughput was about 450 tests/hr. CONCLUSIONS: Cobas(R) Integra showed satisfactory accuracy, precision, linearity, good correlation with other analyzers and high throughput. So, we concluded that Cobas(R) integra is highly suitable for not only routine use but also emergency tests in medium to large-sized hospitals because of its high productivity and reliability.
Bilirubin ; Carbamazepine ; Chemistry* ; Creatinine ; Efficiency ; Electrolytes ; Emergencies ; Fluorescence Polarization ; Phenytoin ; Photometry ; Potassium ; Sodium ; Street Drugs ; Valproic Acid

BACKGROUND: Direct laryngoscope may be less useful under conditions of limited visualization. Light wand is a lighted stylet to transilluminate neck tissues allowing intubation without visualization. Thus, difficult intubation due to anatomy can be overcome. For comparison of light wand and direct laryngoscope, we checked time to intubation (TTI), success rate, relation of TTI and thyromental distance (TMD), and change of blood pressure and heart rate after intubation. METHODS: We selected and randomly allocated sixty adults to direct layngoscope group (D) and light wand group (L). Without premedication, propofol and vecuronium were injected for intubation. Time to intubation was measured from the time of grasping direct laryngoscope or light wand until the time of inserting endotracheal tube into trachea. We checked the change of blood pressure and heart rate after intubation, and studied the correlation of TTI and TMD. RESULTS: TTI was 16.5 sec (6.53~115.3 sec) for group D and 11.8 sec (4.31~36.0 sec) for group L. There was no significant difference between the groups. The rise of blood pressure and heart rate was less with light wand. There was a correlation of [TTI]=1248- 388[TMD]-30[TMD]2 in group L patients whose TMD is less than 7 cm. CONCLUSION: Compared with direct laryngoscope, light wand is as easy to use and can be more effective especially for patients whose anatomy may make intubation difficult or whose cardiovascular system is unstable.
Adult ; Blood Pressure* ; Cardiovascular System ; Hand Strength ; Heart Rate* ; Heart* ; Humans ; Intubation* ; Laryngoscopes* ; Neck ; Premedication ; Propofol ; Trachea ; Vecuronium Bromide

BACKGROUND: Direct laryngoscope may be less useful under conditions of limited visualization. Light wand is a lighted stylet to transilluminate neck tissues allowing intubation without visualization. Thus, difficult intubation due to anatomy can be overcome. For comparison of light wand and direct laryngoscope, we checked time to intubation (TTI), success rate, relation of TTI and thyromental distance (TMD), and change of blood pressure and heart rate after intubation. METHODS: We selected and randomly allocated sixty adults to direct layngoscope group (D) and light wand group (L). Without premedication, propofol and vecuronium were injected for intubation. Time to intubation was measured from the time of grasping direct laryngoscope or light wand until the time of inserting endotracheal tube into trachea. We checked the change of blood pressure and heart rate after intubation, and studied the correlation of TTI and TMD. RESULTS: TTI was 16.5 sec (6.53~115.3 sec) for group D and 11.8 sec (4.31~36.0 sec) for group L. There was no significant difference between the groups. The rise of blood pressure and heart rate was less with light wand. There was a correlation of [TTI]=1248- 388[TMD]-30[TMD]2 in group L patients whose TMD is less than 7 cm. CONCLUSION: Compared with direct laryngoscope, light wand is as easy to use and can be more effective especially for patients whose anatomy may make intubation difficult or whose cardiovascular system is unstable.
Adult ; Blood Pressure* ; Cardiovascular System ; Hand Strength ; Heart Rate* ; Heart* ; Humans ; Intubation* ; Laryngoscopes* ; Neck ; Premedication ; Propofol ; Trachea ; Vecuronium Bromide

Scleroderma renal crisis is defined as rapidly progressive renal failure and/or new onset of malignant hypertension during the course of systemic sclerosis. Most patients show clinical features of malignant hypertension, but there have been several reports of normotensive renal crisis. We have experienced a 63 year old female patients with acute renal failure due to scleroderma renal crisis who did not show the clinical features of malignant hypertension. She had taken steroid for the treatment of degenerative osteoarthritis and gradually developed shortness of breath and edema. Her blood pressure on admission was 150/90 mmHg and easily controlled by diuretics. Renal biopsy showed onion-skin appearance in the interlobular arteries with varying degree of tubulointerstitial changes. Her renal function rapidly deteriorated despite ACE inhibitor therapy and cytotoxic therapy had to be initiated because of progressive interstitial pneumonitis and myocarditis. We describe a patient with scleroderma renal crisis who did not show the clinical features of malignant hypertension following steroid treatment.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Arteries ; Biopsy ; Blood Pressure ; Diuretics ; Dyspnea ; Edema ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension, Malignant* ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; Middle Aged ; Myocarditis ; Osteoarthritis ; Renal Insufficiency ; Scleroderma, Systemic

High frequency ventilation considerably reduces the risk of barotrauma due to low peak airway pressure compared to conventional mechanical ventilation. This risk, however, is also preaent with high frequency jet ventilation (HFJV) if excessive driving preasure are used and, above all if expiration is impeded. We investigated the effects of outflow resistance, which was varied by connecting different size of tube (ID 8.0, 7.5, 7.0, 6.5, 5.5, 5.0, 4.5, 4.0 mm), which was cut in 10 cm length, to the proximal site of endotracheal tube (ID 8.0 mm), which was inserted into the trachea of anesthetized dogs with a attached airway pressure monitoring catheter externally, in different driving pressure (2 kg/cm2, 1 kg/cm2) and frequency (100beats/min, 200beats/min) on the intra-airway preesure during HFJV. HFJV was performed with a catheter (diameter 2.5 mm) which was inaerted through endotracheal tube and located 1 cm proximal to the tip of endotracheal tube. Intra-airway pressure was acutely increased with the tube size of smaller than 5.5 mm in driving pressure 2 kg/cm2 and 5.0 mm in driving pressure 1 kg/cm2 compared to previous size of tube. 2 kg/cm2 of driving pressure showed significant higher airway pressure compared to 1 kg/cm in any size of tube. There was no difference in airway pressure by varing of frequency with same driving preasure. In summary, pulmonary barotrauma due to higher airway pressure may be occur if HFJV catheter occupied more than 25% of outflow tract area especially in higher driving pressure.
Airway Resistance ; Animals ; Barotrauma ; Catheters ; Dogs ; High-Frequency Jet Ventilation* ; High-Frequency Ventilation ; Respiration, Artificial ; Trachea ; Ventilation

No abstract available.
Humans ; Pituitary Neoplasms*