This study was conducted to investigate the causes of burn and emergency cares taken on the spot for the burn patient. study population included 161 burn patients admitted to 2 university hospitals and 1 general hospital in Taegu from November 1, 1987 to April 30, 1988. Patients or guardians were interviewed with a structured questionnaire. Out of 161 burn patients 111(69.8%) were males and 50(31.1%) females. Preschool children of 1-4 years old accounted for 29.8% of the total patients. Burns of children under 15 years of age took place at home in 91.0%, while 48.3% of burns of adult (15 years and over) males occurred at the working place, and 68.0% of adult females occurred at the home. Out of total burns occurred at home 39.8% took place at kitchen/dining room and 24.1% in the room. The most common cause of burns in children was the boiling water or hot food (74.3%). In adults the common causes were electrical burn(22.4%), hot water or food(19.0%) and explosion(12.1%) for males, and hot water or food(32.0%) and explosion(20.0%) for females. Common emergency cares for the burn taken on the spot were undressing(64.6%), pouring Soju(liquor)(13.7%), and pouring cold water(5.0%). There were a few cases who applied ash, soy or salt. To prevent burn, it is recommended to remodel the traditional kitchen and coal-briquet hole, to strengthen the safety control of LP Gas and LN Gas supply, to educate the public for the handling method for such gases, to strengthen the occupational safety control, to improve the safety device for the electric wire and socket, and to limit the temperature of hot water at home and public baths.
Adult ; Baths ; Burns* ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Daegu* ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Medical Services* ; Female ; Gases ; Hospitals, General ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Male ; Occupational Health ; Protective Devices ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Water

Objective: This study identified the incidence and risk factors for headache attributed to acute pyelonephritis. Methods: The inclusion criteria were patients who were admitted with acute pyelonephritis at our hospital and ≥ 18 years of age. The following exclusion criteria were used: 1) patients who could not express their headache because of mental deterioration, 2) the presence of meningitis or meningoencephalitis, or 3) structural lesions on brain computed tomography or magnetic resonance images that could cause headache. The primary outcome was headache attributed to acute pyelonephritis as a dependent variable. The differences were analyzed using demographic and laboratory profiles as independent variables. Additionally, correlation analysis was performedbetweenseverity of headache using VAS score and demographic and laboratory profiles including age, WBC, and CRP. Results: A total of 479 patients met the inclusion criteria for this study, and 97 patients developed headache attributed to acute pyelonephritis. Patients with headache were younger and more likely to be female, and had a lower incidence of diabetes than those without headache. However, laboratory profiles that reflected the severity of acute pyelonephritis were not predictive factors for headache. Multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that young age and non-diabetes were independently significant variables for the prediction of headache attributed to acute pyelonephritis. In addition, the VAS score was found to be negative correlated with age, whereas it was not correlated with WBC and CRP. Conclusions: We determined that headache attributed to acute pyelonephritis was relatively common, and it was related to demographic characteristics but not acute pyelonephritis severity.
Pyelonephritis ; Headache

We observed clinical features of 18 bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) patients who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit in the Severance Hospital of Yonsel University College of Medicine from January 1. 1987 to June 30. 1991. Eight patients in whom ventilator settings were unchanged for more than 5 days because of lack of improvement in pulmonary function. The effects of dexamethasone in ventilator-dependent were included in the short-term dexamethasone therapy. 1) Eighteen BPD patients consisted of 15 premature infants (83%), 1 full-term infant, and 2 post-term infants, The mean gestational age of the patients were 30 weeks and the mean birth weight was 1,420gm. And there were 13 male and 5 female infants. 2) The underlying conditions which necessitated ventilatory support support were hyaline membrane disease in 13 patients (72%), apnea in 2 (11%), and meconium aspiration syndrome in 3. There patients with meconium aspiration syndrome were either full-term or post-term infants, of whom 2 had neonatal persistent pulmonary hypertension. 3) The mean age at the start of ventilator care was 8 hours and the mean PIP was 32 cm H2O. The mean duration of ventilator care of oxygen therapy and of high O2 requirement (FiO2>0.8) were 39 days, 75 days and 20 days, respectively. 4) Patent ductus arteriosus developed in 8 patients during mechanical ventilation, but they were all closed with the use of mefenamic acid, There were also 4 cases of pneumothorax, 2 cases of pulmonary parenchymal emphysema, and 1 case each of pneumomediastinum and pneumoperitoneum. 5) The mean gestational age of the dexamethasone-treated group was 30 weeks and the mean birth weight was 1,320gm, The mean age at which dexamethasone therapy was started was 39 days after birth, and in only 3.3 days 6 patients were successfully weaned from ventilator, In 5 cases the first trial of dexamethasone therapy was enough but the rest needed the 2nd trial for ventilator weaning. 6) In 6 BPD patient who were weaned from the ventilator after dexamethasone therapy, there were significant decreases in MAP (11.1 vs 8.0 cmH2O), and FiO2 (0.73 vs 0.61), but a significant increase in the urine output (2.56 vs 3.7ml/kg/hr) for the pretreatment (5 days prior to therapy) versus posttreatment period (first day of therapy). 7) The complications of dexamethasone treatment were transient hypertension and hyperglycemia in 3 patients, and systemic candidiasis and gastrointestinal bleeding in 2 patients who failed to be weaned after dexamethasone therapy. Our results suggest that the short-term dexamethasone therapy in bronchopulmonary dysplasia patients who are dependent on mechanical ventilation enables weaning in a short period of time. The inspiratory oxygen concentration and the mean airway pressure may be decreased and the urine output may be increased from the first day of medication, improves pulmonary function and decreases pulmonary interstitial edema.
Apnea ; Birth Weight ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia* ; Candidiasis ; Dexamethasone* ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; Edema ; Emphysema ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hyaline Membrane Disease ; Hyperglycemia ; Hypertension ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Male ; Meconium Aspiration Syndrome ; Mediastinal Emphysema ; Mefenamic Acid ; Oxygen ; Parturition ; Pneumoperitoneum ; Pneumothorax ; Respiration, Artificial ; Ventilator Weaning ; Ventilators, Mechanical ; Weaning

The purpose of this study was to investigate the inhibitory role of vitamin A with respect to activation of Ito cells in fibrosis of the rat liver induced by common bile duct ligation(CBDL). The liver was examined by immunohistochemical staining for a-smooth muscle actin,the known marker of activated Ito cells, and light and electron microscopy after CBDL andCBDL with intraperitoneal injection of retinoic acid (Sigma, USA) 1 mg/Kg in 3 times per week. The results were sumrrlerized as follows: After CBDL, the bile ductules were markedly proliferated in the periportal areas extending toterminal hepatic veins. Interstitial fibrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration appeared, however,cholestasis was minimal. Retinoic acid treatment with CBDL decreased bile ductular proliferationand interstitial fibrosis compared to CBDL only. After CBDL, proliferated and activated Ito ceIs showing positive reaction in smooth muscle actin were present in the periductular andperisinusoidal areas, and areas of increased interstitial fibrosis. Activated ito cells weredecreased in number after CBDL with vitamin A treatment. Electron microscopically,intracytoplasmic fat droplets and the cytoplasmic processes of Ito cells were decreased afterCBDL. Myofibroblasts were frequently appeared in the interstitial fibrosis after CBDL. But,intracytoplasmic fat droplets of Ito cells were well preserved, and myofibroblasts were found lessfrequently after CBDL with vitamin A treatment. The results suggest that vitamin A plays an inbitory role in the activation and fibrogenesis ofIto cells after CBDL.
Rats ; Animals

No abstract available.
Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms* ; Trachea*

No abstract available.
Defense Mechanisms*

BACKGROUND: Care for prehospital cardiac arrest is one of the major concerns of emergency medical services. But, in Korea, prehospital emergency medical service systems are not yet well established. We tried to offer one of the fundamental data for development of these systems. METHODS: After application of exclusion criteria, 183 patients who transferred to emergency center of our hospital after cardiac arrest in consecutive 24 months from Jan,1,1994 to Dec,31,1995 were included in this study. Retrospective review of the hospital charts of these patients was done. For statistical analysis, we divided patients to some categories. t-test or chi-square analysis was used. RESULTS: 24 patients of the 183 patients were secondary visitors(cardiac arrest was occurred during transfer from other hospitals), 159 patients were primary visitors. In the primary visitor group, only one third was ambulance visitors, and there is no statistical differences between arrest time of ambulance visitors and non-ambulance visitors(35+/-27 vs 37+/-24 min, p=NS). No organized bystander CPR was done. After arrival, 131 patients received CPR and 87 patients(66.4%) were not responded, 31 patients(23.1%) experienced transient ROSC, 13 patients(10.0%) survived until discharge, and only 2 patients(1.5%) were returned to their lives. CONCLUSION: We failed to find significant statistical survival differences between ambulance visitors and non-ambulance visitors, between presumed cardiac etiology group and non-cardiac etiology group. Survival rate was high in witnessed arrest group than unwitnessed arrest group(14.5% vs 2.1%, p=0.015).
Ambulances ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Emergencies ; Emergency Medical Services ; Heart Arrest* ; Humans ; Korea ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

Digital subtraction angiography(DSA) was made in 72 patients at department of radiology, Seoul National University hospital from February 1982 to January 1983 with our system, SRM-II, developed by cooperation of department of medical engineering, Seoul National University Hospital. The results were as follows; 1. In the total 72 cases, vascular disease was 28 cases in which aortic disease including Takayasu's aortitis was 18 cases. Others were vascular tumors in 32 cases and various conditions such as renal donor and artificial arteriovenous shunt. 2. Extent of the lesion was well delineated especially in aortic disease in cluding 8 cases of Takayasu's aortitis, 6 cases of aortic aneurysm and 2 cases of Behcet's syndrome. 3. DSA can be done to outpatient without admission because of its simplicity and non-invasiveness. DSA is useful especially in the evaluation and follow-up of vascular disease and the diagnostic value is expected to grow continuously according to the renewal of system.
Angiography, Digital Subtraction* ; Aortic Aneurysm ; Aortic Diseases ; Aortitis ; Behcet Syndrome ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Outpatients ; Seoul ; Tissue Donors ; Vascular Diseases

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Valproic acid (2-propylpentanoic acid) which enhances GABA synthesis and blocks it's degradation has been useful treatment of migraine and may activate GABA receptors to modulate trigeminal nociceptive neurons innervating the meninges. But the mechanism and action of sodium valproate in headache is not clear. To investigate the mechanism of valproic acid action in headache model, we compared the change of dural plasma protein extravasation in both substance-P neurogenic inflammation rats with valproic acid pretreatment and without valproic acid pretreatment. METHOD: Sprague-Dawely rats were pretreated with valproate 30 minutes prior to substance-P administration in order to test the effects of sodium valproate on dural plasma protein extravasation by detecting the amount of extravasated Evans blue in the dura matter. To examine the abilities of either bicuculine (GABAA antagonist) and phaclofen (GABAB antagonist) to reverse the effect of valproate, they were administered 5 min before valproate administration. After then we also test the effect of muscimol (GABAA agonist) and bicuculine (GABAA antagonist) in substance-P induced neurogenic inflammation rats. RESULTS: Intraperitoneal injection of sodium valproate and muscimol reduced dural plasma protein extravasation after intravenous substance-P administration. The GABAA antagonist bicuculine completely reversed the effect of valproate and muscimol on plasma extravasation following substance-P administration, whereas the GABAB receptor antagonist, phaclofen, did not. CONCLUSION: We concluded that the attenuation of dural plasma protein extravasation by valproate and muscimol is mediated by via GABAA receptors within the meninges. Agonists and modulators at the GABAA receptor may become useful for the development of selective therapeutic agents for migraine headache.
Animals ; Evans Blue ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; Headache* ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Meninges ; Migraine Disorders ; Muscimol ; Neurogenic Inflammation ; Nociceptors ; Plasma ; Rats* ; Receptors, GABA ; Sodium* ; Valproic Acid*

PURPOSE: In the treatrnent of respiratory distress syndrome, Infants are often exposed to hyperoxia. It can generate oxygen free radical, damage to lung and bronchi, and inactivate pulmonary surfactant(PS). Antioxidant therapy in animal and human models has been tried to overcome this detrimental effects. We hypothesized that the addition of oxygen free radical such as hydrogen peroxide(H) could compromise surface active properties(SAP) of PS and that further addition of antioxidant such as catalaseR(CAT, Sigma chemical, St. Louis) could recover SAP. METHODS: We prepared combinations of mixtures with SurfactenR(S-TA, Tokyo Tanabe, Japan), H202 and CAT. 1)0.625mgPL(phospholipids)/ml or 1.25mgPL/ml S - TA and H202 were mixed to the final concentrations of 0.1 and 1mM H respectively, and incubated at 37C for one hour. 2) 0.625mgPL/rnl S - TA, H202 and CAT 10U were mixed to the final concentrations of lmM H202, and incubated at 37 degree C for one hour. We used Pulsating Bubble Surfactometer (Electronetics, NY) measure in vitro minimum and maximum surface tensions(ST) and area-surface tension relationship. RESULTS: 1) For 0.625mgPL/ml S-TA and 1mM H mixture minimum. ST after 5 min of pulsation increased significantly(P=0.007) and the area-surface tension curve was deformed. But they were comparable to control levels for 1.25mgPL/ml S-TA. 2) When CAT was added to 0.625mgPL/ml S-TA and 1mM H mixture, the resultant minimum ST after 5 min of pulsation dropped to the control levels with recovery of hysteresis curve(P=0.0001). CONCLUSION: PS could be inactivated by addition of high concentrations of H but SAP can be recovered either by increasing PS concentration or by further addition of antioxidant CAT. Therefore, we suggest that in case of suspected surfactant inactivation an increase in surfactant concentration or administration of antioxidant must be considered.
Animals ; Bronchi ; Catalase* ; Cats ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide* ; Hydrogen* ; Hyperoxia ; Infant ; Lung ; Oxygen