BACKGROUND: Headache is a common symptom. It has not proved useful methods that the physician evaluated the alert patient who had headache. It needs the presence of predictors of intracranial pathology(ICP) which serves as influential factors in the indication of evaluation and hospitalization of patients. METHOD: So, in order to identify such factors, patient records were retrospectively analysed. 168 patients with the chief complaint of headache presented to the Emergency Department of Chonnam University Hospital during the period from January 1, 1995 to December 31, 1997. All were in an alert mental state and had no evidence of trauma and intoxication. RESULTS: 14 cases(8.3% revealed ICP. 41 cases(24.4% revealed systemic disease. The remainder of cases were divided among unclassified headaches(61 cases, 36.3%, tension headaches(30 cases, 17.9%, and migraine(22 cases, 13.1%. Comparison of ICP-positive and ICP-positive cases revealed that ICP-Positive Patients could be categorized by the following findings: (1) Presence of the focal sign through neurological examination, (2) age greater than 55 years, (3) presence of associated symptoms, (4) acute headache. These four manifestations were proven to be statistically significant as predictors of ICP. CONCLUSION: Although the positive predictive value of the above criteria is not perfect for the prediction of ICP, they are worthy of clinical consideration in alert patients presenting with headache.
Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Headache* ; Hospitalization* ; Humans ; Jeollanam-do ; Neurologic Examination ; Retrospective Studies

Soft denture liners or conditioners may be valuable therapeutic materials. The life of these liners is short and varies, but it can be extended by the use of a mono-poly(polymethyl methacrylate coating material). This study determined whether coating three temporary soft denture liners with mono-poly affected the resiliency of soft liners, and evaluated the ability of mono-poly to prevent water absorption and alcohol loss from the underlying soft liners. 20x12mm cylindrical specimens of Coe-Soft, Soft-Liner, Coe-Comfort soft lining materials were made and divided into two groups of mono-poly uncoated(control) and mono-poly coated specimens. Specimens were immersed in water and compressed on an instron universal testing machine and weighted at initial, 24 hours, 1 week, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks. resiliency was determined by measuring the energy absorbed by the soft liners when stressed to a specific yield point. Mono-poly coating significantly increased the resiliency of the Soft-Liner, but had no effect on the other soft liners. Among the 3 soft liners, Soft-Liner showed the hightest resiliency and modulus of elasticity. The weight loss in Soft-Liner was the least among the 3 liners, and the weight loss in Coe-Soft was decreased by monopoly coating.
Absorption ; Denture Liners* ; Dentures* ; Elastic Modulus ; Water ; Weight Loss

BACKGROUND: Both atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia may progress to gastric dysplasia. This study aimed to analyze the factors influencing progression of atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia to dysplasia. METHODS: People diagnosed with atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia for the first time received a follow-up endoscopy and were investigated for the cumulative incidence rate of gastric dysplasia by age, gender, smoking habit, alcohol intake, rice consumption and family history of stomach cancer. RESULTS: The cumulative incidence rate increased with age, consuming > or =3 bowls of rice per day and family history of stomach cancer. Multivariate analysis showed that the cumulative incidence rate of gastric dysplasia increased in subjects >61 years (RR=2.54, P=0.014), in those consuming > or =3 bowls of rice per day (RR=1.46, P=0.021) and in those with a family history of stomach cancer (RR=1.31, P=0.037). CONCLUSIONS: More active management, such as intensive endoscopic follow-up examinations, lifestyle change and education regarding gastric dysplasia, are required in those older than 61 years, having a higher intake of grain or with a family history of stomach cancer.
Edible Grain ; Endoscopy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastritis, Atrophic ; Humans ; Incidence ; Life Style ; Metaplasia ; Multivariate Analysis ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms

We investigated the effects of panretinal photocoagulation (PRP)on macular microcirculation in diabetic retinopathy. PRP using argon blue green laser was performed in 23 eyes of 15 patients with early proliferative diabetic etinopathy and very severe nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy without significant macular edema. The changes in volume, flow, velocity of macular microcirculation were measured before PRP, 1 hour, 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month following PRP, using Heidelberg Retina Flowmeter(HRF). Mean volume, flow, velocity of macular microcirculation decreased to a maximal degree 1 hour following PRP, from 14.87+/-0.40, 387.45 +/-101.40, 1.40+/-0.28(before PRP)to 12.44+/-1.39, 347. 33+/-100.39, 1.27+/-0.34(p<0.05). From 1hour to 1 month after PRP, macular microcirculation gradually increased. However, throughout this period, all parameters of macular microcirculation remained lower than pre-PRP level(p<0.05). Our study suggests that panretinal photocoagulation reduces the macular microcirculation in diabetic retinopathy.
Argon ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Humans ; Light Coagulation* ; Macular Edema ; Microcirculation* ; Retina ; Retinaldehyde*

BACKGROUND: ST segment elevation in patient with chest pain was seen in acute myocardial infarction and in numerous other non-infarction syndrome. The causes of non-infarction syndrome were left ventricular hypertrophy, BER(benign early repolarization), and left bundle branch block in cardiac origin and were hyperkalemia and hyperventilation syndrome in metabolic origin and were others. Furthermore, the differentiation of electrocardiogram between acute myocardial infarction and non-infarction syndrome was very difficult. So, we compared and analysed characteristics of ST segment elevation of acute myocardial infarction and non-infarction syndrome that suggested the clue of early diagnosis of coronary artery disease. METHOD AND MATERIALS: We retrospectively reviewed the electrocardiogram of 961 patients with chest pain who visited the emergency center from January 1999 to December 1999. Acute myocardial infarction was diagnosed by clinical finding, electrocardiogram, cardiac enzyme, echocardiogram, and myocardial spect. Left ventricular hypertrophy, BER, and left bundle branch block in cardiac origin of non-infarction syndrome were diagnosed by electrocardiographic criteria suggested by William J. Brady. Acute myocarditis, acute pericarditis, and hyperventilation syndrome were diagnosed by clinical finding. RESULTS: Among 961 patients with chest pain, 236(24.6%) patients manifested ST segment elevation who were diagnosed acute myocardial infarction in 162(68.6%) patients and non-infarction syndrome in 74(31.4%) patients. The causes of non-infarction syndrome in 74 patients were left ventricular hypertrophy(32:13.6%), BER(28:11.9%), left bundle branch block(11:4.7%), and others(3:1.3%). Three others were acute myocarditis, acute pericarditis, and hyperventilation syndrome. Electrocardiographic characteristics of ST segment elevation of non-infarction syndrome manifested almost same finding compared to William J. Brady' criteria. CONCLUSION: ST segment elevation in patient with chest with chest pain visited emergency department was seen in acute myocardial infarction(68.6%) and the other non-infarction syndromes(31.4%). Significant number of patients were not associated with acute myocardial infarction. Therefore, we must completely understand characteristics of ST segment elevation in acute myocardial infarction and the other non-infarction syndromes to diagnose fatal early coronary artery disease and to avoid unnecessary thrombolytic therapy.
Bundle-Branch Block ; Chest Pain* ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Early Diagnosis ; Electrocardiography ; Emergencies ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Humans ; Hyperkalemia ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular ; Hyperventilation ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Myocarditis ; Pericarditis ; Retrospective Studies ; Thorax* ; Thrombolytic Therapy ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

BACKGROUND: Vasoconstrictors have been used as an adjunct to local anesthetics to prolong the duration of spinal anesthesia. Recently, clonidine, an 2-receptor agonist has been shown to prolong the duration of spinal anesthesia following intrathecal administration. Bupivacaine has been used for spinal anesthesia and compared with tetracaine in recent studies. We have undertaken this study to further evaluate the effect of clonidine in hyperbaric 0.5% bupivacaine spinal anesthesia. METHODS: Thirty patients who were scheduled for lower limb or urologic operation were divided into 2 groups: Group A (hyperbaric bupivacaine 13 mg, 2.6 ml + N/S 1 ml), Group B (hyperbaric bupivacaine 13 mg, 2.6 ml + clonidine 150 g, 1 ml). We used standardized techniques and injected above drugs to group A and B intrathecally for spinal anesthesia. We investigated the onset and the duration of spinal anesthesia along with hemodynamic changes (blood pressure and heart rate) in patients. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the onset of spinal anesthesia and hemodynamic changes between two groups. The time taken to recover from the nerve block was more prolonged in the group B (touch 225, pain 262, foot dorsiflexion 271, knee flexion 290 minutes) than group A (touch 154, pain 188, foot dorsiflexion 198, knee flexion 216 minutes). There were no significant differences in sedation, and in experiencing dry mouth and other side effects between two groups. CONCLUSION: Intrathecal clonidine 150 g has been proved to prolong the duration of hyperbaric 0.5% bupivacaine spinal anesthesia without neurotoxicity or dangerous hemodynamic depression. Therefore, clonidine can be used as an effective adjunct in hyperbaric bupivacaine spinal anesthesia.
Anesthesia, Spinal* ; Anesthetics, Local ; Bupivacaine* ; Clonidine* ; Depression ; Foot ; Heart ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Knee ; Lower Extremity ; Mouth ; Nerve Block ; Tetracaine ; Vasoconstrictor Agents

Childhood chronic abdominal pain usually doesn't have an organic etiology. It may cause social impairment and emotional distress in children as well as their families. In view of cognitive and behavioral aspect, passive coping style, maladaptive social modeling, and reinforced secondary gain could contribute to the development and maintenance of pediatric somatization. Integrative etiological model includes biological factors due to the enteric sensitization process, psychosocial factors which encompass family influences, psychodevelomental vulnerability, and life event-related stress. These factors interact with each other and manifest as various psychosomatic symptoms. In the treatment of childhood chronic abdominal pain, multimodal treatment program, which includes cognitive behavioral therapeutic methods, emotional support, family education, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, and so on, is known to be most effective.
Abdominal Pain ; Biological Factors ; Child ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Humans ; Serotonin

We report a case of subcutaneous panniculitic T-cell lymphoma (SPTCL) which occurred in a 10-year-old Korean girl. Her disease presented as multiple erythematous subcutaneous nodules on the right cheek, left chest, abdomen, left flank, both calves, and left shin with systemic symptoms. She had a protracted course of multiple erythematous subcutaneous nodules for 2 months often with spiking fever. Histopathologic findings for the subcutaneous nodules revealed lobular panniculitis-like findings composed of atypical small, bland lymphocytes and histiocytes. Characteristically, atypical lymphocytes rimmed individual fat cells in a lace-like pattern and some histiocytes occasionally phagocytosed WBCs. Bone marrow findings revealed increased phagocytic histiocytes with engulfed hematopoietic cell. The immunophenotypic studies showed CD45RO (UCHLl)+, CD20-, CD4-, CD8+ and CD56+ (focal), lysozyme+, CD45 (LCA)+ and EBV-. She received three cycles of high-dose cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, vincristine, prednisolone (CHOP) and methotrexate, intrathecal methotrexate and one cycle of fludarabine, mitoxantrone and dexamethasone (FND) chemotherapy. She died of acute renal failure during multiple chemotherapy.
Abdomen ; Acute Kidney Injury ; Adipocytes ; Bone Marrow ; Cheek ; Child* ; Cyclophosphamide ; Dexamethasone ; Doxorubicin ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Fever ; Glycogen Storage Disease Type VI ; Histiocytes ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; Lymphoma, T-Cell* ; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous ; Methotrexate ; Mitoxantrone ; Prednisolone ; T-Lymphocytes* ; Thorax ; Vincristine

This study was performed to detect the oxidative stress in the cornea and lens in vivo by fluorophotometer after excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy(PRK). Twenty New Zealand white rabbits(20 eyes)were divided into two groups, control group(10 eyes)and PRK group(10 eyes). Rabbits of PRK group underwent PRK(8 diopters)and 2', 7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate(DCFH-DA)was applied on the central cornea 6 hours after PRK in both groups. Fluorophotometric readings of the cornea and lens were measured 15 minutes(F15)and 30 minutes(F30)after DCFH-DA application in both groups. The cornea and lens was observed with slit lamp biomicroscope for 8 weeks. F15 and F30 of the cornea in PRK group(3.83+/-1.22 ng/ml, 5.12+/-1.57 ng/ml)were significantly higher than those in control group(2.61+/-0.59 ng/ml Eq, 3.26+/-0.76 ng/ml Eq)(p=0.01, p=0.005). F15 and F30 of the lens in PRK group(409.7+/-157.2 ng/ml, 594.9+/-242.2 ng/ml Eq)were significantly higher than those in control group(74.1+/-48.3 ng/ml Eq, 310.1+/-249.8 ng/ml Eq)(p=0.0004, p=0.01). No lens opacity developed and F15 and F30 of the cornea did not correlate with corneal haze determined at postoperative 8 weeks. In this study, we demonstrated increased oxygen free radicals in the cornea and lens after PRK by fluorophotometer in vivo and this method can be used as a useful tool to investigate the possible damage induced by oxygen free radicals in the cornea and lens after excimer laser corneal ablation.
Cataract ; Control Groups ; Cornea* ; Free Radicals* ; Lasers, Excimer* ; New Zealand ; Oxidative Stress ; Oxygen* ; Rabbits ; Reading

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Cisplatin* ; Drug Therapy* ; Head* ; Neck*