PURPOSE: Smoking elicits airway inflammation and airflow obstruction in patients with asthma, even after smoking cessation. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of smoking cessation on lung function and quality of life (QOL) in asthmatic patients. METHODS: Thirty-two patients with asthma who were active smokers were recruited. After education on the effects of smoking on asthma, 22 patients continued to smoke, and 10 quit smoking. All patients were treated with inhaled fluticasone propionate (1 mg/day) for 3 months. We compared forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory flow between 25 and 75% FVC (FEF(25-75%)), and scores on a QOL questionnaire at baseline, 1, 2, and 3 months. RESULTS: Quitters showed a greater percent change in FEV1 (19.1+/-6.3 vs. 7.9+/-2.4%, P=0.024) and FEV1/FVC (6.5+/-4.14 vs. 3.5+/-1.5%, P=0.05) than smokers. Both quitters and smokers showed improved QOL scores after 1, 2, and 3 months of fluticasone treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with asthma who quit smoking showed less airway obstruction, suggesting that smoking cessation is crucial in the management of asthma.
Airway Obstruction ; Androstadienes ; Asthma ; Diethylpropion ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Lung ; Quality of Life ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Smoking Cessation ; Vital Capacity ; Fluticasone ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: This study was performed to prove whether a pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy (PPPD), now widely used in the treatment of not only positive tumors but also negative tumors, is advantageous for recovering the nutritional status and the quality of life of patients with pancreatic cancer and periampullary regions compared with a classical pancreatoduodenectomy (PD). METHODS: A retrospective study of the nutritional status and the quality of life of 200 patients who had undergone a PPPD (n=92) and a PD (n=118) from January 1993 to July 1998 was performed. The nutritional status was measured by using Broca's index, cholesterol, total protein, and albumin. The quality of life was assessed by one question on how the patients felt about their quality of life. RESULTS: The PD was preferred in advanced stages and had a higher recurrence rate. The PPPD had a shorter operative time, less transfused blood, a longer duration of nasogastric tube drainage, and a shorter postoperative hospital stay. In the PPPD, the nutritional status was improved compared with that in the PD. There were no significant differences in operative mortality or morbidity, gastrointestinal symptoms, and the quality of life between patients having a PPPD and a PD. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that there are no differences in postoperative subjective symptoms and the quality of life between patients having a PPPD and those having a PD. However, preserving the pylorus allows a better recovery of nutritional status than a pylorus resection dose. The PPPD hasa survival rate similar to that of the PD. Therefore, the PPPD can be recommended for the procedure in the surgical treatment of diseases of the periampullary regions.
Cholesterol ; Drainage ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Mortality ; Nutritional Status* ; Operative Time ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy* ; Pylorus ; Quality of Life* ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate pregnancy outcomes after placental needle penetration during midtrimester diagnostic amniocentesis. METHODS: We collected 726 singleton pregnancy cases from 1054 pregnancies of midtrime-ster diagnostic amniocentesis, and analysed pregnancy outcomes after the procedure based on medical records. To compare the outcomes, we divided 726 cases into two groups; placental penetration group by aspiration needle(170 cases) and non-penetration group(556 cases). RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between two groups about maternal age and gestational age at the time of procedure, and the distribution of amniocentesis indication. In comparison of complications between two groups after procedure, a. There was no statistically significant difference in amniotic fluid leakage: in penetration group, 1 case (0.58%) and in non-penetration group, 5 cases(0.89%) were observed. b. There was no statistically significant difference in vaginal bleeding: in penetration group, 2 cases (1.18%) and in non-penetration group, 3 cases(0.54%) were observed. c. There was no statistically significant difference in developing abruptio placentae: in penetration group, no case developed and in non-penetration group, one case(0.18%) was observed. d. As for fetal loss, there was no statistically significant difference : in penetration group, 4 cases (2.35%) and in non-penetration group, 10 cases(1.80%) were occurred. e. As for birth weight, there was no statistically significant difference : in penetration group, 3.26+/-0.8 kg and in non-penetration group, 3.21+/-0.9 kg were measured. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that placental penetration by aspiration needle during diagnostic mid-trimester amniocentesis does not increase the risk of post-procedure complication.
Abruptio Placentae ; Amniocentesis* ; Amniotic Fluid ; Birth Weight ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Maternal Age ; Medical Records ; Needles* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; Uterine Hemorrhage