No abstract available.
Chylothorax* ; Chylous Ascites*

No abstract available.
Encephalitis* ; Prognosis*

BACKGROUND: To assess and report the outcomes of resuscitation, we apply the 1997 published In-Hospital Utstein Style to an actual emergency department. This study was designed to develope the data base for comparing and studing the outcomes of resuscitation. METHODS: This study was carried out in a tertiary hospital from July 1998 to June 1999. The subjects were adult patients over the age of 20 years who received resuscitation at the emergency department. After making out the protocol for the In-Hospital Utstein Style, we gathered data prospectively. RESULTS: Among 51,347 patients, 36 patients received 42 resuscitations. Forty-two(42) cases(100%) had witnessed arrest. Advance life support(ALS) intervention at the time of cardiac arrest included intravenous catheterization, 41cases(97.6 %); intravenous drug injection, 20 cases(47.6%); endotracheal intubation, 20 cases(47.6%); and artificial ventilation, 12 cases(28.6%). Immediate causes of cardiac arrest were respiratory depression, 11 cases(26.2%); hypotension, 11 cases(26.2 %); metabolic, 9 cases(21.4%); and myocardial ischemia/infarction, 5 cases(11.9%). Initial EKG ryhthms were pulseless electrical activity, 31 cases(73.8 %); ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation, 6 cases(14.3%); and asystole, 5 cases(11.9%). the average interval from cardiac arrest to initial defibrillation was 1.8+/-2.2 minutes, and the average interval from cardiac arrest to epinephrine injection was 2.6+/-3.1 minutes. The average duration of resuscitation was 22.6+/-18.4 minutes. Return of spontaneous circulation occured in 26 cases/42 case(61.9%). Of the 2 survivng patients who were discharged, 1 patient is still alive after 6 months, and the other is still alive after 1 year. CONCLUSION: Although the In-Hospital Utstein Style has many complementary factors, its results were very objective thus use of the In-Hospital Utstein Style is recommended for determining the outcomes of resuscitation.
Adult ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Electrocardiography ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Epinephrine ; Heart Arrest ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Prospective Studies ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Resuscitation* ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Ventilation

BACKGROUND: Childhood and adolescent obesity, not only increases the risk of obesity into adulthood but also is a significant culprit affecting health in general. The purpose of this study was to examine the trend in body mass index (BMI) and to investigate the prediction of adolescence overweight from childhood weight status by retrospectively tracking for seven years. METHODS: The subjects, 520 adolescents aged 14 and 15 years, were recruited from a junior high school that is located in Guri-city. The subjects' height and weight measurements were extracted from the school records of annual physical examination. We assessed their BMI over a period of seven years starting at age seven. Other baseline data were obtained by questionnaires which were completed by both the subjects and their parents in 2001. RESULTS: The prevalence of overweight, according to the Korean Pediatric Society guideline, increased at age 7 through 14. The overweight adolescents of age 14 were more likely to have an obese mother. The results showed that 84% of males and 47% of females who were overweight in childhood continued to remain overweight in adolescence. Compared to the non-overweights, the relative risk of becoming an overweight adolescent among overweight boys was 5.7 (95% CI: 4.1~8.1) and among overweight girls was 6.3 (95% CI: 3.4~11.4). CONCLUSION: Approximately 70% of the overweight children continued to remain overweight as adolescents. Therefore, prevention and effective management of obesity during childhood and adolescence are essential.
Adolescent* ; Body Mass Index* ; Child* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mothers ; Obesity ; Overweight* ; Parents ; Pediatric Obesity ; Physical Examination ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: The decisive factors influencing the eradication of H. pylori still remain unclear. It was our aim to assess H.pylori eradication rate with proton pump inhibitor based triple therapy and investigate the clinical characteristics and endoscopic factors. METHODS: We investigated 106 male patients with H.pylori- positive peptic ulcer. The patients were treated with a 1-week regimen composed of omeprazole, amoxicillin and clarithromycin. THe success of the treatment was evaluated by histology at least 4 weeks after completion of therapy. Endoscopic factor and clinical factors influencing H.pylori eradication were assessed. RESULTS: The overall eradication of H.pylori was successful in 87 of 106 patients (82%). The eradication rate was higher in those who drink or smoke, with gastric ulcer, less than 50 years old but these factors did not significantly influence the outcome of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: H.pylori eradication rate with omeprazole, amoxicillin, and clarithromycin did not differ from other studies. These results suggest that factors such as smoking, drinking, age and ulcer site did not influence the eradication rate of H.pylpori.
Amoxicillin ; Clarithromycin ; Drinking ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Omeprazole ; Peptic Ulcer* ; Proton Pumps ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Stomach Ulcer ; Ulcer

BACKGROUND: Maintenance of volume status and treatment of hypovolemia constitute an important component of anesthetic management. A Pulse oxymeter providing a continuous display of the pulse waveform offers a new method of estimating relative volume status during positive pressure ventilation. This study was undertaken to use the pulse wave variance of a plethysmographic signal measured from a pulse oximeter as a useful tool in the assessment of volume status. METHODS: Forty patients underwent general anesthesia with controlled positive pressure ventilation. After induction, the fluid infusion rate was 100 cc/hr until the dura was opened. During the operation, fluid losses were not replaced until hemodynamic variables were printed out. In addition to standard monitoring,the arterial pressure was monitored with a radial artery catheter. Systolic pressure variation (SPV) was defined as the maximum variation in peak systolic pressure during the respiratory cycle and measured in mmHg. Plethysmographic pulse wave variation (PWV) was defined as the maximum variation in the waveform peaks during the respiratory cycle and measured in millimeters from the printed output of the pulse oximeter. SPV and PWV were printed out right after induction and right before dura opening. In addition to SPV and PWV, other hemodynamic variables (HR, MAP, CVP) were obtained. RESULTS: Heart rate, SPV and PWV increased before the dura opening compared with those after induction. PWV correlated well with SPV after fluid losses CONCLUSIONS: A Pulse oximeter which is a standard monitor in anesthesia provides a useful, noninvasive and inexpensive adjunct to the more invasive estimators of volume status.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Arterial Pressure ; Blood Pressure* ; Catheters ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hypovolemia ; Positive-Pressure Respiration ; Radial Artery

BACKGROUND: One of the unique feature of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring is its ability to describe the variations of BP throughout the day and night. Left ventricular hypertrophy and other measures of target organ damage in hypertension are more closely related to the average 24-h BP than to clinic BP. In addition to the mean levels of BP, the characteristics of the 24-h BP profile might be a further determinant of organ in essential hypertension. METHODS: Data were obtrained from 105 patients with essential hypertension and 44 normal subjects. Echocardiography and 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring were performed in all subjects. At first, relative wall thickness(RWT) and left ventrcular mass index were calculated from normal subject and normal values(RWT<0.44, LV mass index,120gm/m2) were applied to hypertensive patients which were classified to dipper and non-dipper according to the result of ambulatory monitoring. RESULTS: 1) There were 49 dippers and 56 non-dipper in hypertensive patients subjects. 2) Among the dippers, left ventricular mass index and relative wall thickness were normal in 51%, whereas 8.2% had increased relative wall thickness with normal ventricular mass(concentric remodeling), 32.7% had increased mass with normal relative wall thickness(eccentric hypertrophy) and 8.2% had typical hypertensive concentric hypertrophy. 3) Among the non-dippers, left ventriculat mass index and relative wall thicksness were normal in 40%, whereas 41.8% had eccentric hypertophy, 16.4% had concentric hypertrophy, only 1.8% had concentric remodeling. 4) The incidence of concentric hypertophy was significantly increased in non-dipper subjects(15.2%) than dippers(8.2%), especially in non-dipper female patients. 5) The incidence of concentric remodeling was increased in dipper(8.2%), especially in dipper female patients. 6) There were no difference between left ventricular geometies in duration of hypertension, ejecton fracton, fractional shortening, and cardiac index. 7) There were no difference between dipper and non-dipper subjects in total peripheral resistance except dipper female patients(1,484+/-535 dynes.s.cm5). CONCLUSION: Patterns of left ventricular hypertophy and geometric remodeling in essential hypertension may not be influenced by the duration of hypertension, but by gender, blood pressure level, diurnal rhythm and total peripheral resistance.
Blood Pressure ; Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory ; Circadian Rhythm ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Hypertrophy ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular ; Incidence ; Monitoring, Ambulatory ; Vascular Resistance

This article presents a schematic review of the clinical manifestations of occupational neurologic disorders in Korea and discusses the toxicologic implications of these conditions. Vascular encephalopathy, parkinsonism, chronic toxic encephalopathy, cerebellar dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy, and neurodegenerative diseases are common presentations of occupational neurotoxic syndromes in Korea. Few neurotoxins cause patients to present with pathognomic neurologic syndrome. Detailed neurologic examinations and categorization of the clinical manifestations of neurologic disorders will improve the clinical management of occupational neurologic diseases. Physicians must be aware of the typical signs and symptoms of possible exposure to neurotoxins, and they should also pay attention to less-typical, rather-vague symptoms and signs in workers because the toxicologic characteristics of occupational neurologic diseases in Korea have changed from typical patterns to less-typical or equivocal patterns. This shift is likely to be due to several years of low-dose exposure, perhaps combined with the effects of aging, and new types of possibly toxicant-related neurodegenerative diseases. Close collaboration between neurologists and occupational physicians is needed to determine whether neurologic disorders are work-related.
Aging ; Cerebellar Diseases ; Cooperative Behavior ; Humans ; Korea ; Nervous System Diseases ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; Neurologic Examination ; Neurotoxicity Syndromes ; Neurotoxins ; Occupational Diseases ; Parkinsonian Disorders ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; Toxicology

BACKGROUND: Platelet refractoriness has been reported to occur in 30-70% of multitransfused patients. This can result by either immune or nonimmune mechanisms. The predominant immune cause of platelet refractoriness is alloimmunization to HLA class I antigens. Recently, acid-treated platelets have been used in a few patients with platelet refractoriness due to HLA alloantibodies. However, the effect of acid-treated platelets has not been consistent. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vivo survival of acid-treated, HLA-eluted platelets in HLA-immunized rabbits. METHODS: For in vivo survival test, 14 New Zealand White rabbits were studied. Four rabbits were in the nonimmunized control and 10 were immunized by weekly transfusions of human pooled platelets for six weeks. The HLA-immunized group was separated into two groups with transfusion of acid-treated platelets and untreated platelets. The survival of transfused platelets in rabbits with immunization and control group was estimated by a flow cytometer using FITC-labeled anti-CD42a. We also examined the HLA re-expression in acid-treated platelets due to regeneration and adsorption of HLA from human plasma. RESLUTS: The half-life of untreated platelets in nonimmunized rabbits was 11.8 +/- 3.7 hr. The half-life of acid-treated platelets in rabbits with HLA antibodies was 9.5 +/- 5.5 hr and the half-life of untreated platelets in rabbits with HLA antibodies was 5.9 +/- 2.9 hr. The difference between untreated platelets in the nonimmunized control group and acid-treated platelets in rabbits with HLA antibodies was statistically insignificant (p=0.221). Re-expression of HLA-A,B,C by endogenous resynthesis occurred continuously, and after 24 hrs it reached 84% of pre-elution level. Adsorption of HLA antigens from human plasma was completed within four hrs. CONCLUSIONS: Acid-treated, HLA-eluted platelets may be applicable for the patients with refractoriness to platelet transfusion, especially, in case of unavailability of HLA-compatible donors and fatal bleeding such as intracranial hemorrhage and pulmonary hemorrhage. However, the post-transfusion increment of the platelet count could not be maintained over 24 hrs because of the endogenous resynthesis of HLA antigens.
Adsorption ; Antibodies ; Blood Platelets ; Half-Life ; Hemorrhage ; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I ; HLA Antigens ; Humans ; Immunization ; Intracranial Hemorrhages ; Isoantibodies ; Plasma ; Platelet Count ; Platelet Transfusion ; Rabbits* ; Regeneration ; Tissue Donors

BACKGROUND: C-reactive protein (hereinafter CRP) is a substance that is elevated in large quantities when there is an abnormal metabolic reaction or an inflammatory condition. Many researches have identified the substance as a prognostic and an independent risk factor responsible for cardiovascular disease. More recently, many studies have shown that obesity is associated with low-grade systemic inflammation. This study was attempted to illustrate the relationship between obesity and CRP regarding Korean men who were applied by different standards of obesity. METHODS: The subjects included 15,353 men who had visited one health promotion center from May, 2001 to December, 2001, were randomly selected as the total addressable population. We excluded 389 men who were observed to have inflammatory conditions, according to the results of the general chemical and physical diagnosis. Among 15,353 Korean men 14,964 were examined. CRP was quantitatively analyzed by the method of Nephelometry as high sensitivity-CRP. CRP values in relation to age, BMI, clustering of metabolic risk factors were studied, and multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify correlation between obesity and CRP value. RESULTS: We compared the median values of CRP of each group divided by age, BMI, and clustering of metabolic risk factors. As a matter of the fact, the more age, BMI, and clustering of metabolic risk factors increased, the more the value of CRP significantly increased (P<0.0001). We operationally defined incremented CRP value as CRP of 0.22 mg/dl or more, and conducted multiple logistic regression analysis with the parameters of age, BMI, and obesity related diseases. Consequently, when fasting blood glucose and total cholesterol were high or HDL was low, the risk of CRP increasing was significantly high. Also, when the age was more than 60 or BMI was greater than 25 kg/m2, which was categorized as obese, the risk regarding increase in CRP was significantly high. CONCLUSION: Obesity is independently related to increase in CRP in Korean men. Which suggests that low-grade systemic inflammation exists in obese people. Furthermore, our study showed that old age, high level of blood glucose, high level of cholesterol, and low level of HDL have correlation with increase in CRP.
Blood Glucose ; C-Reactive Protein* ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cholesterol ; Diagnosis ; Fasting ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Nephelometry and Turbidimetry ; Obesity* ; Risk Factors