Objective: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) reduces functional activity and increases the rate of cardiovascular death in the elderly. Our study aimed to determine whether the presence of PAD in stroke patients affected the progression of disability or death one year after discharge. Methods: From April 2012 to March 2013, consecutive first stroke patients above 50 years of age without known PAD were enrolled. PAD was defined as a low ankle-brachial index (less than 0.9) measured by an automatic device. Clinical data associated with the stroke were collected from medical records. Disability in stroke patients was evaluated with the modified Rankin scale (mRS) on discharge day and one year after the index stroke. Progression of disability was defined as an increase in mRS more than one level at one year. Results: Among the 526 patients, 238 had ischemic strokes and underwent ankle-brachial index (ABI) measurement. Of them, 192 patients were included. In univariate analysis, age, dyslipidemia, discharge mRS, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, D-dimer, homocysteine, internal carotid artery stenosis, posterior cerebral artery stenosis, and PAD were factors associated with worsening mRS. After adjustment for these factors in the logistic regression analysis, PAD was an independent factor associated with worsening mRS. In the analysis of one-year mortality, patients with PAD had a higher death rate, but PAD was not an independent factor after adjusting for other variables. Conclusions: The presence of PAD in stroke patients suggests a chance of disability progression, but may not be a predictor of death after one year.
Atherosclerosis ; Peripheral arterial disease ; Stroke

Thoracic disc herniation is an uncommon cause of thoracic cord compression. Herniation in this region is of particular importance because of the serious disorders of nervous function which result from anterior compresstion of the spinal cord. Early diagnosis and prompt surgical treatment are imperative because of the progressive and serious neurological deficit which results from delay. Numerous problems remain as to the safest surgical approach to the prolapsed thoracic intervertebral disc. We treated a case of herniated intervertebral disc occuring at Tll–T12 using the anterior approach. The result was favourable.
Early Diagnosis ; Intervertebral Disc ; Spinal Cord

The aims of treatment of children with CDH untreated until walking age should be to reestablish the mechanics of the hip joint and avoid complications, especially avascular necosis, thus delaying the devlopment of osteoarthritis. In the child who is first seen between the ages of one and three years, considerable controversy still exists as to the merit of closed versus operative management. The average 29.3 months follow-up results in fifty congenitally dislocated hips in forty-five children with were between six and thirty-six months old when treatment was begun have been reviewed at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, In Je University, College of Medicine, Paik Hospital from June, 1979 to Aug, 1989. The results of this study were as follows: 1. Factors affecting method of treatment were age, degree of dislocation and acetabular index; A. Age 1) The children below ages of 18 months were treatment by closed reduction. 2) The children below ages of 18 months were treatment by open reduction with concomittant procedures. B. Degree of dislocation: Open reduction was more frequently reguired in higher degree of dislocation. C. Acetabular index: It was little influenced on method of treatment. 2. The complications were persisten subuxation (3 cases), temporary irregular ossification (16 cases) and avascular necrosis (1 cases).
Acetabulum ; Child ; Dislocations ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hip ; Hip Joint ; Humans ; Mechanics ; Methods ; Necrosis ; Osteoarthritis ; Walking

The methanol extract from the leaves of Petasites japonicus Maxim (PJ) was studied for its (anti-)mutagenic effect with the SOS chromotest and reverse mutation assay. The (anti-)carcinogenic effects were evaluated by the cytotoxicity on human cancer line cells and by the function and the expression of gap junctions in rat liver epithelial cell. PJ extracts significantly decreased spontaneous beta-galactosidase activity and beta-galactosidase activity induced by a mutagen, ICR, in Salmonella (S.) typhimurium TA 1535/pSK 1002. All doses of the extract (0.08-100 mg/plate) decreased the reversion frequency induced by benzo (alpha)pyrene (BaP) in S. typhimurium TA 98. It decreased not only the spontaneous reversion frequency but also that induced by BaP in S. typhimurium TA 100. PJ extract showed greater cytotoxic effects on human stomach, colon and uterus cancer cells than on other cancer cell types and normal rat liver epithelial cells. Dye transfers though gap junctions were significantly increased by PJ extracts at concentrations greater than 200 microg/mL and the inhibition of dye transfer by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorobol-13-acetate (TPA) was obstructed in all concentrations of PJ. PJ significantly increased the numbers of gap junction protein connexin 43, and increased the protein expression decreased by TPA in a dose-dependent manner. Based on these findings, PJ is suggested to contain antimutagenic and anticarcionogenic compounds.
Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival/*drug effects ; Formazans/chemistry ; Gap Junctions/*metabolism ; Humans ; Mutagenicity Tests ; Petasites/*metabolism ; Plant Extracts/*pharmacology ; Plant Leaves/metabolism ; Rats ; Tetrazolium Salts/chemistry

In Korea, there are four types of snakes, Glyoidius brevicaudus, G. intermedius (formerly named, saxatilis), G. ussuriensis, Rhabdophis tigrinus. The case-fatality rate in snake bite envenomation is very low. Snake venom is a heterogeneous mixture of pharmacologically active enzymatic, non-enzymatic protein, peptide toxins, other organic and inorganic substances. The pathophysiology evokes a complex series of events that depend on the combined and synergistic action of toxic and non-toxic components. The manifestation includes local and systemic effects. Local tissue effects includes of tissue pain, redness, swelling, tenderness, bullae formation, and necrosis. The major systemic manifestations of snake bite include neurotoxicity, myotoxicity, cytotoxicity, hemolytic, procoagulant, hemorrhagic, and hypotensive effects and interfere in platelet function. General care includes parenteral analgesia, antivenom administration, and serial assessments of limb swelling and laboratory tests. Despite the presence of soft tissue inflammation, prophylactic antibiotics are rarely required, and most patients achieve good outcomes with supportive care and antivenom alone. In the case of mild poisoning do not need to be treated with antivenom. In moderate to severe envenomation, antivenom should be administered. When administered antivenom, adverse reactions are monitored closely and treated early with epinephrine and anti-histamine. In future, we should establish algorithm provides guidance about clinical and laboratory observations, indications for and dosing of antivenom, adjunctive therapies, post-stabilization care, and management of complications from envenomation and therapy.
Analgesia ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Blood Platelets ; Epinephrine ; Extremities ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Korea* ; Necrosis ; Nociceptive Pain ; Poisoning ; Snake Bites* ; Snake Venoms ; Snakes* ; Venoms

BACKGROUND: The reduction in hematocrit (Hct) by hemodilution tends to cause an increase in cardiac output and a proportional decrease in arterial oxygen content. Additionally the reduction of systemic oxygen delivery (DO2) leads to significant differences in regional blood flow. It is therefore important to characterize the effects of hemodilution on regional oxygen metabolism in individual organs. This study was undertaken to evaluate and compare the effects of acute normovolemic anemia induced by hemodilution. METHODS: Six dogs were anesthetized and mechanically ventilated. Catheters were inserted in the right femoral and pulmonary arteries for blood sampling, and a gastric tonometer catheter was inserted into the gastric lumen. Baseline measurements of systemic hemodynamics, arterial ketone body ratio (AKBR), gastric intramucosal pH (pHi) and arterial lactate were recorded. Hemodilution was then begun by 6% pentastarch and was made in four levels of hematocrit values of 20%, 15%, 10% and 6%. RESULTS: Mean arterial pressures of Hct 10% and 6% was decresaed (P < 0.05) and Hct 15% and 10% increases in cardiac output and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) were observed. Central venous pressure and mean pulmonary arterial pressure were incresed (P < 0.05) at Hct 15%, 10% and 6%. DO2 progressively decreased (P < 0.05). AKBR and pHi began to decreased at Hct 15%. Arterial lactate decrease at Hct 15% and was above 7.4 mmol/L at Hct 6%. CONCLUSIONS: By the measurements of AKBR and pHi, the disturbance of splanchnic oxygenation can be detected early compared to those of O2 in terms of oxygen metabolism and the critical point of DO2 during acute normovolemic anemia induced by hemodilution.
Anemia* ; Animals ; Arterial Pressure ; Cardiac Output ; Catheters ; Central Venous Pressure ; Dogs* ; Hematocrit ; Hemodilution* ; Hemodynamics ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration* ; Hydroxyethyl Starch Derivatives ; Lactic Acid* ; Metabolism ; Oxygen Consumption* ; Oxygen* ; Pulmonary Artery ; Pulmonary Wedge Pressure ; Regional Blood Flow

Four cases of intracerebral hemorrhage remote from the site of initial supratentorial craniotomy are presented. Traumatic cases are excluded in this report and all cases developed after uneventful elective craniotomy. Two patients had ruptured aneurysm and the other two had giant supratentorial tumors, one craniophayrngioma and one ependymoma. All patients were operated on supine position and no patient had preoperative hypertension. Two had hematoma in the sucortical white matter, one in the cerebellar hemisphere and the other one showed hematoma both in the cerebellar hemisphere and the supratentorial subcortical area. The size of hematoma ranged from 8-20cc in volume. No definite cause could be found except one in which the blood pressure was transiently elevated during induction of anesthesia. A possible cause might be the sudden changes of blood pressure during induction and recovery from anesthesia, overdrainage of CSF, continuous CSF drainage and sudden changes in intracranial dynamics by removal of a huge intracranial mass. One patient with intracerebellar hemorrhage needed emergency suboccipital craniectomy for removal of the hematoma. One patient shows no improvement due to aspiration pneumonia and subsequent lung abscess. Although rare, these conditions may occur after any craniotomy and surgeons should always be alert to the possibilities of such comlication, especially when intracranial pressure(ICP) was elevated.
Anesthesia ; Aneurysm, Ruptured ; Blood Pressure ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Craniotomy ; Drainage ; Emergencies ; Ependymoma ; Hematoma* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Lung Abscess ; Pneumonia, Aspiration ; Supine Position ; Supratentorial Neoplasms

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of intravitreous injection of Vancomycin and Amikacin in exogenous endophthalmitis (before culture results are obtained), and the relationship between such empirical therapy and results of culture, susceptibilities of cultured organism to antibiotics, and visual prognosis. METHODS: The authors conducted a retrospective study of 23 patients (23 eyes) who had been treated for endophthalmitis between May 1996 and November 2000. RESULTS: The final vision was 0.15 and better in 18 eyes out of 23 eyes, and 5 eyes reported vision worse than 0.1. Endophthalmitis was associated with cataract surgery in 15 eyes, ocular traumja in 7 eyes, filtration surgery in 1 eye. Eyes with posttraumatic endophthalmitis had worse visual prognosis. When smear and culture was performed, 14 out of 23 eyes were tested positive, and all the obtained microorganisms showed sensitivity to vancomycin and amikacin. The results were similar between Gram positive and negative bacteria. When the onset of symptoms was within 1 week after intraocular operation, and when the patients with ocular trauma reported to the hospital within two days, the prognosis was relatively better. The use of intravitreous antibiotics alone yielded similar results compared to the use of combined systemic antibiotics. Two out of 5 eyes which underwent vitrectomy and 16 out of 18 eyes which did not undergo vitrectomy reported final vision of 0.15 or better. CONCLUSIONS: When endophthalmitis is suspected, one should immediately perform diagnostic workup and the patient is immediately given intravitreous injection of vancomycin and amikacin. When smear and culture results are obtained later on, one can modify and improve the treatment modalities in an attempt to improve visual prognosis.
Amikacin ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacteria ; Cataract ; Endophthalmitis* ; Filtering Surgery ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Vancomycin ; Vitrectomy

While cardiac myxoma is a rare cause of stroke, it needs to be considered so that it can be detect promptly. We report the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics of three patients who were histologically confirmed as cardiac myxoma. MRI revealed multiple infarctions in bilateral hemispheres and hemorrhagic transformation including microbleeds and macrobleeds. If either petechial hemorrhage or microbleeds along the cortical border zone are identified in MRI of acute stroke patients, the possibility of cardiac myxoma should be considered.
Cerebral Infarction ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Infarction ; Intracranial Embolism* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Myxoma* ; Stroke

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants present in air and food. Among PAHs, benzo(a)pyrene(BaP), phenanthrene (PH) and pyrene (PY) are considered to be important for their toxicity or abundance. To investigate the changes of biomarkers after PAH exposure, rats were treated with BaP (150 microgram/kg) alone or with PH (4,300 microgram/kg) and PY (2,700 microgram/kg) (BPP group) by oral gavage once per day for 30 days. 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase activity in liver microsomal fraction was increased in only BaP groups. The highest concentration (34.5 ng/g) of BaP, was found in muscle of rats treated with BaP alone at 20 days of treatment; it was 23.6 ng/g in BPP treated rats at 30 days of treatment. The highest PH concentration was 47.1 ng/g in muscle and 118.8 ng/g in fat, and for PY it was 29.7 ng/g in muscle and 219.9 ng/g in fat, in BPP groups. In urine, 114-161 ng/ml 3-OH-PH was found, while PH was 41-69 ng/ml during treatment. 201-263 ng/ml 1-OH-PY was found, while PH was 9-17 ng/ml in urine. The level of PY, PH and their metabolites in urine was rapidly decreased after withdrawal of treatment. This study suggest that 1-OH-PY in urine is a sensitive biomarker for PAHs; it was the most highly detected marker among the three PAHs and their metabolites evaluated during the exposure period and for 14 days after withdrawal.
Adipose Tissue/chemistry/drug effects ; Animals ; Benzo(a)pyrene/analysis/metabolism/*toxicity ; Biological Markers/metabolism/urine ; Blood Chemical Analysis ; Body Weight/drug effects ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1/metabolism ; Environmental Pollutants/blood/metabolism/*toxicity/urine ; Female ; Liver/drug effects/enzymology ; Lymphocytes/drug effects/metabolism ; Muscle, Skeletal/drug effects/metabolism ; Organ Size/drug effects ; Phenanthrenes/blood/metabolism/*toxicity/urine ; Pyrenes/analysis/metabolism/*toxicity ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Time Factors