No abstract available.
Nephrotic Syndrome*

The hypotensive effect of diltiazem hydrochloride(Herben(R)) was investigated with 32 cases of essential hypertension. Diltiazem, 90-180mg per day, was administer ed in divided doses to each of the subjects for 6 week and the blood pressure lowering effect was assessed, as remarkably effective when the lowering of blood pressure was, 20mmHg or more of systolic pressure and 10mmHg or more of diastolic pressure; as satisfactorily effective when 20mmH or more of systolic pressure or 10mmHg or more of diastolic pressure was lowered; as fairly effective when 10-19mmHg of systolic pressure and 5-9mmHg of diastolic pressure. 1. With above mentioned criteria, diltiazem was remarkably, satisfactorily and fairly effective in 11(37%), 13(43%) and 1(3%) of 30 patients, respectively, while the drug was ineffective in 5(17%). 2. Diltiazem was effective in lowering of both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and was effective as a sole agent of as an agent of combination therapy. 3. With diltiazem treatment, the depressed ST segment was conversed to isoelectric line in all of 10 cases which showed ST depression before diltiazem treatment and the elevated ST segment was conversed to isoelectric line in 1 of 2 cases. all of 4 cases with flat T wave and 10 of 12 cases with inverted T wave showed conversion to upright T waves after diltiazem treatment. 4. Undesirable side effects was observed in 2 cases out of 32 cases(6%); 1 case of erythema multiforme-like skin eruption and 1 case of the clinical aggravation of congestive heart failure, in whom the diltiazem administration was discontinued.
Blood Pressure ; Depression ; Diltiazem* ; Erythema ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Skin

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of transperineal sonography of the prostate in patients with previousabdominoperineal resection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Transperineal prostatic sonograms were obtained from ninepatients with abdominoperineal resection. The shortest distance between the probe and the prostate gland, itsvolume, and its internal and external structures were evaluated for image quality, shape, border, and the degreeof distortion in internal echo. Because the number of patients was small, statistical analysis was not performed. RESULTS: Transperineal sonography of the prostate in eight patient was obtained at ease, except that one of ninepatients was not able to continue the procedure because of severe tenderness of the perineum and poor cooperation.Acceptable images of the prostate gland and their adjacent structures were obtained in one patient with less than1cm between the probe and prastate gland, three of four with between 1cm and 1.5cm, and one of three with morethan 1.5cm. CONCLUSION: In patients with previous abdominoperineal resection, transperineal sonography of theprostate may be a good imaging modality.
Humans ; Perineum ; Prostate*

Although metastatic renal cell carcinoma is not uncommon, metastases to the ureteral stump and bladder are very rare. A 69-year-old woman who had undergone radical nephrectomy because of right renal cell carcinoma about 8 years ago, visited our hospital for evaluation of painless gross hematuria. Histologic examination of the removed ureteral stump and bladder specimen demonstrated metastatic renal cell carcinoma. We report a case of renal cell carcinoma with metastases to the ureteral stump 5 years after radical nephrectomy and bladder 8 years after radical nephrectomy.
Aged ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Female ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Nephrectomy ; Ureter* ; Urinary Bladder*

PURPOSE: The circular stapled hemorrhoidectomy established by A. Longo involves reducing the mucous membrane prolapse and blocking the end branches of the upper hemorrhoidal artery through transverse incision of a suitable section of the mucosa between the rectum and the anal canal. This study was undertaken to determine the efficacy and the safety of a circular stapled hemorrhoidectomy by comparing it with a conventional Milligan-Morgan hemorrhoidectomy. METHODS: One hundred thirty (130) patients with prolapsed hemorrhoids underwent surgical treatment with either a conventional (n=66)(conventional group) or a circular stapled (n=64) (stapled group) hemorrhoidectomy. The operation time was recorded, and the resected specimen was examined. The patients assessed their postoperative pain. Time to first bowel movement, hospital stay, and postoperative complications were analyzed. All patients received follow-up examinations at the out-patient clinic, and the time to return to work and the degree of their satisfaction were checked. RESULTS: The stapled group had a shorter average operation time (19.2 min. vs 26.1 min., P=0.016). The postoperative pain score in the stapled group was significantly lower than it was in the conventional group (P<0.05). Time to first bowel movement and hospital stay were not significantly different between the groups. Return to work was significantly faster in the stapled group (6.5 days vs 15.8 days, P<0.05). The degrees of satisfaction for the two groups were similar, and postoperative complications in the two groups were both similar and acceptable (6.1% vs 11.0%, P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A circular stapled hemorrhoidectomy offers a significantly less painful alternative to the conventional technique and is associated with an earlier return to normal activity. However, the long-term outcome needs to be evaluated further.
Anal Canal ; Arteries ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhoidectomy* ; Hemorrhoids ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Mucous Membrane ; Outpatients ; Pain, Postoperative ; Postoperative Complications ; Prolapse ; Rectum ; Return to Work

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to determine whether a mechanical bowel preparation with 90 ml of sodium phosphate (NaP) solution (Group II) increased the acceptability of bowel preparation and reduced discomfort compared with 2 liters of polyethylene glycol (PEG) combined with a bisacodyl 20 mg (Group I). METHODS: We conducted a prospective, randomized, single-blinded study. Forty-four patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery in the National Health Insurance Corporation Ilsan Hospital from March 2002 to November 2002 were included in this study. We assessed the patients' tolerance and cleansing ability, as well as the surgeon's satisfaction, by using a structured questionnaire. Postoperative complications were also evaluated. RESULTS: Patient tolerance to NaP was higher than it was to PEG (P=0.034). The cleansing ability and the surgeon's satisfaction were not different between the two groups (P=0.217, P=0.349). There is no significant postoperative complication except for 1 case of wound infection in both group. CONCLUSIONS: Both oral solutions proved to be equally effective and safe. However, patient tolerance to the small volume of NaP demonstrated a clear advantage over the traditional PEG solution.
Bisacodyl ; Colorectal Surgery* ; Humans ; National Health Programs ; Polyethylene Glycols* ; Polyethylene* ; Postoperative Complications ; Preoperative Care ; Prospective Studies* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Sodium* ; Therapeutic Irrigation* ; Wound Infection

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Gabexate, a protease inhibitor, has been known to prevent pancreatic damage following ERCP. We conducted a prospective and randomized study to assess the preventive effect of gabexate. Methods: Of the 96 patients enrolled, 46 were treated with gabexate and 50 with placebo. The groups were similar with regard to sex, age, body-mass index, and the final diagnosis of ERCP. RESULTS: 24 patients (25.0%) had elevated pancreatic-enzyme levels; the frequency was similar in the two groups (P=0.48). Mean serum amylase value at 4 hours after ERCP was similar in patients with elevated basal level (220.5+/-43.2 U/L) and those with normal basal level (170.4+/-31.2 U/L). After the procedures, serum amylase values were lower in the gabexate group (137.1+/-19.8 U/L) than in the placebo group (212.0+/-50.4 U/L). The differences were not significant in the mean levels of amylase between the groups for any of imaging of the pancreatic ducts (pancreatic-duct imaging, 201.5+/-49.4 U/L, bile-duct imaging, 153.7+/-30.0 U/L). But in the patients with pancreatic duct imaging, serum amylase values were significantly higher in the placebo group (295.0+/-97.6 U/L) than in the gabexate group (112.0+/-10.6 U/L)(p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Prophylactic treatment with gabexate does not reduce pancreatic damage related to ERCP, but only in the patients with pancreatic duct imaging there were the significant differences between in the gabexate group and in the placebo group.
Amylases ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde* ; Diagnosis ; Gabexate* ; Humans ; Pancreatic Ducts ; Pancreatitis ; Prospective Studies ; Protease Inhibitors

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary complications including pneumonia and pulmonary edema frequently develop in critically ill surgical patients. Lung ultrasound (LUS) is increasingly used as a powerful diagnostic tool for pulmonary complications. The purpose of this study was to report how LUS is used in a surgical intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: This study retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 67 patients who underwent LUS in surgical ICU between May 2016 and December 2016. RESULTS: The indication for LUS included hypoxemia (n = 44, 65.7%), abnormal chest radiographs without hypoxemia (n = 17, 25.4%), fever without both hypoxemia and abnormal chest radiographs (n = 4, 6.0%), and difficult weaning (n = 2, 3.0%). Among 67 patients, 55 patients were diagnosed with pulmonary edema (n = 27, 41.8%), pneumonia (n = 20, 29.9%), diffuse interstitial pattern with anterior consolidation (n = 6, 10.9%), pneumothorax with effusion (n = 1, 1.5%), and diaphragm dysfunction (n = 1, 1.5%), respectively, via LUS. LUS results did not indicate lung complications for 12 patients. Based on the location of space opacification on the chest radiographs, among 45 patients with bilateral abnormality and normal findings, three (6.7%) and two (4.4%) patients were finally diagnosed with pneumonia and atelectasis, respectively. Furthermore, among 34 patients with unilateral abnormality and normal findings, two patients (5.9%) were finally diagnosed with pulmonary edema. There were 27 patients who were initially diagnosed with pulmonary edema via LUS. This diagnosis was later confirmed by other tests. There were 20 patients who were initially diagnosed with pneumonia via LUS. Among them, 16 and 4 patients were finally diagnosed with pneumonia and atelectasis, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: LUS is useful to detect pulmonary complications including pulmonary edema and pneumonia in surgically ill patients.
Anoxia ; Critical Care* ; Critical Illness ; Diagnosis ; Diaphragm ; Fever ; Humans ; Lung* ; Medical Records ; Pneumonia ; Pneumothorax ; Pulmonary Atelectasis ; Pulmonary Edema ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography* ; Weaning

The hemodynamic effects of Prazosin were evaluated in 31 cases with congestive heart failure (mitral stenosis; 15 cases, mitral insufficiency; 7 cases, hypertensive heart disease;4 cases, congestive cardiomyopathy; 5 cases) by means of echocardiographic method. Before and 90 min. after the administration of prazosin(3mg p.o.), M-mode echocardiograms of left ventricle were recorded, from which end-diastolic and end-systolic dimensions of left ventricle and left ventricular ejection time were measured. Hemodynamic parameters of left ventricular performance, i.e., mean veloity of circumferential fiber shortening, fractional fiber shortening, ejection fraction, stroke volume, and cardiac output were calculated from the measurements. Left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic dimensions were decreased significantly after prazosin administration and left ventricular performance was significantly increased after prazosin administration, whereas stroke volume was not. Total systemic peripheral resistance and mean arterial pressure showed no significant changes. All cases, except one of the patients showed marked symptomatic relief after prazosin administration evaluated by NYHA functional classification. There was no considerable untoward effect in the patients of congestive heart failure to whom the prazosin was administered.
Arterial Pressure ; Cardiac Output ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated ; Classification ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Echocardiography ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP)* ; Heart ; Heart Failure* ; Heart Ventricles ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; Prazosin* ; Stroke Volume ; Vascular Resistance

PURPOSE: This study was performed to compare the stress distribution pattern of abutment-fixture connection area using 3-dimensional finite element model analysis when 5 different implant systems which have internal connection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For the analysis, a finite element model of implant was designed to locate at first molar area. Stress distribution was observed when vertical load of 200 N was applied at several points on the occlusal surfaces of the implants, including center, points 1.5 mm, 3.0 mm away from center and oblique load of 200 N was applied 30degrees inclined to the implant axis. The finite element model was analyzed by using of 3G. Author (PlassoTech, California, USA). RESULTS: The DAS tech implant (internal step with no taper) showed more favorable stress distribution than other internally connected implants. AS compare to the situations when the loading was applied within the boundary of implants and an oblique loading was applied, it showed higher equivalent stress and equivalent elastic strain when the loading was applied beyond the boundary of implants. Regardless of loading condition, the abutments showed higher equivalent stress and equivalent elastic strain than the fixtures. CONCLUSION: When the occlusal contact is afforded, the distribution of stress varies depending on the design of connection area and the location of loading. More favorable stress distribution is expected when the contact load was applied within the diameter of fixtures and the DAS tech implant (internal step with no tapering) has more benefits than the other design of internally connected implants.
4-Acetamido-4'-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic Acid ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Bite Force ; California ; Dental Implants ; Finite Element Analysis ; Molar ; Sprains and Strains