We studied the incidence and results of treatment of secondary hypertension in Yeungnam University Hospital. Nineteen hundred fifty patients with hypertension were included from march 1990 to march 1994. We analysed the prevalence of secondary hypertension and results of treatment. The incidence of secondary hypertension in Yeungnam University Hospital was six percent. The most common underlying causes of secondary hypertension was renal parenchymal disease. Patients with three forms of potentially reversible secondary hypertension, namely, renovascular hypertension, endocrine disease, exogenous hormone, were assed to determine whether surgery or withdrawal of the exogenous hormane had led to an improvement in blood pressure control. The incidence of secondary hypertension in Yeungnam University Hospital was low(6%), but some of these are curable. Thus it is very inportant that evaluate the secondary hypertension.
Blood Pressure ; Endocrine System Diseases ; Equidae ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Hypertension, Renovascular ; Incidence ; Prevalence

This study was performed to evaluate the dynamic fatigue characteristics of the dental ceramics for all-ceramic crown. A feldspathic porcelain of VMK68, glass ceramic of IPS-Empress, and glass infiltrated alumina ceramic of In-Ceram were used. Disc specimens were prepared to the final dimensions of 12 mm in diameter and 1 mm in thickness. The biaxial flexure test was conducted using a ball-on-three-ball method. 240 specimens were tested in 37degrees C water by testing 20 samples at each of four loading rates:0.05, 0.2, 1, and 5mm/min. 60 specimens were tested in a moisture-free environment by testing 20 samples at 5mm/min. The inert strength of VMK68 was 80.25MPa, and the fatigue parameters were n=29.1, sfo=52.90MPa. The inert strength of IPS-Empress was 104.76MPa, and the fatigue parameters were n=32.46, sfo=67.52MPa. The inert strength of In-Ceram was 429.33MPa, and the fatigue parameters were n=31.46, sfo=258.36MPa. 10-year failure stresses of VMK68, IPS-Empress, and In-Ceram were 20.3MPa, 24.8MPa, and 93.6MPa, respectively. failure strength and fatigue life showed the highest value in In-Ceram, and then, IPS-Empress and VMK68.
Aluminum Oxide ; Ceramics* ; Crowns* ; Dental Porcelain ; Fatigue* ; Glass ; Water

Electrocardiographic findings in 18 cases of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy(HOCM) were compared with those in 20 hypertensives with disproportinate septal hypertrophy(DSH) and in 20 normal controls. In conventional 12 leads electrocardiograms, abmormal Q waves were seen only in 6 cases of HOCM and none in the remadinder. The R waves were tallest in leads V4 in 6 cases(33%) of HOCM, 3(15%) hypertensives with DSH, and 4(20%) of the controls. The correlations of the QRS voltages with echocardiographically measured left ventricular dimension, interventricular septal thickness and left ventricular mass were significant in the hypertensives with DST and normal controls, but insignificant in patients with HOCM. We conclude that these electrocardiographic differences in patients with HOCM from the others would be caused by uneven distribution of hypertrophied muscle mass in the left ventricule and/or by the altered depolarization in hypertrophied cardiac muscles.
Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic* ; Electrocardiography* ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Myocardium

BACKGROUND: Currently, combined spinal-epidural anesthesia (CSE) is frequently administered, especially in obstetrics and orthopedic surgery. The aim of this study is to determine the appropriate concentration of bupivacaine to use with epidural volume extension that is suitable for total knee replacement during CSE. METHODS: Eighty patients (ASA physical status I and II) scheduled for totalknee replacement were randomly allocated to four groups of 20 patients each: All patients intrathecally received 2 ml of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine. After fixation of spinal anesthesia, the groups received the following treatments. Group S patients received a 10 ml administration of normal saline for 15 min followed by a continuous 10 ml/hr epidural infusion. Group B1 patients received a 10 ml administration of 0.125% bupivacaine for 15 min followed by a continuous 10 ml/hr epidural infusion. Group B2 patients received a 10 ml administration of 0.25% bupivacaine for 15 min followed by a continuous 10 ml/hr epidural infusion. Group B3 patients received a 10 ml administration of 0.5% bupivacaine for 15 min followed by a continuous 10 ml/hr epidural infusion. RESULTS: The incidence of intraoperative movement in group S and group B1 patients were significantly greater than the incidence for group B2 and B3 patients. The incidence of intraoperative pain in group S patients was significantly greater than for patients in any of the other groups. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that it is necessary to administer more than a 0.25% concentration of epidural bupivacaine load and provide continuous administration after a spinal block during total knee replacement.
Anesthesia* ; Anesthesia, Spinal ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee* ; Bupivacaine* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Obstetrics ; Orthopedics

Cryptococcus neoformans is a fungus that causes opportunistic infections in immunocompromised hosts. Skin lesions are found in 10-20% of systemic cryptococcal infections, usually secondary to cryptococcemia, while primary cutaneous cryptococcosis with cryptococcemia is very rare. We report a case of rapidly spreading cryptococcal cellulitis in a 64-year-old male on maintenance hemodialysis taking steroids for encapsulated peritoneal sclerosis. Bluish bullous cellulitis developed on the left forearm and spread rapidly to the other forearm. We identified C. neoformans in the blood and skin lesions. We treated him successfully with liposomal amphotericin B and fluconazole for 15 months. We also review the literature.
Amphotericin B ; Cellulitis* ; Cryptococcosis ; Cryptococcus neoformans* ; Fluconazole ; Forearm ; Fungi ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Opportunistic Infections ; Peritoneal Fibrosis ; Renal Dialysis* ; Skin ; Steroids

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluation the effect of administration of postpartumtonic agent(MMQ) on postpartum anemia during puerperal period, obesity control and uterine involution. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: From June 2002 to November 2002, twenty women who underwent spontaneous vaginal delivery at department of obstetrics and gynecology, college of medicine, Pochon CHA University ghopital were included in this study. All women were randomly assigned to receive postpartum tonic agent(MMQ, Albiomed Co.Ltd) or placebo two times a day after each meal for four weeks. They were assessed obesity test(BMI), hematologic examination(CBC, reticulocyte count), liver function test(AST/ALT) and ultrasound test at first day and 28th days after delivery. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between the two group in demographic characteristics. No statistically significant difference were found in this study between the two group in hemoglobin, hematocrit, BMI and the size of uterus. There was no adverse effect to the tested drug. CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference in efficacy and safety between MMQ and placebo in the effect of postpartum anemia, obesity control and reduction of recovery perod. The following limitations have to be considered; Iron supplement, variable diet, seaweed ingestion, consumption of herb and small sample ize. Therefore, a extensive prospective study with control of these variables should be required.
Administration, Oral* ; Anemia* ; Diet ; Eating ; Female ; Gynecology ; Hematocrit ; Humans ; Iron ; Liver ; Meals ; Obesity* ; Obstetrics ; Postpartum Period* ; Reticulocytes ; Seaweed ; Ultrasonography ; Uterus

PURPOSE: We recently experienced 3 consecutive cases of bile peritonitis due to tract rupture following T-tube removal at about 6 weeks after choledocholithotomy with using a new tube (1.1% silica-filled rubber). These unexpected cases of bile peritonitis have raised questions related to the tube material factor for the rupture. The aim of this study was to compare three kinds of T-tubes [ (100% silicone (SIL), 1.1% silica-filled rubber (SFR), and 100% rubber (RUB) ] from the point of view of fistula maturation as is related to the physicochemical properties of the tube materials. METHODS: SIL, SFR and RUB tubes were implanted into the subcutaneous space in rats. Histologically, the degree of fistula maturation was estimated by an inflammation score, the thickness of inflammation and the fibrosis. The physical properties of the tube materials were estimated by their modulus and elasticity. RESULTS: SFR and RUB tube had no statistically significant difference for the thickness of the inflammation and fibrosis. Yet there were difference in their modulus and elasticity. The modulus, elasticity, thickness of the inflammation and the fibrosis were difference in the SIL versus SFR and the SIL versus RUB. CONCLUSION: There were no statistically significant differences in the degree of fistula maturation between the SFR and RUB tubes. The rubber tube tended to show a more severe inflammatory reaction and better maturation of the fistula. Moreover, the flexibleness of the RUB tube make easy to experience collapse of the tube. The degree of maturation mostly depends upon the chemical property of the tube materials. However, the tract rupture that happens is due to the physical properties rather than the chemical properties of the tube. We recommend RUB for the T-tube to prevent the tube related complication such as tract rupture.
Animals ; Bile ; Choledochostomy ; Elasticity ; Fibrosis ; Fistula* ; Inflammation ; Latex ; Peritonitis ; Rats ; Rubber ; Rupture ; Silicones

PURPOSE: In Korea, anal cancer is rare disease entity with specific clinical characteristics. Therefore, no survival analysis with a sufficient patient population has been performed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of Korean anal cancer, focusing on the survival according to tumor histologies, sex, and a specific age group, using the nationwide cancer registry. METHODS: Using the Korea Central Cancer Registry, we analyzed a total of 2,552 cases from 1993 to 2010. We assessed the 5-year relative survival by using tumor histology. In addition, survival differences of Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) stage were analyzed for both sexes and for young-age cancer (younger than 40 years) and advanced-age cancer (older than 70 years). RESULTS: The 5-year relative survival among anal cancer patients increased from 38.9% for the period 1993-1995 to 65.6% for the period 2006-2010. The anal squamous cell carcinoma was the most common histology and showed better survival than other types of cancer. Females demonstrated better survival than males in all SEER stages. The 5-year survivals for patients in whom anal cancer developed before the age of 40 and at or after the age of 40 were 62.4% and 51.6%, respectively. The 5-year survival for patients in whom cancer developed at or after the age of 70 was much worse than that for patients in whom the cancer had developed prior to that age. CONCLUSION: Korean anal cancer has certain distinctive characteristics of survival according to tumor histology, sex, and age. Despite limitations on available data, this study used the nationwide database to provide important information on the survival of Korean patients with anal cancer.
Anus Neoplasms* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Female ; Humans ; Korea* ; Male ; Rare Diseases

PURPOSE: In Korea, anal cancer is rare disease entity with specific clinical characteristics. Therefore, no survival analysis with a sufficient patient population has been performed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of Korean anal cancer, focusing on the survival according to tumor histologies, sex, and a specific age group, using the nationwide cancer registry. METHODS: Using the Korea Central Cancer Registry, we analyzed a total of 2,552 cases from 1993 to 2010. We assessed the 5-year relative survival by using tumor histology. In addition, survival differences of Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) stage were analyzed for both sexes and for young-age cancer (younger than 40 years) and advanced-age cancer (older than 70 years). RESULTS: The 5-year relative survival among anal cancer patients increased from 38.9% for the period 1993-1995 to 65.6% for the period 2006-2010. The anal squamous cell carcinoma was the most common histology and showed better survival than other types of cancer. Females demonstrated better survival than males in all SEER stages. The 5-year survivals for patients in whom anal cancer developed before the age of 40 and at or after the age of 40 were 62.4% and 51.6%, respectively. The 5-year survival for patients in whom cancer developed at or after the age of 70 was much worse than that for patients in whom the cancer had developed prior to that age. CONCLUSION: Korean anal cancer has certain distinctive characteristics of survival according to tumor histology, sex, and age. Despite limitations on available data, this study used the nationwide database to provide important information on the survival of Korean patients with anal cancer.
Anus Neoplasms* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Female ; Humans ; Korea* ; Male ; Rare Diseases

PURPOSE: The incidence rates of colorectal cancer (CRC) in Korea have been increasing during the past decade. Therefore, it is important to understand the characteristics, including survival, of Korean CRC patients. The aim of this study was to use the nationwide cancer registry to evaluate the characteristics of Korean CRC, focusing on the survival, according to tumor location, sex, and specific age groups. METHODS: Using the Korea Central Cancer Registry (KCCR), we analyzed a total of 226,352 CRC cases diagnosed from 1993 to 2010. The five-year relative survivals were compared for the proximal colon, the distal colon, and the rectum. Survival rates were compared between men and women and between patients of young age (less than 40 years old) and patients of advanced age (70 years old or older). RESULTS: The 5-year survival rates were improved in all subsites between 1993 and 2010. Distal colon cancer showed favorable survival compared to proximal colon or rectal cancer. Females demonstrated worse survival for local or regional cancers, and this difference was significant in for patients in their seventies. Young patients (<40 years old) showed better survival rates for overall and proximal colon cancer comparable to those for older patients (> or =40 years old), but advanced age patients (> or =70 years old) had worse survivals for all tumor subsites compared to their younger counterparts (<70 years old). These trends were similar in distant CRC. CONCLUSION: Korean CRC has certain distinct characteristics of survival according to tumor location, sex, and age. Despite the limitations of available data, this study contributes to a better understanding of survival differences in Korean CRC.
Colon ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Male ; Rectal Neoplasms ; Rectum ; Survival Rate