No abstract available.
Rectal Neoplasms*

No abstract available.
Head*

No abstract available.
Pancreas*

BACKGROUND: Fluid overload prior to continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) is an important prognostic factor. Thus, precise evaluation of fluid status is necessary to treat such patients. In this study, we investigated whether fluid assessment using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) can predict outcomes in critically ill patients requiring CRRT. METHODS: A prospective observational study was performed in patients who were admitted to the intensive care unit and who required CRRT. BIA was conducted before CRRT; then, the ratio of extracellular water to total body water (ECW/TBW) was derived to estimate volume status. RESULTS: A total of 31 patients treated with CRRT were included. There were 18 men (58.1%), and the median age was 67 years (interquartile range, 51 to 78 years). Fourteen patients (45.2%) died within 28 days after CRRT initiation. Patients were divided into 16 with ECW/TBW ≥0.41 and 15 with ECW/TBW <0.41. Survival rate within 28 days was different between the two groups (P = 0.044). Cox regression analysis revealed a relationship between ECW/TBW ≥0.41 and 28-day mortality, but it was not statistically significant (hazard ratio, 3.0; 95% confidence interval, 0.9 to 9.8; P = 0.061). Lastly, the area under the curve of ECW/TBW for 28-day mortality was analyzed. The area under the curve of ECW/TBW was 0.73 (95% confidence interval, 0.54 to 0.92), and this was significant (P = 0.037). CONCLUSIONS: Fluid status can be assessed using BIA in critically ill patients requiring CRRT, and BIA can predict mortality. Further large trials are needed to confirm the usefulness of BIA in critically ill patients.
Body Water ; Critical Illness* ; Electric Impedance* ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Male ; Mortality ; Observational Study* ; Prospective Studies* ; Renal Replacement Therapy* ; Survival Rate ; Water

With an aging population, osteoporotic vertebral collapse is an increasingly common condition. This compression fractures has been considered a benign entity, quite responsive to conservative treatment. In a rare patients, however, a major neurologic complication and painful kyphosis despite conservative treatment can develop. Therefore, the purpose of this present study is to analyze the surgical results of 14 patients with severe back pain, an increasing kyphosis and neurologic deficits caused hy osteoporotic vertebral collapse following minor trauma, who were treated surgically. Presenting signs and symptoms included severe back pain with progression of kyphosis in 6 patients and increasing neural deficit in 8 patients. Of 14 patients, eight patients had an intravertebral cleft sign (vacuum sign). Indications for surgery included increasing kyphotic deformity, intractable pain, or increasing neurologic deficit. There was no correlation between intravertebral cleft sign and neurologic deficit. However, patients who had intravertebral cleft sign had not well respond to conservative treatment. As treatments, combined anterior and posterior fusion in 8, anterior fusion in 4, posterior instrumentation, and wide decompressive laminectomry in one patient, respectively, were carried out. The final correction of the deformity averaged 0.3 degrees. Therefore. correction of kyphosis was not favorably maintained because of variable surgical methods, and sinking of graft bone or instrumentation into the osteoporotic vertebral bodies. However, pain was reduced significantly in all patients. In addition neurological symptoms improved in 7 patients. One patient underwent reoperation with nnterior inierbody tusion together with anterior instrument because of an increasing kyphosis, neurologic. iymptoms and scvcre hack pain following wide decompressive laminectomy. There was no complication relatecl to instruments. The authors strongly helieved that surgical intervention has highly satisfactory results in patients who have intravertehral cleft sign with persistent back pain despite conservative treatment, and proressive or persistent neurologic deficits following osteoporotic vertebral collapse.
Aging ; Back Pain ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Fractures, Compression ; Humans ; Kyphosis ; Laminectomy ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Osteoporosis ; Pain, Intractable ; Reoperation ; Transplants

The objective of this paper is to introduce the schematic protocol of radiofrequency (RF) ablation for the treatment of varicose veins. Indication: anatomic or pathophysiologic indication includes venous diameter within 2-20 mm, reflux time > or =0.5 seconds and distance from the skin > or =5 mm or subfascial location. Access: it is recommended to access at or above the knee joint for great saphenous vein and above the mid-calf for small saphenous vein. Catheter placement: the catheter tip should be placed 2.0 cm inferior to the saphenofemoral or saphenopopliteal junction. Endovenous heat-induced thrombosis > or =class III should be treated with low-molecular weight heparin. Tumescent solution: the composition of solution can be variable (e.g., 2% lidocaine 20 mL+500 mL normal saline+bicarbonate 2.5 mL with/without epinephrine). Infiltration can be done from each direction. Ablation: two cycles' ablation for the first proximal segment of saphenous vein and the segment with the incompetent perforators is recommended. The other segments should be ablated one time. During RF energy delivery, it is recommended to apply external compression. Concomitant procedure: It is recommended to do simultaneously ambulatory phlebectomy. For sclerotherapy, it is recommended to defer at least 2 weeks. Post-procedural management: post-procedural ambulation is encouraged to reduce the thrombotic complications. Compression stocking should be applied for at least 7 days. Minor daily activity is not limited, but strenuous activities should be avoided for 2 weeks. It is suggested to take showers after 24 hours and tub baths, swimming, or soaking in water after 2 weeks.
Baths ; Catheter Ablation* ; Catheters ; Consensus* ; Heparin ; Knee Joint ; Lidocaine ; Saphenous Vein ; Sclerotherapy ; Skin ; Stockings, Compression ; Swimming ; Thrombosis ; Varicose Veins* ; Walking

No abstract available.
Animals ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide* ; Calcitonin* ; Cochlear Nucleus* ; Rats*

No abstract available.
Asthma* ; Child* ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E* ; Rhinitis*

OBJECTIVES: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has the feature of excessive LH, hyperandrogenism and disturbance of folliculogenesis. Also, insulin, IGF-I and IGFBP-1 are involved in the pathogenesis of PCOS. Various surgical and medical therapies have been used and the action mechanisms are related to the endocrine effect. Laparoscopic ovarian electrocautery or laser vaporization is effective in the restoration of ovulation and normal menstrual cycle with minimal invasive procedure especially in the patients resistant to medical therapy. Clomiphen citrate (CC) is used for the ovulation induction in PCOS and the resistance is known to be related to insulin, IGF-I, IGFBP-1 levels. This study was performed to evaluate the effect of the laparoscopic laser vaporization on the levels of LH, FSH, testosterone, IGF-I and IGFBP-1 and on the ovarian response to clomiphen citrate in patients with CC-resistant PCOS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The fasting basal serum LH, FSH, testosterone, IGF-I and IGFBP-1 level were measured in 10 PCOS patients with CC-resistance and 7 normal controls with regular menstrual cycle. In PCOS, after laparoscopic CO2 laser vaporization, endocrine levels were measured in 1 week interval for 4 weeks and then compared with preoperative levels. RESULTS: In PCOS group, mean serum LH/FSH ratio, testosterone, IGF-I levels were higher and IGFBP-1 level was lower than control. LH/FSH ratio decreased from 2.51+/-0.67 to 1.7+/-0.6 (p<0.05) in 2 weeks, to 0.56+/-0.2 (p<0.01) in 3 weeks and to 1.41+/-0.3 (p<0.01) in 4 weeks after operation. Testosterone level decreased from 1.51+/-0.82 ng/ml to 0.65+/-0.34 ng/ml (p<0.05) in 2 weeks, to 0.56+/-0.67 ng/ml (p<0.01) in 3 weeks after operation. IGF-I level also decreased from 436+/-47.5 microgram/l to 187+/-38 microgram/l (p<0.01) in 1 week, to 167+/-42 microgram/l (p<0.01) in 2 weeks, 179+/-55 microgram/l (p<0.01) in 3 weeks and to 120 +/-43 microgram/l (p<0.01) in 4 weeks after operation. IGFBP-1 level showed no significant change. In 8 of 10 PCOS patients, ovulation was induced with low dose clomiphen citrate. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic CO2 laser vaporization restores normal menstrual cycle and ovulation through endocrine effect of decreasing LH/FSH ratio, testosterone and IGF-I level and increases the response to CC. Therefore it is useful for restoration of normal menstruation and induction of ovulation in CC resistant PCOS patients.
Citric Acid ; Electrocoagulation ; Fasting ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperandrogenism ; Insulin ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1 ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Laser Therapy* ; Lasers, Gas ; Menstrual Cycle ; Menstruation ; Ovulation ; Ovulation Induction ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome* ; Testosterone ; Volatilization

No abstract available.
Craniocerebral Trauma* ; Head* ; Hematoma*