BACKGROUND: Information on the long-term fate of patients with prosthetic valve is limited. Cerebral embolism is a major cause of late morbidity and mortality in patients with prosthetic valves even though recent prostheses are less thrombogenic and anticoagulants are administered. We investigated the long-term risk of the first ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke and effect of presumed risk factors on the development of stroke in patients with prosthetic valves. METHODS: In a retrospective study, 554 patients who survived the 30-days after cardiac valve replacement between June, 1985 and May, 1995 were included. End points were attacks of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. Risk of stroke at end points was calculated according to Kaplan-Meier method. The influence of several clinical variables on these stroke events was analyzed by univariate and mutivariate analyses. RESULTS: Thirty seven of 554 patients had 42 stroke events(34 ischemic stroke, 8 hemorrhagic stroke) during follow-up periods(mean: 52.9months). Six of these patients died from stroke. The cumulative stroke-free probability was 92.4% at 5years and 87.7% at 10years. The cumulative ischemic stroke-free probability was 93.7% at 5years and 89.4% at 10years. No or irregular use of anticoagulants was the only significant independent predictor(RR:4.99, 95%CI:2.01-12.41, p<0.01) of ischemic stroke. The cumulative hemorrhagic stroke-free probability was 98.7% at 5years and 98.1% at 10years. CONCLUSION: Regardless of the type of prostheses, patients with prosthetic valves, notably those without anticoagulants, are at high risk for ischemic stroke.
Anticoagulants ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Valves ; Humans ; Intracranial Embolism ; Mortality ; Prostheses and Implants ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Stroke* ; Thromboembolism

PURPOSE: A laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy with lymph node dissection for gastric cancer is considered technically more complicated than the open method. To evaluate the short-term surgical validity, the surgical outcome of the laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) with extraperigastric lymph node dissection was compared with that of the conventional open distal gastrectomy (CODG) in patients with early gastric cancer. METHODS: One hundred and forty-seven patients with early gastric cancer received a radical distal gastrectomy during 2002 and 2003, where a LADG was performed on 71 patients. The clinicopathological characteristics, postoperative outcomes and courses, and the postoperative morbidities and mortalities were compared between the two groups. Data were retrieved from the stomach cancer database at Dong-A University Medical center. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics, including gender, age, body mass index (BMI), American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) class, tumor size, T stage, and lymph node metastasis, were similar between the two groups. No significant differences were found between these groups in terms of the number of retrieved lymph nodes with respect to D1+(D1+no. 7) and D1+beta (D1+no. 7, 8a, and 9) lymphadenectomies. In the LADG group, the wound size was smaller (P <0.0001), but the operation time was longer (P=0.0001) than in the CODG group. The perioperative recovery was faster in the LADG than in the CODG group, as reflected by the shorter hospital stay (P=0.0176) and less additional analgesics (P=0.0370). The serum albumin level in the LADG was higher (P=0.0002) on day 7 than that in the CODG group, and the leukocyte count in the LADG lower (P=0.0445) on day 1 than that in the CODG gruop. There were no significant differences in the postoperative morbidities and mortalities between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our data confirmed that a LADG with an extraperigastric (no. 7, 8, and 9) lymph node dissection was a feasible and acceptable surgical technique for early gastric cancer. From a surgical point of view, a LADG with an extraperigastric lymph node dissection is suggested to be a preferred surgical option for patients with early gastric cancer. Its oncological validity awaits larger and prospective multicenterd trials.
Academic Medical Centers ; Analgesics ; Anesthesiology ; Body Mass Index ; Gastrectomy* ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Leukocyte Count ; Lymph Node Excision* ; Lymph Nodes* ; Mortality ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Serum Albumin ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Wounds and Injuries

The usefulness of a nondepolarizing muscle relaxant for endotracheal intubation is limited by its relatively slow onset of neuromuscular block compared to that achieved with succinylcholine. Several attempts have been made to produce a more rapid onset of muscle relaxation for endotracheal intubation. A large dose of nondepoarizing muscle relaxant may produce rapid onset but cauae undesirable side effects and a prolonged duration of neuromuscular block. The authors observed the degree of vocal cord relaxation and intubation condition 2 minutes after administration of atracurium and measured changes in mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate at the time of arrival in the operating room, just before abministration of atracurium, 2minutes after administration, and 5mins after intubation. The 40 of patients in this observation were divided into four groups. Group 1; 10patients, received 0.3 mg/kg of atracurium Group 2; 10patients, received 0.4 mg/kg of atracurium Group 3; 10patients, received 0.5 mg/kg of atracurium Group 4; 10patients, received 0.6 mg/kg of atracurium The results were as follows; 1) There were better intubating conditions in Group 3 and 4 than in Group 1 and 2(p<0.001). 2) Mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate did not change significantly after administration of atracurium in all four groups. From the above results we conclude that 0.5~0.6 mg/kg of atracurium provides satisfactory intubation condition 2 minutes after administration without hemodynamic changes.
Arterial Pressure ; Atracurium* ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Intubation ; Intubation, Intratracheal* ; Muscle Relaxation ; Neuromuscular Blockade ; Operating Rooms ; Relaxation ; Succinylcholine ; Vocal Cords

PURPOSE: The changes in the levels of eicosanoids and isoprostane (8-iso-PGF2alpha) were investigated in brain tissue of 7 day-old rats after hypoxic-ischemic (HI) injury. METHODS: The 7 day-old newborn rats underwent right unilateral common carotid artery ligation followed by exposure to hypoxia with 8% oxygen for 150 minutes. There after, the pups were decapitated during reoxygenation 21% period of 0, 1, 6, 24, and 72 hours and their cerebral hemisheres were dissected through sagittal plane. Ipsilateral and contralateral cerebral hemesheres to common carotid artery ligation were used to determine the water content for estimation of severity of brain edema (n=5) and to measure the levels of eicosanoid and isoprostane (n=7). The levels of 6-keto-PGF1alpha, TXB2, and PGE2 were measured by RP-HPLC (reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography) and the levels of isoprostane (8-iso-PGF2alpha) were measured by enzyme immunoassay. The changes of eicosanoid and isoprostane levels during reoxygenation period were observed and comparisons between ipsilateral and contralateral hemispheres were done. RESULTS: The edema of ipsilateral cerebral hemesheres to common carotid artery ligation was more severe than that of contralateral cerebral hemisheres (P<0.05). The levels of 6-keto-PGF1alpha, TXB2, and PGE2 were found to increase during the early period of reoxygenation after HI insult, peak at 1 hour, and then decrease to the control levels at 72 hour (P<0.05). But, the levels of 8-iso-PGF2alpha did not significantly increase during the period of reoxygenation. The levels of 6-keto-PGF1alpha, TXB2, and PGE2 of ipsilateral hemispheres had a tendency to be higher than those of contralateral hemispheres during the initial 6 hour reoxygenation period, but the levels of 8-iso-PGF2alpha of ipsilateral hemispheres were significantly higher than those of contralateral hemispheres during the relatively later reoxygenation period (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Reoxygenation after hypoxic-ischemic injury increased the levels of 6-keto-PGF1alpha, TXB2, and PGE2 in 7 day-old rat brain during the early period of reoxygenation, but the levels of isoprostane (8-iso-PGF2alpha) were not significantly increased during the reoxygenation period after HI injury.
Animals ; Anoxia ; Brain Edema ; Brain* ; Carotid Artery, Common ; Dinoprostone ; Edema ; Eicosanoids* ; Humans ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Infant, Newborn* ; Ischemia ; Isoprostanes* ; Ligation ; Oxygen ; Rats*

No abstract available.
Levodopa* ; Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome* ; Parkinson Disease*

Trichloroethylene is commonly used as an industrial solvent and degreasing agent. The clinical features of acute and chronic intoxication with trichloroethylene are well-known and have been described in many reports, but hypersensitivity syndrome caused by trichloroethylene is rarely encountered. For managing patients with trichloroethylene hypersensitivity syndrome, avoiding trichloroethylene and initiating glucocorticoid have been generally accepted. Generally, glucocorticoid had been tapered as trichloroethylene hypersensitivity syndrome had ameliorated. However, we encountered a typical case of trichloroethylene hypersensitivity syndrome refractory to high dose glucocorticoid treatment. A 54-year-old Korean man developed jaundice, fever, red sore eyes, and generalized erythematous maculopapular rashes. A detailed history revealed occupational exposure to trichloroethylene. After starting intravenous methylprednisolone, his clinical condition improved remarkably, but we could not reduce prednisolone because his liver enzyme and total bilirubin began to rise within 2 days after reducing prednisolone under 60 mg/day. We recommended an extended admission for complete recovery, but the patient decided to leave the hospital against medical advice. The patient visited the emergency department due to pneumonia and developed asystole, which did not respond to resuscitation.
Dermatitis, Occupational/*etiology ; Fatal Outcome ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity/*etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure/*adverse effects ; Solvents/*toxicity ; Trichloroethylene/*toxicity

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: There are few reports of affecting factors of the longterm prognosis after acute ischemic stroke. The aim of this prospective study was to determine which variables, of those easily measurable during the first 24 hours after stroke onset, would be predictors of longterm outcome. METHOD: Ninety-eight patients with an acute ischemic stroke were evaluated within 24 hours after symptom onset. The following potential affecting factors of outcome were prospectively collected : demographic datas, socioeconomic factors, risk factors of cerebrovascular accidents, clinical f indings as measured by the National Institute of Health (NIH) scale, laboratory findings and premorbid varibles rated according to modified Rankin score (mRS). We evaluated the outcome, assessed with mRS as good (mRS 3 or less) and poor (mRS 4, 5 or death) and follow up was undertaken at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months after onset. The statistical analysis was performed by means of SPSS/PC+package to determine the longterm prognostic factors. RESULTS: The multiple stepwise regression analysis revealed that the outcome depend on NIH scale(p<0.001), age (p<0.01), previous stroke(p<0.01), loss of consciousness (LOC) at onset (p Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Paresis ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Stroke ; Unconsciousness

We report a patient with a left anterior cerebral artery (ACA) infarct showing representational neglect. Representational neglect is some form of neglect to areas of imagined space. We believe that the description of our case gives further information about neglect syndrome and the functional asymmetry of the cerebral hemispheres because these observations are rare.
Anterior Cerebral Artery* ; Cerebrum ; Humans ; Infarction, Anterior Cerebral Artery*

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the normal morphometric landmarks of the uniting and dividing points of the brachial plexus (BP) in the periclavicular region to provide useful guidance in surgery of BP injuries. METHODS: A total of 20 brachial plexuses were obtained from 10 adult, formalin-fixed cadavers. Distances were measured on the basis of the Chassaignac tubercle (CT), and the most lateral margin of the BP (LMBP) crossing the superior and inferior edge of the clavicle. RESULTS: LMBP was located within 25 mm medially from the midpoint in all subjects. In the supraclavicular region, the upper trunk uniting at 21 +/- 7 mm from the CT, separating into divisions at 42 +/- 5 mm from the CT, and dividing at 19 +/- 4 mm from the LMBP crossing the superior edge of the clavicle. In the infraclavicular region, the distance from the inferior edge of the clavicle to the musculocutaneous nerve (MCN) origin was 49 +/- 1 mm, to the median nerve origin 57 +/- 7 mm, and the ulnar nerve origin 48 +/- 6 mm. From the lateral margin of the pectoralis minor to the MCN origin the distance averaged 3.3 +/- 10 mm. Mean diameter of the MCN was 4.3 +/- 1.1 mm (range, 2.5-6.0) in males (n = 6), and 3.1 +/- 1.5 mm (range, 1.6-4.0) in females (n = 4). CONCLUSION: We hope these data will aid in understanding the anatomy of the BP and in planning surgical treatment in BP injuries.
Adult ; Brachial Plexus ; Cadaver ; Clavicle ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Median Nerve ; Musculocutaneous Nerve ; Pectoralis Muscles ; Ulnar Nerve

BACKGROUND: To identify the optimum culture conditions by investigating isolated rat hepatocytes cultured in medium containing different growth factors. METHODS: Hepatocytes were isolated from rats using a two-step perfusion technique and divided into the following four groups cultured in medium containing different growth factors: control, epidermal growth factor (EGF), insulin, and EGF+insulin. The viability of the cultured rat hepatocytes and liver function parameters, including albumin, ammonia, and urea in the culture medium, were measured. Hepatocyte morphology was examined by staining with hematoxylin and eosin, and albumin receptor expression was confirmed by immunofluorescence. RESULTS: Slightly higher viability was observed in the growth factor groups than in the control group, although without significance (P=0.073). The levels of albumin (P=0.001), ammonia (P<0.001), and urea (P=0.041) differed significantly among the four groups. The functional parameters in the growth factor groups, particularly the EGF+insulin group, were significantly superior to those in the control group. The morphology of the hepatocytes in all growth factor groups was well maintained at 10 days. However, the control group showed deterioration in cell morphology by day 7. CONCLUSIONS: Morphological and functional assessment indicated that the presence of growth factors, particularly EGF+insulin, provided culture conditions superior to those of non-supplemented medium.
Ammonia ; Animals ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Hematoxylin ; Hepatocytes* ; Insulin ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Liver ; Perfusion ; Rats* ; Receptors, Albumin ; Urea