PURPOSE: This study was done to identify effects of carbonated water intake on constipation in elders who have experienced a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) and are bed-ridden. METHODS: Forty elderly patients with CVA were randomly assigned to one of two groups in a double-blind study. Patients in the experimental group drank carbonated water and those in the control group drank tap water for two weeks. Six patients dropped out during the study period. Data were analyzed by repeated measured ANCOVA and the covariance was the dose of laxatives used for the two weeks. RESULTS: Frequency of defecation increased significantly and symptoms of constipation decreased significantly for patients in the experimental group. CONCLUSION: The study results suggest that the intake of carbonated water is an effective method for the intervention of constipation in elderly patients with CVA.
Aged ; Analysis of Variance ; Carbonates/*therapeutic use ; Constipation/complications/*drug therapy ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Humans ; Laxatives/therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stroke/*complications

Repeat cesarean section is one of the leading causes to make increasing a rate of cesarean section. Trial of labor TOL after cesarean section is attempt to reduce the rate of repeat cesarean section. Trial of labor has been well established as a safe alternative in carefully selected women with transverse scars in the lower uterine segment. This study was based on 104 cases of delivery with prior cesarean birth at the Chonbuk National University Hospital from January, 1991 to June, 1997. The results were as follows: 1) Among 1400 cases with previous cesarean delivery, trial of labor was done in 104 cases (7.4%). Among 104 cases, vaginal birth was successfully completed in 96 cases (92.3%). 2) Among 28 cases with PGE2, vaginal tablet, vaginal delivery was done in 23 cases (82.1%). 3) Among 22 cases with more than 4 of Bishop score, vaginal delivery was done in 21 cases (95.5%), and among 6 cases with less than 3 of Bishop score, vaginal delivery was done only 2 cases (33.3%). 4) There was no matemal death or uterine rupture in the cases of trial of labor, But in 2 cases, uterine dehiscence was observed in 4 cases and postpartal bleeding (more than 400ml) was developed. 5) In the cases of cesarean section, mean of hospital day was 7 days and medical fee was about 400,000 won. In the cases of vaginal birth after cesarean section, mean of hospital day was 2.6 days and medical fee was about 100,000 won. In condusion, vaginal birth after cesarean section is safe and effective alternative to elective repeat cesarean section and also the use of PGE, vaginal tablet is so effective to increase success rate of vaginal delivery. After all, positive these trials might decrease cesarean rate and increase maternal health and quality of medical care.
Cesarean Section ; Cesarean Section, Repeat ; Cicatrix ; Dinoprostone ; Fees, Medical ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Jeollabuk-do ; Maternal Health ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Prostaglandins E ; Trial of Labor ; Uterine Rupture ; Vaginal Birth after Cesarean* ; Vaginal Creams, Foams, and Jellies

Forty six cases of Legg-Calve-Perthes disease were reviewed clinically and roentgenographically in order to determine a satisfactory method of assessing the prognosis and to correlate the clinical and roentgenographical results. 1. The patients were children 3 to 12 years of age, with the peak at 6 years. The average age of visit (or diagnosis) was 6.7 years and that of onset was 6.4 years. 2. The total number of hips involved were 49, three cases being bilateral (6. 5%). Boys predominated girls by a ratio of 4.7:1 3. End results in children below 6 years of age were better than those in children above 6 years. The end results of treatment with the containment method were better than those with the noncontainment method. 4. The hips with excellent result had an average of 2.5mm. of uncovering of the femoral head at the time of diagnosis. The degree of uncovering increased as the roentgenographical result deteriorated, in the poor hips the average uncovering being 9mm. The average for the normal side was 2mm. The uncovering at onset is an accurate guide to the likely end result. 5. The Catterall assessment was of reliable prognostic value. In the excellent group, the majority of the hips belonged to Groups 1 and 2, In the poor group, there were no hips in Group 1 and increasing number of hips belonged to Groups 2,3 and 4. 6. The head at risk judged by Gage's sign, calcification of lateral epiphysis, lateral subluxation of the femoral head, and presence of a horizontal epiphyseal line indicated poor prognosis. 7. There was a close correlation between the severity of clinical features and the severity of residual roentgenographic findings.
Child ; Clinical Study ; Containment of Biohazards ; Diagnosis ; Epiphyses ; Female ; Head ; Hip ; Humans ; Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease ; Methods ; Prognosis

On the pulse from the trauma transiting to posterior side of the orbit, orbital fractures are occurred throughthe weak point of the orbital wall. Invagination of soft tissue or entrapment of muscles may be associated withorbital fracture. In condition of inaccurate diagnosis, appropriate surgical repairment is impossible andcomplications such as diplopia or enophthalmia are developed. CT scan is diagnostic procedure which demonstratesaccurately the site and stage of orbital fracture, and its associated findings. The authors has been studied in 21orbital CT scans to evaluate the relative value of plain X rays and CT scans in the diagnosis of orbital fracturesduring the period from January 1982 to September 1985. The conclusions were as follows: 1. Diagnostic rate was100% by CT, 40% by initial and 80% by retrospective interpretation of conventional X-ray films. 2. Low X-raydiagnostic rate of medical wall fractures(26.7%) was due to thinness of the bone. 3. Medial wall fractures wereassociated with floor fractures in 46%. 4. Orbital soft tissue injuries and abnormalities of PNS were preciselyevaluated by CT scan.
Diagnosis ; Diplopia ; Muscles ; Orbit ; Orbital Fractures ; Retrospective Studies ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; Thinness ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; X-Ray Film

Primary pulmonary hypertension is a rar, incurable, and progressive clinical entity. When associated with pregnancy, the prognosis of primary pulmonary hypertension is worsened with maternal mortality rates of at least 50%. The patient was a 29-year-old mother in her 2nd pregnancy, with previous uncomplicated gestation, 5 years ago. She had been well until the 28th week of present gestation when she was admitted because of increasing dyspnea on exertion. She was a housewife with no remarkable family and past histories. We have experienced a patient with primary pulmonary hypertension in pregnancy. She was treated with an oral calcium-channel blocker and low-molecular-weight heparin and was delivered vaginally with good maternal and fetal outcome. So we report a case of primary pulmonary hypertension associated with pregnancy and review literature.
Adult ; Dyspnea ; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary* ; Maternal Mortality ; Mothers ; Pregnancy* ; Prognosis

PURPOSE: To examine the effects, complications, and safeties of sclera allograft and amniotic membrane transplantation with fibrin glue as surgical treatment methods for scleromalacia. METHODS: The study included 14 eyes of 14 scleromalacia patients who needed surgical treatment. Among them, seven eyes of seven patients whose scleral defect was small (<6 mm) were operated on using only fibrin glue and no suturing, while seven eyes of seven patients whose defect was large (>6 mm) were operated on using fibrin glue and minimum suturing. Amniotic membrane transplantation was performed at the site of the conjunctival defect. RESULTS: In all of the cases, the results of grafting were successful throughout the follow-up period, which was 14.6+/-4.4 months, on average (ranging from 12 to 27 months). No particular complication was observed during the follow-up period after using fibrin glue. CONCLUSIONS: For scleromalacia patients, sclera allograft and amniotic membrane transplantation were performed using fibrin glue. The grafted sclera survived successfully, allowing this treatment modality to be considered an effective and safe option without complications.
Amnion ; Eye ; Fibrin ; Fibrin Tissue Adhesive ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Safety ; Sclera ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Transplants

No abstract available.

Many calcifications due to fat encrosis in the buttocks detected on the pelvis roentgenogram suggest that themajorityof injections intended to be intramuscular actually are delivered into fat. We measured thickness of adultgluteal fat to decide whether the injection using needle of usual length is done into fat or muscle. We measuredthe vertical thickeness of the subcutaneous fat at a point of 2-3cm above the femoral head cut slice with randomlycollected 116 cases of adults in the departement of Radiology, St.Mary's Hospital, Catholic Medical College. Wefound that 32% female cases might actually receive on intraadipose injection when a needle of maximum 3.8cm lengthis inserted into the buttock. If deposition into muscle is desirable, we need to choose needle whose length isappropriate for the site of injection and patient's deposits of fat.
Adult ; Buttocks ; Female ; Head ; Humans ; Needles ; Pelvis ; Subcutaneous Fat

Background: Cardiovascular risk is a modifiable factor that can help prevent dementia.Given the dearth of optimal treatment options, managing dementia risk factors is crucial. We examined the association between cardiovascular risk, as measured by the Korean coronary heart disease risk score (KRS), and cognitive function in dementia-free elderly individuals. Methods: We enrolled 8,600 individuals (average age: 69.74 years; 5,206 women) who underwent a medical evaluation from the National Health Insurance Service. KRS was calculated using age, sex, blood pressure, lipid profile, diabetes, and smoking status. Cognitive function was evaluated using Korean Dementia Screening QuestionnaireCognition (KDSQ-C). Scores of ≥ 6 indicated a cognitive decline. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Weight, height, stroke history, coronary heart disease history, alcohol consumption, and physical activity engagement were adjusted. Results: The lowest, middle, and highest groups, according to the KRS, were 5,923 (68.9%), 2,343 (27.2%), and 334 (3.9%), respectively. The highest KRS group in all participants exhibited a greater risk of cognitive decline than the lowest KRS group (OR, 1.339; 95% CI, 1.034–1.734; P = 0.027). The highest KRS female group aged 71–75 years old exhibited greater cognitive decline than the corresponding lowest KRS group (OR, 1.595; 95% CI, 1.045–2.434; P = 0.031). Conclusion Individuals with high cardiovascular risk were associated with poorer cognitive function than those with low risk, especially older women. Cardiovascular risk factors should be carefully managed to promote healthy mental aging in dementia-free elderly individuals.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of power Doppler ultrasonography (PDUS) in depicting renal infarction inrabbits during experimental renal segmental arterial occlusion, and to compare the results with those of CTscanning. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 28 rabbits weighing 2.5-4kg, the segmental renal artery was occluded throughthe left main renal artery by embolization with Ivalon (Nycomed, Paris, France). Power Doppler ultrasonography andspiral CT scanning were performed before and at 2, 5, 8, 15, and 24 hours, and 3 and 7 days after occlusion of thesegmental renal artery. The location of infarcted areas and collaterals, as seen on PDUS and CT scans, wasevaluated by two radiologists. RESULTS: In all cases, as seen on power Doppler ultrasonography, infaretedareas-when compared with normal parenchyma, clearly demonstrated wedge-shaped perfusion defects in the kidney. Thelocation of the lesion closely corresponded to the location seen during CT scanning. After renal arterialocclusion, transiently congested capsular arteries, which were named 'capsular sign', were seen in 63% ofrabbits in the two and five-hour groups. No significant cortical rim sign was demonstrated on power Dopplerultrasonography, though it was noted on spiral CT at 15 and 24 hours, and 3 and 7 days after renal arterialocclusion. CONCLUSION: Power Doppler ultrasonography was useful for the diagnosis of renal infarction. Congestedcapsular artery seen in the early stage of renal infarction might be a characteristic finding of this condition,as seen on power Doppler ultrasonography.
Animals ; Arteries ; Diagnosis ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Infarction ; Kidney ; Perfusion ; Rabbits ; Renal Artery* ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography* ; Ultrasonography, Doppler