No Abstract available.
Consensus* ; Infection Control*

PURPOSE: It is not easy to determine the cause of pulmonary consolidative lesion. Even without any definite mass, malignancy cannot be ruled out. And sometimes, it is difficult to differentiate tuberculosis from pneumonia. To differentiate malignant consolidative lesion from benign one, we studied patterns of air bronchogram, mucoid impaction, and computed tomographic anglogram etc. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty seven cases of pulmonary consolidative lesions(23 cases of malignancy,34 cases of benign lesion) were retrospectively reviewed by three radiologists. RESULTS: Among the 28 cases which showed a little air bronchogram(less than 1/3 of the whole lesion in volumetric measure with the eye) 19 cases were malignancy and nine cases were benign lesions. All of the 12 cases which showed profound air bronchogram over 2/3 of the whole lesion were benign lesions. Bronchiectasis was detected in 31 cases(four of malignancy and 27 of benign lesions). Among the 20 cases which didn't show the mucoid impaction five cases were malignancy and 15 cases were benign lesions. Out of eight cases with mucoid impaction filling the long segments(branching tree shape), seven cases were malignancy and one case was benign lesion. So called CT anglogram was detected in nine cases of malignancy and two cases of benign lesions. All of nine cases of malignancy showed CT anglogram which was like arborizing tree. CONCLUSION: Scanty air bronchogram, profound arborizing mucoid impaction and/or CT angoigram within consolidative lesion could suggest malignancy.
Bronchiectasis ; Pneumonia ; Retrospective Studies ; Thorax* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed* ; Tuberculosis

PURPOSE: For evaluation of the growth hormone and cortisol responses to insulin stimuli in children with short stature, the human growth hormone secretion and cortisol level was monitored 30 and 60 minutes after insulin infusion by intravenousely. METHODS: The inclusion criteria of children for this study were that the height was below 3 percentile compare with the same sex and age children, bone age was younger more than one year of chronologic age, and insulin and L-dopa induced growth hormone secretion was below 10ng/mL. There were 10 children compatible with this criteria(group A) and 11 children was selected for control group(group B). Serum concentration of growth hormone was determined just before intravenous infusion of 0.1U/kg insulin and then 30 and 60 minutes after insulin infusion. Serum level of cortisol was determined simultaneously with the growth hormone but skip the level of the 30 minutes after insulin infusion. Serum glucose level was monitored on every time sampling the blood for determined growth hormone and cortisol level. Serum level of growth hormone and cortisol were determined by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS :The serum glucose concentration were decrease to under 50% of baseline level on 30 minutes after insulin infusion in A and B group. The serum growth hormone level before insulin infusion was 2.5+/-1.78ng/mL and changed to 2.2+/-1.69 ng/mL on 60 minutes after insulin infusion in group A. In group B, the serum growth hormone level alteration before and on 60 minutes after insulin infusion was from 5.5+/-6.67ng/mL to 12.6+/-7.91ng/mL. The serum concentration of cortisol was changed from baseline level 10.7+/-7.10, 7.9+/-3.98microg/dL to 16.7+/-11.47, 26.1+/-3.59microg/ dL on 60 minutes after insulin infusion in group A and B respectively, but some cases in group A show a little increase in cortisol level. CONCLUSION: On the basis of this study, it is suggested that the deficiency of growth hormone secretion is related to cortisol concentration in peripheral blood. But for more detailed assessment of this association, follow up studies will be needed in more cases.
Blood Glucose ; Child* ; Growth Hormone* ; Human Growth Hormone ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone* ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Insulin* ; Levodopa ; Radioimmunoassay

PURPOSE: We reviewed 5 years worth of experience with peritoneal drainage and dialysis in infants who underwent open heart surgery. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of peritoneal drainage and peritoneal dialysis on fluid balance and several parameters of intensive care. METHODS: Six(10%) of 60 consecutive infants who underwent open heart surgery required peritoneal dialysis during peritoneal drainage. Simple peritoneal drainage was performed in the remaining 54 infants. The silicone rubber peritoneal dialysis catheter was inserted into the center of abdominal cavity just after operation, and subsequent peritoneal drainage was maintained during intensive care. RESULTS: Mean age of the study group was 0.48+/-0.21 years(M: F=32: 28). Early postoperative mortality amang the infants with congenital heart disease was 1.6%. Total amount of output was 7.0+/-2.28mL/kg/hr, urine output 5.14+/-2.9lmL/kg/hr, pleural fluid 0.80+/-0.5lmL/kg/hr, and peritoneal fluid 1.20+/-0.90mL/kg/hr. The ratio of output to intake(O/I) was 1.06. None of the complications required early termination of peritoneal drainage or peritoneal dialysis. Hemodynamics and pulmonary function were maintained steadily during postoperative intensive care. CONCLUSION: The early institution of peritoneal drainage and peritoneal dialysis in infants with congenital heart disease after cardiac operations not only removes fluid, thus easing fluid restriction, but may also improve cardiopulmonary function.
Abdominal Cavity ; Ascitic Fluid ; Catheters ; Dialysis ; Drainage* ; Heart Defects, Congenital* ; Heart* ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Infant* ; Critical Care ; Mortality ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; Silicone Elastomers ; Thoracic Surgery ; Water-Electrolyte Balance

No abstract available.

Epidural nerve block is the most widely practiced procedure in the pain clinic. Accidental dural puncture during epidural nerve block also has been associated with postdural puncture headache and total spinal anesthesia. Especially, total spinal anesthesia is the most serious complication of epidural nerve block and can lead to a life threatening conditions. We have experienced two cases in whom total spinal anesthesia occurred during epidural nerve block for neck and lower back pain control. Immediately after epidural nerve block, the patients became unresponsive and apneic with loss of muscle tone in all extremity. We performed resuscitations and about 3 hours later the patients recovered completely without any complication.
Anesthesia, Spinal* ; Extremities ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; Neck ; Nerve Block* ; Pain Clinics ; Post-Dural Puncture Headache ; Punctures ; Resuscitation

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia is inherited disorder of adrenal steroidogenesis. 21-hydroxylase deficiency is the most commone enzymatic defect and is divided into classic and late-onset or nonclassic forms. Both classic non-classic 21-hydrozylase deficiencies are inherited in a recessive manner as allelic variants. But it is rare that happened in twin infants. Chief complaints of affected twins in our case were ambiguous genitalia, hyperpigmentation and dehydrations. They were revealed into hyponatremia, hyperkalemia and increased amount of serum progesterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone and urinary 17-ketosteroid excretion and were administered with DOCA, 9alpha-fluorohydrocortisone, hydrocortisone to control the electrolyte imbalance. And now, both of them are going to normal ratio of weight gain and body growth.
17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone ; Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital* ; Desoxycorticosterone Acetate ; Disorders of Sex Development ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Hyperkalemia ; Hyperpigmentation ; Hyponatremia ; Infant ; Progesterone ; Steroid 21-Hydroxylase* ; Twins* ; Weight Gain

BACKGROUND: The automated border detection(ABD) echocardiography has the ability of recognizing the endocardial-blood interface, and therefore, on-line estimation of the left ventricular(LV) volume every cardiac cycle. Compared with the off-line conventional 2-dimensional echocardiographic method that requires tracing the endocardial border manually, the ABDd system can be a convenient and objective method in the estimation of the LV volume and the ejection fraction(EF). The purpose of this study is to compare the LV volume and EF between the on-line ABD system and the convertional off-line echocardiographic method. METHODS: In two weeks, 83 adult patients older than 16 years of age were referred to our echocardiographic laboratory. Among these 83 patients, 64 patients who had a normal sinus rhythm were included to our study. Using the Hewlett-Packard SONOS 1500, a 2.5 MHz transducer was placed dat the cardiac apex. Patients with an apical 4 chamber view of the LV in which at least 75% of the endocardium was clearly seen were selected for study. On that view, the ABD system was turned on, and the reansmit power and the time-gain compensation controls were adjusted in order to approximate the automated border to the visually apparent endocardial surface. The LV end-diastolic volume(LVESV) and LV end-systolic volume(LVESV) were calculated by the method of disc. LVEDV, LVESV, and EF were displayed every cardiac cycle. Also the off-line estimation of the LV volume was performed by the method of disc, after manually tracing the endocardial border on the apical 4 chamber view. RESULTS: 44 patients(69%) of 64 patients had > or =75% of the LV endocardium visualized. LVEDV, LVESV, and Ef with the ABD system were highly correlated with those with the off-line, manually traced method(r=0.95, 0.8, respectively), but LVEDV and EF with toe ABD system were significantly less than those with the latter(p<0.01). The limits of agreement between tow methods(off-line, manually traced method-ABD system) were somewhat wide. Those of LVEDV, LVESV and EF were +22~-10ml(mean 6ml), +15~-14ml(mean 0.1ml), and +19~-12%(mean 3.8%), respectively. CONCLUSION: LVEDV,LVESV, and EF measurements by the ABD system and the off-line manually traced methods thve a strong correlation, The ABD system should habe clinical applications in setting, in which measurements of LV volume and Ef are important, But, the comparison with a more reliable method is necessary.
Adult ; Compensation and Redress ; Echocardiography* ; Endocardium ; Humans ; Toes ; Transducers

OBJECTIVE: Vasospasm of cerebral vessels remains a major source of morbidity and mortality after an aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of transluminal balloon angioplasty (TBA) for SAH-induced vasospasm. METHODS: Eleven patients with an angiographically confirmed significant vasospasm (>50% vessel narrowing and clinical deterioration) were studied. A total of 54 vessel segments with significant vasospasm were treated by TBA. Digital subtraction angiography was used to confirm the presence of vasospasm, and TBA was performed to dilate vasospastic arteries. Medical and angiographic reports were reviewed to determine technical efficacy and for procedural complications. RESULTS: TBA using Hyper-Glide or Hyper-Form balloons (MicroTherapeutics, Irvine, CA) was successfully accomplished in 88.9% vasospastic segments (48 of 54), namely, in the distal internal carotid artery (100%, n=7), the middle cerebral artery (100%), including the M1 (n=10), M2 (n=10), and M3 segments (n=4), in the vertebral artery (100%, n=2), basilar artery (100%, n=1), and in the anterior cerebral artery (ACA), including the A1 (66%), A2 (66%), and A3 segments (100%). Vessel diameters significantly increased after TBA. There were no cases of vessel rupture or thromboembolic complications. GCS at one day after TBA showed an improvement in all patients except one. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that TBA using Hyper-Glide or Hyper-Form balloons is a safe and effective treatment for subarachnoid hemorrhage-induced cerebral vasospasm.
Aneurysm ; Angiography, Digital Subtraction ; Angioplasty, Balloon ; Anterior Cerebral Artery ; Arteries ; Basilar Artery ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Endovascular Procedures ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Humans ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Rupture ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; Vasospasm, Intracranial ; Vertebral Artery

To investigate long term effects of CAPD on the left ventricular function in end-stage renal disease patients, M-mode echocardiographic studies and measurement o fsystolic time intervals were performed in 20 CAPD cases, 28 hemodialysis cases and 29 uremic controls. Compared to the uremic control grup, the patients on CAPD treatment revealed significant improvement of ventricular contractility and reduction of volume. On the other hand in hemodialysis group, even though there was improvement of ventricular contractility, volume control was not adequate. In the systolic time interval measurement, it is postulated that increase of PEP/LVET ratio in CAPD group probably results from reduction of volume(preload) rather than from deranged ventricular function.
Echocardiography ; Hand ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory* ; Renal Dialysis* ; Systole ; Ventricular Function ; Ventricular Function, Left