Carotid bruit is a physical sign derived from the turbulence of carotid blood flow and has been rgarded as one of the imponant risk factor of ischemic stroke. To estimate a crude prevalence of carotid bruit in ischemic stroke in Korea at present time, and evaluate the correlation of carotid bruit with carotid stenosis and site of ischemic lesion, we investigated the brain imaging studies (computed tomography and / or magnetic resonance imaging)and cerebral angiographict finding of fifty patiens with caoti bruit.Thirty-nine (3.9 %) ot of nine hundred and ninety-six ischemic stroke patients had bruit around the carotid bifurcation. And the other eleven cases who did not have ischemic stroke were detected to have carotid bruit during the routine neurological examination at the bedside.Th presence of infarction in one side of carotid territory was not significantly differentwhether the bruit was heard or not in that side, but the presece of carotid stenosis in angiographY had a tendency to be significantly different by the audible bruit on that side. Carotid bruit does not necessarily reflect the infarction of that side, but can only be used as a predictor of ipsilateral extracranial carotid occlusive disease in this preliminary study. Further extensive prospective study is needed for the exact prevalence of rate and the clinical usefulss of the carotid bruit in Korea.
Angiography ; Carotid Stenosis ; Humans ; Infarction ; Korea ; Neuroimaging ; Neurologic Examination ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Stroke

PURPOSE: Intravenous 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) and oral doxifluridine were compared with respect to therapeutic efficacy, drug toxicity, and quality of life to clarify the efficiency of oral doxifluridine. METHODS: One hundred sixty-six (166) patients who underwent a curative resection for TNM stage II and III rectal cancer between Oct. 1997 and Feb. 1999 were randomized to receive intravenous 5-FU (450 mg/m2/day) or oral doxifluridine (700 mg/m2/day) in combination with leucovorin (20 mg/m2/day). 5-FU was infused intravenously 5 consecutive days per month for a total of 12 cycles (IV arm, N=74) in one group, and doxifluridine was given orally daily for 3 weeks with a rest of 1 week for a total of 12 cycles (Oral arm, N=92). Drug toxicity and quality of life were observed. Quality of life was scored according to twenty-two daily activity items (good,>71, fair,53< or =and<70, poor,< or =52). RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the mean age, sex, TNM stage distribution, or type of operation between the two groups (>0.05). Mean number of chemotherapy cycles was 6.5+/-3.7 (IV arm) vs 7.2+/-4.3 (Oral arm). The recurrence rate was 9/74 (12.1%) in IV arm and 6/92 (6.5%) in oral arm (P=0.937). Local recurrence was 2/74 (stage III; 2.7%) in IV arm and 1/92 (stage II; 1.1%) in oral arm. Systemic recurrence was 7/74 (Stage III; 9.4%) in IV arm and 5/92 (Stage III; 5.4%) in oral arm. Toxicity pro-files are as follows: Leukopenia (30/74, 17/92) and alopecia (21/74, 13/92) were more common in IV arm than in oral arm, and the difference was statistically significant. Diarrhea was more common in oral arm. The quality of life score was better at 1 month (19.5%, 49%) and at 2 months (47%, 72%) in the oral arm group (<0.05). CONCLUSION: Oral Doxifluridine with leucovorin as a postoperative adjuvant therapy shows a therapeutic efficacy comparable to the intravenous 5-FU regimen and has a high quality of life. The oral regimen also can be safely given with an appropriate toxicity and tolerability.
Alopecia ; Arm ; Diarrhea ; Drug Therapy ; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ; Fluorouracil* ; Humans ; Leucovorin ; Leukopenia ; Prospective Studies* ; Quality of Life ; Rectal Neoplasms* ; Recurrence