BACKGROUND: The self-inflating bag-valve resuscitator is an useful breathing support equipment in the cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the transportation of patients who required ventilation assist, or respiratory therapy. The inspiratory oxygen concentration (FiO2) or tidal volume (VT) delivered to the patient depends on various conditions during bag-valve ventilation. METHODS: During bag-valve ventilation without a reservoir at oxygen flow rates of 10 l/min, we evaluated fifty six volunteers to determine the FiO2 and VT at ventilatory frequencies of 10, 12 and 15 cycles per minute and to observe the effect of hand size and grasp power on FiO2 and VT in two-hand compression methods. RESULT: The FiO2 at frequency of 10 cycles/min were 50.1% and it was higher than other ventilatory frequencies. However, the VT was not statistically different among the changes of ventilatory frequency. In the change of VT according to characteristics of the hand, the operator's hand size exerted influence on VT(larger vs. smaller ; 942ml vs. 885ml, p<0.05), but the grasp power of the hand did not significantly affect. Separate analyses with size or grasp power of the hand failed to reveal significant differences of the FiO2. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that a slowing of ventilatory frequency within the allowable ranges for adequate gas exchange increase the FiO2 during bag-valve ventilation without reservoir, and that hand size may exert influence on the VT without FiO2 changes but grasp power may not be a contributing factor to the VT or FiO2 changes.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Hand Strength ; Hand* ; Humans ; Oxygen* ; Respiration ; Respiratory Therapy ; Tidal Volume* ; Transportation of Patients ; Ventilation* ; Volunteers

The goals of treatment in the injuries of posterior cruciate ligament(PCL) are restoration of normal tibiofemoral stability and reduction of long term osteoarthrosis of the knee. The purpose of this study is to analyze the factors on posterior stability and functional result after PCL reconstruction. From March 1996 to April 1997, twenty operation on PCL reconstruction were carried out in our hospital. The functional results according to the criteria of the Lysholm knee score and stress radiograph for posterior stability were evaluated. The average functional results evaluated by Lysholm knee score was 87. There was no significant difference in functional result according to selected grafted material, combined knee injury, type of injury and arthrotomy, etc. Difference in posterior tibial translation on average were 2.8mm in acute and 7.7mm in chronic injury. In posterolateral combined injury, average posterior tibial translation in pos- terolateral repair was 3.2mm and in posterolateral reconstruction was 9.4mm. In PCL reconstruction using hamstring with repair of PCL remnant was 2mm. In conclusion, to obtain the good result on posterior sta- bility, early PCL reconstruction using hamstring with repair of PCL remnant, and appropriate treatment on combined posterolateral injury were recommended.
Knee ; Knee Injuries ; Osteoarthritis ; Posterior Cruciate Ligament* ; Transplants

No abstract available.
Blast Crisis* ; Leukemia*

No abstract available.
Blast Crisis* ; Leukemia*

BACKGROUND: There has been a concern about the incidence of the cutaneous premalignant and malignant tumors. It has increased recently and has varied according to social and environmental influence. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study was to clarify the recent trends in cutaneous premalignant and malignant tumors, and to compare them with other reports. METHODS: The 175 cases out of the total number of 34,333 new outpatients were diagnosed cutaneous premalignant and malignant tumors from January, 1990 to December, 2000 at the Department of Dermatology, Yeungnam University Hospital. Incidence and its change, age and sex distribution, and anatomical site were investigated. RESULT: 1. The incidence of cutaneous premalignant and malignant tumors was 0.51%, and increased lately. 2. Among the 175 cases of premalignant and malignant tumors, basal cell carcinoma(30.9%) was the most common, followed by squamous cell carcinoma(22.9%), actinic keratosis(12.6%), Bowen's disease(10.9%). 3. The premalignant lesions were increased and outnumbered squamous cell carcinoma since 1996. 4. Basal cell carcinoma was the most common skin cancer that had markedly increased in comparison with squamous cell carcinoma. 5. Actinic keratosis, Bowen's disease, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, malignant melanoma on sun exposed areas were much more increased than on non exposed areas. 6. The mean age of patients was 65.3+/-15.0 years, and the age of the majority of cases(94.3%) was over 40 years. 7. The ratio of male to female was 1.01 : 1. The number of females increased relatively in comparison with previous reports. 8. The most common site was the face(55.4%), followed by scalp(12.0%), trunk (12.0%).
Actins ; Bowen's Disease ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Dermatology ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Keratosis, Actinic ; Male ; Melanoma ; Outpatients ; Sex Distribution ; Skin Neoplasms ; Solar System

PURPOSE: The unrestricted use of endosulfan results in many cases of intentional and unintentional poisoning, mainly in developing countries. We report our experience with the clinical features of endosulfan poisoning. METHODS: Fifteen patients with endosulfan exposure who came to our emergency department (ED) during the study period were retrospectively enrolled. Toxicological history, toxic symptoms and signs, and laboratory test results were collected from the ED medical records. The patients were classified into two groups according to the presence or absence of seizures. The quantitative data and dichotomous variables were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The 15 patients, 9 women and 6 men, had a mean age of 54.7 years. Most of the poisonings (13 patients, 86.7%) stemmed from deliberate self-harm, while the other two were unintentional. The patients were categorized into seizure (10 patients) and no-seizure (5) groups. After the acute phase of toxicity, complications were observed in 9 patients and all of them belonged to the seizure group. Eight patients in the seizure group progressed to status epilepticus and needed mechanical ventilatory support. Four of these patients (50%) subsequently died. The duration of hospital stay was 8.5 days in the seizure group and 3.0 days in the no-seizure group. White blood cell counts, blood glucose, and enzyme function tests for the liver, pancreas, heart, and muscles were abnormally increased in the seizure group, all occurring within the initial 24 hours after the onset of seizure. Severe metabolic acidosis was also present in the seizure group. CONCLUSION: Seizure or status epilepticus accompanied by involvement of several organs was distinctive feature of endosulfan exposure/poisoning. Therefore, emergency physicians who practice in agricultural areas should have a high index of suspicion when treating patients presenting with acute repetitive seizure, accompanied by gastrointestinal complaints and laboratory evidence of multiple organ dysfunction including metabolic acidosis.
Acidosis ; Blood Glucose ; Developing Countries ; Emergencies ; Endosulfan ; Female ; Heart ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Leukocyte Count ; Liver ; Male ; Medical Records ; Muscles ; Pancreas ; Porphyrins ; Retrospective Studies ; Seizures ; Self-Injurious Behavior ; Status Epilepticus

The shaping of new blood vessels is a significant event in cancer growth and metastasis. Therefore, the molecular system of cancer angiogenesis has garnered considerable interest in cancer research. The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF receptor pathway are recognized as the key regulators of the angiogenic process. Activation of the VEGF/VEGF-receptor pathway initiates signaling cascades that promote endothelial cell growth, migration, and differentiation. Recently, VEGF was shown to play a role in the recruitment of bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells to neovascularization sites. The role of VEGF in promoting tumor angiogenesis and the occurrence of human cancers has led to the rational design and development of agents that selectively target this pathway. Moreover, these anti-VEGF/VEGF receptor agents show therapeutic potential by inhibition of angiogenesis and tumor growth in preclinical models. In this review, we summarize the role of the VEGF pathway during tumor angiogenesis.
Angiogenesis Inhibitors ; Blood Vessels ; Cell Hypoxia ; Endothelial Cells ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor ; Stem Cells ; Tumor Microenvironment ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*

No abstract available.
Autoantibodies* ; Humans*

BACKGROUND: The autonomic nervous system plays a central role in the maintenance of hemodynamic stability. Cardiac autonomic dysfunction may result in serious complications, such as sudden cardiac death. Heart rate variability (HRV) is sigificantly reduced in patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis (HD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of on-line hemodiafiltration (OL-HDF) on the autonomic nervous system in chronic HD patients. METHODS: Forty chronic HD patients were prospectively studied. The participants were divided into conventional HD and OL-HDF groups. They received regular high-flux HD or OL-HDF for 4-hour sessions, three times a week. Time-and frequency-domain measures of the 24-hour HRV were analyzed during the interdialytic period prior to postdilution OL-HDF and every 6 months for 24 months. The 7-year survival was also evaluated. RESULTS: Among the 40 participants, 15 patients in the HD group and 11 patients in the OL-HDF group completed the study. There was no difference in the baseline characteristics. After 24 months of treatment, beta2-microglobulin concentration decreased (from 33.4 +/- 15.2 mg/dL to 28.4 +/- 6.2 mg/dL, P = 0.02) in the OL-HDF group, while there was no change in the HD group In the HRV analysis, the frequency-domain HRV parameters increased significantly compared with baseline in the OL-HDF group [natural logarithmic high frequency (lnHF), 3.15 +/- 3.36 ms2 vs. 4.42 +/- 3.81 ms2; ln low frequency (LF), 3.56 +/- 3.17 ms2 vs. 4.78 +/- 3.99 ms2; ln very low frequency (VLF), 4.90 +/- 4.62 ms2 vs. 6.38 +/- 5.54 ms2; LF/HF ratio, 1.4 +/- 0.4 vs. 2.5 +/- 0.1]. The survival rate was similar between the groups. CONCLUSION: This study shows that OL-HDF improved autonomic nervous system dysfunction in chronic HD patients.
Autonomic Nervous System ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; Heart Rate* ; Heart* ; Hemodiafiltration* ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Prospective Studies ; Renal Dialysis ; Survival Rate

Obstetrical procedures such as prolonged obstructed labour are responsible for the majority of vesicovaginal fistula(VVF) in developing countries, while gynecological procedures are more common causes in developed countries with hysterectomy accounting for 75% of fistulae. Other less common causes of VVF include uterine cancer, pelvic irradiation, gastrointestinal pelvic surgery, tuberculosis, intra-uterine device or Bechet's disease. Although radiation techniques are being advanced, several recent studies have shown the incidence of VVF after pelvic radiation therapy for cervical cancer to range from 0.6~2%. We report, a case of 47-year-old female with VVF after pelvic radiation therapy, which was treated by neurovascular pudendal-thigh flap.
Developed Countries ; Developing Countries ; Female ; Fistula ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Incidence ; Middle Aged ; Tuberculosis ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; Uterine Neoplasms ; Vesicovaginal Fistula*