No abstract available.
Antibodies, Neutralizing* ; Feces* ; Rotavirus*

BACKGROUND: Epidurally administered clonidine represents an approach to control the pain after cesarean section that produces analgesia by an alpha 2-adrenergic mechanism and may provide postoperative analgesia without nausea, pruritus, and respiratory depression associated with systemic or intraspinal opioid administration. This study was undertaken to evaluate the analgesic effect according to the dose of appropriate bolus and the combination of epidural morphine and clonidine after cesarean section. METHOD: Forty five women, ASA physical status 1 or 2, scheduled for elective cesarean section were randomly assigned to receive epidural administration for postoperative pain control. Group A (n=15) received 1 mg morphine and 75 g clonidine bolus followed by 4 mg morphine and 150 g clonidine. Group B received 2 mg morphine and 75 g clonidine bolus followed by 4 mg morphine and 300 g clonidine. Group C received 3 mg morphine and 75 g clonidine bolus followed by 4 mg morphine and 450 g clonidine. Each combination of drug was injected at Bromage scale 1 after surgery. RESULTS: All groups showed relatively stable hemodynamic status. Analgesic effect was significantly better in Group B and C than Group A (p<0.05). Sedative effect was not a problem in all groups. The incidence of side effects in Group C was more than Group B, which than Group A, but almost cases did not require treatment. CONCLUSION: 2 mg morphine and 75 g clonidine bolus followed by 4 mg morphine and 300 g clonidine with excellent analgesic effect and less side effects is considered as adequate dose in postoperative pain control after cesarean section with epidural anesthesia.
Analgesia ; Anesthesia, Epidural* ; Cesarean Section* ; Clonidine* ; Female ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; Incidence ; Morphine* ; Nausea ; Pain, Postoperative ; Pregnancy ; Pruritus ; Respiratory Insufficiency

No abstract available.
Animals ; Cattle ; DNA* ; Enzootic Bovine Leukosis* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction*

BACKGROUND: Cardiogenic embolic infarction is the most preventable type of ischemic stroke. This study was under-taken to compare the infarct size, prognosis, and risk factors between cardiogenic embolic infarction (CE) and large artery atherosclerotic infarction (LAA). METHODS:We reviewed the medical records and brain computed tomography/magnetic resonance image (CT/MRI) scans of patients with CE or LAA during the period between January 1996 and May 1998. Patients with lacunar and posterior circulation infarctions were excluded. A slice of brain CT/MRI scan showing the largest lesion was selected in each patient and the area of infarction was then measured. Prognosis was determined by the Modified Rankin Disability Scale (MRDS) and was grouped as either good (MDRS 0, 1, 2) or poor (MDRS 3, 4, 5). RESULTS: The study included 103 patients : 50 with CE (NVAF in 23, VHD with or without AF in 13, prosthetic valve in 6, and others in 8) and 53 with LAA (large artery thrombosis in 29, and artery to artery embolism in 24). The infarct size of CE (23.2+/-14.7 cm2) was significantly larger than that of LAA (11.4+/-10.5 cm2) (p<0.001). The infarct size of NVAF (29.0+/-19.1 cm2) was significantly larger than that of VHD with or without AF (19.2+/-11.5 cm2) (p<0.05). Patients with CE had a worse prognosis (poor in 46%) than those with LAA (poor in 23%) (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Our results showed that CE led to larger lesions and worse outcomes. Therefore, we emphasize the importance of primary and secondary preventions of stroke in patients with cardiogenic embolic sources.
Arteries* ; Brain ; Embolism ; Heart Valve Diseases ; Humans ; Infarction* ; Medical Records ; Prognosis* ; Risk Factors ; Secondary Prevention ; Stroke ; Thrombosis

Duret hemorrhage is characterized by an upper brainstem hemorrhage due to increased intracranial pressure by mass effect such as subdural hematoma or a brain tumor. The anteroposterior elongation and downward displacement of the upper brainstem by transtentorial herniation results in the compression and tearing of the paramedian perforating vessels that feed the upper brainstem tegmentum. The consequent hemorrhage that involves the upper brainstem renders recovery to be almost impossible. Following a tricuspid valve replacement surgery, a 56-year-old woman developed a left fronto-temporo-parietal nontraumatic subdural hematoma resulting in transtentorial herniation of the left mesial temporal lobe. A successful surgical evacuation of the hematoma was done with clinical improvement. Two days later, she was referred to neurology with an aggravated right side weakness, dysarthria, and a newly developed extraocular movement disturbance. A brain CT and MRI showed a pontine hemorrhage. We report a case of pontine hemorrhage, a Duret hemorrhage, after the surgical evacuation of nontraumatic subdural hematoma.
Brain ; Brain Neoplasms ; Brain Stem ; Dysarthria ; Female ; Hematoma ; Hematoma, Subdural* ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Intracranial Pressure ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Neurology ; Temporal Lobe ; Tricuspid Valve

Soft-tissue sarcomas are derived from mesodermal tissues and with few exceptions are located in deeper planes of the musculoaponeurotic structures. Despite differences in histogenesis, the rate of locsl recurrence snd distant metastasis of these sarcomas reveals that their rstes are almost the same. These soft-fissue sarcomas do not respond well to chemotherpy or radiotheraphy. And soft-tissue sarcomas located on different anatomical sites, so the surgical approach to them located centrally is difficult than the approach to them located peripherally. The authors reviewed 75 cases of soft-tissue sarcoma, which were confirmed by pathological reports, and also analysed the results of some kinds of surgery on 60 cases of that tumor at the Department of Orthopedidic Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital during the period from January 1976 to Decomber 1985, and following results were obtained. 1. There were 54 males and 21 females, and the age incidence wss highest in 5th decade. There was no special age-peak. 2. Malignant fibrous histiocytomas accounted for 26.7% of the tumors in this study. Liposarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, and synovial sarcoma were the next common tumors. 3. The lower extremity was the most common anatomicsl site of malignant soft-tissue sarcomas, which acconted for 46.7% in this study. There showed low incidence below the wrist and ankle joints. 4. Enneking's stage II B was the most common tumor, which accounted for 41.7%. 5. When we decided the prognosis at 2 years postoperatively, in the inadequately treated group the local recurrence rate was 97.1%, distant metastasis rate was 80.0%, and 2 YSR was 28.6%. In the adequately treated group the local recurrence rate was 20.0%, distant metastasis rate was 24.0%, and 2 YSR was 84.0%. 6. The most common site of distant metastasis was the lungs, which accounted for 82.4%. So the significant factors affecting the prognosis of soft-tissued sarcomas were the location of sarcomas and the adequacy of sugical procedure.
Ankle Joint ; Female ; Histiocytoma, Malignant Fibrous ; Humans ; Incidence ; Liposarcoma ; Lower Extremity ; Lung ; Male ; Mesoderm ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Rhabdomyosarcoma ; Sarcoma ; Sarcoma, Synovial ; Seoul ; Wrist

BACKGROUND: Community-acquired pneumonia(CAP) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Recently, the evolution of drug-resistant microorganisms has become a serious problem in CAP management. Specific antimicrobial therapy is the cornerstone of CAP management. However, obtaining an accurate etiologic diagnosis clinically is not easy and empirical antimicrobial treatment is usually administered prior to the correct microbiologic diagnosis. In this study, the clinical usefulness of empirical CAP treatment was investigated. METHODS: A total 35 cases were studied prospectively over a 16-month period in Mokpo Catholic Hospital from Dec. 1995 to Mar. 1997. The microbiologic diagnosis was made by sputum, blood culture, a specific serum antibody test and an immunologic study. RESULTS: The causative organisms were isolated in 10 (30%) out of 33 cases: 8 cases and 1 case on the sputum culture and blood culture respectively, and 1 case by an indirect hemagglutinin test. 12 cases had underlying diseases: pulmonary tuberculosis 4, alcoholism 4, diabetes mellitus 3, and liver cirrhosis 1. Antimicrobial treatment was given empirically and all cases recovered. CONCLUSION: A definite microbiologic diagnosis before commencing the appropriate treatment in CAP is not straightforward. Empirical therapy according to a clinical assessment is important and helpful. However, every effort to make the correct etiologic diagnosis should be taken.
Alcoholism ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diagnosis ; Hemagglutinins ; Jeollanam-do* ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Mortality ; Pneumonia* ; Prospective Studies ; Sputum ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

BACKGROUND: A laparoscopic cholecystectomy has many clinical advantages and is now recognize as the choice for treatment for gallstones. However a laparoscopic cholecystectomy is often not feasible or is converted to the conventional open method in patients with acute cholecystitis because of surrounding adhesion, tissue edema, and high postoperative complications. Lately, good clinical results have been reported by many authors for a percutaneous cholecystostomy followed by a laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the management of acute cholecystitis. METHODS: Between January 1996 and March 1997, 56 acute cholecystitis patients were surgically treated in our institution. Thirteen patients underwent percutaneous drainage followed by a laparoscopic cholecystectomy (Group I). Also a laparoscopic cholecystectomy without a prior percutaneous cholecystostomy was attempted in 43 patients (Group II). RESULTS: There were no differences in the age and the sex distributions, the chief complaints on admission, and the severity of inflammation between the two groups. The only significant difference was the wall thickness of the gallbladder on postoperative pathologic examinations, 4.7 mm for Group I and 6.2 mm Group II (p=0.038). For the patients in Group I, percutaneous drainage of the gallbladder continued for 5.4 days on average, and the cholecystectomy was usually performed about 15 days later. A laparoscopic cholecystectomy was possible in 10 patients (76%) in Group I, but had to be converted to the open method in 3 patients. In Group II, only 17 patients (39.5%) out of 43 underwent a successful laparoscopic cholecystectomy. In other words, the open conversion rate was 24% in Group I and 60.5% in Group II. The wall thicknesses of the gallbladder excised laparoscopically were 3.98 mm and those of the conventionally removed gallbladder were 6.96 mm on average. This difference in the wall thickness was statistically significant (p=0.013) and was the only factor related with the open conversion rate. CONCLUSIONS: We think that a laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed several days after percutaneous drainage of the gallbladder to eliminate acute inflammation may be recommended for management of acute cholecystitis patients with severe clinical symptoms and ultrasonographic findings of marked gallbladder dilatation or pericholecystic fluid collection.
Cholecystectomy ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic* ; Cholecystitis, Acute ; Cholecystostomy* ; Dilatation ; Drainage ; Edema ; Gallbladder ; Gallstones ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Postoperative Complications ; Sex Distribution ; Tissue Adhesions

Background: Neurocritical care by dedicated neurointensivists may improve outcomes of critically ill patients with severe brain injury. In this study, we aimed to validate whether neurointensive care could improve the outcome in patients with critically ill acute ischemic stroke using the linked big dataset on stroke in Korea. Methods: We included 1,405 acute ischemic stroke patients with mechanical ventilator support in the intensive care unit after an index stroke. Patients were retrieved from linking the Clinical Research Center for Stroke Registry and the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service data from the period between January 2007 and December 2014. The outcomes were mortality at discharge and at 3 months after an index stroke. The main outcomes were compared between the centers with and without dedicated neurointensivists. Results: Among the included patients, 303 (21.6%) were admitted to the centers with dedicated neurointensivists. The patients treated by dedicated neurointensivists had significantly lower in-hospital mortality (18.3% vs. 26.8%, P = 0.002) as well as lower mortality at 3-month (38.0% vs. 49.1%, P < 0.001) than those who were treated without neurointensivists. After adjusting for confounders, a treatment without neurointensivists was independently associated with higher in-hospital mortality (odds ratio [OR], 1.59; 95% confidence intervals [CIs], 1.13–2.25; P = 0.008) and 3-month mortality (OR, 1.48; 95% CIs, 1.12–1.95; P = 0.005). Conclusion Treatment by dedicated neurointensivists is associated with lower in-hospital and 3-month mortality using the linked big datasets for stroke in Korea. This finding stresses the importance of neurointensivists in treating patients with severe ischemic stroke.

PURPOSE: Adiponectin is an adipocyte-derived plasma protein with various metabolic effects that include increasing insulin sensitivity, antiatherogenic, and antiinflammatory properties. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of cord plasma adiponectin levels with body size, ponderal index, and gender in newborns and also age and body mass index in their mothers. METHODS: The cord blood was obtained from 99 healthy newborns (male 46, female 53, gestational age of 32-41 weeks) and the concentrations of adiponectin were analyzed by a radioimmunoassay kit. Anthropometric parameters of the newborns including birth weight and length were measured. Maternal weight and height were identified, and their body mass index was calculated. RESULTS: The cord plasma adiponectin levels of the newborns whose gestational age was longer than 39 weeks were significantly higher compared with those of gestational age shorter than 39 weeks (15.0+/-9.9 vs 8.4+/-8.9 microgram/mL, P=0.001). The cord plasma adiponectin concentrations were positively correlated with gestational age and length at birth of the newborns. There was no correlation between cord plasma adiponectin levels and sex, birth weight or ponderal index of the newborns. Any significant correlation was not found between cord plasma adiponectin levels and maternal age or body mass index. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that cord plasma adiponectin concentrations are positively associated with gestational age and length at birth of neonates. However there is no correlation between cord plasma adiponectin levels and maternal age or body mass index.
Adiponectin* ; Birth Weight* ; Body Mass Index ; Body Size ; Female ; Fetal Blood* ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Insulin Resistance ; Maternal Age ; Mothers ; Parturition* ; Plasma ; Radioimmunoassay