No abstract available.
Aged* ; Humans ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders*

No abstract available.
Extremities* ; Hyperplasia* ; Nevus*

No abstract available.
Antibody Formation* ; Humans ; Pneumonia*

PURPOSE: Successful management of epileptic patients requires complete control of seizures without adverse effect. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the hematologic effect and hepatic enzyme change of antiepileptic drugs in epileptic children and compare the changes of these values according to serum drug level. METHODS: The study included 89 epileptic children with antiepileptic drugs such as phenobarbital, valproate, and carbamazepine from May 1990 to July 1999. We classified these patients into 3 groups according to the drug they had taken; group 1 : patients treated by phenobarbital, group 2 : valproate, group 3 : carbamazepine. Baseline screening tests before the start of therapy for all patients included complete blood count(CBC) and differential, platelet count, serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase(AST). The tests wee repeated at follow-up visits in 2nd week, 4th week, 6th week, 12th month on the new drug. We compared their mean hematologic and liver enzyme values, which were examined before and after taken the medications, such as white blood cell counts(WBC), red blood cell(RBC), platelets, hemoglobin(Hgb), hamatocrit(Hct), mean corpuscular volume(MCA), mean corpuscular hemoglobin(MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration(MCHC), AST, and ALT. Statistically significant change of each value was observed according to drug blood levels. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between before and after medication on AST, ALT, Hgb, MCHC in all the groups. The WBC count diminished after medication of carbamazepine, significantly. But the correlation between WBC count and serum carbamazepine level was no statistically significant. The mean platelet count diminished significantly after medication of phenobarbital and valproate, and the correlation of maximum serum valproate level with the degree of platelets count was statistically significant. Statistically significant changes were found on MCV and MCH values before and after the medication in 3rd group. But it did not depend on carbamazepine blood level. CONCLUSION: Statistically significant correlations was found between the platelet count and the plasma valproate level. Significant increase of MCV and MCH, and decrease WBC count was observed after the medication of carbamazepine.
Alanine ; Anticonvulsants* ; Aspartic Acid ; Carbamazepine ; Child* ; Erythrocyte Indices ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Leukocytes ; Liver* ; Mass Screening ; Phenobarbital ; Plasma* ; Platelet Count ; Seizures ; Valproic Acid

No abstract available.
Classification* ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Lymph Nodes* ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Risk Factors*

No abstract available.
Nasolabial Fold*

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

BACKGROUND: Beta-adrenergic receptor Kinase 1(betaARK1) is a serine/threonine kinase attached, which inhibits the coupling of beta-adrenergic receptor with G-protein. Myocardial betaARK1 level is usually elevated in heart failure and hypertrophy, but it is not known whether the circulating betaARK1 level is related with the degree of cardiac hypertrophy. This study was performed to evaluate the association of the betaARK1 level in circulating mononuclear leukocytes(MNL) in untreated hypertension with left ventricular mass in hypertensive patients. Method: Nineteen non-treated hypertensive patients were included for this study. High blood pressure was confirmed when systolic BP is over 150 mmHg or diastoli BP is over 95 mmHg. Echocardiography was performed to evaluate the degree of hypertrophy by measuring the left ventricular mass index(LVMI) and relative wall thickness(RWT), and test the LV function by measuring the ejection fraction(EF) according to ASE guideline. At the same time, blood was collected from each patient and MNL were isolated by gradient centrifuge with Ficoll-400. Total RNA was purified from MNL and semi-quantitative RT-PCR was performed. After reverse transcription, PCR was done with primers for human betaARK1 and GAPDH as external control. betaARK1 levels were expressed by ratio to GAPDH level and estimated the relations with clinical and Echocardiographic parameters. Result: We studied confirmed 19 hypertensive patients(10 men and 9 women, mean age of 50.6 years). Echocardiographically measured indices(mean+/-SD) were as follows; LVMI(137.3+/-30.6g/m2), PWT(0.53+/-0.09) and EF(54.6+/-8.5%). Ratio of betaARK1 levels to GAPDH was from 0.10 to 0.96 (0.62+/-0.25). betaARK1 levels were correlated with LVMI(correlation coefficient: r=.502, p=.029) and RWT(r=.627, p=.004). But Systolic BP(r=0.009, p=.93), diastolic BP(r=.07, p=.85) or EF(r=.045, p=.84) were not related to level of betaARK1. CONCLUSIONS: The betaARK1 level of circulating MNL was correlated well with the degree of the cardiac hypertrophy estimated by LVMI and RWT. This data suggests that activation of sympatho-adrenal system would exert a major role in developing cardiac hypertrophy and we can expect the decreased responsiveness to catecholamine in the heart of hypertensive patients. betaARK1 in circulating MNL might be used as a predictor or marker for LV hypertrophy in hypertensive patients.
beta-Adrenergic Receptor Kinases ; Cardiomegaly ; Echocardiography ; Female ; GTP-Binding Proteins ; Heart ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypertrophy ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear* ; Male ; Phosphotransferases ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reverse Transcription ; RNA

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the effect of preeclampsia, birth weight, fetal sex, maternal body mass index(BMI) on cord blood leptin concentrations. This study is to test whether leptin would be increased in preeclampsia and to test cord leptin concentrations for correlation with maternal leptin concentrations. METHOD: Maternal blood samples were obtained from 56 normal pregnancies and 24 preeclampsia women prior to delivery. Umbilical cord blood were obtained from the all cases studied immediately after delivery. The total leptin levels were determined by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: Mean maternal leptin level was 16.4+/-6.4ng/ml in normal pregnancy and was 19.4+/-7.9 ng/ml in preeclampsia. Mean cord leptin level was 5.4+/- 3.4ng/ml in normal pregnancy and 4.6+/-3.2ng/ml in preecalmpsia. Mean cord blood leptin level in female fetus was 6.6+/-3.7ng/ml and 4.8+/-2.8ng/ml in male fetus. CONCLUSION: This study shows that there are correlation with leptin level and fetal birth weight, body mass index, and fetal gender. Furthermore, physiologic role and mechanism of leptin of maternal serum and umbilical cord would be studied.
Birth Weight ; Body Mass Index ; Female ; Fetal Blood ; Fetus ; Humans ; Leptin* ; Male ; Plasma* ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy* ; Radioimmunoassay ; Umbilical Cord*

PURPOSE: We performed this study to evaluate the process of radiation induced apoptosis in A431 skin epithelial cancer cell line. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Low to high dose radiation (0, 2, 5, 10, 25 Gy) was given to A431 cells by Cs-137 cell irradiator. Apoptosis was evaluated by cell morphology, dye exclusion test, and DNA laddering. RESULTS: Cell viability decreased as the radiation dose increased. Number of apoptotic bodies increased as radiation dose increased. It increased most significantly at 12 hours after irradiation. Lactate dehydrogenase activity in culture medium increased according to radiation dose and time after irradiation. CONCLUSION:: Radiation-induced apoptosis which was the main course of cell death in A431 cells could be analyzed quantitatively by counting apoptotic bodies under microscope. Apoptosis increased as radiation dose increased.
Apoptosis* ; Cell Death ; Cell Line ; Cell Survival ; DNA ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; Skin