BACKGROUND: Until now, the total correction of tetralogy of Fallot has remained controversial and the efficacy of balloon dilatation of the pulmonary valves in tetralogy of Fallot has not been confirmed. We tried balloon dilatation of the pulmonary valves in 9 patients with tetralogy of Fallot to evaluate its effect on oxygen saturation and pulmonary arterial growth. METHOD: In nine patients with tetralogy of Fallot was undergone balloon dilatation since 1992 until August in 1999. Before starting the procedure, we measured the diameters of the pulmonary annulus, both pulmonary arteries and descending aorta. Systemic oxygen saturation and shunt amount were also measured before and after the procedure and systemic oxygen saturation two months later. RESULTS: The mean value of the pulmonary annulus diameters was 5.36+/-1.12 mm and their z value was -4.0+/-1.4. The systemic oxygen saturation increased from a mean value of 64.0+/-19.6% to 82.4+/-8.4% right after the balloon dilatation and 82.0+/-7.9% two months later. McGoon ratio increased from a mean value of 1.66+/-0.33 before the procedure to 1.91+/-0.37 two months later. The mean value of shunt amount(Qp/Qs) was 0.52 before the procedure and 0.84 immediately after the procedure. Furthermore, there occurred no significant complication during and after the procedure. CONCLUSION: The balloon dilatation of the pulmonary valves in tetralogy of Fallot seems relatively safe and produces an immediate effect on cyanosis. And the procedure improves the growth of pulmonary arteries. However, further research and evaluation are needed.
Aorta, Thoracic ; Cyanosis ; Dilatation* ; Humans ; Oxygen ; Pulmonary Artery ; Pulmonary Valve* ; Tetralogy of Fallot

No abstract available.
Humans

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Bone Neoplasms ; pathology ; therapy ; Catheter Ablation ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; secondary ; surgery ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Osteosarcoma ; pathology ; secondary ; therapy ; Salvage Therapy

Heart ; Myocardium ; cytology ; Stem Cells

Habitual snoring is common among males, especially among those who are overweight, and gets worse with the age. Snoring Is related to physical obstruction of breathing during sleep. This obstruction occurs when the palatal muscles, uvula muscles, and sometimes tonsiles relax during deep sleep and acts as vibrators. We have treated, with laser assisted uvulopalatoplasty(LAUP), twenty patients who suffer from snoring. CO2 laser was used and approximately I5-30 minutes of operation time was required. There were no singnificant complications, such as bleeding and asphyxia, in the 20 patients treated with LAUP. Results observed in the short term showed that 90% of the patients treated with LAUP considered thems to be essentially improved. Two patients developed scars at the posterior pillars. LAUP is a relatively simple and safe method which is performed at the hospital on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia.
Anesthesia, Local ; Asphyxia ; Cicatrix ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Lasers, Gas ; Male ; Muscles ; Outpatients ; Overweight ; Palatal Muscles ; Palatine Tonsil ; Respiration ; Snoring* ; Uvula

BACKGROUND: The length of postoperative drug therapy remains controversial in pulmonary tuberculosis. We analyzed our experiences to determine the postoperative duration of chemotherapy after resection. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed in 66 of 95 patients that underwent pulmonary resection for pulmonary tuberculosis between January 1993 and December 1998. We compared the relapse rates according to the length of postoperative chemotherapy in each group, classified by the results of sputum AFB culture before the surgery, the number of resistant durgs, the number of prior treatment and the division of anti-TB drugs used postoperatively. RESULTS: Fifty three of 66(80.3%) were men and 13(19.7%) were women with a median age of 33.5 years(range, 16 to 63). The mean lengths of the pre-and post-operative chemotherapies were 4.9 months, and 12.9 months respectively. Five of 66 patients(7.6%) relapsed during the mean period of follow up(39.7 months). In the group less than three times of the prior treatment, there were two relapses(20%) in Ed-the highlight above-rephrase 10 patients that were medicated for 6 months or less, and one relapse in 43 patients(2.3%) that took medicine for more than 6 months(p=0.03). In the group using second-line drugs postoperatively, there was one relapse(25%) in four patients that were medicated for 12 months or less. No patient in a total of 17 that received medicine for more than 12 months relapsed(p=0.03). CONCLUSION: We recommend that patients with the prior treatment less than three times should be treated for more than 6 months after resection and patients using the second-line drugs postoperatively should be medicated for more than 12 months.
Drug Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Sputum ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary*

No abstract available.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra* ; Estradiol* ; Testosterone*

PURPOSE: There are few rigorous studies about the side effects of antiepileptic drugs(AEDs) according to age. This study is to analyze differences of the side effects of AEDs in epileptic children according to age. METHODS: Sample are 368 children who had received AEDs for at least 1 month during January 1995 to June 1999. We reviewed their medical records including age, sex, AEDs and side effects, and analyzed these data by X2-test. RESULTS: Side effects were observed in 86(23.4%) of 368 patients. There was no difference in the frequency of overall side effects according to age. But significant differences existed in each side effect(p<0.05). The most common side effect according to age were hematologic side effect(75.0%) under 2 months, gastro intestinal side effect(41.7%) between 2 months and 1 year, CNS side effect(42.1%) between 1 year and 5 years, CNS side effect(41.5%) over 5 years. Hepatotoxicity, the increase of AST/ALT due to valproate, occurred significantly more frequently in children younger than 2 years(p<0.05). Drug eruption and post-carbamazepine leukopenia had no differences according to age. Under 1 year, valproate group had significantly more side effects in CNS. But carbamazepine, phenobarbital, and vigabatrin groups had no differences. CONCLUSION: There was significant difference in the side effects of AEDs among each system according to age. It is recommended to use valproate as monotherapy in children younger than 2 years, and pay more attention to CNS side effect in children older than 1 year.
Anticonvulsants* ; Carbamazepine ; Child* ; Drug Eruptions ; Humans ; Leukopenia ; Medical Records ; Phenobarbital ; Valproic Acid ; Vigabatrin

No abstract available.
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone* ; Animals ; Plasma* ; Rats*

OBJECTIVETo study the results of arthroscopic partial meniscectomy for medial meniscal tear in late middle-aged adults.

METHODSFrom October 2010 to October 2012,49 patients meeting inclusion criteria were treated with arthroscopic partial meniscectomy for medial meniscal tear. There were 31 males and 18 females,with an average age of (55.3±2.8) years old. There were 22 left knees and 27 right knees. The average flexion angle was (116.01±12.03)°. The pre-operative HSS Knee Score was 48.73±8.43, and the Lysholm score was 63.95±5.45. The patients were followed up and evaluated. All the patients received a standard surgery, in which the torn tissue was removed, and the anterior part of the meniscus was left in situ.

RESULTSAll the surgeries were successful with no serious complications. All the patients were followed up,and the duration ranged from 12 to 36 months. All the patients had 5 degrees of muscle strength. The average flexion angle was (136.77±18.56)°. There was significant difference between the two angles before operation and after operation. The pre-operative HSS Knee Score was 90.17±4.10, and the Lysholm score was 87.84±5.16. Statistically, the difference between preoperative score and the postoperative score was significant.

CONCLUSIONArthroscopic partial meniscectomy is a good option for medial meniscal tear in late middle-aged adults. Operative indication is crucial and the excellent surgical technique is also critical for the good clinical outcome. All the patients could get good clinical results, although there are some patients with motion restrictions in the early stage after operation.

Arthroscopy ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Knee Injuries ; surgery ; Male ; Menisci, Tibial ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Tibial Meniscus Injuries