BACKGROUND: In elective intervention, the implantation of an intracoronary stent is an established treatment modality to reduce restenosis in comparison with balloon angioplasty. However, stenting was empirically thought to be contraindicated for acute myocardial infarction because of the propensity for thrombosis, althought the percutaneous transluminal coronary balloon angioplasty(PTCA) on infarct-related artery is associated with a high incidence of restenosis. To knowlege, there is no report comparing the longterm efficacy of coronary stenting with PTCA in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Accordingly, we investigated the effect of stent implantation on restenosis of infarct-related artery in acute myocardial infarction, comparing with conventional balloon angioplasty. METHOD: From January 1994 to December 1995, 97 patients (stenting in 45 patients : PTCA in 52 patients) underwent intracoronary stenting or PTCA on infarct-related artery successfully at 7-10 days after onset of infarction. The coronary stents were Palmaz-Schatz stent in 35 patients and Cordis stent in 10 patients. Follow-up coronary angiography was performed in all patients 6 months later after intervention. RESULTS: No death, emergency coronary artery bypass surgery or reinfarction occurred during hospitalization in 97 patients. In 45 patients with stent implantation, no stent thrombosisoccurred. The 6-months angiographic restenosis rate was 13 percent in patients assigne to stent implantation and 52 percent in patients assigned to PTCA(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: We conclude that the intracoronary stent implantation on infarct-related artery at 7-10 days after acute myocardial infarction is safe, feasible and significantly reduces the restenosis rate.
Angioplasty, Balloon ; Arteries ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Emergencies ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infarction ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Stents* ; Thrombosis

Esophageal carcinoma rarely metastasizes to the brain. Although some studies have mentioned esophageal cancer with solitary brain metastasis or with meningocerebral metastasis or with skull metastasis, multiple meningocerebral metastasis and extensive skull metastasis from squamous cell carcinoma of esophagus has not been reported in the literature. We encountered a case of an extensive osteolytic change of the skull and multiple meningocerebral metastases from esophageal carcinoma.
Brain ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Epithelial Cells* ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; Esophagus* ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Skull*

Exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) not only can cause serious illness, but is also an economic and social burden. Contextual and individual factors of non-smoker exposure to SHS depend on location. However, studies focusing on this subject are lacking. In this study, we described and compared the factors related to SHS exposure according to location in Korea. Regarding individual factors related to SHS exposure, a common individual variable model and location-specific variable model was used to evaluate SHS exposure at home/work/public locations based on sex. In common individual variables, such as age, and smoking status showed different relationships with SHS exposure in different locations. Among home-related variables, housing type and family with a single father and unmarried children showed the strongest positive relationships with SHS exposure in both males and females. In the workplace, service and sales workers, blue-collar workers, and manual laborers showed the strongest positive association with SHS exposure in males and females. For multilevel analysis in public places, only SHS exposure in females was positively related with cancer screening rate. Exposure to SHS in public places showed a positive relationship with drinking rate and single-parent family in males and females. The problem of SHS embodies social policies and interactions between individuals and social contextual factors. Policy makers should consider the contextual factors of specific locations and regional and individual context, along with differences between males and females, to develop effective strategies for reducing SHS exposure.
Administrative Personnel ; Child ; Commerce ; Drinking ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Fathers ; Female ; Housing ; Humans ; Korea* ; Male ; Multilevel Analysis ; Public Policy ; Single Person ; Single-Parent Family ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Tobacco Smoke Pollution*

BACKGROUND: It has long been suggested that neutrophils and their products are implicated as the central mediators of the acute lung injuries. Contrary to the dominant role of neutrophils in ARDS, many cases of ARDS has occurred in the setting of severe neutropenia without pufrnonary neutrophil infiltration. Therefore it is certain that effector cell(s) other than neutrophil play an important role in the pathogenesis of ARDS. This experiment was performed to define the mechanism of ARDS in the setting of neutiopenia, 1) by comparing the severity of endotoxin-induced lung injury, 2) by measurement of hydrogen peroxide production and cytokine concentration in the bronchoalveolar lavage cells and fluids obtained from different rats with and without cyclophosphamide-pretreatment. METHOD: The male Sprague-Dawleys were divided into the normal control (NC)-, endotoxin (ETX)-, and cyclophosphamide (CPA)-group in which neutropenia was induced by injecting cyclophosphamide intraperitoneally. Acute lung injury was evoked by injecting lipopolysaccharide (LPS) into a tail vein. The bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed at 3 and 6 hour after administration of LPS to measure the change of cell counts and concentrations of protein and cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Hydrogen peroxide (HPO) production from BAL cel]s was measured at 6 hour after LPS administration by phenol red microassay with and without zymosan stimulation. RESULTS: The results were as follows. A change of leukocyte counts in the peripheral blood after treatment with CPA More than 95% of total leukocytes and neutrophils were reduced after CPA administration, resulting in severe neutropenia. A change of BAL cells In the ETX-group, the number of total cells (p<0.01) and of macrophage and neutrophll (p<0.05) were increased at 3 and 6 hour after LPS administration compared to those of NC- group. In the CPA-group, the number of total leukocyte and macrophage were not changed after LPS administration, but neutrophil counts were significantly reduced and jt took part in less than 0.1% of total BAL cells (p<0.01 vs NC-group). BAL cells in this group were almost all macrophages (99.7%). A change of protein concentration in the BALF In the ETX-group, protein concentration was increased at 3 hour and was more increased at 6 hour after LPS administration (p<0.05 and <0.01 vs NC-group, respectively). In the CPA-group, it was also significantly elevated at 3 hour after LPS administration (p<0.05 vs NC-group) , but the value was statistically not different from that of ETh-group. The value measured at 6 hour after LPS administration in the CPA-group became lower than that of ETX-group (p<0.05), but showed still a higher value compared to that of NC-group (p<0.05). A change of cytokine concentration in the BALF TNF-alpha and IL-6 were elevated in the ETX- and CPA-group compared to those of NC-group at both time intervals. There was no statistical difference in the values of both cytokines between the ETX- and CPA-groups. Measurement of hydrogen peroxide production from BAL cells There was no intergroup difference of HPO production from resting cells. HPO production after incubation with opsonized zymosan was significantly elevated in all groups. The percent increment of HPO production was highest in the ETX-group (89.0%, p<0.0008 vs NC-group ), and was 42.85 in the CPA-group (p = 0.003 vs NC-group ). Conclusion Acute lung injury in the setting of neutropenia might be caused by functional activation of resident alveola r macrophages.
Acute Lung Injury* ; Animals ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage ; Cell Count ; Cyclophosphamide ; Cytokines ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; Interleukin-6 ; Leukocyte Count ; Leukocytes ; Lung Injury ; Macrophages* ; Male ; Neutropenia ; Neutrophil Infiltration ; Neutrophils ; Phenolsulfonphthalein ; Rats* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Veins ; Zymosan

BACGROUND: After amendment of the national health insurance law to enforce and reform primary health care, the number of family medicine out-patients was increased. Some patients requested referral. Therefore, this study was made to reveal family medicine residents'perception of attitude towards request for referral. METHODS: The self-administered questionnaires were collected by post mailing (July 1 to July 30, 2002) and by e-mailing (July 25 to August 10, 2002). The questionnaire contained the followings: general characteristics, issues of referral request, influence of referral request in training, and influence in private family clinics. RESULTS: The overall response rate was 22.2% (93/418). Patients need was the most common cause of referral (62.0%). Among the total, 46.2% of respondents gave answers that increasing number of patients at the family medicine out-patient clinic was beneficial in increasing their experience. Also, 55% of respondents replied that the present state of family medicine out-patient system influenced lowering of motivation in training. Overall, 63.4% of respondents replied that the present state of family medicine out-patient system led a trend of distrust to private family clinics. CONCLUSION: Patients request was the most common cause of referral in family medicine out-patient clinic. The present state of referral system in family medicine out-patient clinic influenced lowering of motivation in training and a trend of distrust to private family clinics.
Surveys and Questionnaires ; Electronic Mail ; Humans ; Jurisprudence ; Motivation ; National Health Programs ; Outpatients* ; Postal Service ; Primary Health Care ; Referral and Consultation*

BACKGROUND: Restenosis remains as the major limitation of percutaneous translumainal coronary balloon angioplasty (PTCA). Although its mechanism remains incompletely understood, proliferative action of arterial smooth muscle cells has been found to play an important role on restenosis by neointimal formation after PTCA. Glycosaminoglycan-containing compounds, including Sulodexide (Vessel Due , ALFA, Wasserman, S.p.A, Italy), inhibit the proliferation and maigration of vascular smooth muscle cells in vitro. OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to assess the efficacy of Sulodexide, a glycosaminoglycan compound with antithrombotic and antiproliferative properties, in preventing restenosis after PTCA. METHOD: Two hundred eighty-four patients with ischemic heart disease were randomized to receive either the standard PTCA without Sulodexide in 144 patients (control group, M : F = 99 : 45, Age = 58 +9 or -9), 160 lesions or the standard PTCA with Sulodexide in 140 patients (treated group, M : F = 89 : 51, age = 58 +10 or -10), 158 lesions. Successful angioplasties were performed in 258 atheromatous coronary lesions in 224 patients for whom follow-up angiographic data were obtained 6 month later. Quantitative coronary angiographic analysis (QCA) was performed before , immediate after PTCA and 6-month later. Angiographic restenosis (>50% diameter stenosis at follow-up) was the primary end point : miniamal luminal diameter at follow-up angiogram was the secondary end point. RESULT: Successful PTCA was 97.6% and 97.5% in the standard PTCA with Sulodexide and the standard PTCA without Sulodexide, respectively. Although reference vessel size and minimal luminal diamater after PTCA were larger in the control group than in the Sulodexide group(2.94+0.11 or-0.11 vs 2.83+0.13 or -0.13 mm and 2.26+0.12 or -0.12 vs 2.18+0.08 or -0.08 mm, respectively, p=NS), there was a increased tendency of minimal lumen diameter at 6 months angiogram in the Sulidexide group than in the control group (1.12+0.50 or -0.50 vs 1.07 + 0.53 or -0.53 mm, respectively, p=NS). Angiographic restenosis occured in 42% of lesions in the Sulodexide group and 52% of the control group (p=NS). CONCLUSIONS: Sulodexide treatment had a tendency to reduce restenosis rate in 6 months after coronary angioplasty. However, further study is necessary to verify the antiproliferative effect of Sulodexide with much larger number of patients.
Angioplasty ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary* ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; Phenobarbital ; Prospective Studies*

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to explore the association of tryptophan hydroxylase(TPH) gene with diagnosis of alcohol dependence and/or clinical characteristics such as age of onset, family history, and severity of symptoms in Korean alcoholics. METHODS: The genotype and allele frequencies of TPH in 100 male hospitalized patients who met DSM-IV criteria for alcohol dependence were investigated using polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism and were compared with 100 agematched healthy male control subjects. And the associations between gene polymorphisms and clinical characteristics in alcoholic patients were explored. RESULTS: The distributions of TPH genotype and allele in alcohol dependent patients were not different from control subjects. However, the frequencies of TPH genotype in early-onset alcoholic patients, which were 0.57, 0.39, and 0.04(AA, AC and CC, respectively), were significantly different from those of late-onset alcoholics(0.34, 0.45, and 0.21, respectively). "A" allele was found more frequent in early-onset alcoholics. CONCLUSION: The result suggests that TPH gene polymorphism is associated with early-onset alcoholic patients possibly related with inherited abnormalities of serotonin system.
Age of Onset ; Alcoholics ; Alcoholism ; Alleles ; Diagnosis ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Serotonin ; Tryptophan Hydroxylase* ; Tryptophan*

BACKGROUND: The clinical use of intracoronary stents is impeded by the risk of subacute stent thrombosis and complications associated with the anticoagulant regimen. The use of high pressure balloon dilatations and confirmation of adequate stent expansion by intravascular ultrasound provide assurance that anticoagulation therapy can be safely omitted. Therefore, we evaluated the effect of anticoagulation of subacute thrombosis sfter stenting retrospectively on a consecutive series of patients who received palmaz-Schatz coronary stents with high pressure balloon dilatation. METHOD: From March 1995 to August 1995, 62 patients underwent Palmaz-Schatz coronary stent implantation. After deploying stents successfully, high pressure overdilatation of the stents was performed in all patients. According to post-stent anticoagulation, 32 patients received aspirin 200 mg/day, ticlopidine 500 mg/day and warfarin for two months, 30 patients received aspirin and ticlopidine. RESULTS: The clinical or angiographic variables were not significantly different between the two groups. There was no acute or subacute thrombosis in the two groups. The hospital stay after stenting was significantly shorter in the patients without antcoagulation than in patients with anticoagulation. CONCLUSION: The Palmaz-Schatz stent can be safely implanted without anticoagulation provided that stent expansion is daequate by the use high pressure balloon dilatation This technique significantly reduces hospital time and vascular complications and has a low stent thrombosis rate.
Aspirin ; Dilatation* ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents* ; Thrombosis ; Ticlopidine ; Ultrasonography ; Warfarin

Operators of hospital sterilizers who use ethylene oxide (EtO) were studied to determine the exposure of EtO level and the frequency of sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) from June 12 to July 20, 1997. To evaluate SCEs in the peripheral blood cells, we selected 22 workers at the central supply room of 4 university hospitals and 22 unexposed workers at the same hospitals according to match sex, age, and smoking habit and also did questionnaires. The mean air concentrations (8-hr TWA) of EtO at 4 university hospitals were less than 1 ppm. The SCE frequencies in exposed workers to EtO and controls were normally distributed. The SCE frequencies in exposed workers to EtO and controls were 6.42+/-.63, 5.86+/-.69, respectively and their differences were statistically significant (p=0.0093). But there were no statistically significant differences in smoking, alcohol intake, coffee drinking. Especially smokers who exposed to EtO were increased SCE statistically significant than the exposed group who did not smoke.
Blood Cells ; Coffee ; Drinking ; Ethylene Oxide* ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Occupations* ; Questionnaires ; Siblings* ; Sister Chromatid Exchange* ; Smoke ; Smoking

Hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) is the most common cause of acute renal failure in young children. It is classically characterized by the triad of microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and uremia. Further, not only is intussusception one of the differential diagnoses of HUS but it may also become a complication during disease progression. We report a case of HUS preceded by intussusception in a previously healthy 17-month-old boy. The patient presented at the emergency department with bloody stools that developed the day after reduction of intussusception. HUS was diagnosed 4 days after the reduction of intussusception. The patient was provided only supportive care and his laboratory test findings were normal at discharge.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Anemia, Hemolytic ; Child ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Disease Progression ; Emergencies ; Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome ; Humans ; Infant ; Intussusception ; Thrombocytopenia ; Uremia