BACKGROUND: Tight control of blood pressure in patients with coronary artery disease is critical, especially in the setting of long-standing hypertension and left ventricular dysfunction. With off-pump coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), hypertension usually occurs after the sternotomy, along with an increase in heart rate and filling pressure. In order to minimize hypertension during this period, nitroglycerin or nicardipine was prophylactically infused. METHODS: Twenty patients scheduled to undergo an off-pump CABG from April to August, 2001, were selected and divided into two groups. Group I (n = 10) received nicardipine and Group II (n = 10) received nitroglycerin. Before the skin incision, nicardipine (0.5 - 1.0ng/kg/min) or nitroglycerin (0.5 - 1.0ng/kg/min) was continuously infused. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP), pulmonary artery occlusion pressure (PAOP), cardiac index (CI), and the systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI) were repeatedly measured at the stages of preincision, postincision, poststernotomy, pericardium open, and 10 min after reperfusion. RESULTS: Although MAP after the sternotomy was increased compared with preincision, it remained within a normal range. Similarly, HR, mPAP, and PAOP were all within a normal range despite increases. The CI was within a normal range at all stages in both groups, and there were no significant difference between the two groups. In group I, the SVRI was significantly decreased compared with group II when pericardium was opened. CONCLUSIONS: Both nicardipine and nitroglycerin were effective in preventing or attenuating hypertension after sternotomy with the hemodynamic stability.
Arterial Pressure ; Blood Pressure ; Coronary Artery Bypass, Off-Pump* ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Heart ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Nicardipine* ; Nitroglycerin* ; Pericardium ; Pulmonary Artery ; Reference Values ; Reperfusion ; Skin ; Sternotomy ; Transplants* ; Vascular Resistance ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left

BACKGROUND: Pringle maneuver and nitroglycerin (NTG) administration to reduce hemorrhage during hepatectomy may affect renal blood flow (RBF) and renal cortical perfusion (RCP) by reducing blood pressure (BP), perload and others. However, so far there have been no studies on RBF and RCP changes during and after hepatic vascular maneuver in hepatectomy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the changes in RBF and RCP along with low dose (2 microgram/kg/min) NTG with or without low dose (3 microgram/kg/min) dopamine after the occlusion and reperfusion of hepatic blood flow. METHODS: Eighteen mongrel dogs were divided into three groups according to drug administration after hepatic reperfusion; control group (group C, n = 6), NTG group (group N, n = 6), and NTG with dopamine group (group N-D, n = 6). After femoral arterial and central venous catheterization, a midline abdominal incision was made, and the hepatic artery (HA) and the portal vein (PV) were exposed for clamping and declamping. Thereafter, the right renal artery was exposed, and a doppler probe for measuring RBF was placed around the right renal artery, and a thermal diffusion microprobe was inserted in the renal outer cortex to measure RCP. Hemodynamics, RBF and RCP, were repeatedly measured before and after HA and PV reperfusion. RESULTS: No significant change in heart rate was observed in any group. The BP decreased in all the groups after HA and PV occlusion. In group C, the BP recovered to the baseline level after hepatic reperfusion but not in groups N and N-D. The RBF and RCP decreased in all groups after HA andPV occlusion. The RBF increased compared to baseline in N-D after hepatic reperfusion, and the RCP increased versus baseline in N-D, 10 minutes after hepatic reperfusion. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, it was observed that the RBF and RCP increased compared to baseline by administering dopamine during HA and PV reperfusion. Therefore, the prophylactic administration of low dose dopamine during hepatectomy offers an effective method of protecting renal function.
Animals ; Blood Pressure ; Catheterization, Central Venous ; Central Venous Catheters ; Constriction ; Dogs* ; Dopamine* ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Hemorrhage ; Hepatectomy ; Hepatic Artery ; Liver* ; Nitroglycerin* ; Perfusion* ; Portal Vein ; Renal Artery ; Renal Circulation* ; Reperfusion* ; Thermal Diffusion

No abstract available.
Cerebellopontine Angle* ; Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring* ; Neuroma, Acoustic*

PURPOSE:Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN) is characterized by the rapid increase in serum creatitnin and crescents formation involving more than 50% of glomeruli. 10 patients who had been treated for RPGN were studied retrospectively for thier underlying diseases and clinical features. METHOD: Cilinical review was performed on 10 children who were diagnosed with RPGN by clinical features and renal biopsy and followed up at department of pediatrics during the last 10 years, from May 1990 to May 2000. RESULT: There were 6 males and 4 females between the ages of 2.1 and 14.3 years (mean 10.9+/-.8). 3 had Henoch-Sch nlein purpura nephritis; 2, idiopathic rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis; 2, lupus nephritis; 1, hemolytic uremic syndrome; 1, membranous glomerulonephritis and 1, microscopic polyangiitis. The most common chief complaints were gross hematuria and oliguria. Initial clinical features included proteinuria, edema, hypertension, nausea and arthralgia. Mean serum BUN was 74.2+/-39.1 mg/dL; mean serum creatinin, 3.2+/-1.8 mg/dL and mean creatinin clearance, 26.5+/-13.2 mL/min/1.73m2. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody was positive only in microscopic polyangiitis. ANA and Anti-DNA antibody were positive in two lupus nephritis patients. Serum complements were decreased in 4 patients. All patients except Hemolytic uremic syndrome received steroid pulse therapy and immunosupressive agents. 3 patients were performed acute peritoneal dialysis and 2 patients were given plasmapheresis. At the last follow up, 1 patient was dead, 4 patients had elevated serum creatinin, 2 of these 4 patients were on chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis and 6 patients had normal renal function. CONCLUSION: Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis is a medical emergency that requires very rapid diagnosis, classification, and therapy. Appropriate therapy selected on the basis of underlying disease mechanism can substantially improve renal survival.
Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic ; Arthralgia ; Biopsy ; Child ; Classification ; Complement System Proteins ; Creatinine ; Diagnosis ; Edema ; Emergencies ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glomerulonephritis* ; Glomerulonephritis, Membranous ; Hematuria ; Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Lupus Nephritis ; Male ; Microscopic Polyangiitis ; Nausea ; Nephritis ; Oliguria ; Pediatrics ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; Plasmapheresis ; Proteinuria ; Purpura ; Renal Insufficiency ; Retrospective Studies

Spontaneous native aortic valvular thrombosis is an uncommon event that usually results from cardiac catheterization, bacterial endocarditis or a hypercoagulable state. We report here on a case of native valvular thrombus that was incidentally detected as masses that caused aortic stenoinsufficiency during routine follow-up, and the patient was without any of the previously described precipitating factors. The patient underwent aortic valvular surgery for removal of the aortic valvular mass. The pathological findings of the aortic valve showed organized valvular thrombus without evidence of any tumor.
Aortic Valve Insufficiency ; Aortic Valve Stenosis ; Aortic Valve* ; Bicuspid* ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Endocarditis, Bacterial ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Precipitating Factors ; Thrombosis*

No abstract available.
Cytarabine* ; Cytosine* ; Humans ; Idarubicin* ; Induction Chemotherapy* ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute*

PURPOSE: Congenital adrenal hyperplasia(CAH), which is classified into salt-wasting, simple virilization and non-classic type according to clinical features, is difficult to detect in early stages. Failure to diagnose it in the initial state may lead to life-threatening adrenal crisis, inappropriate male sex assignment in the genetic female, acceleration of skeletal maturation and subsequent short stature. Therefore, we studied the variables increasing the 17-hydroxyprogesterone(OHP) values for more specific and sensitive diagnosis of CAH. METHODS: We classified 3,532 newborns into variable factors; gestational age, birth weight, gender, delivery type, sampling date and stress. Then, we analysed the relationships between 17-OHP values and variable factors. RESULTS: The mean value of 17-OHP was 4.21+/-0.03ng/ml. There were significant differences among the variable factors except gender. The mean value of male was 4.26ng/ml, and that of female was 4.15ng/ml(P=0.10). The mean value of 17-OHP in vaginal delivered newborn was higher than C-section delivered ones(4.71ng/ml, 3.34ng/ml, P=0.0001). It was also higher in low birth weight(P=0.0001), in prematurity(P=0.001), those sampled within 4 days(P=0.0001), stressful condition and ventilator care-assisted(P=0.004). CONCLUSION: 17-OHP value in neonatal screening is influenced by several variables such as vaginal delivery, ventilator management, low birth weight, sampling date and prematurity. If the 17-OHP value is increased, we have to consider the variables influencing the increase in value and follow up with time interval or analysis of genetic mutations.
17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone* ; Acceleration ; Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital* ; Birth Weight ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn* ; Male ; Mass Screening* ; Neonatal Screening ; Parturition ; Ventilators, Mechanical ; Virilism

PURPOSE: Congenital adrenal hyperplasia(CAH), which is classified into salt-wasting, simple virilization and non-classic type according to clinical features, is difficult to detect in early stages. Failure to diagnose it in the initial state may lead to life-threatening adrenal crisis, inappropriate male sex assignment in the genetic female, acceleration of skeletal maturation and subsequent short stature. Therefore, we studied the variables increasing the 17-hydroxyprogesterone(OHP) values for more specific and sensitive diagnosis of CAH. METHODS: We classified 3,532 newborns into variable factors; gestational age, birth weight, gender, delivery type, sampling date and stress. Then, we analysed the relationships between 17-OHP values and variable factors. RESULTS: The mean value of 17-OHP was 4.21+/-0.03ng/ml. There were significant differences among the variable factors except gender. The mean value of male was 4.26ng/ml, and that of female was 4.15ng/ml(P=0.10). The mean value of 17-OHP in vaginal delivered newborn was higher than C-section delivered ones(4.71ng/ml, 3.34ng/ml, P=0.0001). It was also higher in low birth weight(P=0.0001), in prematurity(P=0.001), those sampled within 4 days(P=0.0001), stressful condition and ventilator care-assisted(P=0.004). CONCLUSION: 17-OHP value in neonatal screening is influenced by several variables such as vaginal delivery, ventilator management, low birth weight, sampling date and prematurity. If the 17-OHP value is increased, we have to consider the variables influencing the increase in value and follow up with time interval or analysis of genetic mutations.
17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone* ; Acceleration ; Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital* ; Birth Weight ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn* ; Male ; Mass Screening* ; Neonatal Screening ; Parturition ; Ventilators, Mechanical ; Virilism

Background: There is increasing interest in the quality of health care and considerable efforts are being made to improve it. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a disease that can result in favorable outcomes when appropriate diagnosis and treatment are provided. However, several studies have shown that RA is often managed inappropriately. Therefore, the Korean College of Rheumatology aimed to develop quality indicators (QIs) to evaluate and improve the health care of patients with RA. Methods: Preliminary QIs were derived based on the existing guidelines and QIs for RA. The final QIs were determined through two separate consensus meetings of experts. The consensus was achieved through a panel of experts who voted using the modified Delphi method. Results: Fourteen final QIs were selected among 70 preliminary QIs. These included early referral to and regular follow-up with a rheumatologist, radiographs of the hands and feet, early initiation and maintenance of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) therapy, periodic assessment of disease activity, screening for drug safety and comorbidities,including viral hepatitis and tuberculosis before biologic DMARD therapy, periodic laboratory testing, supplementation with folic acid, assessment of the risk for cervical spine instability before general anesthesia, patient education, and specialized nurse. Conclusion These QIs can be used to assess and improve the quality of health care for patients with RA.

Background: There is increasing interest in the quality of health care and considerable efforts are being made to improve it. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a disease that can result in favorable outcomes when appropriate diagnosis and treatment are provided. However, several studies have shown that RA is often managed inappropriately. Therefore, the Korean College of Rheumatology aimed to develop quality indicators (QIs) to evaluate and improve the health care of patients with RA. Methods: Preliminary QIs were derived based on the existing guidelines and QIs for RA. The final QIs were determined through two separate consensus meetings of experts. The consensus was achieved through a panel of experts who voted using the modified Delphi method. Results: Fourteen final QIs were selected among 70 preliminary QIs. These included early referral to and regular follow-up with a rheumatologist, radiographs of the hands and feet, early initiation and maintenance of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) therapy, periodic assessment of disease activity, screening for drug safety and comorbidities,including viral hepatitis and tuberculosis before biologic DMARD therapy, periodic laboratory testing, supplementation with folic acid, assessment of the risk for cervical spine instability before general anesthesia, patient education, and specialized nurse. Conclusion These QIs can be used to assess and improve the quality of health care for patients with RA.