The antihypertensive effect of verapamil, a calcium channel blocker, was studied in 12 cases of essential hypertension (mean age 49, range 24-64). After 6 weeks administration (80-160mg t.i.d.), the following results were obtained : 1) Before medication, average systolic and diastolic blood pressure was 176.3/108.6mmHg. After completion of therapy, blood presure fell significantly down to 154.8/94.2mmHg (p<0.01). 2) Heart rate decreased slightly from average 74.3 per minute prior to medication to 69.3 per minute at the end of study (p<0.01). 3) Side effects, among which constipation was most common, were mild and did not compel any patient to diacontinue therapy. In conclusion, verapamil seems to be a safe and effective first-line drug for hypertension along with diuretics or beta blockers.
Blood Pressure ; Calcium Channels ; Constipation ; Diuretics ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Verapamil*

This study was conducted to determine the correlation between weighted needle pinprick sensory threshold(PPT) and sensory nerve conduction tests. The subjects were 53 healthy controls, 31 diabetic patients without peripheral neuropathic symptoms(DM) and 36 diabetic patients with peripheral neuropathic symptoms(DN). PPT was measured on the index and little fingers, bilaterally, as well as under the lateral malleolus, bilaterally. In electrophysiologic assessment the left and right median, ulnar and sural nerves were studied. Each mean PPTs was high in order of controls, DM and DN. Age adjusted PPT was significantly different among three groups on right little finger(p<0.05) and left malleolus(p<(0.05), but not significantly different between DN and DM on other sites. Each sensory nerve conduction velocity and amplitude was statistically significantly different among three groups(p<0.05). Correlations of PPT with sensory nerve conduction velocity and amplitude were statistically significant on each site and ranged from -0.4203(left malleolus) to -0.5649(right index finger) and from -0.3897(left index finger) to -0.6200(right index finger), respectively. When electrophysiological study is not feasible, measurement of PPT may be helpful for the assessment of peripheral sensory neurological function.
Fingers ; Humans ; Needles* ; Neural Conduction* ; Sensory Thresholds* ; Sural Nerve

PURPOSE: Introduction of shock wave lithotripsy has provided an avenue for dealing with many urinary stones noninvasively. Although shock wave is known to cause pathologic changes in various organ, little is k nown about its effect on the ureter and recovery after shock wave, the target organ in SWL of injury induced by shock wave and the potential protective effect of allopurinol and nifedipine against shock wave. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total 24 rabbits were assigned to 2 groups. 12 rabbits received allopurinol(10mg.each) and nifedipine (1mg.each) that were given orally 3 times a day for 5 days starting the night before SWL. The other 12 rabbits reseived no medication. The left lower Ureter segments of 24 rabbits were removed ureter. Groups of 8 rabbits(4were medication group and 4, no medication group) were sacrificed 1, 3 and 5 days after shock wave exposure. The histomorphological alterations were examined under light and transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS: The epithelial cells disclosed no change after shock wave application. Histologically the muscular layer was the most affected part of ureter. There was interstitial and intracellular edema on light microscopy and made chromatin and mitochondrial changes at the subcellular level. The adventitial layer wes also edematous. This chanfes were prominent on day 1and 3 and returned to normal on day 5. The medication group showed less severe features of injury, compared with the no medication group. CONCLUSIONS: Electromagnetic shock waves produce reversible morphological changes in rabbit ureteric muscle and allopurinol and nifedipine may have its role in protecting the tissue injury produced by high energy shock waves.
Allopurinol* ; Chromatin ; Edema ; Epithelial Cells ; High-Energy Shock Waves ; Lithotripsy ; Magnets ; Microscopy ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Nifedipine* ; Rabbits ; Shock* ; Ureter* ; Urinary Calculi

Tsutsugamushi disease is an acute febrile disease caused by Rickettsia tsutsugamushi, and which has been reported with increasing frequency thorough the nation since 1986. We experienced 21 cases of Tsutsugamushi Disease diagnosed with serologic test occurring in Taegu city and Kyungpook province during October-November, 1989. The results of survey are as follow. 1) Of 21 cases, 12 (57%) were males and 9 (43%) were females, and the peak incidence was the 4th decade. 2) The outbreak was in October to November and the peak incidence was in October. 3) The most frequent symptoms were fever and chill (100%), myalgia (95%), headache (90%), Eschar and rash were observed in 18 patients (86%) and the eschar was detected in all over the body, especially thorax (33%) and lower extremity (22%). 4) Laboratory features were SGOT elevation (83%), SGPT elevation (61%), LDH elevation (67%), leukocytosis (38%). 5) Indirect immunofluorescent antibody test was done in 18 patients and the antibody titer was above 1:320 in all patients. 6) The chloramphenicol, tetracycline or doxycycline regimens were very effective and mean duration of defervescence from initiation of therapy was 1.3 days. 7) The complication such as meningitis or shock, was not seen.
Alanine Transaminase ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Chloramphenicol ; Daegu ; Doxycycline ; Exanthema ; Female ; Fever ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Headache ; Humans ; Incidence ; Leukocytosis ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Meningitis ; Myalgia ; Orientia tsutsugamushi ; Scrub Typhus* ; Serologic Tests* ; Shock ; Tetracycline ; Thorax

No abstract available.
Contrast Media* ; Glass* ; Syringes*

Amipaque is a water soluble, non-ionic myelographic contrast media, and owing to its high diagnostic accuracy and safety, its use is gradually increasing. The authors studied the complications after Amipaque lumbermyelography in 61 patients with low back pain during the period from Jan. 1981 to Nov. 1981 in Chung Ang University Hospital. The results were as follows; 1. Total complication rate was 52%(32 of 61) and there was nosexual difference in its occurrence. 2. In total, no difference in complication rate was found between head-up positioned group with a degree of 30degrees (group I) after procedure and head-up positioned group with a degree of 70degrees (group II) but female patients had more complication rate in group I than in group II (75% vs 50%).Headache was more common in group I and nausea was more common in group II. 3. Headache was most common complicaiton (44%) and there was no sexual difference in its occurrence. 4. No significant difference in complication rate was found between patients proved to have HBP and patients to have not. 5. Complications were less common in patients with punctured level of L4-5 than in patients with L2-3 or L3-4 level puncture.
Contrast Media ; Female ; Headache ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; Metrizamide ; Myelography ; Nausea ; Punctures ; Water

CT is the most accurate and reliable method for the diagnosis of intracerebral and intraventricularhemorrhage. The precise anatomic extent of the hematoma, associated cerebral edema, ventricular deformity anddisplacement, and hydrocephalus are all readily assessed. Aside from head trauma, the principal cause ofintracerbral hematoma is hypertensive vascular disease. Although hematomas from various causes may present similarCT appearances frequetnly the correct etiology may be suggested by considereation of patient's age, clinicalhistory, and the location of the hematoma. The analytical study was performed in 180 cases of intracerebralhamorrhages by CT from Oct. 1981 to Jan. 1983. The results were as follows; 1. The most prevalent age group was6th decade(37.2%) Male was prevalent to female at the ration of 1.6 to 1. 2. The most common symptom and sign wasmental distrubance (48.7%), motor weakness(23%), headache(10.6%), nausea and vomiting (9.8%). 3. The causes ofhemorrhage were hypertension (53.9%), head trauma (30.6%), aneurysm(6.1%) and A-V malformation (7.2%). 4. Thefrequent locations of hemorrhage were basal ganglia and thalamus(40.4%), lobes(35%), ventricles(21.8%). 5. Thedistribution of hemorrhage was intracerebral hemorrhage(65.6%), intracerebral and intraventricularhemorrhage(30.3%), intraventricular hemorrhage(4.4%).
Basal Ganglia ; Brain Edema ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Hematoma ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Hypertension ; Male ; Methods ; Nausea ; Vascular Diseases ; Vomiting

No abstract available.
Humans ; Killer Cells, Natural* ; Lymphocytes* ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets* ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

Aneurysms of the coronary arteries are rare. They may be due to atheroselerosis, mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome, mycotic emboli, syphilis or trauma and occasionally they are congenital. The prognosis appears to be poor and death can occur suddenly from rupture of the aneurysm, peripheral coronary embolism or bacterial endocarditis. Recently surgical treatment has been successful. In a 5 year old patient with ventricular septal defect, two aneurysmal sacs located at the cardiac crux and just posterior to it was proved by coronary angiography and MRI, and successfully excised at operation.
Aneurysm* ; Child, Preschool ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Vessels* ; Embolism ; Endocarditis, Bacterial ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; Prognosis ; Rupture ; Syphilis

Ever since the unrelenting efforts of Yasuda to Piezoelectricity, its been one of the hot areas in orthopaedic fields to file up experimental and clinical data concerning treatment of nonunion, delayed union and pseudarthrosis. Clinical use of this theory is the result of a systemic thirty-year investigation of bioelectrical phenomina in the skeletal system and of their role in regulating cellular elements. Since Friedenberys clinical application of Semi-invasive direct current stimulation to nonunion of medial malleolus of tibia, Brighton and Bassett made progress in this field with high success rate. In 1985, Non-invasive capacitive coupled electrical field was developed and used clinically by Brighton. We also developed a model of capacitive coupled electrical field system and made clinical application to nonunion of tibia with successful result.
Electric Stimulation ; Pseudarthrosis ; Tibia ; Tibial Fractures