BACKGROUND: Single pass lead VDD pacing preserves atrioventricular synchrony with a single lead system which incorporates floating atrial electrodes. The objectives of this study were to measure whether different body postures and physical activities cause significant changes of the atrial electrogram amplitudes and to evaluate the effectiveness of its atrial sensing, ventricular sensing and pacing. METHOD: Prospective study was done in 7 patients with high degree AV block and normal sinus node function in whom a single lead VDD pacing system was implanted. The P wave amplitude was been measured in different condition during follow-up period. RESULTS: 1) During follow-up period, the P wave amplitude showed variation with changes in posture and respiration, but there was no consistent increase or decrease in amplitude. The lowest P wave amplitude was above the minimal atrial sensing value of 0.2 mV. 2) The percentage of atrial synchronous ventricular pacing recorded in Holter ECG and during Treadmill exercise test was more than 99%. 3) Atrial oversensing or VA cross sensing were not observed in any of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Despite floating atrial electrode, the single pass lead VDD pacing maintains reliable atrial sensing and ventricular pacing in different body position and physical activity, so it may offer an excellent alternative in patients with high grade AV block and intact sinus node function.
Atrioventricular Block ; Electrocardiography ; Electrodes ; Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac ; Exercise Test ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Motor Activity* ; Posture ; Prospective Studies ; Respiration ; Sinoatrial Node

BACKGROUND: Single pass lead VDD pacing preserves atrioventricular synchrony with a single lead system which incorporates floating atrial electrodes. The objectives of this study were to measure whether different body postures and physical activities cause significant changes of the atrial electrogram amplitudes and to evaluate the effectiveness of its atrial sensing, ventricular sensing and pacing. METHOD: Prospective study was done in 7 patients with high degree AV block and normal sinus node function in whom a single lead VDD pacing system was implanted. The P wave amplitude was been measured in different condition during follow-up period. RESULTS: 1) During follow-up period, the P wave amplitude showed variation with changes in posture and respiration, but there was no consistent increase or decrease in amplitude. The lowest P wave amplitude was above the minimal atrial sensing value of 0.2 mV. 2) The percentage of atrial synchronous ventricular pacing recorded in Holter ECG and during Treadmill exercise test was more than 99%. 3) Atrial oversensing or VA cross sensing were not observed in any of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Despite floating atrial electrode, the single pass lead VDD pacing maintains reliable atrial sensing and ventricular pacing in different body position and physical activity, so it may offer an excellent alternative in patients with high grade AV block and intact sinus node function.
Atrioventricular Block ; Electrocardiography ; Electrodes ; Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac ; Exercise Test ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Motor Activity* ; Posture ; Prospective Studies ; Respiration ; Sinoatrial Node

Unusual morphology of aberrant forms of bacteria, presented with grotesque-giant form, 15 m 3 m, with central emptiness and fusiform ends was observed in urine Gram stain from a 26-year-old woman who was admitted with the symptoms of acute urinary tract infection. On wet smear, these bacilli were markedly swollen, yeast-like organisms. In addition to normal shaped bacilli, various shapes of another aberrant bacteria, such as long bacilli, filamentous form, filamentous form with central bulge, and bipolar staining with central emptiness were also observed in the same specimen. The morphologic characteristics of these unusual aberrant bacilli were more distinct on Papanicolaou stain than on Gram stain. In Korea, where antimicrobial agents are overused and disused, the frequency of observing the aberrant bacteria would be much higher than cases reported. Here we report unusual morphology of aberrant forms of Escherichia coli with the emphasis on awaring of the potential appearance of such bacilli in clinical specimen and avoiding confusion with fungi and other naturally filamentous organisms.
Adult ; Anti-Infective Agents ; Bacteria* ; Escherichia coli ; Female ; Fungi ; Humans ; Korea ; Urinary Tract Infections

PURPOSE: This study is to investigate the influencing factors in the consistent use of contraception methods by comparing consistent and inconsistent users on partner communication, contraceptive control perception, and sexual autonomy among married Korean women. METHOD: This study consists of 243 married women living in Korea. A convenient sampling technique was used and data were collected by self report questionnaires from September 14, 2000 to October 20, 2000. RESULT: Only 41.6% of women were using contraception methods consistently and the rest of them were using contraception methods inconsistently. Between the two groups, statistical significances were noted in sexual communication(t=-2.5, p=.01), perceived contraceptive control(t=-7.5, p=.00) and sexual autonomy(t=-3.1, p=.00). As for general communication, it was not statistically significant(t=-1.0, p=.31). CONCLUSION: Family planning program advisors should recognize that intervention programs for the promotion of consistent contraceptive behavior should focus on the sexual communication, perceived contraceptive control, and sexual autonomy.

To evaluate the effect of Perindopril in patients with essential hypertension, we administered Perindopril 4 to 8mg/day once daily to 30 patients(18 males, 12 females) for 12 weeks. Baseline blood pressure after 4 weeks with placebo was 150.4+/-7.5/102.0+/-4.3mmHg. The blood pressures of the patients were declined significantly at 4th(140.6+/-14.9/95.4+/-6.5), 8th(136.7+/-11.4/91.7+/-7.6), and 12th(132.3+/-11.1/87.5+/-6.9) week(p<0.01) without change of heart rate. The blood pressure of the patients was normalized below 140/30mmHg in 24 patients(80%) and declined diastolic blood pressure more than 10mmHg in one patients. Therefore the response rate of perindopril was 83.3%. There were reported 3 patients who revealed mild adverse reactions as follows; cough, indigestion, dizziness in one each. In conclusion, these results indicate that antihypertensive therapy with perindopril single daily dose was effective in patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension and well tolerated.
Blood Pressure ; Cough ; Dizziness ; Dyspepsia ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Male ; Perindopril*

No abstract available.
Behavior Therapy* ; Self-Injurious Behavior*

PURPOSE: Nursing research is recognized as an essential basis for the continuous development of the scientific nursing knowledge and practice. An understanding of the barriers and attitudes to research among nurses is important to improve clinical nursing research activities. METHOD: Data were collected from nurses at a general hospital, located in D city, using a self-reported questionnaire, from March 15th to April 4th, 2003, and 133 questionnaires were used for the analyses. A 5 pointscale instrument was used to measure barriers and attitudes towards nursing research, with a Cronbach's alpha of .85 and .89, respectively. RESULTS: Nurses had limited experience in research and were not well prepared to conduct it. Lack of experience, training and time were the major barriers for conducting research. However, the nurses had positive attitudes toward research. There was a difference in barriers (t=2.68, p=.02) and research attitudes (t=-2.74, p=.00) according to the nurses' position. Also, the nurses' research experience influenced research attitudes (t=-3.27, p=.00). The degree of research preparation (F=6.98, p=.00) had an effect on the attitudes toward nursing research but not on the barriers. CONCLUSION: There is an urgent need to promote both the ability and environment for clinical nurses to actively participate in research. As the majority of nurses had little experience and low confidence in research and perceived many barriers, this promotion can be accomplished by enhancing their confidence in research through continuing education and by gradually eliminating the barriers to research.
Nursing Staff, Hospital/*psychology ; *Nursing Research ; Korea ; Humans ; Female ; *Attitude of Health Personnel ; Analysis of Variance

Renal dysplasia results from aberrant histogenesis in metanephric differentiation. It is characterized morphologically by abnormal organization and a persistence of primitive structures, such as cartilage, undifferentiated mesenchyme, and immature tubules. Six cases of renal dysplasia from five children and one adult are reviewed. Five patients were female and one patient was male. The chief complaint was urinary incontinence in four patients, dysuria in one patient, and the sixth patient suffered from vesicoureteral reflux. No evidence of family history of renal dysplasia in any patient was seen. According to Risdon's classification, three cases were hypoplastic dysplasia, one case was dysplasia in a duplex system, one case was dysplasia in a triplex system, and one case was dysplasia with vesicoureteral reflux. The ipsilateral ectopic ureteral orifice was identified in four patients, two of which drained into a Gartner's duct cyst, and the orifice was suggested in one patient. On histologic examination, all cases showed primitive ducts surrounded by concentrically arranged primitive mesenchyme. Nests of metaplastic cartilage were observed within the stroma in three of the six cases.
Adult ; Cartilage ; Child ; Classification ; Dysuria ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mesoderm ; Ureter ; Urinary Incontinence ; Vesico-Ureteral Reflux

BACKGROUND: Hyperlipidemia is the one of the major risk factors causing the atherosclerosis of coronary arteries. Treatment of hyperlipidemia with drugs has been confirmed the effects of therapy showing a decreased incidence of coronary artery disease. Pravastatin is one of the new HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors and we studied the short-term hypolipidemic effects and safety of pravastatin in patients with hyperlipidemia. METHODS: We studied 31 patients(7 males and 24 females ; range of age, 36-67 years) for 12 weeks whose plasma levels of total cholesterol were higher than 250mg% after one month period of diet therapy. Pravastatin was administered 10mg/day and measured lipid profiles at 4 week interval. RESULTS: Pravastatin reduced the plasma total cholesterol from 286.2mg% to 212.3mg% (25.9%), the LDL-cholesterol from 204.2mg% to 143.6mg% (29.7%), the triglyceride from 226.0mg% to 161.4mg% (28.6%) after 12 weeks treatment. The HDL-cholesterol increased from 25.8mg% to 46.4mg% (20.5%) after pravastatin therapy. These changes were disclosed all statistically significant compared to baseline levels(p<0.01). The clinical and laboratory examinations before and after pravastatin treatment showed no particular abnormal findings. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that short-term pravastatin therapy in patients with hyperlipidemia seems to be very effective and safe.
Atherosclerosis ; Cholesterol ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vessels ; Diet Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ; Hyperlipidemias* ; Incidence ; Male ; Plasma ; Pravastatin* ; Risk Factors ; Triglycerides

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to empirically investigate the determinants on oxygen free radical degree which causes biological damage focusing on smoking habit and health behaviors in daily life. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, the subjects were adult males who submitted free radical tests among the examinees of the comprehensive medical testings at an university hospital in Suwon from 2008 to 2010. Total 497 samples were used in analyses for clarifying the relations of free radical degree to age, smoking, obesity, and other health behaviors. RESULTS: First, the degree of oxygen free radical increases by 0.164 as the age group increases (P<0.05). Second, the degree of oxygen free radical increases by 0.547 as the smoking habit increases (P<0.001). Third, the degree of oxygen free radical increases by 0.087 as the exposure to hazardous factors in workplace increases (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the study imply that the smoking habit has more great influence on the increase of oxygen free radical in body than any other health behaviors. The causality of free radical to smoking and health behavior was not identified due to the limit of the cross-sectional study so it needs to be studied prospectively in the future.
Adult ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Free Radicals ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Male ; Obesity ; Oxygen ; Smoke ; Smoking