No abstract available.
Evidence-Based Practice* ; Humans

Tracheobronchial aspergillosis is an unusual form of invasive aspergillosis characterized by noninvasive or only superficially invasive tracheobronchitis with a propensity for dissemination. We report a two-year-old male who suddenly died of respiratory failure. Postmortem examination revealed a pseudomembrane covering the mucosa of larynx, trachea and bronchial tree of both lungs. This pseudomembrane was composed predominantly of Aspergillus hyphae. There was transmural necrotizing bronchitis with fungal invasion to the narrow zone of peribronchial tissue, and dissemination to the stomach and kidney. This form of pulmonary aspergillosis had not been reported in this country.
Aspergillosis* ; Aspergillus ; Autopsy* ; Bronchitis ; Humans ; Hyphae ; Kidney ; Larynx ; Lung ; Male ; Mucous Membrane ; Pulmonary Aspergillosis ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Stomach ; Trachea

BACKGROUND: Blood pressures rneasured by a nurse at reception room as a part of routine physical examination are oft,en used as a indicator of medical care. Blood pressure at reception room and consultation room are, however, often different to each other and these differences are caused by various factors including difference of white coat effect by nurse and doctor. Thus, this study was performed in order to know whether blood pressure difference really exit, and its associated factors. METHODS: Two hundred ninety one patients who visited to one university hospital farnily practice were enrolled in this study. Blood pressure and pulse rate at reception room and consultation room, waiting t,ime, time interval between reception and consultation, smoking status, and intake of coffee and food were collected. Nine patients were excluded, because blood pressure either at reception room or at consulation room was not recorded. This study was performed by one nurse and two doctors. They defined the guideline for method of blood pressure measurement before the study, and used the same kind of indirect cuff sphygmomanometer. RESULTS: Two hundred eighty two patients were analyzed. The number of men was one hundred twenty five. Systolic blood pressure at consultation room was higher than that at reception room by 1.6+/-11.9mmHg (P<0.05). Sixty five cases(65%) in systolic blood pressure and 111 cases(40%) in diastolic blood pressure showed blood pressure differences more than 5mmHg. The group with systolic blood pressure difference between reception room and consultation room(SBP) in more than 5mmHg is more likely to be hypertensive than the group with SBP in less than 5mmHg(P<0.01). More female patients(66%) and hypertensive patients(59%) were belong to the group whose systolic blood pressure at consultation room were 5mmHg higher than at reception room(P<0.01). Twenty four patients(30%) of the group whose systolic blood pressure at reception room were 5mmHg higher than at consultation room had cigarette smoking within 1 hour, and this ratio was significantly higher than the other groups whose systolic blood pressure difference was less than 5rnmHg or systolic blood pressure at consultation room were 5mmHg higher than at reception room(P<0.01). There was relatively good concordance in classifying hypertension and normal blood pressure according to measurement site(Overall kappa, 0.747, P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Many patients showed blood pressure differences more than 5mmHg between reception room and consultation room. Systolic blood pressure at consultation room was higher than that at reception room, and there was relatively good concordance in classifying hypertension and normal blood pressure according to measurement site, but the adverse effect by misclassification should not be neglected. The importance as well as the limitation of blood pressure measurement at reception room should be considered in screening and treating hypertensive patient. Every time when blood pressure is taken, physicians should keep in mind to consider patients factors which may influence blood pressure level.
Blood Pressure* ; Coffee ; Female ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Outpatients* ; Physical Examination ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Sphygmomanometers

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is one of the frequent problems for which family physicians are well encountered to manage. Nonpharmacologic measures which include stress relaxation, low salt diet, weight reduction, moderation of alcohol intake, physical activity, tobacco avoidance are used as definitive or adjuvant therapy for hypertension. Family physicians should vigorously encourage their patients to adopt these life style modifications. This study was conducted to know how many nonpharmacologic treat,ment modalities are adopted by hypertensives and to find predicting factors. METHODS: A total of 100 of the hypertensive patients who are followed up via the department of family medicine, Hanyang University Hospital, from September 1995 through November 1995 are included in this study. A trained nurse interviewed patients according to the previously designed structured questionnaire. The overall response rate was 90% and the fill-up rate of the questionnaire was 100%. RESULTS: Sixty three patients were women. The mean age was 57.4 years(range, 20 to 84). Sixty one percent accompanied one or more other diseases, of which diabetes mellitus was the most common disorder. The mean systolic pressure was 143.9 mmHg and the mean diastolic blood pressure was 89.3mmHg. Ninty-three percent of patients received antihypertensives with compliance of 81 to 100%. Twenty four percent of patients adhered to regular exercise, 36 percent weight reduction, 48 percent low salt diet, 79 percent moderate drinking, 81 percent stress relaxation, and 87 percent no smoking. Of those six non-pharmacological treatments, 3.6 behaviors were adhered. Male patients were more attended with the low salt diet. Eleven patients of 2S alcoholics(44.0%) reduced their amount of alcohol intake and 8 of 17 smokers quitted smoking (47.1%) after they were diagnosed as hypertension. The mean BEPSI score was 1.5. Fifty one percent of patients had stress within the last three months, 32 percent had cumulative fatigue. The occupational stress was the most common one. All exercise which patients reported were isotonic. Seventeen percent of the patients took certain herb medicine or folk medicine. CONCLUSIONS: Of those 100 hypertensives who were treated at the department of family medicine, Hanyang University hospital, 24% adhered to regular exercise, 36 per cent weight reduction, 48 percent low salt diet, 79 percent moderate drinking, 81 percent stress relaxation, and 87 percent quit smoking in order. Of those six non-pharmacological treatments, 3.6 behaviors were adhered on the average. Nonpharmacologic treatment should be promoted by family physician as an important strategy for treatment of hypertension.
Antihypertensive Agents ; Blood Pressure ; Compliance ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diet ; Diet, Reducing ; Drinking ; Fatigue ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Life Style ; Male ; Medicine, Traditional ; Motor Activity ; Physicians, Family ; Relaxation ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Tobacco ; Weight Loss ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Small and large airways functions were studied in patients with hypertensive heart disease in slightly ro moderately compromised state functionally. In this study, the forced vital capacity and various flow paramaeters reflecting expiratory flow rate were determined from simultaneously recorded forced expiratory volume and maximal expiretory flow volume curves in 86 cases. The closing volume was measured by a single breath nitrogen mrthod in 57 cases and airway resistance with its related parameters by a body plethysmograph in 11 cases. These results were compared with those obtained from the same numbers of healthy controls matched for sex, age and height. In the patient group, the forced vital capadity and all the observed values of flow parameters, execpt for the ratio of the first second vital capacity to the forced vital capacity, were significantly reduced than those in the controls. When the remainder of flow parameters was volume-adjusted to the forced vital capacity, however, the mean of the peak expiratory flow rate and the maximal expiratory flow rate at the 75 percent of the vital capacity were not significantly different from that of controls. In contrast, the volume-adjusted values of maximal expiratory flow were remained significantly smaller than those in the controls. The closing volume and its ratio to the vital capacity were significantly larger in the patient group. Airway resistance and its related parameters revealed no significant differences between two groups. These findings suggest that the patients with hypertensive heart disease in a mild to moderate failure are associated with restrictive ventilatory impairment and a small airways obstruction, but with little or no large airway dysfunction.
Airway Resistance ; Closing Volume ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Heart Diseases* ; Heart* ; Humans ; Maximal Expiratory Flow Rate ; Nitrogen ; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate ; Vital Capacity

This is a long term follow-up study to clarify whether arthroscopic synovectomy would be able to prevent further destruction of the articular cartilage in rheumatoid joints. Three hundred and eighteen rheumatoid joints of 94 patients who had surgery in the multiple joints(average 3.4 joints per person) and was followed for an average 39.9 months (range, 24-126 months) were selected. Diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis was made according to the 1987 revised criteria of the American College of Rheumatology. The preoperative roentgenographic narrowing of cartilage space (modified classification of ARA) and the arthroscopic findings (grading of Outerbridge) were recorded. The points of investigation were 1) further destruction of articular cartilage on X-ray, postoperatively, and 2) reaccumulation of effusion. The results were as follows; 1) Knee Joint: Among 103 knee joints there were 92 (89.3%) Stage I, G-0 knees, 8 Stage II (G-2: 1, G-3: 3, G-4: 4 joints), and 3 Stage IIIB, G-4, preoperatively. The 3 Stage IIIB, G-4 knees showed progression of narrowing of joint space and were replaced by artificial joints two years after the synovectomy. 2) Wrist joint: Fifteen joints (28.3%) out of 53 joints were Stage II, G-4, and 2 joints joints (3.8%) were Stage I, G-3, preoperatively. They were progressed to Stage IIIB at final follow-up. 3) Other Joints: There was no further narrowing of the joint space following surgery in 22 fingers, 2 toes, 34 elbows, 34 shoulders and 70 ankles. 4) Prognosis seemed to depend upon postoperative medication. From these results it would be suggested that the rate and severity of recurrence of synovitis and further destruction of articular cartilage can be decreased with early synovectomy so long as proper anti-rheumatic medication is followed, although the surgery can not halt the disease process.
Ankle ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Cartilage ; Cartilage, Articular ; Classification ; Diagnosis ; Elbow ; Fingers ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Joints ; Knee ; Knee Joint ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Rheumatology ; Shoulder ; Synovitis ; Toes ; Wrist Joint

Cortical dysplasia is used to designate any cerebral developmental malformation, and encompass a spectrum of pathologic changes from mild cortical disruption to more severe pattern of cortical dyslamination with large bizarre neurons, balloon cells, and astrocytosis. The gross appearance of the brian reveals focal or diffuse cortical thickening with no clear cortical-white matter junction due to excessive spillover of abnormal neurons. Cerebellar cortical dysplasias are uncommon but has been reported in cases with more widespread cerebral malformations. We present two autopsy cases of cortical dysplasia, one of which involves both cerebrum and cerebellum. Case 1 was a 4-year-old boy and presented with severe intractable epilepsy of neonatal onset , cerebral palsy, microcephaly, and severe neurologic deficits. Both cerebrum and cerebellum were markedly reduced in size. Microscopic examination of cerebrum showed disorganized cortical architecture with abnormal neurons in the cortex and white matter. The cerebellum disclosed massive spillover of Purkinje cells into white matter. Case 2 was a 51-year-old woman and found in dead in her house. No previous clinical history was informed. At autopsy, no gross abnormality of the brain was observed, but microscopic examination showed giant, dysmorphic neurons throughout the cerebral cortex.
Autopsy* ; Brain* ; Cerebellum ; Cerebral Cortex ; Cerebral Palsy ; Cerebrum ; Child, Preschool ; Epilepsy ; Female ; Gliosis ; Humans ; Male ; Malformations of Cortical Development* ; Microcephaly ; Middle Aged ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Neurons ; Paralysis ; Purkinje Cells

No Abstract Available.
Case-Control Studies*

PURPOSE: During the high-stake examinations such as OSCE (Objective structured clinical examination) or CPX (clinical performance exam), test security is generally accepted as a major concern for test validity. This study was conducted to investigate the effect on examinee' s scores of repeated, serial administrations of essentially the same standardized patient (SP) -based performance exam. METHODS: A performance-based examination using eight SP cases was administered to 123 senior medical students at Hanyang University School of Medicine. Students were randomly assigned to one of 16 groups of 8 students each. Three groups were tested serially each day, requiring 5 days for the complete administration of the examination. We compared the mean scores of the five groups of the examinees tested on different days with ANOVA and linear trends with multiple regression analyses. RESULTS: For both checklist scores and written scores during the interstation work, the mean scores of the first day groups were significantly lower compared to subsequent groups. And, there were slight linear trends in the scores over the five days. Scores related to case-specific history taking, information sharing, and clinical courtesy were significantly affected by the sharing of information between students. Scores related to patient satisfaction, physical exam, and physician-patient interaction were not influenced by the same pattern of behaviour. CONCLUSION: Test security may be violated during SP-based performance exams even though the checklists are not accessible to the examinees. It would be desirable for the test-givers to prepare alternative forms of cases for maintaining the validity of SP-based performance exams.
Checklist ; Clinical Competence ; Humans ; Information Dissemination ; Patient Satisfaction ; Students, Medical

BACKGROUND: It has been reported that hypercholesterolemia is associated with coronary heart disease and that alcohol intake has influence on the lipid metabolism. This study was conducted to evaluate the relations between alcohol intake and serum lipid level. METHODS: We reviewed 906 subjects who had visited for routine checkup at family practice of Hanil hospital and then excluded 130 subjects with DM, renal disease, thyroid disease, hepatic disease or drug administration which might have influence on serum lipids. From the remaining 776 subjects, we obtained the amount and the frequency of alcohol drinking during the previous 2 weeks and the duration of alcohol intake, using a formed questionnaire. The alcohol dependence score was recorded by the National Alcoholism Screening Test. The serum lipids such as total cholesterol, triglyceride, and HDL-cholesterol were tested by enzyme method and the obesity index was obtained by Broca's method. These data were analyzed by SAS/PC program RESULTS: The total number of subjects was 776. Of those, 67.7%(n=525) were male and 32.3%(n= 251) females. The mean age of subjects was 50.5 years(range 15 to 77 years). The distribution according to the obesity index was as follows ; underweight group 7.1%, normal-weight group 38.1%, overweight group 31.6%, obesity group 23.2%. The number of the drinkers was 382(49.2%) in males and 7 (0.9%) in females. The mean serum lipid level were compared and analyzed among the groups. The results were as follows ; the total cholesterol and triglyceride levels were higher in males and the HDL-cholesterol levels was higher in female. The total cholesterol and triglyceride levels increased with age and obesity index, the HDL-cholesterol level decreased with obesity index. In the relationship between alcohol intake and serum lipid levels in males, the geometric mean of triglyceride level was higher among all the variables of alcohol intake, and that of HDL-cholesterol level increased with the amount and the frequency of alcohol intake. The results of multiple regression analysis associated with age, obesity index, the amount and the frequency of alcohol intake in males were as follows ; the triglyceride level was positively associated with the amount of alcohol intake, and the HDL-cholesterol level was positively associated with the frequency of akohol intake. CONCLUSIONS: The effects of age, sex and the obesity index on the serum lipid level are remarkable, and in males, alcohol intake increases triglycaride and HDL-cholesterol levels. Further study is needed to find out about whether alcohol intake have influences on coronary heart disease according to serum lipid levels.
Alcohol Drinking ; Alcoholism ; Cholesterol ; Coronary Disease ; Family Practice ; Female ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Lipid Metabolism ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Obesity ; Overweight ; Thinness ; Thyroid Diseases ; Triglycerides ; Surveys and Questionnaires