Basta(R) is one of the Phospho-amino acid group herbicide. It consist of glufosinate ammonium (18.5%), alkylether sulfate as surfactant (30%) and some solvents. Although it's WHO classification is Bade III, the intoxicated patient appears an serious clinical findings and have a 20% mortality rate. Nowadays, in Korea the ingestion of herbicidal agents for suicidal attempts is Sequent. The literature for intoxication of bipyridilium (Gramoxon(R)) as herbicide is varied, but the information for Basta(R) is poor even though the use of it tends to increase. Recently, We experienced six cases of Basta(R) intoxication and found that the patient expressed a gradually progressed depression of mentation, recent memory disturbances, convulsions, hypotension, or bradycardia because of CNS or cardiovascular effects of Basta(R) We report these cases with literature review.
Ammonium Compounds* ; Bradycardia ; Classification ; Depression ; Eating ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Korea ; Memory ; Mortality ; Seizures ; Solvents

The authors recently reported that over the years, the outcome of aneurysm surgery improved, and that surgical complications importantly affected this change. The present study was conducted to determine whether the incidence of symptomatic vasospasm in fact changed during the period under review, and the factors contributing to any changes. Between 1990 and 1995, 219 Hunt-Hess grade I to III patients with ruptured intracranial aneurysm underwent surgery within 3 days of subarachnoid hemorrhage ; all operations were performed by the same surgeon. Age, Hunt-Hess grade on admission, Fisher grade, hypertension, and hydrocephalus were analyzed to determine which factors were significant for syptomatic vasospasm, and for the periods 1990 to 1993, and 1994 to 1995, the distribution of each significant factor was then examined. Syptomatic vasospasm decreased significantly (p<0.05), but was seen in 28 of 124 patients(22.6%) treated beween 1990 and 1993 and 11 of 95(11.6%) treated between 1994 and 1995 ; no significant reduction of syptomatic vasospasm as a cause of mortality and morbidity (irreversible vasospasm) was seen, however, Fisher grade(p<0.05) and Hunt-Hess grade(p<0.05) significantly contributed to the development of symptomatic vasospasm, though the distribution of these two biologically significant factors was not statistically different. The question of whether or not surgery aggravates symptomatic vasospasm is controversial, and symptomatic vasospasm is, in addition, still an ill-defined disease entity. Except for the occurrence of fewer surgical complication and the fact that the incidence of reversible symptomatic vasospasm was less during the second period of treatment, no differences were found in the distribution of factors which significantly influenced symptomatic vasospasm, and this suggests that surgery affects the development of reversible symptomatic vasospasm. On the basis of increased risk of cerebral ischemia associated with surgery in vulnerable ischemic brain resulting from subarachnoid hemorrhage, the use of the term 'delayed ischemic neurologic deficit' after such hemorrhage appears to be more suitable than 'symptomatic vasospasm'.
Aneurysm* ; Brain ; Brain Ischemia ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Mortality ; Neurologic Manifestations* ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

PURPOSE: Diverticular disease of the colon is relatively common in western population and rare in oriental population but in recent years the incidence is steadily increasing in oriental population including Korean, so more concerns and appropriate management are required. METHODS: We reviewed 111cases who had diverticular disease in the colon from January 1988 to May 1998 in the Soonchunhyang University Chunan Hospital. Of 111 cases, 87 cases were treated conservatively and 24 cases received a surgical treatment. RESULTS: The annual incidence increased progressively for the last 10 years. The mean age of the patients at the time of diagnosis was 49.6 years and the most common age-group was forth decades (25%). The diverticula were located in the right colon 89%, left colon 7% and both side 4%. Among 24 surgically treated cases, the most common preoperative diagnosis was acute appendicitis (75%) and the correct preoperative diagnosis was made only 3 cases (13%) who had previous appendectomy history, previous diagnosed history or received barium enema due to recurrent pain attack. The surgical procedures of the colonic diverticulosis were right hemicolectomy (6 cases), ileo-ascending colectomy (6 cases), diverticulectomy (2 cases), segmental resection of transverse colon (1 case), left hemicolectomy (1 case), appendectomy (2 cases), appendectomy with drainage (3 cases), appendectomy with drainage and diverticulectomy (3 cases). The postoperative complication was wound infection in all complicated cases. There was no postoperative mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The outcome of patients in our series is satisfactory despite of diagnostic inaccuracies. Preoperative barium study is recommended in those above the 40 years of age suspected the appendicitis. We recommend surgery for patients after two or three episodes of acute diverticulitis that resolves after medical treatment with antibiotics.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Appendectomy ; Appendicitis ; Barium ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Colectomy ; Colon* ; Colon, Transverse ; Diagnosis ; Diverticulitis ; Diverticulosis, Colonic ; Diverticulum ; Drainage ; Enema ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mortality ; Postoperative Complications ; Wound Infection

BACKGROUND: Nowadays, acute drug intoxication is a important section of emergency medicine. The purpose of this study was to determine what is the best-way to manage acutely intoxicated patients with drug in emergency department setting. METHODS: Clinical assessment were made on 135 cases of drug intoxication visited to emergency center of Hospital during one year from June 1997 to May 1998. RESULTS: 1. The total number of cases of acute drug intoxication was 135 which is 0.5% of total patients presented to emergency center. 2. There was no sexual difference in incidence, but the highest incidence of age group was in 3rd decade(23.7%) and the next was 7th decade(20.0%). 3. High frequency of acute intoxication was observed in autumn. October had the largest portion in monthly distribution. The largest portion of presumed time of poisoning was noon - 4 p.m. and of the time on arrival to emergency center was 8 p.m. -midnight. 4. Suicidal attempt was the most common motive of intoxication (72.6%). 5. The most common drug of intoxication was insecticides (35.7%) and the others were centrally active agents, herbicides in orders. 6. Mental change was observed in 20.7% of patients and the abnormal vital signs were hypertension, tachycardia, and hypotension in order on arrival to emergency center. 7. Mean duration of treatment was 36.1 hours. Mortality rate of the cases was 7.4%. CONCLUSION: The mortality rate was high in patients who ingested relatively fatal drugs (i.e. herbicides, antimicrovials, insecticides), showed mental change on arrival or received mechanical ventilatory care(p<0.05).
Emergencies* ; Emergency Medicine ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Herbicides ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypotension ; Incidence ; Insecticides ; Mortality ; Poisoning ; Tachycardia ; Vital Signs

BACKGROUND: Hemoptysis is a common clinical symptom, responsible for 11% of admission to the hospital chest service. Correct diagnosis, accurate localization of the bleeding source and proper management are imperative to reduce the risk of massive hemoptysis. We performed the study to define the optimal time of fiberoptic bronchoscopy in 63 patients with hemoptysis admitted to Kyung Hee University Hospital between Aug 1989 and Aug1992. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of medical records concerning the cause, amount, duration of hemoptysis and the timing of fiberoptic bronchoscopy in 63(M:F=36:27) patients. RESULTS: 1) The main causes of hemoptysis were pulmonary tuberculosis(52.4%) bronchiectasis(27.0%) and lung cancer(11.1%). 2) The bleeding sites were localized in 26 Patients(41.3%). 3) The rates of localization of bleeding site were not related to the amount and duration of hemoptysis. 4) The rates of localization of bleeding site were 61.8%(21/34) during hemoptysis,18.2%(122) within 24hr after resolution of hemoptysis, 14.3%(1/7) thereafter. CONCLUSION: Early bronchoscopy, especially during hemoptysis may show higher rates of successful localization than delayed bronchoscopy.
Bronchoscopy* ; Diagnosis ; Hemoptysis* ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Lung ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; Thorax

BACKGROUND: The self-inflating bag-valve resuscitator is an useful breathing support equipment in the cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the transportation of patients who required ventilation assist, or respiratory therapy. The inspiratory oxygen concentration (FiO2) or tidal volume (VT) delivered to the patient depends on various conditions during bag-valve ventilation. METHODS: During bag-valve ventilation without a reservoir at oxygen flow rates of 10 l/min, we evaluated fifty six volunteers to determine the FiO2 and VT at ventilatory frequencies of 10, 12 and 15 cycles per minute and to observe the effect of hand size and grasp power on FiO2 and VT in two-hand compression methods. RESULT: The FiO2 at frequency of 10 cycles/min were 50.1% and it was higher than other ventilatory frequencies. However, the VT was not statistically different among the changes of ventilatory frequency. In the change of VT according to characteristics of the hand, the operator's hand size exerted influence on VT(larger vs. smaller ; 942ml vs. 885ml, p<0.05), but the grasp power of the hand did not significantly affect. Separate analyses with size or grasp power of the hand failed to reveal significant differences of the FiO2. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that a slowing of ventilatory frequency within the allowable ranges for adequate gas exchange increase the FiO2 during bag-valve ventilation without reservoir, and that hand size may exert influence on the VT without FiO2 changes but grasp power may not be a contributing factor to the VT or FiO2 changes.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Hand Strength ; Hand* ; Humans ; Oxygen* ; Respiration ; Respiratory Therapy ; Tidal Volume* ; Transportation of Patients ; Ventilation* ; Volunteers

Until recently, the cervical pregnancy have been treated with surgery, usually hy- sterectomy, because of uncontrollable heavy vaginal bleeding. The development of sophisticated ultrasound which allows early diagnosis of cervical pregnancy and methotrexate chemotherapy opened up new therapeutic options in the management of this unusual but potentially life threatening complication of pregnancy which have been always a nightrnare for the gynecologist. We are reporting a case of cervical pregnancy diagnosed in 12 weeks of gestation. The patient was successfully treated with alternative administration of methotrexate (1 mg/kg, intramuscularly) and leucovorin (0.1 mg/kg, intramuscularly) without surgical intervention, in order to preserve both the uterus and fertility. Follow up was done with serum beta hCG and pelvic ultrasonography. Complete resolution of the cervical pregnancy was obtained at 50 days after starting methotrexate treatment. This case gave us the opportunity to review the recent literature on cervical pregnancy.
Drug Therapy ; Early Diagnosis ; Fertility ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Leucovorin* ; Methotrexate* ; Pregnancy* ; Ultrasonography ; Uterine Hemorrhage ; Uterus

OBJECTIVE: Heat therapy is one of physical therapies used most commonly in chronic osteoarthritis. The therapeutic effects of heat therapy might be attributed to induce heat shock proteins in heat-stimulated cells and tissues and therefore, to inhibit cellular damages due to inflammation. In order to investigate preliminarily the therapeutic effects of heat therapy, Hsp(heat shock protein) 70 expressions by heat stimulation were measured in cultured chondrocytes and knee joint cartilages of rabbits. METHOD: Five rabbits were used in total in this study. Three rabbits were used for chodrocytes culture and two rabbits were in vivo study. Chondrocytes were cultured from knee cartilages of three rabbits and treated at 33degreesC, 37degreesC, and 42degreesC for 20 min. In order to clarify whether heat therapy using ultrasonification can induce Hsp 70 expression in cartilage tissues, right knees of rabbits were heat-stimulated by ultrasonification for 20 min and their left knees were untreated. After 2 hours, cultured chondrocytes and cartilages were prepared and Hsp 70 expression was also observed by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: Hsp 70 expression was increased 1.48 folds in 42degreesC treated cells compared to in 37degreesC treated cells. The heat-stimulated cartilages showed 1.65 fold increases in Hsp 70 expression compared to the unstimulated cartilages. CONCLUSION: Hsp 70 expressions were increased by heat stimulation in cultured chondrocytes as well as in cartilage issues.
Blotting, Western ; Cartilage ; Cartilage, Articular* ; Chondrocytes* ; Heat-Shock Proteins* ; Hot Temperature* ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins* ; Inflammation ; Knee ; Knee Joint ; Osteoarthritis ; Rabbits ; Shock

Klippel-Feil syndrome(KFS) consists of short neck, low posterior hairline and restriction of motion of the neck due to fusion of cervical vertebrae. The typical disorder results from a failure of the normal segmentation of mesodermal somites during 3-8 weeks of gestation. In 1912, the first complete clinical description of this syndrome was given by Klippel and Feil. Feil reported additional cases in 1919 and distinguished between three morphologic groups. The incidence of KFS has been estimated to be approximately 1 : 40,000-42,000 births. A slight female predilection has been noted. Although the disorder is sporadic, there are examples of familial occurrence; how ever, no clear mechanism of inheritance has been accepted. Since the disturbance producing a short neck occurs early in embryogenesis, defects in other organ systems may occur at the same time. Common musculoskeletal anomalies that accompany KFS include scoliosis, as well as Sprengel's deformity in as many as one-third of cases. Neurologic, cardiovascular, and urinary tract anomalies are associated with KPS. We report a case of Klippel-Feil syndrome with associates anomalies include Sprengel's deformity.
Cervical Vertebrae ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Embryonic Development ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Klippel-Feil Syndrome* ; Mesoderm ; Neck ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Scoliosis ; Somites ; Urinary Tract ; Wills

The authors performed combined trabeculectomy-cataract extraction on eyes of 8 patients with coexisting glaucoma and cataract. Posterior chamber lens implantation was performed in 2 of 9 eyes. The follow-up period ranged from 6 to 12 months. Visual acuity was improved in 8 eyes. The mean intraocular pressure was reduced by approximately 53%, from 28 mmHg preoperatively to 13 mmHg postoperatively. No medications were required in 6 of the 8 eyes, but 2 needed one medication for adequate control of intraocular pressure, postoperatively. No greater incidence of complications were evident with the combined procedure, from that expected with routine cataract extraction or trabeculectomy alone.
Cataract Extraction* ; Cataract* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glaucoma ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intraocular Pressure ; Trabeculectomy ; Visual Acuity