A noninvasive method for assessing cardiac output was evaluated by comparing it with thermodilution determinations in 25 patients who admitted to Pusan national university hospital from March, 1985 to December, 1986. This method used M-mode & two dimensional echocardiography to measure the internal diameter of aortic valve anulus & pulmonary valve anulus and pulsed doppler echocardiography to obtain aortic & pulmonary blood velocity. Good correlations were observed between thermodilution and doppler echocardiographic measurements of cardiac output from aortic flow (r=0.98, p<0.05) & pulmonary flow (r=0.86, p<0.05). Linear regression analysis yielded y=0.91x0.14 for aortic flow and y=0.77x0.84 for pulmonary flow. These results indicate that accurate cardiac output can be measured by noninvasive & simple doppler echocardiography.
Aortic Valve ; Busan ; Cardiac Output* ; Echocardiography* ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; Echocardiography, Doppler, Pulsed ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Pulmonary Valve ; Thermodilution

To recognize the hemodynamic change in the constrictive pericarditis, we have reviewed the Doppler echocardiography, cardiac catheterization, and pathology of 6 patients who were admitted to Pusan National University Hospital due to right-side heart failure, diagnosed as constrictive pericarditis and were undertaken pericardiectomy. Doppler echocardiographic findings showed that acceleration and deceleration of early diastolic rapid filling were increased, followed by shortening of duration but there was a tendency to decrease in velocity-time integral of early diastolic rapid filling compared to that of atrial contraction filling in the left ventricle. On the contrary, there was decrease in acceleration of rapid filling in right ventricle, but other indices were comparable to that of left ventricle. The integral of D wave increased relatively compared to that of S wave in superior vena canal flow. Also, there was decrease in peak flow velocity, acceleration and velocity-time integral of aortic and pulmonary arterial flow velocity. One patient who had increased fraction of integral of early diastolic rapid filling compared to that of atrial contraction filling in right ventricle showed that he had higher central venous pressure and D wave was dominant in superior vena caval flow. In conclusion, Doppler flow patterns showed characteristic diastolic filling inpairment and systolic dysfunction in constrictive pericarditis, so that Doppler echocardiography is believed to be a useful method of noninvasive diagnosis and follow-up of hemodynamic change in constrictive pericarditis.
Acceleration ; Busan ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Central Venous Pressure ; Deceleration ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Failure ; Heart Ventricles ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Pathology ; Pericardiectomy ; Pericarditis, Constrictive*

No abstract available.
Acne Vulgaris*

BACKGROUNDS: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome(OSA) can divided into two groups, positional (PP) and non-positional(NPP) obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, according to the body position while sleeping. In this study, we evaluated the differences of anthropometirc data and polysomnographic recordings between the two types of sleep apnea syndrome. MATERIALS: Fifty patients with OSA were divided two groups by Cartwright's criteria. The supine respiratory disturbance index (RDI) was at least two times higher than the lateral RDI in the PP group, and the supine RDI was less than twice the lateral RDI in the NPP group. This patients underwent standardized polysomnographic recordings. The anthropometirc data and polysomnographic data were analyzed, statistically. RESULTS: Of all 50 patients, 30% were found to be positional OSA. BMI was significantly higher in the PP group(p<0.05). Total sleep time was significantly longer in the PP group (350.6±46.0min, p<0.05). Sleep efficiency was high in the PP group(89.6± 6.4%, 85.6±9.9%, p<0.05). Deep sleep was significantly higher and light sleep was lower in the PP group than in the NPP group but no difference was observed in REM sleep between the two groups. Apnea index(AI) and RDI were significantly lower(17.0±10.6, 28.5±13.3, p<0.05) and mean arterial oxygen saturation was higher in the PP group(92.7 ±1.8%, p<0.05) than in the NPP group. CONCLUSION: Body position during sleep has a profound effect on the frequency and severity of breathing abnormalities in OSA patients. A polysomnographic evaluation for suspected OSA patients must include monitoring of the body position. Breathing function in OSA patients can be improved by controlling their obesity and through postural therapy.
Apnea ; Humans ; Obesity ; Oxygen ; Polysomnography ; Respiration ; Sleep Apnea Syndromes ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive* ; Sleep, REM

OBJECTIVES: The quality of life of medical students was investigated and compared with that of general college students to identify what kind of problems medical students are suffering from. METHOD: Korean version of WHOQOL-BREF was administered to 317 medical students and 150 general college students of Yonsei University in 1999. Collected data were analyzed with t-test and multiple regression analysis RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the total scores of WHOQOL-BREF between medical students and general college students. However, the scores of facets of sleep and rest, sexual activity, and participation and opportunities for recreation/leisure were significantly lower in medical students than in general college students, while the scores of facets of dependency on medication and treatment, financial resources, opportunities for acquiring new information and skills, and transport were significantly higher in medical students than in general college students. The score of social relationships domain was significantly lower in medical students than in general college students, while, the score of environmental domain was significantly higher in medical students than in general college students. Physical, environmental and social relationships domains contributed more to the quality of life of medical students than psychological domain while psychological and environmental domains contributed more to the quality of life of general college students than physical and social relationships domains. CONCLUSION: The result suggests that it is necessary to improve the quality of life of medical students in social relationships domain and in the facets of sleep and rest, sexual activity, participation and opportunities for recreation/leisure.
Humans ; Quality of Life* ; Sexual Behavior ; Students, Medical*

Functional dyspepsia (FD) has a diverse pathophysiology and treatment is difficult. Translational research to understand its pathophysiology is underway. Hormonal factors, including ghrelin, seem promising, offering an understanding of appetite and eating. Functional MRI brain study can expand our knowledge of the brain-gut axis. Finally, immune systems research, including mast cells, can help with comprehensive understanding of FD. The clinical approaches based on these translational research projects are necessary to improve understanding of FD, leading to more effective treatment.
Appetite ; Brain ; Dyspepsia* ; Eating ; Ghrelin ; Immune System ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Mast Cells ; Translational Medical Research*

BACKGROUND: Irbersatan, an orally active antihypertensive agent, effectively reduce blood pressure by directly blocking angiotensin II receptors without any significant adverse effects. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of irbesartan in patients with mild to moderate hypertension. METHODS: This study enrolled 83 patients who had diastolic pressure above 95 mmHg and below 110 mmHg on two measurements. Sixty eight patients were administered 150mg of irbesartan, an angiotensin II receptor blocker, daily for four weeks as an initial dosage. If the sitting diastolic pressure was equal to or greater than 90 mmHg after a 4 week treatment period, the dosage was doubled until the end of 8 weeks. Baseline pressures, antihypertensive effect, side effects, laboratory findings were compared before and after treatment. RESULTS: Fourty two patients out of 53 patients having completed this study showed decreased blood pressure equal to or more than 5 mmHg of the sitting diastolic pressure (response rate=79%). Twenty one patients out of 53 patients showed normalized blood pressure below 90 mmHg of the sitting diastolic pressure (normalization rate=40%). The extent of decrease in diastolic and systolic blood pressure after eight week treatment was an average 11.7+/-10.1 mmHg and 16.3+/-18.9 mmHg, respectively (p<0.05). Nineteen ontoward side effects was observed in 17 patients out of 68 patients with medication (frequency of ontoward effects=25%). Only one case with headache was considered to be related to the medication. Abnormal laboratory findings were observed in eight patients, and only one case with elevation of bilirubin and ALT levels was considered to be related to the medication. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, irbesartan is a safe and effective antihypertensive drug in patients with mild to moderate hypertension with tolerable side effects.
Bilirubin ; Blood Pressure ; Headache ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Receptors, Angiotensin

This correction is being published to add the following phrase at the footnotes of Table 1.

This correction is being published to add the following phrase at the footnotes of Table 1.

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia due to antibody formation against the A or B antigen in renal transplant recipients has been reported on rare occasions. We experienced a case of autoimmune hemolytic anemia which developed 11 days after renal transplantation during CsA and prednisolone administration as immunosuppressive agents. The patient was a 46 year old male, blood group was Rh(+) A, who had received a kidney from his Rh(+) O, HLA haploty'pe identical elder brother. He was transfused with three units of Rh(+) A RBCs preoperatively and his hemoglobin level was 9.2g/dl 1 day after transplantation. After 11 to 12 days posttransplantation, the hemoglobin level dropped to 3.8g/dl. A peripheral blood smear showed marked spherocytosis and polychromatophilia. The reticulocyte count was increased to 4.2%, and total bilirubin was increased to 2.91mg/dl. The LDH was raised to 561 IU/L and the plasma Hb level was 6.Smg/dl. Blood bank tests confirmed that the autoantibody cause hemolytic anemia was anti-A. If transplant recipients of blood groups A, B, or AB, who recieve organs from blood group 0 donors, have hemolytic anemia and ABO discrepancy, the possibility of AIHA due to anti-A or anti-B should be considered.
Anemia, Hemolytic ; Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune* ; Antibody Formation ; Bilirubin ; Blood Banks ; Blood Group Antigens ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Kidney ; Kidney Transplantation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Plasma ; Prednisolone ; Reticulocyte Count ; Siblings ; Tissue Donors* ; Transplantation*