Adrenal Cortex Hormones* ; Prospective Studies* ; Stents*

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to screen the prevalence of aneurysms in migraineurs; to differentiate presenting features in migraineurs with and without aneurysm; and also to correlate the locations of aneurysm to the clinical features of migraine. Methods: A total of 4,416 subjects were interviewed and completed self-reported questionnaires on headache. Of these, 1,773 subjects diagnosed to have migraines based on the International Classification of Headache Disorders II (ICHD-II) criteria were screened for aneurysm by magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). When aneurysm was suspected, further investigation with trans femoral cerebral angiography (TFCA) or three dimensional computerized tomography (CT) angiography was performed. Based upon MRA findings, subjects were grouped into unruptured aneurysm migraine patients (UAMP) and no aneurysm migraine patients (NAMP). Results: The prevalence of aneurysm was 3.6% (63 of 1,773) with the mean age of 56.0 years, which were not different from those of general population. There was no difference in migraine subtypes between UAMP and NAMP. Aggravation of headache by estrogen replacement therapy during menopause (p=.039), history of migraine in young age (p= .021), diplopia (p=.026), and retroauricular pain (p=.025) were significantly associated with presence of aneurysm. Although aneurysms were detected more in anterior circulation, there was no correlation between aneurysm site and headache location. The average size of aneurysm was 3.5 ± 2.1 mm and none were ruptured. Interventional therapy of aneurysm did not alter the feature of migraine. Conclusions: The incidence of aneurysm was not different in migraine patients as compared to the general population. Some features which significantly differentiate whether migrainuers have aneurysm or not warrant further study to have a predictive and localizing value.

No abstract available.
Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second* ; Pregnancy*

This study was performed to observe the therapeutic effects of interferon-gamma(IFN-gamma) and gamma-globulin(gamma-globulin) in experimental Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia of immune suppressed mice. After 9 weeks, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole(TMP-SMZ; 10-50 mg/mouse/day), mouse IFN-gamma(5 x 10(4) units/mouse/day) and mouse gamma-globulin(20 mg/mouse/day) were administered to the mice for 3 weeks by the experimental group. The therapeutic efficacy was evaluated by body weights, histopathologic and electron microscopic findings of the lungs, and number of P. carinii cysts by Gomori's methenamine silver stain. Body weights of the mice were significantly increased in the group of combination therapy of TMP-SMZ with IFN-gamma or gamma-globulin, and in the group of TMP-SMZ treatment (p < 0.05), however, little effect was found in the group of gamma-globulin alone. Histopathologic findings of P. carinii pneumonia were much improved in the group of combination therapy of TMP-SMZ with IFN-gamma. Treatment with either TMP-SMZ or IFN-gamma significantly reduced the number of cysts in the P. carinii pneumonia, but gamma-globulin alone was ineffective. In electron microscopic findings of P. carinii pneumonia, the number of trophozoites and cysts were reduced by treatment with either TMP-SMZ or IFN-gamma, and most of the cysts were empty or containing one or two intracystic bodies. The present results suggested, that combination therapy of TMP-SMZ with IFN-gamma had synergistic effects in treatment of P. carinii pneumonia in experimental mice.
Drug-Synergism ; Drug-Therapy,-Combination ; English-Abstract ; Gamma-Globulins-administration-and-dosage ; Interferon-Type-II-administration-and-dosage ; Mice- ; Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole-Combination-administration-and-dosage ; *Gamma-Globulins-therapeutic-use ; *Interferon-Type-II-therapeutic-use ; *Pneumonia,-Pneumocystis-carinii-therapy ; Gamma-Globulins ; Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole-Combination ; Interferon-Type-II

A reduced retroversion angle of humeral head may predispose to recurrent anterior shoulder dislocation and may also be a factor in persistent instability after soft tissue procedures. Rotation osteotomy of proximal humerus is one of many surgical modalities proposed for recurrent anterior shoulder dislocation. To support such an operation, fundamental knowledge of shoulder anatomy is essential. The semi-axial view by Soderlund have been regarded as simple and reliable method for measuring humeral head retroversion angle. The purpose of this study was to evaluate validity of the semi-axial view and to assess reference values for humeral head retroversion angle in Korean. Humeral head retroversion angle was determined from 80 healthy subjects, 48 men and 32 women. Radiographs which shown less than 10degrees between humeral shaft axis and epicondylar axis were defined as acceptable radiographs by Soderlund. Acceptable radiographs were selected and two orthopedic surgeons measured retroversion angle, separately. Acceptable radiographs were obtained in only 70 shoulders (43.8%). The mean angle was 35.2+/-8.24degrees for dominant hand and 32+/-6.27degrees for nondominant in Korean. The mean angle was 35.3+/- 7.78degrees for right side and 31.9+/-6.8degrees for left. The interobserver difference was 2.9degrees. The semi-axial view by Soderlund was not reproducible solely. But if correct arm position is considered, the method presented is easy to use daily.
Arm ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Female ; Hand ; Humans ; Humeral Head* ; Humerus ; Male ; Orthopedics ; Osteotomy ; Reference Values ; Shoulder ; Shoulder Dislocation

OBJECTIVES: This study was to determine how the perception and the satisfaction of outpatients who utilized clinics and hospitals are structurally related with their willingness to utilize the same institution in the future. METHODS: Three hundred and ten responses (via convenient sampling) were collected from 5 hospitals and 20 clinics located in Seoul listed in the "Korea National Hospital Directory 2005". Service quality was utilized as the satisfaction measurement tool. For analysis, we used a structural equation modeling method. RESULTS: The determining factors for general satisfaction with medical services are as follows: medical staff, reasonability of payment, comfort and accessibility. Such results may involve increased competition in the medical market and increased demands for quality medical services, which drive the patients to visit hospitals on their own on the basis of changed determining factors for satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: The structural equation model showed that the satisfaction of outpatients with the quality of medical services is influenced by a few sub-dimensional satisfaction factors. Among these sub-dimensional satisfaction factors, the satisfaction with medical staff and payment were determined to exert a significant effect on overall satisfaction with the quality of medical services. The structural relationship in which overall satisfaction perceived by patients significantly influences their willingness to use the same institution in the future was also verified.
Adult ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Models, Statistical ; *Outpatient Clinics, Hospital ; *Patient Satisfaction ; *Quality of Health Care ; Young Adult

Airway perforation is a rare but potentially fatal complication following laser surgery. A 66 years old man was admitted for surgery of tracheal stenosis. He had undergone 2 prior anesthesia for similar surgery and had diabetes mellitus due to chronic steroid therapy. 2 hours after surgery, tracheal perforation lead to pneumomediastinum, tension pneumothorax and perforation of innominate artery with potential risk to injury, which lies in the close proximity to perforation site of trachea. Arterial wall was so weak and fragile that it was difficult to repair the ruptured site. During the procedure, hemorrhage persisted and cardiac arrest developed. Immediate CPR(cardiopulmonary resuscitation) with internal cardiac massage was done but the patient did not recover. We believe that in patient with history of multiple operations, chronic steroid therapy and diabetes mellitus, the vascular structure of thin and fragile should be approached with greater caution when using CO2 laser during surgery.
Aged ; Anesthesia ; Brachiocephalic Trunk ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Granulation Tissue* ; Heart Arrest ; Heart Massage ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Laser Therapy ; Lasers, Gas* ; Mediastinal Emphysema ; Metabolism ; Pneumothorax ; Trachea ; Tracheal Stenosis

BACKGORUND: infusion of propofol by a target-controlled infusion (TCi) system is effective in achieving conscious sedation for anxious patients presenting for dental surgery. However, there is no report of conscious sedation for mandibular fracture patients using propofol TCi. The objective of this study was to evaluate the appropriation of a conscious sedation using propofol for mandibular fracture patients. METHODS: Twenty patients with a mandibular fracture undergoing an open reduction and miniplate insertion operation were analyzed. We anesthetized patients using a propofol infusion by a TCi system (Diprifusor :Master TCi:Pilot Anesthesia is, France) with local anesthesia using lidocaine. The BiS score was evaluated continually during surgery using a microcomputer (A-2000 BiS monitor , Aspect Medical System, USA). We set the infusion machine at a target concentration 2mug/ml, and adjusted the propofol concentration for a BiS score range of 80-85. infusion rate, total dosage, duration of induction, recall of operative procedure and cooperation scores were checked. BiS, heart rate, noninvasive arterial blood pressure, and SpO2 were recorded during the operation. RESULTS: The mean BiS score was 82.95, the mean target concentration of propofol was 2.645mug/ml, the mean infusion rate was 136.3mug/kg/min, and the mean cooperation score was 2.5, the patients were cooperative. The score of amnesia was 0.2, almost patients did not recall the intraoperative event. The mean duration of stay in the recovery room was 22.2 minutes, and the most frequent side effect was pain on injecion of propofol. CONCLUSiONS: Conscious sedation with propofol TCi is an effective anesthesia method substitute for general anesthesia with quick emergence, few side effects, and safety for mandibular fracture patients.
Amnesia ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Anesthesia, Local ; Arterial Pressure ; Conscious Sedation* ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Lidocaine ; Mandibular Fractures* ; Microcomputers ; Propofol* ; Recovery Room ; Surgical Procedures, Operative

PURPOSE: Language disorders are characterized by inadequate acquisition of language comprehension or expression. Language disorder involve the exclusion of etiologic or explanatory factors, such as sttutering, delayed speech and phonological disorders. It is important to rule out etiologic factors because delayed speech is often associated with other organic disorders or causes of secondary problems. There is no statistic analysis of the causes of language disorders in Korea. So, we analysed the causes of language disorders. METHODS: From March, 2001 to August, 2003, we examined 113 children with language disorders who had developmental and language tests in the language therapy center in Chungnam National University Hospital. RESULTS: In 113 children with language disorders, 77% are male and 23% are female. Average age is 51.3 months. The causes of language disorders are mental retardation (42.4%), tongue-tie(12.3%), sttutering(10.6%), developmental language disorders(9.7%), articulation disorders(9.7%), autism(5.3%), cleft lips or cleft palates(4.4%), hearing disorders (2.6%), lack of teaching(2.6%). CONCLUSION: These data demonstrate that mental retardation is the most common cause of language disorders. It is important to pediatricians that early diagnosis and early therapy can prevent developmental or learning disabilities of children with language disorders.
Child ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Cleft Lip ; Comprehension ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Hearing Disorders ; Humans ; Intellectual Disability ; Korea ; Language Disorders* ; Language Tests ; Language Therapy ; Learning Disorders ; Male ; Secondary Prevention

PURPOSE: Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) usually co-exist with erectile dysfunction. Although the mechanisms for this are still unknown, there seems to be a correlation between the two diseases. We evaluated the effect of lower urinary tract symptoms on the erectile function and the frequency of sexual intercourse. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 1,216 patients, who visited our hospital due to LUTS from January 2000 to April 2006, were evaluated for their erectile function with using International Index of Erectile Function-Erectile Function (IIEF-EF) domain score, frequency of sexual intercourse per month during the last 3 months, prostate volume, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and quality of life (QoL). The patients were divided into five groups according to age: younger than 40, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69 and older than 70. The patients were again divided into three group according to IPSS: mild (0-7), moderate (8-19) and severe (20-35). Multiple regression analysis and two-way ANOVA were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: 772 patients were eligible for the analysis. The mean patient age was 53.6+/-12.6 years, the mean IPSS was 13.8 9.2 and the mean IIEF-EF score was 17.0+/-9.4. Among the age and LUTS parameters, only age and IPSS had significant effect on the erectile function (p<0.01). The IIEF-EF domain score showed significant differences among the each age group and also among the age-adjusted IPSS groups (p<0.01, p=0.023). The frequency of sexual intercourse per month during the last 3 months showed a significant difference among the each age group (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Erectile function declines with the age-adjusted LUTS severity as well as with age. The frequency of sexual intercourse per month during the last 3 months declines with age, but not with the age-adjusted LUTS severity.
Coitus* ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Humans ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms* ; Male ; Prostate ; Quality of Life ; Sexual Behavior ; Urinary Tract