No abstract available.
Family Practice* ; Hospitals, Community* ; Humans

No abstract available.
Arachnoid* ; Arachnoiditis* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Tuberculosis*

No abstract available.
Arachnoid* ; Arachnoiditis* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Tuberculosis*

BACKGROUND: Status epilepticus (SE) shows stereotyped progression of electroencephalogram (EEG) and behaviors in human and some SE models. We analysed semiologic features with the electroencephalographic characteristics of kainic acid (KA)-induced SE which showed different patterns from the previously reported patterns of SE. METHODS: Seventeen male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 150~220 grams were used. SE was induced 5~7 days after the place-ment of epidural electrodes on the rats, using 13 mg/kg kainic acid I.p.. EEGs were recorded and behaviors were contin-uously observed until the end of SE. RESULTS: After the initial akinesia which was apparent within minutes of the KA injection, limbic motor seizure (LMS) composed of facial clonus, head nodding, and akinesia were repeated. Each LMS progressed into more vigorous patterns composed of facial clonus, head nodding, bilateral upper extremity clonus and rearing, without akinesia. Each cycle was repeated as the SE progressed. Severe LMS made up of facial clonus, head nodding, bilateral upper extremity clonus, rearing, falling, and jumping was followed and reiterated. After severe LMS, rats entered subtle SE. In the EEG, repeated discrete seizures mostly consisted of low voltage regular sharp waves and spikes with flat periods. After entering into the LMS, discrete seizure, merging seizure, continuous ictal discharges & periodic epileptiform discharges (PEDs) appeared sequentially in a single cycle and also reiterated. Even during subtle SE, rhythmic cycles were composed of alternating continuous ictal discharges and PEDs. PEDs were gradually replaced by sharp waves or spikes and rats recovered from SE. CONCLUSIONS: Semiologic features and the EEG sequence of KA-induced SE were composed of a series of rhythmic cycles, which have separate EEG patterns in a single cycle. Late EEG patterns of SE were more prominent as the SE progressed.
Animals ; Electrodes ; Electroencephalography ; Head ; Humans ; Kainic Acid ; Male ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Seizures ; Status Epilepticus* ; Upper Extremity

BACKGROUND: Refractory status epilepticus (RSE) requires urgent and effective treatment. Recently, midazolam was suggested as a useful drug in controlling RSE. In order to evaluate the effectiveness and adverse effects of midazolam, we compared midazolam with thiopental sodium. METHODS: Fourteen consecutive RSE in 13 patients from January 1998 to August 1999 were treated. Two RSE were happened in one patient. When the SE was refractory as a result of standard treatment, midazolam and thiopental sodium was alternatively used as therapeutic agent. RESULTS: Out of 9 RSE treated with midazolam, 5 were resolved. Four unresolved RSE received additional thiopental sodium. Thiopental sodium was initially administered in 5 out of 14 RSE. Among the 5 RSE improved by midazolam, no one had midazo-lam- induced hypotension or pneumonia. Three patients had respiratory suppression and needed artificial ventilation. RSE was controlled in 2 out of 4 patients treated with thiopental sodium after midazolam. In these patients, hypoten-sion was developed in 3, pneumonia in 2, and respiratory suppression in all. In 5 RSE treated with thiopental sodium alone, RSE were successfully treated in 3 patients. Complications were hypotension in 2, pneumonia/unknown infec-tion in 3, and respiratory suppression in 4. CONCLUSIONS: Midazolam was comparably effective as thiopental sodium in the treatment of RSE, with less adverse effects. We suggest that midazolam be used in the treatment of RSE before thiopental sodium is administered.
Humans ; Hypotension ; Midazolam* ; Pneumonia ; Status Epilepticus* ; Thiopental* ; Ventilation

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the colonic mucosa that characteristically affects the rectum and involves the large bowel in a contiguous distribution. Upper gastrointestinal inflammation was not believed to be present in UC, but a few recent studies have reported a high incidence of gastroduodenal inflammation in patients with UC, although such occurrences are apparently rare and the stomach and duodenum are not generally considered target organs in UC. Here, we present the case of a 29.year.old man with UC who was found to have diffuse ulcerative duodenitis with endoscopic and histologic features identical to UC
Colitis, Ulcerative ; Colon ; Duodenitis ; Duodenum ; Humans ; Incidence ; Inflammation ; Mucous Membrane ; Rectum ; Stomach ; Ulcer

Urinary calculi are an uncommon complication in renal transplant recipients. We report a case of transplanted kidney stone preexisting in the donor kidney. which was treated successfully with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy.
Humans ; Kidney Calculi* ; Kidney* ; Lithotripsy ; Shock ; Tissue Donors ; Transplantation ; Urinary Calculi

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is belived to be a disorder of keratinocyte hyperproliferation mediated by T helper cells. Cyclosproine is one of the immunosuppressants and there have been several studies showing the benefcial effects of cyclosporine on psoriasis. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy, tolerability, and adverse effects of cyclosporine, a randomized open uncontrolled multicenter study was conducted in 15 university hospitals in Korea. METHOD: There were 68 total trial cases and among them 16 patients dropped out from the study. The reported reasons for stopping the use of the medication under study prematurely were lack of cooperation(seven cases), adverse effects(six cases), the ineffectiveness of the medication(two cases), and another(one case). The drug was administered for 18 weeks to 52 patients. The initial dosage of the drug was 2.5mg/kg/day which was maintained or increased to 4mg/kg/day or 5mg/kg/day according to the PASI score reduction rate at the 6th and 12th week. The PASI score was measured and Iaboratory tests and observation of adverse events were done. RESULTS: At the end of therapy PASI score reduction rate of more than 66% occured in 40 patients (76.9%). The PASI score was significantly reduced from 20.0 to 5.4 after treatment for 18 weeks. The social disability score was significantly decreased. Pruritus and nail involvement were also significantly decreased. The change of systolic and diastolic blood pressure were statistically not significant. The 30% increase of serum creatinine level compared to the baseline was observed in six patients(11.5%) at the 6th week, three patients(5.8%) at the 12th week, five patients(9.6%) at the 18th week, but no patients showed an increase above the normal range.The increase of serum total bilirubin and SGOT was observed in six patients(11.5%) and one patient(1.9%0, respectively. The clinical adverse events reported during the study were gastrointestinal trouble(seven cases, 13.5%), hypertrichosis(two cases, 3.8%), generalized weakness(two cases, 3.8%0, paresthesia(one case, 1.9%), hypertension(one case, 1.9%), disturbance of erection(one case, 1.9%). The overall assessment of efficacy and tolerability by investigator and patients were mostly good or very good. CONCLUSION: Generally cyclosporine was well accepted and tolerated and low dose cyclosporine therapy-2.5mg/kg/day to 5mg/kg/day-is an effective therapeutic modality for the treatment of psoriasis.
Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Bilirubin ; Blood Pressure ; Creatinine ; Cyclosporine* ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Keratinocytes ; Korea ; Pruritus ; Psoriasis* ; Research Personnel ; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer

BACKGROUND: Tinea pedis is the most common dermatophytosis in Korea. It has been increased gradually with time. Its characteristics may change with social environments. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical characteristics of tinea pedis according to clinical type and its mycologic findings. METHODS: We performed clinical and mycological studies on 74 patients with tinea pedis among outpatients clinic of Department of Dermatology in Yeungnam University Hospital and Catholic Skin Clinic for 3 months, from January 2005 to March 2005. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The age distribution showed patients in their 60s and older than 60s to be most common. The ratio of male to female was 1.32:1 2. According to clinical types, the ratio of interdigital type was the highest (50%), followed by interdigital combined hyperkeratotic type (44.6%), interdigital combined with vesicular type (4%) and vesicular type (1.4%). There are no hyperkeratotic type and hyperkeratotic combined vesicular type. 3. The duration of longer than 5 years of tinea pedis was 73%. The proportion of interdigital combined with vesicular type was more common in its duration of longer than 10 years than its duration of less than 10 years. The durations of vesicular type and interdigital combined vesicular type were more than 5 years. 4. The rate of family history of tinea pedis was 52.7%. The broader area of involved site in the patients was, the higher the positivity in family history. 5. The rate of coexistent dermatophytosis with tinea pedis was 82.5%, and tinea unguium was the most common (79.7%). 6. The positive rate of culture was 68.9%, and Trichophyton(T.) rubrum was the most common isolates (96%) followed by T. mentagrophytes (4%). Compared with previous studies, age of patients with tinea pedis was older and duration was longer, the rate of coexistent dermatophytosis was increased, especially in tinea unguium.
Age Distribution ; Dermatology ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Onychomycosis ; Outpatients ; Skin ; Social Environment ; Tinea Pedis* ; Tinea*

BACKGROUND: Many studies have shown a strong inverse relationship between the bone mineral density (BMD) and osteoporotic fractures, with a doubling in the incidence of fractures for each standard deviation reduction in the BMD. Newer peripheral densitometry devices have recently been developed, with the advantages of a low cost and increased portability. In addition, studies focusing on the osteoporosis of rural populations are rare. The authors assessed the factors related with the BMD in rural areas, using peripheral bone densitometry. METHODS: 23 men (68.4+/-9.2[mean age+/-SD] years) and 32 women (63.9+/-8.3 years), living in rural areas, voluntarily participated in this community-based study. The BMD of the distal radius (BMDr) and calcaneus (BMDc) were measured using peripheral dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The BMI, waist to hip ratio, body composition, blood pressure, lipids, fasting glucose and insulin were measured. The sociodemographic characteristics and physical activities were investigated using questionnaires. RESULTS: 21.7% of the men and 34.4% of the women were diagnosed with osteoporosis according to the WHO definition. The BMDr and BMDc were 0.46+/-0.08 and 0.46+/-0.11 and 0.34+/-0.07 and 0.33+/-0.08g/cm2 in the men and women, respectively. In the men, age, BMI, physical activity and smoking were correlated with the BMDr, and age, lean body mass, physical activity, TV watching and smoking with the BMDc. In the women, age, weight and lean body mass were correlated with the BMDr, and age, weight, BMI, waist circumference, fat mass, lean body mass and year since menopause with the BMDc. From a multiple regression analysis, age and smoking in men, and year since menopause and lean body mass in women, respectively, had independent effects on the BMD. CONCLUSION: In the rural community studied, osteoporosis was as highly prevalent as in urban communities. Of the determinants for the BMD, smoking for men, and lean body mass for women, were modifiable factors. Education for quitting smoking in men, and maintenance of optimal weight in women, are required to prevent osteoporosis in rural areas.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Blood Pressure ; Body Composition ; Bone Density ; Calcaneus ; Densitometry ; Education ; Fasting ; Female ; Glucose ; Humans ; Incidence ; Insulin ; Male ; Menopause ; Motor Activity ; Osteoporosis ; Osteoporotic Fractures ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Radius ; Rural Population ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Waist Circumference ; Waist-Hip Ratio