PURPOSE: Patients with stroke suffer from physical disabilities, followed by mental instability. Their caregivers also suffer from mental instability. The present study attempted to address the degree and the change of the level of Purpose in Life (PIL) in patients with stroke and caregivers by applying art therapy using colors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-eight stroke patients with a good functional recovery or a moderate disability and their 28 caregivers were selected and evaluated. The period of the study between the stroke and color therapy was more than 6 months. Patients and caregivers were divided into the color therapy (28) and control groups (28). A questionnaire, which measures the level of PIL was conducted separately for patients and caregivers prior to the first session of color therapy (2 hours per week, total 16 sessions). The final examination was performed 5 months after the last color therapy session. RESULTS: There was significant difference between before and after color therapy when the level of PIL was measured both in patients and caregivers (p<0.01). These were the same between the color therapy group, compared with the control group (p<0.01). As color therapy progressed to the late phase, patients and caregivers applied increasing number of colors and color intensity. CONCLUSION: These results prove that color therapy will improve PIL of the patients with post-stroke disability and caregivers. Furthermore, color therapy would be a useful adjuvant for improving the quality of life of the patients with stroke and their caregivers.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Art Therapy/*methods ; Caregivers ; Color ; Depression/therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Quality of Life ; Questionnaires ; Stroke/*psychology/*rehabilitation ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome

Three dimensional computed tomographic angiography is a rapid and minimally invasive method of detecting intracranial aneurysms, however, there are some limitation to identify the associated cerebrovascular lesions. We report a case of ruptured dorsal wall aneurysm of internal carotid artery in a 50-year-old man who had underlying stenosis of cervical internal carotid artery, which was overlooked due to lesion outside the scan field of view.
Aneurysm ; Angiography* ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm* ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of intracranial-extracranial arterial bypass(EIAB) surgery on cerebrovascular reserve capacity(CRC) in patients with hemodynamic cerebral ischemia and to assess the significance of transcranial doppler(TCD) examination before and after EIAB surgery. METHODS: In 29 consecutive patients who underwent EIAB surgery due to symptomatic internal carotid artery or middle cerebral artery(MCA) occlusion, 21 patients were studied using preoperative and postoperative digital subtraction angiogram(DSA), SPECT, and TCD examination. After measuring mean radioactivity count of a region of interest, relative regional cerebral blood flow(rrCBF) was quantitated by the following formula: lesional radioactivity count/contralateral radioactivity count x 100%. CRC was calculated as the percentage change from baseline flow after a vasodilatory challenge. RESULTS: Postoperative DSA showed good collateral circulation through the bypass except 4 patients. Preoperative mean value of rCRC improved significantly after EIAB surgery from -14.8+/-2.6% to 6.9+/-2.7%(p<0.01). Intraoperatively, flow velocity of superficial temporal artery(STA) and MCA just after anastomoses increased remarkably in comparison with the values just before anastomoses(p<0.01). There was no correlation between the change of pre- and postoperative flow velocity and the change of rrCBF. In patients with the increase of flow velocity after surgery manifested good collateral circulation through the bypass. The difference was statistically significant(repeated measures ANOVA, p<0.05). Over a mean follow-up period of almost 3 years, no patient had another episode of brain ischemia. CONCLUSION: We believe that the measurement of flow velocity is expected a good method to evaluate the degree of collateral circulation through the bypass.
Brain Ischemia* ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Collateral Circulation ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Radioactivity ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

PURPOSE: A vast array of injuries result from high voltage electrical damage. The compartment syndrome of forearm prone to have high risk of major amputations, especially in arc burn. Early decompressing fasciotomy has been recommended for the prevention of limb amputations. There are controversies about the effect of fasciotomy. We tried to Pressure Cuff Recording (PCR) wave forms of Plethysmography for the monitoring early signs of vascular compromises in decision of early selective fasciotomy. We investigated the role of PCR wave forms to reduce major amputation rate. METHODS: We reviewed 875 burned limb of 520 electric current damage victims (fasciotomy or amputation were performed, PCR wave forms evaluated) during the last 14 years (from Jan. 1, 1996 to Jun. 30, 2009). We analysed the differences of amputation rates by the currency, input/output, burn types, effects of PGE1 adminstration, fasciotomy time, converting of PCR wave forms. RESULTS: There was no major amputations among low tension victims (minor amputation rate; 0.3%). The minor and major amputation rate were 19.5% and 27.0 in high tension injury. The flash burns rarely made the amputations, but arc burns had 12.1% of minor and 41.2% of major amputations. The direct contact burns had 24.7% of minor and 21.3% of major amputations. Most of the victims had their hand as input and foot as output. The minor and major amputation rate were 26.2% and 10.9% in none-fasciotomy, 8.8% and 48.0% in within 8 hours, 10.0% and 52.9% in 8-24 hours, 9.3% and 63.0% in over 24 hours fasciotomy group. Final normal type (N type) of PCR result had only 3.1% of minor amputations and 3.1% of major amputations. Final obstructive type (O type) had 37.6% of minor amputations, 60.8% of major amputations. Initial stenotic type (S type) of converted to N type had 6.6% amputation, but to O type had 98.7% amputation. CONCLUSION: The early selective fasciotomy are essential to reduce major amputations in high tension injuries, especially in arc burns. The PCR wave form converting to obstructive type could be helpful to predict the possible amputation. The PCR wave form is a good tool to monitor early signs of vascular compromise around fasciotomy. It plays as the index of immediate fasciotomy decision.
Alprostadil ; Amputation ; Burns ; Burns, Electric ; Compartment Syndromes ; Extremities ; Foot ; Forearm ; Hand ; Organothiophosphorus Compounds ; Plethysmography ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

Patients suffering from idiopathic or self-induced edema are uniformly characterized by chronic use of furosemide, which leads to vicious cycle of edema. Among chronic furosemide users who don't have any other specific edema forming diseases, 9 patients from the outpatient clinic(OC) and 6 patients examined at the emergency room(ER) used it mainly for weight reduction and for cyclical edema, respectively. All of the ER group patients were presented with severe hypokalemia(2.04+/-0.2mEq/L; range 1.3 to 2.7 mEq/L) and alkalosis(748+/-0.01; range 7.44 to 7.51) but none from the OC group showed such results. Other baseline parameters including Plasma renin activity(PRA) and aldosterone level on recumbency, and FEn(2)were similar in both groups. In contrast, daily working hours(6.1+/-0.5 vs 10+/-0.6hr, p<0.01), average body weight gain between AM and PM(0.4+/-0.1 vs 0.9+/-0.lkg, p<0.01), peak weight gain interval(9+/-0.8 vs 5+/-0.1day, p<0.05), PRA(7.6+/-1.5 vs 23.5+/-7.2ng/ml/h, p<0.05) and aldosterone level(22.1+/-4.2 vs 64.8+/-10.4 ng/dl, p<0.01) on ambulation, and FEk. on normokalemia(ll+/-2A vs 36+/-7.7%, p<0.01) were statistically different between the two groups. In comparison to the OC group, both the amout of urine(617+/-39 vs 358+/-26ml, p<0.01) and the percent change of PRA(-14+/-4 vs -3+/-2%, p<0.05) and al-dosterone level(-17+/-5 vs -4+/-3%, p<0.05) after saline loading(lL over 1hr, IV) following ambulation were smaller in the Elt group. Moat of the ER group patients(5/6) required aldosterone antagonist (spironolactone) added to K+ supplement, but all of the OC group patients were managed to maintain an edema-free status with conservative treatment. In conclusion, patients with idiopathic edema seem to have more fluid transudation out of intravascular space during orthostasis with a prominent degree of deranged renin-aldosterone axis and K+ metabolism than those with self-induced edema.
Aldosterone ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Body Weight ; Dizziness ; Edema* ; Emergencies ; Furosemide* ; Humans ; Metabolism ; Outpatients ; Plasma ; Renin ; Walking ; Weight Gain ; Weight Loss

Good's syndrome is the association of thymoma with immunodeficiency, characterized by hypogammaglobulinemia, B-cell lymphopenia and variably defects in cellular immunity with CD4+ T-cell lymphopenia and an inverted CD4+:CD8+ T-cell ratio. We report a 43-year-old male patient who presented with a 18-month history of productive cough and postnasal drip. One year ago, he underwent the operation for resection of a thymoma. Despite of appropriate management, sinusitis relapsed multiple times. He was found to have hypogammaglobulinemia with nearly absent B cells(4/microliter). The CD4+ T-cell count was 554/microliter with an inverted CD4+:CD8+ T-cell ratio of 0.6. His symptoms and signs improved with antibiotic treatment and monthly administration of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG, 400 mg/kg).
Adult ; Agammaglobulinemia ; B-Lymphocytes ; Cough ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; Immunoglobulins ; Lymphopenia ; Male ; Sinusitis ; T-Lymphocytes ; Thymoma

BACKGROUND: Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality among immunocompromised patients. However, IA is difficult to diagnose, especially in the aforementioned patient group. Recently, galactomannan assay (GMA) using enzyme immunoassay has been introduced in Korea. We evaluated its diagnostic usefulness in the diagnosis of IA and we analyzed the results according to the underlying diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients who underwent GMA during the period from October 2007 to June 2008 were evaluated retrospectively. According to the criteria of European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Mycoses Study Group, IA was classified into four clinical categories: 'proven', 'probable', 'possible', and 'non' IA. Patients with 'proven' and 'probable' IA were used as the reference standards for IA. GMA was performed using Platelia Aspergillus EIA (Bio-Rad, Hercules, CA, USA). Optical density index > or =0.5 was considered positive. RESULTS: Of the 144 patients who underwent GMA, two patients were classificed as 'proven' IA and sixteen patients were 'probable' IA. Overall sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the assay were 50% (95% confidence interval [CI95], 26-74%), 88% (CI95, 81-93%), 38% (CI95, 19-59%), and 93% (CI95, 86-97%), respectively. Among the 99 patients with underlying hematologic diseases, GMA showed 67% (CI95, 35-90%) sensitivity and 89% (CI95, 80-94%) specificity, whereas in 45 patients with underlying diseases other than hematologic diseases, sensitivity and specificity of the assay were 17% (CI95, 0-64%) and 87% (CI95, 73-96%), respectively. CONCLUSION: GMA showed high specificity, irrespective of the patient population. However, sensitivity of GMA was low and the assay was less sensitive in patients with underlying diseases other than hematologic diseases than in patients with hematologic diseases.
Aspergillosis ; Aspergillus ; Hematologic Diseases ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Korea ; Mannans ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Good's syndrome is the association of thymoma with immunodeficiency, characterized by hypogammaglobulinemia, B-cell lymphopenia and variably defects in cellular immunity with CD4+ T-cell lymphopenia and an inverted CD4+:CD8+ T-cell ratio. We report a 43-year-old male patient who presented with a 18-month history of productive cough and postnasal drip. One year ago, he underwent the operation for resection of a thymoma. Despite of appropriate management, sinusitis relapsed multiple times. He was found to have hypogammaglobulinemia with nearly absent B cells(4/microliter). The CD4+ T-cell count was 554/microliter with an inverted CD4+:CD8+ T-cell ratio of 0.6. His symptoms and signs improved with antibiotic treatment and monthly administration of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG, 400 mg/kg).
Adult ; Agammaglobulinemia ; B-Lymphocytes ; Cough ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; Immunoglobulins ; Lymphopenia ; Male ; Sinusitis ; T-Lymphocytes ; Thymoma

BACKGROUND: Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality among immunocompromised patients. However, IA is difficult to diagnose, especially in the aforementioned patient group. Recently, galactomannan assay (GMA) using enzyme immunoassay has been introduced in Korea. We evaluated its diagnostic usefulness in the diagnosis of IA and we analyzed the results according to the underlying diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients who underwent GMA during the period from October 2007 to June 2008 were evaluated retrospectively. According to the criteria of European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Mycoses Study Group, IA was classified into four clinical categories: 'proven', 'probable', 'possible', and 'non' IA. Patients with 'proven' and 'probable' IA were used as the reference standards for IA. GMA was performed using Platelia Aspergillus EIA (Bio-Rad, Hercules, CA, USA). Optical density index > or =0.5 was considered positive. RESULTS: Of the 144 patients who underwent GMA, two patients were classificed as 'proven' IA and sixteen patients were 'probable' IA. Overall sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the assay were 50% (95% confidence interval [CI95], 26-74%), 88% (CI95, 81-93%), 38% (CI95, 19-59%), and 93% (CI95, 86-97%), respectively. Among the 99 patients with underlying hematologic diseases, GMA showed 67% (CI95, 35-90%) sensitivity and 89% (CI95, 80-94%) specificity, whereas in 45 patients with underlying diseases other than hematologic diseases, sensitivity and specificity of the assay were 17% (CI95, 0-64%) and 87% (CI95, 73-96%), respectively. CONCLUSION: GMA showed high specificity, irrespective of the patient population. However, sensitivity of GMA was low and the assay was less sensitive in patients with underlying diseases other than hematologic diseases than in patients with hematologic diseases.
Aspergillosis ; Aspergillus ; Hematologic Diseases ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Korea ; Mannans ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Ischemic colitis is the most common form of ischemia in the gastrointestinal tract. It results from inadequate blood flow in the colon that leads to inflammation of the colon. Though this disease frequently affects the elderly with risk factors of ischemia, younger patients may be affected too. Several conditions such as major vascular occlusion, small vessel disease, shock, some medications, colonic obstructions and hematologic disorders can predispose individuals to ischemic colitis. Ischemic colitis following colonoscopy is rare. Here we report 2 cases of ischemic colitis which developed after colonoscopic procedures in patients without risk factors of ischemia.
Aged ; Colitis, Ischemic ; Colon ; Colonoscopy ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Ischemia ; Risk Factors ; Shock