Postprandial hypotension is an important minor clinical problem. It is a common disorder that causes unexplained dizziness, falls, lightheadedness, syncope, angina pectoris, and even transient ischemic attacks of the brain. It is often defined as a decrease in systolic blood pressure by more than 20 mmHg within 2 hours after a meal. The mechanism of postprandial hypotension is splanchnic blood pooling via the loading of glucose in the intestine and decompensation of the autonomic nervous system. The best tool for detecting a fall in systolic blood pressure is 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Acarbose, an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, is very useful for preventing postprandial hypotension. We experienced a case of postprandial hypotension that presented with postprandial dizziness. The patient was treated successfully with acarbose before each meal.
Acarbose ; alpha-Glucosidases ; Angina Pectoris ; Autonomic Nervous System ; Blood Pressure ; Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory ; Brain ; Dizziness ; Glucose ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Intestines ; Ischemic Attack, Transient ; Meals ; Syncope

Real-time ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy in 137 solid breast masses was performed. Sonographic findings were categorized into three group and aspirates were categorized into three cytologic groups. The cytologic result was reported benign masses (cytologic group 1) in 71 cases (52%), malignant masses (cytologic group 2 and 3) in 44 cases (32%) and insufficient specimens in 22 cases (16%). Insufficient specimens were treated as benign masses. Excisional biopsy in 44 malignant masses and 3 benigh masses according to cytologic results, clinical findings and follow up study was performed. The result was reported 41 malignant masses and 6 benign masses. Based on cytologic criteria, sensitivity for detection of malignancy was 93% and specificity was 94%. In conclusion, the high specificity provided by ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy could markedly reduce unnecessary surgical excisions for benign masses and it should be routinely performed, since it can give physical and emotional benefits to patients and lead to earlier and cost effective diagnosis of breast cancer.
Biopsy ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle* ; Breast Neoplasms ; Breast* ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ultrasonography

Desmoid tumor is rare neoplasm originated from fibrous sheath or musculoaponeurotic structure. It is classified as benign tumor histologically, but clinically, it has malignant characteristics due to its infiltrative growth to adjacent organ and frequent local recurrence. Especially, mesenteric desmoid tumor shows poor prognosis because of its symptoms of pain, intestinal obstruction, ureter obstruction and fistula formation and high frequency of recurrence. We experienced a case of mesenteric desmoid tumor in a 64-year-old woman with a painless abdominal mass. Laparoscopic exploration was performed and 10 cm sized mesenteric mass was identified, which resected widely and the diagnosis was confirmed with desmoid tumor by pathologic report. We reviewed the feature of the mesenteric desmoid tumor, that is, pathophysiology, clinical presentations, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.
Female ; Fibromatosis, Aggressive ; Fistula ; Humans ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Laparoscopy ; Mesentery ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Ureter

A 63-year-old woman was referred to a breast surgeon with a breast mass discovered incidentally during follow-up study after colon cancer surgery. Invasive adenocarcinoma was revealed on core needle biopsy. Wide excision of the breast including the tumor was performed. On standard histological examination the tumor showed features of moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma. The immunohistochemistry study revealed positive results for cytokeratin (CK)20 and CDX2, but negative for CK7. These are typical characteristics for colon cancer. Considering her history of subtotal colectomy for sigmoid colon cancer, it is presumable that the mass in the breast was of colonic origin, and it was an extremely rare case of metastasis to the breast from primary colorectal neoplasm. Although the instance is rare, clinicians should keep the possibility of breast metastasis from colorectal cancer in mind for early and correct diagnosis.
Adenocarcinoma ; Biopsy, Large-Core Needle ; Breast ; Colectomy ; Colon ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Keratins ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Sigmoid Neoplasms

Methemoglobinemia is an uncommon but potentially fatal disorder. Most cases have no adverse clinical consequence and require no treatment, but methemoglobinemia is often overlooked as a cause of low oxygen saturation, and often mistaken for the more common causes of hypoxia by anesthesiologists despite simple bedside tests that indicate the presence of this treatable abnormality. We present a 68-year-old female patient who underwent gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer with bleeding. In the preoperative period, the patient showed cyanosis and oxygen saturation was 85% by pulse oximeter, but oxygen saturation by arterial blood gas analysis was 100%. After tracheal intubation, the methemoglobin level was 18.3%. Ascorbic acid and methylene blue were administered. During preanesthetic evaluation, the patient had not informed the anesthesiologist that she had been taking dapsone.
Aged ; Anesthesia, General ; Anoxia ; Ascorbic Acid ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Cyanosis ; Dapsone ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Intubation ; Methemoglobin ; Methemoglobinemia ; Methylene Blue ; Oximetry ; Oxygen ; Preoperative Period ; Stomach Neoplasms

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe technological development, caring attributes and professional self-concept as perceived by nurses in YanBian. METHOD: Data were collected using an instrument containing 137 Likert items was administered to 477 RN's working in general hospitals in YanBian. The instrument contained sections which examined technological influences questionnaire(TIQ), caring attributes questionnaire(CAQ), and professional self-concept nursing inventory(PSCNI). RESULT: Descriptive and inferential statistics revealed by marital status and position. Married, working special ward nurses reported a higher TIQ score than that of unmarried and working general ward and OPD. PSCNI and CAQ score of head or supervisor nurses were higher than that of staff nurses. Subjects revealed very low score of CAQ, while PSCNI score was higher than that of other Asian countries such as Korea, Beijing China, HongKong China and Japan as proved in former study. CONCLUSION: Useful information for educators and nurse administrators is provided from this results. Further study needs to be done to discuss in the light of cultural and environmental differences between YanBian(Korean-Chinese) and Korean nurses.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical and radiological results and to analyze the survivorship after closing wedge proximal tibial osteotomy(PTO) using miniplate staple. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From November 1993 to August 2003, sixty closing wedge PTO using miniplate staple were performed in forty patients. The average follow-up period was 7.2 years(range, 2.8~12.5 years). According to the post- operative femorotibial angle(FTA), group I was defined as the cases whose FTA was less than 7 degrees of valgus(25 cases) and group II was defined as the cases whose FTA was more than 7 degrees of valgus(35 cases). The HSS score, FTA and survivorship were compared between group I and II. RESULTS: Average HSS score at the last follow up were 75.3 in group I and 85.9 in group II(p=0.006). Average FTA at the last follow up were 0.8 degrees in group I and 7.7 degrees in group II(p=0.006). The overall 7-year survivorship was 92.6% and 12-year survivorship was 75.5%. The 7-year survivorship and 12-year survivorship of group I were 86.7% and 54.2%, respectively. Group II have no failure at last follow up(p=0.0489). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the desirable postoperative FTA was more than 7 degrees of valgus, considering the long term satisfactory result and survivorship of the closing wedge PTO using miniplate staple for the osteoarthritic knees.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Knee ; Osteotomy* ; Survival Rate*

PURPOSE: To analyze the causes and clinical outcomes associated with re-revision total knee arthroplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighteen cases of re-revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA) were performed between June 1996 and September 2006. The average patient age was 69.8 years, and the average follow-up period was 3.4 years. We evaluated the time interval between revision and re-revision arthroplasty and the causes of re-revision. Clinical outcomes were assessed using the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) knee rating score and determining the range of motion in the knee. RESULTS: The mean interval between revision and re-revision arthroplasty was 9 years 1 month. Causes of re-revision included 9 cases of polyethylene wear, 6 cases of aseptic loosening, 1 case of infection, and 2 cases of other causes. The average HSS score was 89.1, and the average range of motion was 111.1 degrees. For 5 cases of revision undertaken secondary to infected TKA, the interval between revision and re-revision arthroplasty was 9 years 3 months, and the cause of re-revision surgery was aseptic loosening in all cases. CONCLUSION: The main causes of re-revision surgery were polyethylene wear and aseptic loosening. Reasonable restoration of function was achieved in re-revision arthroplasty using appropriately selected implants, metal augmentation, structural allografts, and stems. When revising an infected TKA, it is important to achieve structural stability in the implant because of the possibility of late aseptic loosening.
Arthroplasty ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Knee ; Polyethylene ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Transplantation, Homologous

BACKGROUND: The thoracic transforaminal epidural block (TTFEB) is usually performed to treat herpes zoster or postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Especially, multiple segmental involvements and approximate contrast medium spread range, according to volume, help to choose the proper drug volume in the transforaminal epidural block. This study investigated the contrast medium spread patterns of 1-ml to 3-ml TTFEBs. METHODS: A total of 26 patients with herpes zoster or PHN were enrolled in this study. All participants received 1 ml, 2 ml, or 3 ml of contrast medium. Results were divided into Groups A, B and C based on the volume (1, 2, or 3 ml), with n = 26 for each group. After the injection of contrast medium, the spread levels were estimated in both the lateral and anteroposterior (AP) images using fluoroscopy. RESULTS: The cephalad spread of contrast medium in the lateral image as expressed by the median (interquartile range) was 2.00 levels (1.00–2.00) for Group A, 2.50 (2.00–3.00) for Group B, and 3.00 (2.00-4.00) for Group C. The caudal spread level of contrast medium was 1.00 (1.00-2.00) for Group A, 2.00 (2.00–3.00) for Group B, and 2.00 (2.00–3.00) for Group C. There was ventral and dorsal spread of the 3-ml contrast medium injection in 88% (23/26) of cases in the lateral image. CONCLUSIONS: Injection of 3 ml of contrast medium through the foramina spread 6 levels in a cephalocaudal direction. Spread patterns revealed a cephalad preference. TTFEB resulted in dorsal and ventral spread in a high percentage of cases. This procedure may be useful for transferring drugs to the dorsal and ventral roots.
Contrast Media ; Fluoroscopy ; Herpes Zoster ; Humans ; Injections, Epidural ; Nerve Block ; Neuralgia, Postherpetic ; Spinal Nerve Roots ; Spine

PURPOSE: To evaluate midterm results after microfracture in osteoarthritic knees. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between October 1997 and April 2006, 67 osteoarthritic knees, with minimum 4-year follow-up, underwent microfracture. Baumgaertner scores were evaluated to determine clinical results. Radiological results were assessed based on joint space widening and improvement of mechanical axis deviation. Joint space widening was calculated by comparing the preoperative joint space with the final follow-up joint space. Varus deformity was evaluated on orthoroentgenogram and recorded as a percentile of the point at which the mechanical axis intersected a line extending from the center of the knee to medial border of the medial tibial condyle. The figure was expressed as MA%. RESULTS: The average Baumgaertner score at final follow-up was 7.0. The average joint space changed from 2.74 mm to 4.22 mm on AP radiographs and from 1.91 mm to 3.85 mm on lateral radiographs. Average MA% was 57.5% preoperatively and 45.8% at final follow-up. Clinical and radiological improvements were maintained in most cases followed for more than 4 years. Four patients had total knee arthroplasty after an average of 4.1 years. CONCLUSION: We noted pain relief, joint space widening, and improvement of mechanical axis after microfracture for degenerative arthritis of the knee. Maintenance of clinical and radiological improvement was observed at midterm follow-up.
Arthroplasty ; Arthroscopy ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Joints ; Knee ; Osteoarthritis