Introduction: Several investigators demonstrated that routine nasogastric decompression after abdominal surgery was unnecessary and can be safely eliminated. Some authors suggested that early feeding could be tolerated by the majority of patients after elective colorectal surgery. PURPOSE: The aim of our study was to prospectively assess the safety and tolerability of early oral feeding after colorectal surgery. METHODS: This trial included 69 patients who underwent an colon or rectal operation between April 1997 and August 1998. Patients were randomized after the operative procedure into one of two groups. Group 1: early oral feeding-all patents received a clear liquid diet on the first postoperative day followed by a regular diet as tolerated. Group 2: delayed feeding-all patients were treated in the traditional way with feeding only after the resolution of their postoperative ileus. Both groups had intraoperative nasogastric tubes that were removed at the end of surgery. The patients were monitored for vomiting, nasogastric tube reinsertion, time of regular diet consumption, complication, and length of hospitalization. The nasogastric tube was reinserted if two or more episodes of vomiting of more than 100 ml occurred in the absence of bowel movement. RESULTS: Sixty-nine consecutive patients were studied, 34 patients in group 1 (12 males and 22 females, mean age 58.1+/-12.7), and 35 patients in group 2 (16 males and 19 females, mean age 58.5+/-12.7). Significant differences were not noted in age and type of procedures. No significant differences were seen in rates of vomiting and overall complications. However, early feeding group well tolerated a regular diet (postoperative period to take regular diet of group 1: 5.4+/-4.0 days, group 2 : 8.1+/-4.6 days, p=0.013), and were discharged from hospital significantly earlier than the delayed feeding group(group 1: 14.0+/-5.1 days, group 2: 19.1+/-8.6 days, p=0.004). CONCLUSION: Early feeding after colorectal surgery is successfully tolerated by the majority of patients and led to earlier hospital discharge.
Colon ; Colorectal Surgery* ; Decompression ; Diet ; Female ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Ileus ; Male ; Prospective Studies ; Research Personnel ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; Vomiting

No abstract available.
Adrenocortical Carcinoma* ; Cushing Syndrome ; Humans ; Infant* ; Male* ; Puberty, Precocious

No abstract available.
Fractures, Open* ; Tibia*

No abstract available.
Diabetic Foot*

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to examine the effects of the Korean medicine healthcare program on stroke-related factors and self-care enhancement. METHODS: This study was a quasi-experimental, pretest-posttest nonequivalent control group design study (N = 58 participants), with 28 in the treatment group (Korean medicine health care program) and 30 in the control group (no intervention). The program was conducted twice a week for 2 hours, for a total of 12 weeks. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences in systolic (p = 0.005) and diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.006), cholesterol (p < 0.001), blood glucose (p < 0.001), self-esteem (p = 0.001), self-efficacy (p < 0.001), health perception (p < 0.001), and the health behavior (p < 0.001) between the experimental group and the control group. CONCLUSION: Thus, the Korean medicine healthcare program was effective in managing stroke-related factors and enhancing self-care, and should be actively used to develop community health promotion strategies to prevent strokes and prepare long-term measures.
Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Cholesterol ; Delivery of Health Care ; Health Behavior ; Health Promotion ; Medicine, Korean Traditional ; Self Care ; Stroke

PURPOSE: This study was done to see whether neonates born to unmarried mothers have higher rates of prematurity, low birth weight, perinatal morbidity and mortality than normal married group. METHODS: 88 neonates of unmarried mothers who were admitted in our NICU during the 5-year period from January 1987 through December 1991 were evaluated, and as the control group served 276 neonates of married mothers in 12 randomly selected weeks extended over the year during the same period. In statistical analyses, all data were analyzed by x2 test, Student t-test, and regression equation. RESULTS: 1) Unmarried mothers were 19.9+/-2.5(SD) year-old, with the majority(64.8%) falling into to age group between 16 and 20 years, whereas the control group was significantly older with 28.8+/-3.9 years. 2) Sex ratio was 1.38 : 1, with male prepondering, mean gestational age 35.5+/-3.7 weeks and mean birth weight 2,240+/-640g, in the unmarried group, differing significantly from the control group with 38.5+/-37 weeks and 2,910+/-750g. 3) Incidences of prematurity and low birth weight (LBW) were 70.5% and 75.0%, and total mortality was 28.4%. These values were significantly higher than in the control group, with 22.5%, 32.2%, 7.2%, respectively, and prematurity and LBW rate were also significantly higher in both groups of the same maternal age. Birth weight of unmarried group was significantly lower than control group in the same gestational age. Gestational age, birth weight, mortality rate were not significantly correlated to maternal age in both unmarried and control groups. 4) For the neonates of unmarried mothers, the majority was delivered either by midwife or in local obstetric clinics, and most of them(57.9%) were delivered by induction. 5) Neonatal diseases were jaundice, respiratory distress syndrome(RDS) and infection in the decreasing order, and incidence of RDS was significantly higher than in control group. But the death rate of RDS only tended to be higher in the unmarried-group. CONCLUSIONS: The neonates born to unmarried mothers have significantly higher rates of prematurity, LBW and mortality, and lower birth weight than the control group in the same gestational age. For neonatal diseases, incidence of RDS was significantly higher, and its mortality was significantly higher in the unmarried-group. Awareness on the seriousness of the problems leading to preventive measures against juvenile and unmarried child births, along with improved managements of babies born to unmarried mothers are urgently advocated.
Birth Weight ; Child ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Illegitimacy ; Incidence ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn* ; Jaundice ; Male ; Maternal Age ; Midwifery ; Mortality ; Mothers ; Parturition ; Sex Ratio ; Single Person*

No abstract available.
Erythrocyte Membrane* ; Erythrocytes* ; Hydroxyl Radical* ; Lipid Peroxidation* ; Macrophages, Alveolar* ; Mineral Fibers*

No abstract available.
Steatocystoma Multiplex*

Acrodysostosis is a rare multiple congenital malformation syndrome with peripheral dysostosis, nasal hypoplasia, mental retardation and growth failure. In 1968, Maroteaux and Malamut first described this disorder in three patients, and thus far now over 30 published cases have been reported worldwide. Radiographic changes include severe shortening of metacarpals, metatarsals, and phalages, cone-shaped epiphyses of the hands and feet, premature fusion of the epiphyses, and advanced bone age. Most patients do relatively well except for the problems of mental deficiency and arthritic complaints. Progressive restriction of movement of the hands, elbows, and spine may occur. Recently, we experienced a case of acrodysostosis in and 11-year-old boy who presented with short stature, short hands and feet, nasal hypoplasia, mental retardation, and typical radiographic findings including severe shortening of metacarpals, metatarsals and phalanges, cone-shaped epiphyses of the hands and feet.
Child ; Dysostoses ; Elbow ; Epiphyses ; Foot ; Hand ; Humans ; Intellectual Disability ; Male ; Metacarpal Bones ; Metatarsal Bones ; Spine

BACKGROUND: The body temperature of a patient changes changes during general anesthesia and cholinesterase inhibitor is usually administered at the end of general anesthesia to reverse the neuromuscular blocker effect. We tried to evaluate the effect of temperature changes on the contraction of tracheal smooth muscle induced by acetylcholine (Ach) exogenously administered and neostigmine, cholinesterase inhibitor. METHODS: Isolated tracheal preparations(3 mm wide) of rabbit were mounted in organ baths filled with Tyrode's solution. Cumulative dose responses(isometric contractin) of Ach (10-6, 10-5, 10-4 & 10-3 M) & neostigmine (10-8, 10-7, 10-6, 10-4) at 37oC, 39oC and 27oC were measured with force displacement transducer and pD2 was calculated. RESULTS: Warming from 37oC to 39oC, contraction by Ach weakened significantly and contraction by neostigmine did not change significantly. Cooling from 37oC to 27oC, contraction by Ach were changed significantly and contraction by neostigmine, at low concentration, was inhibited significantly, but at high concentration, was not potentiated significantly. pD2 of Ach did not change significantly by cooling from 37oC to 27oC and decreased significantly by warming from 37oC to 39oC. pD2 of neostigmine was significantly reduced by cooling from 37oC to 27oC and did not change significantly by warming from 37oC to 39oC. CONCLUSIONS: Warming from 37oC to 39oC, the contraction of tracheal smooth muscle induced by Ach was decreased significantly,and cooling from 37oC to 27oC, contraction induced by neostigmine was decreased significantly at low concentration of neostigmine. But it is not sure wheter these effects can be observed in clinical practice when neostigmine is administered to patients,so further study is necessary.
Acetylcholine* ; Anesthesia, General ; Baths ; Body Temperature ; Cholinesterases ; Humans ; Muscle, Smooth* ; Neostigmine* ; Neuromuscular Blockade ; Transducers