The transpedicular screw fixation is known to be capable of providing more secure correctional, force and rigid fixation to the spine. But it is often accompanied by various complications, including stress shield effects, loosening in osteoporotic spine, pseudoarthrosis, hardware problems and long-term change in motion behaviors at the adjacent motion segment and etc. The purpose of this study is to compare the flexible and rigid rods system in terms of complications and problems for various degenerative lumbar diseases. From September 1991 to November 1994, 41 patients were operated with the flexible rods system (group A) and 39 patients with the rigid rods system (group B). They were followed up for more than 4 years. The flexible rods system was composed of 41 cases of Wiltse system and the rigid rods system was composed of 29 cases of Diapason, 8 cases of TSRH and 2 cases of CD instrument. The resuits of the study were as follows: 1. By standard Cobb lateral measurement, 7 cases in group A and 10 cases in group B showed significant loss of sagittal angle (>4), post-operatively. 2. Hardware failure was noted in 7 cases in group A and 10 cases in group B. In group A, rod bending was seen in 4 cases, rod breakage in 2 and screw loosening in one. In group B, screw loosening was observed in 5 and screw-rod locking mechanism failure in 5 cases. 3. In spondylolisthesis patients, 10 cases in group A and 14 in group B, there was no statistically significant differences between the two groups in the reduction rate immediately after surgery and loss of reduction at the last follow up. 4. Clinical results were good to excellent in 85.4% of patients in group A and 82.1% of group B. No statistically significant differences between the two groups were found, 5. No statistically significant differences between the two groups were found with respect to degenerative changes at the adjacent motion segment to the fused level and pseudoarthrosis.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Pseudarthrosis ; Spine* ; Spondylolisthesis

No abstract available.
Cleidocranial Dysplasia

Twenty-two cases of idiopathic myocardiopathy were observed during the period of 1962 to 1971 and follow up clinical study was made in 5 cases. The criteria of diagnosis was based mainly on exclusive diagnosis in etiology unknown marked cardiomegaly. 1) Male and female ratio of idiopathic myocardiopathy was 1.1:1 and age of onset were distributed from first decade to fifth decade with similar number of cases. 2) Cardinal symptoms were dyspnea, palpitation, chest pain and cough. Common physical findings were protodiastolic gallop (in 2 cases), moist rales (in 3 cases) and hepatomegaly(in 3 cases). 3) Laboratory findings were normal except elevated T.T.T. in one case. 4) Electrocardiogram were abnormal in all cases. There were 3 cases of left ventricular hypertrophy, 3 cases of non-specific ST-T changes and one case of first degree A-V block, intraventricular conduction defect, abnormal Q wave and low valtage, respectively. 5) After medical treatment, symptoms were improved in 4 cases but heart size was reduced in only one case and E.C.G. abnormalities were unchanged in all cases.
Age of Onset ; Cardiomegaly ; Cardiomyopathies* ; Chest Pain ; Cough ; Diagnosis ; Dyspnea ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart ; Humans ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular ; Male ; Respiratory Sounds

No abstract available.
Asthma*

No abstract available.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of ketorolac, paracetamol, and paracetamol plus morphine on pain relief after thyroidectomy. METHODS: Eighty patients were randomly allocated to one of the 4 groups: normal saline (group C), ketorolac 30 mg (group K), paracetamol 1 g (group P), and paracetamol 700 mg plus morphine 3 mg (group PM). Each regimen was administered intravenously (IV) 30 min. before the end of surgery. If pain was not relieved, patients received an IV bolus of pethidine hydrochloride 25 mg. Pain intensity using a visual analogue scale (VAS) was recorded at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 6 hr after the end of surgery. RESULTS: VAS at 0.5 and 1 hr after the end of surgery were significantly lower in group K, group P, and group PM than in group C (P < 0.05). The number of patients receiving pethidine hydrochloride at 0.5 and 1 hr after the end of surgery was significantly lower in group K, group P, and group PM than in group C (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference among the groups in the incidences of adverse events associated with study medications and patient satisfaction (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Paracetamol 1 g IV possesses a similar analgesic efficacy to ketorolac 30 mg IV after thyroidectomy. Paracetamol may represent an alternative to ketorolac for pain prevention after mildly to moderately painful surgery in situations where the use of NSAIDs is unsuitable.
Acetaminophen ; Analgesics ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; Humans ; Incidence ; Ketorolac ; Meperidine ; Morphine ; Patient Satisfaction ; Thyroidectomy

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of recombinant human leukemia inhibitory factor on in vitro development of 1-cell ICR mouse embryo. MATERIALS AND METHOD: ICR mice were superovulated with PMSG/hCG and 1-cell stage mouse embryos were recruited. 1-cell mouse embryo were cocultured on human oviductal cells in a CO2 incubator (coculture group) and were cultured on 0.4% BSA+HTF media (control group). And anti-hLIF Ab was added the cocultured group in a different concentration (1pg, 10pg, 100pg, 1ng) and developmental rate was compaired to the control group, and rhLIF was added to the preincubated 0.4% BSA+HTF media in a different concentration (2000U, 1000U, 100U, 10U) and its developmental rate was compaired to group which was cultured on 0.4% BSA+HTF media only. RESULT: 1. The cleavage rate of 2-cell mouse embryo co-cultured with human tubal epithelial cell was significantly higher than that of cultured with media alone (HTF with 0.4% BSA) (p<0.05). 2. When LIF antibody was added to the medium with human tubal epitherlial cell, the mouse embryo could not cleave more than 2-cell in 1 ng of LIF antibody, and less than 1 ng, the cleavage rate was lower than cultured without LIF antibody group(p<0.05). 3. Two cell blocked ICR mouse embryos were developed into four cells under LIF(p<0.05), but no further development was observed. CONCLUSIONS: These results shows that LIF enhances the development of preimplantation embryo, and when rhLIF is applicated in vitro, it has positive effects on the development of early mouse embryo and can help overcoming the two-cell block.
Animals ; Blastocyst* ; Coculture Techniques* ; Embryonic Structures ; Epithelial Cells ; Humans ; Incubators ; Leukemia Inhibitory Factor* ; Leukemia* ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Oviducts

Metabolic acidosis (MA) is associated with increased proteolysis, increased osteoclast activity and blunted cardiac muscle response, but the effect of MA on various clinic al parameters in CAPD patients is not well known. To evaluate the effects of MA on serum albumin level and other nutritional parameters in CAPD patients, we studied 106 CAPD patients retrospectively who have had monthly biochemical measurement and urea kinetic studies every 6 months for more than 2 years. The patients were divided into three groups according to their mean total CO2 (tCO2) level of the 2-year follow-up (Group l; mean tCO2 < 22mM/L, Group ll; 22mM/L < or = mean tCO2 < 26mM/L, and Group lll; mean tCO2 > or = 26mM/L), and the clinical, biochemical, and urea kinetic data were compared among the three groups. 1)The mean age of the subjects was 46.9+/-12.2 years with a sex ratio of 1.2:1, the mean CAPD duration 28.3+/-21.8 months, mean body weight (Bwt) 59.0+/-8.9kg, %Bwt/IBW 104.1+/-11.5%, %LBM/Bwt 75.5+/-11.1% and well-nourished patients by subjective global assessment (SGA) were 65%. 2)The mean BUN, creatinine, total protein and albumin of all patients were 55.6+/-13.6mg/dL, 12.3+/-3.5mg/dL, 6.6+/-0.7g/dL and 4.0+/-0.4g/dL, respectively. In urea kinetic study, the mean NPCR, weekly Kt/ Vurea, SCCr and RRF were 0.96+/-0.16g/kg/day, 2.02+/-0.37, 63.7+/-18.4L/week/1.73m2, and 0.99+/-1.32ml/ min, respectively. 3)The mean age was significantly higher in group l (51.0+/-10.8) than those of group ll (47.0+/-12.4) and lll (42.6+/-11.4) (P<0.05). %Bwt/IBW of group l (114.4+/-15.8%) was also significantly higher than those of group ll (104.6+/-12.6%) and lll (103.5+/-13.7 %) (P<0.05), but there were no significant differences in sex ratio, CAPD duration, %LBM/Bwt, and SGA among the three groups. 4)The mean tCO2 in group l, group ll, and group lll were 20.6+/-1.2mM/L, 23.9+/-1.1mM/L, and 27.3+/-0.8mM/L, respectively. Compared to group lll, group l had significantly higher BUN (61.1+/-14.3 vs. 46.1+/-7.2mg/dL, P<0.05) and serum albumin (4.04+/-0.31 vs. 3.75+/-0.39g/dL, P<0.05), in spite of comparable dialysis dose and albumin loss into dialysate. 5)NPCR (1.02+/-0.21g/kg/day vs. 0.88+/-0.14g/kg/ day, P<0.05) and ultrafiltration volume (1.4+/-0.4 vs. 1.0+/-0.3, P<0.05) were significantly higher in group l than those of group lll. But there were no significant differences in Kt/Vurea, SCCr, RRF, and 24-hour dialysate loss of protein/albumin among the three groups. 6)No differences were observed among the three groups in the changes of body weight, %Bwt/IBW, %LBM/Bwt, BUN, albumin, NPCR, and RRF from the baseline values after the 2-year follow-up. 7)There were significant inverse correlations between the mean tCO2 level and NPCR (r=-0.33, P<0.001), %Bwt/IBW (r=-0.32, P<0.001), RRF (r=-0.29, P<0.005), and serum albumin level (r=-0.24, P<0.05). But, creatinine, %LBM/Bwt, and Kt/Vurea did not show any correlation with the mean tCO2 level. 8)Using stepwise multiple regression analysis, NPCR (beta=-0.3491, P<0.001), %Bwt/IBW (beta=-0.046, P<0.001), and ultrafiltration volume (beta=-0.0012, P< 0.005) were independent factors affecting the mean tCO2 level. In conclusion, low total CO2 level in long-term CAPD patients may reflect increased protein intake and mild to moderate degree of metabolic acidosis may not affect the nutritional status of well-dialyzed CAPD patients.
Acidosis* ; Body Weight ; Creatinine ; Dialysis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Myocardium ; Nutritional Status ; Osteoclasts ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory* ; Proteolysis ; Retrospective Studies ; Serum Albumin* ; Sex Ratio ; Ultrafiltration ; Urea

Authors observed the antihypertensive effect of debrisoquin sulfate in 35 cases of essential hypertension and following results were obtained. 1) Results of short term control of blood pressure with debrisquin in 35 hypertensive patients revealed good control in 74.3%, fair in 14.3%, poor in 5.7% and failure in 5.7% of cases. Significant reduction of blood pressure was achieved in 7 of 9 cases of hypertension with addition of hydrochlorthiazide to debrisoquin. 2) During long term therapy with debrisoquin (duration of average 3.9 months), good control cases were slightly reduced(good in 58.6%, fair in 24.1%, poor in 6.9%, failure in 10.3%). But average effective dose of debriioquin was not increased significantly. 3) Antihypertensive effect of debrisoquin was slightly reduced in the cases of severe hypertension, hypertension of over 10 years duration and complication of cerebrovascular accident. 4) The side effects during treatment with debrisoquin were dizziness in 31.4%, headache in 11.4%, dry mouth, blurred vision, general weakness, insomnia in 8.6% respectively. There were no side effects in 48.6% of cases.
Blood Pressure ; Debrisoquin* ; Dizziness ; Headache ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Mouth ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Stroke

No abstract available.
Animals ; Horns* ; Pregnancy*