No abstract available.
Primary Health Care*

No abstract available.
Rehabilitation*

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Humans ; Nitric Oxide* ; Tissue Donors*

We measure left ventricular mass, mitral peak flow velocity and isovolumic relaxation time(IVRT) with M-mode and Doppler echocardiography to evaluate daistolic function of the heart in hypertensive patients, who are seperated into group A(18 patients) with normal electrocardiogram and group B(24 patients) with abnormal electrocardiogram. There is no difference in fractional shortening, which reflects systolic function of the heart,between normal subjects and both groups of patients(36.5+/-6.7% in group B).The left ventricular mass index in group A is higher than in normal subjects(139.8+/-33.6g/m2, 100.2+/-28.8g/m2, respectively, p<0.005). But, that is lower than group B(200.7+/-40.6g/m2, p<0.005). The sensitivity and specificity of electrocardiograohy to detect left ventricular hypertrophy in patient whose left ventricualr mass index is above 160.8g/m2, are 80% and 91%, respectively. The peak flow velocities in early diastolic(PFVE) are 0.67+/-0.15m/sec in normal subjects and 0.60+0.14m/sec in group A (p=not siginificant). In group B, that is lower than normal subjects(0.54+/-0.15m/sec, p<0.005). In both groups, the peak flow velocities in late diastole(PFVA) are higher than normal subjects(0.48+/-0.11m/sec in normal, 0.69+/-0.18m/sec in groups A, 0.71+/-0.16m/sec in group B, p<0.005). The PFVE/PFVA ratio is lower in both groups of patients(1.40+/-0.23 in normal subjects, 0.90+/-0.25 in group A, 0.77+/-0.23 in group B, p<0.005). The IVRT is also prolonged in both groups(85+/-10m/sec in normal, 112+/-16msec in group A, 123+/-23msec in group B, p<0.005). The PFVE/PFVA ratio decreases in relation with the increament of index of IVRT(r=0.60, p<0.01). The IVRT increases in relation to the left ventricular mass index in hypertensive patients(r=0.34, p<0.05), but, the PFVE/PFVA ratio reveals no relation to those. In cocclusion, the impairment of diastolic function develops before the systolic function or electrocardiogram show abnormalities in htpertensive patients.Therefore, it is importment to detect early any abnormalities in the indices of the diastolic function, such as mitral peak flow velocity and isovolumic relaxation time, in the prevention and treatment of hypertensive geart disease.
Echocardiography, Doppler ; Electrocardiography ; Heart ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular ; Relaxation ; Sensitivity and Specificity

The use of a cultured autologous keratinocyte sheet has become a recognized method for the coverage of extensive bums during recent years. The disadvantages of these sheet grafts are a long time-lag until keratinocyte sheets are available, the fragility and difficulty in handling of grafts, an unpredictable take rate and extremely high costs. In this study we investigated the transplantation of cultured keratinocytes as single cells suspended in autologous fibrin glue. In a rat model with standardized full thickness wounds, this new transplantation technique was evaluated and compared directly to the conventional keratinocyte sheet grafting technique. After transplantation, wounds were evaluated for the degree of epithelial coverage, and then microscopic structures were evaluated under light and electron microscopy. The results were as follows: 1) The fibrinogen solution prepared from autologous blood had 12 times more fibrinogen compared to the original blood. 2) After transplantation of cultured keratinocyt-es in fibrin glue, the degree of epithelial coverage was 79% at 2 weeks, which was comparable to 17% for cultured keratinocyte sheet graft 3) Typical basement membrane structures were consistently found at 2 weeks after transplantation of keratinocytes in fibrin glue. 4) Rete ridges were found at 4 weeks after transplantation of keratinocytes in fibrin glue. In conclusion, the transplantation technique of keratinocytes in fibrin glue is available earlier than sheet grafts, it transfers actively proliferating cells and it simplifies the grafting procedure. As well, this technique leads to an earlier epithelial covering and an earlier restoration of the dermo-epidermal junction than sheet grafting.
Basement Membrane ; Fibrin Tissue Adhesive* ; Fibrin* ; Fibrinogen ; Keratinocytes* ; Microscopy, Electron ; Models, Animal ; Transplants ; Wounds and Injuries

Carbamylated hemoglobin (CarHb) is formed by the reaction of hemoglobin with cyanate derived from the spontaneous dissociation of in vivo urea. Previous studies have shown that formation of CarHb depends upon both the severity and the duration of renal failure. To study the clinical significances of CarHb in Korean patients with chronic renal failure, we measured CarHb levels by high-performance liquid chromatography in 159 CRF patients and 46 normal controls. Patients with CRF had a higher CarHb concentration than normal controls (107.9+/-58.8 vs 35.1+/-14.2 microgramVH/gHb; P<0.001). In patients with CRF, nondialysis group had a higher value than dialysis group (129.8+/-77.9 vs 98.7+/-46.1 microgramVH/gHb; P<0.05). There were no siginificant difference in CarHb levels between hemodialysis (92.0+/-35.8microgramVH/gHb) and peritoneal dialysis (106.7+/-55.3microgramVH/gHb) groups. CarHb levels were not different between diabetic and nondiabetic patients in predialysis and hemodialysis groups. Although there was a significant difference in peritoneal dialysis group, the BUN levels were also lower in diabetic patients than nondiabetic patients. There were no correlation between CarHb and HbA1c percentage in patients with diabetes. CarHb levels were positively correlated with BUN (r=0.489; P<0.001) and creatinine (r=0.458; P<0.01) concentrations. There were negative correlations between CarHb and both Kt/V (r=-0.358; P<0.05) and URR (r=-0.415; P<0.05) in hemodialysis patients. In conclusion, CarHb may be a useful index of uremic control in patients with chronic renal failure, and are independent of the mode of dialysis and the presence of diabetes.
Chromatography, Liquid ; Creatinine ; Dialysis ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; Renal Dialysis ; Renal Insufficiency ; Urea

No abstract available.

PURPOSE: To determine the usefulness of the fat-suppressed (FS) conventional spin-echo (CSE) sequence for the diagnosis of meniscal tears. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 323 MR images of the knee, the standard of reference being the findings of arthroscopy. In all knees, fast SE proton density-weighted and T2-weighted sagittal and coronal images and double-echo in steady state (DESS) sagittal images were obtained, and during 202 MR Procedures, FS-CSE T1-weighted sagittal images were also obtained. The results of MR imaging were then correlated with those of arthroscopy, the accuracy with which meniscal tears were diagnosed being compared between two groups: group I (202 knees for which FS-CSE T1-weighted sagittal images were obtained), and group II (121 knees for which these images were not obtained). For statistical analysis the chi-square test was used. RESULTS: In group 1, sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 94.7%, 92.4% and 93.5%, respectively, for the medial meniscus, and 83.3%, 95.7% and 90.5% for the lateral meniscus. In group II, the corresponding findings were 92.5%, 94% and 93.3%; and 87.3%, 98.2% and 92.5%. The differences between the groups were not statistically significant (p>0.05) CONCLUSION: For meniscal tears of the knee, the addition of FS-CSE T1-weighted MR imaging to the fast SE proton density-weighted, T2-weighted and DESS sequences does not enhance diagnostic accuracy.
Arthroscopy ; Diagnosis ; Knee* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Menisci, Tibial ; Protons ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity

The result of artificial skins made with collagen is poor after grafting over the full thickness wounds due to their rapid degradation by enzymatic cleavage. This study is an in vivo study of an artificial skin made with a biodegradable polymer, which can better address the problem of the collagenous artificial dermis. To investigate the availability of a biodegradable polymer for an artificial dermis and to get an information about the optimal degradation rate of a polymer for an artificial dermis, we made an artificial dermis by seeding of fibroblasts within the vicryl mesh and made a bilayer artificial skin by covering the artificial dermis with cultured keratinocytes. And these artificial dermis and artificial skin were evaluated in a full thickness wound model. The results are as followings: 1. The artificial dermis was available for grafting for 1 week culture of vicryl mesh-fibroblast. 2. The artificial dermis retarded the contraction of full thickness wounds. 3. The artificial dermis generated the granulation tissue and accepted the STSG completely. 4. The generated tissue from the artificial dermis had incorporated into the surrounding tissue by 4 weeks postgrafting. 5. Vicryl in the artificial dermis became to biodegrade from the culture period and absorbed completely by 5 weeks. 6. The epidermal portion was poorly differntiated during in vitro culture period. In conclusion, the polymer-fibroblast graft can retard the wound contraction and generate a new tissue permitting a useful dermal replacement. And to get more optimal results, another polymer which has slower biodegradation rate than vicryl should be used for the artificial dermis and the epidermal portion should be differentiated after in vivo grafting.
Collagen ; Dermis* ; Fibroblasts ; Granulation Tissue ; Keratinocytes ; Polyglactin 910 ; Polymers ; Skin, Artificial ; Transplants ; Wounds and Injuries