No Abstract Available.
Acne Vulgaris* ; Adolescent* ; Humans

To evaluate the lipid-lowering effect of lovastatin(Mevacor(R)), lovastatin was administered to 38 patients with non-familial hypertcholesterolemia(>220mg/dl). The analysis of the effect was made with 25 patients(58.2+/-7.5 years ; 13 male, 12 female)who had received lovastatin more than 12 weeks. The drug was administered as a single dose with evening meal 20mg at the begining and adding another 20mg if the total cholesterol level was persistently higher than 200mg/dl at the end of each 4 week-period. 1) Total cholesterol level was decreased from 256.6+/-36.9mg/dl to 20932+/-50.1mg/dl at the end of the 4th week, 201.9+/-44.2mg/dl the 8th week and 203.6+/-39.6mg/dl the 12th week (p<0.001), respectively). 2) Triglyceride level was decreased from 196.4+/-104.1mg/dl to 163.4+/-74.4mg/dl at the end of the 4th week(p<0.05) but no significant change at the end of the 8th week showing 169.8+/-73.2mg/dl and 162.7+/-54.8mg/dl the 12th week(p<0.05). 3) High density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C) level was not significantly changed with the drug during the 12 week treatment period. 4) Low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C) level was decreased remarkably similar to that of total cholesterol. 5) Total cholesterol/HDL-C ratio was decreased from 5.05+/-0.92 to 4.06+/-1.40 at the end of the 4th week(p<0.05), 3.89+/-0.99 the 8th week(p<0.001). 4.20+/-1.10 the 12th week(p<0.01). 6) LDL-C/HDL-C ratio was decreased from 3.24+/-0.94 to 2.43+/-1.21 at the end of the 4th week(p<0.05), 2.23+/-0.86 the 8th week(p<0.001) and 2.54+/-0.98 the 12th week(p<0.05). 7) There was no significant side effect on lovastatin therapy of 12 weeks duration. 8) The laboratory findings including liver function test, uric acid, creatinine, creatine phosphokinase and blood glucose were not changed significantly. From above results we concluded that lovastatin is safe and effective hypocholesterolemic agent in its clinical use.
Blood Glucose ; Cholesterol ; Creatine Kinase ; Creatinine ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia* ; Lipoproteins ; Liver Function Tests ; Lovastatin ; Male ; Meals ; Triglycerides ; Uric Acid

No abstract available.
Eosinophils* ; Humans ; Parotid Gland* ; Radiotherapy*

Adhesives ; Burns ; Calcium Chloride ; Cicatrix ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic ; Collagen ; Factor XIII ; Fibrin Tissue Adhesive ; Fibrin ; Fibrinogen ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gingiva ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Mouth ; Nose ; Polymers ; Skin Transplantation ; Skin ; Surgery, Oral ; Sutures ; Thrombin ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants ; Wound Healing

Purpose: : This study aimed to systematically review the preventive interventions for delirium in Korean intensive care unit (ICU) patients and evaluate their efficacy. Methods: : For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched the literature and selected studies from data sources that included the RISS, KISS, National Central Library, National Assembly Library, DBpia, Science on, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Library. We used Cochrane’s revised tool for risk of bias in randomized trials and non-randomized studies of intervention tools to assess the quality of the selected studies. The effect size of the intervention was calculated as odds ratio (OR) and standardized mean difference (SMD). Results: : Preventive interventions reported in 23 studies with a total of 4,799 ICU patients were effective in reducing the occurrence of delirium (OR=0.64, 95% CI : 0.49~0.91, p=.011), but not the duration (SMD=–0.22, 95% CI : -0.51∼0.08, p=.148). As a result of a subgroup analysis, non-pharmacological interventions were effective in reducing the occurrence of delirium (OR=0.66, 95% CI : 0.47~0.94, p=.020), while pharmacological interventions had no effect (OR=0.68, 95% CI : 0.33∼1.40, p=.295). Among the non-pharmacological interventions, multi-component intervention had the largest effect size (OR=0.38, 95% CI : 0.26~0.55, p<.001). Conclusion : Non-pharmacological interventions were effective in reducing the occurrence of delirium. We recommend the development and application of multi-component interventions to prevent delirium in the Korean ICU patients.

No abstract available.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of the helical CT in the differentiation of periampullary malignanttumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-five periampullary carcinoma patients (pancreatic head carcinoma (n=18);distal CBD carcinoma (n=17) ; carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater(n=16) ; periampullary duodenal cancers,(n=4), alldiagnosed by histopathologic study] underwent helical CT with 5mm scan thickness and 5mm/sec table speed. Afterscanning, retrospective reconstruction was performed at 2mm intervals, followed by multiplanar reformation. Inboth retrospective reconstructed axial and multiplanar reformation images, the authors analyzed the detection rateand size of the mass, and associated findings including invasion of peripancreatic fat, dilatation of CBD and itsnarrowing pattern, dilatation of the pancreatic duct and its degree of dilatation, wall thickening of CBD,extension of dilated bile duct into the ampulla, and of protruding mass into the duodenal lumen, and lymph nodemetastasis all according to the origin sites of tumors. Differential points were thus determined. RESULTS: Thedetection rate of the masses was 96% (53/55). Their size was 1-5cm, with a mean size of 2.4 +/-0.5cm in carcinomaof of ampulla of Vater and 3.5 +/-1.0cm in pancreatic head carcinoma. Invasion of peripancreatic fat was mostcommonly observed in pancreatic head carcinoma (100%, 18/18) (P >0 . 0 5 ), dilatation of CBD was observed in allcases except one of periampullary duodenal cancer (98%, 54/55), and abrupt termination of dilated bile duct wasnoted in all cases except one of the pancreatic head carcinoma (98%, 53/54). Dilatation of pancreatic duct wascommonly observed in pancreatic head carcinoma (94%, 17/18) and carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater (75%, 12/16).Its degree of dilatation was mostly moderate in pancreatic head carcinoma (56%, 10/18) and mostly mild incarcinoma of the ampulla of Vater (63%, 10/16) ( P >0.05). Wall thickening of the distal CBD was most commonlyobserved in distal CBD carcinoma (76%, 13/17). Extension of dilated bile duct into the ampulla was commonlyobserved in the carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater (81%, 13/16) and periampullary duodenal cancer (75%, 3/4) (P>0.05). A mass protruding into the duodenal lumen was commonly observed in periampullary duodenal cancer (100%,4/4) and carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater (94%, 15/16) (P >0.05). Lymph node meatastasis was observed inpancreatic head carcinoma (17%, 3/18) and distal CBD carcinoma (6%, 1/17). CONCLUSION: Because of improvement inthe rate at which the mass is detected, and a clear demonstration of associated findings, helical CT is useful inthe differentiation of periampullary carcinomas.
Ampulla of Vater ; Bile Ducts ; Diagnosis* ; Dilatation ; Duodenal Neoplasms ; Head ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Pancreatic Ducts ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, Spiral Computed*

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the role of free fatty acids on the ischemic myocardium, influences of various free fatty acids upon transmembrane action potential and ATP-sensitive K+(KATP) channel activity were examined in the ventricular myocardium and single cardiac myocytes. METHODS: KATP channel activities were measured in the enzymatically (collagenase) isolated single rat ventricular cardiac myocytes by the method of the excised inside-out and the cell-attached patch clamp, and transmembrane action potentials were recorded using the conventional 3M-KCl microelectode techniques in the rat ventricular myocardium. RESULTS: Free fatty acids [FFAs; arachidonic acid (AA), linoleic acid (LA) and lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC)] reduced the KATP channel activity in a dose-dependent manner in the inside-out patch, and 50%-inhibition concentrations (IC50) were 88 +/- 11.2, 49 +/- 12.5, and 188 +/- 17.4 M respectively. Both frequency of channel opening and the mean open-burst duration were markedly decreased, but the amplitude of single channel currents were not changed by the FFAs. AA (50 micrometer) and LPC (50 micrometer) did not affect the dinitrophenol (DNP, 50 micrometer)-induced KATP channel activity, whereas LA (50 micrometer) had a tendency to reduce the activity. The channel inhibition effects by 10 micrometer AA in the inside-out patch were significantly augmented by diclofenac (10 micrometer), but was not changed by nordihydroguaiaretic acid. FFAs never stimulated KATP channel activity, even in the inside-out patch where KATP channel activity reduced in the presence of internal ATP (100 micrometer). Time for 90% repolarization (APD90) significantly increased during superfusion of the FFAs, to 22 (50 micrometer AA), 24 (50 micrometer LA), and 18 (50 micrometer LPC) % from those of the contol at the time of 10 min superfusion, but the other action potential characteristics were not changed by the FFAs. AA (10 micrometer) attenuated cromakalim (10 micrometer)-induced APD90 shortening effects. CONCLUSION: It was inferred that FFAs inhibit the KATP channel activity directly by themselves and/or indirectly by their metabolites in the rat ventricular cardiomyocytes, and therefore, duration of action potential lengthens to be a burden over the ischemic myocardium accounting for the injury of myocardium at the late stage of ischemia.
Action Potentials* ; Adenosine Triphosphate ; Animals ; Arachidonic Acid ; Cromakalim ; Diclofenac ; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified* ; Ischemia ; Linoleic Acid ; Lysophosphatidylcholines ; Masoprocol ; Myocardium* ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; Potassium Channels* ; Potassium* ; Rats*

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to elucidate the effectiveness of long-term psychosocial intervention in reducing the disabling period of patients with major psychiatric disorders by their rehospitalization rate. METHODS: Of the 210 patients with major psychiatric disorders received psychosocial interventions in a Mental Health and Welfare Center, 192 patients (147 with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, 45 with mood disorders) who received interventions more than 6 months were selected. Review of case management records was conducted to obtain information. RESULTS: The number and length of hospitalization and the hospital days per year significantly decreased after psychosocial intervention. Additional analysis of 102 patients followed up for more than 5 years suggested that the effectiveness of the intervention persisted for a sufficient period. However, no significant difference was observed in the number of rehospitalization in 45 patients with mood disorders, though the length of hospitalization significantly decreased. In addition, the hospital days per year of 21 patients with mood disorder followed up for more than 5 years also showed no significant decrease. CONCLUSION: Long-term psychosocial intervention had a significant effect on reducing the number and length of hospitalization for patients with major psychiatric disorder and the effectiveness maintained for more than 5 years.
Case Management ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Mental Health ; Mood Disorders ; Schizophrenia

The tear film break-up time test is a useful diagnostic test for dry eye syndrome,but it shows a wide range of results in normal subjects according to many factors, especially the methods of measuring it. We studied the factors having some influences on B.U.T. and tried to find out a standard method of measuring B.U.T. in normal subjects. The results were as follows: 1. The subjects were healthy without any ocular disease or symptoms. Total subjects were 200 persons, 400 eyes. 2. The standard method of measuring B.U.T. was as follows: a drop of 0.125% sodium fluorescein was applied into the conjunctival sac and the patient was allowed to blink for at least 1-2 minutes. The tear film was then scanned without holding the lids, using the slit lamp beam, 4-5mm in width. 3. The mean B.U.T. measured by the standard method was 20.35 +/- 6.45 sec in normal subjects. 4. The mean B.U.T. was 18.17 +/- 8.02'sec in the group using fluorescein paper, 9.68 +/- 6.19 sec in the group blinking just 4-5 times,16.54 +/- 8.32 sec in the group measured holding the lids with the fingers, and 18.36 +/- 7.95 sec in the group using a broad beam. 5. There were statistically significant decreases of B.U.T. in the group blinking just 4-5 times and in the group measured holding the lids with the fingers.
Blinking ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Fingers ; Fluorescein ; Humans ; Tears*