BACKGROUND: With the recent development in arterial reconstructive procedure such as percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty or atherectomy, the incidence of vascular complications involving femoral artery is increasing due to greater use of larger percutaneous instruments(including arterial sheath) and periprocedural anticoagulant therapy. Femoral pseudoaneurysm requires rapid diagnosis and management to prevent limb ischemia, worsening of the arterial injury or repair of the arterial defect. Recently, accurate diagnosis of these injuries can be made nonivasively with duplex sonography and Doppler color flow imaging, and nonsurgical treatment may be possible by using external compression guided by ultrasound even in patients requiring prolonged anticoagulant therapy. METHOD: Three patients, one undergoing coronary angiography and two undergoing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, developed expansile groin masses at the vascular access sites diagnosed as femoral artery pseudoaneurysm s by Doppler ultrasound. All patients were hypertensives, taking aspirin and two patients who underwent PTCA received intravenous heparin after procedure. After diagnosis of femoral pseudoaneurysm, all patients underwent mechanical(C-clamp) external compression guided by ultrasound for 3 hours. RESULT: Follow up color flow scans were obtained after 24 hours and in one patients, blood flow in the tract was eliminated but persistent blood flow was observed in two patients who underwent PTCA. Before closure of pseudoaneurysm, one patient needed another 6 hours of ultrasound guided compression and the other needed more 12 hours. All patients were discharged without complication or recurrence of pseudoaneurysm. CONCLUSION: These cases suggest that nonsurgical closure of femoral pseudoaneurysms is feasible even in patients requiring prolonged antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy.
Aneurysm, False* ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Aspirin ; Atherectomy ; Cardiac Catheterization* ; Cardiac Catheters* ; Coronary Angiography ; Diagnosis ; Extremities ; Femoral Artery ; Follow-Up Studies ; Groin ; Heparin ; Humans ; Incidence ; Ischemia ; Recurrence ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: We studied the attitudes of general population and medical personnels toward premature infants to establish basic data about prematurity. METHODS: Ten students from Yeungnam University College of Medicine conducted field surveys on the general population at residential and commercial districts, and on medical personnels at private local clinics and hospitals in Taegu with a prepared questionaire from July 25, 1996 to August 20, 1996. Statistical analysis was done by Chi square test using SPSS computerized program. RESULTS: The respondents who have never heard about premature babies are 4.6% of 502 total respondents. Sixty percent of the respondents acquired information about prematurity from mass media (television, newspaper, radio), and television was the most frequentl among them (60%). Because the percentage of respondents who know the correct meaning of prematurity is lower in those who acquired information from mass media than those from medical personnels or books on childcare, it was observed that information about prematurity is delivered inaccurately through mass media. Fifty percent of the respondents regard premature babies as handicapped or retarded babies, sixty-five percent of the respondents want their babies, not to be treated not because of economical burden but possibilities of residual handicap or death. CONCLUSION: Delivery accurate information about recent advances in intensive care for premature babies through mass media, i.e. television, newspaper and radio, is necessary to inform the general population and to help parents or family members of a premature baby participate in making a decision on whether to continue treatment for the baby or not.
Daegu ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Disabled Persons ; Ethics ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature* ; Critical Care ; Mass Media ; Periodicals ; Parents ; Television

It is well known that the murine T helper cell clones are divided by their lymphokine secretory activities. One is the Th-1 cell, producing IL-2 and IFN after stimulation and the other is the Th-2 cell, producing the IL-4 and IL-5. This study was undertaken to evaluate the immunomodulatory properties of the bacterial lipopolysaccharide(LPS) on the lymphokine production in vivo and in vitro. The results were as follows: There were no effects on the lymphokine secretion by the in vitro treatment of the LPS. The in vivo treatment of the LPS decreases the capability of the production of IL-2 and IFN , whereas it increases the capability of IL-4 production. The altered capacity of the lymphokine production was recovered about 2 weeks after the treatment of the LPS. There were no differences on the lymphokine production between E-coli LPS and salmonella LPS. The capacity of the lymphokine production was the same in the treatment of a non-heated LPS or heated-LPS. The lymphokine production of the mice which were desensitized by the long term treatment of the LPS was not different from the control mice. The in vitro treatment of RU486 can block the alterations of the lymphokine production after the treatment of the LPS. In summary, one can tell that the LPS increases the secretion of the IL-4 through the endogenous secretion of the glucocorticoids.
Animals ; Clone Cells ; Glucocorticoids ; Interleukin-2 ; Interleukin-4 ; Interleukin-5 ; Mice ; Mifepristone ; Salmonella ; T-Lymphocytes* ; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer

No abstract available.
Humans ; Microsporum* ; Siblings* ; Tinea Capitis* ; Tinea*

No abstract available.
Emergencies ; Humans

We present a patient with spinal epidural arteriovenous fistula presented with subdural hematoma and progressive myelopathy. Transarterial embolization using NBCA results in complete obliteration of fistula without complication. The pathophysiology, angioarchitexture of the lesion and strategy for its cure would be discussed.
Arteriovenous Fistula* ; Fistula ; Hematoma, Subdural* ; Humans ; Spinal Cord Diseases ; Spine

Two cases of Eagle's syndrome are reported. The first case involved a 31-year-old man who complained of pain in his throat and pain at preauricular area on turning his head. Panoramic and computed tomography (CT) views showed bilateral stylohyoid ligament ossification. The symptoms were relieved after surgical removal. The second case involved a 56-year-old female whose chief complaints were a continuous dull pain and occasional "shooting" pain on lower left molar area. During the physical examination, an ossified stylohyoid ligament was palpated at the left submandibular area. Panoramic and CT images showed prominent bilateral stylohyoid ligament ossification. CT scans also showed hypertrophy of left medial and lateral pterygoid muscles. The symptoms were relieved after medication. CT is a useful tool for the examination of ossified stylohyoid ligaments and studying the relationship between Eagle's syndrome and adjacent soft tissue.
Adult ; Female ; Head ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Ligaments ; Middle Aged ; Molar ; Pharynx ; Physical Examination ; Pterygoid Muscles ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

No abstract available.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of study was to investigate the effect of flow, specimen geometry and adhesion on the measurement of linear polymerization shrinkage of light cured composite resins using linear shrinkage measuring device. METHODS: Four commercially available composites - an anterior posterior hybrid composite Z100, a posterior packable composite P60 and two flowable composites, Filtek flow and Tetric flow - were studied. The linear polymerization shrinkage of composites was determined using 'bonded disc method' and 'non-bonded' free shrinkage method at varying C-factor in the range of 1~8 by changing specimen geometry. These measured linear shrinkage values were compared with free volumetric shrinkage values. The viscosity and flow of composites were determined and compared by measuring the dropping speed of metal rod under constant load. RESULTS: In non-bonded method, the linear shrinkage approximated one third of true volumetric shrinkage by isotropic contraction. However, in bonded disc method, as the bonded surface increased the linear shrinkage increased up to volumetric shrinkage value by anisotropic contraction. The linear shrinkage value increased with increasing C-factor and approximated true volumetric shrinkage and reached plateau at about C-factor 5~6. The more flow the composite was, reduced linear shrinkage was measured by compensation radial flow.
Anisotropy ; Compensation and Redress ; Composite Resins ; Polymerization* ; Polymers* ; Viscosity*

PURPOSE: The standard treatment for aortic aneurysms is surgical replacement with a prosthetic graft. Currently there is great interest in endoluminal intervention for treatment of aortic aneurysm. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of endoluminally placed Stent-graft for the treatment of aortic aneurysms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Transluminal endovascular Stent-graft placements were attempted in 9 patients with infra-renal aortic aneurysms(n=6), thoracic aortic aneurysm(n=l), and aortic dissection(n=2). The endovascular Stent-grafts were custom-designed for each patient and were constructed of self-expandable modified Gianturco Stents covered with polytetrafluroethylene. The Stent-grafts were introduced through a 16-18 french sheath and expanded to 17-30mm in diameter. The endovascular therapy was performed using a common femoral artery cutdown with local anesthesia. RESULTS: The endovascular Stent-graft deployment was achieved in 7 of 9 patients. Two cases failed deployment of the Stent-graft due to lilac artery stenosis and tortousity. There were complete thrombosis of the thoracic and infra-renal aortic aneurysm surround the Stent-graft in 3 patients, and persistent leak with partial thrombosis in 2. Two patients with aortic dissection were successfully treated by obliteration of entry tears. There were no major complication associated with Stent-graft placement. CONCLUSION: These preliminary results show that transluminal endovascular Stent-grafts offer great promise and good results. Further investigation is needed to establish its long-term safety and efficacy.
Anesthesia, Local ; Aortic Aneurysm ; Arteries ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Femoral Artery ; Humans ; Stents ; Thrombosis ; Transplants