No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms*

PURPOSE: The aims of this study are to measure the serum levels of fat soluble vitamins (vitamin A and D) from bile duct ligated rats, and to evaluate the effect of oral bile acids administration to facilitate absorption of fat soluble vitamins. METHOD: We measured serum ALT, total bilirubin, vitamin A, and vitamin D of Sprague-Dawley rats 1 week before and 4 weeks after experimental bile duct ligation. Rats were consisted with 3 groups. Group 2 had been find bile acids and group 3 ursodeoxycholic acid after operation for 4 weeks. Multi-vitamin was given to all groups. RESULTS: 1) Base line (mean value before duct ligation): ALT 74.2 IU, total bilirubin 0.26 mg/dL; vitamin D 13.01 ng/mL vitamin A 0.87 microgram/mL, total bile acids 25.16 micron mol/L. 2) Four weeks after ligation: ALT 100.7 IU, total bilirubin 2.58 mg/dL; vitamin D 7.89 ng/mL vitamin A 1.37 microgram/mL, total bile acids 278.22 micron mol/L. 3) 4 weeks after ligation, each group (group 1, group 2 and group 3) showed vitamin D (7.62, 8.10 and 7.99) ng/mL, vitamin A (1.68, 1.06 and 1.33) microgram/mL, total bile acids (233.17, 345.80 and 268.57) micron mol/L, which were statistically not significant. CONCLUSION: Serum level of vitamin A is increased after bile duct ligation although vitamin D is decreased. Oral administration of bile acids does not affect the serum levels of vitamin A and D in bile duct ligated rats.
Absorption ; Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Bile Acids and Salts ; Bile Ducts* ; Bile* ; Bilirubin ; Cholestasis ; Ligation ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Ursodeoxycholic Acid ; Vitamin A ; Vitamin D ; Vitamins*

A case of malignant synovioma of the right knee joint is presented. Microscopically it showed sarcomatous growth of spindle cells and irregular slit spaces which were lined by tumor cells. A–K amputation has carried out on 10th hospital day and discharged on 30th hospital day without any complications.
Amputation ; Knee Joint ; Sarcoma, Synovial

PURPOSE: Cholestylamine has been shown to release chloride ion and absorbs bile acid in the intestine, forming a nonabsorbable complex preventing enterohepatic circulation. The purpose of this study is to clarify the value of cholestylamine and the adequate dosage, in combination with phototherapy, as well as to confirm whether it shorten the duration of hospitalization. METHODS: Total 80 full-term neonates with a total bilirubin level greater than 12mg/dL were studied. The neonates were randomly divided into four groups : (1) Only phototherapy group (A)(2) 250mg/kg/day cholestylamine with phototherapy group (B)(3) 500mg/kg/day cholestylamine with phototherapy group (C)(4) 1000mg/kg/day cholestylamine with phototherapy group (D). RESULTS: Forty-eight hours, 72 hours and 96 hours after the beginning of the study, the mean bilirubin level among the B, C, D groups significantly diminished than A group (P<0.05). The duration of phototherapy and hospitalization significantly diminished in the D group. After phototherapy, finished mean bilirubin level was markedly diminished in the D group. CONCLUSION: The data revealed that oral administration of cholestylamine (especially 1000mg/kg/ day cholestylamine with phototherapy group : D) not only increased the efficacy of phototherapy, but also shortened the duration of phototherapy.
Administration, Oral* ; Bile ; Bilirubin ; Enterohepatic Circulation ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Hyperbilirubinemia, Neonatal* ; Infant, Newborn ; Intestines ; Jaundice, Neonatal ; Phototherapy*

In the previous study, serial section analysis in the Adriamycin animal model of progressive glomerulosclerosis, diffuse, rather than focal glomerulosclerosis were reported. However, the study in patients with nephrotic syndrome and idiopathic focal segmental glomerulosclerosis by three-dimensional analysis demonstrated a focal pattern of sclerosis. The distribution of lesions, whether focal or diffuse, has important implications, not only for pathogenesis and potential therapeutic response, but also for relevance of animal studies to human disease. We therefore evaluated the distribution of segmental glomerulosclerosis in the rat remnant kidney model. We used male M nich-Wistar rats weighing 250 grams at the start of the experiments. Ten rats had 1-1/2 nephrectomy. At the 24th week after the surgical procedure, GFR and arterial BP were measured. Renal tissues were then perfused with 1% glutaraldehyde at physiologic pressures. Sixty serial sections(4 micrometer thick) per a rat were stained with PAS. An average of 19.2+2.4 glomeruli was examined. Sclerosis assessed on a single section involved 32.6+11.4%. After the serial section analysis, the percent of glomeruli involved by sclerosis increased to 57.6+15.0%. Our results show that single section examination of kidney tissue underestimates glomerulosclerosis in the renal ablation model. However, much more intact glomeruli were present in the renal ablation model compared to Adriamycin rat model after serial section analysis. This finding may reflect the different pathogenic mechanism between the two animal models.
Animals ; Doxorubicin ; Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental ; Glutaral ; Humans ; Kidney* ; Male ; Models, Animal ; Nephrectomy ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; Rats* ; Sclerosis

PURPOSE: During the first days of life, neonates born in Korean hospitals typically encounter a number of stressful and painful events. In recent investigations, it was shown that there is a dose-response effect of increasing concentration of sucrose, resulting in reduction in crying time in healthy full-term infants. We assessed the use of sucrose to reduce pain in neonates with routine blood sampling by heel prick and the use of non-sucrose sweet substances(Aspartam), Dexrtose which we use to reduce pain in neonates with the same procedure. METHODS: A total of 135 neonates born in the KonKuk University Hospital were randomly assigned to 9 experimental groups. 2ml of the test solution was given by syringe into the infant's mouth over less than one minute. After 2 minutes, the nurse lanced the infants heel immediately and gently squeezed two times, and then a bandage was applied to the wound and the foot released. Crying during sampling and during the three minutes after sampling(recovery phase) was recorded on audio tape and later the duration of crying was analysed blindly. RESULTS: There was a significant reduction in total crying time as compared with the controls. There was a significant reduction in first crying time as compared with the controls. There was a significant reduction in crying time at the end of each minute in all the groups as compared with the controls. There was no significant difference in heart rate and oxygen saturation. CONCLUSION: We conclude that sucrose, aspartam and dextrose induce an effective analgesic effect in neonates.
Bandages ; Crying ; Foot ; Glucose ; Heart Rate ; Heel ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn* ; Mouth ; Oxygen ; Sucrose* ; Syringes ; Wounds and Injuries

Twenty-one myasthenic patients were treated with high-dose daily prednisone regimen at Seoul National University Hospital from May 1983 to January 1985. Observations in relation to dosage, drug schedule, clinical responses, and sideeffects led us to following conclusions concerning the management of myasthenia gravis with steroid. In addition, factors influencing the result were considered. 1) Among 21 patients, twenty(95%) showed clinical improvement of variable degrees. 2) Significant improvement could be expected especially in male patients, in older patients, and in those with duration of myasthenia gravis less than 6 months prior to treatment. Performance of thymectomy or thymothymectomy, thymic pathology, and clinical grade at the time of therapy were not considered to affect the outcome. 3) Ten cases (48%) suffered from initial exacerbations, most of which occurred within the first four days of treatment. Steroid-induced crises developed in four cases with preexisting brittle or severe generalized myasthenia. 4) Period taken to show the initial response and the maximum improvement varied widely but majority of them occurred within 15 days and 70 days respectively. 5) Off-day weakness during the alternate-day schedule required special cautions and, if persitent, immediate return to daily schedule was desirable. 6) Thymectomy prior to steroid treatment was not always necessary but, when both regimens were scheduled together, preparation therapy with steroid thought to be more favorable. 7) Aside from initial exacerbations side-effects during the treatment were not remarkable, all of which disappeared with reduction of dosage.
Appointments and Schedules ; Humans ; Male ; Myasthenia Gravis* ; Pathology ; Prednisone ; Seoul ; Thymectomy

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Surgical indications and effect of auditory rehabilitation have not been established in elderly deaf patients who received cochlear implant (CI). The aim of this study is to analyze the outcomes of CI with respect to auditory performance and surgical complication in elderly deaf patients. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Nineteen postlingually deafened patients who were 60 years and older at the time of implantation were included in the study from April 1992 to October 2006. They were compared to a group of 53 younger patients (<60 years) at the time of implantation. Surgical complications were identified and speech performance was evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years. RESULTS: In the etiology, progressive hearing loss was most common in both groups. Perioperative complications such as temporary dizziness, wound problem, tinnitus, and temporary facial weakness showed no significant differences between elderly and control groups despite higher incidence of underlying disease in elderly patients. Preoperative speech performance (audiologic K-CID) was significantly better in control group than in elderly group, but there were no significant differences in postoperative period. CONCLUSION: The outcomes of CI in the elderly patients have been comparable with those of younger adults. Advanced age alone could not preclude anyone from being candidates of CI.
Adult ; Aged ; Cochlear Implantation ; Cochlear Implants ; Deafness ; Dizziness ; Hearing Loss ; Humans ; Incidence ; Postoperative Period ; Tinnitus

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The combination of platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors and a low dose thrombolytic agent may produce early Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) 3 flow and a high rate of ST elevation resolution in an ST elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI). The clinical effect of tirofiban combined with low dose alteplase, prior to primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in STEMI, were evaluated on the ST elevation resolution, TIMI flow and 30-day clinical outcomes. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Following aspirin, clopidogrel and standard heparin, 45 patients with STEMI were randomized into 2 groups; tirofiban administration (Group I; n=23, 64+/-10 years; 15 male) or combined administration of tirofiban with 40 mg alteplase prior to primary PCI (Group II; n=22, 59+/-11 years; 19 male). The pre- and post-interventional TIMI flow grades, ST elevation resolution and bleeding complications were compared between the two groups. The major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were compared between the two groups during 30-days of clinical follow-up. RESULTS: Group II had a higher pre-interventional TIMI flow (TIMI flow> or =2: 34.8% vs. 90.9%, p<0.0001) and rate of ST elevation resolution (49.0+/-27.8% vs. 66.6+/-27.2%, p=0.045) than Group I. A major bleeding complication developed in 1 (5.0%) Group II patient, and minor bleeding complications developed 1 patient from each group (Group I; 9.5% vs. Group II; 10%, p=0.959). CONCLUSION: Combined administration of tirofiban with alteplase prior to primary PCI leads to a higher TIMI flow and more frequent ST elevation resolution, without bleeding complications, compared to a single administration of tirofiban.
Angioplasty ; Aspirin ; Blood Platelets ; Electrocardiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glycoproteins ; Hemorrhage ; Heparin ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention* ; Thrombolytic Therapy ; Tissue Plasminogen Activator*

BACKGROUND: Despite recent advances in antifungal chemotherapy, invasive aspergillosis remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. Interleukin-15 (IL-15) is a cytokine that is known to enhance antifungal activities of monocytes against Candida albicans. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to investigate the potentials of IL-15 to enhance antifungal activities of monocytes against Aspergillus fumigatus. METHODS: Peripheral blood monocytes from healthy adults were incubated with 0, 1, 10, 100 ng/ml of IL-15 for 1, 2, and 4 days. Then, the ability of IL-15 to elicit the production of superoxide anion, the damage of hyphae by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, and the killing ability of Aspergillus fumigatus conidia was investigated. RESULTS: Incubation of peripheral blood monocytes with 100 ng/ml of IL-15 enhanced hyphal damage after 2 days (p<0.05), conidicidal activity from the first day (p<0.05), and increased the production of superoxide anion (O2- ) in response to phorbol myristate acetate. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that IL-15 augments the microbicidal activity of human monocytes against Aspergillus fumigatus.
Adult ; Aspergillosis ; Aspergillus fumigatus* ; Aspergillus* ; Candida albicans ; Drug Therapy ; Homicide ; Humans* ; Hyphae ; Immunocompromised Host ; Interleukin-15* ; Monocytes* ; Mortality ; Spores, Fungal ; Superoxides ; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate