Objective and METHOD: In order to identify the aggravating agents for intrinsic asthma, we performed ASA- and food additive-challenge tests on 182 subjects diagnosed as having intrinsic asthma. The following tests were performed: Lysine-aspirin bronchoprovocation test to confirm aspirin-sensitivity, sodium bi-sulfite (40-200mg) oral provocation test for sulfite sensitivity, tartrazine oral provocation test (50mg) for tartrazine sensitivity, and sodium benzoate (400mg) oral provocation test for sodium benzoate sensitivity. Positive reaction was defined as decrease in FEV, by more than 20% from the baseline value after the provocation. RESULT: Seventy-five (41.2%) of 182 subjects showed positive responses to more than one agent among the aspirin and three food additives challenged. The prevalence of aspirin-sensitivity was the highest (22.5%), followed by sulfite-sensitivity (8.8%), and then concurrent sensitivity to both aspirin and sulfite (6.0% ), to both aspirin and tartrazine (1.6% ), to aspirin, sulfite and tartrazine (1.1%) and to aspirin, sulfite and sodium benzoate (0.5%). Rhino-sinusitis was noted in 62.5% of aspirin-sensitive asthmatic subjects, 60% of sulfite-sensitive ones, and 80% of tartrazine-sensitive ones. Urticaria was noted in 21.4% of aspirin-sensitive asthmatic subjects, 16.6% of sulfite-sensitive ones and 6.3% of tartrazine-sensitive ones. Thirty-seven to 83% of positive responders had no adverse reaction history. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that ASA and food additive challenge tests should be considered as a screening test to evaluate any aggravating factors in subjects with intrinsic asthma, even though they may not have experienced any adverse reactions.
Aspirin* ; Asthma* ; Food Additives* ; Mass Screening ; Prevalence ; Sodium ; Sodium Benzoate ; Tartrazine ; Urticaria

Although an epiglottic cyst is often asymptomatic and harmless to the patient, discovery of a large epiglottic cyst after induction of anesthesia is a potentially life-threatening problem for the patient and provides a challenge for the anesthesiologist in airway management. We experienced a case of unanticipated difficult mask ventilation and intubation as a result of an asymptomatic epiglottic cyst. A 37-year-old woman presented for elective removal of a brain tumor. She had normal mouth opening and neck extension; no masses or distortions of the tongue or neck were observed. She was premedicated with 0.2 mg glycopyrrolate intramuscularly. Anesthesia and paralysis were induced with 250 mg thiopental, fentanyl 100ng and pipecuronium 6 mg. It was noted that ventilation of the lungs via mask was difficult. Despite insertion of an oropharyngeal airway, ventilation proved to be more difficult. Intubation was attempted. Direct laryngoscopy revealed a 2 cm cyst arising from the epiglottis. The cyst completely obscured the view of the epiglottis and larynx, preventing intubation despite multiple attempts by three anesthesiologists. We consulted an otolaryngologist and awakened the patient. During further questioning in the post anesthesia care unit she admitted to a several-years of dysphagia. Next day, she was admitted to the operation room for removal of an epiglottic cyst. She was intubated using fiberoptic bronchoscope guided awake intubation, and the remainder of anesthetia and the operation proceeded uneventfully. The pathology report confirmed the finding of a 2.5 X 1.5 X 1.5 cm epidermal cyst.
Adult ; Airway Management ; Anesthesia ; Brain Neoplasms ; Bronchoscopes ; Deglutition Disorders ; Epidermal Cyst ; Epiglottis ; Female ; Fentanyl ; Glycopyrrolate ; Humans ; Intubation* ; Laryngoscopy ; Larynx ; Lung ; Masks ; Mouth ; Neck ; Paralysis ; Pathology ; Pipecuronium ; Thiopental ; Tongue ; Ventilation

BACKGROUND: Postoperative pain is a major concern after a total knee replacement (TKR). It hinders early intense physical therapy, the most influential factor for good postoperative knee rehabilitation. The purpose of this study was to compare intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV-PCA) using morphine and continuous ketorolac IV infusion with patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) using morphine and continuous bupivacaine infusion in terms of analgesic efficacy and postoperative knee rehabilitation after a unilateral TKR. METHODS: Eighteen patients undergoing a unilateral total knee replacement were randomly allocated to one of the two groups. In group IV-PCA (n = 9), 30 min before the end of surgery, patients received ketorolac 30 mg IV bolus followed by continuous infusion with ketorolac (5 mg/h) and IV-PCA with morphine (20microgram/kg, lockout 10 min). In group PCEA (n = 9), 30 min before the end of surgery, patients received 2 mg morphine bolus followed by continuous infusion with 0.1% bupivacaine (2 ml/h) and PCEA with morphine (1 mg, lockout 15 min). RESULTS: There were significant differences in visual analogue scale scores at the first 2-hours after the unilateral TKR, cumulative morphine consumption and number of postoperative days required to obtain 90o knee flexion. CONCLUSIONS: PCEA using a morphine-bupivacaine combination provided better pain relief and faci litated the continuous passive motion more than IV-PCA using a morphine-ketorolac combination. This results in possible faster postoperative knee rehabilitation.
Analgesia, Epidural ; Analgesia, Patient-Controlled* ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee* ; Bupivacaine ; Humans ; Ketorolac ; Knee* ; Morphine ; Pain, Postoperative* ; Rehabilitation*

With regard to various pathologic conditions, it is important to understand not only MR findings, which dependon the anatomic location of intraventricular lesions, but also the anatomic location most appropriate for surgicalintervention. In this paper we will analyze and demonstrate the incidence and characteristic MR findings ofvarious intraventricular tumors according to the location of ventricles.
Incidence

BACKGROUND: Standardized questionnaire is one of key instruments for general population surveys. OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to develop and validate the Korean version of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) screening questionnaire for adult asthma surveys. METHODS: The ECRHS screening questionnaire was translated into Korean language according to the international criteria. Study participants were prospectively recruited from six referral hospitals and one health check-up center. Comprehensibility of the translation was tested in a pilot study of 10 patients. The reliability was evaluated by internal consistency and test-retest repeatability. Validity was assess with regard to physician-diagnosed asthma. RESULTS: A total of 100 adult asthma patients and 134 volunteers were recruited. Reliability was examined for 10 items in 100 asthmatics; Cronbach α coefficients were 0.84, and test-retest repeatability was good (Cohen κ coefficient, 0.71-1.00). Validity was assessed for 8 items in 234 participants; in particular, 'recent wheeze' showed a high sensitivity (0.89) for physician-diagnosed asthma. 'Recent asthma attack' and 'current asthma medication' showed high specificity (0.96-0.98). CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated that the Korean version of the ECRHS screening questionnaire was comprehensible, reliable and valid. We suggest the questionnaire to be utilized in further epidemiological studies for asthma in Korean adult populations.
Adult ; Asthma ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Epidemiology ; European Union ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Pilot Projects ; Prospective Studies ; Referral and Consultation ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Volunteers