PURPOSE: We planned to determine the diagnostic capability of focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) in cases of blunt abdominal injury (BAI). METHODS: A retrospective analysis of FAST sheets was performed from April 2002 to December 2004. During the study period, 135 BAI patients were evaluated with FAST at the Emergency Department of Bundang CHA Hospital. Of this group, twenty-eight patients were excluded, leaving 107 patients for analysis. Abdomen CT (computerized tomography) or exploratory laparotomy confirmed the presence of hemoperitoneum. At the secondary survey, patients underwent a three-view FAST examination (LogicQ; General Electric, Waukesha, USA) by an emergency physician, followed within 2 hours by an abdomen CT or exploratory laparotomy. The FAST examination was considered positive if it demonstrated evidence of free intra-abdominal fluid. RESULTS: There were 45 true-positive FAST examination, 57 true-negatives, 1 false-positive, and 4 false negatives (sensitivity 91.8%, specificity 98.3%, positive predictive value 97.8%, negative predictive value 93.4%). The area under the ROC curve was 0.951 for the FAST examination. CONCLUSION: FAST is a highly reliable method for screening patients suspected of having BAI for the presence or absence of hemoperitoneum.
Abdomen ; Abdominal Injuries ; Emergencies ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Hemoperitoneum ; Humans ; Laparotomy ; Mass Screening ; Retrospective Studies ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: We planned to determine the diagnostic capability of focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) in cases of blunt abdominal injury (BAI). METHODS: A retrospective analysis of FAST sheets was performed from April 2002 to December 2004. During the study period, 135 BAI patients were evaluated with FAST at the Emergency Department of Bundang CHA Hospital. Of this group, twenty-eight patients were excluded, leaving 107 patients for analysis. Abdomen CT (computerized tomography) or exploratory laparotomy confirmed the presence of hemoperitoneum. At the secondary survey, patients underwent a three-view FAST examination (LogicQ; General Electric, Waukesha, USA) by an emergency physician, followed within 2 hours by an abdomen CT or exploratory laparotomy. The FAST examination was considered positive if it demonstrated evidence of free intra-abdominal fluid. RESULTS: There were 45 true-positive FAST examination, 57 true-negatives, 1 false-positive, and 4 false negatives (sensitivity 91.8%, specificity 98.3%, positive predictive value 97.8%, negative predictive value 93.4%). The area under the ROC curve was 0.951 for the FAST examination. CONCLUSION: FAST is a highly reliable method for screening patients suspected of having BAI for the presence or absence of hemoperitoneum.
Abdomen ; Abdominal Injuries ; Emergencies ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Hemoperitoneum ; Humans ; Laparotomy ; Mass Screening ; Retrospective Studies ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVE: To compare motor evoked potential stimulated by round coil with that stimulated by butterfly coil. METHOD: Thirty control subjects were studied using magnetic stimulation by round coil and butterfly coil. Stimulation sites were cortex, cervical spine and lumbar spine. Recording electrodes were located on biceps brachii, abductor digiti minimi and tibialis anterior muscles. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between latencies of motor evoked potentials using round coil and those using butterfly coil in all tested muscles. In all muscles, amplitudes were significantly higher in stimulation with round coil than with butterfly coil. Above results were shown in both cortical and spinal motor evoked potentials. There were significant correlations between latencies of motor evoked potentials, heights, and arm lengths. CONCLUSION: We can record motor evoked potentials more easily with round coil than butterfly coil.
Arm ; Butterflies* ; Electrodes ; Evoked Potentials, Motor* ; Muscles ; Spine

BACKGROUND: Residual muscle paralysis after anesthesia is reduced with the advent of intermediate-acting neuromuscular blocking drugs, yet the incidence is as high as about 10 percent. Opioids in patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) may cause respiratory depression and other problems after anesthesia. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the influence of PCA on the SPO2, TOF ratio, head-lift and tongue protrusion during recovery room stay following intraoperative muscle relaxants. METHODS: 120 patients aged from 20 to 65 in ASA class I and II were divided into control or PCA groups. All patients received rocuronium (0.9 mg/kg) or atracurium (0.5 mg/kg) for tracheal intubation, and maintenance of relaxation was done with atracurium 0.2 mg/kg/hr during inhalation anesthesia. Reversal of block was done with pyridostigmine 0.15 mg/kg and glycopyrrolate 0.2 mg. SpO2, TOF ratio, 5 sec-head lift, tongue protrusion tests were evaluated in the recovery room. RESULTS: IV-PCA did not influence the incidence of residual block, SPO2, TOF ratio during recovery room stay for 20 minutes, but influenced negatively 5 sec-head lift test, tongue protrusion test only immediately after arrival at the recovery room. CONCLUSIONS: Since IV-PCA decreased the ability to perform head-lift and tongue protrusion early postoperatively, it is recommended that patients with IV-PCA should be carefully managed against the risk of aspiration or upper respiratory obstruction during their early recovery room stay.
Analgesia, Patient-Controlled* ; Analgesics, Opioid ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, Inhalation ; Atracurium ; Glycopyrrolate ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intubation ; Neuromuscular Blockade ; Paralysis ; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis ; Pyridostigmine Bromide ; Recovery Room ; Relaxation ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Tongue

No abstract available.
Humans ; Prevalence* ; Renal Dialysis*

Saponin has been known to be a major antioxidant component in panax ginseng. Recent experimental study suggests that some antioxidant materials prevent Parkinson's disease caused by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6- tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) in an animal model. The present study was performed to demonstrate the effect of ginseng saponins in the Parkinson's disease model induced by MPTP. To verify the effect of ginseng saponin on dopaminergic neurons in the mice brain, the tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive (TH-ir) neurons were observed by immunohistochemical stain and immunoelectron microscopy (preembedding method). Also, in order to estimate the immunoreactivity of dopaminergic neuropils, they were quantified by image analysis. The number of TH-ir neurons of substantia nigra was significantly increased in the high-dose (0.46 mg/kg) ginseng saponin group compared with the MPTP injected group. The immunoreactivity of TH-ir neuropils in striatum was significantly increased in both high and low-dose (0.1 mg/kg) ginseng saponin groups compared with the MPTP injected group. In immunoelectron microscopic observation, TH-ir neurons of the control and both ginseng saponin injected group showed normal nuclei and well preserved cytoplasmic organelles. In the MPTP injected group, dying dopaminergic neurons showed destroyed nuclei and cytoplasmic organelles. These results suggest that ginseng saponin has a protective effect on the Parkinson's disease model induced by MPTP.
1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine ; Animals ; Brain ; Cytoplasm ; Dopaminergic Neurons* ; Mice* ; Microscopy, Immunoelectron ; Models, Animal ; Neurons ; Neuropil ; Organelles ; Panax* ; Parkinson Disease* ; Saponins* ; Substantia Nigra ; Tyrosine ; Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase

Large intestinal Lipohyperplasia (LPH) is a poorly recognized lesion characterized by adipose tissue infiltration in the submucosal layer of the colon. Most of all, LPH developed at Ileoceal valve, especially upper lip which was called by ileocecal valve syndrome. For endoscopists and radiologists, it has often remained difficult to make a distinction from malignant neoplasia. We report here the case of a mild obese, 51-year-old man who had polypoid lipohyperplasia of the colon associated with extreme hyperplasia of the appendix. His chief complaint was recurrent intermittent abdominal pain. The colonoscopic finding was a submucosal tumor-like polypoid mass originating from appendix with smooth surface, But ileocecal valve was intact. Abdominal CT finding was 2.5 cm sized round heterogeneous low density mass like lesion with intratumoral fatty density of cecal tip area with enhancement of peripheral portion. In barium enema study, after retrograde filling of contrast, smooth extrinsic indentation of cecal tip with partial filling of appendix was seen. Histological exemination revealed infiltration of mature adipose tissue in the submucosal layer. Because of recurrent abdominal pain, ileocecal resection was performed at operation. We discuss the case and review the literatures on this subject.
Abdominal Pain ; Adipose Tissue ; Appendix* ; Barium ; Colon ; Enema ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Ileocecal Valve ; Lip ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: IgG subclass deficiency has been reported in patients with bronchial asthma and is associated with recurrent respiratory tract infections. This study was done to identify prevalence of IgG subclass deficiency and to evaluate the possible difference between atopic and non-atopic asthmatics. Subjects and METHODS: We measured serum levels of IgG and IgG subclass in 35 asthmatic patients and 50 healthy controls using nephelometry. Reference values of each IgG subclass was defined as cumulative percentile between 2.5% to 97.5% of controls. RESULTS: Total IgG, IgG1 and IgG2 of asthmatics were significantly lower than for those of controls(p<0.05, respectively). In atopic asthmatics, compared with non-atopic asthmatics, IgG4 level was significantly higher (p<0.05). The frequency of IgG subclass levels below the reference value was eight (22.9%) of 35 asthmatics. CONCLUSION: IgG, IgG1 and IgG2 were significantly lower in asthmatic patients. Some patients had IgG subclass levels below reference value. Further studies will be needed to evaluate their clinical significance.
Asthma* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G* ; Nephelometry and Turbidimetry ; Prevalence ; Reference Values ; Respiratory Tract Infections

Eighty-four patients with unresectable primary hepatocellular carcinoma due either to locally advanced lesion or to association with liver cirrhosis were treated with combined radiotherapy and hyperthermia from April 1988 to January 1991. Purpose of this study was to assess thermometry, response rate, toxicity, and survival in those patients. External radiotherapy was given with a total of 30.6 Gy/3.5 wks. Hyperthermia was given twice a week with a total of 6 treatment sessions using an 8 MHz radiofrequency capacitive type heating machine. Each hyperthermia session was started within 30 min following radiotherapy and continued for 30-60 min. Thermal data were analysed with maximum, minimum, and average temperatures of the tumors. Thermal mapping was also done. In thermometry results, maximum, minimum, and average temperatures of the tumors were 41.9 +/- 1.3 degrees C, 39.9 +/- 1.0 degrees C, and 40.8 +/- 0.9 degrees C, respectively. The fraction over 40 degrees C was 73 +/- 32% with a wide variation from 15% to 100%. Among 67 assessable patients, 27 patients showed tumor regression of more than 50% of the original tumor volume (40.3% response rate). Symptomatic improvement was observed in 78.6% of the patients. Acute toxicities during the treatment were mostly acceptable local pain (51.2%) and local fat necrosis (13.1%). The actuarial 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year survival rates were 44.8%, 19.7%, and 15.6%, respectively. Median survival was 6 months. In view of acceptable toxicities and the current rate of survival, further evaluation of combined treatment of radiotherapy and hyperthermia for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma is warranted.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/radiotherapy/*therapy ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Human ; *Hyperthermia, Induced ; Liver Neoplasms/radiotherapy/*therapy ; Male ; Middle Age ; Remission Induction

X -ray irradiation induces various congenital anomalies in the human fetuses and experimental animals. The action mechanism of teratogenesis, however, still not known completely. Furthermore, the dynamics of teratogenesis according to the developmental stages are so great that complete unveiling the teratogenic action mechanism of radiation is nearly impossible. And, it is necessary to make the experimental model for the study on the damages caused by electromagnetic field, recently. In this study, the Sprague -Dawley rats were irradiated 2 Gy once on the GD 10.7, and observed the congenital anomalies of the fetuses on GD 17.5, grossly and light microscopically. The results were as follows ; 1. There was no significant difference in the survival rate between control and irradiated groups. However, mean body weight of the experimental group decreased significantly compared to control group. 2. X -irradiation -induced congenital anomalies were eye anomalies such as unilateral and/or bilateral anophthalmia, microphthalmia, and aphakia, hemorrhagic plaques on the head, tail anomalies such as short tail and curved tail, and posterior limb anomalies. 3. Posterior limb anomalies were all ecrodactyly, such as 4 -digit anomaly, 3 -digit anomaly, and cleft foot. In the sidedness of anomalies, right side showed greater dominance than left.
Animals ; Anophthalmos ; Aphakia ; Body Weight ; Electromagnetic Fields ; Extremities ; Fetus* ; Foot ; Head ; Humans ; Microphthalmos ; Models, Theoretical ; Rats* ; Survival Rate ; Tail ; Teratogenesis