No abstract available.
Pregnancy*

No abstract available.
Twins, Conjoined*

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate factors related to middle-aged women's health beliefs and their intention to practice health behaviors for preventing and improving hypertension. METHODS: The participants were 319 middle-aged(40-59 years) women who lived G city. Data was collected from January to February, 2005. Personal interviews were performed. The data was analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe's multiple comparison test and hierarchial multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: Perceived susceptibility of health belief was high in those who had higher educational level, disease history and health education experience, significantly(p<0.05). Perceived seriousness was high in those who had higher educational level, middle economic status and health education experience, significantly(p<0.05). Perceived benefits was high in those who had higher educational level and perceived barriers was low in those who had disease history and hypertension, significantly(p<0.05). The subject's intention to practice health behaviors was significantly high in those who were younger, who had higher educational level and menopausal status(p<0.05). In hierarchial multiple regression analysis, the subject's intention was related to perceived seriousness, perceived benefit and educational level, significantly(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: It is necessary to develope the education programs which can increase the subject's health belief and intention to practice health behaviors towards hypertension in middle-aged women.
Education ; Female ; Health Behavior* ; Health Education ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Intention* ; Women's Health*

No abstract available.
Diffusion* ; Teicoplanin*

A 36-year-old man, who had undergone thoracoscopic anterior spinal fusion using the plate system and posterior screw fusion three months previously, presented to our hospital with left flank pain and fever. Computed tomography indicated the presence of a psoas muscle abscess. However, after two days of percutaneous catheter drainage, a mycotic abdominal aortic pseudoaneurysm was detected via computed tomography. We performed in situ revascularization using a prosthetic graft with omental wrapping. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was identified on blood and pus culture, and systemic vancomycin was administered for one month. Although the abscess recurred, it was successfully treated with percutaneous catheter drainage and systemic vancomycin administration for three months, without the need for instrumentation removal. The patient remained asymptomatic throughout two years of follow-up.
Abscess ; Adult ; Aneurysm, False* ; Aneurysm, Infected ; Catheters ; Drainage ; Fever ; Flank Pain ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Psoas Abscess* ; Psoas Muscles ; Spinal Fusion* ; Suppuration ; Transplants ; Vancomycin

The symptoms and signs of acute pulmonary arteries thrombosis are nonspecific. So clinical suspicion is the most important in the diagnosis. Treatment of pulmonary thromboembolism include anticoagulant, thrombolytic agent, or surgical intervention. We experienced a case of recurrent pulmonary thromboembolism without coagulation defect and any risk factor except old age and obese. Initially we treated with heparin, but clinical symptoms were aggravated. After we changed to urokinase (total 330 million IU/2 days), the pulmonary arteries obstruction were resolved and clinical symptoms were improved without any complications. So we report this clinical experience with review of articles.
Diagnosis ; Heparin ; Pulmonary Artery ; Pulmonary Embolism* ; Risk Factors ; Thrombosis ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator*

No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans

Spontaneous pneumothorax is a rare complication of pulmonary metastatic disease, most often following chemotherapy for osteogenic sarcomas, primary lung cancer or malignant germ cell tumors. Intensive chemotherapy may theoretically increase the risk of pneumothorax in patients with manifest or occult lung metastases by inducing rapid lysis of the tumor tissue and by interfering with repair processes. We present a case of patient with spontaneous pneumothorax after the introduction of chemotherapy for metastatic choriocarcinoma and review the literature and discuss the possible pathophysiologic mechanisms.
Choriocarcinoma* ; Drug Therapy* ; Female ; Humans ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal ; Osteosarcoma ; Pneumothorax* ; Pregnancy

BACKGROUND: Video-assisted thoracic sympathicotomy is a definitive minimally invasive treatment for axillary hyperhidrosis. Different techniques exist for controlling axillary hyperhidrosis, but they are temporary and expensive. We compared the results after using two different levels of sympathicotomy for treating axillary hyperhidrosis: T3-T4 and T4. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Between June 2002 and May 2007, 30 patients with isolated axillary hyperhidrosis underwent either T3-T4 or T4 thoracoscopic sympathicotomy in the Department of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery at Wonkwang University Hospital. The patients were divided into two groups. Group I (n=15) was composed of patients who underwent T3-T4 sympathicotomy (thermal ablation), and Group II (n=15) was composed of patients who underwent T4 sympathicotomy (thermal ablation). The procedures were bilateral and simultaneous, involving the use of two 2-mm trocars and a 0-degree 2-mm thoracoscope under general anesthesia with single endotracheal intubation. Outcome parameters included satisfaction rate of treatment, degree of compensatory sweating, and postoperative complications. Patients were interviewed by telephone regarding satisfaction and compensatory hyperhidrosis. RESULT: There were no differences in age between group I and group II. The mean follow-up for the T3-T4 group was 38.7+/-2.3 months, and the mean follow-up for the T4 group was 18.7+/-3.6 months. The immediate therapeutic success rate (within 2 weeks postoperative) was 100% in both groups, and there were no recurrences in either group during the long-term follow-up period. The satisfaction rate was higher (93.3%) in the T4 group than in the T3-T4 group (53.3%), and the incidence of compensatory hyperhidrosis was lower in the T4 group (6.7%) than in the T3-T4 group (46.7%). Postoperative complications included one mild pneumothorax and two instances of intercostal neuralgia. Digital infrared thermographic imaging (DITI) correlated well with postoperative satisfaction. CONCLUSION: Both techniques proved effective for controlling isolated axillary hyperhidrosis. The T4 group had a higher satisfaction rate and lower severity of compensatory hyperhidrosis. Hence, thermal ablation of the lower interganglionic fibers of the third thoracic sympathetic ganglion on the fourth rib is a more practical and minimally invasive treatment than is the T3-T4 surgical method, according to the degree of compensatory sweating in isolated axillary hyperhidrosis.
Anesthesia, General ; Follow-Up Studies ; Ganglia, Sympathetic ; Humans ; Hyperhidrosis ; Incidence ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Neuralgia ; Pneumothorax ; Postoperative Complications ; Recurrence ; Ribs ; Surgical Instruments ; Sweat ; Sweating ; Telephone ; Thoracoscopes

Myxofibrosarcoma represents one of the most common soft tissue sarcomas of the extremities in adult and elderly patients. However, it only rarely occurs in the chest wall. A 58 years old woman presented with a huge painless lump (8x6.5 cm) in the right lower parasternal area which recurred a few months following excision from General surgery of our hospital. Histology showed an infiltrative deep seated dermal and subcutaneous tumor. It had a distinctive lobular growth pattern with prominent myxoid change and moderate cellularity. Tumor cells were spindle-shaped with varying degrees of pleomorphism and frequent mitotic figures. Numerous blood vessels with curvilinear growth pattern were also seen. Immunostains for S-100, CD68, Mac 387, and FX IIIa were all negative, but positive for Vimentin. The histologic feature was of an intermediate grade myxofibrosarcoma. Wide excision was performed and recovered in good condition without any physical disabilities and was discharged at one month later. Currently she is waiting for the skin graft without chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Adult ; Aged ; Blood Vessels ; Drug Therapy ; Extremities ; Female ; Fibrosarcoma ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Radiotherapy ; Sarcoma ; Skin ; Thoracic Wall* ; Thorax* ; Transplants ; Vimentin