No abstract available.
Pregnancy*

PURPOSE: MRI is known to be an effective imaging modality of the aorta and its role is steadily increasing in the evaluation of acquired aortic diseases including aortic dissections and aortic aneurysms. However, differentiation of the aortic dissections with thrombosed false lumen from the aortic aneurysm with mural thrombus in MRI has not been easy. Therefore, the authors tried to find the characteristic MR featrses which would to differentiate the two diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MR images of 6 patients with thrombosed aortic dissection and 7 patients with thrombosed aortic aneurysms were reviewed retrospectively and compared in regand to shape and extent of thrombus, dimension of aorta, and luminal flow signal. RESULTS: Thrombosed aortic dissections showed sharply demarcated crescent shaped aortic wall thickening of even thickness involving long segment of the aorta, whereas thrombosed aortic aneurysms showed irregular aortic wall thickening of uneven thickness localized in the short dilated segment of the aorta. Characteristically aortic aneurysm with mural thrombus showed eccentric intraluminal slow flow signal. In contrast to the signal void of the true lumen in aortic dissections, the residual lumen of the aortic aneurysm with mural thrombus revealed intraluminal signal due to slow flow. CONCLUSION: Familiarity to these MRI findings of thrombosed aortic dissections and aortic aneurysms may lead to the accurate differential diagnosis in majority of cases.
Aorta ; Aortic Aneurysm* ; Aortic Diseases ; Diagnosis, Differential* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Phenobarbital ; Recognition (Psychology) ; Retrospective Studies ; Thrombosis

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we focused on estimating the burden of premature death in Korea caused by smoking using the YLL (years of life lost due to premature death) measurement. METHODS: First, we determined parameters: such as age-specific standard life expectancy, age on death, sex, and cause of death by analyzing the national death certificate data and life table collected during 1997. These were provided by the National Statistical Office. Secondly, we estimated the age group- specific years of life lost due to premature death by employing the standard expected years of life lost (SEYLL) measurement. Thirdly, the burden of premature death caused by smoking was estimated using the YLLs measurement which was developed by the global burden of disease study group. Fourthly, We calculated the risk related to smoking using the population attributable risk. RESULTS: The following results were obtained in this study:1) Premature death that is attributable to smoking in males could be prevented in 60.9% (513,582 person-year) by non-smoking.2) The burden of premature death by smoking for female was prevented to 17.7% (513,582 person-year) by non-smoking. CONCLUSION: We found that the YLL method employed in this study was appropriate in quantifying the burden of premature death. This provides a rational basis for planning a national health policy regarding premature deaths caused by smoking and other related risk factors.
Cause of Death ; Death Certificates ; Female ; Health Policy ; Humans ; Korea* ; Life Expectancy ; Life Tables ; Male ; Mortality, Premature* ; Risk Factors ; Smoke* ; Smoking*

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the burden of cardiovascular disease attributable to the total suspended particulates (TSP) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) in Korea using the YLD (years lived with disability) measurement. METHODS: Congestive heart failure(CHF) and myocardial infarction (MI) were chosen as the main cardiovascular diseases whose causes are attributable to the TSP and SO2 levels. In order to calculate the YLD (years lived with a disability), the following parameters in the formula were estimated. : the incidence rate, the case fatality rate, The expected duration of a disability and the average age of onset were estimated. The expected duration of a disability and the average age of onset were calculated using the DISMOD method, as developed by the GBD researchers. The burden of cardiovascular disease due to TSP and SO2 was estimated using the number of years that the patient lived with a disability. RESULTS: The YLD of the CHF due to the TSP and SO2 was attributed to the TSP (94.4 person-year) and SO2 levels (35.0 person-year). The YLD of the MI due to the TSP and SO2 was attributed to the TSP (148.4 person-year) and SO2 levels(27.6 person-year). CONCLUSION: The YLD method employed in this study was appropriate for quantifying the burden of cardiovascular disease. Therefore, it would provide a rational basis for planning a national health policy regarding the disease burden of the risk factors in Korea.
Age of Onset ; Air Pollution ; Cardiovascular Diseases* ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Health Policy ; Heart ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Mortality ; Myocardial Infarction ; Risk Factors ; Sulfur Dioxide* ; Sulfur*

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to investigate the risk factors for hematoma enlargement(HE) in the patients with spontaneous putaminal hemorrhage. METHODS: Among the 620 patients with putaminal hemorrhage admitted to our hospital during the period of 1990-2000, sixty patients(9.7%) had HE on the second computed tomographic(CT) scan at the interval of mean 38 hours after attack(range 1.8-168 hours). Clinical features and CT findings of these 60 patients with HE were compared with those of the remaining 560 patients without HE. RESULTS: Multivariate logistic regressional analysis revealed that the independent risk factors for HE were CT finding showing the separation of hematoma(odds ratio[OR] 3.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.7-7.3, p=0.0006) or the hypodensity around or within hematoma(OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.2-5.6, p=0.0194), alcoholism(OR 4.8, 95% CI 2.0-11.7, p=0.0004), hematoma volume of 20-39cc(OR 2.54, 95% CI 1.0-6.3, p=0.0424), Glasgow Coma Scale(GCS) score of 8-11(OR 3.1, 95% CI 1.4-6.9, p=0.0046) and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase>50 IU/L(OR 6.54, 95% CI 2.1-20.5, p= 0.0013). CONCLUSION: Alcoholism and liver dysfunction appear to increase the risk of HE in putaminal hemorrhage. Particularly, careful observation for HE is needed in the patients who are GCS score of 8-11 at the time of admission, who have hematoma volume of 20-39cc and the CT finding showing the separation of hematoma or the hypodensity around or within hematoma.
Alcoholism ; Coma ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Liver Diseases ; Logistic Models ; Putaminal Hemorrhage* ; Risk Factors*

OBJECTIVES: Criteria for evaluating the results of treating low back pain vary widely. We examined the methods measuring the outcome in the papers of Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society. METHODS: We selected all published articles describing the methods measuring the outcome of low back pain in the journal. They were classified into 3 periods such as period 1 for volume 1-20, 2 for volume 21-25, and 3 for volume 26-28. RESULTS: There are 25 articles in period 1, 44 in period 2, and 30 in period 3. The outcome was classified into 0 to 5 classes by more than 15 different methods. Although the terms and descriptive criteria differ, 4 classes were the most common classification, being 16 in period 1, 39 in period 2, and 19 in period 3. The outcome was usually measured by authors' own method in period 1. In period 2, criteria by Gill et al was most commonly used along with many different criteria. Criteria by Prolo et al became a common method in period 3. CONCLUSION: Varying methods compromised comparative analyses of outcome. A more simple and universally applicable criteria is necessary to facilitate comparisons among various methods of treatment.
Animals ; Classification ; Gills ; Humans ; Low Back Pain* ; Spine

No abstract available.
Pregnancy* ; Primary Ovarian Insufficiency*

OBJECTIVE: Age is a strong predictor of mortality in traumatic brain injuries. A surgical decision making is difficult especially for the elderly patients with severe head injuries. We studied so-called 'withholding a life-saving surgery' over a two year period at a university hospital. METHODS: We collected data from 227 elderly patients. In 35 patients with Glasgow Coma Score 3-8, 28 patients had lesions that required operation. A life-saving surgery was withheld in 15 patients either by doctors and/or the families (Group A). Surgery was performed in 13 patients (Group B). We retrospectively examined the medical records and radiological findings of these 28 patients. We calculated the predicted probability of 6 month mortality (IPM) and 6 month unfavorable outcome (IPU) to compare the result of decision by the International Mission for Prognosis and Analysis of Clinical Trials in TBI (IMPACT) calculator. RESULTS: Types of the mass lesion did not affect on the surgical decision making. None of the motor score 1 underwent surgery, while all patients with reactive pupils underwent surgery. Causes of injury or episodes of hypoxia/hypotension might have affected on the decision making, however, their role was not distinct. All patients in the group A died. In the group B, the outcome was unfavorable in 11 of 13 patients. Patients with high IPM or IPU were more common in group A than group B. Wrong decisions brought futile cares. CONCLUSION: Ethical training and developing decision-making skills are necessary including shared decision making.
Aged* ; Brain Injuries ; Coma ; Craniocerebral Trauma* ; Decision Making* ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Missions and Missionaries ; Mortality ; Patient Participation ; Prognosis ; Pupil ; Retrospective Studies

No abstract available.
Primary Ovarian Insufficiency*

No abstract available.
Prognosis* ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage, Traumatic*