OBJECTIVES: Hypertension provokes left ventricular diastolic dysfunction due to decreased elasticity of the ventricular myocardium at first. It has been proposed that the Doppler echocardiography might provide information concerning diastole because of its ability to measure the blood flow velocities across the mitral valve noninvasively. But Doppler mitral velocity may be "normalized" in hypertensive patients in different conditions. The purpose of this study is to evaluate diastolic function in hypertensive hearts using Doppler echocardiography of the pulmonary venous flow in conjunction with mitral flow velocity pattern. METHODS: We measured the mitral flow velocity curves and the pulmonary flow velocity curves in fifty hypertensive patients(mean age : 56.3+/-10.0, man : 19, woman : 31) nad forty healthy adults(mean age : 51.6+/-12.5, man : 14, woman : 26) from March 1995 to December 1995 by using the SONO 1000 of Hewlett Packerd. RESULTS: 1) The mitral flow velocity pattern in 50 hypertensive patients was characterized by the decrease in the peak early diastolic filling velocity(E : 0.59+/-0.12m/sec) and the ratio of E to peak filling velocity(A : 1.00+/-0.46m/sec). Isovolumetric relaxation time and deceleration time were 127.2+/-33.3msec, 258.9+/-40.9msec respectively. They were longer than normotensive patients(P < 0.05). 2) The pulmonary venous flow velocity pattern in hypertensive patients was characterized by the decreased peak diastolic forward velocity(D : 33.7+/-9.8cm/sec) and the ratio of peak systolic forward velocity(S) to D(S/D : 1.60+/-0.5)(P < 0.05). 3) There was no relation between the flow velocity integral parameters and the peak flow velocity parameters of pulmonary venous flow pattern in hypertensive patients. 4) The dofference in the pulmonary venous duration and the mitral A wave duration at atrial contraction (DA-DR) was 20.9+/-29.4 msec in hypertensive patients. DA-DR in normatensive patients was 24.3+/-32.9msec. DA-DR was not significant in hypertensive patients compared with that of the healthy subjects (P < 0.05) CONCLUSION: Analysis of pulmonary venous flow velocity pattern in conjunction with mitral flow velocity pattern in hypertensive patients provides more accurate assessment of left ventricular diastolic function.
Blood Flow Velocity ; Deceleration ; Diastole ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; Elasticity ; Female ; Heart* ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Mitral Valve ; Myocardium ; NAD ; Relaxation

As a part of plan to construct a multifunctional hospital information system, We planned to develop a chemotherapy order system. First, a software developing team was established which is composed of hematooncology staffs, special pharmacists and programmer who are responsible for OCS. We set up an outline of this system after collecting various kinds of sources such as foreign examples, gathered protocol that are used for chemotherapy, and organized these protocol in programming the chemotherapy order system. This project is expected to provide accurate prescription, to shorten the time to prepare prescription, to standardize the protocol of chemotherapy within the medical center, to manage an effective dispensing schedule and to be used as a source for education and research.
Appointments and Schedules ; Drug Therapy* ; Education ; Hospital Information Systems ; Humans ; Pharmacists ; Prescriptions

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to analyze the cost for the denture treatment in accordance with the government's plan to expand the National Health Insurance coverage for dental prothesis from July 1, 2012. METHODS: We developed the draft of classification of the treatment activities based on the existing researches and expert's review and finalized the standard procedures through confirming by Korean Dental Association. We also made the list of input at each stage of treatments. We conducted survey of 100 dental clinics via post from April 4 to May 20 in 2011 and 37 clinics took part in the survey. The unit of cost calculation is the process from the first visit for denture treatment to setting of denture and adjustment. The manufacturing process performed by dental technician was not included in the cost analysis. RESULTS: The process for the complete denture treatment was classified with 10 stages. The partial denture treatment was classified with 8 stages. The treatment time per each denture is about 5.6 hours for complete dentures and about 6.6 hours for partial dentures. The treatment cost were from 591,108 won to 643,913 won for complete denture and from 670,219 won to 738,840 won for partial denture in 2011, depending on the location, type of the clinics and the types of physician's income. CONCLUSION: This study shows the example of cost analysis for the treatment to set the fee schedule. Measures to get representative and accurate information need to be made.
Classification ; Costs and Cost Analysis* ; Dental Clinics* ; Dental Technicians ; Denture, Complete ; Denture, Partial ; Dentures* ; Fee Schedules ; Health Care Costs ; Humans ; Korea* ; National Health Programs

BACKGROUND: Recently, liquid-based cytology (LBC) has been introduced as an alternative to the conventional smear (CS) technique in thyroid fine needle aspiration, due to its diagnostic convenience. METHODS: We assessed 77 cases of thyroid fine needle aspiration using the SurePath(TM) method (SP) as LBC and CS via split-sample techniques. BRAF mutation tests were carried out via polymerase chain reaction and pyrosequencing immediately after diagnosis or a delay of more than one year. RESULTS: In a comparison between SP and CS, the rate of concordance between SP and CS was as high as 84.4% (kappa value, 0.754). In comparison with histologic diagnosis, the overall sensitivity was 100% for both. The specificity was 62.5% for SP and 56.3% for CS. Relative to CS, papillary carcinomas on SP slides revealed more accentuated nuclear irregularities, nucleoli, and reduced nuclear size. In contrast to CS, the delayed BRAFV600E mutation test using SP slides after 1-2 years failed. The use of new primers amplifying shorter product size could help the delayed test achieve success. CONCLUSIONS: Differences in the diagnostic efficacy of SP and CS were negligible. The failure of the delayed BRAF mutation test on the SP slides might be associated with DNA degradation.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; DNA ; Needles ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Thyroid Gland

Renal tubular dysfunctions have been observed in hydronephrosis, resulting in metabolic acidosis, hyperkalemia and excessive free water diuresis. These findings are occasionally found in infant and children. Batle et al. first reported distal tubular acidosis associated with low potassium excretion resulting from aldosterone resistance in adults with obstructive uropathy. We have experienced a case of transient hyperkalemia and hyperaldosteronism secondary to hydronephrosis in 63-year-old female patient. The causes of hyperkalemia were examined under the impression of secondary adrenal insufficiency due to corticosteroid abuse or hyporeninemic hypoaldosteronism due to diabetic nephropathy. But it proved to be resulted from hyperaldosteronism due to hydronephrosis. The hyperkalemia resulting from hyperaldosteronism is rare in adults. It may result from aldosterone resistance at distal nephron due to obstructive uropathy or the defect of distal nephron in hydrogen and potassium secretion in the distal nephron rather than from aldosterone deficiency. After she underwent percutaneous nephrostomy, serum potassium was maintained within normal range. She performed total cystectomy with ureterocutaneostomy in purpose for treatment of bladder cancer. So we report this case with a review of literature.
Acidosis ; Adrenal Insufficiency ; Adult ; Aldosterone ; Child ; Cystectomy ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; Diuresis ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrogen ; Hydronephrosis* ; Hyperaldosteronism* ; Hyperkalemia* ; Hypoaldosteronism ; Infant ; Middle Aged ; Nephrons ; Nephrostomy, Percutaneous ; Potassium ; Reference Values ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; Water

BACKGROUND: The essential oil of Ocimum basilicum (EOOB) has a pleasant aroma and is known to have antimicrobial and insecticidal activities. In addition, it is used as a pain reliever in folk medicine. However, there are few reports on the antinociceptive activities of EOOB. METHODS: This study examined the antinociceptive effects of EOOB using formalin and a plantar test in mice. In the formalin test, EOOB (50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, 150 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally and the licking time of the mice was measured. In the plantar test, intraperitoneal EOOB (50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg) was administered and the withdrawal latency was measured using the Hargreaves method. RESULTS: In the formalin test, EOOB (50 mg/kg, IP) showed significant decreases in licking time in the second phase. On the other hand, in the plantar test, there were no significant effects in any of the groups examined. CONCLUSIONS: These results support the traditional use of EOOB for the treatment of painful conditions. However, there is a need for more research to determine the active chemical constituents and the precise mechanism.
Animals ; Formaldehyde ; Hand ; Medicine, Traditional ; Mice ; Ocimum ; Ocimum basilicum ; Pain Measurement

Rhabdoid colorectal carcinomas are very rare and only 10 cases have been previously reported. We report two cases of rhabdoid colorectal carcinoma, one arising in the sigmoid colon of a 62-year-old man and another in the rectum of an 83-year-old woman. In both cases, the patients had advanced tumors with lymph node metastases. The tumors mostly showed a diffuse arrangement with rhabdoid features and small glandular regions were combined. Transitional areas from the adenocarcinomas to the rhabdoid tumors were also noted. Adenocarcinoma cells were positive for mixed cytokeratin (CK), CK20 and epithelial membranous antigen (EMA), but focal positive for vimentin. The rhabdoid tumor cells were positive for mixed CK, but focal positive or negative for CK20 and EMA. In addition, they were diffusely positive for vimentin, but negative for desmin. The histological and immunohistologial findings of these two cases suggest that the rhabodid tumor cells originated from dedifferentiated adenocarcinomas.
Adenocarcinoma ; Colon ; Colon, Sigmoid ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Desmin ; Female ; Humans ; Keratins ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Rectum ; Rhabdoid Tumor ; Vimentin

OBJECTIVE: Caregivers for patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) suffer from psychological and financial burdens. However, the results of the relationship between burden and cognitive function, performance of activities of daily living, and depressive symptoms have remained inconsistent. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine which factors are more significant predictors of heightened burden, cognitive impairment or functional decline, besides neuropsychiatric symptoms. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a sample comprised of 1,164 pairs of patients with AD and caregivers from the Clinical Research of Dementia of South Korea study cohorts. The cognitive function of each sub-domain, functional impairments, depressive symptoms, and caregiver burden were assessed using the dementia version of Seoul Neuropsychological Screening Battery (SNSB-D), Barthel Index for Daily Living Activities (ADL), Seoul-Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (S-IADL), the Clinical Dementia Rating Sum of Box (CDR-SB), the Global Deterioration Scale (GDS), the Korean version of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (K-NPI), and the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale. RESULTS: We found that higher severity (higher CDR-SB and GDS scores) and more functional impairment (lower ADL and higher S-IADL scores) were significantly associated with higher caregiver burden. In addition, depressive symptoms of patients (higher Geriatric Depression Scale scores) were associated with higher caregiver burden. CONCLUSION: Therefore, interventions to help maintain activities of daily living in patients with AD may alleviate caregiver burden and improve caregiver well-being.
Activities of Daily Living ; Alzheimer Disease* ; Caregivers* ; Cognition ; Cohort Studies ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Dementia ; Depression ; Humans ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; Seoul

OBJECTIVE: Comprehensive neuropsychological tests are important in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with MCI; however, most were developed without consideration of illiteracy. We developed the Literacy Independent Cognitive Assessment (LICA) as a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment battery applicable to older adults who are either literate or illiterate. This study aimed to assess the reliability and validity of the LICA for diagnosis of MCI. METHODS: Normal controls (n=634) and patients with MCI (n=128) were recruited from 13 centers were included in this study. Participants were divided into illiterate or literate groups, based on their performance on a brief reading and writing test. The LICA, Korean Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE), and Seoul Neuropsychological Screening Battery (SNSB) were administered. RESULTS: Total LICA scores distinguished MCI patients from controls (p<0.001). They were closely and positively correlated to the K-MMSE scores (r=0.632, p<0.001) but negatively correlated to clinical dementia rating (CDR) (r=-0.358, p<0.001) and CDR sum of boxes (r=-0.339, p<0.001). Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for patients with MCI by total LICA score was 0.827 (0.783-0.870), superior to that presented by the K-MMSE. For the classification of MCI subtypes, inter-method reliability of LICA with the SNSB was good (kappa 0.773; 0.679-0.867, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that the LICA may be reliably used to distinguish MCI patients from cognitively intact adults, to identify MCI subtypes and monitor progression toward dementia, regardless of illiteracy.
Adult* ; Classification ; Dementia ; Diagnosis ; Literacy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Mild Cognitive Impairment* ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Reproducibility of Results ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Seoul ; Writing

No abstract available.
Animals ; Dogs* ; Durapatite* ; Transplants*