No abstract available.
Antioxidants* ; Glutathione* ; Humans

BACKGROUND: Determination of left ventricular(LV) myocardial mass with echocardioraphy is feasible and validated. American society of echocardiography(ASE) issued recommendations for the quantitation of the left ventricle by M-mode and 2-dimensional echocardiography in 1978 and 1989, respectively. Although some controversies exist regarding the relative accuracy of M-mode and 2-dimensional techniques, many workers now agree that 2-dimensional methods are more accurate and can be applied to a higher percentage of patients. But sometimes the validated methods are not optimal when parasternal short axis view is difficult to obtain, when the ventricle is distorted, or when scar tissue constitutes a portion of the myocardial volume. METHODS: We measured left ventricular mass in 72 normal subjects using three different methods-ASE cube method with correction in M-mode(method A), area-length method from parasternal short axis view and apical four chamber view(method B), and the method using Simpson's rule from apical four chamber view(method C). RESULTS: 1) LV mass(index) was 161.8+/-30.3g(98.7+/-15.6g/m2) by method A, 166.2+/-32.8g(101.2+/-16.5g/m2) by method B, and 161.2+/-31.8g(98.2+/-15.5g/m2) by method C. 2) LV mass or index by method B was significantly different from that by method A(p<0.001) and from that by method C(p<0.001). However there was no significant difference in LV mass or index between by method A and C(p>0.05). 3) There was a strong correlation between LV mass or index by the method A and B(r=0.873, p<0.001), by the method B and C(r=0.923, p<0.001), and by the A and C(r=0.945, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: It is suggested that the method using Simpson's rule can reliably assess LV mass, although it results in smaller value that that by area-length method.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Cicatrix ; Echocardiography* ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of wrist position on the ulnar nerve conduction velocity. METHOD: Ulnar motor nerve conduction studies were performed bilaterally in twenty healthy adult volunteers. For each limb, nerve conduction study was carried out in two different positions. In the first position, shoulder were abducted, elbow and wrist flexed to 90o. For the second position, all joints were kept constant except for the wrist where it was extended. Routine conduction study was performed in both wrist positions. All data were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: The average conduction velocities in the wrist flexed position were 61.6 m/sec for the forearm segment and 62.3 m/sec across elbow. With the wrist extended, the average was 62.6 m/sec and 64.1 m/sec, respectively. The differences in conduction velocities between two different wrist positions were statistically significant (p<0.05). In the wrist flexed position, the average measured latencies were 2.3 msec with wrist, 5.4 msec below elbow, and 7.4 msec above elbow stimulation, compared to wrist extended which showed 2.4, 5.4 and 7.2 msec, respectively. The difference of latencies at wrist between the two wrist positions was statistically significant (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The authors conclude that wrist position affect ulnar nerve conduction velocity.
Adult ; Elbow ; Extremities ; Forearm ; Humans ; Joints ; Neural Conduction ; Shoulder ; Ulnar Nerve* ; Volunteers ; Wrist*

BACKGROUND: A clinical trial was performed to evaluate the antihypertensive efficacy and side effects of amlodipine, a new long-action calcium antagonist, in patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension as measured by 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. METHODS AND RESULTS: 1) The study patients consisted of 4 men and 6 women, and the mean age was 51 years. Amlodipine monotherapy(5~10mg) was continued for 4 weeks, and blood pressure was measured by 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. 2) A smooth and sustained lowering of blood pressure was clearly achieved without affecting the circadian rhythm throughout dosing interval. The mean-pressure drop was 21.2/13.7mmHg after 4 weeks of amlodipine monotherapy. 3) The ambulatory pulse rate revealed virtually identical average hourly pulses during the recording period before and after amlodipine treatment. 4) All of the laboratory parameters including blood chemistry, glucose, lipid and electrolytes did not change significantly after 4 weeks of amlodipine monotherapy. 5) Amlodipine therapy resulted in minimal side effects that were well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: Once-daily amlodipine monotherapy with 5 to 10mg in controlling blood pressure throughout each 24-h cycle is effective and well tolerated in the patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension.
Amlodipine* ; Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory ; Blood Pressure* ; Calcium ; Chemistry ; Circadian Rhythm ; Electrolytes ; Female ; Glucose ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Male

Lipoleiomyomas of the uterus are extremely rare benign neoplasm that can be difficult to differentiate from benign cystic ovarian teratomas. Only a few pure lipomas of the uterus have been documented. We presented a case of lipoleiomyoma of the uterus, in which sonography and computed tomography were per formed, but because of its rarity, and confusion with more common uterine leiomyoma and ovarian dermoid tumor, preoperative diagnosis was not suggested. To our best knowledge, this is the first case of uterine lipoleiomyoma in Korea.
Dermoid Cyst ; Diagnosis ; Korea ; Leiomyoma ; Lipoma ; Teratoma ; Uterus*

Lipoleiomyomas of the uterus are extremely rare benign neoplasm that can be difficult to differentiate from benign cystic ovarian teratomas. Only a few pure lipomas of the uterus have been documented. We presented a case of lipoleiomyoma of the uterus, in which sonography and computed tomography were per formed, but because of its rarity, and confusion with more common uterine leiomyoma and ovarian dermoid tumor, preoperative diagnosis was not suggested. To our best knowledge, this is the first case of uterine lipoleiomyoma in Korea.
Dermoid Cyst ; Diagnosis ; Korea ; Leiomyoma ; Lipoma ; Teratoma ; Uterus*

We analyzed ERCP findings of 15 patients with clonorchiasis, that were confirmed by stool examination and operation from May, 1976 to September, 1980. The results were as follows. 1) Filling defects due to adult worm of clonorchis sinensis were significant direct findings of clonorchiasis. 2) Irregular stenosis, fuzziness, raggedness, peripheral dilation and disturbance of peripheral filling of intrahepatic bile ducts were significant indirect findings of clonorchiasis. 3) ERCP was excellent method to evaluate biliary tree in patients with clonorchiasis, who showed obstructive jaundice.
Adult ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; Biliary Tract ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde* ; Clonorchiasis* ; Clonorchis sinensis ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Humans ; Jaundice, Obstructive

BACKGROUND: Tracheal intubation for general anesthesia often leads to trauma of the airway mucosa, resulting in postoperative sore throat and hoarseness. Numerous studies have investigated the factors as contributing causes, but the influence of method of anesthesia induction and time for extubation of the endotracheal tube has not been systematically examined. The aim of this study was to establish the effects of the methods of anesthesia induction and timing of extubation on postoperative sore throat and hoarseness. METHODS: Eighty patients with ASA physical status 1 or 2 were randomly divided into four groups. Group 1 patients (n=20) recieved succinylcholine 1.0 mg/kg for intubation and early extubated ; group 2 patients (n=20) recieved succinylcholine 1.0 mg/kg for intubation and lately extubated ; group 3 patients (n=20) recieved pancuronium 0.1 mg/kg for intubation and early extubated ; group 4 patients (n=20) recieved pancuronium 0.1 mg/kg for intubation and lately extubated. All patients were interviewed 6, 24, 48, and 72 hrs after operation by an anesthesiologist in a double-blind manner. RESULTS: The incidence of sore throat at postoperative 6 and 24 hrs were decreased in group 3 compaired with group 1, 2, and 4 (p<0.05), respectively. The severity of sore throat at postoperative 6 hrs were decreased in group 3 compared with group 1, 2 and 4 (p<0.05), and that of postoperative 24 hrs were decreased in group 3 compared with group 1 and 2 (p<0.05), respectively. The severity of hoarseness at postoperative 6 hrs were decreased in group 3 compared with group 2 (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that postoperative sore throat and hoarseness may be developed more when extubation was perfomed lately than early. Therefore, early extubation provide advantage in terms of reducing sore throat and hoarseness in limited cases of anesthesia.
Anesthesia* ; Anesthesia, General ; Hoarseness* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intubation ; Mucous Membrane ; Pancuronium ; Pharyngitis* ; Succinylcholine

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is one of the major disease for neuro-rehabilitation, as well as one of the important impairment. HIE typically shows global deterioration of brain function with relative preservation of brain stem reflexes, and topographic pattern of damage; the CA1 hippocampal cells, cerebellar Purkinje cells, neocortical neurons in layers 3, 5, 6 and basal ganglia. The characteristics of patho-mechanism including persistent vegetative state, seizure, autonomic dysfunction and secondary Parkinsonism are causative factors of several complications. Management of these complications sometimes curative, but more often re-adaptive and palliative. Understanding and proper rehabilitation of complications will be one of the most important therapeutic strategies for patients with HIE.
Basal Ganglia ; Brain ; Brain Stem ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain* ; Neurons ; Parkinson Disease, Secondary ; Persistent Vegetative State ; Purkinje Cells ; Reflex ; Rehabilitation ; Seizures

Chest draining is a common procedure for treating pleural effusion. Perforation of the heart is a rare often fatal complication of chest drain insertion. We report a case of a 76-year-old female patient suffering from congestive heart failure. At presentation, unilateral opacity of the left chest observed on a chest X-ray was interpreted as massive pleural effusion, so an attempt was made to drain the left pleural space. Malposition of the chest drain was suspected because blood was draining in a pulsatile way from the catheter. Computed tomography revealed perforation of the left ventricle. Mini-thoracotomy was performed and the drain extracted successfully.
Catheters ; Chest Tubes ; Female ; Heart ; Heart Failure ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Pleural Effusion ; Stress, Psychological ; Thorax