PURPOSE: Non-enhanced spiral computed tomography (NESCT) has become the preferred method for imaging urinary calculi. We evaluated the Hounsfield units (HU) of urinary calculi on NESCT as a predictor of the therapeutic effect of extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated 72 patients with urinary calculi who underwent ESWL. The HUs of calculi were measured on the pretreatment NESCT and at post-treatment via radiographic assessment. The patients were divided into 2 groups, the response group (n=39): the patients with remnant calculi less than 3mm or they were without remnant calculi, and the non-response group (n=33): the patients with remnant calculi greater than 3mm. The HUs of the response and non-response groups were then compared. RESULTS: The HUs of the response and non-response groups were 529.7+/-168.2 and 814+/-116.6, respectively, and the HUs of the non-response group was significantly higher than that of the non-response group. CONCLUSIONS: The HU of urinary calculi, as seen on NESCT, can help to predict the therapeutic effect of ESWL and also select the most effective treatment modalities for the patients suffering with urinary calculi.
Calculi ; Humans ; Lithotripsy* ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; Urinary Calculi*

As dyslipidemia at a young age is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease in adulthood, the screening and management of dyslipidemia in children and adolescents might be an important health issue. This review deals with issues related to the prevalence, diagnosis, screening, and treatment of pediatric dyslipidemia.Current Concepts: In Korea, the prevalence of pediatric dyslipidemia was 19.7% between 2007 and 2009. Dyslipidemia was defined according to the guidelines of the Korean Society of Pediatric Endocrinology: total cholesterol ≥200 mg/dL, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ≥130 mg/dL, triglycerides ≥130 mg/dL, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol <40 mg/dL, or non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ≥145 mg/dL.Discussion and Conclusion: We recommend universal screening tests for dyslipidemia at ages 9–11 years and 17–21 years. Diet and lifestyle modifications are essential in the treatment of dyslipidemia. In children aged ≥10 years with a poor response to lifestyle modification, drug therapy is recommended. Pediatric dyslipidemia should be diagnosed and treated properly to reduce adult cardiovascular diseases and improve quality of life in this age group.

As dyslipidemia at a young age is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease in adulthood, the screening and management of dyslipidemia in children and adolescents might be an important health issue. This review deals with issues related to the prevalence, diagnosis, screening, and treatment of pediatric dyslipidemia.Current Concepts: In Korea, the prevalence of pediatric dyslipidemia was 19.7% between 2007 and 2009. Dyslipidemia was defined according to the guidelines of the Korean Society of Pediatric Endocrinology: total cholesterol ≥200 mg/dL, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ≥130 mg/dL, triglycerides ≥130 mg/dL, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol <40 mg/dL, or non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ≥145 mg/dL.Discussion and Conclusion: We recommend universal screening tests for dyslipidemia at ages 9–11 years and 17–21 years. Diet and lifestyle modifications are essential in the treatment of dyslipidemia. In children aged ≥10 years with a poor response to lifestyle modification, drug therapy is recommended. Pediatric dyslipidemia should be diagnosed and treated properly to reduce adult cardiovascular diseases and improve quality of life in this age group.

The rectum is a unique visceral organ, of which afferents are not so obvious. In anorectal surgery ablating the rectum and/or perirectal structure, this issue comes with significant meaning about whether to preserve patient's normal defecatory function, or not. So we planned this study to evaluate which nervous system concerns the afferents from the rectum. METHODS: We recorded cerebral evoked potential (EPs) in 16 healthy male subjects after electrical and mechanical stimulation of the rectum, and compared their waving patterns regarding latencies and amplitudes of each peak with those occuring after electrical stimulation of the pudendal nerve. RESULTS: The EPs after electrical stimulation of the rectum showed distinctly different waving patterns in comparison to those after electrical stimulation of the pudendal nerve. But the EPs after mechanical stimulation of the rectum showed very similar waving patterns with those after electrical stimulation of the pudendal nerve. CONCLUSIONS: Rectal afferents of mechanical stimulation seem to be somatosensory, but those of electrical stimulation seem visceral. In that sense, sensory receptors of mechanical stimulation may lie in the perirectal structure, such as pelvic floor muscle and those of electrical stimulation lie in the rectum, itself.
Electric Stimulation ; Evoked Potentials* ; Humans ; Male ; Nervous System ; Pelvic Floor ; Pudendal Nerve ; Rectum ; Sensory Receptor Cells

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to investigate the trends on the induced abortion in Korea using social big-data and confirm whether there was time series trends and seasonal characteristics in induced abortion. METHODS: From October 1, 2007 to October 24, 2016, we used Naver's data lab query, and the search word was ‘induced abortion’ in Korean. The average trend of each year was analyzed and the seasonality was analyzed using the cosinor model. RESULTS: There was no significant changes in search volume of abortion during that period. Monthly search volume was the highest in May followed by the order of June and April. On the other hand, the lowest month was December followed by the order of January, and September. The cosinor analysis showed statistically significant seasonal variations (amplitude, 4.46; confidence interval, 1.46–7.47; p<0.0036). The search volume for induced abortion gradually increased to the lowest point at the end of November and was the highest at the end of May and declined again from June. CONCLUSION: There has been no significant changes in induced abortion for the past nine years, and seasonal changes in induced abortion have been identified. Therefore, considering the seasonality of the intervention program for the prevention of induced abortion, it will be effective to concentrate on the induced abortion from March to May.
Abortion, Induced* ; Contraception ; Female ; Hand ; Korea ; Seasons

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to investigate the trends on the induced abortion in Korea using social big-data and confirm whether there was time series trends and seasonal characteristics in induced abortion. METHODS: From October 1, 2007 to October 24, 2016, we used Naver's data lab query, and the search word was ‘induced abortion’ in Korean. The average trend of each year was analyzed and the seasonality was analyzed using the cosinor model. RESULTS: There was no significant changes in search volume of abortion during that period. Monthly search volume was the highest in May followed by the order of June and April. On the other hand, the lowest month was December followed by the order of January, and September. The cosinor analysis showed statistically significant seasonal variations (amplitude, 4.46; confidence interval, 1.46–7.47; p<0.0036). The search volume for induced abortion gradually increased to the lowest point at the end of November and was the highest at the end of May and declined again from June. CONCLUSION: There has been no significant changes in induced abortion for the past nine years, and seasonal changes in induced abortion have been identified. Therefore, considering the seasonality of the intervention program for the prevention of induced abortion, it will be effective to concentrate on the induced abortion from March to May.
Abortion, Induced* ; Contraception ; Female ; Hand ; Korea ; Seasons

We studied the effect of stellate ganglion block on the mean blood flow velocity and carbon diaxide reactivity of the middle cerehral artery in nine healthy volunteers. Mean blood flow velocity of the right middle cerebral artery was measured under normocapnia and carbon dioxide reactivity to end-tidal PCO2 of 30 mmHg, 40 mmHg, and 50 mmHg was assessed before and after right stellate ganglion block. End-tidal PCO2 was controlled by hyperventilation and rebthing technique. Mean blood flow velocity was measured using transcranial Doppler sonography, and carbon dioxide reactivity was expressed as the percentage change in mean blood flow velocity per unit change in end-tidal PCO2. There was no difference in mean blood flow velocity under normocapnia (37.7+/-1.1 mmHg) between the values measured before stellate ganglion block (60.3+/-4.9 cm/sec) and the values measured after stellate ganglion block (58.6+/-4.9 cm). Mean blood flow velocity increased as end-tidal PCO2 increased from 30 mmHg to 40 mmHg, and from 40 mmHg to 50 mmHg (p<0.01) both before and after stellate ganglion block. Carbon dioxide reactivity of mean blood flow velocity did not change after stellate ganglion block. Heart rate decreased from 77.1+/-3.5 beats/min to 70+/-2.5 beats/min when end-tidal PCO2 was controlled from 30 mmHg to 40 mmHg after stellate ganglion block (p<0.05). Mean arterial blood pressure did not change after stellate ganglion block at any end-tidal PCO2 level. These results suggest that stellate ganglion block does not induce the change of mean blood flow velocity and carbon dioxide reactivity of the middle cerebral artery.
Arterial Pressure ; Arteries ; Blood Flow Velocity* ; Carbon Dioxide* ; Carbon* ; Healthy Volunteers ; Heart Rate ; Hyperventilation ; Middle Cerebral Artery* ; Stellate Ganglion* ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial

The recording of middle cerebral artery (MCA) flow veloeity by transcrsnisl Doppler technique offers s new, noninvasive, and continuous technique for studies of cerebral circu lation. The influence of changes in PaCO2 on MCA flow velocity were observed during hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB) surgery by means of transcranial Doppler tech- niques. In ten patients who were undergoing hypothermic CPB surgery, the right MCA flow velocity was measured before initiation of CPB(prebypass period) and after the termination of CPB (postbypass period). During steady state CPB(constant hematocrit, constant temperature, and constant total pump flow), baseline MCA flow velocity(CPB I period) was measured and then repeated after specific alteration of PaCO2 achieved by changing of fresh gas flow to oxygenetors(CPB II period). And carbon dioxide reactivity defined as percent change of MCA flow velocity per mmHg changes in PaCO2 was observed during stable hypothermic CPB. MCA flow veocity showed no statistical difference between the prebypass value(56.9+/-13.5 cm/sec) and the postbypass value(64.7+/-29.7 cm/sec). PaCO2 of 20.5+/-2.5 mmHg was associated with MCA flow velocity of 25.2+/-10.1 cm/sec in the CPB I period while PaCO2 of 27.1+/-3.5 mmHg was associated with MCA flow velocity of 35.3+/-12.9 cm/sec. MCA flow velocity carbon dioxide reactivity during steady state hypothermie CPB was 6.68+/-2.26 %/ mmHg. These results have demonstrated that the response of MCA flow velocity to changes in PaO2 was well maintained during hypothermic CPB and the use of transcrsnial Doppler would give valuable results in the study of cerebral circulation during hypothermic CPB.
Blood Flow Velocity* ; Carbon Dioxide* ; Carbon* ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass* ; Hematocrit ; Humans ; Middle Cerebral Artery

A total of 4757 apparently healthy aged persons over 65 years of age was surveyed for geriatric hypertension. A single blood pressure measurement was taken in the sitting position. Mean systolic blood pressure rose significantly with age in female but didn't in male and mean diastolic blood pressure didn't change with age in both sex. The prevalence of pure systolic hypertension, i.e., a systolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 160 mmhg and a diastolic blood pressure less than 95mmhg, increased with age. The prevalence was slighty lower for female than it was for male, being 7.0% for female and 8.0% for male. The prevalence of classical hypertension-defined as diastolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 95mmhg - was 42.7% for female and 48.2% for male and it rose with age in female. The prevalence of both pure systolic and classical hypertension was 49.7% for female and 56.1% for male.
Blood Pressure ; Epidemiologic Studies* ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Korea* ; Male ; Prevalence

BACKGROUND: The goal of successful resuscitation is not only to stop the process of ischemia as soon as possible but also to overcome the secondary injury process after resuscitation, which involves a complex interplay of mechanisms. Brain damage accompanying cardiac arrest and resuscitation is frequent and devastating. Cells die by one of two mechanisms: necrosis or delayed neuronal death. Delayed neuronal death may require protein synthesis. Neurons in the CA1 subfield of the hippocampus are selectively vulnerable to death after injury by ischemia and reperfusion. Death of these neurons occurs after an interval of 1 or 2 days. We assessed the effects of a protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide(CHX), on hippocampal neuronal death of rats by using the ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrest(VFCA) model. METHODS: The effect of CHX(3mg/kg, s.c.) on hippocampal neuronal death was studied in two groups of 18 rats each, one group being subjected to a 2-min VFCA and the other to a 3-min VFCA. Each group was divided into three subgroups: control(group I,II) without subcutaneous injection of CHX, 'exp-12' of group I/II treated with CHX 12 hours after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), and 'exp-24' of group I/II treated with CHX 24 hours after ROSC. The coronal sections of the hippocampus levels were stained with hematoxylin-eosin after 72 hours of survival. The histologic damage score(HDS) was used to assign a score to the total number of damaged neurons counted in each of the hippocampal CA1 subfields. RESULTS: 1. There were not significan differences in heart rates, blood pressures, blood sugar, and blood gas in group I & II during the pre-arrest steady state or at 5 min and 30 min after ROSC. 2. In group I & II, the HDS, were significantly reduced in rats(I exp-12, 1.1+/-0.6; I exp-24, 1.3+/-0.5; II exp-12, 1.4+/-0.7; and II exp-24, 1.8+/-0.8) treated with CHX 12 hours or 24 hours after ROSC than control rats(I, 2.5+/-0.9, II, 2.9+/-0.8)(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that delayed hippocampal neuronal death from ischemic insult after ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrest followed by resuscitation can be prevented by a protein synthesis inhibitor, CHX. Further experimental studies of the action mechanism of protein synthesis inhibitors to delayed neuronal death and clinical applications are required.
Animals ; Blood Glucose ; Brain ; Heart Arrest* ; Heart Rate ; Hippocampus ; Injections, Subcutaneous ; Ischemia ; Necrosis ; Neurons* ; Protein Synthesis Inhibitors ; Rats* ; Reperfusion ; Resuscitation ; Ventricular Fibrillation*