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: 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

PURPOSE: To determine the preferred method of drinking water before spiral CT scanning of a gastric lesion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Spiral CT scans of 92 patients with gastric lesion were obtained and evaluated. Patients drank tap water as oral contrast material and were scanned in the prone position; they were divided into two groups according to the method by which water was ingested. Group 1 patients drank 500ml 60 minutes before scanning; 500mL, 30 minutes before scanning; and 500mL just before scanning, while those in group 2 drank 800-1000mL just before scanning. In all cases, precontrast images were obtained, and an additional 300mL of water was given if the stomach was not adequately distended. Postcontrast images were obtained at 35 seconds, 80 seconds and 3 minutes after the start of infusion of contrast material. For 35- and 80-second scans, spiral CT was performed with 5-mm collimation, 7mm/sec table feed, and 5-mm reconstruction interval; for precontrast and 3-minute scans, 10-mm collimation, 10mm/sec table feed, and 10-mm reconstruction interval were used. There were 40 patients in group 1, and 52 in group 2. The images of the two groups were evaluated according to three criteria: gastric distension, mucosal enhancement, and tumor distinction. For each criterion, the images were evaluated by grading; an 'excellent' image scored 3, 'good' 2, 'ordinary' 1, and 'poor' 0. The differences in imaging quality between the two groups were statistically evaluated. Images obtained at 35 and 80 seconds, and at 3 minutes after the start of infusion of contrast material were compared, and the detectability of 18 confirmed cases of early gastric cancer was evaluated. RESULTS: For gastric distension, the mean score was 1.65 in group 1, and 1.81 in group 2 (P=0.33); the corresponding figures for mucosal enhancement were 1.45 and 1.65 (P=0.11), and for tumor distinction, 1.30 and 1.52 (P=0.09). Between the two groups, there was therefore no statistical difference in image quality. With regard to postcontrast images, those obtained after a delay of 35 seconds were best; those obtained at 80 seconds were better than those obtained at 3 minutes. Fifteen of 18 case of early gastric cancer were detected on spiral CT, and the detection rate was 83.8%. CONCLUSION: No statistically significant difference was seen between the two groups, and a single drink of water-just before scanning- is thus preferable to several drinks. Two scans, with images delayed for 35 and 80 seconds after contrast enhancement, are adequate. The use of these methods may improve the image quality of gastric lesions and the detection rate of early gastric cancer.
Drinking Water ; Eating* ; Humans ; Prone Position ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Tomography, Spiral Computed* ; Water*

No abstract available.
Rickets, Hypophosphatemic*

PURPOSE: To treat pupillary membrane which developed after cataract operation and vitrectomy,steroid eye drops with mydriatics or, in sever case, tPA has been used. However steroid eye drops needs prolonged treatment and tPA has many complications such as, infection, or hemorrhage. We tried to remove pupillary membrane with Nd-YAG laser by using peripheral quadrantic disruption technique. METHODS: We treated 8 eyes from Jan. 1996 to Oct. 1999, and observed within 24 hours following Nd-YAG laser treatment. The pupillary membrane was cut with Nd-YAG laser and subsequently absorbed within 24 hours. RESULTS: There was no such complicaitons, as increased IOP, hemorrhage, and IOL damage. Immediately after Nd-YAG laser, visual acuity was improved and fundus was examined. CONCLUSION: Therefore we recommend Nd-YAG laser membrenectomy in cases of pupillary membrane, which did not respond to steroid therapy.
Cataract ; Hemorrhage ; Lasers, Solid-State* ; Membranes* ; Mydriatics ; Neodymium* ; Ophthalmic Solutions ; Visual Acuity

OBJECTIVE: The recent medical treatment guidelines and the development of information technology make hospitals reduce the expense in surrounding environment and it requires improving the quality of rapid medical treatment. Moreover, MIS (Medical Information System) is evolved toward integration of medical IT and situation is changing with increasing high speed in the information communication technology convergence. METHODS: PACS Component in the ubiquitous refers to construct mobile and wireless system of hospital which has constructed in network environment. Because of RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) development in existing system, every staff can log on easily to MIS whenever and wherever. In this paper, RFID server and tag manager modified patient tag that allocated patient information database server (tag UID, no, name, password) using UbiU 13.56MHz kit in the environment. RESULTS: It is the main technology to implement automatic medical examination processing system. This paper provides a patient tag manager, PACS application component. In addition, designed and implemented database server's component server and mobile web server that recognized patient tag and medical data in the mobile environments. The component implemented client program of staff's PDA application that recognized medical data in the current server. The component decreased fewer patient examination time than conventional PACS, staff examined patient in the wards. This system implemented radiological information in the mobile module. CONCLUSION: This system implemented RFID patient card, and designed mobile PACS component that performed patient data based database environments, This component expanded PACS in the mobile web environment, and so reduced delay time of requisition, medical treatment, lab.
Humans ; Radio Frequency Identification Device

PURPOSE: To correlate SOhographic and pathologic findings of gallbladder adenoma, and to evaluate the clinical significance of sonographic findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ultrasound findings of twenty gallbladder adenomas were retrospectively reviewed to evaluate the size, shape and echogenicity of the adenoma, and was correlated with the pathological finding. RESULTS: Among 14 patients, 11 patients had single lesion and 3 patients had multiple lesions. Three patients showed 2, 3 and 4 adenomas, respectively. Nine of 20 lesions showed focal dysplasia pathologically. Among the nine adenomas with dysplasia, two adenomas showed focal cancerous change. The nine adenomas showing focal dysplasia measured 25.6mm (14-35mm) in mean diameter, while the mean diameter of adenomas without dysplasia was 8.7 mm (3-13mm). The echogenicity of adenoma with focal dysplasia were hyperechoic in 8, isoechoic in 1. The echogenicity of adenomas without dysplasia were hyperechoic in 7, isoechoic in 4. Sessile(7/9) and papillary shape(6/9) were predominant in adenoma with dysplasia, but smooth shape(8/11) and stalked type(9/11) were predominant in adenoma without dysplasia. Two adenomas with focal cancerous change showed histological transition from cancer to dysplasia and to adenomatous tissue. In adenoma with dysplasia, the diameter more than 14 mm on sonography was statistically significant (p<0. 005). Also age of patient was significantly different between the two groups (p<0.01), while echogenicity and associated stone were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: As gallbladder adenoma more than 14ram in diameter on US is suggestive of dysplasia on pathology, so, close follow up US or surgery is recommended.
Adenoma* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gallbladder* ; Humans ; Pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: Although adjuvant chemotherapy after resection of gastric cancer is a popular practice in Korea, there are still controversies about the effectiveness of the treatment. The fact that the relatively less effective drugs have been used and the rarity of large-scaled controlled studies may be partially responsible for the controversies. FP(5-FU, Cisplatin) combination is one of the most active regimen against advanced gastric cancer, consistently showing a response rate of 50~60%. We tried the FP chemotherapy as an adjuvant treatment for high-risk patients after curative resection of gastric cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between February 1992 and June 1996, 35 patients with completely resected high-risk gastric cancer(postoperative stage III or IV except thase with M1) received six courses of FP chemotherapy. Endpoints were toxicities of treatment, relapse free survival, and overall survival. RESULTS: With a median follow-up time of 17.1 months, Kaplan-Meier estimates of 2-year overall survival was 63.3% and relapse free survival estimates was 49%. There were no differences between stage III and IV patients in terms of overall survival or relapse free survival. Hematologic and non-hematologic toxicities were tolerable for most of the patients. CONCLUSION: Postoperative FP combination chemotherapy was tolerable for patients with high-risk(stage III and IV) gastric cancer. It is too early to determine the long term survival rates for this patients, but 2-year overall and relapse free survival were comparable to that of historical non-cisplatin containing regimens. Randomized phase III studies are warranted.
Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Cisplatin* ; Drug Therapy* ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Fluorouracil* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Korea ; Recurrence ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Survival Rate

Asymmetrical Septal Hypertrophy(ASH), Characterized by interventricular septal hypertrophy, is not an uncommon cardiac disease. Arrythmia occuring in ASH are supraventricular tachycardia, atrial premature beats, and ventricular premature beats. In about 10% of patients, there is a short P-R interval and a partial delta wave, suggestive of a variant of the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. We reported here a case of ASH associated with W-P-W syndrome and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation with review of pertinent literatures.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Atrial Fibrillation* ; Cardiac Complexes, Premature ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Hypertrophy* ; Tachycardia, Supraventricular ; Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome

Asymmetrical Septal Hypertrophy(ASH), Characterized by interventricular septal hypertrophy, is not an uncommon cardiac disease. Arrythmia occuring in ASH are supraventricular tachycardia, atrial premature beats, and ventricular premature beats. In about 10% of patients, there is a short P-R interval and a partial delta wave, suggestive of a variant of the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. We reported here a case of ASH associated with W-P-W syndrome and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation with review of pertinent literatures.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Atrial Fibrillation* ; Cardiac Complexes, Premature ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Hypertrophy* ; Tachycardia, Supraventricular ; Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome