For the purpose of elucidating relation between red cell electrolyte concentrations and serum digoxin level, measurement of red cell electrolyte concentrations and seum digoxin level by radioimmunoassay were done in 46 normal controls and 63 patients of CHF including 8 patients with digitalis intoxication. The results obtained were as follows: 1. Red cell sodium concentration and ratio of red cell sodium to red cell potassium concentration in normal males were significantly higher than those of females, and red cell potassium concentration in normal males was significantly lower than that of normal females. 2. Red cell potassium concentration in patients of CHF was significantly higher than that of normal controls, but there was no difference in the red cell sodium concentration between the groups. 3. There was no relation between red cell electrolyte concentrations and serum digoxin level, and red cell electrolyte concentration did not exactly estimate serum digoxin level. 4. Red cell electrolyte concentrations in the patient of CHF were valuable in detecting digitalis toxicity.
Digitalis ; Digoxin* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Potassium ; Radioimmunoassay ; Sodium

We reviewed the records of seven patients who underwent pars plana vitrectomy and intravitreal phacofragmentation for removal of posteriorly dislocated lenses from September 26, 1994. to January 12, 1995. More than half volumes of crystalline lenses were dislocated during cataract extraction in four eyes, and all three eyes of dislocated lenses with intact capsules had a history of blunt trauma. Five eyes had visual acuity of 15/20 or better at 3 months after removal of intravitreal crystalline lenses. But two eyes, undergone excessive manipulation for removing intravitreal nuclear fragments via the limbus during cataract operation, had 4/20 vision with complication of retinal or choroidal detachment. These results suggest that the overall prognosis for visual recovery after pars plana vitrectomy and phacofragmentation for removal of intravitreal crystalline lens, is quite good if there were no excessive attempts to remove intravitreal lens fragment during cataract extraction.
Capsules ; Cataract ; Cataract Extraction ; Choroid ; Humans ; Lens, Crystalline ; Prognosis ; Retinaldehyde ; Visual Acuity ; Vitrectomy

The plica is remaining synovial septa in adult life which developed in early fetal life. The suprapatellar plica separates the suprapatellar pouch from the knee joint which sometimes has chnical significance according to its shape, but it has been occasionally overlooked and also pathophysiology of symptomatic plicae may be hard to explain. The authors experienced 7 cases of suprapatellar plica syndrome which mimic soft tissue tumor in 7 patients who had complained of vague pain and ill defined mass around the knee and by arthroscopy found the imperforated suprapatellar plica in which increased hydraulic pressure cavity evokes the clinical symptoms and signs exarnination from 1992 to 1997. We suggest that the suprapatellar plica with complete septum might be clinically significant in patients who are in active life.
Adult ; Arthroscopy ; Humans ; Knee ; Knee Joint

Condyloma acuminatum, a benign disease caused by a filtrable virus, occurs predominantly in the perianal andgenital areas. The lesions are noninvasive but are subject to recurrence. In rare instances, a more aggresive formof this disease, known as "giant condlyloma acuminatum" or "Buschke-Lownestein tumor", occures. In this form,infiltration of the lesion into surrounding structures takes place. This tumor has been reported to occurprincipally in the genitourinary tract. The authors experienced a cases of giant condyloma acuminatum originatingfrom rectum in 67 years old male patient which recurred 3 months after electrofulguration.
Buschke-Lowenstein Tumor ; Humans ; Male ; Rectum ; Recurrence

Although the ultrasonography has been regarded as a important procedure in the diagnosis of intraabdominalabscess, there were relatively few papers concerning the ultrasonographic findings of periappendiceal abscess.Nineteen cases of surgically proven periappendiceal abscess caused by perforated appendicitis were studied byultrasonography at the Kyung Hee University Hospital during last 34 months. The results were as follows; 1.Diagnostic accuracy of the real-time ultrasonography was 94.7%(18/19). There were only one false positive and onefalse negative. 2. The location of abscesses were ; periappendiceal 68.4%(13/19), pelvic 21.0%(4/19), subhepatic5.3%(1/19) and subphrenic 5.3%(1/19) in order of frequency. 3. Variable echo-patterns of abscesses wereencountered. But irregular, thick walled, posteriorly reinforcing, echo-free or mixed echo-patterns were mostcommon.
Abscess ; Appendicitis ; Diagnosis ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVE: Employee Assistance Programs have recently been introduced to Korea as a potential solution to relieve workers's stress and improve their mental health. This study was conducted to determine the needs of EAPs among manufacturing industry workers in Gyeongsang-do Korea. METHODS: Responses to structured survey questionnaires were received from 556 workers at 7 mediumsized manufacturing factories. RESULTS: Among the 556 workers who responded to the questionnaire 'Prevention & management of work stress', 'Mental health & management of daily life stress', 'Physical exercise health promotion program'. 'Elderly care', 'Outplacement', 'Financial support for leisure activities', and 'Ensuring leisure time'were raised as the main issues and services that they expected to be provided by the company. CONCLUSION: EAPs have recently been introduced in Korean companies. The study results will be helpful to clarify the needs of individual Korean workers and to determine what EAP services should be provided.
Health Promotion ; Korea ; Leisure Activities ; Mental Health ; Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: The optimal depth of subclavian catheterization is not clearly and simply defined in the pediatric population. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between the depth of the subclavian catheter and easily measured body-size variables, such as weight and height, and then to formulate a guide for the optimal depth of subclavian catheterization in the pediatric population. METHODS: We cannulated eighty-five pediatric cardiac patients via the left or right subclavian approach. The position of the catheter tip was determined by postoperative AP chest x-ray, and the length from the skin to the point of the border of superior vena cava and the right atrium (SK-SVCRA) was measured. RESULTS: Significant correlations with SK-SVCRA were found for weight and height. For the right approach, SK-SVCRA is calculated as 0.28xweight (kg) + 4.86 or 0.07 x height (cm)+1.70. For the left approach, SK-SVCRA is calculated as 0.22xweight (kg)+6.51 or 0.06xheight (cm)+3.94. CONCLUSIONS: Simple equations for the placement of the catheter tip at the border of the superior vena cava and right atrium as a function of patients' weight and height were formulated. These data may provide a useful guide to determine how deeply the subclavian catheter should be located.
Catheterization* ; Catheters* ; Heart Atria ; Humans ; Skin ; Thorax ; Vena Cava, Superior

Postpartum hemorrhage is an important cause of maternal mortality and morbidity. Especially uterine atony is the most common cause of postpartum hemorrhage. Conventional method to control postpartum uterine atonic bleeding is based on the use of oxytocin and ergot preparations. Prostaglandin F2alpha analogue such as carboprost can be used to promote contraction when these agents fail to produce uterine contraction. Prostaglandin E1 analogue, misoprostol has uterotonic effect by oral or vaginal administration. They are used to induce labor and first or mid trimester abortion. In postpartum uterine atonic bleeding, misoprostols cannot be used via oral or vaginal route. Recently we have experienced that postpartum uterine atonic bleedings unresponsive to conventional methods were controlled by rectal misoprostols. So we report these cases with a brief review of literatures.
Administration, Intravaginal ; Alprostadil ; Carboprost ; Dinoprost ; Hemorrhage* ; Maternal Mortality ; Misoprostol* ; Oxytocin ; Postpartum Hemorrhage ; Postpartum Period* ; Uterine Contraction ; Uterine Inertia

Mesocolic hernia is a rare congenital anomaly caused by an error of rotation of the midgut. It may be seen as total encapsulation of the small bowel or a single loop within a hernial sac. It may be asymptomatic or cause life-threatening intestinal obstruction. Symptoms, when present, are often chronic vague abdominal pain and intermittent obstructive episodes. We have encountered a 40-year-old woman with a congenital mesocolic hernia. Abdominal CT provided the diagnosis. She successfully underwent operation and discharged with good condition. Now we present a case of congenital mesocolic hernia with a review of some articles.
Abdominal Pain ; Adult ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Hernia* ; Humans ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: Progressive shortening of telomeres, specialized chromosomal structures that have a function in chromosomal protection, positioning and replication, has been linked to cell senescence and aging. Telomeres are usually replicated by telomerase, the activation of which is essential for cells to overcome cellular senescence; and thus, indefinite proliferation/immortality and malignant progression are associated with telomere activity. However, little is known about the telomerase activity in adenomatous polyp and colorectal cancer. METHODS: To determine whether malignant progression depends on the activation of telomerase or not, we analyzed the telomerase activity in the mucosa of normal colon, adenomatous polyp and colorectal cancer by telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Except for one case in which there was severe inflammation, telomerase activity was not detected in any case of histologically normal colonic mucosa. In contrast, enzyme activity was detected in 58.3% (7/12), 75% (15/20) of adenomatous polyps and colorectal carcinomas, respectively. Of these cases of adernomatous polyps, telomerase activity was positive in 40% (2/5) of tubular type, 66.7% (4/6) of villotubular type and 100% (1/1) of villous type; however, the difference in telomerase activity between tubular and villotubular types was not significant. Of these 20 cases of carcinomas, telomerase activity was positive in 100% (2/2) of well differentiated, 71.4% (10/14) of moderately differentiated and 75% (3/4) of poorly differentiated histologies. Taking into consideration the Dukes' classification, there was no significant difference in telomerase activity among stages A, B and C, except for D. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that telomerase activation in colorectal cancer may well correlate with malignant progression. The detection of telomerase activity may serve as a useful auxiliary tool for the diagnosis of colorectal cancer; nevertheless, the histological type of adenomatouspolyps, the histological differentiation and the stage of cancer may not correlate with telomerase activity.
Adenomatous Polyps* ; Aging ; Cell Aging ; Classification ; Colon ; Colonic Neoplasms* ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Diagnosis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Inflammation ; Mucous Membrane* ; Polyps ; Telomerase* ; Telomere