BACKGROUND: Sustained-release theophylline, which is generally prescribed as a twice-daily equal-dose regimen, is one of the more common asthma treatments. the development of a sustained-release drug delivery technology that enables improved control of the theophylline blood levels represents a significant advancement in both the efficacy and safety of dosing. METHOD: A crossover study was conducted with 25 adult chronic asthmatic patients requiring daily bronchodilator therapy. The study group included thirteen males and twelve females with ages ranging from 19 to 71 years. The overall approach was to place the patients first on the twice-daily preparation(Etheophyl®) for 28 days at 8 AM and 8 PM, and measure the pulmonary function and theophylline level on the 28th day. the patients were subsequently switched to the once-daily preparation(Uniphyl®) in the same daily dose at 8 PM on the 29th day and the same parameters were measured on the 56th day. RESULTS: the mean serum levels of theophylline were 8.18±1.66µg/ml in the Etheophyl®-treated period and 8.00±1.75µg/ml in the Uniphyl®-treated period. In addition, the FEV1 showed 71.40±7.48 percent in the Etheophyl®-treated and 69.18±9.00 percent in the Uniphyl®-treated period. Thus there were no significant differences between the once-daily and twice-daily preparation. CONCLUSION: The results indicated little clinical differences between the two medication. The two drugs are equally effective in controlling asthma over the four weeks of treatment.
Adult ; Asthma* ; Cross-Over Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Theophylline

No abstract available.

Adenomatoid tumor of the uterus is a rare benign neoplasm which has been known as mesothelial origin. Characteristically, it appears as a small nodular lesion less than 2.0cm in the myometrium of subserosal region. We describe a case of giant adenomatoid tumor of the uterus having multicystic gross appearance. A 49-year-old woman complained of vaginal bleeding. The tumor was an intramural mass with maximum diameter of 10 cm and located at posterior wall of the uterus. Histologically, the tumor was composed of multiple cystic cavities of variable size lined by flattened cells, lying among thin septa of connective tissue. Immunohistochemically, the cells are positive for low molecular weight cytokeratin(CAM 5.2) and are negative for factor VIII.
Female ; Humans

Strumal carcinoid of the ovary is a rare turkor characterized by an intimate mixture of thyroid follicles and carcinoid. Herein is reported an ovarian strumal carcinoid in a serous cystadenoma from a 27-year-old pregnant woman. The thyroid follicular epithelial cells had immunohistochemically thyroglobulin and carcinoid tumor cells contained neuron-specific enolase, chromogranin and carcinoembryonic antigen. In addition, carcinoid cells showed neuroendocrine granules ultrastructurally. Calcitonin and amyloid were not found. This tumor may be originated from pluripotent endodermal germ cells on the basis of morphologic, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural studies.
Pregnancy ; Female ; Humans

PURPOSE: This study was to search the optimal slice thickness of computed tomography (CT) in an intensity modulated radiation therapy plan through changing the slice thickness and comparing the change of the calculated absorbed dose with measured absorbed dose. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An intensity modulated radiation therapy plan for a head and neck cancer patient was done, first of all. Then CT with various ranges of slice thickness (0.125~1.0 cm) for a head and neck anthropomorphic phantom was done and the images were reconstructed. The plan parameters obtained from the plan of the head and neck cancer patient was applied into the reconstructed images of the phantom and then absorbed doses were calculated. Films were inserted into the phantom, and irradiated with 6 MV X-ray with the same beam data obtained from the head and neck cancer patient. Films were then scanned and isodoses were measured with the use of film measurement software and were compared with the calculated isodeses. RESULTS: As the slice thickness of CT decreased, the volume of the phantom and the maximum absorbed dose increased. As the slice thickness of CT changed from 0.125 to 1.0 cm, the maximum absorbed dose changed ~5%. The difference between the measured and calculated volume of the phantom was small (3.7~3.8%) when the slice thickness of CT was 0.25 cm or less. The difference between the measured and calculated dose was small (0.35~1.40%) when the slice thickness of CT was 0.25 cm or less. CONCLUSION: Because the difference between the measured and calculated dose in a head and neck phantom was small and the difference between the measured and calculated volume was small when the slice thickness of CT was 0.25 cm or less, we suggest that the slice thickness of CT should be 0.25 cm or less for an optimal intensity modulated radiation therapy plan.
Head ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; Humans ; Neck

Synovial sarcoma most commonly affects the extremities, especially the lower thigh and knee region. However, a smaller number develops in a central or axial distribution, an area which encompasses the trunk, orofacial, cervical and parapharyngeal regions. The retroperitoneum is an extremely unusual site and has never been recorded in the literature as primary a site for synovial sarcoma. We investigated a case of retroperitoneal synovial sarcoma in a 40-year-old woman. The specimen consisted of fragmented large bulky multinodular masses separated by slit-like spaces. The tumor was 130 gm in weight. Microscopically, the tumor was composed of nests of plump ovoid to polygonal shaped cells and bundles of spindle shaped cells, which had vesicular nuclei and a small amount of cytoplasm. In some areas, there were cleft like spaces and pseudoglandular structures lined by flat or cuboidal cells. Myxoid change, collagen deposition, foci of calcification and osseous metaplasia were also present. Immunohistochemically, the polygonal cells and some of the spindle cells reacted positively for keratin. The spindle cells, especially in the perivascular area were positive for vimentin. S-100 protein and GFAP were negative in both type of cells.
Female ; Humans

Narrowing of the retinal vessels in chronic glaucoma has been recognized only recently. We performed this study to evaluate the vessel diameter in normal and glaucoma eyes, addressing whether the retinal vessel diameters differ with the degree of glaucomatous optic nerve damage. The diameters of the superior temporal and inferior temporal retinal artery and vein were measured at the optic disc border from optic disc photographs of 234 eyes of 141 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma and 139 eyes of 86 normal subjects. The photographic magnification was corrected according to Littmanns method. Only one eye per patient and subject was taken for statistical analysis. According to the neuroretinal rim/disc area ratio, the glaucoma group was divided into four stages(early; more than 0.61, medium; 0.60~0.41, advanced; 0.40~0.21, far advanced; less than 0.20). In the normal group the diameter of the inferior temporal vein(0.130+/-0.020mm) was the largest, followed by the superior temporal vein(0.117+/-0.017mm), the inferior temporal artery(0.102+/-0.016mm), finally the superior temporal artery(0.093+/-0.012mm). The retinal vessel diameter decreased significantly with decreasing of the neuroretinal rim/disc area ratio. In the glaucomatous eyes as compared to the normal eyes, the diameters of the inferior temporal and superior temporal retinal artery were significantly smaller at the early and medium stages(p<0.03, p<0.02, respectively). Whereas both inferior temporal and superior temporal retinal vein diameters were significantly samller at the far advanced stage(p=0.01, p=0.005, respectively). The results indicate that generalized reduction of the retinal vessel diameter throughout the retina is related to the severity of glaucoma. From a diagnostic point of view, evaluation of artery diameter rather than vein diameter may be helpful for the differentiation between normal and glaucomatous eyes.
Arteries ; Glaucoma* ; Glaucoma, Open-Angle ; Humans ; Optic Nerve ; Retina ; Retinal Artery ; Retinal Vein ; Retinal Vessels* ; Retinaldehyde* ; Veins

On the 59 cases of staghorn calculi treated at our institution with either ESWL monotherapy or initial percutaneous nephrolithotomy followed by ESWL between July 1987 and June 1988, 50 cases(22 complete and 28 partial staghorns) have adequate follow up. Using a retrospective cohort design, patients were matched for age, sex, stone size, stone complexity, renal function, urinary tract infection and urinary tract obstruction. Twenty five pairs of combination therapy and ESWL monotherapy patients with complete data were matched. The groups were not significantly different in the matching parameters. A significantly higher stone free rate follows combination therapy versus ESWL monotherapy for complete staghorns(25% vs. 0% in the case of 1 time ESWL treatment : 76% vs. 40% at 3 months follow up visit but the difference is slight for partial staghorns(54% vs. 47% in the case of 1 time ESWL treatment ; 85% vs. 73% at 3 months follow up visit). Both have similar length of hospital stay for complete staghorns(15 days vs. 14 days), but a significantly longer hospital stay follows combination therapy for partial staghorns(13 days vs. 6 days). The morbidity of the combination approach is not greater than that of ESWL monotherapy(40% vs. 36%), where as the need for axillary procedures is significantly lower in this group(16% vs. 36%). Our results indicate that virtually all staghorn calculi are best treated with initial percutaneous nephrolithotomy followed by ESWL. This approach allows for chemolysis and secondary procedures. But small volume partial staghorns in nondilated systems may be considered for ESWL monotherapy with ureteral stenting.
Calculi* ; Cohort Studies ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Lithotripsy* ; Nephrostomy, Percutaneous* ; Retrospective Studies ; Shock* ; Stents ; Ureter ; Urinary Tract ; Urinary Tract Infections

No abstract available.
Necrosis*

Rupture of anterior communicating artery aneurysm is one of the most important casuses of subarachnoid hemorrhage. Subarachnoid hemorrhage due to ruptured anterior communicating artery aneurysm shows characteristic CT findings, such as forntal hematoma or septum pellucidum hematoma. In some patients with the ruptured aneurysm, direct carotid angiography may be needed. particularly when transfemoral approach is not possible. However, not much have been known about the puncture site selection between the two carotid arteries in relation to the location of hematoma in CT scans. To determine the ideal puncture site of the direct carotid angiography, seventy-five cases of anterior communicating artery aneurysm confirmed by operation from May 1988 to April 1992, were analyzed in terms of relationship between location of hematoma on CT, direction of aneurysm and A1 artery on angiograms. Frontal lobar hematoma was more prevalent than septal hematoma, and was more common on the right side. In cases of lobar hematoma, aneurysm was directed to the ipsilateral side of the hematoma (67%) and was most commonly fed by contralateral A1 artery(75%). Septal bematoma consisted 36% of the cases and among there, midline directed aneurysm was most common, frequently fed by left A1 artery. In conclusion, when performing direct carotid angiography in patients with anterior communicating artery aneurysm, if forntal hematoma is observed on CT, it may be beneficial to puncture contralateral carotid artery. Meanwhile, if hemorrhage of septum pellucidum is observed, it may be better to puncture left carotid artery.
Aneurysm ; Aneurysm, Ruptured* ; Angiography ; Arteries* ; Carotid Arteries ; Hematoma ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Punctures ; Rupture ; Septum Pellucidum ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed