PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy, on the basis of CT findings, of high dose methyl prednisolone for treating acute lung injury that was induced by oleic acid injection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 30 healthy rabbits (1.8-2.2 kg) were included in this study. Group I included 10 rabbits in which 0.2 mL oleic acid was injected through their ear veins. Group IIa included 10 rabbits in which 30 mg/kg methyl prednisolone and 0.2 mL oleic acid were intravenously injected at the same time. Group IIb included 5 rabbits in which 30 mg/kg methyl prednisolone was injected 6 hours prior to the 0.2 mL oleic acid intravenous injection. The other 5 rabbits (Group III) were injected intravenously with 30 mg/kg methyl prednisolone without the oleic acid. After that, 30 mg/kg methyl prednisolone per every 12 hours was injected in the non-sacrificed rabbits of Group II and Group III. Nonenhanced Chest CT scans were performed prior to and 30 minutes, 4 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours, and 72 hours after the intravenous injection of oleic acid or methyl prednisolone. We randomly sacrificed one rabbit of groups I, II and III 30 minutes, 4 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours after CT scanning. The distribution, extent, and pattern of the lesions on the CT scan were analyzed. The analyzed pattern of the lesions was ground glass attenuation, consolidation and interstitial thickening. Pathologic correlation was then done. RESULTS: The main CT findings of Group I were peripheral, wedge shaped, ill-defined ground glass attenuations and/or consolidations. The pathologic findings of Group I were interstitial or intraalveolar edema, intraalveolar hemorrhage and coagulation necrosis. Diffuse ground glass opacities with interstitial thickening were noted in 20% (n=2/10) of Group I and in 60% (n=9/15) of Group II at the 30 minute CT; however, there was no statistical difference between the two groups (p=0.09). Consolidations with air bronchogram were noted in 22.2% (2/9) of Group I and in 38.5% (5/13) of Group II at the 4 hour CT. The main pathologic findings of consolidations were intraalveolar hemorrhage and coagulation necrosis. There was no statistical difference in the extent of the lesions between Group I and Group II (p=0.20, 0.14, 0.59 and 0.46 at 4, 24, 48 and 72 hours, respectively). The CT findings of Group IIa and Group IIb were not significantly difference. The CT findings of Group III were normal in all 5 rabbits. CONCLUSION: Because there was no significant difference for the extent of lung injury induced by oleic acid between the group treated with high dose methyl prednisolone and non-treated group on CT scans, high dose steroid therapy for acute respiratory distress syndrome and pulmonary fat embolism may not be effective in the acute stage.
Acute Lung Injury ; Ear ; Edema ; Embolism, Fat ; Glass ; Hemorrhage ; Injections, Intravenous ; Lung Injury* ; Lung* ; Necrosis ; Oleic Acid ; Prednisolone ; Rabbits* ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult ; Steroids* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Veins

Early CT findings of transient radiographic progression (TRP) during treatment of active pulmonary tuberculosis including subpleural, interlobular or intralobular septal thickening and micronodules are shown in the present case. Late CT findings of TRP are subpleural, enhancing nodular infiltration with internal low attenuation. These CT features accompanied by a lack of clinical worsening in young patients taking antituberculous medication due to pulmonary tuberculosis can help to differentiate TRP from other disease entities.
Humans ; Lung ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

No abstract available.
Diagnosis ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; Endarteritis ; Pulmonary Embolism

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of palonosetron combined with dexamethasone for the prevention of PONV compared to dexamethasone alone in women who received intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV-PCA) using fentanyl. METHODS: In this randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study, 204 healthy female patients who were scheduled to undergo elective surgery under general anesthesia followed by IV-PCA for postoperative pain control were enrolled. Patients were divided into two groups: the PD group (palonosetron 0.075 mg and dexamethasone 5 mg IV; n = 102) and the D group (dexamethasone 5 mg IV; n = 102). The treatments were given after the induction of anesthesia. The incidence of nausea, vomiting, severity of nausea, and the use of rescue anti-emetics during the first 48 hours after surgery were evaluated. RESULTS: The incidence of PONV was significantly lower in the PD group compared with the D group during the 0-24 hours (43 vs. 59%) and 0-48 hours after surgery (45 vs. 63%) (P < 0.05). The severity of nausea during the 6-24 hours after surgery was significantly less in the PD group compared with the D group (P < 0.05). The incidence of rescue antiemetic used was significantly lower in the PD group than in the D group during the 0-6 hours after surgery (13.1 vs. 24.5%) (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Palonosetron combined with dexamethasone was more effective in preventing PONV compared to dexamethasone alone in women receiving IV-PCA using fentanyl.
Analgesia, Patient-Controlled* ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Antiemetics ; Dexamethasone* ; Female ; Fentanyl ; Humans ; Incidence ; Nausea ; Pain, Postoperative ; Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting* ; Vomiting

Total cholesterol and triglyceride were measured in sera of 40 cases of hypertension, 22 cases of myocardial infarction, 14 cases of cerebral thrombosis, 18 cases of subarachnoidal hemorrhage and 30 cases of normal control in Chungnam national University Hospital from October 1980 to September 1981, and the results are as follows; 1) The mean serum total cholesterol and triglyceride levels in normal control group are 153.57+/-40.60mg% and 150.82+/-51.76mg%. 2) The age incidence of these diseases were highest in 6th decade. 3) Serum cholesterol levels of myocardial infarction, hypertension, cerebral thrombosis and subarachinoidal hemorrhage group were higher than that of normal control group. 4) Serum triglyceride levels of acute myocardial infarction and hypertension were significantly higher than that of normal control group, but there is only slightly increases in cerebral thrombosis and subarachinoidal hemorrhage. 5) In general, serum lipid levels are higher in cardiovascular diseases(hypertension and myocardial infarction) than cerebrovascular diseases(cerebral thrombosis and subarachnoidal hemorrhage). 6) Serum Cholesterol and triglyceride levels decreased by administration of pancreatic mucopolysacharide for 1 or 2 months. In conclusion, it seems that high serum cholesterol and triglyceride level may play and important risk factor in development of hypertension and myocardial infarction.
Cholesterol ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Hemorrhage ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Intracranial Thrombosis ; Myocardial Infarction ; Risk Factors ; Thrombosis ; Triglycerides

No abstract available.
Family Practice* ; Hospitals, Community* ; Humans

Trichuris trichiura (T. trichiura) is soil-transmitted parasite and widely spreads all over the world. High infection rates occur especially in the poor hygiene area. T. trichiura is transmitted by the water and food contaminated with T. trichiura eggs. Most of mildly infected individuals could be asymptomatic, whereas heavily infected patients manifest with anemia, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and weight loss. Serious manifestations such as intestinal obstruction and perforation were reported to be caused by Trichuriasis. Diagnostic methods are stool examination of T. trichiura eggs and eosinophil count in blood. Sometimes, colonoscopy can be useful diagnostic tool and treatment. We observed that the North Korean refugee with chronic abdominal pain and the patient with abdominal pain and loose stool have been diagnosed as T. trichiura infection confirmed by colonoscopy. After treatment, the patient's symptom has improved. Therefore we report two cases of trichuriasis with literature review.
Abdominal Pain ; Anemia ; Colonoscopy ; Diarrhea ; Eggs ; Eosinophils ; Humans ; Hygiene ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Nausea ; Ovum ; Parasites ; Refugees ; Trichuriasis ; Trichuris ; Vomiting ; Water ; Weight Loss

Biological diversity, also known as biodiversity, is an important criterion for measuring the value of an ecosystem. As biodiversity is closely related to human welfare and quality of life, many efforts to restore and maintain the biodiversity of species have been made by government agencies and non-governmental organizations, thereby drawing a substantial amount of international attention. In the fields of biological research, biodiversity is widely measured using traditional statistical indices such as the Shannon-Wiener index, species richness, evenness, and relative dominance of species. However, some biologists and ecologists have difficulty using these indices because they require advanced mathematical knowledge and computational techniques. Therefore, we developed VBioindex, a user-friendly program that is capable of measuring the Shannon-Wiener index, species richness, evenness, and relative dominance. VBioindex serves as an easy to use interface and visually represents the results in the form of a simple chart and in addition, VBioindex offers functions for long-term investigations of datasets using time-series analyses.
Biodiversity* ; Computational Biology ; Dataset ; Ecology ; Ecosystem ; Government Agencies ; Humans ; Quality of Life

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the differences in CT findings according to sputum smear- positive or -negative results in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis having a single cavity. Methods: A total of 32 patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis having a single cavity on CT were classified into two groups: smear-positive (n=19) and smear-negative (n=13). The CT findings were reviewed retrospectively. The presence of consolidation, the number of lobes showing consolidation, ground-glass opacity, micronodules and nodule, the maximum diameter of the cavity, and the shape and maximum thickness of the cavity wall were assessed. Result: The maximum diameter of the cavity was 33.84 +/- 13.65 mm and 27.08 +/- 9.04 mm in the smear-positive and -negative groups, respectively (p>0.05). The amount of consolidation and the number of lobes with consolidation were found to be 89.5% and 30.8% (p=0.01) and 1.37 +/- 0.90 and 0.31 +/- 0.48 (p=0.0002) in the smear-positive and -negative groups, respectively. Consolidations in two or more lobes were only noted in 31.6% of in the sputum smear- positive group (p< 0.05). There were no other significant differences between the two groups. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values for the presence of consolidation were 89.5%, 69.2%, 73.9%, and 81.8%, respectively. Conclusion: While the absence of consolidation on CT may be associated with sputum smear-negative results in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis having a single cavity, the presence of consolidation in two or more lobes on CT may be associated with spear-positive results in these patients.
Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Sputum* ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary*