No abstract available.
Diagnosis* ; Female ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic* ; Ultrasonography*

BACKGROUND: In survivors of acute myocardial infarction(ANI), reduced heart rate variability(HRV) has been demonstrated to be an independent predictor of sudden cardiac death and mortality. The heart rate variability can be examined and analyzed non-invasively and quantitated with 24-hour ambulatory ECG monitoring. In general, the patency of infarct-related artery appears to be one of the most important prognostic factor after AMI. Therefor, the correlation between infarct artery patency and HRV was examined in survivors of AMI. METHODS: The 24-Hour ambulatory electrocardiogram was performed in 23 patients with AMI and 20 normal controls, and analyzed for frequency & time domain HRV. HRV was recorded dwithin 7 days after AMI, and coronary angiogram was performed at 7th day after AMI. The AMI patients were divided into two groups, depending upon patency of infarct-related artery and correlated to clinical manifestations. Thirteen patients had patent vessel(Group 1) and ten patients had non-patent vessel(Group 2). Parameters of frequency domain HRV include LF, HF & LF/HF ratio and time domain HRV include SDNN, SDANN, SD, rMSSD and pNN50. RESULTS: All parameters of HRV was depressed in patients of AMI than in normal control(p<0.05). The mean left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF) was 54.1+/-10.6% in group 1 and 42.6+/-12.2% in group 2(p<0.05). The mean values of LF, SDNN, SDANN, and SD in group 1 and group 2 were 5.09+/-0.83msec2/Hz & 4.09+/-0.53msec2/Hz, 84.5+/-24.2msec & 59.0+/-11.8msec, 73.2+/-22.8msec & 50.5+/-12.6msec, and 37.8+/-13.1msec & 27.2+/-4.4msec(p<0.05), respectively. There was no difference between two groups in HF,rMSSD and pNN50. The location of infarction and thrombolytic therapy itself did not influence of HRV. The mean values of HF, SDANN, rMSSD and pNN50 in patients with LVEF<40% were reduced significantly than in patients with LVEF> or =40%. There was a significant correlation between LVEF and LF, between LVEF and HF and between LVEF and LF/HF ratio(r:0.55, p<0.05;r:0.67, p<0.05;r:-0.56, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: HRV was depressed due to reduced vagal activity in patients with AMI. The values of LF, SDNN, SDANN, and SD in group of patent infarct-related artery were reduced significantly than in non-patent group.
Arteries* ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; Electrocardiography ; Heart Rate* ; Heart* ; Humans ; Infarction ; Mortality ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Survivors ; Thrombolytic Therapy

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of the most prevalent pathogens in hospitals. To investigate cross contamination by this bacterium in both dental and medical settings, the pathogens that cause acute pyogenic infection and one of the major microbes responsible for nosocomial infection were isolated from health care providers, nurses and patients. We used VITEK II to measure drug sensitivity, and we further performed biochemical testing, coagulase serotype testing and pulse-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) for isolated MRSA colonies. The isolation rate of Staphylococcus aureus from nasal swabs was 75.0% from dental health care providers and 18.8% from the medical health care providers. A total of 10 MRSA strains were isolated from 40 health care providers and 2 patients and the prevalent coagulase serotype from patients and health care providers was VII. The antimicrobial drug resistance and partial PFGE types of the isolated MRSA strains showed a similar pattern. These results suggest that MRSA may be one of the principal causes of nosocomial infection in dental and medical hospitals.
Anti-Infective Agents ; Coagulase ; Cross Infection ; Drug Resistance, Microbial ; Electrophoresis ; Health Personnel ; Humans ; Methicillin Resistance ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Staphylococcus aureus

Interrupted aortic arch may be defined as a discontinuity of the aortic arch. This uncommon anomaly was first described by Steidele in 1778 and was later classified into 3 types by Celoria and Patton. We experienced the case of a 25-year-old male with an interrupted aortic arch(Type B) which was well supplied by collateral circulations. Ligation of collateral supplies and a Y-graft replacement from ascending aorta to descending thoracic aorta and left subclavian artery was done. Postoperative aortogram revealed no collateral circulations and good continuity of the aorta without narrowing of the anatomic site. During the period of 2-month follow up, the patient was able to lead a relatively active life.
Adult ; Aorta ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Collateral Circulation ; Equipment and Supplies ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Ligation ; Male ; Subclavian Artery

Primary pulmonary hypertension is a rare and progressive disease with poor prognosis. Despite much previous studies, there is neither clear explanation in the etiology and the pathogenesis nor confirmative treatment modalities. Its main cause of death is due to the right ventricular failure but the left ventricular function is relatively well preserved. The chest pain mimickig the angina pectoris is common and it is mostly due to the right ventricular ischemia or distension of pulmonary artery, but left ventricular ischemia or infarction is very rarely seen. We experienced a case of primary pulmonary hyperetension with left ventricular hypertrophy that complicated to acute myocardial infarction in 14-year-old male.
Adolescent* ; Angina Pectoris ; Cause of Death ; Chest Pain ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary* ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular* ; Infarction ; Ischemia ; Male* ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Prognosis ; Pulmonary Artery ; Ventricular Function, Left

The permanent impairment evaluation for children in developmental stage is very difficult and it is even impossible in some cases. The impairment evaluation for developing children has not yet been included in the guideline of the American Medical Association. Due to frequent medical and social demands in Korea, we developed an impairment evaluation guideline for motor impairment, intellectual disability/mental retardation, developmental speech-language disorder and epilepsy caused by pediatric cerebral injuries, or cerebral lesions other than the developmental disorders such as autism. With the help of various literature and foreign institutions, we developed our in order to develop a scientific guideline for pediatric impairment that is suited to Korean cultural background and social condition.
Brain/physiopathology ; Brain Diseases/*complications ; Brain Injuries/complications ; Child ; Developmental Disabilities/classification/*diagnosis/etiology ; *Disability Evaluation ; *Disabled Children ; Humans ; Korea ; Language Development Disorders/classification/diagnosis/etiology ; Mental Disorders/classification/diagnosis/etiology ; Program Development ; Seizures/classification/diagnosis/etiology ; Severity of Illness Index

PURPOSE: The authors used arthroscopy-assisted percutaneous reduction and cannulated screw fixation rather? than conventional arthrotomy for displaced glenoid fracture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used arthroscopy assisted reduction and screw fixation for a 66 year old man who had a clavicle fracture, a displaced glenoid fracture and a scapula fracture. RESULTS: At 9 months postoperatively, the patient had recovered full range of motion and was not inconvenienced by the surgery. Removal of the implant was done 12 months post-operatively under general anesthesia. CONCLUSION: The advantages of arthroscopy-assisted percutaneous screw fixation are less pain and less bleeding, shorter hospital stay and earlier rehabilitation. Arthroscopic percutaneous screw fixation for a displaced glenoid fracture seems to be a good alternative treatment method.
Anesthesia, General ; Arthroscopy ; Clavicle ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Scapula

Bizarre parosteal osteochondromatous proliferation (BPOP) is an rare benign tumor which involve mostly tubular bones of feet and hand. BPOP has clinical, radiographic, and histologic similarities with osteochondroma.Radiologically, BPOP has not central continuity with underlying osseous medulla. Histologically, the lesion has marked proliferative activity, and enlarged, bizzare, and binucleated chondrocytes.Despite the high risk of recurrence, treatment of choice is surgical resection. This report presents two cases of BPOP of the big toe with reviews of clinical, radiographic, and histological characteristics.
Foot ; Foot Bones ; Hand ; Recurrence ; Toes

In the article, the 3rd author's affiliation was misspelled.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with cervical (CDRS) or lumbar dorsal ramus syndrome (LDRS) are characterized by neck or low back pain with referred pain to upper or lower extremities. However, we experienced some CDRS or LDRS patients with unusual motor or bladder symptoms. We analyzed and reviewed literatures on the unusual symptoms identified in patients with CDRS or LDRS. METHODS: This study included patients with unusual symptoms and no disorders of spine and central nervous system, a total of 206 CDRS/LDRS patients over the past 3 years. We diagnosed by using double diagnostic blocks for medial branches of dorsal rami of cervical or lumbar spine with 1% lidocaine or 0.5% bupivacaine for each block with an interval of more than 1 week between the blocks. Greater than 80% reduction of the symptoms, including unusual symptoms, was considered as a positive response. The patients with a positive response were treated with radiofrequencyneurotomy. RESULTS: The number of patients diagnosed with CDRS and LDRS was 86 and 120, respectively. Nine patients (10.5%) in the CDRS group had unusual symptoms, including 4 patients with motor weakness of the arm, 3 patients with tremors, and rotatory torticollis in 2 patients. Ten patients (8.3%) in the LDRS group showed unusual symptoms, including 7 patients with motor weakness of leg, 2 patients with leg tremor, and urinary incontinence in 1 patient. All the unusual symptoms combined with CDRS or LDRS were resolved after treatment. CONCLUSION: It seems that the clinical presentationssuch as motor weakness, tremor, urinary incontinence without any other etiologic origin need to be checked for unusual symptoms of CDRS or LDRS.
Arm ; Bupivacaine ; Central Nervous System ; Humans ; Leg ; Lidocaine ; Low Back Pain ; Lower Extremity ; Neck ; Neck Pain ; Pain, Referred ; Paralysis ; Spinal Nerves ; Spine ; Torticollis ; Tremor ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Incontinence