The technique of plssma exchange has been applied to a number of immune disorders in which c4eulating antibodies are present. We observed a patient with bullous pemphigoid and serious side effects of longterm use of steroid therspy. We applied ten times of plasmapheresis to him over six months period. After the plasmapheresis, clinical symptoms have greatly improved and steroid maintenance doses have been decreased. We have not observed any side effect of plasmapheresis such as thrambotopenia or hypogarnrnaglobulinemia during the whole therapeutic period.
Antibodies ; Humans ; Immune System Diseases ; Pemphigoid, Bullous* ; Plasmapheresis*

Anesthesia for thoracic surgery is most commonly performed with the patient in the lateral decubitus position, with nondependent hemithorax comprising the operation field. When one-lung ventilation is employed, the nondependent lung is nonventilated and collapsed, while the dependent lung is ventilated. Consequently one-lung ventilation creates an obligatory right to left transpulmonary shunt through the nondependent nonventilated lung. Therefore one-lung ventilation results in a much larger alveolar-arterial oxygen tension-difference P(A-a)O2 and lower PaO2 than does two-lung ventilation. The present study was to evaluate oxygenation effect of selective CPAP to nondependent lung in the 17 thoracic surgical patients. Arterial blood gases were analysed, systolic blood pressures and heart rates were measured at following stages. Stage I; lateral decubitus position before chest opening Stage II; 15 min after chest opening and one lung ventilation stage III; 15 min after application of selective CPAP 5 cmHO to the nondependent lung stage IV; 40 min after application of selective CPAP 5 cmHO to the nondependent lung The results were as follows: 1) In stage II, the value of PaO2 was significantly lower as compared to that in stage I(224.9+/-78.0 vs 418.2+/-63.1 mmHg, P<0.01). 2) In stage III and IV, the values of PaC4 were significantly higher.as compared to that in stage II(333.8+/-97.1, 364.5+/-88.6 vs 224,9+/-78.0 mmHg, P<0.01). 3) In stage III, the value of PaCO2 was significantly lower as compared to that in stage II(37.1+/-2.9 vs 38.2+/-2.7 mmHg, P<0.05). 4) In stage IV, the value of pH was significantly lower as compared to that in stage III(7.37+/-0.05 vs 7.38+/-0.05 P<0.05). 5) Systolic blood pressures and heart rates remained unchanged at all times. We concluded that application of 5 cmHO CPAP to the nondependent lung during one-lung ventilation is one of most efficacious maneuvers to increase PaO2, accompanying less surgical interference.
Anesthesia ; Continuous Positive Airway Pressure* ; Gases ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Lung* ; One-Lung Ventilation ; Oxygen* ; Thoracic Surgery ; Thorax ; Ventilation*

No abstract available.

Angioleiomyoma is a type of benign smooth muscle tumor. It is common in uterus and the gastrointestinal tract but rare in head and neck. This neoplasm is extremely rare in the larynx as only 10 cases have been reported in the literature in the world so far. Main symptoms are hoarseness and dyspnea. The treatment of choice is complete removal with care taken to avoid profuse bleeding. The authors report one case of angioleiomyoma of the larynx that was excised surgically with CO2 laser under suspension microlaryngoscopy.
Angiomyoma* ; Dyspnea ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Head ; Hemorrhage ; Hoarseness ; Larynx* ; Lasers, Gas ; Neck ; Smooth Muscle Tumor ; Uterus

PURPOSE: In order to help identifying the subgroups of primary megaureter who neck operation, we retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of the patients who had primary megaureters without vesicoureteral reflux. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed the initial differential renal function, UTI rate and the incidence of breakthrough infection of each group. Every patient had abdominal renal ultrasonograms and diuretic renograms during his/her follow-up period and the calyceal changes and differential renal functions were assessed. RESULTS: Those who underwent operation in their neonatal period did not have considerable postoperative problems. Those with primary obstructive megaureters who underwent operation had severe calyceal dilatation at the initial evaluation. However, there were severe calyceal dilatation in the nonobstructive-nonrefluxing group, too. Those who had poor differential renal function at the initial evaluation had a greater chance to have surgical correction. Those who were classified as primary obstructive megaureter and underwent operation had a higher rate of urinary tract infection than the counterpart who had consevative care. CONCLUSIONS: In order to differentiate those who need operation, we think that the differential renal function, the calyceal morphology, The diuretic renogram curve and urinary tract infection all act as combined factors altogether and not a single factor acts as a contributing factor. That is, if the diuretic renogram cutie is obstructive and there is urinary tract infection in the initial evaluation or if there is severe calyceal dilatation and decline of the differential renal function, we think that surgical correction should be under consideration. In contrast, if the diuretic renogram cutie is not obstructive and there are other factors combined, we think that conservative treatment should be the choice only if there is no breakthrough infection.
Dilatation ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Neck ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography ; Urinary Tract Infections ; Vesico-Ureteral Reflux*

Background: This study aimed to investigate trends in the prevalence of current smokers and motivation to quit among Korean male cancer survivors. Methods: Out of 20,012 men who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey V (2010–2012), VI (2013–2015), and VII (2016–2017), 742 cancer survivors were included. A cancer survivor was defined as a person who concurred to the item, “The cancer has been diagnosed by a doctor” in the health questionnaire. Smoking status was classified as current, former, and never smokers. Regarding motivation to quit smoking, we defined those who had a willingness to quit within 6 months as the willing group. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine trends in the prevalence of current smokers and the proportion of the willing group among current smokers. Results: Overall, 3.7% of Korean men who participated in the study were cancer survivors. Current smokers constituted 19.5%, 19.1%, and 15.3% of cancer survivors in phases V, VI, and VII respectively which did not show significant changes (P for trend=0.33). However, the proportion of current smokers in the non-cancer group was significantly reduced to 46.6%, 41.2%, and 38.9% in phases V, VI, and VII, respectively (P for trend <0.001). The proportion of those with a motivation to quit smoking did not show a significant trend in the cancer survivors (P for trend=0.964) and non-cancer group (P for trend=0.884). Conclusion Prevalence of current smokers and motivation to quit in Korean male cancer survivors did not show significant trends.

Background: This study aimed to investigate trends in the prevalence of current smokers and motivation to quit among Korean male cancer survivors. Methods: Out of 20,012 men who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey V (2010–2012), VI (2013–2015), and VII (2016–2017), 742 cancer survivors were included. A cancer survivor was defined as a person who concurred to the item, “The cancer has been diagnosed by a doctor” in the health questionnaire. Smoking status was classified as current, former, and never smokers. Regarding motivation to quit smoking, we defined those who had a willingness to quit within 6 months as the willing group. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine trends in the prevalence of current smokers and the proportion of the willing group among current smokers. Results: Overall, 3.7% of Korean men who participated in the study were cancer survivors. Current smokers constituted 19.5%, 19.1%, and 15.3% of cancer survivors in phases V, VI, and VII respectively which did not show significant changes (P for trend=0.33). However, the proportion of current smokers in the non-cancer group was significantly reduced to 46.6%, 41.2%, and 38.9% in phases V, VI, and VII, respectively (P for trend <0.001). The proportion of those with a motivation to quit smoking did not show a significant trend in the cancer survivors (P for trend=0.964) and non-cancer group (P for trend=0.884). Conclusion Prevalence of current smokers and motivation to quit in Korean male cancer survivors did not show significant trends.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the preemptive analgesic effect of a single intravenous infusion of low dose ketamine-clonidine. We compared the placebo with low dose ketamine and low dose ketamine-clonidine in patients undergoing an appendectomy. METHODS: Sixty ASA class 1 or 2 patients who received general anesthesia for an appendectomy were allocated randomly to three groups. Group 1 received intravenous normal saline 6 ml and group 2 received ketamine 0.15 mg/kg in normal saline 6 ml and group 3 received ketamine 0.15 mg/kg and clonidine 1microgram/kg in normal saline 6 ml 5 minutes before surgical incision. In the recovery room postoperative analgesia was assessed by the verbal numerical rating scale (VNRS) at 0 min, 15 min, 30 min, 60 min, 90 min and 120 min. Vital signs, sedation score and side effects were also checked. For postoperative analgesia, morphine 2 mg was given intravenously whenever a patient complained of pain, or the VNRS score was above 7. RESULTS: There were no intergroup differences of individual morphine requirements for postoperative pain control among the three groups. VNRS score, blood pressure, heart rate, sedation score and side effects were not significantly different among the three groups. CONCLUSIONS: A single low dose of ketamine-clonidine may not produce a postoperative analgesic effect in the recovery room, and a single low dose of ketamine also may not produce the preemptive effect for at least 2 hours.
Analgesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Appendectomy ; Blood Pressure ; Clonidine ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Ketamine* ; Morphine ; Pain, Postoperative ; Recovery Room ; Vital Signs

PURPOSE: We designed this study to find out the risk factors affecting the patency rate after creation of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) for maintenance hemodialysis. METHODS: From March 1997 to April 1999, a total of 206 AVF creation operations [126 of radiocephalic fistula (RCF), 59 of brachiocephalic fistula (BCF), and 21 of grafted fistula] in 165 patients were undertaken by single surgeon under the same surgical technique and principles. In 128 cases (62.1%), operation was performed for the first time and in 42 cases (20.4%), the trial was second time. However in remaining 36 cases (17.5%), the operation was three or more than three times. RESULTS: After a mean follow-up of 9 months, 27 patient death and 53 fistula failure were identified. The overall patency rate at 1- and 2-year were 72.6% and 61.1%. The success patency rate, excluding the early failure cases, at 1-and 2-year were 78.4% and 65.9%. In multivariate analysis, the presence of 2 or more than 2 times failed AVF episodes was the significant risk factor forecasting the poor fistula patency (p<0.05, odd ratio=2.72). Although the odd ratio in patients with grafted fistula or in diabetic patients was 1.39 or 1.48 in multivariate analysis, these factors did not reach the statistical significance in multivariate analysis (P>0.05). In univariate analysis, the 1- and 2 year patency rate of more than third AVF trial group were 53.2% and 25.3%, which showed significant poor patency rate comparing with the ones of first or second AVF trial group (76.73% in 1- and 67.9% in 2-year) (p=0.0197). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, repeated trial of AVF creation (= or >3) in itself was the most powerful significant risk factor affecting the patency rate after AVF creation. The successful first or second trial is very important to expect a long-term patency. Well designed surgery under delicate surgical technique in early referred patient should promise the long-term patency even in patients with diabetes or patients requiring grafted fistula.
Arteriovenous Fistula* ; Fistula ; Follow-Up Studies ; Forecasting ; Humans ; Multivariate Analysis ; Renal Dialysis* ; Risk Factors* ; Transplants

Facial blushing is a personally disabling condition, which can result in emotional disturbance and be an impediment to social life. Although numerous treatment options exist, including beta blocker, cognitive behavioral therapy and sympathetic neurolysis, no generally accepted form of treatment has been established. Herein, we report two cases of successful reduction of facial blushing following the administration of beta blocker and a minor tranquillizing antianxiety drug.
Affective Symptoms ; Blushing* ; Cognitive Therapy ; Humans