BACKGROUND: Hemoptysis is a common clinical symptom responsible for 11% of admission to the hospital chest service. In KOREA pulmonary tuberculosis is still the most common cause of hemoptysis and the incidence of hemoptysis due to neoplasia has increased. Bronchoscopy and high resonance CT are essential for diagnosis of the cause of hemoptysis. We studied the causes, diagnostic tools and treatment treatment of hemoptysis. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of clinical profiles, radiologic and bronchoscopy findings and treatments of hemoptysis for 220 patients who were admitted to our hospital with hemoptysis between 1994 and 1998. RESULTS: The mean age at diagnosis was 49.3 years and male to female ratio was 2.1:1. The main causes were active pulmonay pulmonary tuberculosis in 72 cases(32.7%), inactive pulmonary tuberculosis with sequlae in 69 cases(31.4%) lung cancer in 43 cases(19.5%), bronchiectasis in 10 cases(4.5%), and chronicbronchitis in 10 cases(4.5%). The mean amount of hemoptysis for 24hrs was 120cc. The mean duration of bleeding was 25 days. The number of cases with a past history of pulmonary tuberculosis were 128 cases, in which 24 were relapsed tuberculosis cases, 25 chronic tuberculosis cases, 69 inactive tuberculosis cases, and 10 lung cancer cases. High resonance CT was the most useful method for structural etiologic evaluation of hemoptysis developed in patients with inactive tuberculosis, bronchiectasis and aspergilloma. sputum study and bronchofiberscopy were the confirmative diagnostic tools for active pulmonary tuberculosis and lung cancer. The treatments of hemoptysis medical in 152 cases(71.7%), bronchial artery embolization in 39 cases(17.8%), and operation in 9 cases(4.0%). The mean following up duration was 22.4 months. The overall outcomes of hemoptysis were controlled in 77 cases (43.5%), rebleeding in 100 cases (56.5%) and expired in 9 cases (4.0%). The outcomes of hemoptysis in pulmonary tuberculosis were controlled in 21.6%, rebleeding in 78.4%, and expire in 14.7%. CONCLUSION: The most common cause of hemoptysis was related with pulmonary tuberculosis. HRCT was an important diagnostic tool in AFB smear negative active pulmonary tuberculosis and inactive tuberculosis with sequelae. Early, proper management of pulmonary tuberculosis is important for prevention of hemoptysis in Korea.
Bronchial Arteries ; Bronchiectasis ; Bronchoscopy ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Hemoptysis* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Lung Diseases* ; Lung Neoplasms ; Lung* ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Sputum ; Thorax ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

OBJECTIVES: To access the effectiveness of radiofrequency myolysis (RFM) in women with midline dysmenorrhea. METHODS: We designed RFM in two ways laparoscopic RFM (LRFM), vaginal ultrasound-guided RFM (URFM). One hundred and thirty-two patients were in the LRFM group and, 140 patients were in the URFM group. RESULTS: Upon receipt of surgery, both the LRFM and the URFM groups demonstrated a significant decrease (P < 0.001) in the mean pain score when compared to those before and after surgery. CONCLUSION: The RF uterine myolysis procedure provides an alternative for those patients who suffer from intractable midline dysmenorrhea. LRFM is an alternative choice because it is relatively safe and, simple to perform and moreover, it is satisfactory. LRFM appears to increasingly succeed in the treatment of midline dysmenorrhea.
Dysmenorrhea* ; Female ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Leiomyoma ; Ultrasonography

A procedure descried by Fontan and Baudet in 1971 successfully bypassed the right ventricle in Tricuspid Atresia patients, after then many modification of the Fontan operation had been described and applied to many cyanotic complex heart patients. Forty patients with a variety of cardiac malformation underwent the Fontan operation at Seoul National University hospital (September 1978 to June 1986). The age at operation ranged 2 months to 18 years. Each number of cases according to basic cardiac anomaly was as follows; 17 in Tricuspid Atresia, 17 in Univertricular Heart, 2 in Double outlet of Right Ventricle, 2 in Transposition of the Great Arteries and 2 in Criss-cross heart. Total mortality rate after the Fontan operation was 50%. There was only one late death (>30 days). Mortality rate under 4 years of age (67%) was higher than that between 4 and 18 years of age (40%). we observed a significantly higher mortality for patients who, in the immediate postoperative period, had central venous pressure greater than 25cm H2O. 45% among survivals did not require further medication. Although mortality rate after the Fontan operation is much higher than that in the foreign literature, operative mortality will decline with the increased expirence of surgeon and the effective patients selection.
Arteries ; Central Venous Pressure ; Crisscross Heart ; Fontan Procedure* ; Heart ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Mortality ; Postoperative Period ; Seoul ; Tricuspid Atresia

No abstract available.
Chlorhexidine* ; Guided Tissue Regeneration*

Diacerein is a safe drug for osteoarthritis due to its inhibitory effect on proinflammatory cytokines. Its common side effects, such as diarrhea, abdominal pain and skin rash, are relatively mild. There have been a few cases of drug reactions with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome accompanied by thromboembolic complications. We report the first case of diacerein-induced DRESS syndrome with thromboembolic complications. A 64-year-old man developed fever, skin rash, increase in liver enzymes, eosinophilia, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) after taking diacerein. DVT and PTE were improved after anticoagulation therapy; however, fever, skin rash, eosinophilia and increase in liver enzymes were aggravated. A high-dose systemic corticosteroid (methylprednisolone 1 mg/kg/day) was administered, after which his clinical conditions improved.

This study was conducted to evaluate changes in plasma concentration and urinary excretion of carnitine, as well as plasma lipid level and fatty acid composition, caused by short term supplementation of carnitine in humans. Ten healthy male subjects (21.2 +/- 0.5 years old) received oral carnitine supplementation (4 g/day) as tablets for two weeks. Fasting blood and random urine samples were collected from each subject both prior to and at the end of carnitine supplemention program. Following the 2 weeks of carnitine supplementation, plasma total carnitine (TCNE) concentration increased 20% (85.1 +/- 7.4 vs 67.3 +/- 9.1 micro mol/1, p>0.05), while urinary excretion of total carnitine increased ten times compared to the value measured prior to the supplementation (3051 +/- 692 vs 278 +/- 90.1 micro mol/g creatinine, p<0.01). Non-esterified carnitine (NEC) comprised from 71 to 88% of TCNE in plasma, and from 32 to 40% of TCNE excreted in the urine. Two weeks of carnitine supplementation in healthy adults significantly elevated plasma level of acid soluble acylcarnitine (ASAC) which is esterified mostly with short chain fatty acids (21.6 +/- 1.6 micro mol/l) compared to the value measured prior to the supplementation (6.4 +/- 0.8 micro mol/l) (p<0.05). Carnitine supplementation significantly increased plasma HDL-cholesterol level (p<0.05), and decreased the atherogenic index (p<0.05), but failed to cause any significant change in plasma levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, and free fatty acids. Plasma triglyceride and phospholipid fatty acid compositions were not significaly affected as well by the oral supplementation of carnitine in subjects with normal range of blood lipid levels.
Adult* ; Carnitine* ; Cholesterol ; Creatinine ; Fasting ; Fatty Acids ; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified ; Humans ; Male* ; Plasma* ; Reference Values ; Tablets ; Triglycerides

Hydroxyapatite is commonly used as a filler to replace amputated bone or as a coating to promote bone ingrowth into prosthetic implants. Many modern implants, such as hip replacements and dental implants, are coated with hydroxyapatite. We report a patient with occupational asthma due to hydroxyapatite, proven by a specific inhalation challenge, who experienced an early asthmatic reaction after exposure to hydroxyapatite, without increased airway responsiveness to methacholine despite an increased eosinophil count in the peripheral blood. A 38-year-old male dental implant worker visited our allergy department for the evaluation of occupational asthma. He had treated dental implant titanium surfaces with hydroxyapatite for 1.5 years. One year after starting his employment, he noticed symptoms of rhinorrhea, paroxysmal cough, and chest tightness. His symptoms were aggravated during and shortly after work and subsided several hours after work. When he stopped working for 2 months because of his chest symptoms, he became asymptomatic. After restarting his work, his symptoms reappeared and were aggravated. A methacholine bronchial challenge test had a negative response. The following day, a specific bronchial provocation test with wheat powder was negative. On the third day, a specific bronchial provocation test with hydroxyapatite powder produced an early asthmatic response. On the fourth day, a methacholine bronchial challenge test was negative. Further studies are needed to evaluate the exact pathogenetic mechanism of hydroxyapatite-induced occupational asthma.
Adult ; Asthma ; Asthma, Occupational ; Bronchial Provocation Tests ; Cough ; Dental Implants ; Durapatite ; Employment ; Eosinophils ; Hip ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Inhalation ; Male ; Methacholine Chloride ; Occupations ; Thorax ; Titanium ; Triticum

The author line was published incorrectly.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of raloxifene in preventing bone loss associated with long term gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) administration. METHODS: Twenty-two premenopausal women with severe endometriosis were treated with leuprolide acetate depot at a dosage of 3.75 mg/4 weeks, for 48 weeks. Bone mineral density (BMD) was evaluated at admission, and after 12 treatment cycles. RESULTS: At cycle 12 of GnRH-a plus raloxifene treatment, lumbar spine, trochanter femoral neck, and Ward's BMD differed from before the treatment. A year after treatment, the lumbar spine and trochanter decreased slightly, but were not significantly different. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that the administration of GnRH-a plus raloxifene in pre-menopausal women with severe endometriosis, is an effective long-term treatment to prevent bone loss.
Bone Density* ; Endometriosis* ; Female ; Femur ; Femur Neck ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone* ; Humans ; Leuprolide ; Raloxifene Hydrochloride* ; Spine

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of orally administered dienogest (DNG) for dysmenorrhea and pelvic pain associated with endometriosis. METHODS: For this study we recruited 89 patients with dysmenorrhea and pelvic pain associated with endometriosis diagnosed by laparoscopy. All patients complained of persistent dysmenorrhea and pelvic pain despite surgical treatment 6 months previously. After 6 months of DNG treatment, we used a 0 to 3 point verbal rating scale to measure the severity of disability in daily life due to dysmenorrhea and pelvic pain, and the use of analgesics. Weight gain, serum lipid and liver enzyme tests were performed before treatment and after 6 months of DNG treatment. RESULTS: Total dysmenorrhea scores assessed by the verbal rating scale significantly decreased by the end of treatment (P<0.001). The mean (±standard deviation) pain score for dysmenorrhea before and after treatment were 1.42±1.1 and 0.1±0.3, respectively. The mean non-menstrual pelvic pain scores before and after treatment were 0.52±0.6 and 0.18±0.3, respectively, showing a significant difference (P<0.001). The use of analgesics significantly decreased by the end of the treatment (P<0.001). The associated adverse effects were weight gains (in 56 of 89 patients, 63%) and uterine bleeding (in 28 of 89 patients, 31.5%). The weight gain (before treatment, 57.9±9.7; after treatment, 61.1±12.6) was statistically significant (P<0.040). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that orally administered DNG could be used to effectively treat dysmenorrhea and pelvic pain associated with endometriosis although the side effects of weight gain and uterine bleeding should be considered.
Analgesics ; Dysmenorrhea* ; Endometriosis* ; Female ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Liver ; Pelvic Pain* ; Uterine Hemorrhage ; Weight Gain