No abstract available.
Fasting* ; Female ; Humans

No abstract available.

OBJECTIVES: Subacute thyroiditis is a nonsuppurative inflammation of thyroid gland and is probably caused by a cytopathic virus. Typical clinical symptoms and features of subacute thyroiditis vary widely during the course of illness. It has a clinical course, evolving from hyperthyroidism through a temporary hypothyroidism to recovery. However, the final outcome of this disease remains unpredictive in some patients. Permanet hypothyroidism occurs infrequently. METHODS: Thirty-three patients proven to have subacute thyroiditis at the Ewha Womans University Hospital from September 1993 to November 1995 were studied. We analyzed their clinical features, laboratory findings, and duration of recovery to cha- racterize the course of the disease. RESULTS: 1) Total 33 patients were studied: 31 patients were female and 2 patients were male. Their mean age was 42.6+/-8.3 years old. The peak months were August through October in this study. 2) Initial mean ESR was 73.0+/-35.2mm/hr, mean T3 was 217.3+/-73.9ng/dl, mean T4 was 15.2+/-8.5microgram/ dl, and TSH was 0.06+/-0.09microIU/ml. The positive rates of antithyroglobulin and anitmicrosomal antibodies were 31% and 6% respectively, and TSH receptor antibody was elevated in one patient. 3) In the thyroid scan, 91% showed both lobes nonvisualisation, and 9% showed one lobe nonvisualization. Radioactive iodine uptake(RAIU) at 24 hour was 2.4+/-3.3%. 4) With the predisolone therapy, 90% of patients completely recovered, 57% of these patients had no hypothyroid phase and remaining 33% of them had hypothyroid phase during course of the disease. Three of the patients had permanent hypothyroidim. 5) The average duration of recovery was 3.2+/-1.4 months and it has no correlation with initial thyroid hormone levels, antithyroid antibodies and duration of steroid administration. CONCLUSION: There was no historical, physical, laboratory findings that help us predict those patients likely to have an exacerbation of the disease.
Antibodies ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism ; Hypothyroidism ; Inflammation ; Iodine ; Male ; Prednisolone ; Receptors, Thyrotropin ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroiditis, Subacute

Neuroblastoma stage IV-S patients have frequent spontaneous remission and high survival rate. Many investigators have recommended minimal or no therapeutic intervention ; however, some patient do experience progressive disease and ultimately die of neuroblastoma. We experienced a case of stage IVS neuroblastoma with N-myc amplification and coagulopathy. This patient has treated with combination chemotherapy and radiation therapy, then remained disease free for 1 year on the follow up till March, 1997.
Drug Therapy, Combination ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Neuroblastoma* ; Remission, Spontaneous ; Research Personnel ; Survival Rate

Background: Postpartum thyroiditis is a painless, destructive lymphocytic inflammation of the thyroid gland that occurs during the postpartum period and is associated with a high prevalence of serum thyroid autoantibodies. Clinical symptoms and laboratory fi#ndings of postpartum thyroiditis vary widely during the course of illness and the final outcome of this disease remains unpredictive in some patients. The purpose of this study is to investigate the clinical course and the predictors of the outcome of the disease. Methods: Thirty-eight patients proven to have postpartum thyroiditis at the Ewha Womans University Hospital were studied. We analyzed their clinical features, laboratory findings and duration of recovery to characterize the course of the disease. Results: Their mean age was 29.0±3.3 years and the time of diagnosis was 4.9±1.9 months after delivery. The prevailed months of delivery were November through January in this study. Twenty six patients were hypothyroid and 12 were thyrotoxic at initial thyroid function. The positive rates of antithyroglobulin and anitmicrosomal antibodies were 92%, 67% in the hypothyroid group and 75%, 67% in th thyrotoxic group respectively. TSH receptor antibodies were negative in all patients. In the hypothyroid group the titers of antimicrosomal antibodies were significantly higer than the thyrotoxic group. The titers of antimicrosomal antibodies were positively correlated with serum TSH and negatively correlated with serum T4. In all patients, the titers in thyroid function tests returned to the normal range without long-term hypothyroidism. Conclusion: The titers of antimicrosomal antibodies were significantly higher in the hypothyroid group than the thyrotoxic group. Thus the titers of antimicrosomal antibodies can help guide the physician in the care of patients with postpartum thyroiditis who will probably be hypothyroid. In this study, we were surprised that all patients became euthyroid without permanent hypothyroidism.
Antibodies ; Autoantibodies ; Clinical Study ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism ; Inflammation ; Postpartum Period ; Postpartum Thyroiditis ; Prevalence ; Receptors, Thyrotropin ; Reference Values ; Thyroid Function Tests ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroiditis

BACKGROUND: Thromboembolism is the major complication in patients with the insertion of cardiac prosthetic valves. The purpose of this study is evaluate the risk factors about the formation of left atrial thrombi after cardiac valve replacement. METHOD: Transesophageal(TEE) and transthoracic echocardiography(TTE) were done to evaluate postoperative cardiac condition in 98 patients with cardiac prosthetic valves from Jan. 1991 to Oct 1991. Several clinical and echocardiographic parameters were analyzied to evaluate the relationship with the formation of left atrial thrombi. RESULT: In univariate analysis, important factors related to the formation of left atrial thrombi are type of operation (p=0.027), postoperative left ventricular function(p=0.003), preoperative(p=0.037) and postoperative systolic ventricular size(p=0.024). However, in multivariate analysis postoperative left ventricular size(p=0.017), presence of previous thrombi(p=0.014), preoperative left atrial size(p=0.014) and postoperative left atrial size(p=0.014) are significant factors. CONCLUSION: Patients with high risk and low risk for the formation of left atrial thrombi after valve replacement can be identified by readily available clinical and echocardiographic variables.
Echocardiography ; Heart Valves ; Humans ; Multivariate Analysis ; Risk Factors* ; Thromboembolism

OBJECTIVES: It has been constantly reported that mismatch negativity (MMN) is impaired in patients with schizophrenia. However, the mechanism which relates impaired MMN and schizophrenia is not clear yet. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between MMN and clinical variables including functional status in patients with schizophrenia. METHODS: The present study assessed MMN using passive auditory oddball task in 26 patients with schizophrenia and 48 healthy controls. Repeated measures Analysis of Variance with age as a covariate was carried out for comparing peak amplitude and latency of MMN at 8 central line electrodes (FPz, Fz, FCz, Cz, CPz, Pz, POz, Oz) across groups. Pearson's correlation was performed to reveal the relationship between MMN and clinical variables including neurocognitive test results and the Global Assessment of Functioning score. RESULTS: MMN amplitude was significantly reduced in patients with schizophrenia compared with healthy controls. Pearson's correlation showed that subsets of short form of Korean Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale scores and GAF scores were associated with MMN amplitude in patients with schizophrenia. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that MMN amplitude is associated with current functional status including cognitive function in patients with schizophrenia.
Adult ; Analysis of Variance ; Electrodes ; Humans ; Intelligence ; Schizophrenia*

We experienced a case of open heart surgery for correction of ventricular septal defect and patent ductus arteriosus in five years old boy with hemophilia A. Factor VIII activity in this patient was 0.7% of normal activity. He received 2,000 unit of factor VIII intravenously for loading dose and has been infused 6 unit/kg/hour for 12 hours before the operation. And his factor VIII activity was 68% in the morning of the operation day. During the operation, he received 6 unit/kg/hour of factor VIII. After intracardiac anomaly was repaired and protamine was injected, we administrated 1000 unit of factor VIII. At that time, his factor VIII was 57%. After operation was done, he received 6 unit/kg/hour of factor VIII during stay in ICU and postoperative 14 days. His factor VIII activity was maintained at 36~104% during stay in hospital. So we report a successful case of perioperative management for the open heart surgery in patient with hemophilia A.
Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; Factor VIII ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; Heart* ; Hemophilia A* ; Humans ; Male ; Thoracic Surgery*

We experienced a case of open heart surgery for correction of ventricular septal defect and patent ductus arteriosus in five years old boy with hemophilia A. Factor VIII activity in this patient was 0.7% of normal activity. He received 2,000 unit of factor VIII intravenously for loading dose and has been infused 6 unit/kg/hour for 12 hours before the operation. And his factor VIII activity was 68% in the morning of the operation day. During the operation, he received 6 unit/kg/hour of factor VIII. After intracardiac anomaly was repaired and protamine was injected, we administrated 1000 unit of factor VIII. At that time, his factor VIII was 57%. After operation was done, he received 6 unit/kg/hour of factor VIII during stay in ICU and postoperative 14 days. His factor VIII activity was maintained at 36~104% during stay in hospital. So we report a successful case of perioperative management for the open heart surgery in patient with hemophilia A.
Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; Factor VIII ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; Heart* ; Hemophilia A* ; Humans ; Male ; Thoracic Surgery*

Clinical scales are important tools for quantitatively evaluating impairments and disabilities related to diseases. Clinical scales are also used in many clinical studies to assess therapeutic effects. Spinal cord disorders cause neurological deterioration, which leads to functional and social disabilities. For many neurological disorders that cause myelopathy, including multiple sclerosis and other inflammatory demyelinating diseases, numerous drugs are being developed and studied for clinical use. Thus, clinical scales for myelopathy are important for both the medical field and general public. This review article describes the clinical scales for myelopathy, especially those that are widely used and established. We expect that this review will help readers choose the scales appropriate for their purposes.