BACKGROUND: We studied the incidence of trauma caused by alcohol related accidents, and the effects that has on the occurrence, the extent, and the outcome to the patient. METHODS: In our study we studied trauma patients excluding pediatric patients(15 years old and under) who came to the Emergency department of Korea University Medical School Anam Hospital from the 1st of january 1996 to 30th of June 1996, looked into their medical records, and studied the records in a retrospective manner. The trauma patients were divided into two groups, a) alcohol-related and b) alcohol-non-related. The two groups were then subdivided according to their sex, age, the time they came in, the anatomical part of the trauma, the mechanism of their injury, the extent of the injury, the length of their hospital stay, the length of their ED stay and were seperately compared and analysed. Statistically, ANOVA and logistic regression analysis using SAS were used in the study and then was assessed in Chi-square analysis methods. RESULTS: The total of the trauma patients, added up to 832 people, 577: male and 255: female. Among this sum, 16 trauma patients were alcohol related(male:127 & female 36). 115 people were in the age group of 21-40. Compared to the non-alcohol related trauma group, the alcohol-related group had more facial & scalp injuries and tended to come in the hours between 0-6 AM. The cause of the injuries were mossy by fast-fighting and suicide, compared to mostly accidental-slipping injuries in the non alcohol-related group. There were no difference in the degree of the injury(ISS) and the length of hospital stay between the two groups, whereas the length of the stay at the ED was longer alcohol-related trauma patients. CONCLUSION: Alcohol related trauma patients were mostly in their 20s and 30s, came to the hospital at a late time it the reason for their visit were mossy because of fist fighting. In the Emergency department, because prompt and correct diagnosis is quite difficult to make in this group, their ED stay tended to be longer. We can conclude that measuring the blood alcohol level of these patients, continuing the psychological therapy and educating people is needed.
Diagnosis ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Length of Stay ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; Scalp ; Schools, Medical ; Suicide

BACKGROUND: Cardiopulmonary bypass during open heart surgery causes systemic inflammatory respose. IL-10 is an anti-inflammatory cytokine that inhibits inflammatory process and protects organ function by down regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokine release and maintenance of blood level balance with pro-inflammatory cytokines. MATERIAL ateial and Method: Plasma IL-10 levels were measured and analyzed in 22 patients who underwent open heart surgery (11 cases of coronary artery bypass graft, 11 cases of valve replacement) under cardiopulmonary bypass since 1988 January to July at Department of Thoracic and Czardiovascular surgery, Yeungnam University Hospital. 1g of methylprednisolone was administrated to thirteen patients randomly. Blood samp.es were taken and collected at the time of induction of anesthesia, 10 min before cardiopulmonary bypass, 10 min after starting of CPB, 10 min aftr aortic cross clamping, 10 min after ACC release, and 10 min, 2 hours, and 5 hours after CPB respectively. The plasma levels of IL-10 were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Wilcoxon-Raule Sum test was used for statistical analysis. In all 22 patients, cardiopulmonary bypass time was used for statistical analysis. In all 22 patients, cardiopulmonary bypass time was 171+/-41.4 min and aortic cross clamp time was 118+/-36.5 min. Peak IL-10 level was achieved at 10 min after ACC (361.0+/-52.81pg/ml) and was decreased sharply at 2 hours after CPB. Peak IL-10 level was correlated positively with aortic cross clamp time (p=0.011); however, it did not correlated with bypass time (p=0.181). In valve replacement group, mean IL-10 level at peak point was 567.89+/-107.69 pg/ml and was significantly higher than that of coronary artery bypass group (205.67+/-192.70 pg/ml) (p<0.001). ACC time in valve replacement group was significantly longer than that of coronary artery bypass group (p<0.01), however, bypass time was not (p=0.212). Thirteen patients with steroid pretreatment before starting of CPB showed relatively higher plasma IL-10 level than in control group, however, no statistical significance was noted (p=0.19). CONCLUSION: plasma level of IL-10 was increased in association with cardiopulmonary bypass and revealed peak at 10 min after ACC release. IL-10 level was correlated positively with ACC time. Therefore, systemic inflammatory respeonse in association with cardiopulmonary bypass could be decreased by reducing ACC time during cardiac surgery.
Anesthesia ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass* ; Constriction ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Cytokines ; Down-Regulation ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Interleukin-10* ; Methylprednisolone ; Plasma ; Thoracic Surgery ; Transplants

The long QT syndromes have been classified into acquired or inheritary forms, both of which are associated with a characteristic type of life-threatening polymorphic ventricular tachycardia called torsade de points. Beta-adrenergic blocker is the first cholic treatment, but in those whom cardiac events are not prevented by beta - blockade, left thoracic sympathetic ganglionectomy may be useful in selected cases. A 50-year-old woman had an recurrent syncopal attack in which she was unconscious for 1-2 min and 1-2 times a month for 10 years. The EKG revealed that QT & QTc intervals were 744 and 632 msec respectively. Treatment with Beta-adrenergic blocker and calcium channel blocker was ineffective in preventing recurrence of syncopal spell. Therefore, she underwent left thoracic sympathetic ganglionectomy with thoracoscope. During the 9 months after operation, she was free of syncopal episodes and is doing well.
Calcium Channels ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Ganglionectomy* ; Humans ; Long QT Syndrome* ; Middle Aged ; Recurrence ; Syncope ; Tachycardia, Ventricular ; Thoracoscopes*

Isolated congenital aneurysm of the left atrium with intact pericardium is a rate anomaly, which usually presents with arrhythmia, cerebral embolism or abnormalities on routine chest X-ray. Surgery is indicated in most cases to eliminate a potential source of systemic emboli and arrhythmias. A 42-year-old woman having cervical cancer, she was suspected of having a left atrial aneurysm on review of chest X-ray and confirmed by echocardiography and cardiac catheterization. Surgical resection of Left atrial aneurysm was achieved without complication using median sternotomy with cardiopulmonary bypass. The postoperative course was uneventful.
Adult ; Aneurysm* ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Heart Atria* ; Humans ; Intracranial Embolism ; Pericardium ; Sternotomy ; Thorax ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

No abstract available.
Aspirin* ; Epithelial Cells*

This study was designed to determine whether non-violent criminal and normal control on the basis of concentration of levels of trace mineral and toxic metal by analysis of human scalp hair. The subjects were selected 87 nonviolent criminal from a prison population and 120 normal control from periodic health checks for study. Hair samples were taken from the napes and Minnesota Multiple Personality Inventory(MMPI) was performed also. Five trace mineral(Zn, Cu, Mg, Fe, Na) and two toxic metal(lead, cadmium) contents were determined by an atomic absorption spectrometer. The contents of zinc and magnesium in hair of non-violent criminal were significantly lower than the control group(p<0.01). In the case of lead and cadmium, mean value of criminal group was significantly higher than control group. Significantly higher T-score of MMPI was seen in non-violent criminal group for psychopathic deviate (Pd), paranoia scale(Pa), and Mania scale(Ma) than control group, but T-score of depression scale(D) was significantly higher in the control group. In the non-violent criminal group, the content of copper inversely proportion to T-score of Hs, D, Hy, Pd, Mf, Pa, Pt, Sc, Si except Ma, also Zinc inversely proportion to T-score of Hy, Mf, Pa, Pt. These results suggest that difference of some hair mineral contents exist between criminal and normal control group. Thus further studies are necessary to determine whether violent and nonviolent criminal group attributed biochemical imbalance with carefully constructed and controlled studies.
Absorption ; Bipolar Disorder ; Cadmium ; Copper ; Criminals* ; Depression ; Hair* ; Humans ; Magnesium ; Minnesota ; MMPI ; Multiple Personality Disorder ; Paranoid Disorders ; Prisons ; Scalp ; Zinc

Bronchial carcinoid tumor was a low grade malignant and it was regarded as predictable clinical course and good survivality after surgical resection. But despite of its low grade malignant potentiality, bronchial carcinoid tumor was clearly capable of metastasizing and causing death. We present 2 cases of bronchial carcinoid tumors. One of them was typical carcinoid tumor in 44 year-old female and another was atypical carcinoid tumor in 53 year-old male patient. Currative therapeutic procedure was performed by lobectomy and wedge resection.
Carcinoid Tumor* ; Female ; Humans ; Male

PURPOSE: To evaluate the result of treatment of proximal femoral shaft fracture with limited open reduction and intramedullary nailing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen patients who had limited open reduction and intramedullary nailing due to proximal femoral shaft fracture for follow-up for more than 12 months were selected between March 2001 and December 2005. The clinical and radiologic results were analyzed. Winquist-Hansen classification and OTA/AO classification were used. RESULTS: Thirteen cases achieved bone union and 2 cases showed delayed union. The mean bone union period was 21.3 weeks (14~32). There was no postoperative infection. Nonunion was observed in 2 cases of which bone union was acquired with the exchange of intramedullary nail and bone graft in one case and with the additional plate fixation and bone graft in the other case. CONCLUSION: Treating proximal femoral shaft fracture with limited open reduction and intramedullary nailing seems to be a technique to manage proximal femoral shaft fracture that has combined fracture or ipsilateral femoral fracture or is unable to acquire acceptable reduction with closed reduction.
Femoral Fractures ; Femur ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary ; Humans ; Nails ; Transplants

BACKGROUND: This study investigates the prevalance of HBV precore mutant in chronic B hepatitis patients and whether HBV precore mutants affect hepatic inflammation and response to interferon alfa. METHODS: HBV DNA in liver tissue from 48 chronic hepatitis patients was amplified by polymerase chain reaction. The HBV precore mutants were detected by direct sequencing of amplified PCR products. Thirty-three HBeAg-positive patients (Group 1: wild- type, Group 2: mixed) were received 3-6 MU INF three times a week for 4-6 months. We did follow-ups for at least six months(mean : Group 1-11.3, Group 2- 13.7 months). A complete responder was defined as persistent(>6 months) normalization of transaminase and loss of HBeAg and/or seroconversion. RESULTS: The HBV precore mutants were found in 15 cases(31.2%) among 48 patients: 7 cases(21.2%) in 33 HBeAg-positive patients and 8 cases(53.3%) in 15 HBeAg-negative patients. The HBV precore mutants were more frequently found in HBeAg-negative patients(p= 0.043). Differences in severity of hepatic pathology were not observed in the wild-type versus mutant-type chronic hepatitis B patients(p =1.00). Initial response rate was not significantly different between two Groups(p= 0.228), but complete response rate had a lower tendency in Group 2 (p=0.073). CONCLUSION: There is a tendency for HBV precore mutants to be less responsive to INF therapy than wild type. Therefore the patients with chronic hepatitis B should be treated as early as possible in natural history of their liver disease before the emergence of HBV precore mutants.
DNA ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatitis ; Hepatitis B e Antigens* ; Hepatitis B, Chronic* ; Hepatitis, Chronic* ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Interferon-alpha ; Interferons* ; Liver Diseases ; Liver* ; Natural History ; Pathology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

Paraganglioma is a tumor from the extra adrenal paraganglion system and is rarely observed in the mediastinum. The authors experienced a case of nonfunctioning paraganglioma of the posterior mediastinum. The patient was 34-years-old male in whom abnormal mass lesion was nites in chest radiograph with hemoptysis. His blood pressure and serologic examination were within normal range upon admission to our hospital. Chest CT revealed a tumor in the left lower lobe. Diagnostic thoracoscopy was performed and diagnosed a posterior mediastinal mass. Surgical resection was them performed. Posterior mediastinal mass was removed successfully and histological examination of the surgical specimen diagnosed paraganglioma. He received radiotherapy after surgery and was followed up. Related literature are reviewed.
Blood Pressure ; Hemoptysis ; Humans ; Male ; Mediastinum* ; Paraganglioma* ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Radiotherapy ; Reference Values ; Thoracoscopy ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed