The results of alpha-acetyldigoxin(Dioxanin(R)) administration in 21 patients with congestive heart failure were as follows. Alpha-acetyldigoxin is a new oral preparation of cardiac glycoside derived from lanatosid C. 1. For rapid digitalization in 2-3 days, the initial dose was 1.2 to 2.6mg (average 1.96mg). For medium-fast digitalization in 4 days, the loading dose was 2.0 to 3.2mg (average 2.7mg). For slow digitalization 0.1 to 0.4mg was required for 5 to 6 days without loading dose. The maintenance dose was 0.1 to 0.4mg (average 0.33mg) daily. 2. The therapeutic effect of acetyldigoxin was excellent in 15 cases (71%), good in 4 cases (20%) and stationary in 2 cases (9%). 3. Side effects were observed in 2 cases with usual dosage regimen. One accidental case who took single dose of 4mg(20 tablests) developed supraventricular tachycardia with varying degree of atrioventricular block, ventricular bigeminy and premature beat but recovered completely after 6 days.
Acetyldigoxins* ; Atrioventricular Block ; Cardiac Complexes, Premature ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP)* ; Heart Failure* ; Humans ; Tachycardia, Supraventricular

INTRODUCTION: Bone mineral density (BMD) is an important index in diagnosis of osteoporosis and other metabolic bone diseases, prediction of fractures, and monitoring treatment. This study was to find a more feasible technique for prediction of osteoporotic fracture between dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and quantitative computed tomography (QCT) and to reveal the actual change of bone strength when BMD was changed. METHODS: Ten of these 20 specimens were used as the demineralized group and the other 10 as the control. Each specimen was immersed in HCl solution at for a period of at least 10 minutes, up to 100 minutes, at an interval of 10 minutes for different levels of demineralization. BMD was measured using DXA and QCT. Uniaxial compression tests were conducted to measure biomechanical parameters. Pearson correlation analysis was used respectively between BMD and biomechanical parameters and between DXA and QCT. RESULTS: Elastic modulus (r=0.87) and yield stress (r=0.84) showed a statistically significant correlation with DXA BMD. Through correlation analysis with QCT BMD and elastic modulus, correlation coefficient showed hemi-vertebra (r=0.80) and trabecular (r=0.68). In yield stress, there was a statistically significant correlation in hemi-vertebra (r=0.87) and trabecular bone (r=0.84). CONCLUSION: DXA is a current standard technique not only for diagnosis of osteoporosis but also for prediction of fracture risk compared to QCT. Actual decrease of bone strength was much greater than that of BMD by both DXA and QCT.
Absorptiometry, Photon* ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Bone Density* ; Bone Diseases, Metabolic ; Diagnosis ; Elastic Modulus ; Osteoporosis ; Osteoporotic Fractures

Tibric acid is a new oral hypolipidemic agent with the chemical name of 2-chloro-5(3,5-dimethyl piperidinosulfonyl) benzoic acid. The results of tibric acid administration in 22 patients with primary hyperlipidemia were as follows. 1) Serum triglyceride level was significantly decreased in 84.6% of 22 cases with an average 43.9% decrease in serum triglyceride. 2) Serum cholesterol level was decreased in 59.1% of 22 cases with an average 15.8% decrease in serum cholesterol. The decrease in serum cholesterol level was not significant. 3) It seemed that there were significant falls in the serum triglyceride of the hyperlipoproteinemia type IV and IIb patietns and in the serum cholesterol of type IIa patients 4) The side effects of tibric acid were indigestion, loose stool and anorexia. There was no side effects in 63.6% of cases.
Anorexia ; Benzoic Acid ; Cholesterol ; Dyspepsia ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias* ; Hyperlipoproteinemia Type IV ; Triglycerides

Neurocutaneous melanosis is a very rare congenital syndrome characterized by the presence of large or multiple congenital melanocytic nevi and benign or malignant melanotic tumors of the central nervous system. We report herein a case of neurocutaneous melanosis with leptomeningeal melanosis and a malignant melanoma of the right temporal lobe in a 46-year old man. The case is exceptional as regards the late onset of symptoms and death. Even without a malignant melanoma, the symptomatic neurocutaneous melanosis has a fatal course. The syndrome is rare but lethal, so the dermatologist should be aware of this syndrome when evaluating the patients with large or numerous congenital melanocytic nevi so as to watch for the usual signs of increased intracranial pressure and to take prompt palliative measures.
Central Nervous System ; Humans ; Intracranial Pressure ; Melanoma ; Melanosis* ; Nevus, Pigmented ; Temporal Lobe

No abstract available.
Nose* ; Papilloma, Inverted* ; Paranasal Sinuses*

OBJECTIVE: Self-expanding stents are increasingly used for the treatment of complex intracranial aneurysms. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness and safety of a self-expanding nitinol stent (Enterprise) in the treatment of wide-necked intracranial aneurysms. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 39 patients with 40 wide-necked intracranial aneurysms who were enrolled in a single-center registry of patients treated with the Enterprise between June 2009 and December 2011. Thirty patients were asymptomatic, four had cerebrovascular accident sequelae, and five had suffered subarachnoid hemorrhage. One aneurysm had reopened after prior coil embolization, while 39 had not been treated. Clinical charts, procedural data, and angiographic results, including both immediate post-procedural angiograms and follow-up imaging, were reviewed. RESULTS: The mean neck size of the aneurysms was 5.58 mm (range 3-15.1 mm). Embolization was successful in all patients. There were five procedure-related events. There were no fatalities, but one procedure-related morbidity was noted. The immediate angiographic results included eight complete occlusions (20%), six remnant necks (15%), and 26 remnant sacs (65%). At angiographic follow-up (mean: 11.3 months), out of 18 of the aneurysms treated with stent-assisted coiling, there were 13 (72.2%) complete occlusions, four (22.2%) remnant necks, and one recanalization (5.6%). CONCLUSION: Stent-assisted coiling using the Enterprise is effective for the treatment of wide-necked intracranial aneurysms. Further angiographic and clinical follow-up investigation will be needed for evaluation of the long-term outcomes.
Aneurysm* ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm* ; Neck ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents* ; Stroke ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Stem cells are emerging as therapeutic candidates in a variety of diseases because of their multipotent capacities. Among these, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from bone marrow, umbilical cord blood or adipose tissue, comprise a population of cells that exhibit extensive proliferative potential and retain the ability to differentiate into multiple tissue-specific lineage cells including osteoblasts, chondrocytes, and adipocytes. MSCs have also been shown to enhance neurological recovery, although the therapeutic effects seem to be derived from an indirect paracrine effect rather than direct cell replacement. MSCs secrete neurotrophic factors, promote endogenous neurogenesis and angiogenesis, encourage synaptic connection and remyelination of damaged axons, decrease apoptosis, and regulate inflammation primarily through paracrine actions. Accordingly, MSCs may prevail as a promising cell source for cell-based therapy in neurological diseases.
Cell Differentiation/physiology ; Clinical Trials as Topic ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells/*cytology/physiology ; Models, Biological ; Nervous System Diseases/metabolism/*therapy ; Neurogenesis/physiology ; Tissue Therapy/methods

BACKGROUND: In 1951, Ardran reported that metastatic bone lesions could be detectable on plain radiography with 30% to 50% of decalcification. Authors performed experimental study for minimum level of decalcification to detect the osteolytic bone metastasis of long bone with recent technique of radiographs. METHODS: One pair of fibula and humerus from two cadavers was cut into specimen 1 inch in length. Distal half of specimen was dipped into hydrochloride (HCl) with 15 min interval. All 16 specimens were checked by film-type radiography (FR), computed radiography (CR), digital radiography (DR). To exclude inter-observer's variance, 3 radiologists evaluated images. Calcium amount before and after decalcification was measured and expressed in percentage of decalcification. RESULTS: Osteolytic changes were detectable with 11% to 16% of decalcification for fibula and 3% to 8% for humerus on plain radiography with FR, CR, and DR. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that minimum of 3% and maximum of 16% of decalcification is necessary when osteolytic metastatic bone lesions of long bone could be detected on plain radiography.
Cadaver ; Calcium ; Decalcification Technique ; Fibula ; Humerus ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Osteolysis ; Radiographic Image Enhancement ; Radiography*

PURPOSE: Liver transplantation (LT) is regarded as an important management option for fulminant hepatitis (FH), which is associated with considerable mortality under conservative management. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of children with FH according to management. METHODS: We reviewed medical records of patients presented with FH from January 1994 until April 1999. The children were grouped according to the treatment. Group A was classified for supportive treatment only and group B for supportive treatment plus LT. Children were considered as candidates for LT if the level of factor V decreased to below 20% of normal or the patient's condition deteriorated despite intensive care during the initial 48 hours. Underlying disease, duration after jaundice, grade of encephalopathy, laboratory findings, treatment and outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: The study group comprised 7 females and 8 males aged from 8 months to 15 years old (median age of 4 years). The causes of FH were Wilson disease (4 cases), Epstein-Barr virus infection (1 case), drug (1 case) and idiopathic (9 cases). There were 5 children in group A and 10 in group B, and there were no significant differences in age, sex ratio, underlying diseases, grade of hepatic encephalopathy and laboratory findings between the two groups. One out of 5 in group A and 9 out of 10 in group B survived. But all the children in group A who met the criteria for LT and received only supportive care died. One out of 10 in group B died because of grade IVa hepatic encephalopathy which advanced to brainstem herniation. CONCLUSION: This study showed that patients who were managed with supportive care only, although LT was indicated, died and that 9 out of 10 who received LT survived. Therefore, we suggest LT should be considered in the management of FH.
Adolescent ; Brain Stem ; Child* ; Factor V ; Female ; Hepatic Encephalopathy ; Hepatitis* ; Hepatolenticular Degeneration ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; Humans ; Critical Care ; Jaundice ; Liver Transplantation* ; Liver* ; Male ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Sex Ratio

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of the preventive abduction brace in dementia patients after bipolar hemiarthroplasty of the hip. Materials and Method: A review of 30 patients who had dementia prior to bipolar hemiarthroplasty of the hip. 20 females and 10 males were evaluated and their mean age was 80.4 years old (range, 68 to -92 years old). The average MMSE-K in dementia patients was 14.2 (range, 8 to 20). The reasons for the bipolar hemiarthroplasties were femoral neck fractures in all the cases. We analyzed the dislocation rates of those who had preventive abduction braces applied prospectively. Results: The average follow-up period after hemiarthroplasty was 2.2 years. All 30 patients had preventive abduction braces and no dislocations occurred after the bipolar hemiarthroplasties. Conclusion: Hip dislocations were not detected in those patients who preventive abduction braces applied. The present findings suggest that having a preventive abduction brace will definitely reduce the dislocation rate in dementia patients who have difficulties with rehabilitation after their operations.
Braces* ; Dementia* ; Dislocations ; Female ; Femoral Neck Fractures ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemiarthroplasty* ; Hip Dislocation ; Hip* ; Humans ; Male ; Prospective Studies ; Rehabilitation