No abstract available.
Trigger Points*

PURPOSE: Prealbumin is known as a biochemical marker for assessing nutritional status, and it is influenced by a systemic inflammatory condition. This study aims to find any correlation between patients' low serum prealbumin in electrical burn and unhealed burn surface area and insufficient nutritional support. METHODS: Data were collected by a review of the medical charts of patients admitted to Hanil General Hospital for electrical burn. Laboratory results such as prealbumin, albumin, total lymphocyte count (TLC), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were collected and tested every week. Residual burn surface area (residual BSA) during a specific period was calculated from the surgery record. Statistical analysis was conducted using Pearson's correlation and multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 30 subjects were selected, all male. Average total burn surface area was 20.9±14.9%, and patients were operated on about three times after admission. There was statistical significance among all variables in Pearson's correlation test, but in multiple regression analysis, albumin and CRP were significant compared with prealbumin. CONCLUSION: The results could indicate that burn causes a systemic inflammatory reaction, which could affect the serum prealbumin level. Further study concerning the biological plausibility of each variable is needed.
Biomarkers ; Burns* ; Burns, Electric ; C-Reactive Protein ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Lymphocyte Count ; Male ; Nutritional Status ; Nutritional Support ; Prealbumin*

We report a case of pneumonia in 36 year-old male patient who presented acute respiratory failure and associated radiologic findings of bilateral ground-glass opacity with focal cystic changes, showing rapidly aggravating course and was diagnosed as concomitant Pneumocystis carinii and Cytomegalovirus pneumonia accompanied by acquired immunodeficiency syndrome through antemortem open lung biopsy.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; Biopsy ; Cytomegalovirus ; Humans ; Lung ; Male ; Pneumocystis carinii ; Pneumonia ; Respiratory Insufficiency*

No abstract available.
Angina Pectoris* ; Electrocardiography* ; Pheochromocytoma*

PURPOSE: The relationship between serum cholesterol levels and mortality is complex. Serum cholesterol levels correlate positively with coronary artery disease, but some studies have suggested a negative relationship in cancer patients. Because the serum cholesterol levels are one of the most frequently assayed laboratory values, trends in the levels of cholesterol were investigated, in patients with gastric cancer and assumed a possible role in cancer screening. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The serum cholesterol levels were retrospectively analyzed in a group of 220 patients, diagnosed with gastric cancer, and in 177 healthy subjects. Anthropometric (body mass index: BMI) and biochemical indices of their nutritional status were also determined in the study subjects. Statistical analyses were performed by analyses of variance and covariance, and a discriminant analysis. RESULTS: The levels of serum cholesterol, albumin, Hb and the BMI were significantly lower in the gastric cancer-patients group than in the healthy-subjects group. The serum cholesterol and Hb levels were shown to be independent of each other, when adjusted for the effects of the BMI. In the patients with gastric cancer the levels of cholesterol and Hb showed decreasing tendencies as did the tumor extension, as defined by the TNM system. CONCLUSION: The serum cholesterol and Hb levels were significantly lower in patients with gastric cancer than in the healthy subjects, which seemed to be linked to the progression of gastric cancer. Therefore, further study is required for the serum cholesterol and Hb levels to be used as markers in cancer screening and its progression, in patients with gastric cancer.
Cholesterol* ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Humans ; Mortality ; Nutritional Status ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the utility of Cognitive Perceptual Assessment for Driving (CPAD) through the on-road test in predicting the actual road driving skills in brain injured patients. METHOD: 25 brain injured patients with actual driving experience before the occurrence of diseases participated in the handicapped driving adaptation training program of our hospital as the subjects of the study, and one round of CPAD and on-road test were performed. CPAD evaluations and on-road tests for all patients were evaluated by the same therapist. RESULTS: 11 patients passed the CPAD and all of them passed the on-road test. 3 patients failed from CPAD and they turned out to be failed at the on-road test. The mean CPAD score of the on-road test passed group was 53.6 which was significantly different from the mean 43.6 CPAD score acquired by the on-road test failed group by showing a significant difference between two groups (p<0.05). Among the 11 patients who received the borderline CPAD score, 9 patients passed the on-road test. CONCLUSION: CPAD is considered to be useful in predicting the actual road driving skills of brain injured patients who previously had driving experiences before the occurrence of the diseases.
Brain ; Disabled Persons ; Humans

PURPOSE: FK506 (tacrolimus) is a widely used immunosuppressive agent in the treatment of various medical conditions, including autoimmune disease, bone marrow and organ transplantations. Previously FK506 was known to cause apoptotic death of human Jurkat T cells. METHODS: The current study was designed to analyze the gene expression pattern of Jurkat T cells after FK506 application by using cDNA microarray. Treatment of Jurkat T cells with FK506 resulted in a decrease of cell viability in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Next, total RNA of Jurkat T cells was extracted by using TRIzol reagent and used to carry out a confirmation test for the purity and integrity of total RNA. RESULTS: Gene expression levels related to apoptosis and cell cycle process were mainly focused to analyze in FK506-treated Jurkat T cells. According to the inhibition of calcineurin activity, MARCKS in PKC substrates and Sp3 transcription factor was markedly increased in FK506-treated cells. Also, cell cycle control gene Id1 and Id3 were induced in expression from FK506-treated Jurkat T cells. However, FK506 decreased the expression of Src homology 2, G protein, and MEK 2 genes in bioactive peptide induced signaling pathway. It also reduced the expression level of the insulin receptor, DRPLA and Bai1-associated protein 2 genes, which are involved in the regulation of cell motility and morphology control. CONCLUSION: The author will continue to pursue the exact functional roles of genes that are markedly changed in expression by FK506 in human Jurkat T cells in vitro and in vivo experimental models.
Apoptosis ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Bone Marrow ; Calcineurin ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Cell Movement ; Cell Survival ; Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Profiling ; GTP-Binding Proteins ; Guanidines ; Humans ; Jurkat Cells ; Models, Theoretical ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Organ Transplantation ; Phenols ; Receptor, Insulin ; RNA ; Sp3 Transcription Factor ; T-Lymphocytes ; Tacrolimus ; Transplants

We analyzed 62 cases of intracranial AVM treated in the department of neurosurgery of Soonchunhyang University Hospital during the period from January 1984 to May 1994. The results are summarized as follows: 1) The ratio of male to female was 1.58 : 1 and 44 cases(71%) were distributed under the age of forty, with a peak incidence in the 2nd and 4th decade. 2) Forty five patients(72.6%) experienced symptoms due to spontaneous intracerebral/intraventricular hemorrhage, and the next most common symptom was seizure in 9 patients(14.5%) 3) Intracerebral hemorrhage(ICH) was the most common cause of symptoms, constituting 90.4% of intracranial hemorrhage. Among the patients with intracerebral hemorrhage, the size of AVM nidus was less than 3cm in 70.2%, between 3cm to 6cm in 27.7%, and over 6cm in 2.1%, respectively. 4) Ten(58%) of the patients presenting with over 30cc of ICH had the AVM located in the eloquent area. 5) The most common location of AVM was the supratentorial subcortical region, especially the parietal lobe(33.9%). 6) Forty five patients were managed surgically, and the operative mortality was 2.2% and significant morbidity, 24.4%. 7) As for surgical intervention, total excision of AVM was carried out in 33(73.3%), partial excision in 10(22.2%), and only arterial feeder clipping in 2(4.4%). The lower the Spetzler grade of AVM, the better the surgical result and the postoperative outcome. 8) Postoperative neurological deterioration was noticed in 3 of 33 cases(9%) in the group of total excision of AVM, and their causes were cerebral edema and normal perfusion pressure break-through. 9) The clinical outcome of surgical management for AVM was superior than that of conservative treatment(p<0.01).
Brain Edema ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations* ; Intracranial Hemorrhages ; Male ; Mortality ; Neurosurgery ; Perfusion ; Rabeprazole ; Seizures

DiGeorge syndrome is the developmental anomalies of the third and fourth pharngeal pouches. Recently, damages or abnormal development of the neural crest is suggested as a possible pathogenetic factor, because neural crest cells play a crucial role in development of pharyngeal pouch derivatives, e.g. thymus and parathyroid glands, as well as the aortic arches and conotruncal part of the heat. Most cases have abnormal findings of chromosome 22 and are sporadic, but familial cases have been described. Typical features of DiGeorge syndrome are congenital heart disease, aplasia or hypoplasia of the thymus and parathyroid glands and facial dysmorphism. The main problems and cause of death are severe congestive heart failure due to cardiac anomlies, hypocalcemic complications or immunocompromised conditions. As these results, most cases were expired at infantal period or early childhood. Recently, we have a case of Digeorge syndrome which was associated with complex cardiovascular anomalies(tetralogy of Fallot, atrial septal defect, right aortic arch, left hemitruncus), severe hypocalcemia, aplasia of thymus and facial dysmorphism.
Aorta, Thoracic ; Cause of Death ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 22 ; DiGeorge Syndrome* ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Heart Failure ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Hypocalcemia ; Infant ; Neural Crest ; Parathyroid Glands ; Thymus Gland

Rhabdomyolysis is defined as necrosis of the skeletal muscle fibers with release of the intracellular muscle constituents, including myoglobins,into the blood and urine. Severe myoglobinemia causes obstruction and necrosis of the renal tubule, resulting in acute renal failure (ARF). In this case, a patient with rhabdomyolysis-induced ARF was in recovery phase after treatment with fluid replacement and continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). However, a sudden relapse of severe myoglobinemia occurred during CRRT. To remove myoglobinas rapidly as possible, we applied two sessions of plasmapheresis (total plasma exchange, TPE) in addition to CRRT for two days. The myoglobin level of the patient successfully decreased by 91%, and clinical symptoms and laboratory-measuredabnormalities subsequently improved. If severe myoglobinemia is persistent, or if relapse in spite of CRRT occurs, it would be reasonable to consider TPEas an additional therapy.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Humans ; Muscle Fibers, Skeletal ; Myoglobin* ; Necrosis ; Plasma Exchange ; Plasmapheresis* ; Recurrence ; Renal Replacement Therapy ; Rhabdomyolysis*