Clinical observarions were done on 616 cases of cerebrovasculae accidents treated as inpatients at the Sung-Sim hospital, Chung-Ang university over a period of 8 years, from January, 1981 to Agust, 1988. The results were as follows; 1) Of 616 cases of cerebrovascular accidents, cerebral hemorrhage was presented in 56.82%, cerebral thrombosis in 28.57%, subarachnoid hemorrhage in 12.66%, cerebral embolism in 1.95%. 2) The ratio of male to female was 1.01:1. 3) The cerebrovascular accidents were most common in the sixth decade and followed by the fifth and fourth in turn. 4) The seasonal incidence was in order of frequency of Spring, Winter, Autumn and Summer. 5) Among disease preceding the onset of cerebrovascular accidents, hypertension was noted at 75% in cases of cerebral hemorrhge, 61% in cerebral thrombosis and 73% in subarachnoid hemorrhge. 6) The mean duration of underlying hypertension was 13.7 years in cerebral emorrhge, 15.3 years in cerebral thrombosis, 12.2 years in subarachnoid hemorrhage and 14.8 years in cerebral embolism. 7) Major precipitating factor in cerebral hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage was thought to be physical activity, whereas cerebral thrombosis and cerebral embolism frequently occured during sleeping or resting state. 8) The mean cholesterol level were 204.1mg% in cerebral hemorrhage, 214.9mg% in cerebral thrombosis, 211.7mg% in subaraachnoid hemorrhage and 217.0mg% in cerebral embolism. 9) The mortality rate was 12.2% in total, 16.6% in cerebral hemorrhage 2.3% in cerebral thrombosis, 15.45 in subarachnoid hemorrhage and 25% in cerebral embolism.
Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Cholesterol ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Inpatients ; Intracranial Embolism ; Intracranial Thrombosis ; Male ; Mortality ; Motor Activity ; Precipitating Factors ; Seasons ; Stroke* ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

BACKGROUND: Interleukin-4(IL-4) is a 20 kDa glycoprotein and is now known to possess fibrogenic activities. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of IL4 on the extracellular matrix gene expression. METHODS: Quantitation of collagenous protein synthesis, Northern and dot-blot hybridization, transfection experiments and CAT assay in normal human skin fibroblasts were done. RESULTS: Maximal elevation of collagen synthesis was presented at the concentration of IL-4 being S.Ong/ml. In Northern and dot-blot analysis, each level of type I collagens and fibronectin mRNA increased 3.0, and 2.8-fold, respectively in IL4 treated fibroblasts. In CAT to c assay, the percentage of acetylation was 8.3% in the untreated control group and 23.1% in 5.Ong/ml of the IL-4 treated group in normal fibroblasts. The promoter activity was in creased 2.8-fold in II.4(5.Ong/ml) treated fibroblasts compared to the control groups. CONCLUSION: IL4 might be a fibrogenic cytokine that could be important in promoting the biogenesis of collagen proteins. This could be due to increased transcription.
Acetylation ; Animals ; Cats ; Collagen ; Collagen Type I ; Extracellular Matrix* ; Fibroblasts* ; Fibronectins ; Gene Expression* ; Glycoproteins ; Humans ; Interleukin-4* ; RNA, Messenger ; Skin* ; Transfection

The effects of lumbar epidural anesthesia for eleetive Cesarean section with 2% 1idocaine containing 1: 200,000 epinephrine on newborn Apgar scores, maternal vein, umbilica1 vein, and umbilical artery plasma concentration of lidocsine at delivery were studied in 9 parturients. With patients in a sitting position, single epidural anesthesias were performed with a 17 gauge Tuohy needle. 25ml of 2% lidocaine with 1: 200,000 epinephrine was used as a local anesthetic. Maternal venous blood samples for the measurement of plasma concentrations of lidocaine were obtained from an indwelling venous catheter at the time of delivery. In addition, blood was collected from a doubly clamped section of umbilical cord for the measurement of lidocaine plasma levels. Neonates were evaluated by Apgar scores at 1 and 5 min, Apger scores were assigned by the pediatricians. Maternal venous lidocaine concentrations at the time of delivery(mean+/-SD) were 3.00+/-0.45ug /ml, and the ratio between umbilical and maternal venous levels was 0.535+/-0.163. All newborns had Apgar scores of 7 or more at 1 min and 5 min, and the was no significant difference between the 1 min and 5 min Apgar scores. It is concluded that epidural anesthesia using 25ml of 2% lidocaine with 1: 200,000 epinephrine for Cesarean section has no adverse effects on both mothers and neonates.
Anesthesia, Epidural* ; Catheters ; Cesarean Section* ; Epinephrine ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Lidocaine* ; Mothers ; Needles ; Plasma* ; Pregnancy ; Umbilical Arteries ; Umbilical Cord ; Veins

PURPOSE: As a new strategy to modulate drug resistance in the treatment of relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphoma(NHL), continuos infusion of drugs has been incorporated into the chemotherapy. We conducted a phase II study to determine the activity and safety of EPOCH (etoposide, vincristine, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, prednisolone) chemotherapy, in which the natursl products are administered as a continuous infusion, for previously treated NHL's of intermediate grade. MATERIALS AND METHODS: EPOCH chemotherapy (etoposide 50 mg/m2/day 24 hour- continuous infusion, days 1~4, vincristine 0.4 mg/m2/day 24 hour-continuous infusion, days 1~4, doxorubicin 10 mg/m2/day 24 hour-continuous infusion, days 1~4, cyclophosphamide 750 mg/m2 i.v., day 5, prednisolone 60 mg/m2/day p.o. days 1-5) was given to eligible patients every 3 weeks and we assessed response and toxicity of the regimen. RESULTS: Between June 1993 and December 1995, total 56 patients entered this trial and 49 were evaluable. The complete response rate was 41%(95% C.I.: 27-55%). After follow up of 9~50(median 38) months, progression free survival was 0~39+(median 7) months and the overall survival was 1~44+(median 14) months. The prognostic factor analyses showed that B symtoms and serum LDH level before treatment and response to previous treatment affected complete response rate, and patients' performance status and response to previous treatment affected progression free survival and overall survival. Toxicities of EPOCH regimen were leukopenia, stomatitis, nausea/vomiting and neurotoxicity, but they were tolerable. There was 1 case of treatment-related death due to sepsis. CONDUSION: EPOCH chemotherapy was safe and effective for the patients with relapsed NHL. However, the results of patients with NHL refractory to previous treatment were so poor that more intensive, novel treatment would be needed for this category of patients.
Cyclophosphamide ; Disease-Free Survival ; Doxorubicin* ; Drug Resistance ; Drug Therapy* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hodgkin Disease* ; Humans ; Leukopenia ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; Prednisolone ; Sepsis ; Stomatitis ; Vincristine*

BACKGROUND: This prospective and cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the risk factors for coronary artery disease in the selected Korean Pateints. METHOD: We analyzed clinical parameters and biochemical parameters in 158 subjects; 98 subjects with significant coronary artery disease as proven by coronary angiography(stable angina pectoris : 55, unstable angina pectoris : 30, post-myocardial infarction angina pectoris : 13) and 58 normal subjects as proven by coronary angiography, from November 1993 to April 1994 in Seoul National University Hospital. RESULTS: 1) Old age, male gender, history of diabetes and smoking, high low density lipoprotein cholesterol level, high lipoprotein (a) level and high fibrinogen level were identified and risk factors for coronary artery disease on simple logistic regression analysis. 2) Lp(a) was positively related to fibrinogen(r=0.23), cholesterol(r=0.23) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol(r=0.28). 3) High fibrinogen level, old age, and male gender were independent risk factors of significant coronary artery disease in the selected Korean Population on multiple stepwise logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSION: High fibrinogen level, old age, and male gender six were independent risk factors of significant coronary artery disease in the selected Korean Population of multiple stepwise logistic regression analysis. These findings could not deny the role of cholesterol in coronary artery disease, but suggested that factors related to thrombosis and fibrinolysis, may play more important role in Korean patients coronary artery disease.
Angina Pectoris ; Angina, Unstable ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Fibrinogen* ; Fibrinolysis ; Humans ; Infarction ; Lipoprotein(a) ; Lipoproteins ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors* ; Seoul ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Thrombosis

BACKGROUND: This prospective and cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the risk factors for coronary artery disease in the selected Korean Pateints. METHOD: We analyzed clinical parameters and biochemical parameters in 158 subjects; 98 subjects with significant coronary artery disease as proven by coronary angiography(stable angina pectoris : 55, unstable angina pectoris : 30, post-myocardial infarction angina pectoris : 13) and 58 normal subjects as proven by coronary angiography, from November 1993 to April 1994 in Seoul National University Hospital. RESULTS: 1) Old age, male gender, history of diabetes and smoking, high low density lipoprotein cholesterol level, high lipoprotein (a) level and high fibrinogen level were identified and risk factors for coronary artery disease on simple logistic regression analysis. 2) Lp(a) was positively related to fibrinogen(r=0.23), cholesterol(r=0.23) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol(r=0.28). 3) High fibrinogen level, old age, and male gender were independent risk factors of significant coronary artery disease in the selected Korean Population on multiple stepwise logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSION: High fibrinogen level, old age, and male gender six were independent risk factors of significant coronary artery disease in the selected Korean Population of multiple stepwise logistic regression analysis. These findings could not deny the role of cholesterol in coronary artery disease, but suggested that factors related to thrombosis and fibrinolysis, may play more important role in Korean patients coronary artery disease.
Angina Pectoris ; Angina, Unstable ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Fibrinogen* ; Fibrinolysis ; Humans ; Infarction ; Lipoprotein(a) ; Lipoproteins ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors* ; Seoul ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Thrombosis

Background and objectives: Carvedilol is a cardiovascular drug, beta- and alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonist, currently approved for the treatment of hypertension, angina, congestive heart failure by FDA. Carvedilol has been shown to attenuate oxygen free radical-initiated lipid peroxidation and to inhibit neointimal formation of aorta following vascular injury by balloon angioplasty. We have investigated the effect of carvedilol on DNA synthesis of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) stimulated by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Rat aortic smooth muscle cells were obtained by the combined collagenase and elastase methods. Cells between the 4th and 8th passages were used for the experiments. Incorporated radioactivity of [3H]-thymidine was measured by liquid scintillation spectrometry. RESULTS: PDGF-BB (1 nM) increased [3H]-thymidine incorporation about 70-100% over basal value in cultured VSMC. PDGF-stimulated increase in DNA synthesis was significantly suppressed by simultaneous administration of carvedilol. In contrast, propranolol did not significantly affect 3[H]-thymidine uptake in rat aortic VSMC. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrate that carvedilol significantly inhibits the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cell in our condition. These results indicate that carvedilol may be effective in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases principally associated with abnormal vascular smooth muscle growth.
Angioplasty, Balloon ; Animals ; Aorta ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cell Proliferation ; Collagenases ; DNA ; Heart Failure ; Hypertension ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular* ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; Oxygen ; Pancreatic Elastase ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; Propranolol ; Radioactivity ; Rats ; Spectrum Analysis ; Vascular System Injuries

No abstract available.
Small Cell Lung Carcinoma*

PURPOSE: To detennine the therapeutic effect and toxicities of high-dose chemotherapy with Vanderbilt regimen and colany-stimulating factors(CSF) support for high-risk aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma(NHL). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between Aug. 1995 and Mar. 1997, 40 patients with high-risk aggressive NHLs were treated with high-dose chemotherapy with Vandebilt regimen and CSF support. If the complete response(CR) was induced, four cycles of CHOP were administered for the maintenance of response. In cases of lymphoblastic lymphomas, CNS prophyiaxis with cranial irradiation and intrathecal methotrexate was done after CR. RESULTS: CR was achieved after Vanderbilt regimen in 62.5%(25/40) of the total patients. CR rste in refractory group(12.5%: 1/8) was significantly lower than in other groups (75%: 24/32)(p=0.001). With a median follow-up of 14 months, the failure free survival (FFS) was 0~18+ months(median 6.1 months). The overall FFS rate at one year was 31.7%. The 1-year FFS rate in refractory group(0%) was significantly lower than in other patients groups(41%)(p=0.001). The range of survival time was 0.5~18+ months, and median survival time was 6.2 months. Grade 4 leukopenia was observed in 100% of chemotherapy cycles and its median duration was 7 days. However, only one patient died due to treatment-relate sepsis. Non-hematological toxicities were tolerable and all reversible. CONCLUSION: High-dose chemotherapy with Vanderbilt regimen was effcctive for induction of CR in high-risk aggressive NHL patients and safe with the CSF support. However, poor CR rate in reftactory group and poor FFS in other groups indicate that a new, more intensive approach is needed for the induction of CR in refractory group and for the maintenance of CR in other high-risk patient groups.
Cranial Irradiation ; Drug Therapy* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Leukopenia ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin* ; Methotrexate ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; Sepsis

Placement of the self-expandable metallic stents for palliative treatment of malignant esophagogastric strictures has been thought to be easy, fast and effective method than conventional methods (bypass procedures, radiation therapy, laser treatment, esophageal intubation, etc.). The expandable metallic stent tubes were found to overcome some of the limitations of nonexpandable conventional tubes. Their implantation is better tolerated and safer than that of nonexpandable tubes, because the risks of migration and perforation are lower.On our knowledge, there has been no report of pyloric obstruction after this metallic stent insertion.We hereby report a case of pyloric obstruction caused by a migrated self-expandable metallic stent for palliative treatment of malignant esophageal stricture.
Constriction, Pathologic ; Deglutition Disorders* ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; Esophageal Stenosis ; Intubation ; Laser Therapy ; Palliative Care ; Stents*