BACKGROUND: Obesity is known to influence on physical, mental, functional health problems but there have been no study of relationship between body mass index (BMI) and quality of life (QOL) in Korean elderly. METHODS: A total of 216 elderly who had been attending two geriatric welfare facilities in Seoul answered the Korean version of obesity-related quality of life (KOQOL) questionnaire. Height, weight, waist circumference were measured. Body fat (%) was measured with HTM20 by impedance technique. Sociodemographic and medical factors were interviewed. QOL was assessed using KOQOL (ver.1) after excluding two sexual life related questions and one work related question. The total score is 48 points. The higher is the score, the poorer is the QOL. RESULTS: In multivariable analysis, BMI, age, history of diabetes mellitus, history of osteoarthritis were associated with KOQOL score. Especially, BMI was significantly associated with KOQOL score after adjusting for waist circumference, body fat (%) (P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: The more BMI increases, the worse the obesity related QOL is in Korean ambulatory elderly.
Adipose Tissue ; Adult ; Aged ; Body Mass Index ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Electric Impedance ; Humans ; Obesity ; Osteoarthritis ; Quality of Life ; Waist Circumference ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.
Alloxan* ; Animals ; Rats*

No abstract available.
Oncogene Proteins* ; Oncogenes* ; Teratocarcinoma*

BACKGROUND: The product of oxygen-free radicals inf1ict oxidative injuries on healthy cells. Antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase(SOD), glutathione peroxidase, and reduced glutathione(GSH) are present in almost all cells and play important roles in metabolism, transport, and cellular protection. We measured blood GSH levels in healthy controls and patients with non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus(NIDDM) for evaluation of the clinical usefulness of GSH. METHODS: Erythrocyte GSH levels were measured in fifty healthy controls and thirty NIDDM patients with diabetic retinopathies by Beutler's method. We also tested within-run precision, between-run precision, linearity and recovery rate to evaluate this method measuring erythrocyte GSH levels. RESULTS: The GSH levels (mean +/-SD) of NIDDM patients (5.03+/-0.67mumo1/Hb) were significantly lower than those of healthy control group (6.46+/-0.85mumo1/Hb)(P<0.001). The results of within-run precision and between-run precision when stored at 4degrees Cwere excellent (coefficient of variation were 2.79% and 2.42%, respectively), however, when stored at the room temperature the GSH levels were sharply declined. The linearity and recovery rate were acceptable. CONCLUSIONS: The prescision, linearity, and recovery rate of GSH measurement were excellent. The GSH levels in NIDDM patient group were reduced, and this probably contributes to the defective defense mechanism against increased oxidative stress. Additional measurement of other antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase and glutathione Peroxidase may be required to clarify the pathologic significance of glutathione metabolism in various diseases.
Antioxidants ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Erythrocytes* ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; Glutathione* ; Humans ; Insulin ; Metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Superoxide Dismutase ; Superoxides

No abstract available.
Aged* ; Femur Neck* ; Femur* ; Humans

Pseudocholinesterase is known to be involved in the metabolism of succinylcholine, mivacurium, procaine, chloroprocaine, tetracaine, cocaine, heroin, and other drugs, although the physiologic function has not been well established. Prolonged neuromuscular block following administration of succinylcholine correlates with very low or genetically variant cholinesterase activity. The determination of pseudocholinesterase activity is of importance to the anesthetist in order to predict the susceptibility of the patient to the muscle relaxant, succinylcholine. The purpose of this study was to investigate the change of pseudocholinesterase level during cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB) for open heart surgery with hemodilution and hypothermia. Seven venous blood samples before induction of anesthesia(control), during CPB, and until the fifth postoperative day in 12 patients who underwent open heart surgery were taken. The pseudocholinesterase level was measured by Wako kit and JASCO UVIDEC 77 clinical spectrophotometer. The results were as follows ; 1) The control hematocrit was 40.32+/-6.21% and decreased to 23.72+/-1.86% immediately after the start of CPB(p<0.01) and to 22.42+/-1.93 % 30 minutes after the start of CPB(p<0.01). 2) The control pseudocholinesterase value of 1296.67+/-251.03 IU/L decreased to 915.67+/-228.16 IU/L immediately after the start of CPB(p<0.01), and to 727.83+/-197.58 IU/L 30 minutes after the start of CPB(p<0.01). 3) The mean values of pseudocholinesterase level immediately posteratively, on the first postoperative, and the third postoperative days were 1488.50+/-333.52 IU/L, 1913. 17+614.50 IU/L and 1620.92+/-458.82 IU/L, respectively, and those were significantly increased from the control value(p<0.05, p<0.01, and p<0.01, respectively). 4) The mean value of pseudocholinesterase level on the fifth postoperative day was 1392.25+/-271.69 IU/L, which was not significantly different from the control valule. 5) Transfused units of whole blood, packed red cells, and fresh frozen plasma were 2.8+/-1.4, 3.2 +/-1.0, 3.4+/-0.9, respectively.
Cardiopulmonary Bypass* ; Cholinesterases ; Cocaine ; Hematocrit ; Hemodilution ; Heroin ; Humans ; Hypothermia ; Metabolism ; Neuromuscular Blockade ; Plasma ; Procaine ; Pseudocholinesterase* ; Succinylcholine ; Tetracaine ; Thoracic Surgery

Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS), also known as allergic granulomatous angiitis, is a rare disorder characterized by the presence of asthma, eosinophilia and small-to-medium-sized vessels vasculitis. The peripheral nervous system is frequently involved in CSS, but central nervous system (CNS) involvement is rare. Furthermore, transverse myelitis (TM) as a presenting symptom in patients with CSS is extremely rare. We report here on a 60-year-old female who presented peripheral eosinophilia, lung eosinophilic infiltration, lung vasculitis, and TM. She was diagnosed as CSS based on clinical manifestation, pathologic findings, and the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Asthma ; Central Nervous System ; Churg-Strauss Syndrome ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils ; Female ; Humans ; Lung ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Myelitis, Transverse ; Peripheral Nervous System ; Vasculitis

We studied the effect of stellate ganglion block on the mean blood flow velocity and carbon diaxide reactivity of the middle cerehral artery in nine healthy volunteers. Mean blood flow velocity of the right middle cerebral artery was measured under normocapnia and carbon dioxide reactivity to end-tidal PCO2 of 30 mmHg, 40 mmHg, and 50 mmHg was assessed before and after right stellate ganglion block. End-tidal PCO2 was controlled by hyperventilation and rebthing technique. Mean blood flow velocity was measured using transcranial Doppler sonography, and carbon dioxide reactivity was expressed as the percentage change in mean blood flow velocity per unit change in end-tidal PCO2. There was no difference in mean blood flow velocity under normocapnia (37.7+/-1.1 mmHg) between the values measured before stellate ganglion block (60.3+/-4.9 cm/sec) and the values measured after stellate ganglion block (58.6+/-4.9 cm). Mean blood flow velocity increased as end-tidal PCO2 increased from 30 mmHg to 40 mmHg, and from 40 mmHg to 50 mmHg (p<0.01) both before and after stellate ganglion block. Carbon dioxide reactivity of mean blood flow velocity did not change after stellate ganglion block. Heart rate decreased from 77.1+/-3.5 beats/min to 70+/-2.5 beats/min when end-tidal PCO2 was controlled from 30 mmHg to 40 mmHg after stellate ganglion block (p<0.05). Mean arterial blood pressure did not change after stellate ganglion block at any end-tidal PCO2 level. These results suggest that stellate ganglion block does not induce the change of mean blood flow velocity and carbon dioxide reactivity of the middle cerebral artery.
Arterial Pressure ; Arteries ; Blood Flow Velocity* ; Carbon Dioxide* ; Carbon* ; Healthy Volunteers ; Heart Rate ; Hyperventilation ; Middle Cerebral Artery* ; Stellate Ganglion* ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial

No abstract available.
Humans ; Twins*

BACKGROUND: Anesthetic technique for laryngeal microscopic surgery should be focused on rapid recovery of deep anesthesia and full muscle relaxation. This study was taken to evaluate the effect of continuous infusion of propofol and succinylcholine for this kind of anesthetic goal. METHODS: Forty patients scheduled for laryngeal microscopic surgery of short duration(15 min) were randomly allocated into two groups. Anesthesia was induced and maintained with either propofol(2.5 mg/kg followed by a continuous infusion of 0.1 mg/kg/min) in group P or with thiopental (5.0 mg/kg) and inhalation of 1~2 vol % enflurane for maintenance of anesthesia in group T/E. Succinylcholine(1 mg/kg followed by continuous infusion of 0.1 mg/kg/min) was administered to facilitate tracheal intubation and maintain neuromuscular blockade. RESULTS: No significant difference of duration of anesthesia appeared between two groups. Additional doses of succinylcholine were needed in 10% of group P and 30% of group T/E (p<0.05). In group P, time to response to suction catheter(136+/-54 vs 232+/-116 sec), time to eye open spontaneously or to verbal commands (368+/-142 vs 549+/-165 sec) and time to extubation (454+/-117 vs 647+/-181 sec) were significantly shorter comparing to group T/E. The quality of awakening was more favorable in group P(p<0.05). Laryngeal suspension induced bradycardia in 15% of group P and in 5% of group T/E. Both group P and group T/E (10% vs 30%) needed esmolol infusion to control the blood pressure during surgical procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Rapid recovery of anesthesia and muscle relaxation can be expected after continuous infusion of propofol(2.5 mg/kg followed by 0.1mg/kg/min) and succinylcholine(1 mg/kg followed by 0.1 mg/kg/min) supplemented with 50% N2O in 50% O2 for short duration of laryngeal microscopic surgery.
Anesthesia ; Anesthetics ; Blood Pressure ; Bradycardia ; Enflurane ; Humans ; Infusions, Intravenous* ; Inhalation ; Intubation ; Muscle Relaxation ; Neuromuscular Blockade ; Nitrous Oxide* ; Propofol* ; Succinylcholine* ; Suction ; Thiopental