Induction of general anesthesia with direct laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation is routine procedure but causes varying degree of sympathetic stimulation such as increasing in blood pressure and heart rate. Many approaches have been tried to attenuate these hemodynamic responses. To evaluate the effects of nicardipine, a new calcium channel blocker, for prevent sympathetic stimulation induced by direct laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation, we administered nicardipine (40 mg P.O.) 60 minutes before laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation. 60 patients, ASA physical status 1,2, scheduled operation, were selected randomly. We divided these patients into two groups. Group 1: control, valium 0.1-0.2 mg/kg P.O. (N=30), Group 2: valium 0.1-0.2 mg/kg with nicardipine 40 mg P.O. (N=30). We measured systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and heart rate before premedicstion, before induction and 1,3,5,10 minutes after intubation in both groups and compared with control group. The results were follows ; 1) Systolic blood pressure and diastolic pressure in nieardipine group were significantly decreased before induction after premedication. 2) After induction systolic blood pressure increased in both group (p<0.005) but increasing rate was significantly less than in nicardipine group (p<0.005). 3) After intubation diastolic pressure decreased significantly in nicardipine group (p<0.005). 4) The changes of heart rate were no difference in both groups.
Anesthesia, General ; Blood Pressure ; Calcium Channels ; Diazepam ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Intubation* ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Laryngoscopy ; Nicardipine* ; Premedication

Induction of general anesthesia with direct laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation is routine procedure but causes varying degree of sympathetic stimulation such as increasing in blood pressure and heart rate. Many approaches have been tried to attenuate these hemodynamic responses. To evaluate the effects of nicardipine, a new calcium channel blocker, for prevent sympathetic stimulation induced by direct laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation, we administered nicardipine (40 mg P.O.) 60 minutes before laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation. 60 patients, ASA physical status 1,2, scheduled operation, were selected randomly. We divided these patients into two groups. Group 1: control, valium 0.1-0.2 mg/kg P.O. (N=30), Group 2: valium 0.1-0.2 mg/kg with nicardipine 40 mg P.O. (N=30). We measured systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and heart rate before premedicstion, before induction and 1,3,5,10 minutes after intubation in both groups and compared with control group. The results were follows ; 1) Systolic blood pressure and diastolic pressure in nieardipine group were significantly decreased before induction after premedication. 2) After induction systolic blood pressure increased in both group (p<0.005) but increasing rate was significantly less than in nicardipine group (p<0.005). 3) After intubation diastolic pressure decreased significantly in nicardipine group (p<0.005). 4) The changes of heart rate were no difference in both groups.
Anesthesia, General ; Blood Pressure ; Calcium Channels ; Diazepam ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Intubation* ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Laryngoscopy ; Nicardipine* ; Premedication

Adenomyosis is a common disease of middle-aged women and adenomyoma is a variety of adenomyosis that formed localized tumor. Cystic degeneration of an adenomyoma is a rare clinical manifestation. A 30-year-old parous woman suffered from severe dysmenorrhea and menorrhagia for about 5 months, was operated under the impression of endometriosis of the pelvis. Following the operation, cystic degeneration of an adenomyoma was found incidentally. The authors experienced a case of adenomyosis that formed cystic tumor of uterus and presented with a pertinent literatures.
Adenomyoma ; Adenomyosis* ; Adult ; Dysmenorrhea ; Endometriosis ; Female ; Humans ; Menorrhagia ; Pelvis ; Uterus

Monogenic diabetes, including maturity-onset diabetes of the young, neonatal diabetes, and other rare forms of diabetes, results from a single gene mutation. It has been estimated to represent around 1% to 6% of all diabetes. With the advances in genome sequencing technology, it is possible to diagnose more monogenic diabetes cases than ever before. In Korea, 11 studies have identified several monogenic diabetes cases, using Sanger sequencing and whole exome sequencing since 2001. The recent largest study, using targeted exome panel sequencing, found a molecular diagnosis rate of 21.1% for monogenic diabetes in clinically suspected patients. Mutations in glucokinase (GCK), hepatocyte nuclear factor 1α (HNF1A), and HNF4A were most commonly found. Genetic diagnosis of monogenic diabetes is important as it determines the therapeutic approach required for patients and helps to identify affected family members. However, there are still many challenges, which include a lack of simple clinical criterion for selecting patients for genetic testing, difficulties in interpreting the genetic test results, and high costs for genetic testing. In this review, we will discuss the latest updates on monogenic diabetes in Korea, and suggest an algorithm to screen patients for genetic testing. The genetic tests and non-genetic markers for accurate diagnosis of monogenic diabetes will be also reviewed.

The AO internal fixation system(the Fixateur Interne) is effective in reducing and stablizing a variety of unstable thoracolumbar fracture patterns. It is relatively effective in decompressing the canal of retropulsed bony fragments associated with burst fracture. Sixty-Two patients with unstable thoracolumbar spine fractures were treated with the AO internal fixator. They were followed for an average of 21 months(range 15-29 months). A compartive radiographic analysis of kyphosis and vertebral height was made using pre-operative, post-operative and follow-up radiogram. Changes in neural canal compromise were measured in 18 cases of burst fractures. Failure of instrumentation occured in 9 cases which were carefully analyzed. Recently, we've constructed the system of which the Schanz screws would be directed divergently in sagittal plane in the hope that the load to the screws might be reduced, thus the failure rate.
Follow-Up Studies ; Hope ; Humans ; Internal Fixators ; Kyphosis ; Neural Tube ; Spine

A 33-year old male was admitted due to continuous high spiking fever for 2 months via local clinic. He had been diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis at local clinic. However, spiking fever had not been controlled by anti-tuberculous medications. Chest PA showed confluent consolidation on right upper & mid-lung field. 5 anti-tuberculous regimens (Streptomycin, Isoniazid, Rifampin, Ethambutol, Pyrazinamaide) were administered initially and steroid therapy was followed for relieving toxic symptoms Very slowly resolved chest X-ray lesion and continuous fever suggested the possibility of misdiagnosis. After 60th hospital day, the chest X-ray lesion was resolved gradually and fever subsided almost completely. He was discharged on 76th hospital day with anti-tuberculous drugs and steroid(prednisolon), without any other problems except sustained mild fever.
Diagnostic Errors ; Ethambutol ; Fever* ; Humans ; Isoniazid ; Male ; Pneumonia* ; Rifampin ; Thorax ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

PURPOSE: To evaluate the lung changes in healthy smokers, as seen on inspiratory and expiratoryhigh-resolution computed tomography (HRCT). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-seven healthy smokers (light smokers,below 20 pack-years, n=16; heavy smokers, above 20 pack-years, n=11) and 25 nonsmokers underwent inspiratory andexpiratory HRCT. All healthy smokers had normal pulmonary function and chest radiography. Parenchymal andsubpleural micronodules, ground-glass attenuation, centrilobular and paraseptal emphysema, bronchial wallthickening, bronchiectasis and septal line were evalvated on inspiratory scan and by air-trapping on expiratoryscan. RESULTS: On inspiratory scan, parenchymal micronodules were observed in one of 25 nonsmokers(4%), two of 16light smokers(13%) and five of 11 heavy smokers(45%); subpleural micronodules in two(8%), four(25%), two(18%);ground-glass attenuation in 0(0%), one(6%), three(27%); centrilobular emphysema in 0(0%), one(6%), three(27%);paraseptal emphysema in three(12%), 0(0%), five(45%); bronchial wall thickening in 0(0%), two(13%), one(9%),bronchiectasis in 0(0%), one(6%) two(18%) and septal line in one(4%), four(25%), two(18%). On expiratory scan,air-trapping was detected in 0 of 15 nonsmokers(0%), two of 17 light smokers(12%), and five of 11 heavysmokers(45%). Statistically significant differences between these three groups were found in parenchymalmicronodules(P=0.006), ground-glass attenuation(P=0.008), centrilobular emphysema(P=0.018), paraseptal emphysema(P=0.005) and air-trapping(P=0.013) between these three groups. CONCLUSION: According to the findings of HRCT,heavy smokers had higher frequency of parenchymal micronodules, ground-glass attenuation, centrilobular andparaseptal emphysema, and air-trapping than nonsmokers and light smokers.
Bronchiectasis ; Bronchiolitis ; Emphysema ; Lung* ; Pulmonary Emphysema ; Radiography ; Thorax

Combined intrauterine and ectopic (heterotopic) pregnancy occurs in approximately 1 in 30,000 spontaneous gestations. Heterotopic gestations are increased in women who have had reconstructive pelvic surgery, Pelvic inflammatory disease and artificial ovarian hyperstimulation. Patients who require assisted reproductive technologies, such as in vitro fertilization / embryo transfer and gamete intrafallopian transfer, also have an increased risk of a heterotopic pregnancy. We experienced two cases of combined pregnancy following IVF-ET. Following is a report of these cases with a brief review of references.
Pregnancy ; Female ; Humans

BACKGROUND: This study explored the relationship between hospital resources and services uses in outpatient/inpatient-based hospital service area (HSA) in Korea. METHODS: Study hospitals included all acute care hospitals except tertiary hospitals. Inpatient and outpatient hospital claims from the Korean National Health Insurance (NHI) program in 2010 were used to identify the service uses. Hospital resources and the degree of insurance premium in study areas were identified with the NHI corporation data. Study variables were computed by summing the service uses or hospital resources of study hospitals in each HSA. Service uses were represented by the total medical charges and number of visits/inpatient days. Hospital resources were measured by number of beds, number of doctors, and number of computed tomography (CT). The economic status of NHI enrollees in each HSA was controlled by the average monthly premium of NHI program per household in each HSA. The degree of using local hospitals was controlled with the localization index. RESULTS: Analysis results showed that hospital resources such as beds, CT were statistically related to the service uses. And also localization index was found to have positive significant relationships with service uses. CONCLUSION: Hospital resources such as beds, CT had not only positive impacts on inpatient service uses, but also influences on the outpatient setting. Health policy makers will require monitoring and assessing the hospital resources in Korea.
Family Characteristics ; Health Policy ; Health Resources ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Insurance ; Korea ; National Health Programs ; Outpatients ; Tertiary Care Centers

PURPOSE: Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is thought to have not only low frequency of adverse side effects but also have equal efficacy to other conventional immunosuppressants (CIS). But It's hard to conclude that CIS may be replaceable with MMF. So we inquired into another aspect of MMF as 'Rescue therapy' in non-transplant renal diseases. METHODS: Twenty nine patients with non-transplant renal diseases received MMF therapy between January 2000 and April 2007. Eighteen patients who had received MMF more than 6 months were included. Sixteen of the 18 patients included were resistant to CIS and two were patients who maintained complete remission (CR) with MMF because of the adverse side effects of CIS. Treatment outcome was evaluated by dip-stick urine test. CR was defined by negative or trace, partial remission (PR) by 1 positive and treatment failure (TF) by more than 1 positive. RESULTS: Eleven of the resistant 16 patients had shown CR (69%) and maintained CR. Two of maintenance therapy with MMF had kept CR more than 12 months. The proportions of the patients who had shown decreased proteinuria in each treatment duration were 69% for 3 months (p=0.005), 81% for 6 months (p=0.001), 86% for 9 months (p=0.002) and 91% for 12 months (p=0.004), respectively. There were few adverse effects. CONCLUSION: We observed the efficacy of MMF in decreasing proteinuria and maintaining CR as 'Rescue therapy' for previously treated non-transplant renal disease patients with CIS. Large controlled clinical trials are expected for defining this effect.
Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Kidney Diseases ; Mycophenolic Acid ; Proteinuria ; Treatment Failure ; Treatment Outcome