No abstract available.
Hyperlipoproteinemias*

Endometriosis is defined as the presence of endometrial tissue(gland and stroma) outside the uterus. The incidence of scar endometriosis is quite rare, and must differentiate with cellulitis and abscess. We have experienced one case of perineal endometriosis and one case of abdominal wall endometriosis at the site of postoperative wound scar. The possible pathogenesis of endometriosis and treatment were discussed.
Abdominal Wall ; Abscess ; Cellulitis ; Cicatrix* ; Endometriosis* ; Female ; Incidence ; Uterus ; Wounds and Injuries

Factors such as senescence,stress and neurodegenerative diseases,including Alzheimer's disease, contribute to the impairment of organs,especially the brain.They also negatively affect normal brain functions such as memory and cognition.In this study,the neuroprotective role of the natural product BF-7 was examined against A beta - induced neurotoxicity in SK-N-SH human neuronal cells.BF-7 significantly attenuated A beta-induced apoptosis as measured by intracellular calcium levels,accumulation of reactive oxygen species,mitochondrial dysfunction,and caspase activity.These results strongly indicate that BF-7 plays an effective and positive role in the improvement of brain functions,including learning and memory,in our model system for Alzheimer's disease.Thus,BF-7 might be useful for developing strategies to protect the nervous system and improve brain function.
Alzheimer Disease ; Amyloid beta-Peptides* ; Amyloid* ; Apoptosis ; Brain ; Calcium ; Cell Death* ; Fibroins* ; Humans ; Learning ; Memory ; Mitochondria ; Nervous System ; Neurons* ; Oxidative Stress ; Oxygen

PURPOSE: This study was a comparative review of the computerized nursing records and paper-based nursing records to examine effects of a nursing process documentation system focusing on patients who have had stroke. METHOD: First, the researchers collected all the foci from the computerized records and the paper-based records. They selected ten nursing foci, used frequently in both groups and analyzed the number of foci per patient, appropriateness of foci, the number of nursing activities per nursing focus and whether outcomes were described or not in the nursing record. RESULTS: There was fewer errors in nursing diagnosis selection, and a larger number of activities in the records than the paper based ones. Also, there was a better description of the nursing outcomes in the computerized records. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the computerized nursing records is significantly effective in increasing accuracy of the nursing care plan and quality of the nursing record.
Humans ; Nursing Diagnosis ; Nursing Process ; Nursing Records* ; Nursing* ; Patient Care Planning ; Stroke*

Many studies over the past few years have suggested that cigarette smoking appears to be a risk factor for disease of the cardiovascular system. Smoking has been associated with an increase in arterial thrombosis, ischemic heart disease, myocardial infarction, occlusive peripheral arterial disease, high cholesterol, and hypertension. The increased occurrence of atherosclerotic lesions in autopsied vessels from smokers has also been reported. Recent studies have shown that nicotine has a desquamating effect on endothelial cells and repeated endothelial cell injury has been suggested as an initiating factor in thrombosis and atherosclerosis. This study was conducted to define the effects of chronic oral nicotine consumption on the morphologic characteristics of rat aortic endothelial cells and their distribution. In these experiments, rats of Wistar strain, weighing 250~300 gm, were divided into: normal control group(n=12), acute nicotine group(n=12, 5 mg/kg/day nicotine for 1 week), chronic nicotine group(n=12, 5mg/kg/day nicotine for 10 weeks), cessation group(n=12). Nicotine group were fed a stock diet and administered daily doses of nicotine(5mg/kg/day) in their drinking water. From previous human and animal studies on smoking and oral nicotine consumption, it was estimated that each rabbit consumed about as much nicotine per as a personal smoking 2~4 packs of cigaretts per day. The type of pathologic damage included endothelial cell separation, partial loss of endothelial cell, crater, exposed basement membrane, exposed fibrillar collagen. The damaged endothelial cells among the 100 cells were counted in the scanning electron microscope and the extend of damage was expressed on the basis of percent. The results were as follows: 1) In normal control group, well-preserved endothelial lining with cobble-stone appearance was seen. 2) No significant endothelial cell damage was showed in acute nicotine group. 3) Partial erosion of endothelial lining, intercellular separation and exposure of underlying subendothelial components were examed with 56+/-1.57% of cell damage in chronic group. 4) No significant endothelial disruption or detachment was seen with nomal lining of in control group and acute group with 4.1+/-0.19% of damaged cell respectively. The aorta segments that were treated with nicotine for 10 weeks showed significantily higher degree of endothelial cell damage then there treated for only 1 week. And cessation of nicotine administration didn't decreased the endothelial cell injury. This study indicates that nicotine administered orally to rats, has a demonstrable in vivo morphologic injury effect on endothelial cells in the aorta.
Animals ; Aorta ; Atherosclerosis ; Basement Membrane ; Cardiovascular System ; Cholesterol ; Diet ; Drinking Water ; Endothelial Cells ; Fibrillar Collagens ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Nicotine ; Peripheral Arterial Disease ; Rats ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Thrombosis

The optimal management of inflammatory aneurysm is still a matter of controversy, especially in surgical aspect. The disease is a infrequent entity and without surgical intervention, usually lead to uncontrolled sepsis or catastrophic hemorrhage. We report 12 cases of inflammatory aneurysms those admitted and were managed at Kangnam St. Mary's hospital during 6 years from April, 1991 through April, 1997. The medical records and dermographical datas of these patients were reviewed. Of these 12 patients, ten were male and three were female in age range from 37 through 80 years with a mean of 60 years. The diagnosis was mainly based on operative findings with aids of radiological and microbiological evidences. The number of location of involved arterial segments were 4 of thoracic aorta, 1 of suprarenal abdominal aorta, and 7 of infrarenal abdominal aorta including 2 of common iliac arteries. The main symptoms of these patients were abdominal or chest pain in 11 according to the location of the involved arterial segments, back pain in 6, fever and chillness in 8. The incidence of suspicious infected microorganisms of the patients, not of the credible direct cause of aneurysm itself, were 3 of Salmonellosis in Widal test, 2 of tuberculosis in AFB or sputum culture, 2 of G(-) bacilli in blood culture, and 1 of syphilis in FTA-ABS . 8 patients were operated by substituting the diseased arterial segments with artificial graft and 4 patients were medically managed. Of the 8 patients operated, one died within 48 hours after operation by sepsis. 7 patients were discharged by ambulation. In the 4 medically treated patients, one expired in hospital and three were discharged hopelessly. 7 patients those discharged after operation has been managed in out-patient department.
Aneurysm ; Aorta ; Aorta, Abdominal ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Back Pain ; Chest Pain ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Fever ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Iliac Artery ; Incidence ; Male ; Medical Records ; Outpatients ; Salmonella Infections ; Sepsis ; Sputum ; Syphilis ; Transplants ; Tuberculosis ; Walking

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Endoscopic exploration of the common bile duct (CBD) is difficult and dangerous in patients with Billroth II gastrectomy (B-II). Endoscopic papillary balloon dilation (EPBD) via a cap-fitted forward-viewing endoscope has been reported to be an effective and safe procedure. We analyzed the technical success and complications of EPBD in patients who underwent B-II. METHODS: Thirty-six consecutive patients with B-II were enrolled from among 2,378 patients who had undergone endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in a single institute in the last 4 years. The EPBD procedure was carried out using a cap-fitted forward-viewing endoscope with 8-mm balloon catheters for 60 seconds. We analyzed the rates of CBD exploration, technical success, and complications. RESULTS: Afferent loop intubation was performed in all patients and selective cannulation of the bile duct was performed in 32 patients (88.9%). Complications such as transient hypoxia were observed in two patients (5.6%) and perforation, in three patients (9.7%). The perforation sites were ductal injury in two patients and one patient showed retroperitoneal air alone without symptoms. Three patients manifested different clinical courses of severe acute pancreatitis and peritonitis, transient abdominal pain, and retroperitoneal air alone. The condition of one patient improved with surgery and that of the other two patients, with conservative management. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with perforation during EPBD in B-II showed different clinical courses. Tailored treatment strategies are necessary for improving the clinical outcomes.
Abdominal Pain ; Anoxia ; Bile Ducts ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Common Bile Duct ; Endoscopes* ; Gastrectomy* ; Gastroenterostomy* ; Humans ; Intubation ; Pancreatitis ; Peritonitis

The incidence of uterine myoma with cystic degeneration is 4% and symptomatic uterine myoma requires surgical management. We experienced a case of intraligamentary leiomyoma with huge cystic degeneration with its total weight 2526gm in 48 years old woman and brief review of the case and its literatures are presented.
Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Leiomyoma* ; Middle Aged

BACKGROUND:Hydromorphone is a semi-synthetic opioid that has recently been used for the control of acute and chronic pain.It has been reported that epidural infusion of hydromorphone provides rapid onset of analgesia and a lower incidence of side effects than morphine.However, comparative studies of hydromorphone and lipophilic opioids such as fentanyl are rare.Therefore, we compared the analgesic effects and side effects of hydromorphone infused epidurally with fentanyl in patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty. METHODS:In a randomized, double-blind manner, 79 patients (ASA I-III, aged 60?75) underwent total knee arthroplasty and were provided with patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) using a lumbar spinal/epidural-combined technique. Group HR (n = 39) received epidurally administered hydromorphone (4microg/ml) with 0.1% ropivacaine, while group FR (n = 40) received epidural fentanyl (2microg/ml) with 0.1% ropivacaine for 24 h after surgery at a rate of 5 ml/h. The visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to evaluate pain and the incidence of side effects such as nausea/vomiting, pruritis, dizziness, and respiratory depression were recorded at 4, 8, 12, 24 h after surgery. RESULTS:Group HR showed a lower VAS than group FR at 4, 12 and 24 h after surgery, but a higher incidence of nausea and vomiting at 8 h after surgery, and a higher incidence of pruritis at 8 and 12 h after surgery. None of the patients showed respiratory depression. CONCLUSIONS:Lumbar epidural infusion of hydromorphone more effectively controlled acute pain after total knee arthroplasty when compared with fentanyl, but some adverse effects such as nausea and vomiting appeared to occur more frequently.
Acute Pain ; Aged ; Amides ; Analgesia ; Analgesia, Epidural ; Analgesia, Patient-Controlled ; Analgesics, Opioid ; Arthroplasty ; Dizziness ; Fentanyl ; Humans ; Hydromorphone ; Incidence ; Knee ; Nausea ; Pruritus ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Vomiting

BACKGROUND:Hydromorphone is a semi-synthetic opioid that has recently been used for the control of acute and chronic pain.It has been reported that epidural infusion of hydromorphone provides rapid onset of analgesia and a lower incidence of side effects than morphine.However, comparative studies of hydromorphone and lipophilic opioids such as fentanyl are rare.Therefore, we compared the analgesic effects and side effects of hydromorphone infused epidurally with fentanyl in patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty. METHODS:In a randomized, double-blind manner, 79 patients (ASA I-III, aged 60?75) underwent total knee arthroplasty and were provided with patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) using a lumbar spinal/epidural-combined technique. Group HR (n = 39) received epidurally administered hydromorphone (4microg/ml) with 0.1% ropivacaine, while group FR (n = 40) received epidural fentanyl (2microg/ml) with 0.1% ropivacaine for 24 h after surgery at a rate of 5 ml/h. The visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to evaluate pain and the incidence of side effects such as nausea/vomiting, pruritis, dizziness, and respiratory depression were recorded at 4, 8, 12, 24 h after surgery. RESULTS:Group HR showed a lower VAS than group FR at 4, 12 and 24 h after surgery, but a higher incidence of nausea and vomiting at 8 h after surgery, and a higher incidence of pruritis at 8 and 12 h after surgery. None of the patients showed respiratory depression. CONCLUSIONS:Lumbar epidural infusion of hydromorphone more effectively controlled acute pain after total knee arthroplasty when compared with fentanyl, but some adverse effects such as nausea and vomiting appeared to occur more frequently.
Acute Pain ; Aged ; Amides ; Analgesia ; Analgesia, Epidural ; Analgesia, Patient-Controlled ; Analgesics, Opioid ; Arthroplasty ; Dizziness ; Fentanyl ; Humans ; Hydromorphone ; Incidence ; Knee ; Nausea ; Pruritus ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Vomiting