Histocytic medullary reticulosis, known as malignant histiocytosis, is a disorder characterized by a systemicproliferation of morphologically abnormal histiocytes with prominent erythrophagocytosis. Fever, wasting, lymphdenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly and pancytopenia are the main clinical pictures. Prognosis is very poor andinvariably die within several months. Authors present radiological findings of pulmonary involvement in 5 cases of histologically proven histiocytic medullary reticulosis. The findings are progressive interstitial, alveolar ormixed infiltrations, small amount of pleural effusion, hilar and/or mediastineal lymph node enlargement and cardiomegaly. Histiocytic medullary reticulosis should be borne in mind in differential diagnosis of any patientswho has unexplanable above radiological findings.
Cardiomegaly ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Fever ; Histiocytes ; Histiocytic Sarcoma ; Lung ; Lymph Nodes ; Pancytopenia ; Pleural Effusion ; Prognosis

No abstract available.
Hip Joint* ; Hip*

There are many reports that d-tubocurarine has marked species and individual variations in the matter of muscle relaxation. Therefore the dose-related neuromuscular blocking effect of d-tubocurarine was studied in anesthetized patients. Eighty adult patients were studied during halothane-N2O-O2 anesthesia for various kinds of surgery. These patients were in good physical shape, without known or suspected liver, kidney, neuromuscular or hormonal disease, and were not taking medication known to influence the action of relaxants. Preanesthetic medication consisted of atropine 0.01mg/kg and valium 0.18 mg/kg intramuscularly 60 minutes before anesthesia. Anesthesia was induced with thiopental 4~5mg/kg. Succinylcholine 1mg/kg was used to faciliate tracheal intubation. Moderate hyperventilation was maintained throughout by a mechanical ventilator and patient temperature was maintained at 35~36 degrees C during the study. Forty patients received a single intravenous d-tubocurarine 0.1mg/kg(group A) after the succinylcholine effect had worn off and the other forty patients received a single intravenous d-tubocurarine 0.2mg/kg(group B) after the succinylcholine effect had disappered. Prior to the administration of d-tubocurarine, the patient's forearm and hand were firmly fixed to a specially constructed metal armboard. The thumb was abducted, fixed and connected to a electrical kymograph, Harvard apparatus. The ulnar nerve was stimulated at the wrist subcutaneous needle electrodes by means of supramaximal stimull from a peripheral nerve stimulator(model 91-M3, Emerson, USA). Square wave of "Train of Four" stimuli of 0.2msec duration were delivered at a frequency of 0.1Hz. The evoked twitch and tracing of the adductor muscle of the thumb was recorded continuously on a electrical kymograph. Upon recovery from the initial dose of succinylcholine, a stable baseline twitch tension was recorded for 15 minuts. At this point a single intravenous injection of d-tubocurarine, either 0.1mg/kg or 0.2mg/kg, was given. The data were plotted as onset time of twitch depression and percentage depression of twitch height and the recovery time of "Train of four" response were analysed in each group. The results were as follows: 1) In d-tubocurarine 0.1mg/kg group: the effect of d-tubocurarine was variable, ranging from no effect on twitch tension to abolition of the twitch response. Mean maximal twitch depression was 59.4%. Recovery index which showed more than 75% twitch depression was 39.9minutes. 2) In d-tubocurarine 0.2mg/kg group: the effect of d-tubocurarine obtained consistent and solid neuromuscular relaxation. Mean maximal twitch depression was 95.2%. Recovery index was 58.1 minutes.
Adult ; Male ; Female ; Humans

No abstract available.
Female ; Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome* ; Ovulation Induction* ; Ovulation*

The hypertensive lower esophageal sphincter(LES)(mean LES pressure>45mmHg; LES relaxation>75%;normal peristalsis) is an uncommon primary esophageal motor disorder associated with chest pain, dysphagia and globus sensation. We carried out this study to evaluate clinical features, esophageal pressure profiles, endoscopic ultrasonographic findings, and assess the effect of oral nifedipine(30 mg/day for 8 weeks) in patients with hypertensive LES(mean age 53.8 years, M: F:=2:7) and l3 controls(mean age 47.5 years, M:F=4:9), Chief complaints were chest pain(77.8%), dysphagia(33.3%) and globus sensation(22.2%). Esophageal manometry showed a significant(p<0.01) increase in LES pressure and higher trend of residual pressure and body contraction amplitude in patients compared with controls. Two cases of nutcracker esophagus and one case of nonspecific esophageal motor disorder were associated with hypertensive LES patients by eeophageal manometry. Five patients were examined by endoscopic ultrasonography(EUS). Three of them showed a normal ultrasonic structure of the wall of the gastro-esophageal junction. Focal and/ or diffuse thickening of muscularis propria were observed in remaining 2 patients. Oral nifedipine significantly decreased the LES pressure and alleviated most of dysphagia and chest pain in patients with normal EUS finding. In conclusion, hypertensive LES was a heterogenous esophageal motor disorder characterized by high LES pressure, residual pressure and body contraction amplitude. The clinical relevance of endoscopic ultrasonographic finding is yet to be determined, but it may be speculated that nifedipines lack of effect on esophageal pressure profiles in some patients is responsible for thickening of muscularis propria in the area of lower esophageal sphincter. Collecting further data regarding treatment response according to EUS finding is required to validate our speculation.
Chest Pain ; Deglutition Disorders ; Esophageal Motility Disorders ; Esophageal Sphincter, Lower* ; Humans ; Manometry ; Nifedipine ; Sensation ; Thorax ; Ultrasonics

The hypertensive lower esophageal sphincter(LES)(mean LES pressure>45mmHg; LES relaxation>75%;normal peristalsis) is an uncommon primary esophageal motor disorder associated with chest pain, dysphagia and globus sensation. We carried out this study to evaluate clinical features, esophageal pressure profiles, endoscopic ultrasonographic findings, and assess the effect of oral nifedipine(30 mg/day for 8 weeks) in patients with hypertensive LES(mean age 53.8 years, M: F:=2:7) and l3 controls(mean age 47.5 years, M:F=4:9), Chief complaints were chest pain(77.8%), dysphagia(33.3%) and globus sensation(22.2%). Esophageal manometry showed a significant(p<0.01) increase in LES pressure and higher trend of residual pressure and body contraction amplitude in patients compared with controls. Two cases of nutcracker esophagus and one case of nonspecific esophageal motor disorder were associated with hypertensive LES patients by eeophageal manometry. Five patients were examined by endoscopic ultrasonography(EUS). Three of them showed a normal ultrasonic structure of the wall of the gastro-esophageal junction. Focal and/ or diffuse thickening of muscularis propria were observed in remaining 2 patients. Oral nifedipine significantly decreased the LES pressure and alleviated most of dysphagia and chest pain in patients with normal EUS finding. In conclusion, hypertensive LES was a heterogenous esophageal motor disorder characterized by high LES pressure, residual pressure and body contraction amplitude. The clinical relevance of endoscopic ultrasonographic finding is yet to be determined, but it may be speculated that nifedipines lack of effect on esophageal pressure profiles in some patients is responsible for thickening of muscularis propria in the area of lower esophageal sphincter. Collecting further data regarding treatment response according to EUS finding is required to validate our speculation.
Chest Pain ; Deglutition Disorders ; Esophageal Motility Disorders ; Esophageal Sphincter, Lower* ; Humans ; Manometry ; Nifedipine ; Sensation ; Thorax ; Ultrasonics

Guillain-Barre syndrome(GBS), characterized by Landry's ascending paralysis, has been known to be caused by some viruses and some vaccinations. We report a case of GBS caused by swine influenza vaccination. The patient presented with rapidly progressive ascending paralysis after vaccination. After intravenous immunoglobulin therapy and other conservative treatments, he recovered without any complications. Whilst the patient did not exhibit typical GBS features, we still suspect that this case represents a variant of GBS. GBS secondary to vaccination is rare and the association has yet to be proven. We therefore recommend that swine influenza vaccination continue despite this apparent case of secondary GBS.
Guillain-Barre Syndrome ; Humans ; Immunization, Passive ; Influenza A virus ; Influenza, Human ; Paralysis ; Swine ; Vaccination

No abstract available.
Cachexia* ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent* ; Heart Failure* ; Heart* ; Humans ; Infant*

Inhibin is a glycoprotein usually produced by granulosa cell of ovary and is known as regulator of FSH secretion. Inhibin is consisted of two heterodimeric subunit of a, B . There are two distinct molecular forms of the B subunit that exist (BA and BB) and when combined with an a subunit, form inhibin A, and inhibin B, respectively. Ovarian reserve describes women's reproductive potential, which usually decreased according to chronological age. Because useful markers claimed for the prediction of ovarian response during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for IVF-ET have not been always successful, new biomarker has been investigated. The purpose of this study was to observe the changes in serum and ovarian follicular inhibin A concentration during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for IVF-ET program and to evaluate the clinical significance of inhibin A as a prognostic marker for assisted reproductive technology outcomes. From Jan 1996 to Dec 1996, 48 patients who underwent IVF-ET were included. In each patient, the Day 3 FSH, LH, E2q were measured in the first month of cycle before commencing GnRH agonist administration, In the stimulation period after pituitary down regulation, blood samples for inhibin A were collected at the day 3, day 7, day of hCG injection, day of oocytes aspiration, and day of embryo transfer. Ovarian follicular inhibin A was collected at the day of oocyte aspiration. Inhibin A concentration was measured using test kit for inhibin A (INHIBIN-EASIA (code 40.134.00), Belgium Medgenix). The changes in serum inhibin A, E2 concentration during IVF-ET program showed increasing pattern throughout controlled ovarian hyperstimulation periods. If the cut-off value of day 3 serum inhibin A determined to 0.28 U/ml, the sensitivity and specificity were 80.0%, 75.0% respectively in predicting the number of oocytes retrieved being more than five. If the cut-off value of peak serum E determined to 1316 pg/ml, the sensitivity and specificity were 89.0%, 100.0% respectively in predicting the number of oocytes retrieved being more than five. In conclusion, measurement of serum inhibin A concentration on the day of starting stimulation (day 3) could be used as a useful marker for predicting the ovarian response in IVF-ET program.
Belgium ; Down-Regulation ; Embryo Transfer ; Female ; Glycoproteins ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Granulosa Cells ; Humans ; Inhibins* ; Oocyte Retrieval ; Oocytes ; Ovary ; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Serum

No abstract available.
Pressure Ulcer*