No abstract available.
Humans

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the safety and the efficacy of amlodipine, a dihydropyridine calcium antagonist, monotherapy in the treatment of moderate essential hypertension. METHOD: Amlodipine 5mg once a day was administered as a starting dose in 30 patients with essential hypertension in the morning and a one step upward titration was performed (amlodipine 10 mg once a day) was done at the end of 4weeks treatment. Final evaluation was done at 12weeks with laboratory test and echocardiogram. RESULT: Within 4weeks treatment with dose of 5mg amlodipine once a day, the systolic blood pressure (SBP) was decreased(184.5+/-23.3/150.5+/-16.0mmHg,p<0.000), and the diastolic blood pressure(DBP) was also decreased significantly (109.9+/-04.6/92.3+/-11.5mmHg, P<0.001). After 12 weeks of treatment with a mean dosage of 6.6mg once a day, SBP and DBP was maintained comparing with basal level (147.0+/-15.8/88.1+/-0.9mmHg, respectively). The efficacy of amlodipine treatment was noted an excellent in 16 patients(53.3%), good in 4 patient(13.3%), fair in 4 patients(13.3%), and failed in 2 patients(6.7%). There was no significant change in heart rate before and after amlodipine treatment. (80.0+/-2.3/80.9+/-10.4 beats/minute n.s). Amlodipine had not significant effects on laboratory findings such as serum creatinine, BUN, ALT/AST, hemoglobin, leukocyte count,platelet and lipid profiles. There was facial flushing 2 patients, but no need to discontinue administration of amlodipine and all patients completed for 12weeks therapy. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that amlodipine is an effective antihypertensive agent, as monotherapy once a day in patients with moderate essential hypertension.
Amlodipine ; Blood Pressure ; Calcium ; Creatinine ; Flushing ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Leukocytes

Temporal and spatial expression of bmp-2 and bmp-4 was investigated in distraction osteogenesis and fracture healing models in order to delineate their roles in these new hone formation processes. Distraction osteogenesis was performed on the left tihia diaphyses of Sprague-Dawley rats, and was confirmed by serial radiographs and histologicaJ examination. Total RNA was isolated from the distraction gaps and fracture sites sequentially until the postoperative eighth week, and mRNA expression was quantitated hy competitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) using specific primers for bmp-2 and bmp-4. In-situ hybridization was performed on the undemineralized tissue section of distraction osteogenesis group. Both bum-2 and bmp-4 mRNA expression increased during distraction osteogenesis and fracture healing. Increase in bmp-2 mRNA expression was more marked and prolonged in distraction osteogenesis compared with fracture healing, whereas bmp-4 mRNA expression was persistently increased in both groups. In-situ hybridization study revealed that hoth bmp-2 and bmp-4 were expressed at eariy osteohlasts producing osteoid, trabeculae-lining osteoblasts and osteocytes of regenerate bone. Enhanced new bone formation in distraction osteogenesis is associated with prolonged and increased expression of BMPs, especially BMP-2. lnspite of their structural similarity, BMP-2 and BMP-4 appear to have their distinct roles in new hone formation.
Bone Morphogenetic Proteins* ; Diaphyses ; Fracture Healing* ; Osteoblasts ; Osteocytes ; Osteogenesis ; Osteogenesis, Distraction* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger*

No abstract available.

No abstract available.

BACKGROUND: Kirschner's wire (K-wire) transfixation and locking hook plate fixation techniques are widely used in the treatment of acute acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) dislocation. The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical and radiologic outcomes between K-wires transfixation and a locking hook plate fixation technique. METHODS: Seventy-seven patients with acute ACJ dislocation managed with K-wire (56 shoulders) and locking hook plate (21 shoulders) were enrolled for this study. The mean follow-up period was 61 months. RESULTS: At the last follow-up, the shoulder rating scale of the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) was higher in patients treated with locking hook plate than with K-wires (33.2 +/- 2.7 vs. 31.3 +/- 3.4, p=0.009). In radiologic assessments, coracoclavicular distance (CCD) (7.9 mm vs. 7.7 mm, p=0.269) and acromioclavicular distance (ACD) (3.0 mm vs. 1.9 mm, p=0.082) were not statistically different from contralateral unaffected shoulder in locking hook plate fixation group, but acromioclavicular interval (ACI) was significant difference. However, there were significant differences in ACI, CCD, and ACD in K-wire fixation group (p<0.001). Eleven complications (20%) occurred in K-wire transfixation group and 2 subacromial erosions on computed tomography scan occurred in locking hook plate fixation group. CONCLUSIONS: ACJ stabilization was achieved in acute ACJ dislocations treated with K-wires or locking hook plates. Locking hook plate can provide higher UCLA shoulder score than K-wire and maintain CCD, and ACD without ligament reconstruction. K-wire transfixation technique resulted in a higher complication rate than locking hook plate.
Acromioclavicular Joint* ; Bone Wires ; California ; Dislocations* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Ligaments ; Shoulder

The May-Hegglin anomaly is a rare autosomal dominant trait characterized by platelet abnormalities in the peripheral blood and large (up to 5mu) pale blue staining inclusions in the cytoplasm of neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, and monocytes. We experienced a case of May-Hegglin anomaly in a 7 year old male and another case out of his family. His initial complaints at the admission were petechiae and intermittent epistaxis. Diagnosis was confirmed by peripheral blood smear and family study. We report the case with brief review of related literature.
Basophils ; Blood Platelets ; Child ; Cytoplasm ; Diagnosis ; Eosinophils ; Epistaxis ; Humans ; Male ; Monocytes ; Neutrophils ; Purpura

Ketotifen, a benzocycloheptathiophene, has an orally effective antiallergic as well as antihistaminic properties. In pervious studies, Ketotifen has shown encouraging results on patient with allergic rhinitis, either perennial or seasonal. 39 patients with allergic rhinitis had been treated with Ketotifen 1 mg twice daily for 8 weeks. And we obtained following results. 1) The efficacy rate in sneezing attack was 73.5%, in nasal discharge 71%, in nasal obstruction 58%. 2) Some improvements in at least one of three-major symptoms were noted within 1 week in 30.7%, within 2 weeks in 55.8%, within 3 weeks in 66.7%, within 8 weeks in 87.2%. 3) Physical findings such as colour, swelling of turbinate, character of rhinorrhea were not improved significantly. 4) Side effect was observed only in one patient with abdominal pain and diarrhea, which was subsided after interruption of administration. These results suggested that Ketotifen was effective in treatment of allergic rhinitis.
Abdominal Pain ; Diarrhea ; Humans ; Ketotifen* ; Nasal Obstruction ; Rhinitis, Allergic* ; Seasons ; Sneezing ; Turbinates

In order to investigate the occurrence characteristics of cancer in terms of industry in Kwangju-Chonnam area, medical utilization records of industrial medical insurance corporations during the period of 1987 to 1988 were reviewed for the identification of neoplastic disease. The cases obtained from the medical records were followed up for the verification and to get additional information. Standardized incidence data were compared by occupational characteristics. Multiple logistic regression analysis was applied to analyze the difference of incidence or distribution of cancer as a whole or of some selected cancer. Total cases of cancer identified were 242 during the study period. Annual incidence rate was calculated as 123.1 per 100,000 person. The frequent types of cancer were cancers of stomach, liver, lung, colon and rectum, bladder and lymphoma in descending order. Employees of mine and other sand handling industries showed significantly higher risks for cancer of stomach and cancer as a whole. Employees of the transportation industry showed the higher risk for cancer of liver. Workers in small-sized industry (< or = 100) had a higher risk for cancer than who in large-sized industry (>100). These findings suggested the effect of occupational environmental exposure to cancer development.
Colon ; Environmental Exposure ; Humans ; Incidence ; Insurance* ; Liver ; Liver Neoplasms ; Logistic Models ; Lung ; Lymphoma ; Medical Records ; Occupations ; Rectum ; Silicon Dioxide ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Transportation ; Urinary Bladder

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors influencing health promotion behavior of fire officers in Korea. METHODS: It was a descriptive study. The subjects were comprised of 104 fire officers by self-reported questionnaires from January to February 2012. The instruments used for this study were a health belief, self-efficacy and health promotion lifestyle profile II. The data were analyzed using SPSS/WIN 14.0. RESULTS: The scores of health promotion behavior of fire officers were 2.76 (on a 4-point scale) and of health belief were 2.98 (on a 4-point scale), followed by perceived benefits at 3.45, perceived seriousness at 3.02, perceived sensitiveness at 2.82, perceived barriers at 2.23, and self-efficacy at 3.04 (on a 4-point scale). The health promotion behavior was very closely correlated with the health belief (r=0.49, p<.001). In the sub region, perceived benefit was correlated (r=0.28 p=.005) and the perceived seriousness (r=0.38, p<.001), the perceived sensitiveness (r=0.36, p<.001), and self-efficacy (r=0.55, p<.001) were correlated. Two significant variables influencing health promotion behavior of fire officer were self-efficacy and perceived seriousness (explained 41.0%). CONCLUSION: It suggested that self-efficacy and perceived seriousness should be considered when developing a fire officers's health promoting program.
Fires ; Health Promotion ; Life Style ; Surveys and Questionnaires