No abstract available.
Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid* ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage* ; Silicosis*

No Abstract Available.
Adenoma*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical features and the courses and effects of long-term treatment, and to analyze the association between clinical features and duration of therapy in chronic functional constipation in children. METHODS: This study enrolled 57 children with chronic functional constipation who were treated in the Eulji Hospital for more than five months between May, 2000 and February, 2004. We analyzed the clinical features and the courses and results of the phase of disimpaction, maintenance, weaning retrospectively. RESULTS: Mean age at diagnosis was 3.3+/-2.3 years and the male to female ratio was 24:33. The mean duration of symptoms was 12.5+/-13.9 months in 49 patients. Mean defecation frequency per week was 5.7+/-4.0 and hard stools were seen in 59.7% of patients. The clinical presentations were as follows : abdominal pain(45.6%), rectal blood loss(28.1%), vomiting(19.3%). Fifty-four patients had successful disimpaction with lactulose+bisacodyl/glycerine enema or only lactulose, except for three patients with polyethylene glycol(PEG) solution. After a maintenance phase with lactulose or lactulose+mineral oil, a significant increase in defecation frequency per week was observed(5.7+/-4.0 to 6.3+/-1.8(P<0.05)), discomfort in defecation was not observed in all patients and hard stools were not observed except in four patients. The mean duration of the maintenance phase was 5.5+/-4.3 months and mean duration of total therapy was 10.8+/-3.8 months in 42 patients who finished the weaning phase. Duration of the maintenance phase and of total therapy had no statistical correlation with age, duration of symptoms and frequency of stools, and had no association with clinical presentations. CONCLUSION: Long-term treatment is necessary for effective treatment of chronic functional constipation in children. Further long-term follow up would have to be perfomed to evaluate successful treatment.
Child* ; Constipation* ; Defecation ; Diagnosis ; Enema ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lactulose ; Male ; Mineral Oil ; Polyethylene ; Retrospective Studies ; Weaning

Background and Objectives: Recurrence rates after radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients are not low especially in non-paroxysmal AF. The diameter of left atrium (LA) has been widely used to predict the recurrence after RFCA for decades. However, LA diameter represents structural remodeling of LA and does not reflect electrical remodeling. We aimed to determine the predictive value of electrical remodeling of LA which is represented by the amount of low voltage zone (LVZ). Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort analysis of AF patients who underwent de novo RFCA in a single-center. Results: A total of 3,120 AF patients with de novo RFCA were analyzed. Among these patients, 537 patients underwent an electroanatomic mapping with bipolar voltage measurement of LA.The diameter of LA and flow velocity of LA appendage (LAA) differed significantly according to quartile group of LVZ area and percentage: patients with high LVZ had large LA diameter and low LAA flow velocity (p<0.001). Freedom from late recurrence (LR) was significantly lower in patients with high LVZ area and percentage (p<0.001). The diameter and surface area of LA had area under curve (AUC) of 0.592 and 0.593, respectively (p=0.002 for both). The predictive value of LVZ area (AUC, 0.676) and percentage (AUC, 0.671) were both superior compared with LA diameter (p=0.011 and 0.027 for each comparison). Conclusions In conclusion, LVZ can predict freedom from LR after RFCA in AF patients. Predictive value was higher in parameters reflecting electrical rather than structural remodeling of LA.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to empirically investigate the determinants on oxygen free radical degree which causes biological damage focusing on smoking habit and health behaviors in daily life. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, the subjects were adult males who submitted free radical tests among the examinees of the comprehensive medical testings at an university hospital in Suwon from 2008 to 2010. Total 497 samples were used in analyses for clarifying the relations of free radical degree to age, smoking, obesity, and other health behaviors. RESULTS: First, the degree of oxygen free radical increases by 0.164 as the age group increases (P<0.05). Second, the degree of oxygen free radical increases by 0.547 as the smoking habit increases (P<0.001). Third, the degree of oxygen free radical increases by 0.087 as the exposure to hazardous factors in workplace increases (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the study imply that the smoking habit has more great influence on the increase of oxygen free radical in body than any other health behaviors. The causality of free radical to smoking and health behavior was not identified due to the limit of the cross-sectional study so it needs to be studied prospectively in the future.
Adult ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Free Radicals ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Male ; Obesity ; Oxygen ; Smoke ; Smoking

Uterine prolapse with pregnancy is rare condition. The overall incidence is 1/10000- 15000 deliveries. The complications from uterine prolapse range from minor cervical ulceration and infection to fetal death or uterine rupture. The fetal mortality was as high as 22% mainly due to prematurity, respiratory infection. The management of this condition is focused on preventing late occurrence of prolapse during pregnancy and continued reduction. We present a case of uterine prolapse in pregnancy with a brief review of the literature.
Fetal Death ; Fetal Mortality ; Incidence ; Pregnancy* ; Prolapse ; Ulcer ; Uterine Prolapse* ; Uterine Rupture

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Histiocytosis*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Flowmeters* ; Magnets* ; Male ; Models, Animal* ; Penile Erection* ; Rats*

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether radial rigidity measured using RigiScan(R) represents the intracorporeal pressure effectively. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 1998 to May 1999, total of 23 patients with erectile dysfunction were evaluated by RigiScan(R) and duplex ultrasonography after the intracorporeal injection of prostaglandin E1. Peak systolic velocity and end diastolic velocity were measured by duplex ultrasonography and then the resistance index was calculated as (peak systolic velocity-end diastolic velocity)/(peak systolic velocity). Radial rigidity of penile tip and base was measured by RigiScanR . The results were analyzed statistically by PC-SPSS version 7.5. RESULTS: There were statistically significant correlations between radial rigidity of penile tip and base and the resistance index by Spearman's correlation analysis, respectively (r=0.680, p<0.001)(r=0.703, p<0.001). When radial rigidity of penile tip and base exceeded 60% of maximum, radial rigidity of penile tip and base again correlated well with the resistance index, respectively (r=0.659, p=0.020)(r=0.759, p=0.011). Based on clinically determined degree of erection, radial rigidity of penile tip and base represented the intracorporeal pressure effectively. CONCLUSIONS: Radial rigidity measured by RigiScan(R) represents the intracorporeal pressure effectively.
Alprostadil* ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Humans ; Male ; Ultrasonography