A controlled study was carried out in 50 patients with perennial bronchial asthma to assess the efficacy and safety of budesonide turbuhaler. Subjects have suffered from cough, wheezing, dyspnea and chest tightness and showed either 15% of reversibility in FEV after bronchodilator inhalation or airway hyperresponsiveness to methacholine(PC20 < or = 25mg/ml.) Patients were randomized to treatment with budesonide turbuhaler or terbutaline turbuhaler for 8 weeks after 2 weeks of run-in period. Budesonide turbuhaler was effective for cough, wheezing, dyspnea and chest tightness. It improved peak expiratory flow rate and FEV1. Budesonide turbuhaler was tolerated well and the laboratory tests showed no abnormality. It is suggested that budesonide turbuhaler is effective and safe in the management of bronchial asthma.
Asthma ; Budesonide* ; Cough ; Dyspnea ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate ; Respiratory Sounds ; Terbutaline ; Thorax

The most important prognostic factor of breast cancer is the status of lymph node or distant metastasis, which is resisted by basement membrane and stromal matrix. MMP (matrix metalloproteinase)-2 is a 72-kilodalton type IV collagenase/ gelatinase and degrades the type IV collagen which is a main component of the basement membrane. Therefore, MMP-2 is believed to be one of the key molecule for cancer invasion and metastasis. Enzymatic activity of MMP is inhibited by TIMPs (tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase). TIMP-2 forms a complex with latent pro-MMP-2 and inhibits the active forms of MMP-2. The balance of MMPs and TIMPs is suspected as the important factor of invasion and metastasis of the tumor cells. We studied the association between the expression of MMP-2/TIMP-2 and growth pattern of tumor border, lymph node metastasis, and estrogen receptor expression in the 57 cases of invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast using immunohistochemical staining methods. The results revealed increased expression of MMP-2 in the infiltrating tumor border and tumors with positive lymph node metastasis and negative estrogen receptor with no statistical significance (p>0.05). But the expression of TIMP-2 was increased in expanding tumor border and tumors with positive lymph node metastasis and negative estrogen receptor without statistical significance (p>0.05).
Basement Membrane ; Breast Neoplasms ; Breast* ; Carcinoma, Ductal* ; Collagen Type IV ; Estrogens* ; Gelatinases ; Lymph Nodes* ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2*

No abstract available.
Lung*

Although selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been widely used in both psychiatry and other medicine, few cases have been reported SSRI-related hyperprolactinemia and/or galactorrhea. We experienced one case which showed both galactorrhea and hyperprolactinemia following treatment with paroxetine. In the case, a 37-year-old multiparous woman reported galactorrhea after 8-weeks paroxetine treatment for her depression. After 1 month prescription of bromocriptine, dopamine agonist, as well as switching medication from paroxetine to venlafaxine, serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, both galactorrhea and hyperprolactinemia were disappeared. Both hyperprolactinemia and galactorrhea have not been observed even after the cessation of bromocriptine prescription.
Adult ; Bromocriptine ; Cyclohexanols ; Depression ; Dopamine Agonists ; Female ; Galactorrhea ; Humans ; Hyperprolactinemia ; Paroxetine ; Pregnancy ; Prescriptions ; Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors ; Venlafaxine Hydrochloride

Thyroid hemiagenesis of one lobe of the thyroid is a rare congenital anomaly in which one lobe of the thyroid gland fails to develop. It is more frequently found in women than in men, and absence of the left lobe is more common. The variations of prevalence of the anomaly have been reported to be around 0.05~0.2%. Patients with thyroid hemiagenesis are usually asymptomatic and discovered incidentally with other pathologic condition such as a benign adenoma, multinodular goiter, hyperthyroidism or carcinomas. We report a 29-year-old woman with an incidentally discovered hemiagenesis of the right thyroid.
Adenoma ; Adult ; Carcinoma ; Female ; Goiter ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism ; Male ; Prevalence ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Neoplasms

PURPOSE: We evaluated the CT criteria useful for the diagnosis of the site of bowel perforation in patients with this or mesenteric injury caused by blunt abdominal trauma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CT findings of 26patients with blunt abdominal trauma were retrospectively analyzed by two observers who were unaware of operative findings, and the results of their analysis were compared with those findings. Twenty cases of bowel perforation found at the jejunum (8), ileum (9), and colon (3), and six cases of mesenteric injuries were confirmed byoperation. We evaluated CT findings of 1) segmental bowel wall thickening, b) focal mesenteric fat infiltration, c) loculated fluid collection and d) extraluminal air adjacent to the bowel, and in addition analyzed the locations of ascites and free air, and the associated injuries of solid organs. RESULTS: The most common finding at the site of bowel perforation was segmental bowel wall thickening (17 cases), followed by focal mesenteric fatinfiltration (12 cases), loculated fluid (12 cases) and extraluminal air ajacent to the bowel (9 cases). Segmental bowel wall thickening was present at 34 sites, and the perforations were confirmed at 17 of these(50%). Focalmesenteric fat infiltration was present at 19 sites ; the perforations were proven at 12(63%). Loculated fluid collections were confirmed at 12/20 sites(60%), and extraluminal air adjacent to the bowel at 9/12(75%). Thepositive predictive value of criteria a, b, d, c) was 100%, and the positive predictive values of a, b, c) and a,d) were 60 and 67%, respectively. We observed ascites in 16 cases and intraperitoneal free air in 8 cases, the locations of ascites and free air did not, however, significantly correlate with the perforation sites. CONCLUSION: Extraluminal air adjacent to the bowel was the most specific criterion, and segmental bowel wall thickening wasthe most sensitive criterion. of all criteria, the finding 'a, b, c, d' most accurately predicted the site ofbowel perforation.
Ascites ; Colon ; Diagnosis ; Ileum ; Jejunum ; Retrospective Studies

No abstract available.
Adenylyl Cyclases* ; Graves Disease* ; Humans ; Thyroid Gland*

PURPOSE: Pneumatic reduction has rapidly replaced traditional barium reduction owing to its potential advantages, such as higher reduction rate and greater safety; however, the effects on surgery after reduction failure have not been studied. In this study, we evaluated the influences of attempted barium and pneumatic reductions on subsequent surgical procedures. METHODS: One hundred and sixty-one barium reductions were performed on 158 patients while 153 pneumatic reductions were performed on 145 patients. Statistical comparisons of these two reduction methods were made regarding the following variables: the reduction rates, frequencies of bowel perforations and recurrences, mean operation times, fasting periods, and durations of admission. RESULTS: The reduction rates were similar for both groups with barium reduction being successful in 67.1% of the cases (108/161) and pneumatic reduction in 69.3% (106/153). Two cases of bowel perforation occurred during the pneumatic reductions, none were noted during the barium reductions. Recurrence of intussusception was noted in three cases initially reduced with barium and in nine cases reduced pneumatically. The mean operation time (130.7 minutes vs. 81.7 minutes), postoperative fasting time (61.6 hours vs. 37.6 hours), and duration of admission (6.7 days vs. 5.4 days) were significantly prolonged in the pneumatic reduction group. CONCLUSION: A part from a comparable reduction rate pneumatic reduction demonstrated no favorable outcome relative to barium reduction. Furthermore, it resulted in some obstacles to surgery and recovery, such as prolonged operation time, fasting period, and duration of admission.
Barium* ; Child* ; Fasting ; Humans ; Intussusception* ; Recurrence

Despite the substantial amount of asthma-related information available on the internet, little is known about the quality of such information. We assessed asthma-related information on the Korean internet intended as an educational material for asthma patients. By entering the key word, 'asthma', into 4 popular search engines, 32 web sites were identified and categorized with respect to authorship. The core asthma educational concepts and Health On the Net Code of Conduct principles were used to evaluate informational value and justifiability of unreliable information. Eight of 32 web sites were categorized as western physician, seventeen as oriental physician, four as commercial, and three as others. The mean number of core asthma educational concepts on the whole web sites was 2.7 out of 8. By type of authorship, 1.7 on the commercial sites, 2.1 on the oriental physician sites, 3.5 on the western physician sites, and 5.0 on the others sites in decreasing order. One of the western physician sites, two of the commercial sites, and all of the oriental physician and others sites contained unreliable information. However all of them except one site failed to satisfy our criteria of justifiability. Asthma-related information currently available on the Korean internet is highly variable in quality and lacks core asthma educational concepts and justifiability.
Asthma/*diagnosis/*therapy ; Health Education ; Human ; Internet ; Korea ; Medical Informatics ; Patient Education/*methods ; Quality Control

PURPOSE: Weight gain after diagnosis of breast cancer is a profound issue that may negatively impact cancer prognosis. However, most existing research on weight change has been conducted in Western countries. In addition, several factors related to weight gain have been reported; however, the evidence is inconsistent. The purpose of this study was to examine weight gain and its correlates among Korean breast cancer survivors. METHODS: A total of 132 female breast cancer survivors were recruited from one university hospital in South Korea. Participants completed anthropometric measurements (i.e., body weight, height) and a self-reported questionnaire, including the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form and Mini Dietary Assessment. RESULTS: The mean weight change was -0.09 kg (SD = 4.28). Only 27 women (19.7%) gained more than 5% of their weight at diagnosis, 59.1% maintained weight, and 21.2% lost weight. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, significant correlates of weight gain were younger age, obesity at diagnosis, duration of more than 36 months since diagnosis, and low diet quality. CONCLUSION: Younger women, women who were obese at diagnosis, women with more than 36 months since diagnosis, or women who showed lower diet quality should be considered at high-risk for weight gain. Findings from our study suggest that optimal weight management strategies should be developed using ethnically- or culturally-appropriate approaches.
Body Weight ; Body Weight Changes ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Diagnosis ; Diet ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Motor Activity ; Obesity ; Prognosis ; Republic of Korea ; Survivors* ; Weight Gain* ; Surveys and Questionnaires