Clinical electrophysiological studies(EPS) were done in seven patients with chronic recurrent sustained ventricular tachycardia(VT) in an attempt to delineate the reproducibility and to select the effective antiarrhythmic drugs for the prevention of the recurrence of VT. We could induce and terminate the sustained VT, and could select the effective antiarrhythmic drugs in all patient in the cardiac catheterization laboratory with EPS. With these effective antiarrhythmic drugs VT did not recur for the follow up period of 15 to 20 months. In view of the serious nature of the VT and the demonstrated benefits of EPS, we could conclude that patients with chronic recurrent sustained VT should undergo EPS.
Anti-Arrhythmia Agents ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Recurrence ; Tachycardia, Ventricular*

The antihypertensive action of Lasix(R) retard 30 was evaluated in 20 cases of essential hypertension on an outpatient basis. The following results were obtained. 1. The patient population comprised 11 males and 9 females, aged 32 to 67 years, with mild to moderate essential hypertension. mean age was 50 years, with 75% between 40 and 59 years of age. 2. The daily effective doses ranged from 1 to 3 capsules with an average of 1.7 capsules. The total duration of medication ranged from 4 to 12 weeks with an average of 6.5 weeks. 3. In 60% of the cases, good or fair control of blood pressure was resulted. Most of the poor results were in the cases of moderate hypertension, but the results could be improved with continuous treatment or combination with other antihypertensive drugs. 4. Transient dizziness and drowsiness were complained by 2 patients, but subsided spontaneously with continuous treatment. 5. In view of these results, Lasix retard 30 appears to be effective and well tolerated agent for the treatment of mild to moderate hypertension, either used alone or combined with other antihypertensive drugs.
Antihypertensive Agents ; Blood Pressure ; Capsules ; Dizziness ; Female ; Furosemide ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Male ; Outpatients ; Sleep Stages

The antiarrhythmic effect of Mexiletine was evaluated in five patients with recurrent ventricular tachycardia and in twelve patients with frequent premature ventricular contractions. Electrophysiologic study was performed on the the patients with recurrent ventricular tachycardia before and after the administration of Mexiletin(600-800mg/day). The antiarrhythmic effects of Mexiletine in the patients with frequent premature ventricular contraction was assessed by ambulatory electrocardiography. The results were as follows: 1) In all of the five patients with recurrent ventricular tachycardia, sustained ventricular tachycardia was induced by programmed ventricular stimulation. However, on repeated electrophysiologic study performed while receiving Mexiletine, ventricular tachycardia was not induced in four patients and non-sustained ventricular tachycardia was induced in one patients. 2) The number of premature ventricular contraction was decreased markedly in seven patients(58.3%) with frequent premature ventricular contractions. 3) Minimal side effects, mild indigestion and tremor, were recorded in 3 cases(23%) while receiving Mexiletine 600 mg/day. The higher dose was associated with more frequent and severe side effects.
Dyspepsia ; Electrocardiography, Ambulatory ; Humans ; Mexiletine* ; Tachycardia, Ventricular ; Tremor ; Ventricular Premature Complexes

Recently, the proportion of cardiovascular disease as a cause of death in diabetics is in ever increasing tendency. Present study is designed to evaluate the change of myocardial performance by the effect of microangiopathy of diabetics. The measurements of systolic time intervals were obtained from simultaneous high speed recordings(100mm/sec) of electrocardiography, phonocardiography, and carotid pulse tracing in diabetics(male 26, female 31). 1. As the diabetic retinopathy got severe, shortening of LVET and prologation of PEP were noted, but QS2 showed no significant change. 2. PEP/LVET ratio fo diabetics without diabetic retinopathy was significantly higher than that of normal control(p<0.01). 3. PEP/LVET ratio of diabetics with diastolic blood pressure under 95mmHg was significantly higher than that of normal control group(p<0.01), and PEP/LVET ratio of diabetics with diastolic blood pressure over 96mmHg was significantly higher than that of normal control and that of diabetics with diastolic blood pressure under 95mmHg(p<0.01). 4. PEP/LVET ratio of diabetics with proliperative retinopathy was significantly higher than that of normal control and that of diabetics with mild diabetic retinopathy(p<0.01), but this result was not conclusive because of the small case number.
Blood Pressure ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cause of Death ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Phonocardiography ; Systole*

No abstract available.
Electric Stimulation* ; Vocal Cords*

To determine the possible participation of genetic factors in the pathogenesis of Takayasu's arteritis and to investigate an association between HLA antigens and the disease, we performed HLA typing in twenty two patients confirmed by clinical findings and aortography, and in fifty normal Koreans as controls. HLA-A, B,C and DR antigens were tested by standard microlymphocytotoxicity method with HLA antisera, which were supplied by UCLA Tissue Typing Laboratory. The results were as follows: 1) Frequent antigens of HLA-A locus in patients were A 2(54.5%), Aw 33(31.8%), Aw 24(27.2%) and A26(13.6%) in decreasing order, and Aw 33 was more frequent in patients than in normal controls(18.0%)(relative risk: 2.1). 2) Frequent antigens of HLA-B locus in patients were Bw61(31.8%), Bw44(31.8%), Bw62(22.7%) and Bw52(13.6%) in decreasing order, and Bw61 was more frequent in patients than in normal controls(10%)(relative risk : 4.2). 3) Frequent antigens of HLA-C locus in patients were Cw3(54.5%), Cw6(50.0%) and Cw1(22.7%) in decreasing order. 4) Frequent antigens of HLA-DR locus in patients were DR6Y(36.4%), DR2(31.8%), DRw9(27.2%), DR4(27.2%) and DR28(22.7%) in decreasinng order. In MT system MT 3 was more frequent in patients(54.5%) than in normal controls(31.6%)(relative risk : 2. 6). However, the difference of HLA antigen frequencies between patients and normal controls was not statistically significant, and the association of specific HLA antigens with Takayasu's arteritis requires further studies to be confirmed.
Aortography ; Histocompatibility Testing ; HLA Antigens* ; HLA-A Antigens ; HLA-B Antigens ; HLA-C Antigens ; HLA-DR Antigens ; Humans ; Immune Sera ; Takayasu Arteritis*

Clinical EPS was performed in 16 normal adults without evidence of conduction disease on the surface standard 12 lead electrocardiogram in order to provide normal electrophysiological values of the sinus node function and AV conduction. EPS was also performed in 15 patients with sick sinus syndrome and 10 patients with AV conduction disturbance to evaluate the clinical usefulness of EPS in detecting sinus node dysfunction and AV conduction disturbance. The results were as follows. 1) The results of sinus node function test in the normal group were m-SNRT 853+/-198msec(range 800-1,560msec), c-SNRT 230+/-66msec(range 120-370msec), and %m -SNRT/SCL 127+/-11%(range 114-149%). 2) In 15 patients with SSS, the M-SNRT were ranged from 1,270 to 12,330msec and 10 patients(66%) had significantly increased m-SNRT exceeding 1,560msec. The c-SNRT were ranged from 230 to 10,730msec and 13 patients(83%) had significantly increased c-SNRT exceeding 370msec. The % m-SNRT/SCL were ranged from 136 to 770% and 12 patients(80%) had significantly increased % m-SNRT/SCL exceeding 150%. 3) The SACT in normal group were 84+/-14msec(range 70-105msec) measured by continuous atrial pacing method and 80+/-19 msec(range 60-115msec) measured by atrial extrastimulation method. 4) In SSS, the SACT measured by continuous atrial pacing method was ranged from 80 to 1,050msec and 11/12 patients(92%) had significantly increased SACT exceeding 112 msec. The SACT measured by atrial extrastimulation method was ranged from 90 to 310msec and 7/8 patients(88%) had significantly increased SACT exceeding 118 msec. 5) C-SNRT, % m-SNRT/SCL, and SACT were more useful in detecting sinus node dysfunction than m-SNRT. 6) The AV conduction intervals in normal group were PA interval 17+/-6(range 5-25msec), AH interval 96+/-18 msec(range 70-135msec), and HV interval 46+/-7msec(range 35-55msec). 7) Rapid atrial pacing induced Wenckebach type second degree AV block proximal to H at pacing rate of 90 to 190/min in 14/16 normal adults. 2 patients maintained intact AV conduction upto maximum pacing rate of 200/min. 8) His bundle electrogram showed the site of AV block in 9 of 10 patients with AV conduction disturbances. The sites of AV block were AV nodal area 1 case, intraHis bundle 4 cases, and infraHis bundle 4 cases. 9) EPS provided a good supportive information that was useful in selecting pacemaker therapy in a patient with chronic bifascicular block who revealed prolonged HV interval and infraHis bundle block at a pacing rate of 70min. 10) The refractory periods of AV conduction system in normal group were AERP 274+/-54msec (range 170-410msec), AVN-FRp 467+/-74msec(range 285-600msec), AVN-ERP 341+76msec(range 190-460), and V-ERP 280+/-25msec(range 240-320msec).
Adult ; Atrioventricular Block ; Electrocardiography ; Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac ; Humans ; Sick Sinus Syndrome ; Sinoatrial Node*

No abstract available.
Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome*

The antihypertensive effects of diltiazem was observed in 30 cases of essential hypertension, and following results were obtained. 1) Mean decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure by oral diltiazem was 42.0+/-2.5mmHg and 17.8+/-1.7mmHg. The results of antihypertensive therapy revealed good control in 50% fair control in 30% poor in 17% and failure in 3% of the cases. In 80% of the cases, good or fair control of Hypertension which means drop of diastolic pressure to the level of less than 100mmhg was observed. 2) Mean drop in heart rate was 21+/-2 beats/min. 3) Daily dose was 90-180mg. 4) The side effect of oral Diltiazem was mild headache and dizziness, respectively one case.
Blood Pressure ; Diltiazem* ; Dizziness ; Headache ; Heart Rate ; Hypertension

A study of accidental railway-related fatalities was performed using the case files of the Office of the National Institute of Scientific Investigation, Seoul, Korea, during the years 1992-2002 revealed 54 cases in which either a train caused death or in which a body was found dead by the tracks. To describe the features of railway-related deaths, I reviewed autopsy, and accident report data on all such deaths. Of the total 54 railway-related deaths, men accounted for 87% of the deaths. The manners of deaths were as follows: 23 were suicides, 2 were the result of criminal violence, 9 were accidents, and 20 were due to other causes. Most railway fatalities were among men between the age of 20-40 years. Many railway related fatalities occurred under 9 o'clock and over 22 o'clock. A blood alcohol concentration >0.05 % was found in 30 cases. Fatal railway injury is characterized by extensive disruption of more than one body region. A discussion ensues concerning the most common type of accidental railway-related fatalities, why they occur, and what future work remains in order to avoid such fatalities. Evidently, fatalities more frequently result from suicides, and then victims' disregard for safety. In conclusion, it is hoped that this article will serve as a catalyst for future research on this subject.
Accident Prevention ; Autopsy ; Body Regions ; Criminals ; Hope ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Seoul ; Suicide ; Violence