BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The transradial approach has been suggested as an alternative entry site for coronary angiography. The complication and success rates of the vascular procedure have been associated with age. The aim of this study was to determine the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of transradial coronary angiography for patients greater than age 70 compared with younger patients. SUBJCETS AND METHODS: Clinical and angiographic data were reviewed retrospectively in 894 consecutive patients who underwent transradial coronary angiography from January 2001 through May 2003. Procedure-related results were used to compare 2 groups, patients aged < 70 years and those >70 years. RESULTS: In a consecutive series of 894 patients, 638 were < 70 years of age and 256 were >70 years of age. There was no significant difference in the rate of success in patients >70 years compared with patients < 70 (91.1% vs 93.6%). No severe complications, such as death, vascular dissection, rupture, and major cerebrovascular accidents were present in either group. Procedure-related variables, including procedure time, radiographic contrast use, and the number of catheters used per case, were similar between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Transradial access is a safe and feasible approach for coronary angiography in elderly patients, yielding results similar to those achieved with younger patients.
Aged* ; Catheters ; Coronary Angiography* ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Rupture ; Stroke

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The transradial approach has been suggested as an alternative entry site for coronary angiography. The complication and success rates of the vascular procedure have been associated with age. The aim of this study was to determine the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of transradial coronary angiography for patients greater than age 70 compared with younger patients. SUBJCETS AND METHODS: Clinical and angiographic data were reviewed retrospectively in 894 consecutive patients who underwent transradial coronary angiography from January 2001 through May 2003. Procedure-related results were used to compare 2 groups, patients aged < 70 years and those >70 years. RESULTS: In a consecutive series of 894 patients, 638 were < 70 years of age and 256 were >70 years of age. There was no significant difference in the rate of success in patients >70 years compared with patients < 70 (91.1% vs 93.6%). No severe complications, such as death, vascular dissection, rupture, and major cerebrovascular accidents were present in either group. Procedure-related variables, including procedure time, radiographic contrast use, and the number of catheters used per case, were similar between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Transradial access is a safe and feasible approach for coronary angiography in elderly patients, yielding results similar to those achieved with younger patients.
Aged* ; Catheters ; Coronary Angiography* ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Rupture ; Stroke

BACKGROUND: Overactive bladder syndrome (OAB) is a common disorder in primary care that affects negatively on the quality of life of outpatients. However, little information is available on related factors and the quality of life in adults with overactive bladder. The purpose of this study was to find related factors of overactive bladder and to measure the quality of life in adults with overactive bladder. METHODS: Among the people who visited a hospital in Seoul and Chung-ju for a health examination or primary care between October 1 and December 31, 2008, we selected 327 participants over 20 years old. We measured their Overactive Bladder Questionnaire (OAB-q), took medical history and reviewed their demographic data. The relationship between OAB, other independent variables and health related quality of life (HRQL) were analyzed. RESULTS: Of 327 respondents, the prevalence of OAB in adults was 38 (11.6%). The factors related to OAB were age (P = 0.007), history of prescription for congestive heart failure (P = 0.023), benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) (P = 0.002), and depression (P = 0.008). OAB was significantly associated with BPH medication (P = 0.042; OR = 8.757) and depression medication (P = 0.005; OR = 9.977) in multivariable logistic regression analysis. In each T-test analysis, OAB decreased in HRQL. CONCLUSION: OAB is a common disorder in adults, history of BPH medication and depression medication is more common in OAB. The symptoms that were suggestive of OAB were affected negatively on the quality of life in adults. Effective health care polices and prompt management of OAB should be implemented.
Adult ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Delivery of Health Care ; Depression ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Outpatients ; Prescriptions ; Prevalence ; Primary Health Care ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Quality of Life ; Urinary Bladder, Overactive

Even though plasma paraquat (PQ) levels have known to be an informative predictor, many patients succumb at low PQ levels in acute PQ intoxication. This study was designed to see whether the high resolution computerized tomography (HRCT) of the lungs would be a predictive measure in acute PQ intoxication. HRCT of the lungs was obtained from 119 patients with acute PQ intoxication on 7 days after PQ ingestion. The areas with ground glass opacities (GGOs) were evaluated at five levels with the area measurement tool of the picture archiving and communication systems. Among 119 patients, 102 survived and 17 died. The plasma PQ levels were significantly higher in the non-survivors than in the survivors (2.6+/-4.0 microgram/mL vs. 0.2+/-0.4 microgram/mL, P=0.02). The area with GGOs was 2.0+/-6.4% in the survivors and 73.0+/- 29.9% in the non-survivors (P<0.001). No patients survived when the area with GGOs was more than 40% but all of the patients survived when the area affected by GGOs was less than 20%. In conclusion, the area of GGOs is a useful predictor of survival in acute PQ intoxication, especially in patients with low plasma PQ levels.
Acute Disease ; Adult ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Herbicides/blood/*poisoning ; Humans ; Lung Injury/*chemically induced/mortality/*radiography ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Paraquat/blood/*poisoning ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Retrospective Studies ; Survivors ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Plasma pH can be altered during pregnancy and at labor. Membrane excitability of smooth muscle including uterine muscle is suppressed by the activation of K+ channels. Because contractility of uterine muscle is regulated by extracellular pH and humoral factors, K+ conductance could be connected to factors regulating uterine contractility during pregnancy. Here, we showed that TASK-2 inhibitors such as quinidine, lidocaine, and extracellular acidosis produced contraction in uterine circular muscle of mouse. Furthermore, contractility was significantly increased in pregnant uterine circular muscle than that of non-pregnant muscle. These patterns were not changed even in the presence of tetraetylammonium (TEA) and 4-aminopyridine (4-AP). Finally, TASK-2 inhibitors induced strong myometrial contraction even in the presence of L-methionine, a known inhibitor of stretchactivated channels in myometrium. When compared to non-pregnant myometrium, pregnant myometrium showed increased immunohistochemical expression of TASK-2. Therefore, TASK-2, seems to play a key role during regulation of myometrial contractility in the pregnancy and provides new insight into preventing preterm delivery.
4-Aminopyridine ; Acidosis ; Animals ; Contracts ; Female ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Lidocaine ; Membranes ; Methionine ; Mice ; Muscle, Smooth ; Muscles ; Myometrium ; Plasma ; Pregnancy ; Quinidine ; Relaxation ; Uterine Contraction ; Uterus