OBJECTIVES: Since Korea is geographically close to China (the origin site for Asian sand dust [ASD]) the health influence of ASD event will be still greater in Korea. We aimed to evaluate the effect of PM₁₀ (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter <10 μm, below 150 μg/m³) on the clinical course of allergic rhinitis (AR). METHODS: We enrolled 47 healthy volunteers (group A) and 108 AR patients sensitized to house dust mites (group B). For 120 consecutive days (from February 1st to May 30th, 2012), all subjects reported their daily nasal symptoms and performed 2 peak flowmeter readings to measure peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF). We evaluated the correlation between the daily concentration of PM₁₀, symptoms, and PNIF of patients. We also investigated changes in symptoms and PNIF 2 days before and after ‘dusty’ days (daily concentration of PM₁₀>100 μg/m³) RESULTS: There was no significant difference between group A and B in nasal symptoms and PNIF during the 120-day period. Changes in nasal symptoms and PNIF were not statistically significant before or after a PM₁₀ concentration rise above 100 μg/m³. CONCLUSION: Low concentration PM10 does not have significant effect on nasal symptoms and PNIF in AR patients.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; China ; Dust ; Flowmeters ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Korea ; Mites ; Particulate Matter ; Pyroglyphidae ; Reading ; Rhinitis, Allergic*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of voiding position on uroflowmetry parameters and to assess its potential clinical implications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a prospective study from 2013 to 2015 and included men between 18 and 77 years old who were either healthy volunteers with an International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) ≤7 or men with benign prostate enlargement that were on alpha-blocker medication and had an IPSS <10. Participants underwent uroflowmetry and post-void residual urine (PVRU) measurements twice, once in a sitting position and once in a standing position. The participants were divided into 4 groups based on age (35 years or younger, 36 to 50 years, 51 to 60 years, and older than 60 years). RESULTS: A total of 740 men with a mean age of 40.35 years were evaluated. There was no significant difference in uroflowmetry parameters until the age of 50 years between the voiding positions. However, in those older than 50 years, PVRU volume was significantly lower in the sitting position than the standing position, whereas voiding time was significantly higher in the sitting position than the standing position. Other uroflowmetry parameters, including maximal and average urine flow rates, were non-significant. CONCLUSIONS: The voiding position plays an important role in the uroflowmetry parameters of elderly men. Voiding in the sitting position was found to be optimal for elderly men, whereas the role of the voiding position in healthy young men could not be determined. More research is needed to further study this issue.
Aged ; Flowmeters ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms ; Male ; Posture* ; Prospective Studies ; Prostate ; Prostatic Hyperplasia

This paper presents the preliminary design of data acquisition system of a portable uroflowmeter. The system uses double-hole cantilever pressure sensor. The signal is transferred to ATmega644PA microprogrammed control unit (MCU), converted by A/D (analog to digital) convertor. Then the further data are processed and get the corresponding relationship of weight-time and two curves of urine flow and urinary flow rate. In the measurement accuracy of the device about urine flow, two factors about the placement and height of the data acquisition are analyzed to show the accuracy of the equipment through the Origin 8.0 data analysis software. The design is characterized by low cost and high speed of data collection, real-time, high accuracy.
Data Collection ; Flowmeters ; Humans ; Monitoring, Ambulatory ; instrumentation ; Software ; Urination ; physiology ; Urodynamics ; physiology

Carried on the exploration testing of flow rate of infusion device about industry standard YY 0451-2010. Engaged in flow rate experiments adopting different method that are provided by new and old industry standard for samples of the same type. Compared with the result of the dangerous coefficient by calculating the test data, the old standard can be more sensitive to reflect the situation of product flow rate, so it can be applied to conventional control of the products. The method which provided by the new industry standard is suitable for evaluating periodicity the level of product contaminated.
Flowmeters ; Infusion Pumps

PURPOSE: The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of chronic indirect cigarette smoking on vaginal blood flow and on histological change in a rat model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Female Sprague-Dawley rats (12 weeks old, n=40) were devided into smoking and control group. For the exposure to passive smoking, the rat, in plastic enclosure, had a constant influx of cigarette smoke using a smoking generator for 8 weeks in smoking group. The experimental group was exposured to cigarette smoke for 1 hour, twice a day, daily for 8 weeks. Vaginal blood flow was measured by laser Doppler flowmeter. Serum estrogen concentration was measured using competitive radioimmunoassay. Immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis was done to observe the expression of TGF-beta1 and e-NOS. RESULTS: Mean vaginal blood flow (ml/min/100g tissue) significantly decreased in smoking group (13.4+/-1.6) compared to control (19.6+/-5.9)(p<0.05). The estimated concentration of serum estradiol (pg/ul) was similar between smoking (1.1+/-0.8) group and control (1.1+/-0.3) group. Vaginal histology of the cigarette smoking group was similar to the control. In the cigarette smoking group, the immunoreactivity of TGF-beta1 increased in the smooth muscle and fibroblasts. The protein expression of TGF-beta1 was increased in the smoking group (p<0.05). There was no significant differences in expression of e-NOS between two groups. CONCLUSIONS: A chronic indirect exposure to cigarette smoke significantly reduces vaginal blood flow and appears to cause vaginal tissue fibrosis in the female rat model. This suggest that cigarette smoking has adverse effects on female sexual functions and may cause sexual arousal disorder in women.
Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Estradiol ; Estrogens ; Female ; Fibroblasts ; Fibrosis ; Flowmeters ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Muscle, Smooth ; Plastics ; Radioimmunoassay ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Tobacco Products ; Tobacco Smoke Pollution ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Vagina

BACKGROUND: Greater occipital nerve block is used in the treatment of headaches and neuralgia in the occipital area. We evaluated the efficacy of ultrasonic doppler flowmeter-guided occipital nerve block in patients experiencing headache in the occipital region in a randomized, prospective, placebo-controlled study. METHODS: Twenty-six patients, aged 18 to 70, with headache in the occipital region, were included in the study. Patients received a greater occipital nerve block performed either under ultrasonic doppler flowmeter guidance using 1% lidocaine or the traditional method. Sensory examination findings in the occipital region were evaluated. RESULTS: The complete block rate of greater occipital nerve blockade in the doppler group was significantly higher than in the control group respectively (76.9% vs. 30.8%, P < 0.05). Only one patient in the control group had a complication (minimal bleeding). CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasonic doppler flowmeter-guided occipital nerve block may be a useful method for patients suffering headache in the occipital region.
Aged ; Flowmeters ; Headache ; Humans ; Lidocaine ; Migraine Disorders ; Nerve Block ; Neuralgia ; Post-Traumatic Headache ; Prospective Studies ; Stress, Psychological ; Ultrasonics ; Ultrasonography, Doppler

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of mattresses and positioning on interface pressure (IP) and skin blood flow in young healthy persons. METHOD: Ten healthy subjects were included. Three types of mattresses including standard hospital mattress, alternating pressure pump and pad, and alternating pressure air mattress (APAM) and four positions including supine, 30 degree trunk elevation, 30 degree leg elevation, and right 90 degree lateral position were evaluated. IP over the buttock was measured with force sensing array (FSA) pressure mapping system for every subjects lying in four positions on each mattresses. Skin blood flow was measured with laser doppler flowmeter probes that placed over the sacrum and right greater trochanter. RESULTS: IP was significantly lower on the APAM than on the other types of mattresses in all positions. In the right 90 degree lateral position, the IP was significantly higher on all mattresses than that in the other positions, and in the 30 degree leg elevation, the IP was significantly lower on standard hospital mattress and APAM than that in the supine position. There were significant differences in the skin blood flow over the greater trochanter between the APAM and the other types of mattresses, while there were no significant differences over the sacrum on all mattresses. CONCLUSION: APAM is likely to be the most effective as a preventive and treating measure for pressure ulcers. However, combined use of the APAMs with periodic position change might be necessary over the trochanter for effective pressure relief.
Beds ; Buttocks ; Deception ; Femur ; Flowmeters ; Humans ; Leg ; Pressure Ulcer ; Sacrum ; Skin ; Supine Position

BACKGROUND: Thoracic epidural anesthesia (TEA) is increasingly used to reduce stress response, pain and pulmonary complication of patients under coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). However, effects of TEA on blood flow of grafted coronary artery are scarcely noticed. Imbalance between blood flow of grafted coronary artery and myocardial oxygen demand can bring about perioperative myocardial ischemia. Thus we evaluated the effect of TEA on blood flow of coronary grafts. METHODS: Twenty seven patients with triple-vessel coronary artery disease under CABG were recruited. Left internal mammary artery, radial artery, and great saphenous vein were anastomosed to left anterior descending artery, obtuse marginalis, and posterior descending artery, respectively. Before surgery, an epidural catheter was inserted. Total intravenous anesthesia was undertaken using fentanyl, midazolam and vecuronium. After grafts anastomosis, blood flow of grafted coronary artery was measured using transit-time flowmeter (TTFM) before weaning from CPB. And then, mixture of 2% lidocaine 10 ml, fentanyl 50microgram and bicarbonate 1 mEq was injected via epidural catheter. Under the constant pump flow, the blood flow of grafted coronary artery before, 10 and 20 minutes after drug administration were measured using TTFM. RESULTS: The blood flow of coronary artery grafts was similar in three time interval, irrespective of grafted artery. There are no significant differences in changes in coronary blood flow associated with epidural lidocaine injection among 3 types of grafted artery. CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows that there are no significant effects of TEA on blood flow of newly grafted coronary artery after CABG.
Anesthesia, Epidural ; Anesthesia, Intravenous ; Arteries* ; Catheters ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vessels* ; Fentanyl ; Flowmeters ; Humans ; Lidocaine* ; Mammary Arteries ; Midazolam ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Oxygen ; Radial Artery ; Saphenous Vein ; Tea ; Transplants* ; Vecuronium Bromide ; Weaning

BACKGROUND: Clinically relevant cerebral ischemia is encountered most frequently as a cardiac arrest or as single or multiple occlusions of the intracranial or extracranial cerebral arteries. Yamaguchi et al. has introduced a one-stage anterior approach to occlude the common carotid arteries (CCAs) and vertebral arteries (VAs). METHODS: We used a 2-stage anterior approach for producing transient global ischemia by 4-vessel occlusion (4-VO). Four to five days after electrocauterization of two VAs using the anterior neck approach, two CCAs were clipped for 10 min under anesthesia. Aminoguanidine (100 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally immediately after 4-VO, and then twice a day for three consecutive days. Cresyl violet staining and immunohistochemical analysis for the expression of GFAP, CD11b, nitrotyrosine, iNOS, and Bax were performed, using brain slices obtained from the rats that were sacrificed 1, 3, 5 and 7 days after reperfusion. RESULTS: Aminoguanidine reduced neuronal cell death in the CA1 region of the hippocampus. Expression of GFAP, CD11b, nitrotyrosine, iNOS, and Bax were significantly increased in the CA1 region of the hippocampus three days after 4-VO. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that modified 4-VO is a good method to study transient forebrain ischemia as it is simple and inexpensive to perform and can be utilized without stereotaxis, a pivoting dissection microscope, EEG, a laser flowmeter or the use of Mongolian gerbils.
Anesthesia ; Animals ; Brain ; Brain Ischemia ; Carotid Artery, Common ; Cell Death* ; Cerebral Arteries ; Electroencephalography ; Flowmeters ; Gerbillinae ; Heart Arrest ; Hippocampus* ; Ischemia ; Neck* ; Neurons* ; Prosencephalon ; Rats* ; Reperfusion ; Vertebral Artery ; Viola

BACKGROUND: The overall rate of renal complication after surgery on the suprarenal aorta remains high. In this study, the changes in renal blood flow (RBF), urinary oxygen tension (PuO2), renal vascular resistance (RVR), and urinary volume following fenoldopam administration were investigated in supraceliac aortic cross-clamping and unclamping animal model. METHODS: Twelve dogs were divided into two groups; control group (n = 6), fenodopam group (n = 6). After brachial, femoral, and pulmonary arterial catheterization, midline abdominal incision was made. For the aortic cross-clamping the supraceliac aorta was exposed. A doppler flowmeter probe was placed around right renal artery. A ureteral catheter was positioned at the right renal pelvis to measure urine volume and urinary oxygen tension (PuO2). In fenoldopam group, 0.5microgram/kg/min of fenoldopam was administered immediately before suprarenal aortic reperfusion. Systemic hemodynamics, renal blood flow, renal vascular resistance, PuO2, and urine volume were compared between two groups. RESULTS: The systemic hemodynamics were not significantly different between the two groups throughout the experiment. After aortic reperfusion, the RVR significantly increased in control group, but the RVR in fenoldopam group remained to baseline level. The urine output, RBF, and PuO2 significantly increased in fenoldopam group compared to control group. BUN and serum creatinine were not different between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: High dose of fenoldopam administration reverse ischemic renal insufficiency after supraceliac aortic cross clamping.
Animals ; Aorta ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Constriction ; Creatinine ; Dogs ; Fenoldopam* ; Flowmeters ; Hemodynamics ; Kidney Pelvis ; Models, Animal ; Oxygen ; Renal Artery ; Renal Circulation ; Renal Insufficiency ; Reperfusion ; Urinary Catheters ; Vascular Resistance