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Hematologic Changes and Factors Related to Postoperative Hemorrhage Following Cardiopulmonary Bypass (체외순환에 따른 혈액학적 변화와 술후 출혈에 관계하는 인자에 관한 연구)

  • 김하늘루;황윤호;최석철;최국렬;김승우;조광현
    • Journal of Chest Surgery
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    • v.31 no.10
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    • pp.952-963
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    • 1998
  • Background: Cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB)-induced hemostatic defects may result increased possibility of excessive hemorrhage and additional multiple transfusion reactions or reoperation. Particularly, fibrinolytic activation and decreased platelet count and function by CPB were proposed as a predictor of hemorrhage during postoperative periods in several reports. Materials and methods: Present study, which was conducted in 20 adult patients undergoing CPB, was prospectively designed to examine the hematologic changes, including fibrinolytic activation during and after CPB and to clarify the relationships between these changes and the magnitude of the postoperative nonsurgical blood loss. The serial blood samples for measurment of hematologic parameters were taken during operation and postoperative periods. Blood loss was respectively counted via thoracic catheter drainage at postoperative 3, 6, 12, 24, 48 hours and total period. Results: The results were obtained as follows:Platelet count rapidly declined following CPB(p<0.01), which its decreasing rate was an inverse proportion to total bypass time(TBT, r=0.55, p=0.01), And platelet count in postoperative 7th day was barely near to its control value. Fibrinogen degradating product(FDP) and D-dimer level significantly increased during CPB(p<0.0001, p<0.0001, respectively), and both of fibrinogen and plasminogen concentration correlatively decreased during CPB(r=0.57, p<0.01), implying activation of fibrinolytic system. Postoperative bleeding time (BT), postoperative activated partial thromboplastin time(aPTT) and postoperative prothrombin time (PT) were significantly prolonged as compare with each control value (p=0.05, p<0.0001, p<0.0001, respectively). Total blood loss was positively correlated with patient's age, aortic clamping time (ACT) and TBT, while there was negative correlation between platelet count and blood loss at pre-CPB, CPB-off and the 1st postoperative day, and in some periods. Postoperative aPTT and postoperative PTwere positively related to postoperative 6 hr and 48 hr blood loss(r=0.53, p=0.02; r=0.43, p=0.05) but not to total blood loss, whereas there was no relationship between postoperative BT and blood loss at any period. Conclusions: These observations suggest that CPB results various hematologic changes, including fibrinolytic activation and severe reduction in platelet count. Diverse factors such as age, platelet count, ACT, TBT and postoperative aPTT and PT may magnify the postoperative bleeding. This study will be a basic reference in understanding CPB-induced hemostatic injuries and in decreasing the postoperative hemorrhage

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The Long-term Results of a Modified Maze Procedure with Using Cryoablation (냉동 절제를 이용한 변형된 Maze술 식의 중장기 결과)

  • Park, Kwon-Jae;Woo, Jong-Soo;Bang, Jung-Hee
    • Journal of Chest Surgery
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    • v.41 no.6
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    • pp.710-717
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    • 2008
  • Background: Atrial fibrillation is associated with several complications such as cerebro-vascular accidents and peripheral arterial embolism. Most of the patients who have this arrhythmia chronically feel their heart beating and so they are frightened; therefore, the quality of a patient's life is decreased. The purpose of this article is to determine the long term results of a modified Maze procedure and the factors that influence the success of the procedure. Material and Method: This study enrolled 88 patients who underwent the modified Maze with using cryoablation between June, 2001 and February, 2007. The 88 consecutive patients were divided into two groups ac cording to how the pulmonary veins were isolated, that is, with or without cryoablation. There were 58 patients who were isolated by cutting and sewing in the right pulmonary veins and by cyroablation in the left pulmonary veins in group 1 (group 1, n=58), and 30 patients who underwent isolation by cryoablation in the right & left pulmonary veins were placed in group 2 (group 2, n=30). The ECG was checked at discharge to determine the sinus conversion rate and we followed up the patients to determine whether or not the patients maintained sinus rhythm. We also checked the ECG at the last visit to determine the patients' heart rhythm. Result: The mean follow up time was $44.3{\pm}19.2$ months. At discharge, 72.4% of the patients in group 1 were in proper sinus rhythm and 66.7% of the patients in group 2 were in proper sinus rhythm. At the last follow up, 81% of the patients in group 1 were in normal sinus rhythm and 60% of the patients in group 2 were in normal sinus rhythm. When we analyzed the data via the Kaplan-Meier method, 86.5% of the patients were free from atrial fibrillation (% free from AF) at 1 year, 80% of the patients were free from atrial fibrillation at 5 year in group 1 and 70% of the patients were free from atrial fibrillation at 1 year and 51 % of the patients in group 2 were free from atrial fibrillation at 5 year. Conclusion: The modified Maze technique using cryoablation was a simple and effective procedure. But the success rate of the Maze technique using cryoblation is lower than that of the standard Maze III. The method using cryoablation shorten the operation time, but we must conduct more studies to get a better result of the modified Maze technique with using cryoablation.

Epidemiological Characteristics of Patients with Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (약제 내성 결핵 환자의 역학적 특징)

  • Lee, Jin-Hwa;Chang, Jung-Hyun
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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    • v.49 no.4
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    • pp.412-420
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    • 2000
  • Background : There is increasing concern in many countries about the problem of drug-resistant tuberculosis. Prevalence of primary drug-resistant tuberculosis is the optimal epidemiological indicator for long term monitoring of national tuberculosis control program. Our purpose was The purpose of our study is to assess clinical characteristics and socioeconomic status of patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis. Method : We studied 68 cases with drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection diagnosed at the Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital from March, 1995 to February, 2000. Results : Patients with primary drug-resistant tuberculosis(PDR) were younger (39.6$\pm$16.3 years vs. 48.2$\pm$16.5 years ; p<0.05), had more population of less than more were under the age of 40 years aged -group(62.9% vs. 36.4% ; p<0.05) and were more highly educated than those with acquired drug-resistant tuberculosis(ADR)(38.9% vs. 11.1% ; p<0.05). In patients with ADR, the rates of familial history of tuberculosis and living in a rented house residence in a rented house were increased higher than compared with to those of patients with PDR. Patients with ADR had more involved lobes(2.0$\pm$0.8 vs. 1.4$\pm$0.7 ; p<0.01) and longer treatment duration than those with PDR(18.3$\pm$7.2 months vs. 10.6$\pm$6.3 months ; p<0.05). Patients with ADR showed larger numbers of resistant were resistant to more number of drugs, lower hospitalization rate and higher rate of self-interruption of medication than those with PDR. In patients with PDR, mono-drug resistance was increased, whereas poly- and multi-drug resistances were decreased compared with those with ADR. Resistance to isoniazid was the highest among antituberculosis drugs, and resistance to isoniazid in patients with ADR was higher than that in patients with PDR(90.9% vs. 71.4% ; p<0.05). Conclusions : Patients with ADR were more likely to include more population be of lower socioeconomic class, and patients with PDR seem seemed to be young and socially active population. For control of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, proper isolation and prevention of patient with drug-resistant tuberculosis are needed.

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Effects of nutrition education on nutrition-related knowledge, dietary habits, and nutrient intakes of alcoholic patients (영양교육이 알코올중독자의 영양지식, 식습관 및 영양섭취상태에 미치는 효과)

  • Kim, An Na;Lim, Hyeon-Sook
    • Journal of Nutrition and Health
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    • v.47 no.4
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    • pp.277-286
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    • 2014
  • Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the characteristics of nutrition-related knowledge, dietary habits, and nutrient intakes of alcoholic patients and how nutrition education affects these nutritional behaviors. Methods: Subjects included 37 adult male alcoholic patients who were hospitalized. The nutrition education program consisted of five lessons over a five-week period. An each 80-minute nutrition education program per week was implemented for the alcoholic patients over a five-week period. Both before and after the implementation of nutrition education, their nutrition-related knowledge and dietary habits were assessed and nutrient intakes were investigated. Results: The subjects showed drinking habits of considerably high frequency, a large quantity of alcohol consumption, and preference for soju (a liquor) over beer. They had proper weight, height, and BMI, and came from relatively poor socioeconomic backgrounds with a low-level of self-rated health status and a comparatively high rate of suffering from disease. Mean score of their nutrition-related knowledge and dietary habits was quite low. They consumed less energy, dietary fiber, vitamin C, thiamin, riboflavin, folic acid, Ca, and K, but more Na compared to each Dietary Reference Intake (DRI). After implementing the nutrition education, mean score of nutrition-related knowledge and dietary habits showed significant improvement. In addition, the meeting rate of each DRI of several nutrients was increased significantly, including energy, carbohydrate, dietary fiber, vitamins A, C, and $B_6$, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pyridoxine, folic acid, Ca, P, K, Fe, and Zn, while that of Na decreased. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that alcoholic patients had various nutritional problems, such as lack of nutrition-related knowledge, bad dietary habits, and insufficient nutrient intakes, however, these problems can be positively modified by implementation of a relatively short-term nutrition education program.

Cardiovascular Effects of Free Movement of Abdominal Muscle in Prone Positioning during General Anesthesia (전신마취동안에 복와위시 자유로운 복근 움직임이 심혈관계에 미치는 영향)

  • Kim, Ji-Yoon;Lee, Dong-Won;Seo, Il-Sook;Kim, Sae-Yeon
    • Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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    • v.24 no.2
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    • pp.206-215
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    • 2007
  • Background : The prone position is often used for operations involving the spine and provides excellent surgical access. The complications associated with the prone position include ocular and auricular injuries, and musculoskeletal injuries. In particular, the prone position during general anesthesia causes hemodynamic changes. To evaluate the cardiovascular effects of the prone position in surgical patients during general anesthesia, we investigated the effects on hemodynamic change of the prone position with the Jackson spinal surgery table. Materials and Methods : Thirty patients undergoing spine surgery in the prone position were randomly selected. After induction of general anesthesia, intra-arterial and central venous pressures (CVP) were monitored and cardiac output was measured by $NICO^{(R)}$. We measured stroke volume, cardiac index, cardiac output, mean arterial pressure, heart rate, CVP and systemic vascular resistance (SVR) before changing the position. The same measurements were performed after changing to the prone position with the patient on the Jackson spinal surgery table. Results : In the prone position, there was a significant reduction in stroke volume, cardiac index and cardiac output. The heart rate, mean arterial pressure and CVP were also decreased in the prone position but not significantly. However, the SVR was increased significantly. Conclusion : The degree of a reduced cardiac index was less on the Jackson spinal surgery table than other conditions of the prone position. The reduced epidural pressure caused by free abdominal movement may decrease intraoperative blood loss. Therefore, the Jackson spinal surgery table provides a convenient and stable method for maintaining patients in the prone position during spinal surgery.

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Short-Term Efficacy of Steroid and Immunosuppressive Drugs in Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and Pre-treatment Factors Associated with Favorable Response (특발성폐섬유화증에서 스테로이드와 면역억제제의 단기 치료효과 및 치료반응 예측인자)

  • Kang, Kyeong-Woo;Park, Sang-Joon;Koh, Young-Min;Lee, Sang-Pyo;Suh, Gee-Young;Chung, Man-Pyo;Han, Jung-Ho;Kim, Ho-Joong;Kwon, O-Jung;Lee, Kyung-Soo;Rhee, Chong-H.
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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    • v.46 no.5
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    • pp.685-696
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    • 1999
  • Background : Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a diffuse inflammatory and fibrosing process that occurs within the interstitium and alveolus of the lung with invariably poor prognosis. The major problem in management of IPF results from the variable rate of disease progression and the difficulties in predicting the response to therapy. The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the short-term efficacy of steroid and immunosuppressive therapy for IPF and to identify the pre-treatment determinants of favorable response. Method : Twenty patients of IPF were included. Diagnosis of IPF was proven by thoracoscopic lung biopsy and they were presumed to have active progressive disease. The baseline evaluation in these patients included clinical history, pulmonary function test, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), and chest high resolution computed tomography (HRCT). Fourteen patients received oral prednisolone treatment with initial dose of 1mg/kg/day for 8 to 12 weeks and then tapering to low-dose prednisolone (0.25mg/kg/day). Six patients who previously had experienced significant side effects to steroid received 2mg/kg/day of oral cyclophosphamide with or without low-dose prednisolone. Follow-up evaluation was performed after 6 months of therapy. If patients met more than one of followings, they were considered to be responders : (1) improvement of more than one grade in dyspnea index, (2) improvement in FVC or TLC more than 10% or improvement in DLco more than 20% (3) decreased extent of disease in chest HRCT findings. Result : One patient died of extrapulmonary cause after 3 month of therapy, and another patient gave up any further medical therapy due to side effect of steroid. Eventually medical records of 18 patients were analyzed. Nine of 18 patients were classified into responders and the other nine patients into nonresponders. The histopathologic diagnosis of the responders were all nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) and that of nonresponders were all usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) (p<0.001). The other significant differences between the two groups were female predominance (p<0.01), smoking history (p<0.001), severe grade of dyspnea (p<0.05), lymphocytosis in BAL fluid ($23.8{\pm}16.3%$ vs $7.8{\pm}3.6%$, p<0.05), and less honeycombing in chest HRCT findings (0% vs $9.2{\pm}2.3%$, p<0.001). Conclusion : Our results suggest that patients with histopathologic diagnosis of NSIP or lymphocytosis in BAL fluid are more likely to respond to steroid or immunosuppressive therapy. Clinical results in large numbers of IPF patients will be required to identify the independent variables.

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The Impact of Bladder Volume on Acute Urinary Toxicity during Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer (전립선암의 방사선치료시 방광 부피가 비뇨기계 부작용에 미치는 영향)

  • Lee, Ji-Hae;Suh, Hyun-Suk;Lee, Kyung-Ja;Lee, Re-Na;Kim, Myung-Soo
    • Radiation Oncology Journal
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    • v.26 no.4
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    • pp.237-246
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    • 2008
  • Purpose: Three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3DCRT) and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) were found to reduce the incidence of acute and late rectal toxicity compared with conventional radiation therapy (RT), although acute and late urinary toxicities were not reduced significantly. Acute urinary toxicity, even at a low-grade, not only has an impact on a patient's quality of life, but also can be used as a predictor for chronic urinary toxicity. With bladder filling, part of the bladder moves away from the radiation field, resulting in a small irradiated bladder volume; hence, urinary toxicity can be decreased. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of bladder volume on acute urinary toxicity during RT in patients with prostate cancer. Materials and Methods: Forty two patients diagnosed with prostate cancer were treated by 3DCRT and of these, 21 patients made up a control group treated without any instruction to control the bladder volume. The remaining 21 patients in the experimental group were treated with a full bladder after drinking 450 mL of water an hour before treatment. We measured the bladder volume by CT and ultrasound at simulation to validate the accuracy of ultrasound. During the treatment period, we measured bladder volume weekly by ultrasound, for the experimental group, to evaluate the variation of the bladder volume. Results: A significant correlation between the bladder volume measured by CT and ultrasound was observed. The bladder volume in the experimental group varied with each patient despite drinking the same amount of water. Although weekly variations of the bladder volume were very high, larger initial CT volumes were associated with larger mean weekly bladder volumes. The mean bladder volume was $299{\pm}155\;mL$ in the experimental group, as opposed to $187{\pm}155\;mL$ in the control group. Patients in experimental group experienced less acute urinary toxicities than in control group, but the difference was not statistically significant. A trend of reduced toxicity was observed with the increase of CT bladder volume. In patients with bladder volumes greater than 150 mL at simulation, toxicity rates of all grades were significantly lower than in patients with bladder volume less than 150 mL. Also, patients with a mean bladder volume larger than 100 mL during treatment showed a slightly reduced Grade 1 urinary toxicity rate compared to patients with a mean bladder volume smaller than 100 mL. Conclusion: Despite the large variability in bladder volume during the treatment period, treating patients with a full bladder reduced acute urinary toxicities in patients with prostate cancer. We recommend that patients with prostate cancer undergo treatment with a full bladder.

Socio-Medical Approach to the Welfare of Rural Residents Through the Education of Community Health Personnel (농촌지역사회 보건요원의 교육을 통한 주민의 보건복지향상에 관한 사회의학적 연구)

  • Yum, Yong-Tae;Lee, Myung-Sook;Cho, Byung-Hee
    • Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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    • v.17 no.1
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    • pp.34-45
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    • 1992
  • In this county, the gap between the urban 'haves' and the rural 'have-nots' continues to be an increasing problem. WHO and UNICEF see primary health care(PHC) as the key to achieving an acceptable level of health throughout the world as a community development. PHC is essential health care made accessible to individuals and families in the community by means acceptable to them. It is the first level of contact of individual, the family, and community with the national health system. It includes at least education on health system. It includes at least education on health problems, promotion of food supply, MCH including family planning, immunization against infectious diseases, control of endemic diseases, treatment of common diseases and injuries, promotion of mental health, and provision of essential drugs. However, of the aboves, education concerning of mental health problems and the methods to identify, prevent, and control them is the principal step of establishment. In Korea, the category of PHC worker includes the physician as public doctor and nurse as primary health care practitioner and community health leader as village health worker. PHC workers of the aboves will thus function best if they are appropriately trained to respond to the health needs of the community. However in this country, since the national PHC service project launched in 1980, the government has not developed and performed appropriate and enough education and training activities. In light of above reasons, several categories of health education activities had been planned and performed being aimed at above specific target groups and the main focus was on the village health workers for about one year from July 1991 to July 1992 in Yeoju Kun of Kyonki Province. At the end of the period, evaluation of education input was carried out to measure the improvement of healthful life of people in terms of awareness, attitude, and practice. At the end of the period, evaluation of education input was carried out to measure the improvement of healthful life of people in terms of awareness, attitude, and practice. The totals of 80 village health workers, 13 public health practitioners and 9 public docters took in the course of health education for a few hours at every month and the evaluation works of educational effect were taken. The results the study were as follows. 1) Number of persons who realized the maxim "health care of the people is a duty of the government" increased after the education course, On the other hand, the rate of satisfaction on the effort of government for health promotion of the people decreased. 2) Public doctors and primary health care practitioners(nurses) liked and enjoyed the education schedule as a meeting of peer group. It provided chances of communication with staffs of Korea University Hospital. It was said that lectures covered great deal of knowledge and technic they urgently needed in the field. 3) After finishing the education course, more of village health workers(VHW) thought they adapted themselves to their roles and functions showing increased number of home visit and contact with primary health care practitioners by month. 4) In case of patient refer, VHW preferred primary health care practitioners to public doctors. 5) Capability of VHWs in most of their functions increased dramatically after when the education course finished except tuberculosis control.

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The Roles of the TSH Receptor Antibodies in Autoimmune Thyroid Diseases (자가면역성 갑상선질환에서 TSH 수용체 항체의 역활에 관한 연구)

  • Koh, Chang-Soon
    • The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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    • v.20 no.2
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    • pp.85-100
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    • 1986
  • To evaluate the clinical and pathogenetic roles of TSH receptor antibodies in autoimmune thyroid diseases, TBII were measured by TSH-radioreceptor assay methods in 352 patients with Graves' disease, 108 patients with other thyroid diseases and 69 normal persons. The normal range of TBII activity was less than 15%. The frequencies of detectable TBII in 169 patients with untreated Graves' disease, 31 patients with hyperthyroidism under treatment and 70 patients with euthyrodism under treatment were 92.4%, 87.1% and 54.3% respectively. However 12 (21.8%) out of 55 patients who have been in remission more than one year after discontinuation of antithyroid drugs treatment had detectable TBII activities in their sera. In 196 patients with untreated Graves' disease, the frequency of TBII increased by increasing size of goiter and the frequency of proptosis was significantly high in patients whose TBII activities were more than 60%. TBII activities were roughly correlated with total $T_3,\;T_4$ and free $T_4$ index but low $\gamma^2$ value(less than 0.1). In 67 patients with Graves' disease who were positive TBII before antithyroid drugs treatment, TBII activities began to decrease from the third months and it was converted to negative in 35.8% of patients at 12 months after treatment. There were no significant differences of the declining and disappearing rates of TBII activities between high dose and conventional dose groups. TBII activities were significantly increased initially (2-4 months) and then began to decrease from 5-9 months after $^{131}I$ treatment. There were two groups, one whose TBII activities decreased gradually and the other did not change untill 12 months after subtotal thyroidectomy. Although preoperative clinical and laboratory findings of both groups were not different, TBII activities of non-decreasing group were significantly higher than those of decreasing group$(74.6{\pm}18.6%\;vs\;39.2{\pm}15.2%;\;P<0.01)$. Thirty three(55.9%) out of 59 patients with Graves' disease relapsed within 1 year after discontinuation of antithyroid drugs. The positive rate of TBII at the end of antithyroid drug treatment in relapse group(n=33) was significantly higher than those in remission group (n=26) (63.6% vs 23.1%; P < 0.05). The mean value of TBII activities at the end of antithyroid drug treatment in relapse group was significantly elevated $(29.7{\pm}21.4%\;vs\;14.7{\pm}11.1%,\;P<0.05)$. Positive predictive value of TBII for relapse was 77.8%, which was not different from those of TRH nonresponsiveness(78.6%). The frequencies of detectable TBII in 68 patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, 10 patients with painless thyroiditis and 5 patients subacute thyroiditis were 14.7%, 20% and 0%, respectively. However in 25 patients with primary nongoitrous myxedema, 11 patients(44%) showed TBII activities in their sera. 9 out of 11 patients who had TBII activities in their sera showed high TBII activities(more than 70% binding inhibition) and their IgG concentrations showing 50% binding inhibition of $^{125}I-bTSH$ to the TSH receptor were ranges of 0.1-2.6 mg/dl. One patient who had high titer of TBII in her serum delivered a hypothyroid baby due to transplacental transfer of maternal TBII. These findings suggested that 1) TSH receptor antibodies are closely related to a pathogenetic factor of Graves' hyperthyroidism and of some patients with primary non-goitrous myxedema, 2) measurement of TSH receptor antibodies is helpful in evaluating the clinical outcome of patients with Graves' disease during antithyroid drug treatment and in predicting the neonatal transient hypothyroidism of baby delivered from primary myxedema patients. 3) there are 2 or more different types of TSH receptor antibodies in autoimmune thyroid diseases including one which stimulates thyroid by binding to the TSH receptor and another which blocks adenylate cyclase stimulation by TSH.

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The SOFA Score to Evaluate Organ Failure and Prognosis in the Intensive Care Unit Patients (중환자실에 입원한 환자의 장기부전 및 예후 평가를 위한 SOFA 점수체계의 의의)

  • Kim, Su Ho;Lee, Myung Goo;Park, Sang Myeon;Park, Young Bum;Jang, Seung Hun;Kim, Cheol Hong;Jeon, Man Jo;Shin, Tae Rim;Eom, Kwang Seok;Hyun, In-Gyu;Jung, Ki-Suck;Lee, Seung-Joon
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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    • v.57 no.4
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    • pp.329-335
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    • 2004
  • Background : The Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score can help to assess organ failure over time and is useful to evaluate morbidity. The aim of this study is to evaluate the performance of SOFA score as a descriptor of multiple organ failure in critically ill patients in a local unit hospital, and to compare with APACHE III scoring system. Methods : This study was carried out prospectively. A total of ninety one patients were included who admitted to the medical intensive care unit (ICU) in Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital from May 1 through June 30, 2000. We excluded patients with a length of stay in the ICU less than 2 days following scheduled procedure, admissions for ECG monitoring, other department and patients transferred to other hospital. The SOFA score and APACHE III score were calculated on admission and then consecutively every 24 hours until ICU discharge. Results : The ICU mortality rate was 20%. The non-survivors had a higher SOFA score within 24 hours after admission. The number of organ failure was associated with increased mortality. The evaluation of a subgroup of 74 patients who stayed in the ICU for at least 48 hours showed that survivors and non-survivors followed a different course. In this subgroup, the total SOFA score increased in 81% of the non-survivors but in only 21% of the survivors. Conversely, the total SOFA score decreased in 48% of the survivors compared with 6% of the non-survivors. The non-survivors also had a higher APACHE III score within 24 hours and there was a correlation between SOFA score and APACHE III score. Conclusion : The SOFA score is a simple, but effective method to assess organ failure and to predict mortality in critically ill patients. Regular and repeated scoring enables patient's condition and clinical course to be monitored and better understood. The SOFA score well correlates with APACHE III score.