Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome Developed after Stroke

Cyclic vomiting syndrome is characterized by recurrent episodes of stereotyped vomiting separated by regular symptom-free periods. We describe a case of cyclic vomiting syndrome developed after stroke, which has not been reported to date. A 69-year-old woman experienced recurrent vomiting following left cerebral infarct. The patient's vomiting pattern was consistent with cyclic vomiting syndrome, and the diagnosis of cyclic vomiting syndrome was established by exclusion of other known disorders which could have resulted in vomiting. She was treated with imipramine hydrochloride and her symptom was well controlled.

Fear of Falling in Subacute Hemiplegic Stroke Patients: Associating Factors and Correlations with Quality of Life

OBJECTIVE: To determine the associating factors of fear of falling (FOF) and the correlations between FOF and quality of life (QOL) on subacute stroke patients in Korea. METHOD: Fifty hemiplegic subacute stroke patients in our clinic were recruited. We directly asked patients with their fear of falling and interviewed them with the Korean version of falls efficacy scale-international (KFES-I). We divided the participants into two groups; with FOF and without FOF. We compared these groups with the strength of hemiplegic hip abductor, knee extensor, ankle plantar flexor, functional ambulation category (FAC) scale, stroke specific quality of life (SSQOL), and hospital anxiety depression scale (HADS). RESULTS: Thirty-four participants were enrolled, and more than half of the patients with subacute stroke had FOF. We compared the patients with and without FOF. According to the results, FOF was associated with the strength of hemiplegic hip abductor, knee extensor and ankle plantar flexor, FAC, total SSQOL, and domains (energy, mobility, self care, upper extremity function) of SSQOL (p<0.05). FOF was also associated with the anxiety score of HADS (p<0.05). KFES-I had a significant negative correlation with the strength of hemiplegic hip abductor, knee extensor and ankle plantar flexor, FAC, total SSQOL, and domains (energy, mobility, self care, upper extremity function) of SSQOL (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: The FOF was associated with not only QOL but also with the physical and psychological factors, and in particular, anxiety. Therefore, further concerns about FOF in subacute stroke patients might be required.

Resilience as a Possible Predictor for Psychological Distress in Chronic Spinal Cord Injured Patients Living in the Community

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether higher resilience level predicts low levels of psychological distress in chronic SCI patients living in the community. METHOD: Thirty seven patients (mean age 41.5+/-10.9, male : female=28 : 9) with chronic spinal cord injury (duration 8.35+/-7.0 years) living in the community are included, who were hospitalized for annual checkups from November, 2010 to May, 2011. First, their spinal cord injury level, completeness and complications were evaluated. The patients completed questionnaires about their educational status, religion, employment status, marital status, medical and psychological history and also the following questionnaires: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-alcohol consumption questions (AUDIT-C) and Health-related quality of life (EQ-5D). The patients were divided into two subgroups: patients with HADS > or =13 are classified as high psychological distress group and others as low psychological distress group. We compared the two groups to find statistically significant differences among the variables. RESULTS: CD-RISC, EQ-5D and employment status are significantly different between two groups (p<0.05). In a forward stepwise regression, we found that EQ-5D had a greater contribution than CD-RISC to the psychological distress level. CONCLUSION: In addition to health-related quality of life, resilience can be suggested as a possible predictor of psychological distress in chronic SCI patients.

A clinical study of throat culture in pediatric patients

Infants and children of 227 cases with respiratory diseases and 743 cases with non-respiratory disease admitted to pediatric department of NMC for 3 years, from Sept. 1974 to Aug. 1977 were taken throat swabs for bacterial cultures and the results were evaluated for various disease state. The following results were obtained: 1. Total number of bacteria isolated from respiratory and non-respiratory patients were 87 and 168, respectively. 2. Age distribution of cluture revealed 52% of positively cultured patients were below 6 months of age and 65% were less than 1 year of age. 3. Frequency of bacterial isolation were as follows: In respiratory disease, Staphylo. Aureus, Klebsiella, E.Coli, and D.Pneumoniae were isolated in order of frequency. In non-respiratory disease, Staphylo. Aureus, Staphylo. Epidermidis, Klebsiella, D.Pneumoniae, and E.Coli were isolated in order of frequency. 4. Bacterial sensitivity to several antibiotics showed same rate of sensitivity to same kind of antibiotics on the both respiratory and non-respiratory patients. The concept that bacteria from throat swab does not accurately represent the pathogenic organism in the lower respiratory disease should be kept in mind in interpreting the results of the throat culture.

Prevalence of Australia antigen in Children

The incidence of Australia antigen (HAA, HBsAg), a known market for hepatitis B virus (HBV), is expected to e high, esp. in the subclinial type. It is well known that the incidence of HAA positivity among the patients with specific diseases and group of blood donors is relatively high in adult age group. But since there is less research for the incidence of HAA in Pediatric age group, the necessecity of investigation of its incidence is required properly. Thirteen from 306 children (4.58%) who were selected randomly among hospitalized patients from Feb., 1975 to April, 1977, were positive for HAA in their serum sample tested by the apgar gel diffusion method. The incidence of HAA was higher (6.54%) in male than in female(0.99%) patients and a trend toward increments was noted with age.

A statistical Observation on Growth Pattern of Low birth Weight infants

The author have statistically observed growth pattern of LBW infants born at NMC obstetric ward for 4 years form Jan. 1972 rtrough Dec, 1975. LBW infants were divided ino 2 groups, preterm and small-for-date infants and compared with normal full-term delivered infants group for height and weight. Following results were obtained 1) As compared with NFD infants group, preterm infants group revealed ststistically meaningful difference in height and weight until 5-6 months of age. Thereafter no difference was noticed. But, SFD group showed difference in height and weight until 1 year of age. 2) Preterm infants group was found to have a greater growth velocity than SFD group in 4-7 months of age, SFD group showed relatively similar increment of height and weight with NFD group. 3) Mean heght and weight of LBW infants were below NFD gronp until 1 year of age. Growth velocity ws similar with NFD group, so handicaps of LBW infants were not overcome statistically during 1 year after birth.