An Analytical Cross-Sectional Study Comparing Thoracic Dimensions between Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Patients and Healthy Controls

Introduction: Thoracic dimensions play a vital role in thepathogenesis and management of dyspnea among Chronicobstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] patients. COPD maycause changes in the shape of thoracic cage by increasing lungvolume and hyperinflation. Hence it is essential to know thevariations in thoracic dimensions among normal and COPDpatients. Study aimed to compare the thoracic dimensionsAntero posterior [AP] diameter, Transverse diameter andHeight of diaphragm [HDI] between COPD patients andhealthy controls.Material and Methods: The present study was a crosssectional study. The study included 80 subjects diagnosedwith COPD as per GOLD guidelines and 80 healthy controls.Both the groups underwent chest radiographic evaluation withPA and Lateral views.Results: The average AP diameter was significantly greaterin subjects with COPD [10.64cms ± 2.16cms] compared tohealthy controls [9.29cms ± 1.47cms]. The difference wasstatistically significant [p <0.001]. The Mean transversediameter was 22.5cms ± 2.1cms in COPD subjects and amongthe healthy controls [21.83cms ± 2.02cms]. The difference wasstatistically significant (P value 0.041). Also, among COPDmean HDI was 23.35cms ± 2.6cms and among the healthycontrols was 20.57cms ± 0.91cms which was statisticallysignificant [p<0.001].Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that AP,Transverse diameters of thoracic cage, and HDI evaluatedusing Chest X-ray, were increased in COPD subjects comparedto healthy controls.

Variable Factors affecting the Neonatal Kidney Size / 대한주산의학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: There are reports that a history of low birth weight, and accordingly, a small kidney could be a risk factor for hypertension and end-stage renal disease in older age. We looked for factors that have an influence on the kidney size to make guidelines for follow up and early detection of renal diseases. METHODS: From April 2003 to October 2004, we studied the kidney size of neonates, who had an abdominal ultrasound done within two weeks of life. We measured the kidney length and anterior-posterior (AP) diameter and compared the values with each patient's gestational age, birth weight, height, body surface area (BSA), percentile, blood pressure, laboratory findings and various neonatal diseases. RESULTS: The kidney length and AP diameter had a good correlation with the patient's gestational age, birth weight, height and BSA. The kidney size was larger in the appropriate for gestational age (AGA) than in the small for gestational age (SGA) group in full term neonates. The kidney size did not have a correlation with systolic and diastolic blood pressure, laboratory findings, such as hemoglobin or hematocrit, and various diseases, except congenital heart disease, which had a weak correlation with kidney size. CONCLUSION: Neonates with early gestational period, low birth weight, small height and BSA tend to have a small kidney. Also SGA patients, especially symmetrical type, tend to have a small kidney. So we recommend high risk neonates to be followed up for early detection of hypertension and renal diseases.

Clinical Assessment on Patients with Cervical Spondylotic Myeloradiculopathy

Cervical spondylosis is known to be one of the most common disorders involving bony and neural structures of cervical region and shows variety of clinical menifestation, namely radiculopathy, myelopathy, or both. Also, the outcome of the treatment of this disorder, whether surgical or nonsurgical, shows wide variations according to handful reports from different institutions. The purpose of this report is to assess the patients treated by our department for their spondylogenic symptoms. The results of treatments from 102 patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy and/or myelopathy were clinically assessed. Among them, thirty eight patients were undelwent operation and followed up for at least six to twelve month period. Remaining sixty four patients were treated conservatively for three weeks to three months. The results are as follows: 1) Among 102 patients, the most common type was combined myeloradiculopathy(57.8%). 2) Mean age was 52 tears with range between 31 to 74 years. Male to female ratio was about three to one. 3) Multiple level involvement was 52% and C5-6 was the most commonly involved level by single lesions. 4) Mean AP diameter of cervical canal of the spondylotic patients, as compared with the control group, was significantly narrowed(p<0.01). 5) Overall outcome by conservative treatment showed 65.3% improvement and 86.8% improvement by operative treatment. 6) Among various clinical factors studied(age, severity, duration of symptoms, multiple level involvement, methods of operation), only the degree of severity revealed statistically significant effect on outcome of both conservative and operative group. 7) There were three cases of mild transient neurological complications and one case of technical complication(graft extrusion).