An analysis of echocardiograms was made in 50 patients with pericardial effusion of various origins, diagnosed by clinical and M-mode echocardiographic examinations. In these cases the estimated volume of pericardial effusion ranged between 40 ml and 999 ml. The width of echo-free space behind the left ventricular wall which reflect the amount of effusion showed a significant positive correlation with the systolic excursion and the diastolic mean velocity of both right and left ventricular epicardial surfaces. The echocardiographic patterns of so-called pseudo-mitral valve prolapse and a notch on the right ventricular epicardial surface during systole were found more frequently in patients with large pericardial effusion. Thus, in pericardial effusion, and echocardiographic examination is useful for the visualization of the abnormal motions of cardiac structures as well as for its diagnosis.
Diagnosis ; Echocardiography* ; Humans ; Pericardial Effusion* ; Prolapse ; Systole

No Abstract Available.
Histidine*

No Abstract Available.
Histidine*

No abstract available.
Hepatitis B Surface Antigens* ; Hospitals, General*

No abstract available.
Hypertension*

Recent studies suggest that apolipoproteins may be better predictor of ischemic heart disease than are plasma lipids, such as total cholesterol and high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C). To examine this hypothesis, plasma levels of major lipids and major apolipo-proteins were measured and their derivatives were calculated in 30 male patients with ischemic heart disease(16 angina pectoris and 14 old myocardial infarction) and 30 age-matched male healthy controls. Plasma levels of lipids were obtained by conventional methods and apolipoproteins by Rocket immunoelectrophoresis. Levels of HDL-C, HDL2-cholesterol(HDL2-C), and apolipoprotein-AII, and ratios of HDL-C/total cholesterol, HDL2-C/total cholesterol, and apolipoprotein-AI/apolipoprotein-B were lower in the group of patients than in controls. Levels of low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C) and apolipoprotein-B, and ratios of lDL-C/HDL-C and apolipoprotein-AI/apolipoprotein-AII were higher in the group of patients. There were no statistically significant differences in the levels of total cholesterol and apolipoprotein-AI between the two groups. Stepwise discriminators analysis showed that apolipoprotein-B and apolipoprotein-AII were better discriminators than plasma lipids for identifying those with ischemic heart disease. One could correctly classify 78% of the cases by using the levels of the two apolipoproteins. By using the level of apolipoprotein-B, one could correctly classify 73% of the cases. There were no correlations between the levels of total cholesterol and HDL-C in the controls whereas there were positive correlations between the levels in the group of patients. In conclusion, this study showed that apolipoprotein-B was the best single discriminator for identifying the patients with ischemic heart disease, followed by apolipoprotein-AII.
Angina Pectoris ; Apolipoproteins A* ; Apolipoproteins* ; Cholesterol ; Heart ; Humans ; Immunoelectrophoresis ; Lipoproteins ; Male ; Myocardial Ischemia* ; Plasma* ; Risk Factors*

Bartter's syndrome is a rare tubular disorder characterized by hypokalemic, hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis, hyperreninemic hyperaldosteronism, hyporesponsiveness to pressor agents, and juxtaglomerular apparatus hyperplasia. We report here a case of Bartter's syndrome in a 5 month-old male infant who improved with potassium supplements. In addition to a case report, brief review of related literatures was done.
Alkalosis ; Bartter Syndrome* ; Humans ; Hyperaldosteronism ; Hyperplasia ; Infant ; Juxtaglomerular Apparatus ; Male ; Potassium

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:Traditionally, down beat nystagmus is regarded as a sign of central nervous system dysfunction. But, several years has passed since Herdman et al reported the down beat nystagmus developed during treatment maneuvers for posterior semicircular canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo(BPPV). We undertook this study to evaluate the character and clinical analysis of the positional or positioning down beat nystagmus, to discuss the clinical significance of positional or positioning down beat nystagmus as a diagnostic criteria of superior semicircular canal BPPV, and to propose the new treatment method. MATERIALS AND METHOD:From November 1999 to March 2004, we sampled the 103 patients with positional or positioning down beat nystagmus. Of these patients, we selected 16 patients except for the patients with central nervous system dysfunction, nonspecific or artifact result, idiopathic origin. RESULTS:All of 16 patients had no sign and radiologic result of central nervous system disorder. 10 patients was reported or suspected the diagnosis of posterior semicircular canal BPPV. Fatigability was reported in 9 patients and reversibility was reported in 1 patient. Average latency was checked less than 2 seconds. CONCLUSION:Although the diagnostic criteria of superior semicircular canal BPPV that we reported was not controversial, we expect that this criteria is useful in diagnosis for patients with atypical positional or positioning down beat nystagmus. And the new treatment method that we reported will has the better results than previous method.
Artifacts ; Central Nervous System ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Semicircular Canals ; Vertigo*

No abstract available.
Sturge-Weber Syndrome*

The antihypertensive effect of trimazosin was studied in 24 cases of essential hypertension, which include 9 cases with pretreatment diastolic pressure of 114mmHg or more, for a period of 4 weeks. The average pretreatment systolic and diastolic blood pressures were approximately 175mmHg and 114mmHg, respectively. The treatment was started with 100mg of trimazosin daily in 2 divided doses and and the drug was titrated upward at weekly interval by 100mg up to 400mg/day depending on the response of the blood pressures. Routine blood counts, urinalyses, liver and kidney function tests, electrolyte balance, total serum cholesterol and triglyceride were determined before and at the end of treatment. The diastolic blood pressure fell 10mmHg or more in 20 out of 24 cases(83.3%), and in 12 cases out of 20 favorable responders it fell to 90mmHg or below. The pretreatment diastolic blood pressure in 4 nonresponders was all 115mmHg or more. The antihypertensive effect appeared during the first week of therapy and progressively increased until the end of treatment week without causing postural hypotension. Unpleasant symptoms appeared in 12 cases during treatment, which include dizziness, headache, numbness in the extremities and tinnitus in the decreasing order of frequency. However, these symptoms were mild and transient in all cases disappearing spontaneously despite continued medication. No significant biochemical changes in the blood were recorded after treatment. We conclude that trimzosin seems to be a safe and effective antihypertensive drug particularly useful for the treatment of mild to moderate hypertension.
Blood Pressure ; Cholesterol ; Dizziness ; Extremities ; Headache ; Hypertension* ; Hypesthesia ; Hypotension, Orthostatic ; Kidney Function Tests ; Liver ; Tinnitus ; Triglycerides ; Urinalysis ; Water-Electrolyte Balance