BACKGROUND: Decreased heart rate variability(HRV) has been shown to be an independent predictor of poor outcome after acute myocardial infarction, Spectral analysis of HRV has recently been shown to be a reliable noninvasive test for quantiative assessment of cardiovascular autonomic regulatory response. We estimated the reproducibility and circadian rhythm of HRV parameters in patients with acute myocardial infarction. METHODS: Three consecutive 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiographic recordings were made in 24 patients with acute myocardial infarction, with 10~14 days after the acute attack, and analyzed for HRV parameters of both frequency and time domains. Parameters of frequency domain include low frequency(LF) and high frequency(HF) components. Parameters of time domain include sdRR, SDANN, SD, pNN50, rMSSD, HRV index. RESULTS: Mean total, low frequency and high frequency amplitude spectral densities were 33msec, 19msec and 11msec, respectively. Mean values of sdRR, SDANN, SD, rMSSD, pNN50 and HRV index were 103msec, 90msec, 47msec, 28msec, 7% and 32, respectively. Coefficients of variation(CV) of total amplitude spectral density, and low and high frequency components were 7%, 9% and 12%, respectively. CV of most HRV parameters of time domain were also around 10% except rMSSD and pNN50. Heart rate increased in the morning to be sustained during the day time and decreased in the night. Heart rate variability of high frequency component decreased in the early morning to be sustained during day time with increase in the night. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that in the predischarge period of acute myocardial infarction, HRV parameters of frequency and time domains are reproducible and there are some morning fall of cardiac vagal activity.
Circadian Rhythm ; Electrocardiography ; Heart Rate* ; Heart* ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction*

The purpose of this study was to compare estimates of human body composition determined from single-frequency bioelectrical impedance methods (S-BIM) and multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance methods (M-BIM) . The human body composition was assessed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), 5 brands of S-BIM, and 2 brands of M-BIM. Forty-five women, aged 26-58 years, served as subjects. The S-BIM and M-BIM fat-free mass (FFM) estimates were highly correlated with the FFM measured by DEXA (r=0.82-0.93) . The standard errors of estimate (SEE) for FFM were approximately 2 kg. With the exception of the MLT-100 (which slightly underestimated FFM), all brands of BIM slightly overestimated FFM. The absolute mean differences between FFMDEXA and each of the 7 BIM estimates ranged from -3.02 kg to 3.46 kg. Although the 7 brands of BIM provided slightly different estimates, the results of this study suggest that 5-BIM and M-BIM are relatively valid in human body composition.

The purpose of this study was to compare estimates of human body composition determined from single-frequency bioelectrical impedance methods (S-BIM) and multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance methods (M-BIM) . The human body composition was assessed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), 5 brands of S-BIM, and 2 brands of M-BIM. Forty-five women, aged 26-58 years, served as subjects. The S-BIM and M-BIM fat-free mass (FFM) estimates were highly correlated with the FFM measured by DEXA (r=0.82-0.93) . The standard errors of estimate (SEE) for FFM were approximately 2 kg. With the exception of the MLT-100 (which slightly underestimated FFM), all brands of BIM slightly overestimated FFM. The absolute mean differences between FFMDEXA and each of the 7 BIM estimates ranged from -3.02 kg to 3.46 kg. Although the 7 brands of BIM provided slightly different estimates, the results of this study suggest that 5-BIM and M-BIM are relatively valid in human body composition.

10 Patients with primary hypercholesterolemia were treated for 12 weeks with lovastation(20mg t.i.d). Lovastatin reduced mean total and low density lipoprotein cholesterol by 43% and 57% respectively(p<0.001). High density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride levels were unchanged by the drug. Adverse effects attributable to lovastatin were not observed. Thus lovastatin is considered as an effective lipid lowering agent for the treatment of primary moderate hypercholesterolemia.
Cholesterol, HDL ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia* ; Lovastatin* ; Triglycerides

BACKGROUND: In athlete's heart, functional and structural alteration are main features. We studied electrocardiograms(ECG's) and echocardiograms(UCG's) in soccer players before and after intensive training. METHODS: Fifteen soccer players with the mean age and career of 19.3 and 8.5 years,respectively,underwent intensive training for 5-5.5 months, which included running of 2 km daily during the last 2-2.5 months. Comparisons of ECG's and UCG's recorded before and after the training were made. RESULTS: The major abnormal finding in pre-training ECG's was high voltage being seen in 40% of the cases, and in UCG's left ventricular(LV) dilatation and/or hypertrophy or asymmetrical septal hypertrophy(ASH) were noted in approximately 80% of the cases. The incidences of these finding after the intensive training were essentially unchanged, and the mean of pre-and post-training fractional shortening(FS) and LV and left atrial dimensions were similar. The high voltage in ECG's showed no close correlation with LV dilatation or hypertrophy on UCG's. After the training, however, the mean values of the thickness of LV posterior wall and ventricular septum along with LV mass were significantly increased, and the right ventricular dimension was significantly decreased. CONCLUSIONS: The most frequent finding in ECG's and UCG's in soccer players, before and after intensive training,were high voltage, LV dilatation and /or hyperophy with or without ASH. The intensive training of 5-5.5 months duration caused no change in F8,but caused significant increase in the thickness of LV posterior wall and ventricular septum, and LV mass.
Dilatation ; Electrocardiography* ; Heart ; Hypertrophy ; Incidence ; Running ; Soccer* ; Ventricular Septum

No abstract available.
Adenosine* ; Diagnosis* ; Radionuclide Imaging*

Intramuscular hemangioma is a rare vascular benign proliferation that can occur within any muscle, particularly in the trunk and extremities. In the head and neck region, the masseter muscle is most commonly involved, followed by the periorbital and sternocleidomastoid muscles. Diagnosing intramuscular hemangioma is challenging because there are no characteristic symptoms; instead, magnetic resonance imaging is the best imaging modality to diagnose these lesions. Complete surgical resection is the treatment of choice, although the local recurrence rate is high. Herein, we report a rare case of intramuscular hemangioma located in the zygomaticus minor muscle, which is related to smiling and usually runs along the orbicularis oculi muscle. Distinguishing or separating these two muscles is challenging. However, based on the muscle vector of the midface and radiological findings, the two muscles were successfully separated. The zygomaticus minor was cut very slightly to approach to the lesion and the muscle fibers were split to excise it. A follow-up examination revealed no nerve damage or muscle dysfunction at 4 weeks postoperatively. This rare case may serve as a reference for managing intramuscular hemangioma in the head and neck region.

Intramuscular hemangioma is a rare vascular benign proliferation that can occur within any muscle, particularly in the trunk and extremities. In the head and neck region, the masseter muscle is most commonly involved, followed by the periorbital and sternocleidomastoid muscles. Diagnosing intramuscular hemangioma is challenging because there are no characteristic symptoms; instead, magnetic resonance imaging is the best imaging modality to diagnose these lesions. Complete surgical resection is the treatment of choice, although the local recurrence rate is high. Herein, we report a rare case of intramuscular hemangioma located in the zygomaticus minor muscle, which is related to smiling and usually runs along the orbicularis oculi muscle. Distinguishing or separating these two muscles is challenging. However, based on the muscle vector of the midface and radiological findings, the two muscles were successfully separated. The zygomaticus minor was cut very slightly to approach to the lesion and the muscle fibers were split to excise it. A follow-up examination revealed no nerve damage or muscle dysfunction at 4 weeks postoperatively. This rare case may serve as a reference for managing intramuscular hemangioma in the head and neck region.

BACKGROUND: Enterococcal infections have become extremely difficult to manage because of an increase in antibiotic resistance among enterococci. In Europe, the use of avoparcin in animals was reported to be the cause of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) transmission to humans. In this study, we performed antimicrobial susceptibility testing and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) to characterize the genetic relatedness of VRE of human and chicken. METHODS: Ninety strains of VRE were isolated from clinical specimens in three University hospitals located in Seoul and Kyungi province in 2001-2002. Thirty isolates of VRE were collected from four chicken farms located in areas remotely distanced from each other. The isolates were identified to the species level by conventional biochemical tests and commercial kits. Antimicrobial susceptibilities were tested by the NCCLS disk diffusion and agar dilution methods. For a molecular epidemiologic analysis, PFGE was performed. RESULTS: Among the 90 clinical isolates were 73 vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREFM) and 17 vancomycin-resistant E. faecalis (VREFA). The resistant rates of VREFA to ampicillin, levofloxacin and tetracycline were 0%, 100%, and 100%, respectively, and for VREFM, 100%, 96%, and 26%, respectively. However, the resistant rates of VREFM isolated from chicken were 19% to ampicillin, 0% to levofloxacin, and 100% to tetracycline. The PFGE patterns of genomic DNA of the clinical isolates were very diverse, suggesting a polyclonal spread of VRE, although some isolates had an identical PFGE pattern, indicating a mini-outbreak due to a clonal spread. The PFGE patterns of genomic DNA of the chicken isolates were very different from those of the human isolates. CONCLUSIONS: VRE isolates from human and chicken showed very different antimicrobial susceptibilities and PFGE patterns. These results suggest that VRE isolated from human and chicken are not closely related genetically.
Agar ; Ampicillin ; Animals ; Chickens* ; Diffusion ; DNA ; Drug Resistance, Microbial ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field ; Enterococcus faecium ; Enterococcus* ; Epidemiology ; Europe ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Levofloxacin ; Seoul ; Tetracycline ; Vancomycin

OBJECTIVES: Adoption of hospital information systems offers distinctive advantages in healthcare delivery. First, implementation of consolidated hospital information system in Seoul National University Hospital led to significant improvements in quality of healthcare and efficiency of hospital management. METHODS: The hospital information system in Seoul National University Hospital consists of component applications: clinical information systems, clinical research support systems, administrative information systems, management information systems, education support systems, and referral systems that operate to generate utmost performance when delivering healthcare services. RESULTS: Clinical information systems, which consist of such applications as electronic medical records, picture archiving and communication systems, primarily support clinical activities. Clinical research support system provides valuable resources supporting various aspects of clinical activities, ranging from management of clinical laboratory tests to establishing care-giving procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Seoul National University Hospital strives to move its hospital information system to a whole new level, which enables customized healthcare service and fulfills individual requirements. The current information strategy is being formulated as an initial step of development, promoting the establishment of next-generation hospital information system.
Adoption ; Confidentiality ; Delivery of Health Care ; Electronic Health Records ; Hospital Information Systems ; Information Systems ; Management Information Systems ; Quality of Health Care ; Radiology Information Systems ; Referral and Consultation