OBJECTIVES: Hemodynamic measurements of chronic portal hypertension were done to study the mechanisms that maintain high portal pressure despite well developed collateral circulations. METHODS: A prehepatic portal hypertensive rat model was produced by partial portal vein ligation. Cardiac output, organ blood flow and porto-systemic shunt were measured by radioisotope labeled microsphere methods, and vascular resistance was calculated by standard equation. RESULTS: There was a significant reduction in the weight of the liver and increase in the weight of the spleen in the portal stenotic rats. Porto-systemic shunting, representing development of the collateral circulations, was 96.7+/-0.6% in the portal stenosis group compared with 0.9+/-0.2% in the control group (p<0.01). Portal pressure was significantly increased in the portal stenosis group compared with the control group(12.8+/-1.4 vs. 6.5+/-0.6mmHg; p<0.01). Mean arterial pressure was significantly decreased in portal stenosis group compared with control group(101.4+/-2.5 vs, 129.9+/-3.9mmHg; p<0.01). In the portal stenosis group, cardiac output(135.7+/-8.0 vs. 111.0+/-4.2ml/min; p<0.01) and splanchnic organ blood flow (28.97+/-2.03 vs. 17.90+/-1.27ml/min, p<0.01) were significantly increased, with concomitant decrease in total peripheral vascular resistance(58.0+/-3.3 vs. 88.2+/-4.8 dyne sec/cm5 X 105; p<0.01) and splanchnic vascular resistance(2.54+/-0.20 vs. 5.47+/-0.33 dyne sec/cm5 X 105; p<0.01), However, the portal venous resistance was not significantly different in both groups of rats (3.57+/-0.31 vs. 3.03+/-0.38 dyne sec/cm5 X 105; p>0.05). CONCLUSION: The hemodynamic results of this study indicate that hyperdynamic status of systemic and splanchnic circulation was present in chronic portal hypertension and that the primary factor contributing to the persistently elevated portal venous pressure was the markedly increased portal venous inflow.
Animals ; Arterial Pressure ; Cardiac Output ; Collateral Circulation ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Hemodynamics* ; Hypertension, Portal ; Ligation ; Liver ; Microspheres ; Models, Animal* ; Portal Pressure ; Portal Vein* ; Rats* ; Splanchnic Circulation ; Spleen ; Vascular Resistance

We have had an opportunity to study a patient with acute sensory neuronopathy. The patient was a 32-yearold housewife; the rapidly spreaded tingling sensation along both arms and legs developed, rendering her severely ataxic. There was no history of antecedent illness, familial neurological disease, or exposure to toxins and special drugs. On examinations, there was no abnormality in her mental and cranial nerve function. There was no motor weakness. She showed the profound loss of kinesthetic sense which was acutely progressive and associated with severe sensory ataxia and pseudoathetosis. All tendon reflexes were absent. However, cutaneous senses were preserved. There was no significant abnormal laboratory finding except elevated CSF protein content. On electrophysiologic findings, the decrease in the amplitude of action potentials with only mild slowing of conduction velocities of sensory nerves were found even though motor nerve conduction studies were normal. Median and tibial somatosensory evoked potentials could be elicited, although the median N19 scalp response and tibial N45 waveforms were prolonged in latency. Plasmapheresis were provided; clinical features improved. However, the electrophy-siological abnormalites remained. Thus we wish to report an additional case of woman suffering from the acute sensory neuronopathy, complementing the cases described by Stemm, Schaumburg and Asbury.
Action Potentials ; Arm ; Ataxia ; Complement System Proteins ; Cranial Nerves ; Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory ; Female ; Humans ; Kinesthesis ; Leg ; Neural Conduction ; Plasmapheresis ; Reflex, Stretch ; Scalp ; Sensation

From January 1988 to December 1994, endoscopic sphincterotomy with stone extraction was attempted in 395 patients with common duct stones at Yeungnam University Hospital. Endoscopic sphincterotomy was successful in 389 patients(98.5 %), and clearance of the duct was achieved in 364 patients with an overall success rate of 92.2%. After sphincterotomy, stone extraction by basket or balloon was undertaken in 298 patients without lithotripsy, and stones could be extracted after fragmentation of stones in 19 patients. In 47 patients, stones were passed into duo denum spontaneously. There were 6 cases of sphincterotomy failure due to large periampullary diverticulum or previous gastrojejunostomy. In patients with success ful sphincterotomy, endoscopic stone extraction was failed in 25 cases due to 14 large stones, 5 bile duct strictures, 4 impacted stones, and 2 cases of technical fail ure. Complications were developed in 13 patients(3.3%); 8 pancreatitis and 5 bleedings. All of them were improved with medical therapy only. Despite relatively high success rate and low complications of the endoscopic management of choledocholithiasis, there were significant difficulties in removing large stones. Developement of more effective and inexpensive methods of lithotripsy, and the search for rapidly effective solvent dissolving stones were needed.
Bile Ducts* ; Bile* ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Choledocholithiasis ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Diverticulum ; Gastric Bypass ; Humans ; Lithotripsy ; Pancreatitis ; Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic

To evaluate the effectiveness of computed tomography for the differential diagnosis of cervical lymphadenopathy, we reviewed CT scans of 26 patients with cervical lymphadenopathy retrospectively. These included 10 patients with tuberculous lymphadenitis, 11 patients with metastasis and 5 patients with lymphoma, We evaluated the CT scans with a special attention to internal nodal density, feature of contrast enhancement and location of lymphadenopathy. Tuberculous lymphadenitis involved multiple nodes unilaterally and showed central low density with even or uneven rim enhancement, usually occurring in young patients (mean: 31.6 years). Two cases with tuberculous lymphadenitis showed calcifications within the lymph nodes. Lymphoma involved unilateral or bilateral nodes and appeared as conglomerated isodense mass with even rim enhancement. Metastasis involved multiple nodes unilaterally and showed focal, diffuse of mixed pattern of central low density with variable rim enhancement, usually occurring in old patients (mean: 59.4 years). Locations of most frequent lymph node involvements were internal jugular group (76%), spinal accessory group (54%) and retropharyngeal group(12%).
Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic Diseases* ; Lymphoma ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tuberculosis, Lymph Node

Twenty-nine patients with spinal tuberculosis were evaluated by computed tomography (CT). The contiguous involvemnt of the vertibral bodies as well as the detailed localization of the destruction were analyzed. Our result disclosed that there was a higher incidence of the destruction of pedicles(68 percent) and an involve-ment of posterior elements (13 percent). Frequent patterns were fragmentation, sequestrae, disc space narrowing reactive sclerosis, paravertebral mass (abscess) and calcification. CT also p--vided precise information about the rim, density and size of the soft tissue mass, particularly following intravenous contrast infusion. CT was found to be helpful in the evaluation of the extent of osseous and soft tissue involvement as well as the destructive pattern. We conclude that CT can be used to detect the extent of osseous and paravertebral soft tissue involvement and to differentiate spinal tuberculosis from a neoplastic lesion.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Contrast Media/administration and dosage ; Female ; Human ; Male ; Middle Age ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; *Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tuberculosis, Spinal/*radiography

A 67-year-old woman with brainstem abscess was cured by nonsurgical treatment. The clinical features and MRI findings allowed the presumptive diagnosis to be made. The abscess was located in the left midbrain part of brainstem; left ptosis and partial ophthalmoplegia with ellipticaI pupil. Massive antibiotic therapy was provided and clinical improvement was resulted. The authors reviewed reported cases and discussion was presented.
Abscess* ; Aged ; Brain Stem* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Mesencephalon ; Ophthalmoplegia ; Pupil

Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) is a systemic vasculitis with IgA dominant immune complex deposits affecting small vessels in the skin, joint, gastrointestinal tract, and kidneys. Gastrointestinal symptoms are common and may precede the appearance of characteristic skin rash. These manifestations include abdominal pain, bleeding, bowel infarction, intussusception, or even, perforation. However, hemorrhagic ascites has been rarely described in patients with HSP. The pathophysiologic mechanism is presumably a vasculitis of the small vessels within the serosa. We report a 37-year-old man with HSP complicated by hemorrhagic ascites. Contrast CT of the abdomen showed extensive bowel wall thickening and ascites. A paracentesis yielded hemorrhagic fluid. These abdominal manifestations were improved after methylprednisolone pulse therapy.
Abdomen ; Abdominal Pain ; Adult ; Antigen-Antibody Complex ; Ascites* ; Exanthema ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; Infarction ; Intussusception ; Joints ; Kidney ; Methylprednisolone ; Paracentesis ; Purpura, Schoenlein-Henoch* ; Serous Membrane ; Skin ; Systemic Vasculitis ; Vasculitis

No abstract available.

Chromoblastomycosis is a chronic subcutaneous mycotic infections caused by dermatiaceous fungi. Clinically, chromoblastomycosis presents frequently with erythematous or nodular plaque. In Korea, 10 cases of chromoblastomycosis have been reported and Fonsecaea pedrosoi is the most common agent. A 61-year-old woman who was diagnosed as chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy 3 years ago, and had been treated with systemic corticosteroids and azathioprine, presented with pruritic, scaly erythematous plaques on the right forearm for 3 years. She had no history of trauma. Histological examination showed pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia, mixed granulomatous inflammatory cell infiltrate and multinucleated giant cells with sclerotic cells in the dermis. Tissue culture showed slowly growing, dark brown, velvety colony. DNA was extracted from the cultured colonies and the DNA sequence of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the clinical sample was matched for that of Fonsecaea monophora. The patient was treated with local heat therapy and topical terbinafine application.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Azathioprine ; Base Sequence ; Chromoblastomycosis* ; Dermis ; DNA ; Female ; Forearm ; Fungi ; Giant Cells ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Korea ; Middle Aged ; Polyneuropathies

A study carried out to evaluate the bleeding control and prophylactic effect of rebleeding using emergency endoseopic sclerotherapy in patients with hleeding gastric varices. 42 patients with gastric variceal bleeding were admitted to the Yeungnam University Hospital from May, 1983 to August, 1992. Patients were randomly classified into control group, 20 patients treated with conservative management, and sclerotherapy group, 22 patients treated with emergency endoscopic sclerotherapy. The two group were analysed with age, sex, etiology of liver cirrhosis, nature of bleeding episode, hematocrit on admitting day, amount of sclercsants used, rebleeding episodes, complications, and mortality. There were no significant differences in the severity of underlying liver disease and hematocrit on admission between two groups. Blood transfusion were performed in 19 cases of control group and 21 cases in sclerotherapy group(p>0.05). The amounts of transfusion were 7. 7units in control group and 6.1 units in sclerotherapy group(p<0,05). Rebleeding were developed in 65% and 18% of the patiehts with control and sclerotherapy group, respectively(p<0.05). Chest pain and mild fever were observed after endoscopic sclerotherapy. These results suggest that the endoscopic sclerotherapy is effective method in hemostasis of bleeding gastric varices and short-term prevention of rebleeding, but mortality rate was not decreased compared to control group. Development of more effective methods to treat gastric variceal bleeding is required.
Blood Transfusion ; Chest Pain ; Emergencies ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices* ; Fever ; Hematocrit ; Hemorrhage* ; Hemostasis ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Liver Diseases ; Mortality ; Sclerotherapy*