Mitral ring motion and indices of left ventricular diastolic filling were measured by M-mode and Doppler echocardiography in apical 4 chamber view in 11 dilated cardiomyopathy patients and 9 normal subjects without clinical evidence of heart disease. The mean age of patients was 52 years and average heart rate was 76 beats/min. The parameters of mitral annulus motion include earley relaxation amplitude(ER), late atrial contraction amplitude(AC) and A2-peak excursion(A2-PE). Transmitral flow velocity parameters include peak flow velocity of early diastolic flow velocity(PFVE), peak flow velocity of late atrial contraction(PFVA), the ratio between early and late peak flow velocity(PFVE/PFVA), Acceleration rate of early diastolic peak flow(AR), deceleration rate of early diastolic peak flow(DR), time velocity integral of early diastolic flow velocity(TVIE), time velocity integral of late atrial contraction flow velocity(TVIA) and ratio between early diastolic and late atrial flow velocity integral(TVIE/TVIA). In patients with dilated cardiomyopathy, ER(4.5+/-2.3mm) and AC(2.3+/-1.6mm) were significantly decreased than normal(10.7+/-2.6mm, 6.6+/-1.6mm, p<0.01, p<0.01, respectively), whereas ER/AC(1.7+/-0.7) was not significantly different than normal subjects(1.6+/-0.5). A2-PE(100+/-80 msec) was significantly delayed in dilated cardiomyopathy patients than normal subjects(35+/-25 msec, p<0.01). In analysis of transmitral flow velocities, PFVE, PFVA and PFVE/PFVA, etc were not significantly different compared to normal subjects in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. Mitral ring motion amplitude was decreased and A2-peak excursion time interval(A2-PE) was delayed in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy, but transmitral flow velocities were not significantly different from normal subjects in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. These results reflect the facts that early diastolic relaxation amplitude is decreased by the change of compliance of LV and late atrial contractin amplitude is decreased by decrease of atrial contractility and increased stiffness of LA and LV. Despite of decreased mitral ring motion, transmitral flow velocity is not significantly different compared to normal subjects in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. From these evidences, not only transmitral flow velocity affected by multiple factors but also mitral ring motion affected by LA and LV function are considered in assessment of LV diastolic dysfuction.
Acceleration ; Blood Flow Velocity* ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated* ; Compliance ; Deceleration ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; Heart Diseases ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Relaxation

Pseudocholinesterase is an essential enzyme for hydrolysis of succinylcholine and some people has low activity. The pseudocholinesterase from a normal individual has a greater apparent affinity for the cholinester substrate than the enzyme from succinylcholine-sensitive individuals, who has genetic variants. The ideal situation would be one in which a single, simple test would detect and identify all the variant forms of enzyme, but no such test currently exsits. The inhibitors frequently used to identify variants are dibucaine, fluoride, chloride, urea or succinylcholine as inhibition numbers. The authors found that dibucaine, fluoride and chloride numbers in Korean adults (mean+/-SD, %) are 85.8+/-1.83, 46.5+/-2,05 and 3.53+/-1.64, respectively (substrate is butyrylthiocholine).
Adult* ; Dibucaine ; Fluorides ; Humans ; Hydrolysis ; Pseudocholinesterase* ; Succinylcholine ; Urea

BACKGROUND AND METHODS: The Gastrointestinal Pathology Study Group of the Korean Society of Pathologists developed a standardized pathology reporting format for gastric cancer in collaboration with the Korean Gastric Cancer Association. RESULTS: The diagnostic parameters are divided into two part: the standard part and the optional part. The standard part contains most of the items listed in the Japanese classification, the TNM classification by UICC, the WHO classification, and the Korean Gastric Cancer Association classification. Therefore, the standard part is adequate for routine surgical pathology service. We included detailed descriptions on each item. CONCLUSIONS: The authors anticipate that this standardization can improve the diagnostic accuracy and decrease the discrepancies that occur in the pathologic diagnosis of gastric cancer. Furthermore, the standard format can encourage large scale multi-institutional collaborative studies.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Classification ; Cooperative Behavior ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Neoplasm Staging ; Pathology* ; Pathology, Surgical ; Stomach Neoplasms*

OBJECTIVE: Volume expansion has been known to be the major factor in the development of hypertenision in chronic hemodialysis(HD) patients. But some HD patients remain hypertensive even with adequate volume control, which suggests the role of undefined uremic toxin in the pathogenesis of hypertension. So we aimed to evaluate the status of blood pressure (BP) control and the effect of Kt/V (as a marker for removal of uremic toxin) on BP in chronic HD patients. METHODS: The status of BP control was obtained from records of 8 HD session in 132 patients in November 1996 and 127 patients in November 1997. Of 132 patients studied in 1996, 70 patients underwent a follow-up evaluation in 1997. All patients were dialyzed 3 times a week, 4 hours a session. Postdialytic cyclic 3',5' guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) level was measured in 48 patients as a marker of volume status. RESULTS: The prevalence of postdialytic hypertension (>140/90mmHg) was 73.5 in 1996 and 65.3% in 1997. Normotensive patients (postdialytic mean BP<114 mmHg) had higher Kt/V value than hypertensive patients in both 1996 and 1997. But there was no difference in the degree of ultrafiltration (UF) and cGMP level between two groups. Postdialytic mean BP was inversely correlated with Kt/V level but had no relationship with degree of UF and cGMP level in both 1996 and 1997. The group in which postdialytic mean BP had been decreased during 1 year study period had higher degree of elevation in Kt/V than the group in which postdialytic mean BP had been increased. The changes of postdialytic weight and degree of UF during study period were similar between two groups. The number of antihypertensives used were also inversely correlated with Kt/V but not correlated with degree of UF and cGMP level in both 1996 and 1997. CONCLUSION: Our study indicate that increasing HD adequacy is associated with improved control of postdialytic mean BP and less use of antihypertensive drugs. UF and antihypertensive drugs may not be adequate form of hypertension treatment as once thought and increasing HD adequacy can be an alternative method.
Antihypertensive Agents ; Blood Pressure* ; Dialysis* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Guanosine Monophosphate ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Prevalence ; Renal Dialysis* ; Ultrafiltration

The localized eosinophilic granulomatous lesions of the stomach are rare benign tumorous conditions resembling submucosal tumors. They can be divided into two types. One is an inflammatory fibroid polyp. The other is an eosinophilic granuloma due to migration of Anisakis-type larva in the alimentary tract. The latter is usually found in the gastric body and anterior wall of the angle, and appears as a submucosal tumor. Histologically, the granuloma exhibits a characteristic lamellated structure consisting of a necrotic center with or without the worm, surrounded by layers of granulation tissue and eosinophilic infiltration. The present case is a 50 year-old male presenting with an episode of profuse melena. An emergency esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed a 2x1.5cm sized, irregularly shaped ulcerative lesion with elevated margins and prominent folds convergence. Despite the endoscopic injection of hypertonic saline-epinephrine solution due to a recent bleeding stigmata, the patient experienced a rebleeding during hospitalization, The locally excised specimen showed an eosinophilic granuloma having a central necrosis. Although the larval body of Anisakis was not found, the lesion was diagnosed as a parasitic eosinophilic granuloma of the stomach.
Anisakis ; Christianity ; Emergencies ; Endoscopy, Digestive System ; Eosinophilic Granuloma* ; Eosinophils* ; Granulation Tissue ; Granuloma ; Hemorrhage* ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Larva ; Leiomyoma ; Male ; Melena ; Middle Aged ; Necrosis ; Polyps ; Stomach* ; Ulcer

BACKGROUND AND METHODS: For standardizing the pathology report and diagnosis of colorectal cancers, the Gastrointestinal Pathology Study Group of the Korean Society of Pathologists has developed a pathology reporting format for colorectal cancer in collaboration with the Korean Society of Coloproctology. RESULTS: The diagnostic parameters are divided into two parts: the standard part and the optional part. The standard part contains most of the items listed in the Japanese classification, the TNM classification by AJCC, and the WHO classification. We included detailed descriptions on each item. CONCLUSIONS: The standardized pathology report for colorectal cancers is adequate for its application to routine surgical pathology reports, and it is also helpful to decrease the discrepancies that occur during the pathologic diagnosis of colorectal cancer. Furthermore, this reporting format could encourage nationwide multi-center collaborative studies.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Classification ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Cooperative Behavior ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Neoplasm Staging ; Pathology* ; Pathology, Surgical

BACKGROUND: Arteriovenous fistula(AVF) has been the most important, primary mode of achieving vascular access for chronic hemodialysis by this time. In general, maturation period over 4 to 8 weeks after operation for the formation of AVF has been recommended for the long-term survival of AVF, and so insertion of central venous catheter without using AVF being matured has been primarily recommended whenever hemodialysis is needed. But not infrequently, serious complications have been reported in association with the insertion and the use of central venous catheter. So earlier use of AVF is regarded as a good method of avoiding serious complications with regard to the insertion and the use of central venous catheter. But early use of AVF has not been generally recommended, for early use of AVF has been regarded to be associated with early failure of AVF. But few studies have reported the correlation between maturation period and AVF survival. And in practice, early use of AVF has already been performed frequently by not a few nephrologists or nurses of dialysis units. So authors tried to examine the correlation between maturation period and AVF survival rate, and to find the validity of early use of AVF if it is regarded usable for the hemodialysis by experienced hemodialysis nurses and nephrologists. METHODS: A retrospective analysis using 88 AVF cases which had been created in 85 patients from Oct. 1986 through June 1996, and from which authors could get enough information for this study was done. Authors compared one year survival rates of AVF according to the maturation period, the presence of DM, and condition of AVF assessed clinically by doctors and experienced nurses in hemodialysis units. Also from the cases with AVF obstruction, authors examined the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year survival rate of AVF according to the maturation period. RESULTS: One year survival rate of AVF with maturation period less than 4 weeks was higher than that with maturation period more than 4 weeks, but there was no statistical significance. One year survival rate, irrespective of the length of maturation period for AVFs, of AVF regarded to be usable and good for hemodialysis was higher than that of AVF regarded to be usable but not good for hemodialysis. In the study with the AVF obstruction group only, one year survival rate of AVF with maturation period less than 4 weeks was higher than that of AVF with maturation period more than 4 weeks but there was no statistical significance. And one year AVF survival rate was higher in non DM group(94.1%) than DM group(60%) regardless of maturation period of AVF(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: On the contrary to the views that longer maturation period of more than 4 weeks will be necessary for the long-term survival of AVF, our results suggest that shorter maturation period for AVF less than 4 weeks does not necessarily mean early failure of AVF once AVF is regarded to be usable for hemodialysis. So it is suggested that early use of AVF instead of inserting central venous catheter is a reasonable approach for getting an adequate vascular access for hemodialysis in chronic renal failure patients who were subjected to receive hemodialysis on waiting peroid of AVF maturation.
Arteriovenous Fistula* ; Central Venous Catheters ; Dialysis ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Renal Dialysis* ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

A 61-year-old male patient with pyogenic spondylodiscitis and epidural and psoas abscesses underwent posterior decompression, debridement, and instrumented fusion, followed by anterior debridement and reconstruction. Sudden onset flank pain was diagnosed 7 weeks postoperatively and was determined to be a pseudoaneurysm located at the aorta inferior to the renal artery and superior to the aortic bifurcation area. An endovascular stent graft was applied to successfully treat the pseudoaneurysm. Postoperative recovery was uneventful and infection status was stabilized.
Aneurysm, False* ; Aorta ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis* ; Debridement ; Decompression ; Discitis ; Endovascular Procedures ; Flank Pain ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Psoas Abscess ; Renal Artery ; Spondylitis* ; Stents*

The terms chronic active hepatitis (CAH), chronic persistent hepatitis (CPH), and chronic lobular hepatitis (CLH) should be discontinued in favor of etiologic terminology. The activity of necro-inflammation and the degree of fibrosis should be evaluated for grading the severity and for the stage of disease. Members of the Korean Study Group for the Pathology of Digestive Diseases reviewed 30 cases of chronic hepatitis and reached the following consensus: 1) The pathology report of the biopsy samples with features of chronic hepatitis should include the etiology, grade and stage. 2) Grade and stage should be semiquantitatively evaluated as none, minimal, mild, moderate and severe. 3) For grading, lobular activity and periportal activity should be evaluated, separately. 4) To avoid confusion with other grading systems, simple report using descriptive terms rather than numerical records is recommended in daily practice. Criteria for each grade and stage should be presented and discussed. Histologic grading and staging of chronic hepatitis by new standardized guidelines will give more information about the prognosis as well as the present status of hepatitis. The terms CAH, CPH and CLH may be used in parentheses to facilitate relearning.
Biopsy ; Consensus ; Fibrosis ; Hepatitis ; Hepatitis, Chronic* ; Pathology* ; Prognosis