No abstract available.
Anemia* ; Echocardiography* ; Ventricular Function, Left*

No abstract available.
Balloon Valvuloplasty* ; Pulmonary Valve Stenosis* ; Pulmonary Valve*

Digora(R)-an intraoral digital radiography system utilizing image plate(IP) - has a dynamic range of expo sure time which allows it to decrease the patient's exposure time and to increase diagnostic ability through imge proces sing, transmission and storage. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the Digora(R) system by assessing the effects of various exposure times on the detectability on the tip of the endodontic file. Examining the root canals of 45 extracted sound premolars, K-files No. 10, 15, and 20 were placed at slightly varying distances from the apex. The teeth were glued onto resin-pla ster blocks. Five exposure times varying between 0.01 seconds and 0.25 seconds were used. Four observers were asked to m easure the distance between the tip of the file and a reduction of crown portion, and obtained mean errors (subtracting true file length from the measured file length), comparing Digora(R) monitors with E-plus films, which were bot h obtained under the same geometrical positions. The results were as follows : 1. Comparing E-plus film with Digora(R) at 0.01 seconds, the mean errors in E-plus film showed -4.453mm, -4.49 7mm, and -3.857mm, while the mean errors in Digora(R) showed 0.065mm, 0.607mm, and 0.719mm according to the fil e groups. Therefore there was a significant difference between E-plus film and Digora(R)(P<0.05). 2. By comparison of mean errors according to the various exposure times in the Digora(R) system, the mean error at standard deviation was the highest at 0.01 seconds was significantly lower than that at 0.12 and 0.25 seconds in No . 10 and 20 file group(P<0.05). and the standard deviation was the highest at 0.01 seconds. 3. Comparing E-plus film at 0.25 seconds with the Digora(R) system, the mean errors showed a significant diffe rence between E-plus at 0.25 seconds and the Digora(R) system at 0.25 seconds in No. 10 and 20 file groups (P <0.05). 4. Comparing E-plus film at 0.25 seconds with other exposure times, the mean errors showed a significant difference between E-plus film at 0.25 seconds and E-plus film at 0.01 and 0.03 seconds in 10 file group(p<0.05). In the NO. 15 and 20 file groups, there was a significant difference between E-plus film at 0.25 seconds and E-plus film at 0.01 seconds(p<0.05). In conclusion, Digora(R) was better than E-plus film in detectability on the tip of the file at the exposure time of 0.01 seconds in all file groups. And we concluded that Digora(R) can shorten exposure times up to 4% of 0.25 seconds (0.01 sec), which is adequate exposure time for premolar in E-plus film using No. 15 and 20 files.
Bicuspid ; Crowns ; Dental Pulp Cavity ; Radiographic Image Enhancement ; Tooth

PURPOSE: To assess the value of gray-scale stimulated acoustic emission in differential diagnosis between hepatocellular carcinoma and metastatic adenocarcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four cases of epatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in 23 patients and 26 cases of metastatic adenocarcinoma in 14 patients were prospectively examined using the pulse-inversion harmonic technique after intravenous SH U 508A administration. Gray-scale stimulated acoustic emission (SAE) was measured 5 mins after bolus injection of a contrast agent (4g, 400 mg/ml). The presence or absence of SAE signals at internal and marginal areas of the tumor and the appearance (smooth or irregular) of its border were compared. In addition, the SAE index [SAE (parenchyma) - SAE (tumor)/ SAE (parenchyma)] was histographically determined using a computerized program (PiView TM ; Mediface, Seoul, Korea). The statistics were analysed using student'st test. RESULT: Of the 24 HCC cases, 20 (83%) showed internal SAE signals, while 23 (96%) marginal signals were emitted. Of the 26 cases of metastatic adenocarcinoma, one (4%) showed internal SAE signals, while in five (19%), these signals were marginal. The tumoral border was irregular in 19 HCC lesions (79%) and smooth in 23 metastatic lesions (88%). For HCC and metastatic tumors, the mean SAE index was 0.38 +/-0.15 and 0.60 +/- 0.08, respectively (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Gray-scale stimulated acoustic emission can be a useful tool in differential diagnosis between heatocellular carcinoma and metastatic adenocarcinoma.
Acoustics* ; Adenocarcinoma* ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Diagnosis, Differential* ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; Microbubbles ; Prospective Studies ; Seoul

Fibrohistiocytic tumors are a diverse group of benign and malignant soft tissue lesions, including dermatofibroma, dermatofibrosarcomaprotuberans, and malignant fibrous histiocytoma. On the clinical point of view, the distinction between benign and malignant lesions and malignancy grading is far more important. Therefore, we investigated 23 fibrohistiocytic tumors, using PCNA (PC10) which was a useful marker of proliferating activity, to differentiate the benign lesions from the malignant and correlate with other prognostic factors including tumor necrosis. cellularity, histologic grade, and mitotic counts. The results obtained were as follows 1) Positive tumor cells were clearly identified by the characteristic diffuse or granular nuclear staining. 2) The number of PCNA-positive tumor cells were 2.16+/-2.39% in dermatofibroma, 16.12+/-7.38% in dermatofibrosacoma protuberans, and 28.02+/-17.47% in the malignant fibrous histiocytoma. The numbers of PCNA-positive tumor cells in the malignant lesions higher than in the benign (p<0.001). 3) Deep seated, large size (>5 cm) and recurred or metastatic cases of MFH were more the high PCNA index (more than 20%) than the low index (less than 20%) groups. 4) PCNA index in MFHs had positive correlation with the number of mitotic counts (r=0.7582, p<0.001), cellularity (r=0.5908, p<0.05) and histologic grade (r=0.4164, p<0.05). These results suggested that reactivity on PCNA might assist in the distinction between benign and malignant lesions in fibrohistiocytic tumors, and could be a useful prognostic factor in the patients with malignant fibrous histiocytoma.
Neoplasm Metastasis

This study was conducted to investigate the validity of using a cameraphone for a dietary intake survey method. The subjects were 28 female college students. After eating a standard lunch meal which consisted of plain rice, seaweed soup, bulgogi, cucumber salad, roasted anchovy and kimchi, the quantity of dietary intake, calorie intake & nutrients intake were analyzed by weighed method, diet record method and cameraphone method by dietitian with & without cameraphone analysis training. There were no significant differences in the quantity of 6 foods intake between weighted method and cameraphone method by dietitians with camera phone analysis training. However, the quantity of seaweed soup, bulgogi & cucumber salad intake analyzed by diet record method was significantly lower than the weighed method. And the quantity of seaweed soup, bulgogi, cucumber salad, roasted anchovy and kimchi intake analyzed by the cameraphone method by dietitians without cameraphone analysis training was significantly lower than the weighed method. There were no significant differences in the calorie intake and nutrients intake between the weighted method and camera phone method by dietitians with camera-phone analysis training. However, protein, calcium, iron, phosphorous, Vitamin A, Vitamin B2, Vitamin E and cholesterol intake analyzed by diet record method was significantly lower than the weighed method. And fat and Vitamin B2 intake analyzed by the camera phone method by dietitians without cameraphone analysis training was significantly lower than the weighed method. Therefore, this study suggests that the use of the camerephone may be a valid and convenient method for evaluating a dietary intake survey. However, systematic and standard education is necessary about the size and volume of dishes and angle of photo for more accurate results.
Calcium ; Cholesterol ; Surveys and Questionnaires* ; Diet Records ; Eating ; Education ; Female ; Humans ; Iron ; Lunch ; Meals ; Nutritionists ; Riboflavin ; Seaweed ; Vitamin A ; Vitamin E ; Vitamins

OBJECTIVE: Recently, microdissection of tissue sections has been used increasingly for the isolation of morphologically identified homogeneous cell populations, thus overcoming the obstacle of tissue complexity for the analysis cell-specific expression of macromolecules. The aim of the present study was to establish the minimal conditions required for the RNA extraction and amplification from the cells captured by the laser captured microdissection. METHODS: Mouse ovaries were fixed and cut into serial sections (7 micrometer thickness). Oocytes were captured by laser captured microdissection (LCM) method by using PixCell IITM system. The frozen sections were fixed in 70% ethanol and stained with hematoxylin and eosin, while the paraffin sections were stained with Multiple stain. Sections were dehydrated in graded alcohols followed by xylene and air-dried for 20 min prior to LCM. All reactions were performed in ribonuclease free solutions to prevent RNA degradation. After LCM, total RNA extraction from the captured oocytes was performed using the guanidinium isothiocyanate (GITC) solution, and subsequently evaluated by reverse transcriptase -polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate-dehydrogenase (GAPDH). RESULTS: With the frozen sections, detection of the GAPDH mRNA expression in the number of captured 25 oocytes were not repeatable, but the expression was always detectable from 50 oocytes. With 25 oocytes, at least 27 PCR cycles were required, whereas with 50 oocytes, 21 cycles were enough to detect GAPDH expression. Amount of the primary cDNA required for RT-PCR was reduced down to at least 0.25 microl with 50 oocytes, thus the resting 19.75 microl cDNA can be used for the testing other interested gene expression. Tissue-to-slide, tissue-to-tissue forces were very high in the paraffin sections, thus the greater number of cell procurement was required than the frozen sections. CONCLUSION: We have described a method for analyzing gene expression at the RNA level with the homogeneously microdissected cells from the small amount of tissues with complexity. We found that LCM coupled with RT-PCR could detect housekeeping gene expression in 50 oocytes captured. This technique can be easily applied for the study of gene expression with the small amount of tissues.
Alcohols ; Animals ; DNA, Complementary ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Ethanol ; Female ; Frozen Sections ; Gene Expression* ; Genes, Essential ; Guanidine ; Hematoxylin ; Mice ; Microdissection* ; Oocytes* ; Ovary ; Paraffin ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Ribonucleases ; RNA Stability ; RNA* ; RNA, Messenger ; RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase ; Xylenes

The shortage of available organ donors is a significant problem and various efforts have been made to avoid the loss of organ donors. Among these, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been introduced to help support and manage potential donors. Many traumatic brain injury patients have healthy organs that might be eligible for donation for transplantation. However, the condition of a donor with a fatal brain injury may rapidly deteriorate prior to brain death determination; this frequently results in the loss of eligible donors. Here, we report the use of venoarterial ECMO to support a potential donor with a fatal brain injury before brain death determination, and thereby preserve donor organs. The patient successfully donated his liver and kidneys after brain death determination.
Brain Death* ; Brain Injuries* ; Brain* ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation* ; Humans ; Kidney ; Liver ; Tissue and Organ Procurement ; Tissue Donors*

No abstract available.
Aneurysm* ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular*

Human Adjuvant Disease(HAD) is a connective tissue disease occuring after cosmetic surgery with a foreign substance. It was first reported by Miyoshi in 1964. There have been specific connective disorders such as systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, progressive systemic sclerosis and mixed connective tissue disease. Scleroderma is the single most commonly reported disease. A 55-year-old woman was seen for evaluation of dypnea. Four years previously, she underwent cosmetic surgery with silicone injected directly into eyelid, forehead, both hand and monspubis. The patient presented the classic feature of systemic sclerosis and pericardial effusion. Following pericardiocentesis, she felt somewhat better and became less dyspneic. Seventeen days later, however, she progressively deteriorated and died in spite of intensive medical therapy and supportive care.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Connective Tissue Diseases ; Eyelids ; Female ; Forehead ; Hand ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Middle Aged ; Mixed Connective Tissue Disease ; Pericardial Effusion ; Pericardiocentesis ; Scleroderma, Diffuse ; Scleroderma, Systemic ; Sclerosis* ; Silicone Gels* ; Surgery, Plastic*