PURPOSE: Hyperhomocysteinemia has been identified as an independent risk factor in arterial and venous thrombosis. Mutations in genes encoding methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), involved in the metabolism of homocysteine, may account for reduced enzyme activity and elevated plasma homocysteine levels. In this study, we investigated the interrelation of MTHFR C677T genotype and level of homocysteine in patients with arterial and venous thrombosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 146 patients who were diagnosed as having arterial and venous thrombosis. We excluded patients diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. We examined routinely the plasma concentration of total homocysteine level and MTHFR C677T polymorphism for evaluation of thrombotic tendency in all patients. Screening processes of MTHFR C677T polymorphism were performed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Investigated groups consisted of thrombotic arterial occlusion in 48 patients and venous occlusion in 63 patients. The distribution of the three genotypes was as follows: homozygous normal (CC) genotype in 29 (26.1%), heterozygous (CT) genotype in 57 (51.4%), and homozygous mutant (TT) genotype in 25 (22.5%) patients. There were no significant differences among individuals between each genotype group for baseline characteristics. Plasma concentration of homocysteine in patients with the TT genotype was significantly increased compared to the CC genotype (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: We observed a significant interaction between TT genotypes and homocysteine levels in our results. The results might reflect the complex interaction between candidate genes and external factors responsible for thrombosis.
Atrial Fibrillation ; Genotype ; Homocysteine* ; Humans ; Hyperhomocysteinemia ; Mass Screening ; Medical Records ; Metabolism ; Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)* ; Plasma* ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Thrombosis ; Venous Thrombosis

No abstract available.
Anti-Bacterial Agents* ; Appendicitis*

No abstract available.
Anti-Bacterial Agents* ; Appendicitis*

We compared 87 portographic filling defects detected by portal CT in 64 patients were compared with those obtained by indirect portography. The indirect portography could visualize portogram only in anterior-posterior view. But the portal portal CT could visualize both portogram and hepatogram. We examined the portal CT and indirect portography and compared the accuracy of the both methods to evaluate the limitation and significance of the indirect protography. The mass shape lesions were seen on the portal CT which means portal flow defects of the mass lesions only could not depict totally in indirect portography (0%, 0/41). And the larger defects than real mass lesion were seen in portal CT means mass with associated portal flow defect and find portal vein invasion around the mass in 52% (24/46) of the indirect portography. Among them, only 66% of mass were detected correctly in the indirect portography comparing with mass lesion in portal CT. In summary, indirect portogram could not detect small filling defects which detected in portal CT and could not depict the extent of large filling defects. It also could not visualize correctly the protal flow in non-lesion side of the liver parenchyma.
Humans ; Liver ; Portal Vein ; Portography*

Adolescence is the period in which physical, mental and social maturation occurs and it is an important transit stage, changing from childhood to adulthood. This is a period in which important changes occur physically such as rapid growth in height and weight gain but significant differences in growth may occur for the same age. Therfore, the degree of sexual maturation may be an important indicator in evaluating growth in adolescence. Six thousand five hundred and eighty six male and female students from grade 4 to senior high from Seoul, district town and countryside were evaluated for sexual maturity using Tanner staging, weight, height and body mass index and compared for growth. There was a rapid growth in height of 6.7cm in boys between the ages of 11 and 14 years and 6.3 cm in height for girls between the ages of 10 and 12 years, showing earlier growth in height for girls. Growth in height according to sexual maturation showed the greatest growth during stages 2~3 for boys and girls. Boys grew an average of 18.94 cm and girls an average of 18.03 cm in height during the whole sexual maturation period. There was an increase of 5.5 kg in weight for boys during the same age as for growth in height, that is between 11 and 14 years of age. In girls, an average weight gain of 5.1 kg occurred between 11 and 13 years of age, slightly later than that of growth in height. Rapid gain in weight occurred during Tanner stages 2~3 for girls. Total gain of 20.70 kg for boys occurred during the whole sexual maturation period while girls gained total 19.73 kg. Body mass index increased gradually during the whole adolescent period. It was greater in boys during the ages of 9 and 12 years and greater in girls the age of 13 years and again in boys after 17 years of age. During the whole maturation period, boys gained 3.24 and girls, 4.05 of body mass index showing more gain in girls. Height, weight and body mass index showed normal variations during the sexual maturation index showed normal variations during the sexual maturation period and the results may bring an increased understanding that adolescent physical growth was closely related to sexual maturation.
Adolescent* ; Body Mass Index ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Seoul ; Sexual Maturation* ; Weight Gain

We performed IV bolus CT scan in 40 patients with final diagnosis of various hepatic masses in order to evaluate hemodynamic changes and differentiating characters of the lesions. Preenhanced, early and late phase post enhanced, and delayed CT scans were obtained with rapid IV bolus injection of contrast materials and table sliding method for pertinent scans. In hepatomas, early enhanced CT scan directly showed hypervascular change and active viable portion of the mass and late phase CT scan showed capsular enhancement. In addition, extracapsular invasion and post-embolization recurrence were more easily visualized. In hemangiomas, early and late enhancing types could be categorized according to the time of maximal enhancement. In metastatic liver malignancies and cholangiocarcinomas, specific findings were seen in early phase and delayed CT scans and not in conventional CT scan. In conclusion, IV bolus CT scan is a very useful CT method in demonstrating the characteristic hemodynamic patterns and in differential diagnosis of the hepatic masses.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; Contrast Media ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Hemangioma ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Liver ; Methods ; Recurrence ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed*

A study on branching patterns of middle hepatic artery was performed in 109 patients with A-P and oblique view hepatic angiogram, which refered to size and location of quadrate lobe in CT and SMA portography We could analyze the branching patterns of middle hepatic artery (MHA) in 100 among the 109 patients. MHA arising as a first branch of left hepatic artery was the most common pattern (50%), and MHA arising from proper hepatic artery separately one from left hepatic artery was the next common pattern (35%). MHA originating from left gastric artery, or from anterior or posterior of the right hepatic artery was seen. MHA WAS not found as an accessory or replaced artery except as replaced common hepatic artery.
Angiography* ; Arteries ; Hepatic Artery* ; Humans ; Portography

Congenital agenesis of the right lobe of liver is a rare anomaly and only 33 cases have been reported. CT showed absence of the right lobe of liver and compensatory hypertrophy of the other lobe. We report the CT findings of a new case of this anomaly with a review of the literatures.
Hypertrophy ; Liver*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Lipoproteins* ; Plasma*

Authors compared early phase scan of the IV bolus CT (two phase incremental bolus dynamic CT) with late enhanecd scan similar to the conventional contrast enhanced CT for evaluation of the advantages of the IV bolus CT with two viewpoints of the pancreatic or peripancreatic mass and peripancreatic lymphadenopathy in 68 patients-28 cases of the pancreatic cancer, 6 cases of the pancreatitis and 34 cases of the pancreatic or peripancreatic metastasis. On the diagnosis of the pancreatic or peripancreatic mass, IV bolus CT could show the lesion(s) more easily in 41% (Grade II; 13/31) and much more easily in 34% (Grade III; 10/31) when compared with conventional contrast CT scan. The diagnosis of the peripancreatic lymph node involvement was also easy in 51%(Grade II; 20/39) and much easier in 37% (Grade III; 14/39). We thought that these differences were originated from the increase of the contrast between the lesion and normal portion because the early enhanced scans reflected the active blood flow change more exactly. Therefore IV bolus CT had advantages in comparison with the conventional drip infusion contrast CT in the diagnosis of the presence and pathologic extension of the pancreatic and peripancreatic lesion.
Diagnosis ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; Pancreatitis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed