The systolic time intervals were measured in 25 normal controls and 23 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy by simultaneous recording of the aortic valve echocardiogram and ECG. These values were compared to corresponding ones obtained from the method using simultaneously recorded phonocardiogram, ECG, and indirect carotid pulse tracings. And we assessed left ventricular function by systolic time intervals in dilated cardiomyopathy. The results were as followings. 1) High degree of correlation(r> or =0.94) was found between the two methods for each intervals, EMS, LVET, PEP, PEP/LVET. 2) In normal controls, PEP/LVET obtained from echocardiographic measurement was 0.31+/-0.02. 3) In the patients with dilated cardiomyopathy, PEP/LVET(0.59+/-0.13) was significantly higher(p<0.001), PEP index was longer(p<0.05), LVET index was shorter(p<0.05) than in normal controls.
Adult* ; Aortic Valve ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated* ; Echocardiography* ; Electrocardiography ; Humans ; Systole* ; Ventricular Function, Left

Low molecular weight dextran (dextran 40) has been widely used not only as a plasma expander and blood flow improver in various diseased or shock states, but also to prevent postoperative thromboembolic complications, especially in major operations such as vascular and hip surgery. Despite the fact that the drug can be administered with few complications, it can produce serious lifethreatening anaphylactoid reactions, although this occurs very rarely. The authors retrospectively investigated 89 patients, who developed a shock state perioperatively, out of 5267 patients in the operating room from April 1975 to June 1980 at the Jeonbug National University Hospital. Eight patients out of 89 developed a shock state with flushed skin, goose skin, bronchospasm, conjunctival injection and chest pain. These symptoms and signs were thought to be due to an anaphylactoid reaction to dextran 40. During this period of time, 2023 dextran 40 units were administered, so that the incidence of dextran induced anaphylactoid reaction was up to 0.40%. This is more than 10 times as much as reported by some investigators.
Bronchial Spasm ; Chest Pain ; Dextrans* ; Hip ; Humans ; Incidence ; Jeollabuk-do ; Molecular Weight ; Operating Rooms ; Plasma ; Research Personnel ; Retrospective Studies ; Shock ; Skin

His bundle recordings enable us to diagnose conduction disturbances not discernable in the standard leads, and to localize conduction block in the subdivisions of the conduction system. Cases of intra-His bundle block were first reported in 1970 by Narula and Samet. Thereafter many additional reports and studies were made. We report a case of 3degrees A-V block due to conduction block at the His bundle level. A 71-year-old woman was admitted because of dizziness. Surface ECG showed 3degrees A-V block. His bundle electrogram revealed typical split His potential. A-H intervals were 80 msec and H'-V intervals 50~70 msec. And there found no relation between AH and H'A. Atrial pacing resulted only prolongation of A-H to 90 msec but dissociation between h and H' was consistent. We implanted a permanent endocardial pacemaker in her chest.
Aged ; Bundle of His ; Dizziness ; Electrocardiography ; Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac ; Female ; Humans ; Thorax

The esophageal electrocardiogram is of increasing significance in the study and diagnosis of cardiac arrhythmia and of posterior myocardial disease. We used both bipolar and unipolar esophageal recording leads and standard electrocardiogram equipment, and compared the effectiveness of esophageal electrocardiogram with co nventional electrocardiogram. The effectiveness of esophageal electrocardiogram were as follows: 1) Differentiation of sinus, atrial, junctional, or ventricular rhythm. 2) Differentiation of origin of premature beats. 3) Differentiation of atrial flutter and fibrillation. 4) Detection of retrograde atrial conduction of extraventricular systole. 5) Detection of electrical alternance of QRS amplitude. 6) Diagnosis of posterior myocardial infarction. The results reported here indicate that the esophageal electrocardiogrm seems to be a valid method in the diagnosis of cardiac arrhythmias without invasiveness.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Atrial Flutter ; Cardiac Complexes, Premature ; Cardiomyopathies ; Diagnosis ; Electrocardiography* ; Myocardial Infarction ; Systole

The cystic teratoma is the most common germ cell tumors in reproductive age women. The malignant change of cystic teratoma is rare, about 1~2%, and mostly change to squ-amous cell carcinoma. We experienced 4 cases of squamous cell carcinoma arising in cystic teratoma and re- port our cases with a brief review of the literature.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Female ; Humans ; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal ; Ovary* ; Teratoma*

This study was performed to investigate the lipolytic effects of Portulaca oleracea L. extract in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The Portulaca oleracea L. was extracted with extrusion method using twin-screw extruder under 58~60 rpm screw speed, 4~5 kg/hr feed rate, 140degrees C extrusion temperature. The lipolytic action of Portulaca oleracea L. extract was estimated by measuring the amount of glycerol and free fatty acids (FFA) released from 3T3-L1 adipocytes and by measuring the cellular lipid content in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The hormone sensitive lipase (HSL) mRNA level was analyzed using quantitative real-time PCR. The Portulaca oleracea L. extract at 1 to 100 microgram/ml suppressed lipid accumulation. The release of glycerol and FFA into the medium, and the mRNA level of HSL were significantly increased by the addition of Portulaca oleracea L. extract at dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, the Portulaca oleracea L. extract was suggested to have the lipolytic effect through release of lipolytic products (FFA and glycerol) of triacylglyceride to the culture medium and suppression of lipid accumulation via up-regulation of HSL gene expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.
Adipocytes* ; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified ; Gene Expression* ; Glycerol ; Lipolysis* ; Portulaca* ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Messenger ; Sterol Esterase* ; Up-Regulation

RS3PE is used to describe patients who have peripheral seronegative polyarthritis and pitting edema, especially in a man older than 60. It is characterized by sudden onset, high sedimentation rate, lack of bony erosion, remission within 18 months and good prognosis. Whether the RS3PE is a unique disease or syndrome has long been discussed, but conclusion was not obtained. We describe a 72 year old man of RS3PE with a review of the literature.
Aged ; Arthritis ; Edema ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Synovitis*

The present study was performed to elucidate the hypocholesterolemic action of chitosan on the diet-induced hypercholesterolemia in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=24) were fed with chitosan-free diet (Control), diets containing 2% or 5% chitosan for 4 weeks. Hypercholesterolemia was induced by adding 1% cholesterol and 0.5% cholic acid to all diets. Body weight gain and food intake of rats did not differ among the groups. The chitosan treated groups showed significant improvement in the plasma concentration of total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol compared to the control group (p<0.05). Also, the chitosan treated groups decreased the liver concentration of total lipid and total cholesterol compared to the control group (p<0.05). The activity of hepatic cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase (CYP7A1), the rate-limiting enzyme in the conversion of cholesterol to bile acids, was increased by 123% and 165% for the 2% or 5% chitosan diets, respectively. These findings suggest that enhancement of hepatic CYP7A1 activity may be a mechanism, which can partially account for the hypocholesterolemic effect of dietary chitosan in cholesterol metabolism.
Animals ; Bile Acids and Salts ; Body Weight ; Chitosan* ; Cholesterol 7-alpha-Hydroxylase ; Cholesterol* ; Cholic Acid ; Diet ; Eating ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia* ; Liver* ; Male ; Metabolism ; Plasma* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

PURPOSE : Brain metastasis is estimated to occur in 10~45% of solid cancer patients, and is the most common intracranial tumor in adults. Several neurologic symptom palliations are made with steroid therapy and whole brain irradiation. MATERIALS AND METHODS : We evaluated respectively the clinical characteristics and treatment outcome for 44 patients with metastatic brain tumor from lung cancer during the period from April 2000 to December 2003. RESULTS : Median age of the patients was 61 years. The male : female ratio was 2.7 : 1. Synchronous and metachronous brain metastasis was seen in 18 (40.9%) and 26 patients (59.1%), respectively and median duration between the diagnosis of lung cancer and brain metastases was 6 months (range 1~18 months) in metachronous cases. Pathologic types of lung cancer were as follows : small cell lung cancer in 11 patients and non-small cell lung cancer in 33 patients (squamous cell carcinoma-13, adenocarcinoma-11, large cell carcinoma- 3, others-6). The most common symptom of brain metastasis was headache, which was in 27 patients (61.4%). Seven patients (15.9%) had a single brain metastasis while 37 patients (84.1%) had multiple brain metastases. The total radiation dose to whole brain ranged from 30 to 40 Gy (median 30 Gy). In 29 patients (65.9%) neurological symptoms were resolved after whole brain irradiation. Median survival was 18 weeks for patients with steroid therapy and whole brain radiotherapy. CONCLUSION : In present study, we confirmed that whole brain irradiation is an effective palliative treatment for patients with metastatic brain tumors from lung cancer
Adult ; Brain Neoplasms ; Brain* ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Headache ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Male ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Palliative Care ; Radiotherapy* ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma ; Treatment Outcome

Cardiobacterium hominis, a fastidious gram-negative bacillus rarely causing endocarditis, was isolated from blood culture of a 41-year-old man with subacute bacterial endocarditis. The patient had undergone an operation of valve replacement 4 years before. Growth of the organism was only detected in 1 of 6 blood cultures after 7 days incubation. The isolate showed typical characteristics of C. hominis, i.e., tear-drop like cells and a weak positive indole reaction. The isolate was susceptible to many antimicrobial agents, but penicillin G and streptomycin therapy failed to cure the disease.
Adult ; Bacterial Infections/complications* ; Case Report ; Endocarditis, Subacute Bacterial/etiology* ; Gram-Negative Bacteria ; Human ; Male