Paralytic pontine extropia(PPE) is a exotropia in contralateral eye of lesion side, associated with one-and- a-half syndrome in acute phase of brainstem infarction and after then, often followed by non-paralytic pontine extropia(NPPE) and medial longitudinal fasciculus (MLF) syndrome in each clinical improvement. NPPE is pontine exotropia without lateral gaze palsy to ipsilateral side and is considered to be due to partial impairment of the unilateral paramedian pontine reticular formation(PPRF). We reported a case, 75 yearold man, of brainstem infarction who initially presented NPPE in acute phase, followed by ipsialteral MLF syndrome after 5th days.
Brain Stem Infarctions* ; Brain Stem* ; Brain* ; Exotropia* ; Paralysis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of lung volume on dependent lung opacity seen at thin-section CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In thirteen healthy volunteers, thin-section CT scans were performed at three levels (upper, mid, and lower portion of the lung) and at different lung volumes (10, 30, 50, and 100% vital capacity), using spirometric gated CT. Using a three-point scale, two radiologists determined whether dependent opacity was present, and estimated its degree. Regional lung attenuation at a level 2 cm above the diaphragm was determined using semiautomatic segmentation, and the diameter of a branch of the right lower posterior basal segmental artery was measured at each different vital capacity. RESULTS: At all three anatomic levels, dependent opacity occurred significantly more often at lower vital capacities (10, 30%) than at 100% vital capacity (p = 0.001). Visually estimated dependent opacity was significantly related to regional lung attenuation (p < 0.0001), which in dependent areas progressively increased as vital capacity decreased (p < 0.0001). The presence of dependent opacity and regional lung attenuation of a dependent area correlated significantly with increased diameter of a segmental arterial branch (r = 0.493 and p = 0.0002; r = 0.486 and p = 0.0003, respectively). CONCLUSION: Visual estimation and CT measurements of dependent opacity obtained by semiautomatic segmentation are significantly influenced by lung volume and are related to vascular diameter.
Adult ; Female ; Human ; Lung/*radiography ; Lung Volume Measurements ; Male ; Spirometry ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; *Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vital Capacity

The genetically determined CYP2D6 activity is considered to be associated with cancer susceptibility with inter-individual variation. Genetic polymorphism of CYP2D6(B) and CYP2D6(T) was determined by the two polymerase chain reaction(PCR) and BstN1 and EcoN1 restriction fragment length polymorphisms(RFLP) for 67 lung cancer cases and 95 healthy volunteer controls. The cases were composed of 26 squamous cell carcinoma, 14 small cell carcinoma, 10 adenocarcinoma, 3 large cell undifferentiated carcinoma, and 14 not histologically diagnosed. The results were gained from the 142 subjects (57 cases and 85 controls) who observed successfully in two PCR and BstN1/EcoN1 RFLP. Only one and no mutant allele of the CYP2D6(B) and CYP2D6(T) gene was detected, that is, the frequency of mutant allele was very low; 0.7%(1/142) and 0%(0/142), respectively. Detected mutant allele of the CYP2D6(B) was heterozygous type(WM). The odds ratios for lung cancer susceptibility with CYP2D6(B) and CYP2D6(T) genotype were not calculated. These results are similar to the previous understanding that the mutant allele is very rare in Orientals compared to Caucasians, therefore, it considered that CYP2D6(B) and CYP2D6(T) genotypes have maybe no association with lung cancer susceptibility in Koreans. This is the basic data of CYP2D6(B) and CYP2D6(T) genotypes for Koreans. It would be hepful for further study to determine lung cancer susceptibility of Koreans with the data about CYP1A1, CYP2E1, GSTM1 from future study.
Adenocarcinoma ; Alleles ; Carcinoma ; Carcinoma, Small Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6 ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1 ; Genotype ; Healthy Volunteers ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Odds Ratio ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to analyze the mitochondrial DNA in failing and normal hearts. METHODS: Genomic DNA was extracted from 18 failing and 4 normal hearts. The DNA was digested with each 50 units of BamH I, Pvu II, Pst I, and hybridized using DNA fragments encoding CO II (cytochrome oxidase II) and CO IU. They were detected using 'Fluorescein Gene Images' system. RESULTS: The light microscopic feature of failing myocardium was compatible with that of primary cardiomyopathy. In southern blot analysis, there was no significant difference in mitochondrial DNA amounts between normal and failing hearts. The amount of mitochondrial DNA in hearts, whether normal or failing, was greater than that in lymphocytes. There were no abnormal bands except 16.6kb-normal band using the enzyme BamH I, Pvu II from failing and normal hearts. After digesting with Pst I, 2.1kb band was found using probe CO II and 14.5kb band using probe CO III. CONCLUSION: The amount of mitochondrial DNA in hearts, whether normal or failing, was greater than that in lymphocytes, which suggests that the heart is an active organ in the energy metabolism. Abnormal band was not found in southern blot analysis of the mitochondrial DNA from failing and normal hearts. The more sensitive method such as PCR is required to detect the presence of sma11 amount of mutated DNA.
Blotting, Southern ; Cardiomyopathies ; DNA ; DNA, Mitochondrial* ; Energy Metabolism ; Heart Failure ; Heart* ; Lymphocytes ; Myocardium ; Oxidoreductases ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

BACKGROUND/AIM: A significant correlation between HBV DNA and liver damage was found in precore mutant strains but there was no significant association between viral replication and liver damage in HBeAg positive patients. Laboratory tests are often requested to predict hepatitis activity (grade) and fibrosis (stage) in HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B. We assessed ALT, AST, and HBV-branched DNA to find which is the best for predicting hepatitis activity and fibrosis. METHODS: Routine biochemical liver function tests and HBV DNA in sera were assessed in 119 young patients positive with HBsAg and HBeAg. The mean age of patients was 21+/-2 years. All patients were male. By logistic regression analysis the relationships between laboratory data, hepatitis activity, fibrosis, or risk of chronic active hepatitis were analyzed. RESULTS: There was a significant correlation between aminotransferase (AST, ALT) and hepatitis activity/ fibrosis. A significant inverse relationship between the HBV bDNA and hepatitis activity was demonstrated (Pearson's correlation coefficient: lobular activity,-0.305; porto-periportal activity, -0.410). But HBV bDNA was not correlated with severity of fibrosis. AST and HBV bDNA was the important test for predicting the more severe hepatitis activity (lobular activity and porto-periportal activity: score> or =3, respectively) CONCLUSION: The higher AST, but the lower HBV bDNA, in sera shows the more severe hepatitis activity. AST and HBV bDNA could be helpful for assessing the hepatitis activity in young male patients with HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B if proper reference values are used.
Adult ; Alanine Transaminase/blood ; Aspartate Aminotransferases/blood ; DNA, Viral/*analysis ; English Abstract ; Enzyme Tests ; Hepatitis B Virus/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Hepatitis B e Antigens/*blood ; Hepatitis B, Chronic/diagnosis/*pathology/virology ; Human ; Liver/pathology ; Male

PURPOSE: Inappropriate cuff inflations cause many complications. A conventional pilot balloon palpation technique is insufficient to detect high cuff pressures, but is still preferred. Hence, we conducted this study to identify effectiveness, preference and ease of use of a new estimation technique named "passive release technique" for endotracheal tube cuff inflation. METHODS: Twenty-nine nurses inflated cuffs by a pilot balloon palpation technique in manikins inserted with a 7.5 mm endotracheal tube. Then, being educated about passive release techniques, they inflated cuffs using such a passive release technique. Intracuff pressures and air volumes were measured by manometers and syringes. Preference and ease of use between the two methods were scored using a 10-point Likert scale. RESULTS: For the pilot balloon palpation technique, only 4 nurses (13.8%) inflated cuffs within the normal range of pressures (normal: 15 to 30 mb) with an average of 39.3+/-34.0 cmH2O. For the passive release technique, 19 nurses (65.5%) inflated cuffs within the normal range of pressures with an average of 24.2+/-9.3 cmH2O (McNemar's test, p<0.01). In the pilot balloon palpation technique, inflated air volumes of 7.8+/-2.0 ml were not significantly different from inflated air volumes 8.5+/-1.2 ml (p=0.07) for the passive release technique. But the difference was found to be statistically significant in a variance ratio test (F-test) (p<0.01). In view of preference and ease of use between the two methods, mean values were not statistically different, 7.3+/-2.0 vs. 7.0+/-2.0 and 7.0+/-2.3 vs. 7.3+/-2.4, respectively. CONCLUSION: When direct intracuff measurement is not available, a passive release technique using a syringe is an effective and easy method to achieve cuff inflation.
Inflation, Economic ; Intubation ; Manikins ; Palpation ; Reference Values ; Statistics as Topic ; Syringes

Propylthiouracil (PTU) is known to be a potential cause of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) positive small vessel vasculitis, resulting in glomerulonephritis and diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH). Herein, we describe a 25-year-old pregnant woman who developed a perinulcear ANCA (p-ANCA) and myeloperoxidase ANCA (MPO-ANCA) positive DAH during PTU therapy. The patient improved after corticosteroid therapy and discontinuation of the PTU. Methimazole was prescribed in spite of the risk of recurrence of DAH because of the pregnancy. The patient is currently free from pulmonary problems. Our case shows that the alternative agent, methimazole, can be used to treat hyperthyroidism in a pregnant patient with PTU associated DAH.
Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; *Pulmonary Alveoli ; Propylthiouracil/*adverse effects/therapeutic use ; *Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic ; Pregnancy ; Hyperthyroidism/blood/complications/*drug therapy ; Humans ; Hemoptysis/*chemically induced/diagnosis/immunology ; Female ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Bronchoscopy ; Antithyroid Agents/*adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic/*blood ; Adult

Macroenzymes are normal enzymes complexed with an immunoglobulin (usually IgG, rarely IgA or IgM). A number of macroenzymes have been reported in the literature. Among them, macro-AST has been detected in diseases such as acute and chronic hepatitis, various malignancies and autoimmune diseases, but usually not associated with any specific disease. We report a case of elevated AST activity in serum due to marco-AST formation in a female with chronic hepatitis C which was confirmed by AST isoenzyme electrophoresis. To our knowledge, this is the first report of macro-AST occurred in chronic hepatitis patient in Korea.
Aspartate Aminotransferases/*blood ; Female ; Hepatitis C, Chronic/*enzymology ; Humans ; Isoenzymes/blood ; Middle Aged

BACKGROUND: 4G allele of one base pair insertion/deletion polymorphism (4G/5G) at plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) was associated with increased plasma activity of PAI-1. Increased plasma PAI-1 activity was associated with increase risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). However, there was a controversy whether 4G allele increases the risk of CAD. We investigated relationship between 4G/5G genetic polymorphism and CAD in Korean population. METHODS: We studied 453 patients-145 patients with normal coronary angiogram (NL), 106 with stable angina (SA), 104 with unstable angina (UA) and 98 with myocardial infarction (MI)-characterized by coronary angiography. RESULTS: 1) Korean had higher 4G allele frequency than Caucasian (4G:5G=0.60:0.40 in Korean). 2) There were no allele or gene frequency difference of 4G/5G polymorphism between CAD group and NL group (4G:5G=0.61:0.39 in CAD, 0.59:0.41 in NL, p=0.58). 3) 4G allele was not associated with increased risk of acute coronary syndrome (4G:5G=0.60:0.40 in SA, 0.59:0.41 in UA, and 0.57:0.43 in MI, p=0.84). 4) 4G allele had no influence on progression of coronary artherosclerosis (4G:5G=0.58:0.42 in single vessel disease, 0.58:0.42 in two vessel disease, and 0.56:0.44 in three vessel disease, p=0.82). 5) 4G was not an independent risk factor of CAD even after adjusted with other risk factors. CONCLUSION: In Korean, 4G/5G polymorphism of PAI-1 gene has no relationship with development, progression of coronary artery disease.
Acute Coronary Syndrome ; Alleles ; Angina, Stable ; Angina, Unstable ; Base Pairing ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Gene Frequency ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction ; Plasma ; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 ; Plasminogen Activators* ; Plasminogen* ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVE: In order to evaluate the prevalence of cytomegalovirus infection to terminally failing heart, cytomegaloviral DNA was detected in the explanted hearts of transplantation recipients. METHODS: DNA extractions were performed from explanted failing hearts(N=22) and normal hearts (N=5) and polymerase chain reactions(PCRs) were done for detection of late gene sequence coded pp150 phosphoprotein. The products were confirmed with electrophoresis on 1% agarose gel. In order to improve the sensitivity of detection in cytomegaloviral genome, nested PCRs were executed with the primers designed for the original 607 bp products. RESULTS: All patients had IgG anti-cytomegalovirus antibody and did not have IgM anti-cytomegalovirus antibody. Cytomegaloviral genomes in myocardium were detected by polymerase chain reaction. The 607bp products by PCRs were found in both explanted failing hearts(3 cases/22, 13.5%) and normal hearts(1 case/5, 20.0%). In nested PCRs, 186bp products were found in both failing hearts(LV 4/22, LA 3/20, RV 5/22, HA 0/17) and normal hearts(LV 2/5, LA 1/4, RV 1/5, RA 2/5). There was no significant change in the presence of cytomegaloviral DNA between failing and normal hearts. Total positivity of cytomegaloviral genome in explanted hearts was 44.4% according to nested PCR results. CONCLUSION: Cytomegalovirus was rarely observed in explanted hearts of terminal heart failure and nested PCR could enhance the sensitivity of cytomegaloviral genome detection. But cytomegalovirus might have no direct causal relationship in the development of terminal heart failure.
Cardiomyopathy, Dilated ; Cytomegalovirus Infections* ; Cytomegalovirus* ; DNA ; Electrophoresis ; Genome ; Heart Failure ; Heart* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Myocardium ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence* ; Sepharose