BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The diagnostic accuracy for unruptured intracranial aneurysms has increased, and incidental asymptomatic aneurysms have come to represent a substantial clinical burden because of their controversial natural history. However, their prevalence may be attributable to variations in evaluation methods and demographics. We therefore describe the prevalence and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) findings of incidental intracranial saccular aneurysms over a 5-year period at a single large-volume center. METHODS: MRA images from 18,237 patients obtained between January 2001 and December 2005 were retrieved from the radiology report database. Patients diagnosed with incidental intracranial saccular aneurysms were identified and their MRA data were reviewed. Imaging and clinical follow-up data were evaluated. RESULTS: During the study period, 366 incidental intracranial saccular aneurysms were identified in 330 patients (prevalence, 1.8%; 95% confidence interval, 1.63%-2.01%; 115 men and 215 women; age range, 22-82 years; median age, 63 years). The prevalence was higher in women (215/8,112) than in men (115/10,125; P=0.02). The prevalence increased with age in women (P<0.01), but not in men (P=0.30). Aneurysm size ranged from 1.5 mm to 13 mm, with a median size of 4 mm. The most common location was the bifurcation of the middle cerebral artery (131/366; 35.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Our real world experience indicated a slightly lower overall prevalence of incidental intracranial saccular aneurysms than previously reported. The prevalence increased with age in women but not in men.
Aneurysm* ; Angiography* ; Demography ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head* ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; Male ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Natural History ; Prevalence

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The diagnostic accuracy for unruptured intracranial aneurysms has increased, and incidental asymptomatic aneurysms have come to represent a substantial clinical burden because of their controversial natural history. However, their prevalence may be attributable to variations in evaluation methods and demographics. We therefore describe the prevalence and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) findings of incidental intracranial saccular aneurysms over a 5-year period at a single large-volume center. METHODS: MRA images from 18,237 patients obtained between January 2001 and December 2005 were retrieved from the radiology report database. Patients diagnosed with incidental intracranial saccular aneurysms were identified and their MRA data were reviewed. Imaging and clinical follow-up data were evaluated. RESULTS: During the study period, 366 incidental intracranial saccular aneurysms were identified in 330 patients (prevalence, 1.8%; 95% confidence interval, 1.63%-2.01%; 115 men and 215 women; age range, 22-82 years; median age, 63 years). The prevalence was higher in women (215/8,112) than in men (115/10,125; P=0.02). The prevalence increased with age in women (P<0.01), but not in men (P=0.30). Aneurysm size ranged from 1.5 mm to 13 mm, with a median size of 4 mm. The most common location was the bifurcation of the middle cerebral artery (131/366; 35.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Our real world experience indicated a slightly lower overall prevalence of incidental intracranial saccular aneurysms than previously reported. The prevalence increased with age in women but not in men.
Aneurysm* ; Angiography* ; Demography ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head* ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; Male ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Natural History ; Prevalence

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Dysfunction of arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) and arteriovenous grafts (AVGs) contributes significantly to morbidity and hospitalization in the dialysis population. We evaluated the primary patency of AVFs following percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) in haemodialysis patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We performed 231 interventions in 118 patients with a mean age of 62.1+/-12.9 years. We performed 122 interventions in 53 AVG patients (44.9%), and 109 interventions in 65 AVF patients (55.1%). If there was thrombosis of the vascular access, urokinase was administered and/or thrombus aspiration was performed. The stent was inserted when balloon dilatation did not expand sufficiently or elastic recoil occurred. RESULTS: For the 118 patients, the median patency time was 10.45+/-10.29 months at 92 months of follow-up. The primary patencies for stenotic AVFs at 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60 months were 63.4%, 41.4%, 17.0%, 9.7%, 7.3%, and 2.4%, respectively. The primary patencies for AVGs at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months were 36.9%, 19.5%, 10.8%, 2.1%, respectively, and were obtained by means of the Kaplan-Meier analysis (log rank=6.42, p<0.05). The median patency time was 11.0 months and 4.45 months in the non-thrombus and thrombus groups, respectively. The complication rate was 1.73% (4/231); two cases of pseudoaneurysms and two cases of extravasation were detected. All therapy failures (5/231) occurred in thrombotic lesions of AVGs and were treated surgically. CONCLUSION: PTA is an efficacious method for the correction of stenosis of AVFs for hemodialysis, thus prolonging the patency of the fistulas.
Aneurysm, False ; Angioplasty ; Arteriovenous Fistula ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Dialysis ; Dilatation ; Fistula ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Renal Dialysis ; Stents ; Thrombosis ; Transplants ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator

PURPOSE: Complex clinical information in cerebral angiointervention unit requires effective management of statistical analysis for the classification of diagnosis and intervention including follow-up data from the interventional treatment. We present an application of Microsoft Access program for the management of patient data in cerebral angiointervention unit which suggests practical methods in recording and analyzing the patient data. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Since January 2002, patient information from cerebral angiointervention was managed by a database with over 4000 patients. We designed a program which incorporates six items; Table, Query, Form, Report, Page and Macro. Patient data, follow-up data and information regarding diagnosis and intervention were established in the Form section, related by serial number, and connected to each other to an independent Table. Problems in running the program were corrected by establishing Entity Relationship (ER) diagrams of Tables to define relationships between Tables. Convenient Queries, Forms and Reports were created to display expected information were applied from selected Tables. RESULTS: The relationship program which incorporated six items conveniently provided the number of cases per year, incidence of disease, lesion site, and case analysis based on interventional treatment. We were able to follow the patients after the interventional procedures by creating queries and reports. Lists of disease and patients files were identified easily each time by the Macro function. In addition, product names, size and characteristics of materials used were indexed and easily available. CONCLUSION: Microsoft Access program is effective in the management of patient data in cerebral angiointervention unit. Accumulation of large amounts of complex data handled by multiple users may require client/sever solutions such as a Microsoft SQL Server.
Classification ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Running ; Statistics as Topic

OBJECTIVE: Atopic dermatitis is a chronically relapsing inflammatory skin disease. However, little is known about the prevalence of atopic dermatitis outside of North America and Europe. We evaluated the nationwide prevalence of atopic dermatitis with the comparison of prevalence between 1995 and 2000, and between Seoul and provincial cities in Korea. We also evaluated the risk factors for atopic dermatitis. METHODS: A cross-sectional ISAAC based questionnaire survey was conducted on random samples of schoolchildren (6 to 15 year olds) in 1995 and 2000. And kindergarten children (5 year olds) were surveyed in 2003, throughout South Korea. RESULTS: The lifetime and last twelve months prevalence of atopic dermatitis in Korean school-aged children was increased from 1995 to 2000. The twelve-month prevalence of atopic dermatitis was higher in Seoul than in other provincial cities in 1995, but the prevalence of atopic dermatitis in Seoul and Provincial Centers became similar in 2000. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of atopic dermatitis in Korean school-aged children was increased from 1995 to 2000. The further evaluations that include objective examination are necessary to confirm these outcomes because the environmental and risk factors may be different among the countries according to their life styles.
Child* ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Epidemiology ; Europe ; Humans ; Korea* ; Life Style ; North America ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Risk Factors ; Seoul ; Skin Diseases

Mycelium of Hericium erinaceum isolate KU-1 was cultured in liquid medium (HL medium) and solid medium (Ko medium) at pH 4.0 in 28degrees C. 1.0% glucose or fructose was the most favorable carbon source, and 0.2% amonium acetate or NaNO3 was an exellent nitrogen source for mycelial growth as well as production of antimicrobial substances. The mixture of saw dust 70% with rice bran 30% (SR medium) was the substrate for formation of sporophores. The active substrates in extracts from mycelium, culture filtrate and fruiting body were separated by TLC. The solvent for TLC was EtOAc: Chloroform: MeOH (10 : 5 : 10). Phenol-like substances appeared at Rf 0.5~0.9, and fatty acid-like substances appeared at Rf 0.1~0.2. The purified materials from the extracts showed antimicrobial effects to Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans and Microsporum gypseum. The S. aureus was the most inhibited. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of purified white powder and the Hercenone derivatives against S. aureus were 5.65microg/ml and 1.85microg/ml, respectively.
Aspergillus niger ; Bacillus subtilis ; Candida albicans ; Carbon ; Chloroform ; Dust ; Escherichia coli ; Fructose ; Fruit ; Glucose ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Microsporum ; Mycelium ; Nitrogen ; Staphylococcus aureus

BACKGROUND: Cardiac tamponade is associated with the expiratory increase and the expira-tory decrease in left ventricular filling flow. With Doppler echocardiography, we analyzed the respiratory variations of mitral and tricuspid inflows, and pulmonary and hepatic venous flows in patients with cardiac tamponade. METHODS: Respiratory hemodynamic changes in mitral and tricuspid inflows and pulmonary and hepatic venous flows were evaluated using Doppler echocardiography in 13 patients (6 men and 7 women; mean age 51+/-13 years) with large pericardial effusion and clinical cardiac tamponade, and compared the results with those of 11 control subjects (3 men and 8 women, mean age 53+/-13 years). Doppler examination was repeated after pericardiocentesis in 6 patients. RESULTS: Peak velocity of early diastolic mitral inflow (E velocity) decreased during inspiration compared with expiratory increase; the mean percentage change was 40%. Peak velocity of late diastolic mitral inflow (A velocity) decreased 13% during inspiration. E/A ratio decreased 31% during inspiration. Deceleration time (DT) and isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT) increased by 26% and 44%, respectively, during inspiration. But respiratory variations of tricuspid inflow were opposite to those of mitral inflow. Tricuspid E velocity increased during inspiration and decre-ased during expiration. The mean percentage change was 123%, which was larger than thte 40% of mitral inflow. The most characteristic findings of pulmonary venous flow during respiration were the expiratory increases of peak diastolic velocity (DV) and diastolic time-velocity integral (D-TVI). The mean percentage changes of peak systolic velocity (SV), DV and D-TVI during respiration were 27%, 45% and 53% respectively. In contrast, the SV and DV of hepatic venous flow increased during inspiration and decreased during expiration. The respiratory variations of peak systolic reverse flow velocity (SR) and peak diastolic reverse flow velocity (DR) were opposite to those of SV and DV. DR notably increased during expiration, and the mean percentage change was 61%. The ratio of RFI (Inspiratory reverse flow integral) to FFI (forward flow integral) of the tamponade group was 270%. The mean percentage changes of each parameters decreased after pericardiocentesis. CONCLUSION: Patients with cardiac tamponade showed inspiratory increases of diastolic tri-cuspid filling flow and hepatic forward flow. Expiratory increases included diastolic mitral filling flow, pulmonary venous systolic and diastolic flow, and hepatic venous reverse flow. Such res-piratory variations decreased after pericardiocentesis.
Cardiac Tamponade* ; Deceleration ; Echocardiography* ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; Female ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Male ; Pericardial Effusion ; Pericardiocentesis ; Relaxation ; Respiration

A 56 years old male patient admitted to our neurology department because of repeated tingling sensation in right 3, 4, 5th. fingers and weakness on grasping, which were progressively developed recently. At this time, he had also suffered from claudication in both lower extremities. Carotid angiogram showed that right internal carotid artery was obstructed completely, and both common, both external and left internal carotid arteries had significant stenosis, Concommitantly, aortogram suggested complete obstruction just below the renal arteries. We planned staged operation for two separated arterial lesions. Both carotid endarterectomy was performed. and we used carotid shunt for left side during operation. Abdominal aortic lesion was operated 2 weeks later. We obligately clamped aorta just below the celiac artery and infused kidney perservation solution to pertect kidney during ischemia. Reversed Y bypass graft and kidney perservation was successful despite of 40 minute ischemia. Postoperative coure was uneventful and patient was discharged without any specific problem.
Aorta ; Aorta, Abdominal* ; Carotid Arteries* ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Carotid Stenosis ; Celiac Artery ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Endarterectomy, Carotid* ; Fingers ; Hand Strength ; Humans ; Ischemia ; Kidney* ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neurology ; Organ Preservation ; Renal Artery ; Sensation ; Transplants*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Changes in subsite distribution of colorectal cancer have been shown in recent years. The carcinoma tend to shift to more proximal colon and this proximal shift is influenced by age and sex. This study was designed to delineate the relationship of age to subsite incidence of colorectal cancer and to define the role of gender in this difference. METHOD: We have analyzed the data by patients with colorectal cancer from 1985 to 1995 for elucidate the relationships between age, sex and prinmry location of colorectal cancer. 749 patients(male 454, female 295) were diagnosed of colorectal cancer performed by colonoscopy and/or sigmoidoeopy were divided into three groups by their location of cancer (Right colon: appendix, ascending colon, hepatic flexure, T-colon proximal 2/3 Left colon: T-colon distal 1/3, splenic flexure, descending colon, sigmoid colon Rectum: rectum). RESULTS: 1) The mean age of all patients was 53.84 +/- 13.11(yr). Mean ages of Right colon, Left colon, and Rectal cancer group were 55.54 +/- 14.12, 55.32 +/- 12.51, 52.22 +/- 13.09(yr), respectively. The mean age of Right colon and Left colon cancer group is significantly older than that of Rectal cancer group (p=0.0040, p=0.0042). 2) Infemale age group over 56, mean age of Right colon cancer group is shown to be 3.35 and 4.82 years older than Left colon cancer group and Rectal cancer group, respectively (p=0.0062, p=0.0053) and Colon cancer tend to develop on more right side according to increase in age. 3) Above correlation was not observed below 55 of both sexes and male age group over 56. 4) No significant differences in histological differentiation and tumor stage were observed among the three groups. 5) The study was conducted to evaluate the difference in the location of colorectal cancer between two following groups; The first group diagnosed from 1985 to 1990 and the second group from 1991 to 1995, yet significant statistical difference was not observed. CONCLUSION: Age increase seems to show correlation with right shifting of colon cancer, and this correlation was most significant in old women age group. This finding suggests unknown factor strongly linked to age and sex might play important role in carcinogenesis of colorectal cancer.
Appendix ; Carcinogenesis ; Colon ; Colon, Ascending ; Colon, Descending ; Colon, Sigmoid ; Colon, Transverse ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Colonoscopy ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Rectal Neoplasms ; Rectum

The anomaly which the right pulmonary artery originates from the ascending aorta is a rare and usually fatal form of congenital heart disease. This lesion is often associated with a patent ductus arteriosus. Death frequently occurs in early infancy. Anomalous origin of the right pulmonary artery is much more common than anomalous origin of the left pulmonary artery. The anomalous right pulmonary artery usually arise from the posterior aspect of the ascending aorta close to the aortic valve. We report a 1 month-old infant with right pulmonary artery arising from the ascending aorta, which was corrected successfully by direct anastomosis to the main pulmonary artery.
Aorta* ; Aortic Valve ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Pulmonary Artery*