A total of 33 patients with infective endocarditis were observed in the Guro and Hye Hwa Hospitals of Korea University Between September, 1981 and Feb, 1987. Among thses patients four patients presented with heart murmur and heart failure and had vegetation like findings observed on the two dimensional echocardiography. But these patients did not have any fever or leukocytosis in the peripheral blood and the repeated blood cultures were negative. They showed the immunologic phenomena of infective endocarditis such as microscopic hematuria in 4 patients, rheumatoid factor in 3 patients, false positive VDRL in one patient. The serum complement was decreased in 2 patients in whom it was checked. We report these 4 patients because we think these patients might be in the clinical stage in which the infecting organism is spontaneously cleared but the immunologic sequelae are remained.
Complement System Proteins ; Echocardiography ; Endocarditis* ; Fever ; Heart Failure ; Heart Murmurs ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Korea ; Leukocytosis ; Rheumatoid Factor

PURPOSE: Thallous-201 chloride produced at Korea Cancer Center Hospital(KCCH) is used in detecting cardiovascular disease and cancer. Thallium impurity can cause emesis, catharsis and nausea, so the presence of thallium and other metal impurities should be determined. According to USP and KP, their amounts must be less than 2 ppm in thallium and 5 ppm in total. In this study, the detection method of trace amounts of metal impurities in [201Tl]TlCl injection with polarography was optimized without environmental contamination. MATERALS AND METHODS: For the detection of metal impurities, Osteryoung Square Wave Stripping Voltammetry method was used in Bio-Analytical System (BAS) 50W polarograph. The voltammetry was composed of Dropping Mercury Electrode (DME) as a working electrode, Ag/AgCl as a reference electrode and Pt wire as a counter electrode. Square wave stripping method, which makes use of formation and deformation of amalgam, was adopted to determine the metal impurities, and pH 7 phosphate buffer was used as supporting electrolyte. RESULTS: T1, Cu and Pb in thallous-201 chloride solution were detected by scanning from 300 mV to -800 mV. Calibration curves were made by using TlNO3, CuSO4 and Pb(NO3)2 as standard solutions. Tl was confirmed at -450 mV peak potential and Cu at -50 mV. Less than 2 ppm of Tl and Cu was detected and Pb was not detected in KCCH-produced thallous-201 chloride injection. CONCLUSION: Detection limit of thallium and copper is approximately 50 ppb with this method. As a result of this experiment, thallium and other metal impurities in thallous-201 chloride injection, produced at Korea Cancer Center Hospital, are in the regulation of USP and KP. Polarograph could be applied for the determination of metal impurities in the quality control of radiopharmaceuticals conveniently without environmental contamination.
Calibration ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Catharsis ; Copper ; Electrodes ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Korea ; Limit of Detection ; Metals, Heavy* ; Nausea ; Polarography* ; Quality Control ; Radiopharmaceuticals ; Thallium ; Vomiting

No abstract available.
Pregnancy*

We report a 43-year-old male who suffered cognitive dysfunction after an electric injury. He underwent evaluation for cognitive dysfunction and cerebral glucose hypometabolism at 1 week and 6 months. In contrast to the progressive decline of frontal lobe functions and visuospatial functions, memory and depressive mood were improved. SPM99 showed hypometabolic areas in the frontal and occipital lobes which were widened. Moreover new cingulate lesions appeared. This illustrates that the progression of derangement of cerebral glucose metabolism is correlated with neuropsychological impairment.
Adult ; Electric Injuries* ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Frontal Lobe ; Glucose ; Humans ; Male ; Memory ; Metabolism ; Neuropsychology ; Occipital Lobe ; Positron-Emission Tomography

Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of mortality and disability worldwide and in Korea as well. Dyslipidemia is considered as a major and modifiable risk factor of cardiovascular disease. In Korea, the prevalence of dyslipidemia in people aged 30 years or older was 47.8% in 2013, with prevalence increasing as age increases. Men had higher prevalence of dyslipidemia than women (men, 57.6%; women, 38.3%). However, the prevalence of dyslipidemia in women increased rapidly after menopause. Furthermore, dyslipidemia is also rising in childhood and adolescents. The prevalence of hypo-HDL cholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia were higher than hyper-LDL cholesterolemia. However, hyper-LDL cholesterolemia also has been increasing due to the westernized diet and other lifestyle changes. Atherogenic dyslipidemia, which is the combination of these lipoprotein abnormalities, seems to be increasing. The prevalence of dyslipidemia was higher in obese people, and the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome, which included dyslipidemia as a component of abnormalities, also increased in accordance with dyslipidemia. Also, dyslipidemia in patients with diabetes increased from 27.8% in 2006 to 49.5% in 2013. The awareness and treatment rate of dyslipidemia were lower in comparison with other chronic diseases. By providing information about the risk of dyslipidemia, primary prevention such as weight loss, dietary treatment, and quit smoking and secondary prevention such as early detection and drug treatment are required for reducing the development of cardiovascular disease.
Adolescent ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Chronic Disease ; Diet ; Dyslipidemias* ; Epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertriglyceridemia ; Korea* ; Life Style ; Lipoproteins ; Male ; Menopause ; Mortality ; Obesity ; Prevalence ; Primary Prevention ; Risk Factors ; Secondary Prevention ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Weight Loss

In patient with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, it is difficult to localize gastrinoma because the tumor is frequently small and multiple. However, accurate localization of the tumor is important for the treatment. Among various imaging modalities, somatostatin receptor scintigraphy (SRS) has been recognized to be the most sensitive tool for the detection of neuroendocrine tumors such as gastrinomas based on the presence of high-affinity binding sites for somatostatin. Recently, we experienced a case of Zollinger-Ellison syndrome caused by gastrinomas which was localized by SRS. This is the first case report of gastrinoma detected by SRS in Korea. SRS can facilitate tumor detection in patient with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and should be considered as the first-line diagnostic method in the early course of the disease.
Binding Sites ; Gastrinoma* ; Humans ; Korea ; Neuroendocrine Tumors ; Radionuclide Imaging ; Receptors, Somatostatin ; Somatostatin ; Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome*

Cutaneous mucinous eccrine carcinoma is a rare malignant tumor that is presumably of an eccrine gland origin. We observed a 53-year-old man with an erythematous nodule on his left infraorbital area. A large mucinous pool and characteristic tumor cells were shown on H&E stain, and further specific immunohistochemical stains confirmed the diagnosis. We report here on a case of mucinous eccrine carcinoma and we review the relevant literature.
Coloring Agents ; Eccrine Glands ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Mucins

No abstract available.
Athletes* ; Echocardiography* ; Humans

We present a case of recurrent left atrial myxoma which occurred 7 years and 10 months after initial operation despite resection of originaltumor and adjacent atrial septum. This is the first case report of recurrence in Korea. Among the possible causes of recurrence, regrowth from pretumorous focus seems to be the most suggesting one in this case. Histopathologic findings of recurrent myxoma showed increased cellularity with active proliferation and nuclear hyperchromasia. These findings, together with the rapidity of regrowth, suggest that recurrent myxoma may have 'wilder' behavior. Prolonged postoperative observation is important, even if ample resection was done at the initial operation including atrial septum.
Atrial Septum ; Korea ; Myxoma* ; Recurrence*

PURPOSE: Direct anthropometry is an ideal method for preoperative planning and postoperative evaluation in plastic surgery, but it requires highly skilled specialty. Indirect anthropometry, especially photogrammetry, is an alternative method. In photogrammetry, standardized clinical photography is essential. Photogrammetry-based standardized clinical photography has several advantages over direct anthropometry. It is easier to measure and has less chance to make errors during measurement. Furthermore, it is possible to repeat measurements, and available for follow up study based on permanent custody. But, it is still different from actual measurement, and inherently less accurate than anthropometry. METHODS: The authors revised the standardized clinical photography and then, carried out photogrammetry using Photoshop(Adobe, U.S.A.), and compared each data with those of anthropometry. The subjects were 50 males and 50 females, undergraduate medical students in twenties. Standard head position was obtained from the wire, fixed to cephalostat which indicates the Frankfort horizontal plane. All photographs were taken at the same situation such as fixed position of light, subject and camera, etc. RESULTS: Total 96 measurements, based on 40 landmarks, consist of linear measurements, angular measurements and inclinations include 3 measurements in head, 22 in face, 15 in orbit, 28 in nose, 16 in lip and mouth, and 12 in ear. CONCLUSION: Normal photogrammetric data of face of Korean in twenties was obtained. Reliable photogrammetric measurements, not significantly different from anthropometric measurement statistically, accounted for 44 in 96 measurements(45.8%). Anthropometric values different from those of photogrammetric values were obtained by multiplying coefficient by photogrammetric value.
Anthropometry ; Ear ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head ; Humans ; Lip ; Male ; Mouth ; Nose ; Orbit ; Photogrammetry* ; Photography* ; Students, Medical ; Surgery, Plastic