BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The pathological findings of Non-Q wave myocardial infarction(NQMI) on ECG did not always correspond to subendocardial infarction(SEMI). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic validity of ECG for SEMI by myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) in the patients with acute myocardial infarction(AMI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population was 84 patients who underwent MCE under the diagnosis of AMI. MCE was performed by intracoronary injection of sonicated Hexabrix into the infarct related artery and SEMI was diagnosed by inspecting endocardial defect with epicardial enhancement on MCE. RESULTS: (1) Among 19 NQMI cases, 7 cases showed SEMI with MCE score 0.5, 11 cases with score 1, and 1 case with score 0. Among 65 Q-wave MI(QMI) cases, only 5 cases showed SEMI. (2) 7 cases who had NQMI with SEMI showed LV wall motion recovery at follow-up echocardiography except 1 case. Whereas, of 5 QMI cases who had SEMI, only 1 case improve LV wall motion. CONCLUSION: NQMI on ECG does not always imply SEMI on MCE, but the absence of pathologic Q wave in the patients with SEMI is thought to be a predictive factor of the recovery of LV wall motion.
Arteries ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography* ; Electrocardiography* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infarction* ; Ioxaglic Acid

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The pathological findings of Non-Q wave myocardial infarction(NQMI) on ECG did not always correspond to subendocardial infarction(SEMI). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic validity of ECG for SEMI by myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) in the patients with acute myocardial infarction(AMI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population was 84 patients who underwent MCE under the diagnosis of AMI. MCE was performed by intracoronary injection of sonicated Hexabrix into the infarct related artery and SEMI was diagnosed by inspecting endocardial defect with epicardial enhancement on MCE. RESULTS: (1) Among 19 NQMI cases, 7 cases showed SEMI with MCE score 0.5, 11 cases with score 1, and 1 case with score 0. Among 65 Q-wave MI(QMI) cases, only 5 cases showed SEMI. (2) 7 cases who had NQMI with SEMI showed LV wall motion recovery at follow-up echocardiography except 1 case. Whereas, of 5 QMI cases who had SEMI, only 1 case improve LV wall motion. CONCLUSION: NQMI on ECG does not always imply SEMI on MCE, but the absence of pathologic Q wave in the patients with SEMI is thought to be a predictive factor of the recovery of LV wall motion.
Arteries ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography* ; Electrocardiography* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infarction* ; Ioxaglic Acid

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the research was to find significant factors that were related to the therapeutic compliance of hyper- tension(HT). METHODS: Hypertensive 354 patients from 932 rural elderly were measured blood pressure and administered the questionnaire during August 2003. Operational definition of therapeutic compliance was the state of care and management of HT. The data were analysed by univariate analysis and multivariate regression model. RESULTS: Results of univariate analysis, the seriousness, the barriers, the benefits, and the patients who have family members or friends suffering from HT, the motive of the behavior were significant variables for acceptance rate of the caring HT(p<0.01). Result of multiple logistic regression on participating caring process in HT, significant prediction variable were the subjects who had spouses, long ongoing caring process, no drinking habits, mind set that considers the high blood pressure as a serious disease, families and friends who had complications, didn't feel that taking the medication is not uncomfortable if they haven't experienced the side effect during the caring process. CONCLUSION: According to this result, we should consider major prediction variables to increasing the therapeutic compliance of hypertensive patients and developing the program for controlling hypertensive patients.
Aged* ; Blood Pressure ; Compliance* ; Drinking ; Friends ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Logistic Models ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Spouses

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the research was to find significant factors that were related to the therapeutic compliance of hyper- tension(HT). METHODS: Hypertensive 354 patients from 932 rural elderly were measured blood pressure and administered the questionnaire during August 2003. Operational definition of therapeutic compliance was the state of care and management of HT. The data were analysed by univariate analysis and multivariate regression model. RESULTS: Results of univariate analysis, the seriousness, the barriers, the benefits, and the patients who have family members or friends suffering from HT, the motive of the behavior were significant variables for acceptance rate of the caring HT(p<0.01). Result of multiple logistic regression on participating caring process in HT, significant prediction variable were the subjects who had spouses, long ongoing caring process, no drinking habits, mind set that considers the high blood pressure as a serious disease, families and friends who had complications, didn't feel that taking the medication is not uncomfortable if they haven't experienced the side effect during the caring process. CONCLUSION: According to this result, we should consider major prediction variables to increasing the therapeutic compliance of hypertensive patients and developing the program for controlling hypertensive patients.
Aged* ; Blood Pressure ; Compliance* ; Drinking ; Friends ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Logistic Models ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Spouses

Transient left ventricular apical ballooning syndrome is also known as takotsubo cardiomyopathy, and this is characterized by transient wall-motion abnormalities involving the left ventricular apex without significant stenosis on the coronary angiogram. We report here on a new variant of transient left ventricular ballooning in which only the mid-ventricle was affected. The patient initially presented with dyspnea and she had wall-motion abnormalities involving the mid-ventricle with hypercontractility of the apical and basal segments in the absence of a significant coronary artery stenosis. Emotional or physical stress or other preceding triggering factors might play a key role in this cardiomyopathy, but the precise etiology remains unknown. So far, the cases of this syndrome have been reported only among the North America Caucasian population and the Japanese population.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cardiomyopathies ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Stenosis ; Dyspnea ; Humans ; North America ; Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy

Antiphospholipid antibody (APLA) syndrome, which is presented by seizure, is uncommon. Most seizures in APLA syndrome are associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or other autoimmune diseases. Its pathophysiology is not clear; however, many authorities suggest that autoantibodies related to APLA syndrome are related to an ischemic change in the brain. We experienced a man with APLA syndrome, who presented with a seizure, but he had no evidence of an ischemic change in the brain. He underwent conservative management for 2 weeks and was discharged. He was admitted twice due to seizure. One year later, he had a cerebrovascular attack and was hospitalized.
Antibodies, Antiphospholipid* ; Antiphospholipid Syndrome* ; Autoantibodies ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Brain ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Seizures

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a highly prevalent disorder that affects millions of men worldwide. ED is now considered an early manifestation of atherosclerosis, and consequently, a precursor of systemic vascular disease. This study was designed to investigate the effects of male silkworm pupa powder (SWP) on the levels of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) expression, nitrite, and glutathione (GSH); lipid peroxidation; libido; and erectile response of the corpus cavernosum of the rat penis. We induced ED in the study animals by oral administration of 20% ethanol over 8 weeks. The SWP-treated male rats were divided into 3 groups that were orally administered 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg. The libido of the SWP-administered male rats was higher than that of the ethanol control group. In addition, the erectile response of the corpus cavernosum was restored in males on SWP administration, to a level similar to that of the normal group without ED. The testosterone concentration did not increase significantly. The lipid peroxidation in the corpus cavernosum of the male rats administered SWP decreased significantly. In contrast, compared to the ethanol group, SWP-administered male rats showed increased GSH levels in the corpus cavernosum. The level of nitrite and NOS expression in the corpus cavernosum of SWP-administered male rats increased significantly. These results indicated that SWP effectively restored ethanol-induced ED in male rats.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; Bombyx ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Ethanol ; Glutathione ; Humans ; Libido ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Male ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Penis ; Pupa ; Rats ; Testosterone ; Vascular Diseases

Yerba Mate, derived from the leaves of the tree, Ilex paraguariensis, is widely-used as a tea or as an ingredient in formulated foods. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of Yerba Mate extract on weight loss, obesity-related biochemical parameters, and diabetes in high-fat diet-fed mice. To this end, by using in vivo animal models of dietary-induced obesity, we have made the interesting observations that Yerba Mate has the ability to decrease the differentiation of pre-adipocytes and to reduce the accumulation of lipids in adipocytes, both of which contribute to a lower growth rate of adipose tissue, lower body weight gain, and obesity. Our data from in vivo studies revealed that Yerba Mate treatment affects food intake, resulting in higher energy expenditure, likely as a result of higher basal metabolism in Yerba Mate-treated mice. Furthermore, in vivo effects of Yerba Mate on lipid metabolism included reductions in serum cholesterol, serum triglycerides, and glucose concentrations in mice that were fed a high fat diet. In conclusion, Yerba Mate can potentially be used to treat obesity and diabetes.
Adipocytes ; Adipose Tissue ; Animals ; Basal Metabolism ; Body Weight ; Cholesterol ; Diet, High-Fat ; Eating ; Energy Metabolism ; Food, Formulated ; Glucose ; Ilex paraguariensis ; Lipid Metabolism ; Mice ; Models, Animal ; Obesity ; Tea ; Trees ; Triglycerides ; Weight Loss

No Abstract Available.
Animals ; Base Sequence* ; Cattle* ; Serotyping*