A case of sparganosis was presented. The patient was a 43-year-old Korean male who had a history of having eaten raw flesh of snake and frog in Keoje Island during 1950 to 1952 for the purpose of treatment of arthritis by the oriental custom. In the summer, l959, he had slight itching sensation in the left lower scrotal area. A few months later, he noticed the appearance of a peanut-sized mass in that area. However, the mass enlarged gradually to a hen's egg size during two years. On surgical exploration, the mass was found to be a fibro-connective tissue capsule(3 to 4 cm in diameter) in the lower left scrotal area. From the capsule three larvae(l9 to 28 cm by 2 to 6 mm) were freed by dissection without much difficulty. The sources of infection of some formerly reported sparganosis in Korea were discussed. It is most probable that human sparganosis is acquired by ingestion of raw flesh of snake and frog in this country.
parasitology-helminth-cestoda-sparagnum ; sparganosis ; case report

BACKGROUND: Various tools for the acute response system (ARS) predict and prevent acute deterioration in pediatric patients. However, detailed criteria have not been clarified. Thus we evaluated the effectiveness of bradycardia as a single parameter in pediatric ARS. METHODS: This retrospective study included patients who had visited a tertiary care children's hospital from January 2012 to June 2013, in whom ARS was activated because of bradycardia. Patient's medical records were reviewed for clinical characteristics, cardiologic evaluations, and reversible causes that affect heart rate. RESULTS: Of 271 cases, 261 (96%) had ARS activation by bradycardia alone with favorable outcomes. Evaluations and interventions were performed in 165 (64.5%) and 13 cases (6.6%) respectively. All patients in whom ARS was activated owing to bradycardia and another criteria underwent evaluation, unlike those with bradycardia alone (100.0% vs. 63.2%, p = 0.016). Electrocardiograms were evaluated in 233 (86%) cases: arrhythmias were due to borderline QT prolongation and atrioventricular block (1st and 2nd-degree) in 25 cases (9.2%). Bradycardia-related causes were reversible in 202 patients (74.5%). Specific causes were different in departments at admission. Patients admitted to the hemato-oncology department required ARS activation during the night (69.3%, p = 0.03), those to the endocrinology department required ARS activation because of medication (72.4%, p < 0.001), and those to the gastroenterology department had low body mass indexes (32%, p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Using bradycardia alone in pediatric ARS is not useful, because of its low specificity and poor predictive ability for deterioration. However, bradycardia can be applied to ARS concurrently with other parameters.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Atrioventricular Block ; Body Mass Index ; Bradycardia* ; Electrocardiography ; Endocrinology ; Gastroenterology ; Heart Arrest ; Heart Rate ; Hospital Rapid Response Team ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Pediatrics ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tertiary Healthcare

PURPOSE: We investigated the statistical methods to compose the functional brain map of human working memory and the principal factors that have an effect on the methods for localization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Repeated PET scans with successive four tasks, which consist of one control and three different activation tasks, were performed on six right-handed normal volunteers for 2 minutes after bolus injections of 925 MBq H0 at the intervals of 30 minutes. Irnage data were analyzed using SPM96 (Statistical Parametric Mapping) imple-mented with Matlab (Mathworks Inc., U.S.A.). Images from the same subject were spatially registered and were normalized using linear and nonlinear transformation methods. Significant difference between control and each activation state was estimated at every voxel based on the general linear model. Differences of global counts were removed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) with global activity as covariate. Using the mean and variance for each condition which was adjusted using ANCOVA, t-statistics was performed on every voxel To interpret the results more easily, t-values were transformed to the standard (saussian distri-bution (Z-score). RESULTS: All the subjects carried out the activation and control tests successfully. Average rate of correct answers was 95%. The numbers of activated blobs were 4 for verbal memory I, 9 for verbal memory II, 9 for visual memory, and 6 for canjunctive activation of these three tasks. The verbal working memory activates predominantly left-sided slruetures, and the visual memory activates the right hernisphere. CONCLUSION: We conclude that rCBF PET imaging and statistical parametric mapping method were useful in the localization of the brain regions for verbal and visual working memory.
Brain Mapping* ; Brain* ; Electrons* ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Memory ; Memory, Short-Term ; Positron-Emission Tomography*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Dual isotope myocardial SPECT, rest thallium-201/dipyridamole stress Tc-99m sestamibi is used to diagnose coronary artery disease. We examined predictive value of myocardial SPECT for the prognosis of patients having or suspected coronary artery disease. MATERIALS AND METHOD: We examined 692 patients referred for dipyridamole stress myocardial perfusion SPECT. Cardiac events (hard and soft events) were followed up with medical record review and telephone interview. Survival analysis and multivariate Cox proportional hazard model were used to find significant predictors and the incremental predictive value of myocardial SPECT. Patients with coronary angiography (n=246) were analyzed in separate group. RESULTS: There were 4 hard events and 3 soft events in 341 normal SPECT group (1.20%/yr). There were 5 hard events and 21 soft events in 351 abnormal SPECT group (4.69%/yr). Survival curve was separated between normal SPECT group and abnormal SPECT group (p<0.01). In univariate analysis, smoking, history of myocardial infarction, typical chest pain and SPECT findings were important variables. In multivariate analysis, SPECT result was the single most independent predictor. Large reversible perfusion abnormality predicted worse prognosis. In patients with coronary angiography, SPECT did not add statistically significant predictive value to the coronary angiography. CONCLUSION: Dipyridamole stress Tl-201/ MIBI dual isotope myocardial perfusion SPECT provided excellent prognostic information. Extent of reversible perfusion decrease was the independent predictor of future cardiac events.
Chest Pain ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Dipyridamole ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Medical Records ; Multivariate Analysis ; Myocardial Infarction ; Perfusion ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*

Acute cerebral infarctions are rare in children, however, they can occur as a complication of a Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) infection due to direct invasion, vasculitis, or a hypercoagulable state. We report on the case of a 5-year-old boy who had an extensive stroke in multiple cerebrovascular territories 10 days after the diagnosis of MP infection. Based on the suspicion that the cerebral infarction was associated with a macrolide-resistant MP infection, the patient was treated with levofloxacin, methyl-prednisolone, intravenous immunoglobulin, and enoxaparin. Despite this medical management, cerebral vascular narrowing progressed and a decompressive craniectomy became necessary for the patient's survival. According to laboratory tests, brain magnetic resonance imaging, and clinical manifestations, the cerebral infarction in this case appeared to be due to the combined effects of hypercoagulability and cytokineinduced vascular inflammation.
Brain ; Cerebral Infarction* ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Decompressive Craniectomy ; Diagnosis ; Enoxaparin ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; Inflammation ; Levofloxacin ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae* ; Mycoplasma* ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma* ; Stroke ; Thrombophilia ; Thrombosis ; Vasculitis

PURPOSE: We investigated whether myocardial SPECT had additional usefulness to clinical, functional or surgical indices for the preoperative evaluation of cardiac risks in noncardiac surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 118 patients (M: F=66:52, 62.7+/-10.5 years) were studied retrospectively. Eighteen underwent vascular surgeries and 100 nonvascular surgeries. Rest T1-201/stress Tc-99m-MIBI SPECT was performed before operation and cardiac events (hard event: cardiac death and myocardial infarction; soft event: ischemic ECG change, congestive heart failure and unstable angina) were surveyed through perioperative periods (14.6+/-5.6 days). Clinical risk indices, functional capacity, surgery procedures and SPECT findings were tested for their predictive values of perioperative cardiac events. RESULTS: Peri-operative cardiac events occurred in 25 patients (3 hard events and 22 soft events). Clinical risk indices, surgical procedure risks and SPECT findings but functional capacity were predictive of cardiac events. Reversible perfusion decrease was a better predictor than persistent decrease. Multivariate analysis sorted` out surgical procedure risk (p=0.0018) and SPECT findings (p=0.0001) as significant risk factors. SPECT could re-stratify perioperative cardiac risks in patients ranked with surgical procedures. CONCLUSION:: We conclude that myocardial SPECT provides additional predictive value to surgical type risks as well as clinical indexes or functional capacity for the prediction of preoperative cardiac events in noncardiac surgery.
Death ; Electrocardiography ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Multivariate Analysis ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Perfusion ; Perioperative Period ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*

PURPOSE: For the purpose of using Re-188 as a therapeutic radionuclide, we performed the quality control of the W-188/Re-188 generation system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Several quality control tests of the Re-188 eluate from generator were carried out of about 300 days. After elution of Re-188 with normal saline (20 ml), chromatogram and gamma-ray spectrum of Re-188 eluate were obtained. The presence of aluminum which was derived from the elumina bed of the generator was detected by using aluminum ion indicator kit. Re-188 eluate was allowed to decay for several days, and then W-188 breakthrough in the Re-188 eluate was measured by detecting gamma-ray at 227 keV and 290 keV. The pH and the pyrogenicity of the eluate were checked. The Re-188 eluate from the generator was 67.4+/-7.0% of W-188 during 270 days, and it was hightest at third day after previous elution. Radiochemical purity of Re-188 eluate obtained from chromatogram was higher than 99%. Gamma-ray spectrum of Re-188 eluate showed a peak at 155 keV. Aluminum ion and W-188 contamination were not detected. The pH of Re-188 eluate was 3 and the concentration yield was 85%. CONCLUSION: Our experiments and results on quality control tests of Re-188 eluate from W-188/Re-188 generator may be useful for setting W-188/Re-188 generator in hospitals.
Aluminum ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Quality Control*

PURPOSE: For the purpose of using Re-188 as a therapeutic radionuclide, we performed the quality control of the W-188/Re-188 generation system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Several quality control tests of the Re-188 eluate from generator were carried out of about 300 days. After elution of Re-188 with normal saline (20 ml), chromatogram and gamma-ray spectrum of Re-188 eluate were obtained. The presence of aluminum which was derived from the elumina bed of the generator was detected by using aluminum ion indicator kit. Re-188 eluate was allowed to decay for several days, and then W-188 breakthrough in the Re-188 eluate was measured by detecting gamma-ray at 227 keV and 290 keV. The pH and the pyrogenicity of the eluate were checked. The Re-188 eluate from the generator was 67.4+/-7.0% of W-188 during 270 days, and it was hightest at third day after previous elution. Radiochemical purity of Re-188 eluate obtained from chromatogram was higher than 99%. Gamma-ray spectrum of Re-188 eluate showed a peak at 155 keV. Aluminum ion and W-188 contamination were not detected. The pH of Re-188 eluate was 3 and the concentration yield was 85%. CONCLUSION: Our experiments and results on quality control tests of Re-188 eluate from W-188/Re-188 generator may be useful for setting W-188/Re-188 generator in hospitals.
Aluminum ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Quality Control*

No abstract available.
Autoradiography*

PURPOSE: We investigated reproducibility of the quantification of left ventricular volume and ejection fraction, and grading of myocardial wall motion and systolic thickening when we used gated myocardial SPECT and Cedars quantification software. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed gated myocardial SPECT in 33 consecutive patients twice in the same position after Tc-99m-MIBI SPECT. We used 16 frames per cycle for the gatingof sequential Tc-99m-MTBI SPECT. After reconstruction, we used Cedars quantitative gated SPECT and calculated ventricular volume and ejection fraction (EF), Wall motion was graded using 5 point score. Wall thickening was graded using 4 point score. Coefficient of variation for re-examination of volume and fraction were calculated. Kappa values (k-value) for assessing reproducibility of wall motion or wall thickening were calculated. RESULTS: Enddiastolic volumes (EDV) ranged from 58 mi to 248 ml (122 ml +/- 42 ml), endsystolic volumes (ESV) from 20 mi to 174 mi (65 ml +1- 39 ml), and EF from 20% to 68% (51% +/- 14%). Geometric mean of standard deviations of 33 patients was 5.0 ml for EDV, 3.9 ml for ESV and 1.9% for EF. Their average differences were not different from zero (p>0.05). k-value for wall motion using 2 consecutive images was 0.76 (confidence interval: 0.71-0.81). k-value was 0.87 (confidence interval:0.83-0.90) for assessment of wall thickening. CONCLUSION: We concluded that quantification of functional indices, assessment of wall motion and wall thickening using gated Tc-99m-MIBI SPECT was reproducible and we could use this method for the evaluation of short-acting drug effect.
Heart ; Humans ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*