No abstract available.
Cardioplegic Solutions* ; Glucose* ; Mannitol* ; Myocardium*

No abstract available.
Cardiopulmonary Bypass* ; Endarterectomy* ; Pulmonary Embolism*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Cytoskeleton* ; Epithelial Cells* ; Estrogens* ; Rats*

OBJECTIVE: Adult onset Still s disease is an acute systemic inflammatory disorder. There are no pathognomonic symptoms or specific laboratory abnormalities. In recent reports, serum ferritin concentration is increased in active disease phase and decreased after defervescence. Our purpose was to determine the clinical significance of serum ferritin as an indicator for disease activity. METHODS: Seven patients who were diagnosed as adult onset Still s disease at Samsung Medical Center between October 1994 and March 1997, were reviewed. In these patients we checked leukocyte count, ESR, CRP and serum ferritin concentrations at the time of diagnosis and during follow-up periods and recorded febrile events during follow-up periods. RESULTS: At the time of diagnosis and during febrile periods, the concentrations of ferritin were extremely high(927ng/ml to 96,650ng/ml normal 10-290.8 ng/ml). The values were unrelated to other manifestations of the disease or laboratory findings. The ferritin concentrations decreased rapidly after adequate treatment. Eleven febrile reattacks happened in 7 patients. Serum ferritin concentrations were increased in 8 febrile attacks, while leukocyte count, ESR, and CRP were increased in 5, 5, 6 febrile attacks respectively, There were 10 events of increased serum ferritin concentrations in 7 patients during follow-up periods and 8 events were related with fever. The increases of other laboratory tests were similar. CONCLUSIONS: In all patients, serum ferritin concentrations were increased at the time of diagnosis and closely related to fever. During follow-up periods, serum ferritin concentrations are helpful in monitoring disease activity and guiding decisions about treatment.
Adult* ; Diagnosis ; Ferritins* ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Leukocyte Count ; Still's Disease, Adult-Onset*

The fungus aspergillus can cause a variety of pulmonary disorders. Aspergilloma is a noninvasive aspergillus colonization of virtually any type of preexisting pulmonary cavity or Cystic space. Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis is serious, usually fatal infection in patients being treated with immunosuppressants or who have chronic debilitating disease. Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis is charaterized clinically by asthma, blood and sputum eosinophilia and positive immunologic reaction to aspergillus antigen. Awareness of the radio-graphic and CT findings of pulmonary aspergillosis is important in making the diagnosis of aspergillus-caused pulmonary disorders. In this pictorial essay, we illustrated various radiological findings of pulmonary aspergillosis focused on CT findings correlated with gross pathologic specimens.
Aspergillosis, Allergic Bronchopulmonary ; Aspergillus ; Asthma ; Colon ; Diagnosis ; Eosinophilia ; Fungi ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis ; Pulmonary Aspergillosis* ; Sputum

The fungus aspergillus can cause a variety of pulmonary disorders. Aspergilloma is a noninvasive aspergillus colonization of virtually any type of preexisting pulmonary cavity or Cystic space. Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis is serious, usually fatal infection in patients being treated with immunosuppressants or who have chronic debilitating disease. Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis is charaterized clinically by asthma, blood and sputum eosinophilia and positive immunologic reaction to aspergillus antigen. Awareness of the radio-graphic and CT findings of pulmonary aspergillosis is important in making the diagnosis of aspergillus-caused pulmonary disorders. In this pictorial essay, we illustrated various radiological findings of pulmonary aspergillosis focused on CT findings correlated with gross pathologic specimens.
Aspergillosis, Allergic Bronchopulmonary ; Aspergillus ; Asthma ; Colon ; Diagnosis ; Eosinophilia ; Fungi ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis ; Pulmonary Aspergillosis* ; Sputum

No abstract available.
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis* ; Radiographic Image Enhancement*

No abstract available.

Essential palmar hyperhidrosis is a disease characterized by excessive perspiration on the palms and hands due to the hyperaction of sympathetic nervous discharge. In severe cases, excessive sweating is seen on the face, axilla, trunk, and soles. Several therapeutic modalities were applied but surgical resection of the sympathetic ganglion is the only curative method. Numerous open surgeries of the thoracic sympathetic ganglia for the treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis have been advocated, but they have also produced several complications. A new therapeutic technique for this disorder has been introduced by combining a thoracoscope and video system. Nowadays, thoracoscopic transthoracic sympathectomy is accepted as the treatment of choice for essential palmar hyperhidrosis. This technique is safe and easy. It also reduces the operating time and admission period. It has also very few complications. Compensatory hyperhidrosis on the trunk, back, and thigh, etc. is commonly an unwanted and unsolved complication after thoracic sympathectomy. Through my experience of thoracic sympathectomy, I thought that the incidence of compensatory hyperhidrosis was closely related to the extent of thoracic sympathectomy. So I restricted the extent of thoracic sympathectomy as a T2 sympathetic ganglion from September 1995. From Mar., 1989 To Aug., 1995, T2, T3 sympathetic ganglionectomies were performed for palmar hyperhidrosis patients and from Sept. 1995 T2 sympathetic ganglionectomies were performed. Using questionnaires, I compared these 2 groups. The results of this study are summarized as follows; 1) Using thoracoscopic transthoracic sympathectomy, operating time, admission period and complications could be reduced. 2) The risk of bleeding during the operation(especially bleeding from the hemiazygous vein) could be reduced in the T2 sympathectomy group. 3) The treatment effect of T2 sympathectomy is no different from T2, T3 sympathectomy for essential palmar hyperhidrosis. 4) The incidence of compensatory hyperhidrosis is less in the T2 sympathectomy group than in the T2, T3 sympathectomy group. From the above results, I concluded thoracoscopic transthoracic sympathectomy is the treatment of choice for essential palmar hyperhidrosis and the adequate extent for sympathectomy is T2 sympathetic ganglion.
Axilla ; Ganglia, Sympathetic ; Ganglionectomy ; Hand ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hyperhidrosis* ; Incidence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Sweat ; Sweating ; Sympathectomy* ; Thigh ; Thoracoscopes

No abstract available.
Cytomegalovirus Infections*