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*

PURPOSE: To analyze CT and follow-up chest radiographic findings in patients with necrotizing pneumonia and to evaluate clinical significance of the extent of necrosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed medical records and retrospectively analysed CT scans and follow-up chest radiographs of 22 patients with necrotizing pneumonia, confirmed by biopsy(n=7) and culture (n=15). Inclusion criteria for necrotizing pneumonia was necrotic low attenuation, with or without cavitation on postcontrast enhanced CT scan. The study group included 15 men and seven women, aged 11-66 years (average: 47years). RESULTS: The pathogens of necrotizing pneumonia were Klebsiella spp(n=7), Enterobacter spp(n=5), Actinomyces spp(n=4), Pseudomonas spp(n=4), Nocardia spp(n=4), and others(n=5). Average duration of pneumonia was 4.1 months. On CT scan, pneumonic consolidations were well-marginated in 14 patients and there were cavities on initial CT scan in 16 cases. Margins of the necrotic portion on CT scan were well-demarcated in majority of the patients(16/22). Low attenuation areas on initial CT scan resulted in cavitation, fibrosis and volume loss as shown on follow-up chest radiographs. The larger the necrotic areas on CT, the more the volume loss was. CONCLUSION: CT findings of necrotizing pneumonia were well-marginated air-space consolidation with low attenuation area, with or without cavity. The extent of necrotic area was closely related with the degree of fibrotic change later on. CT is important tool for diagnosis and prediction of parenchymal damage in necrotizing pneumonia.
Actinomyces ; Diagnosis ; Enterobacter ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Klebsiella ; Male ; Medical Records ; Necrosis ; Nocardia ; Pneumonia* ; Pseudomonas ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: To analyze CT and follow-up chest radiographic findings in patients with necrotizing pneumonia and to evaluate clinical significance of the extent of necrosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed medical records and retrospectively analysed CT scans and follow-up chest radiographs of 22 patients with necrotizing pneumonia, confirmed by biopsy(n=7) and culture (n=15). Inclusion criteria for necrotizing pneumonia was necrotic low attenuation, with or without cavitation on postcontrast enhanced CT scan. The study group included 15 men and seven women, aged 11-66 years (average: 47years). RESULTS: The pathogens of necrotizing pneumonia were Klebsiella spp(n=7), Enterobacter spp(n=5), Actinomyces spp(n=4), Pseudomonas spp(n=4), Nocardia spp(n=4), and others(n=5). Average duration of pneumonia was 4.1 months. On CT scan, pneumonic consolidations were well-marginated in 14 patients and there were cavities on initial CT scan in 16 cases. Margins of the necrotic portion on CT scan were well-demarcated in majority of the patients(16/22). Low attenuation areas on initial CT scan resulted in cavitation, fibrosis and volume loss as shown on follow-up chest radiographs. The larger the necrotic areas on CT, the more the volume loss was. CONCLUSION: CT findings of necrotizing pneumonia were well-marginated air-space consolidation with low attenuation area, with or without cavity. The extent of necrotic area was closely related with the degree of fibrotic change later on. CT is important tool for diagnosis and prediction of parenchymal damage in necrotizing pneumonia.
Actinomyces ; Diagnosis ; Enterobacter ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Klebsiella ; Male ; Medical Records ; Necrosis ; Nocardia ; Pneumonia* ; Pseudomonas ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

No abstract available.
Female ; Fibronectins* ; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced* ; Plasma* ; Pregnancy*

Effect of acetylcholine(ACh) and McN-A-343 on porcine coronary artery and rabbit thoracic aorta were investigated in isolated preparations with or without intact endothelium. In the porcine coronary artery, ACh produced concentration dependent contraction which was greater in rings without the endothelium than in intact endothelial rings, but McN-A-343 did not alter the basel tension in both tissues. ACh relaxed contraction induced by 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT) in only intact endothelial rings, while NcN-A-343 inhibited the 5-HT induced tension in both preparations dose dependently. Carbachol elicited a prominent contraction in both tissues. The carbacol-induced tension was markedly inhibited by McN-A-343 in either rings with or without endothelium, while ACh contracted further the tension. ACh and McN-A-343 did not after the KCi induced tension, but clearly potentiated the contraction induced by Bay K 8644 in intact endothelial rings. In rabbit thoracic aorta, ACh elicited contraction in a concentration-dependent fashion which was potentiated by removal of endothelium, but McN-A-343 did not affect the basal tension of both rings. ACh inhibited the 5-HT-induced contraction in only intact endothelial ring, but McN-A-343 did not change the contraction of both rings. Conclusively, ACh produces endothelium-dependent relaxation in both arteries, while McN-A-343 elevated endothelium-independent inhibition to 5-HT or carbachol-induced tension.
(4-(m-Chlorophenylcarbamoyloxy)-2-butynyl)trimethylammonium Chloride* ; 3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-, Methyl ester ; Acetylcholine* ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Arteries* ; Carbachol ; Coronary Vessels ; Endothelium ; Relaxation ; Serotonin

This study was undertaker to define the usefuness of preoperative CA-125 assay as a diagnostic bmor marker in differentiating malignancy from benign ovarian mass. Senun CA-125 were imneasured by Microparticle Enzyme Immunoassay(MEIA) in 94 patients with ovarian mass. The results were of follows ; 1. The mean value of preopentive senun CA-125 was 18.40u/ml in benign ovarian mass and 225.99u/ml in malignant ovarian mass (P<0.001). 2. The positive rete of Ca-125 in benign ovarian mass was 10%, compared 80% in malignant ovarian mass. 3. In analysis of histolovgic type, posisitive rate of serum CA-125 in malignant serous tumor was 82%, cornpared 50% in malignant mucinoins tumor. 2. No statistically significant correlation was observed between CA-125 value and patient's age. 5. The sensitivitiy, specifieity, positive predictive value & negative predictive value were 80%, 90%, 60% & 96%, respectively in cut off value, 35u/ml, And increasing cut off value 65u/ml, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value & negative predictive value were 40%, 96%, 67%, 90%, resqxetively. These data suggest the preperative serum CA-125 level correlate with maignant stattis in ovarian mass. And cut off value 35u/ml was better than 65u/ml in screening for ovarian cancer.
Humans ; Mass Screening ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Liver function tests before treatment showed abnormalities of liver function tests during treatment, while 15(68. 2%) of 22 patients who had abnormal liver function tests before treatment showed abnormalities during treatment. In 12 of the 25 patients who showed abnormalities of liver function tests during treatment with allopurinol, allopurinol was stopped and all patients showed improvement of liver function tests. In remaining 13 patients, 10 patients were improved and other 2 patients showed only mild abnormalities of liver function tests despite of continuing allopurinol and 1 patient was lost during follow-up. CONCLUSION: Abnormalities of liver function tests were common during treatment with allopurinol. Most patiensts who had mild abnormalities of liver functions tests during treatment with allopurinol were improved regardless of continuing allopurinol.
Allopurinol* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gout* ; Humans ; Liver Function Tests* ; Liver*

Injuries of the inferior vena cava (IVC) might be caused by a blunt trauma, which usually affects the retrohepatic portion. Injuries of the infrahepatic IVC are usually caused by penetrating injuries and rarely occur in Korea. We report a case of a penetrating injury of the IVC at the infrahepatic suprarenal portion with a review of other reported cases.
Korea ; Vena Cava, Inferior* ; Wounds, Stab*

Sebaceous trichofolliculoma, which is a variant of trichofolliculoma, is a rare disease that clinically show a centrally depressed lesion usually singly on the nose, and histologically a centrally located cavity, lined by squamous epithelium, with numerous sebaceous lobules connected to them. We describe a case of sebaceous trichofolliculoma in a 27-year-old woman who had several brown papules on the nose. We think that this is the first report of sebaceous trichofolliculloma in Korean literature.
Adult ; Epithelium ; Female ; Humans ; Nose ; Rare Diseases

PURPOSE : To evaluate MR image qualities we developed a new MRI phantom with the fixation structures necessary to position it into coil firmly. MATERIALS AND METHODS : We designed MRI phantom for eight evaluation items such as slice thickness accuracy, high contrast spatial resolution, low contrast object detectability, geometry accuracy, slice position accuracy, image intensity uniformity, percent signal ghosting and signal to noise ratio. For the positioning of phantom at coils, the fixation structures were set up on the surface of phantom. Six different MRI units were used for test the possibility for the clinical application and their image qualities were evaluated. RESULTS : We acquired appropriate MR image qualities enough for the evaluation on all used MR units and confirmed that their evaluations were within reliable values compared to real ones for some items. The positioning of our phantom into head coils with fixation structures worked well for proper imaging. CONCLUSION : We found that our prototype of MRI phantom had the possibility of clinical application for MR image quality assessment.
Head ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Quality Control ; Signal-To-Noise Ratio