The cause of radiolucent filling defects in the upper urinary tract are malignant tumor, radiolucent stones, blood clots, air bubbles, congenital deformities of renal parenchyme, and various specific and non-specific infection and their sequence. So the differential diagnosis between malignancy and radiolucent stones is very important, and the exact and fast diagnosis of radiolucent stones is useful in excluding the possibility of malignancy. 27 cases with radiolucent stones were evaluated retrospectively for exact diagnosis and appropriate treatment method. Intravenous urography was done in all cases, and retrograde pyelography, ultrasonography, computed tomography and/or ureterorenoscopy were performed for diagnosis, if needed. Size of stones were measured below 10mm by transverse length in 19 cases (70.4%) with a range of 3 to30mm. The locations of stones were pelvocalyceal system in 8 cases (29.6%) and ureter in 19 cases (70.4%). Among the diagnostic methods, computed tomography was used most frequently. ESWL with retrograde pyelography was most frequent used method of treatment, also simple hydration to small stone was effective.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography ; Ureter ; Urinary Tract ; Urography

No abstract available.
Animals ; Isoproterenol* ; Nitric Oxide* ; Rats* ; Urinary Bladder*

BACKGROUND: Recently the percutaneous transradial approach for coronary angiography, transluminal coronary angioplasty or coronary stention were reported but there was no report in Korea. So we tested the safety and efficacy of the transradial appreach for coronary angiography in Korean. METHODS: Eleven patients(male 9, female 2, mean age 59.3 yeal old)with chest pain underwent percutaneous transradial coronary angiography with 5 french multipurpose catheter. We evaluated clinical efficacy and observed complication of percutaneous transradial coronary angiography by physical examination and DOpple ultrasonography of puncture site of radial artery. RESULTS: Right coronary angiography and left ventriculography were performed successfully in all cases, but left coronary angiogrphy was failed in three cases. In another three cases, the patient complained of arm pain which was aggravated during manipulation of the catheter. After the procedure, it took 10.3 minutes to stop the bleeding at the puncture site, Clinically significant complications were not observed after the procedure. The patients were not restricted to bed at all since the completion of the procedure. CONCLUSION: In our limited dexperience, percutaneous transradial coronary angiography could be performend on the outpatient basis without significant complications.
Angioplasty ; Arm ; Catheters ; Chest Pain ; Coronary Angiography* ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Korea ; Outpatients ; Physical Examination ; Punctures ; Radial Artery ; Ultrasonography

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Animals ; Borrelia burgdorferi* ; Borrelia* ; Murinae*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Rats* ; Superoxides*

PURPOSE: We investigated the possible inhibitory effect of aspirin during the initiation and post initiating stages on N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl) nitrosamine (BBN) induced bladder carcinogenesis in female rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-five female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups. Group A received 0.05% BBN in drinking water for 12 weeks. Group B re ceived 0.05% BBN in drinking water with 0.5% aspirin in the diet for 12 weeks. Group C received control diet without added chemicals. The rats were sacrificed after 12 weeks. For identification of chemopreventive effect of aspirin, apoptosis was detected by in situ cell death detection method. The apoptotic index (AI) was calculated from the ratio of typical apoptotic cells relative to the total cells from observation of at least 1000 cells in each preneoplastic lesion among the groups. RESULTS: All cases of group A showed multiple lesions of simple and focal hyperplasia. The incidence of papilloma was 80% in group A. All cases of group B also showed multiple lesions of simple and focal hyperplasia but the incidence of papilloma was decreased to 20%. The total numbers counted of focal hyperplasia and papilloma lesions were significantly reduced in group B than in group A (p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). The mean AI in group A and B sequentially increased in preneoplastic lesions, as compared to that in the normal epithelium of the rat bladder. Significant differences in AI in the lesions of simple and focal hyperplasia between group A and B were noted (p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The result suggests that aspirin significantly decreases the incidence of precancerous lesions and it can act as a chemopreventive agent for precancerous lesions of urinary bladder.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Aspirin* ; Carcinogenesis ; Cell Death ; Diet ; Drinking Water ; Epithelium ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Incidence ; Papilloma ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; Urinary Bladder*

PURPOSE: To evaluated the effectiveness of abdominal ultrasonography as the initial diagnostic method in blunt renal trauma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was undertaken to compare computerized tomography with abdominal ultrasonography in radiographic staging of blunt renal trauma(Renal Injury scale grade I-V by Moor) except vascular injury. During 3-years period(May 1994 to March 1997), emergency computerized tomography was performed in 66 patients with blunt renal trauma, simultaneously 34 patients among 66 patient were scanned by abdominal ultrasonography. RESULTS: Gross hematuria were present 48% of renal trauma cases. The degree of hematuria showed not correlation with the severity of renal injury(p-value=0.213, by Chi-square test). In diagnostic agreement of abdominal ultrasonography compared to computerized tomography, the diagnostic agreement of minor renal injury(x=0.544, by k2 statistics) was higher than that of major renal injury(r=0.375, by k2 statistics). The overall diagnostic agreement of abdominal ultrasonography in detecting adjacent organ injury was 0.321 (k value). CONCLUSIONS: In ultrasonography imaging, we concluded that minor blunt rectal trauma is not necessary other radiologic evaluation, but major blunt renal trauma should be evaluated by computerized tomography for proper diagnosis of combined injury and diagnostic staging of renal trauma. Renal trauma associated Intraabdominal injury should undergo with ultrasonography-guided paracentesis. Based under result of our study, we suggest the use of abdominal ultrasonography as the initial diagnostic method in blunt renal trauma compatible for prompt diagnosis and treatment.
Diagnosis ; Emergencies ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Paracentesis ; Ultrasonography* ; Vascular System Injuries

Necrobiotic xanthogranuloma(NXG) is a characteristic cutaneous manifestation associated with paraproteinemia. A case of NXG associated with an IgG (lambda) monoclonal gammopathy occurred in a 48-year-old man. Skin lesions were dome-shaped, hard palpable nodules, 2x3 cm to 4x4 cm sized, on both arms and forearms. They were arranged in a linear pattern. Also, hard palpable tumors, 1x2 cm to 2x3 cm in size, were present on the left leg and the dorsum of the left foot. They were violaceous, slightly protruded, and hard on palpation. Histologically, the lesion was characterized by inflammatory xanthogranuloma with broad hands of hyaline necrobiosis. Many foreign body type of bizarre giant cells, Touton type of giant cells and foamy histiocytes were infiltrated into the dermis and subcutaneous fat tissue. Three days after medication with ledercort and immuran, the cutaneous masses decreased in size and became soft.

Meningiomas, one of the most common neoplasms of the central nervous system, may be encountered incidentally during autopsy. Most of these tumors, however, are benign and hence, are not considered as the chief cause of death. Further, sudden unexpected death caused by meningioma is very unusual. Moreover, the diagnosis of an incidental meningioma as the cause of sudden death may sometimes be difficult. In the present report, we describe an autopsy case of a sudden, unexpected death due to a large olfactory groove meningioma accompanied by severe cerebral edema and tonsillar herniation.
Autopsy ; Brain Edema ; Brain Neoplasms ; Cause of Death ; Central Nervous System ; Death, Sudden ; Diagnosis ; Encephalocele ; Meningioma*