PURPOSE: In the initiation and progression of the atherosclerosis many factors are related each other. The individual variations also complicate the prediction of the atherosclerotic process. The purpose of this study was to investigate the morphologic changes by angiography in iliac arterial segments of the patients who had received bypass operation for the infrainguinal atherosclerotic occlusive disease of the lower extremities. METHODS: Forty-five common iliac artery (CIAs) and forty-two external iliac arteries (EIAs) in twenty nine male patients who underwent angiography for graft failure of lower extremity bypass surgery was included in this retrospective study, and their clinical chart and angiographic findings of iliac arteries were reviewed. Acute arterial occlusive cases were excluded from this study. The mean interval from the previous bypass surgery was 38.9 months (from 6 to 96 months) and the patient ages ranged from 34 to 81 years (average age 59 years). It was considered as change, that is disease progression, when luminal narrowing of iliac artery was more than 25% compared to the previous angiography at bypass surgery. RESULTS: Of 45, fifteen CIAs (33.3%) showed change. In 3 patients, the change was bilateral; in 4, ipsilateral to the failed graft limb; and in 5, contralateral. Considering EIAs, 13 of 42 (31.0%) were changed. In 1 patient, the change was bilateral; in 6, ipsilateral to the failed graft limb; and in 5, contralateral. Therefore the side of the changed iliac arteries had no statistical significance in relation to the side of limb at which graft failure occurred (P<0.05). There was no significant correlation between age or interval between bypass operation and repeat angiography and the progression of atherosclerosis of iliac arteries. CONCLUSION: The progression of atherosclerosis is not dominated in iliac arteries ipsilateral to the side in which bypass surgery was performed and graft failure occurred. In iliac artery, the short-term progression of atherosclerosis observed by angiography may vary among individuals independently withage, interval between operation and repeat angiography, and the hemodynamic change of the infrainguinal arteries.
Angiography ; Arteries ; Atherosclerosis ; Disease Progression ; Extremities ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Iliac Artery* ; Lower Extremity* ; Male ; Phenobarbital ; Retrospective Studies ; Transplants

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to analysis the trends and states of external auses of mortality in Korea from 1985 to 1998. METHODS: This study was based on data published in 1985-1998 from the annual report of cause of death statistics of National Statistical Office. RESULTS: In the proportion of total death cases during 1985-1998, External causes of mortality was ranged from 11 percent to 15 percent. Death rate(per 100,000) of external causes of mortality(ECM) decreased recently from 85.7 in 1991 to 68.9 in 1998. Death rate of ECM in male was 2.6 times higher than that of female. Among total cases of ECM, the first leading cause of death was transport accidents. intentional self-harm was the second leading cause of death(26.8 percent in 1998). In trends of death rate(per 100,000) for ECM during 1885-1998, there were decreased for following causes of death; transport accidents, falls, accidental drowning and submersion, exposure to smoke, fire and flames, accidential poisoning by and exposure to noxious substances, Death rates of ententional self-harm and assault were increased during the periods. The age specific death rate increased with age for all ECM except for assault. The risk of death caused by ECM was higher in aged 65 and over than in ages 0-19 years among all ECM. The risk of death for male aged 65 and over were 6.9 times in transport accidents, 26 times in fall, 37 times in accidential poisoning by and exposure to noxious substances, and 18 times in intentional self-harm compared with 0-19 years. The risk of death for female aged 65 and over were 27 times in fall, 22 times in accidential poisoning by and exposure to noxious substances compared with 0-19 years. In seasonal variation of ECM cases for 1998. There was highest proportion in August(10.4 percent). The highest proportion by death seasion were winter(32.7 percent) in exposure to smoke, fire and flames, summer(27,7 percent) in fall, summer(52.4 percent) in accidental drowning and submersion, summer in 32.0 percent) in accidential poisoning by and exposure to noxious substances, spring(28.2 percent) in intentional self-harm, assault. and autumn(28.2 percent) in transport accidents. CONCLUSION: Above results suggest that a preventive education program for safety accidents should be developed by considering gender and age of the objecties and seasons of the year.
Accidental Falls ; Cause of Death ; Drowning ; Education ; Female ; Fires ; Humans ; Immersion ; Korea* ; Male ; Mortality* ; Poisoning ; Seasons ; Smoke

BACKGROUND: In the severe community-acquired pneumonia, it has been known that the immune status is occasionally suppressed. This study was performed to identify the immunologic markers related with the prognostic factors in severe community-acquired pneumonia. METHODS: 23 patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia were involved in this study, and divided into survivor (16) and nonsurvivor (7) groups. In this study, the medical history, laboratory tests(complete blood counts, routine chemistry profile, immunoglobulins, complements, lymphocyte subsets, cytokines, sputum and blood culture, urine analysis), and chest radiographs were scrutinized. RESULTS: 1) Both groups had lymphopenia(total lymphocyte count 995.6±505.7/mm2 in the survivor and 624.0±287.6/mm2 in the nonsurvivor group). 2) The T-lymphocyte count of the nonsurvivor group(295.9±203.0/mm2) was lower than the survivor group(723.6±406.5/mm2) (p<0.05). 3) The total serum protein(albumin) was 6.0±1.0(2.7±0.7) g/dl in the survivor and 5.2±1.5(2.3±0.8)g/dl in the nonsurvivor group. The BUN of the noncurvivor group(41.7±30.0mg/dl) was higher than that of the survivor group(18.9±9.8mg/dl)(p<0.05). The creatinine concentration was higher in the nonsurvivor group(1.8±1.0mg/dl) than that in the survivor group(1.0±0.3mg/dl)(p<0.05). 4) The immunoglobulin G level was higher in the survivor group (1433.0±729.5mg/dl) than in the nonsurvivor group(849.1±373.1mg/dl)(p<0.05). 5) The complement C3 level was 108.0±37.9mg/dl in the survivor group and 88.0±32.1mg/dl in the nonsurvivor group. 6) A cytokine study showed an insignificant differenne in both groups. 7) Chronic liver disease, DM, and COPD were major underlying diseases in both groups. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that decreased a T-lymphocyte count and immunoglobulin G level, and an increased BUN and creatinine level may be associated with the poor prognosis of severe community-acquired pneumonia.
Biomarkers ; Chemistry ; Complement C3 ; Complement System Proteins ; Creatinine ; Cytokines ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulins ; Immunologic Factors* ; Liver Diseases ; Lymphocyte Count ; Lymphocyte Subsets ; Pneumonia* ; Prognosis* ; Prospective Studies* ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Sputum ; Survivors ; T-Lymphocytes

BACKGROUND: The evaluation of candidates for successful lung resection is important. We studied to Our study was conducted to determine the preoperative predictors of postoperative mortality and morbidity in lung cancer patients with impaired lung function. METHOD: Between October 1, 1995 to August 31, 1997, 36 lung resection candidates with FEV1 of less than 2L or 60% predicted due to lung cancer were included prospectively. Age, sex, weight loss, hematocrit, serum albumin, EKG and concomitant illness were considered as systemic potential predictors for a successful lung resection. Smoking history, presence of pneumonia, dyspnea scale(1 to 4), arterial blood gas analysis with room air breathing, routine pulmonary function test were also included for the analysis. In addition, predicted postoperative(ppo)pulmonary factors such as ppo-FEV1, ppo-diffusing capacity(DLco), predicted postoperative product(PPP) of ppo-FEV1% x ppo-DLco% and ppo-maximal O2 uptake(VO2max) were also measured. RESULTS: There were 31 men and 5 women with the median age of 65 years (range 44 to 82) and a mean FEV1 of 1.78 +/-0.06L. Pneumonectomy was performed in 14 patients, bilobectomy in 8, lobectomy in 14. Pulmonary complications developed in 10 patients, cardiac complications in 3, other complications (empyema, air leak, bleeding) in 4. Twelve patients were managed in the intensive care unit for more than 48 hours. Two patients died within 30 days after operation. The ppo-VO2max was less than 10 mg/kg/min in these two patients. MVV was the only predictor for the pulmonary complications. However, there was no predictors for the post operative death in this study.
Blood Gas Analysis ; Dyspnea ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Hematocrit ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Male ; Mortality* ; Pneumonectomy ; Pneumonia ; Prospective Studies ; Respiration ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Serum Albumin ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Weight Loss

Systemic lupus erythematosus frequently has thoracic involvement among connective tissue diseases. One of the pleuropulmonary manifestations is diffuse interstitial lung disease including nonspecific interstitial pneumonia(NSIP). NSIP if a newly classified disease among interstitial lung diseases. Systemic lupus erythematosus has a better prognosis than usual interstitial peumonia(UIP) and responds well to steroids. In this report, a 34 year-old woman who complained of a dry cough, and exertional dyspnea for 2 months is described. The chest X-ray showed fine reticular opacities and a mild honeycomb appearance in both basal lungs. High resolution computed tomography(HRCT) showed bilateral patchy areas of ground-glass attenuation and a mild honeycomb appearance in the subpleural of both the lower and the middle portion of the lung fields. An open lung biopsy showed prominent lymphocytic interstitial inflammation and fibrosis with small are as with a honeycomb appearance. This case was diagnosed as NSIP associated with systemic lupus erythematosus and was managed with oral steroids. Here we report a case of nonspecific interstitial pneumonia associated with systemic lupus erythematosus confirmed by HRCT and an open lung biopsy with a review of the relevant literature.
Biopsy ; Connective Tissue Diseases ; Cough ; Dyspnea ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Lung ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial* ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Prognosis ; Steroids ; Thorax

Placental abnormality is the important predisposing cause of intrauterine growth retardation. Massive subchorionic hematoma is defined as a large size of maternal blood clot that separates the chorionic plate from the villous chorion and can result in serious obstetrical complications. We report a case of massive subchorionic hematoma diagnosed prenatally, and propose an additional peculiar finding detectable on both the ultrasound and magnetic resonance images: a large hematoma in the subchorionic region at 17 weeks gestation. At 18 weeks 2 days gestation, the fetus was miscarried. The clinical and pathological findings were compatible with massive subchorionic hematoma. Recurrent massive subchorionic hematoma without thrombophilic finding was observed at the next pregnancy in 17 weeks 5 days by ultrasound. The patient was managed conservatively and had successful outcome at term. So we report the case with the brief review of literatures.
Chorion ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; Fetus ; Hematoma* ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Ultrasonography

Benign metastasizing leiomyoma usually occurs in women and is associated with a past hysterectomy in 80% of the cases, which is a rare entity. The patient was a 39-year-old woman who complained of cough and sputum. She underwent hysterectomy beacuse of benign leiomyoma ten years age. Chest X-ray showed nodular lesion in the left lung field. Chest CT showed a 3cm sized round well defined mass at left hilum with mild indentation of segmental bronchi of left upper lobe and a small tiny nodule in right lower lung field. Nodular lesion of left upper lobe was resected by thoracotomy.Pathological evaluation showed benign spindle-like cells having nuclei without cytotic atypia similar to those of benign leiomyoma. Immunohistochemical stainings for desmin and smooth muscle actin were positive. Therefore these nodules are considered as benign metastasizing leiomyoma from a uterine leiomyoma. We report this case with the review of literature.
Actins ; Adult ; Bronchi ; Cough ; Desmin ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Leiomyoma* ; Lung* ; Muscle, Smooth ; Sputum ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND: Inhaled glucocorticoids are the medical treatment of choice in asthma patients. Fluticasone propionate is one of the most effective inhaled corticosteroids and has been reported to have minimal effect on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis at the recommended dose. However, reports of long-term trials characterizing their systemic safety with chronic use are rare. This study was designed to evaluate the long-term safety of inhaled fluticasone propionate to the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. METHOD: This study was conducted on 21 patients to evaluate the adrenal response to rapid ACTH stimulation test after 6 months of treatment with fluticasone propionate from 200 µg to 750 µg daily. The serum cortisol levels was measured to assess its effect on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis just prior to the injection, at 30 minutes and 60 minutes after an intramuscular injection of synthetic ACTH. RESULT: The mean dose of inhaled fluticasone propionate was 355 µg per day(SD=174 µg, range=200 µg to 750 µg). The mean serum cortisol levels of the patients was 11.0 µg/dl(SD=6.4 µg/dl) prior to the injection, 20.0 µg/dl(SD=7.7 µg/dl) after 30 minutes, and 23.0 µg/dl(SD=6.3 µg/dl) after 60 minutes. Sixteen patients of the 21 patients had a normal response(>18 µg/dl), and 5 out of the 21 patients had serum cortisol levels below the normal range after the rapid ACTH stimulation test. CONCLUSION: Adrenal suppression occurred in 5 out of 21 patients with 6 months treatment with inhaled fluticasone propionate.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; Asthma* ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra* ; Cosyntropin ; Diethylpropion* ; Glucocorticoids ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Injections, Intramuscular ; Reference Values ; Fluticasone

Nodular pulmonary amyloidosis is one of the rare manifestation of amyloid disease. It is known to be caused by anyloid L fibrils in the majority of case. We experienced an unusual case of a forty-one year-old woman who was presented with multiple nodular lesion on the chest X-ray. CT-guided core needle bilpsy, performed on the lesion, showed apple green birefringes, when stained Congo red and examined under polarized light. Ultrastructurally, there are randomly oriented, forming densed networks, and consists of fine, 7.5 to 10nm diameter, rigid, non-branching filaments of various lengths in electron-microscopic finding. We report a case of primary diffuse nodular pulmonary amyloidosis only localized in the lung, which was confirmed by CT guided core needle biopsy.
Amyloid ; Amyloidosis* ; Biopsy, Large-Core Needle ; Congo Red ; Female ; Humans ; Lung* ; Needles ; Thorax

BACKGROUND: To study clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of adenocarcinoma of unknown primary site (ACUPS). METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 81 patients who were diagnosed as ACUPS, seen at Samsung Medical Center from May, 1995 to July, 1999, was performed. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 58 years. The common sites of metastases were the lymph node, liver, lung, bone. In 49 of 81 patients (60.5%), the dominant tumor location was below the diaphragm. The majority of patiens (76 of 81) were initially treated with systemic chemotherapy including cisplatin. Responses were evaluable in 70 of 76. Eighteen of 70 patients (25.7%) responded to chemotherapy and complete remission was observed in 6 patients. The overall median survival of 81 patients was 5.6 months. The median survival of the responding patients was 18.3 months but the median survial of the nonresponding patients was 4.6 months (p<0.01). In univariate and multivariate analysis, age, performance status and response to initial chemotherapy were significant prognostic factors for overall survial. CONCLUSION: Poor survival rate and treatment response were observed in ACUPS but complete response and long-term survival were observed in several patients.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Cisplatin ; Diaphragm ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Liver ; Lung ; Lymph Nodes ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate