Unilateral absence of a pulmonary artery is an uncommon anomaly, which presents as an isolated lesion or in combination with other congenital heart disease such as TOF or PD^. We encountered three cases of isolated unilateral absence of a pulmonary artery;one was left pulmonary artery agenesis with right sided aortic arch and the others were right pulmonary artery agenesis with left sided aortic arch. Plain chest radiograph showed considerable loss of unilateal lung volume and lack of ipsilateral hilar shadow. Pulmonary angiogram which was done in two cases, revealed proximal interruption of a pulmonary artery. Chest CT was done in only one case, on which right pulmonary artery was absent and was replaced by adipose tissue. CT with its clean demonstration pulmonary artery without any evidence of aquired obstruction of a pulmonary artery by pulmonary embolism or tumor invasion, maybe a valuable method for evaluaton of the unilateral absence of a pulmonary artery.
Adipose Tissue ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Lung ; Pulmonary Artery* ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE:To identify the main toxic gas released from salted radish in rice bran(Dan-Mu-Ji) and to introduce the radiological findings of the patient who was exposed to the gas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Chest radiographs and CT scans of one survivor among three men who were exposed to the gas from Dan-Mu-Ji were reviewed. Gas obtained from the closed bottle containing Dan-Mu-Ji was analized by using the gas chromatography. RESULTS: The radiographic examinations of the survivor were suggestive of pulmonary edema with it's rapidly improving consolidations in both lung. The headspace gas within the bottle containing Dan-Mu-Ji was mainly composed with carbon dioxide, ethyl alcohol and hydrogen sulfide, of which hydrogen sulfide was considered the main toxic gas released. CONCLUSION: Under the anaerobic condition, Dan-Mu-Ji released toxic hydrogen sulfide. Inhalation of hydrogen sulfide might produce non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema.
Anoxia* ; Carbon Dioxide ; Chromatography, Gas ; Ethanol ; Humans ; Hydrogen Sulfide ; Inhalation ; Lung ; Male ; Pulmonary Edema ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Raphanus* ; Survivors ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND: Hyperhomocysteinemia increase the risk of vascular disease, dementia and cognitive impairment. The effect of homocysteine on cognitive function may be as a consequence of direct neurotoxicity or indirectly through cerebrovascular disease. Thus we examined the association between homocysteine levels and cognitive function, and assess whether this may be mediated by cerebral white matter lesions. METHODS: Non-dementic participants were recruited from March to December 2005, and underwent brain MRI. White matter hyperintensities(WMH) were rated visually by 4-class WMH grades. Informations of age, gender, education and vascular risk factor were obtained from interview. Cognitive function were assessed by using K-MMSE and HDS-R. The cross-sectional relationship between homocysteine level and cognitive test score was assessed by multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: Severe WMH groups more exposed to vascular risk factor such as age, hypertension and higher levels of homocyteine. More severe WMH grades also had lower K-MMSE and HDS-R score. Higher group of homocysteine concentration were significantly related to poorer performances on K-MMSE and HDS-R tests. In multiple linear regression analyses for the relationship between homocysteine and cognitive performances, higher homocysteine level was also related to lower cognitive performances. Adding cerebral WMH changes to the level of homocysteine did not significantly change the effect of homocysteine on cognitive ability, and cerebral WMH had a separate and additive effect with homocysteine. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated homocysteine level is associated decreased cognitive score and cerebral white matter lesion on MRI is independent association to the cognitive abilities.
Brain ; Dementia ; Education ; Homocysteine* ; Hyperhomocysteinemia ; Hypertension ; Linear Models ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Risk Factors ; Vascular Diseases

Gingival fibroblasts(GF) and periodontal ligament fibroblasts(PDLF) are the major cellular components of periodontal soft connective tissues, but the precise molecular biological differences between these cells are not yet known. In the present study, we investigated the expression of S100A4, S100A2 calcium-binding protein and osteoblast-specific factor 2(OSF-2, Periostin) mRNA in GF and PDLF in vitro through the process of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) and Northern blot analysis in each. Human GF and PDLF were isolated from the gingival connective tissue and the middle third of freshly extracted healthy third molars. They were cultured in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium(DMEM) containing 10% fetal bovine serum and cells in the third passage were used in the experiments. After extracting total RNA from cultured cells, RT-PCR and Northern analysis were performed using S100A4-, S100A2- and Periostin-specific oligonucleotide primers and subcloned cDNA probes in each. In RT-PCR and Northern analysis, the expression of S100A4 and Periostin mRNA in GF was slightly detectable. Interestingly, the expression of S100A4 and Periostin mRNA in PDLF was much higher than that in GF. On the other hand, S100A2 mRNA was highly expressed in both GF and PDLF. Since there was a marked difference of S100A4 and Periostin expression between GF and PDLF in vitro, these data suggest that S100A4 and Periostin could be used as a useful marker for distinguishing cultured gingival fibroblasts and periodontal ligament cells.
Blotting, Northern ; Carrier Proteins* ; Cells, Cultured ; Connective Tissue ; DNA Primers ; DNA, Complementary ; Eagles ; Fibroblasts* ; Hand ; Humans* ; Molar, Third ; Periodontal Ligament* ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger*

A microscopic examination of 1,000 cases of gastroscopic biopsy specimens revealed that the prevalence and severity of chronic gastritis, neutrophilic infiltration, and Helicobacter pylori infection increased with advancing age until the age reached about 40, but they decreased thereafter in accordance with the increasing prevalence of intestinal metaplasia. The prevalence and severity of Helicobacter pylori infection, chronic gastritis, and neutrophilic infiltration were proportionately related to each other and to gastric peptic ulcer, but inversely related with intestinal metaplasia and gastric carcinoma. The results suggested that chronic gastritis and gastric peptic ulcer may be associated with Helicobacter pylori infection and that if these lesions persist, intestinal metaplasia may develop with decreased severity of chronic gastritis and Helicobacter pylori infection but, instead, increase of the risk of gastric carcinoma. And it is thought that the cause of the high incidence of gastric carcinoma in Korea may be related to the fact that chronic gastritis and Helicobacter pylori infection develop earlier in life and therefore the prevalence of intestinal metaplasia is higher in Korea than in other countries.
Incidence ; Biopsy

PURPOSE: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) known as an angiogenic factor is a potent inducer of pathologic neovascularization. The purpose of this study is identifying the relationship between serum PSA, invasiveness and VEGF expression in prostatic cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ex-vivo study with immunohistochemical stain analysis for VEGF expression was performed on 18 paraffin embedded specimens of prostatic cancer patients who were treated with radical prostatectomy. VEGF expressions were classified by three groups (1+ , 2+ , 3+ ) according to the degree of staining of cancer cell. Biochemical failure and recurrence were determined by Takayama's IMx PSA assay criterion (>0.1ng/ml) following radical prostatectomy. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical studies demonstrated that each group contained 1, 2, 8 patients in advanced disease (n=11), and 3, 2, 2 patients in localized disease (n=7), respectively. All cases in strong positive (3+ ) group had Gleason sum higher than 7 and nadir PSA values were lower than 0.1ng/ml except one case. We found no correlation between initial PSA and VEGF expression (p=0.361). Three biochemical recurrent patients were identified as strong positive VEGF expression. CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicates that patients with advanced stage and higher Gleason sum have a trend with more VEGF expression than patients with localized disease. Identifying the angiogenesis factors especially, VEGF involved in prostatic cancer growth and understanding their regulation will lead to the developement of anti-angiogenic strategies useful for diagnostic studies and therapeutic interventions.
Angiogenesis Inducing Agents ; Humans* ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; Paraffin ; Prostate-Specific Antigen* ; Prostatectomy ; Prostatic Neoplasms* ; Recurrence ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*

Emergent endoscopy is needed in cases of a fish bone foreign body in the upper gastrointestinal tract. A fish bone foreign body is common in the oral cavity and pharynx and has a high rate of complications because of the characteristic shape. A diagnosis is very difficult when the foreign body penetrates and impacts the surrounding tissue. Computed tomography is useful for the diagnosis; however, direct removal would be impossible if the foreign body was not localized during endoscopy. If the foreign body is anchored to the oral cavity and pharynx, finger palpation is useful to find the impacted fish bone. We report here on a case of an endoscopically missed pharyngeal impacted fish bone foreign body that was finally detected by finger palpation and successfully removed by rescue endoscopy.
Endoscopy ; Fingers ; Foreign Bodies ; Mouth ; Palpation ; Pharynx ; Upper Gastrointestinal Tract

We present a case with a foreign body in the left pulmonary artery, found in a traffic accident victim. A 52- year-old woman sitting in the passenger side of a car had massive bleeding and near complete amputation of her right forearm in addition to multiple rib fractures and a hemopneumothorax. At arrival to the emergency room, the patient had signs of shock; she was anemic, drowsy and hypotensive. A large volume of blood and crystalloid fluids were administered via the left subclavian vein with a rapid infusion device (Level 1(R)). As the lung contusion improved, a foreign body was noticed in the left lung field on plain x-rays. Pulmonary angiography was performed and revealed a 15 cm foreign body in the left basal segment of the common pulmonary artery. The foreign body was successfully retrieved using vascular forceps via the percutaneous femoral vein approach.
Accidents, Traffic ; Amputation ; Angiography ; Contusions ; Emergencies ; Female ; Femoral Vein ; Forearm ; Foreign Bodies ; Hemopneumothorax ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Isotonic Solutions ; Lung ; Pulmonary Artery ; Rib Fractures ; Subclavian Vein ; Surgical Instruments ; Thoracic Injuries ; Thorax

PURPOSE: Inferior blow-out fracture is the common facial fracture. Unsatisfactory functional and aesthetic outcomes are frequent when it is treated inappropriately. If fractures are extended and reach the posterior end of orbital floor, enophthalmos frequently followed as complication. The PURPOSE of this study was to evaluate reduction technique of extensive inferior blow-out fracture with ballooning of foley catheter through endoscopic transnasal approach and implantation of Medpor(R) through subciliary approach. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed on 14 patients with extensive inferior blow-out fracture who underwent ballooning of foley catheter through endoscopic transnasal approach with implantation of Medpor(R) through subciliary approach. Patients were operated from May 2005 to November 2007. Data for 14 patients were acquired from patient's charts. Preoperative and postoperative data for enophthalmos, diplopia, limitation of extraocular motion were reviewed. Preoperative and postoperative CT scan were also checked. The patients were followed up from 4 to 18 months. RESULTS: The enophthalmos was corrected in all patients. Among 7 patients with diplopia preoperatively, diplopia was resolved in three patients postoperatively. The diplopia persisted in four patients and two of them also had limitation of extraocular motion postoperatively. The limitation of extraocular motion occurred in seven patients preoperatively. But five patients recovered after operation immediately. These symptoms were resolved about three months after the operation. CONCLUSION: The ballooning of foley catheter through endoscopic transnasal approach with implantation of Medpor(R) through subciliary approach can be considered one of the appropriate technique for extensive inferior blow- out fracture.
Catheters ; Diplopia ; Enophthalmos ; Floors and Floorcoverings ; Humans ; Orbit ; Orbital Fractures ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: Inferior blow-out fracture is the common facial fracture. Unsatisfactory functional and aesthetic outcomes are frequent when it is treated inappropriately. If fractures are extended and reach the posterior end of orbital floor, enophthalmos frequently followed as complication. The PURPOSE of this study was to evaluate reduction technique of extensive inferior blow-out fracture with ballooning of foley catheter through endoscopic transnasal approach and implantation of Medpor(R) through subciliary approach. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed on 14 patients with extensive inferior blow-out fracture who underwent ballooning of foley catheter through endoscopic transnasal approach with implantation of Medpor(R) through subciliary approach. Patients were operated from May 2005 to November 2007. Data for 14 patients were acquired from patient's charts. Preoperative and postoperative data for enophthalmos, diplopia, limitation of extraocular motion were reviewed. Preoperative and postoperative CT scan were also checked. The patients were followed up from 4 to 18 months. RESULTS: The enophthalmos was corrected in all patients. Among 7 patients with diplopia preoperatively, diplopia was resolved in three patients postoperatively. The diplopia persisted in four patients and two of them also had limitation of extraocular motion postoperatively. The limitation of extraocular motion occurred in seven patients preoperatively. But five patients recovered after operation immediately. These symptoms were resolved about three months after the operation. CONCLUSION: The ballooning of foley catheter through endoscopic transnasal approach with implantation of Medpor(R) through subciliary approach can be considered one of the appropriate technique for extensive inferior blow- out fracture.
Catheters ; Diplopia ; Enophthalmos ; Floors and Floorcoverings ; Humans ; Orbit ; Orbital Fractures ; Retrospective Studies