BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a disease with high mortality if left untreated. But, confirmative diagnosis is difficult because many diagnostic modalities are nonspecific. Pulmonary angiography, which is considered as the gold standard diagnostic tool, is invasive, costly, time-consuming, and not always available in small centers. Echocardiography is a non-invasive and available in the emergency room without significant time delay. We investigated the role of echocardiography as a screening test in patients with suspected PE. MATERIALS AND METHODS: (A) Retrospective study: We analyzed the recorded videotapes of transthoracic echocardiography in fifty patients with confirmed PE from Jan 1995 to Aug 1999. From the frequent echocardiographic findings of those patients, positive criteria were defined as followed ( 2 among 1-5 or only 6). (1) RV or pulmonary artery dilatation (RVEDA/LVEDA 0.6) (2) RV hypokinesis (3) paradoxical septal wall motion (4) pulmonary hypertension (5) TR (moderate degree or more) (6) Visible thrombus. Although the degree of TR was less than moderate, if the degree of pulmonary hypertension was more than moderate, we considered as PE. (B) Prospective study: From Nov 1999 to June 2000, patients with suspected pulmonary embolism underwent a transthoracic echocardiography and perfusion-ventilation lung scan or chest CT. We assessed echocardiographic findings, sensitivity and specificity of the previously defined echocardiographic positive criteria for PE. RESULTS: (A) Retrospective study: The sensitivity of echocardiography for PE was 74%. (B) Prospective study: The number of enrolled patients was thirty-four. In twenty patients the diagnosis was PE. The sensitivity of echocardiography was 75% but the specificity was 14%. CONCLUSION: Echocardiography may be used as a good screening test in patients who are clinically suspicious of pulmonary embolism.
Angiography ; Diagnosis ; Dilatation ; Echocardiography* ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; Lung ; Mass Screening* ; Mortality ; Prospective Studies ; Pulmonary Artery ; Pulmonary Embolism* ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Thrombosis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Videotape Recording

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a disease with high mortality if left untreated. But, confirmative diagnosis is difficult because many diagnostic modalities are nonspecific. Pulmonary angiography, which is considered as the gold standard diagnostic tool, is invasive, costly, time-consuming, and not always available in small centers. Echocardiography is a non-invasive and available in the emergency room without significant time delay. We investigated the role of echocardiography as a screening test in patients with suspected PE. MATERIALS AND METHODS: (A) Retrospective study: We analyzed the recorded videotapes of transthoracic echocardiography in fifty patients with confirmed PE from Jan 1995 to Aug 1999. From the frequent echocardiographic findings of those patients, positive criteria were defined as followed ( 2 among 1-5 or only 6). (1) RV or pulmonary artery dilatation (RVEDA/LVEDA 0.6) (2) RV hypokinesis (3) paradoxical septal wall motion (4) pulmonary hypertension (5) TR (moderate degree or more) (6) Visible thrombus. Although the degree of TR was less than moderate, if the degree of pulmonary hypertension was more than moderate, we considered as PE. (B) Prospective study: From Nov 1999 to June 2000, patients with suspected pulmonary embolism underwent a transthoracic echocardiography and perfusion-ventilation lung scan or chest CT. We assessed echocardiographic findings, sensitivity and specificity of the previously defined echocardiographic positive criteria for PE. RESULTS: (A) Retrospective study: The sensitivity of echocardiography for PE was 74%. (B) Prospective study: The number of enrolled patients was thirty-four. In twenty patients the diagnosis was PE. The sensitivity of echocardiography was 75% but the specificity was 14%. CONCLUSION: Echocardiography may be used as a good screening test in patients who are clinically suspicious of pulmonary embolism.
Angiography ; Diagnosis ; Dilatation ; Echocardiography* ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; Lung ; Mass Screening* ; Mortality ; Prospective Studies ; Pulmonary Artery ; Pulmonary Embolism* ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Thrombosis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Videotape Recording

Hu protein R (HuR) binds to the AU-rich element (ARE) in the 3'UTR to stabilize TNF-alpha mRNA. Here, we identified chemical inhibitors of the interaction between HuR and the ARE of TNF-alpha mRNA using RNA electrophoretic mobility gel shift assay (EMSA) and filter binding assay. Of 179 chemicals screened, we identified three with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) below 10 micrometer. The IC(50) of quercetin, b-40, and b-41 were 1.4, 0.38, and 6.21 micrometer, respectively, for binding of HuR protein to TNF-alpha mRNA. Quercetin and b-40 did not inhibit binding of tristetraprolin to the ARE of TNF-alpha mRNA. When LPS-treated RAW264.7 cells were treated with quercetin and b-40, we observed decreased stability of TNF-alpha mRNA and decreased levels of secreted TNF-alpha. From these results, we could find inhibitors for the TNF-alpha mRNA stability, which might be used advantageously for both the study for post-transcriptional regulation and the discovery of new anti-inflammation drugs.
*3' Untranslated Regions ; Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/*pharmacology ; Antigens, Surface/metabolism ; Antioxidants/pharmacology ; Cell Line ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; Mice ; Protein Binding/drug effects ; Quercetin/*pharmacology ; RNA Stability/*drug effects ; RNA-Binding Proteins/*antagonists & inhibitors/metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/*biosynthesis

PURPOSE: We have summarized the experience of our institution related to what treatment has been performed in patients with pancreatic fistula and their outcome.METHODS: Seventy-eight pancreatico-enteric anastomosis failure (PEAF) patients of 403 pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) were included for this retrospective study. PEAF was defined by the presence of rich amylase (over 10,000 IU/L) in drainage fluid at postoperative day 5 to 7 and radiographic demonstration of the anastomotic breakdown and associated local fluid collection. The management was analyzed by observation group (O group), intervention (I group) and surgery group (S group).RESULTS: Preoperative clinical status of the PEAF group and non-PEAF group was similar. Bile duct cancer was the highest risk subgroup of the PEAF (P=0.001) and the pancreatic adenocarcinoma showed the least risk for the PEAF (P<0.001). Among the 78 PEAF patients, 50 were managed as a conservative treatment, 15 patients were received radiologic intervention and 13 patients performed rescue surgery. Among these three subgroups, there was no statistical significance in the patient's demographics, clinical status, surgical factors and disease nature. However, mortality was significantly higher in the S group (P<0.001). The mortality cases were developed one and six patients in O and S group, respectively. Surgical procedures in S group were completion total pancreatectomy with or without splenectomy (n=12) and pancreatectomy preserving spleen in four (28.6%). Pancreaticogastrostomy repair and Roux-en-Y pancreaticojejunostomy reconstruction were performed each case, respectively.CONCLUSION: Proper drainage catheter indwelling during the PD or postoperative radiological intervention can effectively manage the PEAF without surgical interventional treatment.
Adenocarcinoma ; Amylases ; Bile Duct Neoplasms ; Catheters ; Demography ; Drainage ; Humans ; Mortality ; Pancreatectomy ; Pancreatic Fistula ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy ; Pancreaticojejunostomy ; Retrospective Studies ; Spleen ; Splenectomy