Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty(PTA) were performed in three patients with atherosclerotic stenosis of subclavian arteries. The arteries were successfully dilated without complications during the procedure. All patients were asymptomatic during follow-up periods ranging from eight months to fifteen months after PTA.
Angioplasty* ; Arteries ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Subclavian Artery*

Uterine prolapse with pregnancy is rare condition. The overall incidence is 1/10000- 15000 deliveries. The complications from uterine prolapse range from minor cervical ulceration and infection to fetal death or uterine rupture. The fetal mortality was as high as 22% mainly due to prematurity, respiratory infection. The management of this condition is focused on preventing late occurrence of prolapse during pregnancy and continued reduction. We present a case of uterine prolapse in pregnancy with a brief review of the literature.
Fetal Death ; Fetal Mortality ; Incidence ; Pregnancy* ; Prolapse ; Ulcer ; Uterine Prolapse* ; Uterine Rupture

OBJECTIVES: This study was purposed to examine the changes of plasma homovanillic acid(HVA), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid(5-HIAA), and HVA/5-HIAA ratio during an 8-week risperidone trial and to investigate the relationship between the plasma monoamine metabolites and risperidone-induced treatment resposes. METHOD: Eighteen schizophrenic patients were treated for 8 weeks with risperidone. The psychopathology was assessed at baseline just before risperidone trial and then at 1st week, 2nd week, 4th week, and 8th week using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS) and the Clinical Global Impression scale(CGI). The plasma HVA and 5-HIAA levels were measured using high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection method. RESULTS: 39% of the patients treated with risperidone was categorized as responders, who showed at least a 20% decrease in PANSS total score at the end point of the study. At the end point of the 1st week, there was significant difference in the percent change of plasma HVA between responders(39% increment) and nonresponders(9% increment). But no significant differences in the percent change of plasma 5-HIAA and the percent change of plasma HVA/5-HIAA ratio between responders and nonresponders were observed. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the magnitude of the early increase of plasma HVA may be associated with risperidone-induced treatment response in schizophrenia.
Chromatography, Liquid ; Homovanillic Acid* ; Humans ; Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid ; Plasma* ; Psychopathology ; Risperidone ; Schizophrenia*

Nonpalpable breast abnormalities which require excision and biopsy usually require marker localization. Many of these abnormalities are visible on ultrasound and this imaging technique can be used to guide fine needle aspiration and the placement of a wire marker prior to surgical excision. A non-invasive technique which does not require placement of a wire marker would offer significant advantages, being more pleasant for the patient and less demanding on resources. We attempted to localize 36 nonpalpable breast masses with non-invasive ultrasound marker technique at the department of general surgery, Soon Chun Hyang University Hospital, between January 1994 and February 1995. Cases clearly visible on ultrasound, whether on mammography(15 patients) or not(17 patients), underwent non-invasive ultrasound localization. In all cases the abnormality was easily identified and removed during surgery. The surgical biopsies contained fibroadenoma(19 cases), fibrocystic disease(12 cases), epithelial hyperplasia(1 case), intraductal papilloma(1 case), parasitic disease(1 case) and infiltrating ductal carcinoma(2 cases). The average age was 43 years old.. This non-invasive technique is a simple and accurate method for localizing small ultrasonically visible nonpalpable breast abnormalities, especially in younger female patient with dense breast, though further trials and studies will be attempted.
Adult ; Biopsy* ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Breast* ; Female ; Humans ; Ultrasonography*

PURPOSE: We have evaluated the patterns of diagnostic and treatment practices for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in a country that does not have country-specific clinical practice guidelines. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Probability samples were taken from the Korean Urological Association Registry of Physicians, and randomly sampled Korean urologists were asked to complete a questionnaire. The survey explored practice characteristics and attitudes, as well as diagnostic and treatment strategies, for the management of BPH. RESULTS: Of the 850 questionnaires sent, 302 were returned, and 277 of those were included in the final analysis (response rate 32.6%). For the initial evaluation, most urologists routinely used digital rectal examinations (DRE) and urinalysis. Uroflowmetry was used 34.7% of the time. Pressure-flow studies were rarely done. Symptom assessment was used in only 46.9% of cases. In addition, a significant number (58.8%) reported that treatment decisions were not based on the symptom questionnaire. Before surgery, almost all urologists routinely used DRE, urinalysis, and prostate-specific antigen tests. Of the respondents, 55.6% and 41.9% had prescribed alpha- blockers and alpha-blockers with 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, respectively. 81.2% of urologists perceived that selective alpha-blockers are different in terms of efficacy, and 82.7% felt that they differed in safety. Most respondents prescribed 5-alpha reductase inhibitors based on the prostate size. CONCLUSION: These data provide a picture of current practices regarding the management of BPH in Korea. The diagnostic and treatment practices for BPH do not follow published guidelines. Our findings ask the question "How influential are international guidelines, and do they really affect patient management in countries that do not have country-specific guidelines?"
Urology/standards ; Societies, Medical ; Questionnaires ; Prostatic Hyperplasia/diagnosis/*therapy ; Practice Guidelines ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Korea ; Humans ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Developing Countries ; Aged ; Adult

A case of a 39-year-old woman with corrected transposition of the great vessels without significant intracardiac anomaly or coronary disease is reported. The clinical diagnosis of coronary arterial disese was supported in this patient by electrocardiographic changes of probable old anteroseptal myocardial infarction. Coronary arteriographic study showed the morphologic left coronary artery supplied the right-sided ventricle, and the right coronary artery supplied the left-sided ventricle, and the right coronary artery supplied the left-sided ventricle. Although the condition is theoretically compatible with a normal life span, few patient with this lesion survive past 40 years of age because of the subsequent heart block or functioning as a systemic ventricle.
Adult* ; Anterior Wall Myocardial Infarction ; Coronary Angiography* ; Coronary Disease ; Coronary Vessels ; Diagnosis ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Heart Block ; Humans

PURPOSE: We assessed the usefulness of magnetic resonance angiography(MRA) and its techniques for differential diagnosis of hemorrhagic causes in patients with non-traumatic intracranial hemorrhagic disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 74 patients with non-traumatic intracranial hemorrhagic diseases, which were confirmed by radiological examinations(36 cases) and operations(38 cases). We compared the usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) alone from MRI with MRA in evaluation of hemorrhagic causes. MRA was obtained by Time-of-Flight(TOF) and Phase Contrast(PC) technique. We investigated the usefulness of TOF and PC technique. RESULTS: MRI with MRA for detection of hemorrhagic causes(89%, 66 cases) was better than MRI only (64%, 47 cases). PC was better than TOF for evaluation of arteriovenous malformation and aneurysm due to subtraction of background noise(hemorrhage). CONCLUSION: MRI with MRA in more useful than MRI alone for evaluation of non-traumatic intracranial hemorrhagic causes.
Aneurysm ; Angiography* ; Arteriovenous Malformations ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: We determined the impact of prostate volume on the efficacy of the high-power (80 W) potassium-titanyl-phosphate (KTP) photoselective laser vaporization of the prostate in men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients were stratified into 3 groups according to prostate volume: '< 40 g' (n = 49) and '40-59 g' (n = 49) and '> or = 60 g' (n = 22). Median follow-up was 9 months (range 6 to 21). RESULTS: No differences in age and follow-up duration were observed in the three groups. At baseline, no significant differences were noted in the three groups in terms of the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) (21.4, 19.4 and 19.1; p = 0.412) as well as the maximum flow rate (Qmax) (10.2, 9.2, and 8.6 mL/s; p = 0.291) and post-void residual (PVR) (66.2, 80.4, and 71.5 mL; p = 0.856). The mean operative times were 30.9, 46.9, and 58.6 minutes (p < 0.001) and total median energy deliveries for each group were 62.3, 97.6, and 135.9 kJ, respectively (p < 0.001). No severe intraoperative complication was observed. At the last follow-up, these parameters improved significantly regardless of prostate volume, and the IPSS (11.1, 9.4, and 12.3; p = 0.286) as well as Qmax (15.9, 15.9, and 14.2 mL/s; p = 0.690) and PVR (33.7, 28.4, and 14.2 mL; p = 0.395) were not significantly different among the groups. CONCLUSION: Although a larger prostate requires more time and energy delivery, photoselective laser vaporization of the prostate is safe and efficacious for patients with LUTS regardless of prostate volume.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Feasibility Studies ; Humans ; Laser Therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phosphates/*chemistry ; Prostate/*physiology/surgery ; Prostate-Specific Antigen/blood ; Prostatic Hyperplasia/complications/*surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Titanium/*chemistry ; Treatment Outcome ; Urinary Tract/pathology ; Volatilization

No abstract available.
Animals ; Isoproterenol* ; Plasma* ; Rats* ; Renin*

Bilateral patella tendon rupture is rare, particulary when associated with osteogenesis imperfecta. Brittleness of the bone in osteogenenesis imperfect patients may cause this rupture. We report on this rare case and suggest the direct repair with the additional wire loop as a proper treatment option for patients with the substantial rupture of patella tendon.
Humans ; Osteogenesis Imperfecta* ; Osteogenesis* ; Patellar Ligament* ; Rupture*