The chest radiographs and angiograms were retrospectively evaluated in 47 patients with pulmonary atresia (PA) and ventricular septal defect (VSD) to determine the characteristic findings of major aortopulmonary collateral arteries (MAPCSs) on the chest radiographs. Of 47 patients, 23 had MAPCAs and 24 had only PDA for blood supply of whole right and left lung. Chest radiographs enabled identification of 16 of 23 patients with MAPCAs. The most common finding of MAPCAs was inappropriately large peripheral pulmonary vasculature (n=16, 69.6%). The other findings were tortuosity of pulmonary vasculature (n=12, 52.2%), focal unevendistribution of pulmonary vasculature (n=12, 52.2%), and two descending pulmonary arteries (n=4, 17.4%). When chest radiographs showed two or more findings of MAPCAs, MAPCAs could be differentiated from PDA with statistical significance (p<0.005). It is concluded that chest radiographs may help to identify MAPCAs before angiography if two-dimensional echo ardiography suggests PA with VSD.
Angiography ; Arteries* ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular* ; Humans ; Lung ; Pulmonary Artery ; Pulmonary Atresia* ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Retrospective Studies ; Thorax*

OBJECTIVES: We compared the characteristics of the pain threshold and pain experience between demented group and non-demented group. METHODS: This study was part of Gangwon projects for early detection of dementia in 2010. We recruited 8302 local resident ages over 65 years old. Of theses, 1259 people who scored low MMSE were selected and 365 of them completed CERAD-K(Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's disease). Finally, 90 in non-demented group and 57 in demented group(mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease) were analyzed. Pain threshold was experimentally measured by pressure algometer and we investigated the pain experience, by Brief pain inventory (BPI), a self-report test. RESULTS: In the demographic characteristics, there are more female, higher ages, lower education in the demented group. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the pain threshold. On the BPI results, 'shoulder pain', 'the number of pain' and 'interference of working' were significantly more prevalent in non-demented group. However, there are no significant differences between the groups in the 'pain severity', 'prevalence of pain' and 'pain treatment'. CONCLUSIONS: Demented group report less pain experience but, still perceived pain. It support previous studies that patient with dementia have increased pain tolerance but preserved pain threshold. Thus, active pain assessment and treatment for patients with dementia is needed.
Aged* ; Dementia* ; Education ; Female ; Gangwon-do ; Humans ; Pain Measurement ; Pain Threshold*

No abstract available.
Eosinophils* ; Gyeongsangbuk-do* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E* ; Skin*

Many studies have reported structural or functional brain changes in patients with alcohol-dependence (ADPs). However, there has been an insufficient number of studies that were able to identify functional changes along with structural abnormalities in ADPs. Since neuronal cell death can lead to abnormal brain function, a multimodal approach combined with structural and functional studies is necessary to understand definitive neural mechanisms. Here, we explored regional difference in cortical thickness and their impact on functional connection along with clinical relevance. Fifteen male ADPs who have been diagnosed by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5 (DSM-5) underwent highresolution T1 and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans together with 15 male healthy controls (HCs). The acquired MRI data were post-processed using the Computational Anatomy Toolbox (CAT 12) and CONN-fMRI functional connectivity (FC) toolbox with Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM 12). When compared with male HCs, the male ADPs showed significantly reduced cortical thickness in the left postcentral gyrus (PoCG), an area responsible for altered resting-state FC patterns in male ADPs. Statistically higher FCs in PoCG-cerebellum (Cb) and lower FCs in PoCG-supplementary motor area (SMA) were observed in male ADPs. In particular, the FCs with PoCG-Cb positively correlated with alcohol use disorders identification test (AUDIT) scores in male ADPs. Our findings suggest that the association of brain structural abnormalities and FC changes could be a characteristic difference in male ADPs. These findings can be useful in understanding the neural mechanisms associated with anatomical, functional and clinical features of individuals with alcoholism

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of transperineal sonography of the prostate in patients with previousabdominoperineal resection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Transperineal prostatic sonograms were obtained from ninepatients with abdominoperineal resection. The shortest distance between the probe and the prostate gland, itsvolume, and its internal and external structures were evaluated for image quality, shape, border, and the degreeof distortion in internal echo. Because the number of patients was small, statistical analysis was not performed. RESULTS: Transperineal sonography of the prostate in eight patient was obtained at ease, except that one of ninepatients was not able to continue the procedure because of severe tenderness of the perineum and poor cooperation.Acceptable images of the prostate gland and their adjacent structures were obtained in one patient with less than1cm between the probe and prastate gland, three of four with between 1cm and 1.5cm, and one of three with morethan 1.5cm. CONCLUSION: In patients with previous abdominoperineal resection, transperineal sonography of theprostate may be a good imaging modality.
Humans ; Perineum ; Prostate*

BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is associated with cardiac arrhythmia due to autonomic dysfunction. The aim of this study was to elucidate the effect of OSAS on the QT interval and the efficacy of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment on a prolonged QT interval. METHODS: From March 2007 to January 2008, 13 patients diagnosed as OSAS received CPAP treatment. Ten age- and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled, and nighttime polysomnography was performed. We analyzed the full-night electrocardiogram.which is one of the elements of nighttime polysomnography.in all patients and controls. RESULTS: In the patient group, the QTc interval was 0.380+/-0.45 ms (mean+/-SD) before CPAP treatment and 0.368+/-0.32 ms during CPAP treatment. In the control group, the QTc interval was 0.348+/-0.26 ms. The QTc interval did not differ between OSAS patients and controls (p=0.143), but it did significantly shorten between before and after CPAP treatment (p=0.047). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that CPAP treatment can improve QTc prolongation and thereby prevent future ventricular arrhythmia.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Continuous Positive Airway Pressure ; Humans ; Polysomnography ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive

BACKGROUND: Carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) is an early structural marker of the atherosclerotic process and an elevated total homocysteine level is an early biochemical marker of atherosclerosis. But there are few reports about serum homocysteine level and carotid IMT between ischemic stroke, hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage (HICH) and control group. METHOD: We studied about 173 patients with ischemic stroke, HICH and control group. Carotid IMT was defined as the mean of IMT measured by B-mode ultrasonography. Serum homocysteine level was measured by fluorescence polarization immunoassay method in fasting state. We compared serum homocysteine level and carotid IMT between ischemic stroke, HICH and control group. In statistics, One-Way ANOVA was used. RESULTS: A significant increase in carotid IMT was noted in ischemic stroke and HICH compared with that in the control group (p<0.05), whereas there was no significant differences in carotid IMT between ischemic stroke and HICH. The serum homocysteine level of ischemic stroke was significantly higher than that of control group (p<0.05). But there were no significant differences between HICH and control group, HICH and ischemic stroke. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, we thought a carotid IMT of ischemic stroke, HICH and serum homocysteine level in ischemic stroke can be used as early diagnostic marker. Therefore, our results address the need of further prospective clinical studies in patients with ischemic stroke and HICH in order to evaluate a possible diagnostic ability of carotid IMT and serum homocysteine level.
Atherosclerosis ; Biomarkers ; Carotid Arteries ; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness* ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Fasting ; Fluorescence Polarization Immunoassay ; Homocysteine* ; Humans ; Intracranial Hemorrhage, Hypertensive* ; Stroke* ; Ultrasonography

No abstract available.

No abstract available.

Cases showing memory disturbances with isolated retrograde memory without any definitive brain lesions are classified as dissociative amnesia. Improvements in imaging techniques have allowed the organic causes of this disease to be identified in several recent cases. Several studies have diagnosed cases of memory disorders as pure retrograde amnesia (PRA). The patient reported here had no psychiatric disorder and had normal MRI results, but showed hypometabolism in PET that met the criteria for PRA.
Amnesia ; Amnesia, Retrograde ; Brain ; Humans ; Memory ; Memory Disorders