No abstract available.
Cyclotrons*

PURPOSE: We performed this study to describe the findings of MR Myelography(MRM) of herniated disc disease, spinal stenosis and spinal tumor and to evaluate the usefulness of the MRM in comparison to MRI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MRI and MRM were performed in 31 patients with herniated disc disease(12 patients), spinal stenosis(11 patients) and spinal tumor(8 patients). MRI and MRM were done with 1.5-T Signa MR, using fat suppressed heavily T2-weighted fast spin echo technique. We retrospectively analyzed MRM images about the thecal sac indentation, compression or displacement of the nerve root, extent and degree of narrowing of spinal canal, relationship between spinal tumor and spinal cord. MRM findings were compared with MRI in all cases. RESULTS: In 18 herniated disc cases of 12 patients, focal filling defect with cutoff or displacement of the nerve root in eight cases of paracentral herniated disc was seen. Cutoff and displacement of the nerve root were more clearly delineated on MRM than rvlRI. In the patients of spinal stenosis(11 cases), hourglass deformity of the thecal sac or complete spinal block of the subarachnoid space was clearly demonstrated. The extent and severity of spinal stenosis were more accurately evaluated on MRM than MRI. MRM finding of intramedullary tumor(3 cases) was enlargement of spinal cord. Five cases of intradural extramedullary tumor showed intradural filling defect, which caused contralateral displacement of the spinal cord with meniscus sign on inferior margin of the mass. CONCLUSION: MRM shows characteristic findings of herniated disc disease, spinal stenosis and spinal tumor. MRM yields excellent definition of the thecal sac, nerve roots and nerve root sleeves in relation to herniated disc and may be more accurate in evaluation of the degree and extent of spinal stenosis than MRI.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Myelography* ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Canal ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Diseases ; Spinal Stenosis ; Subarachnoid Space

No abstract available.
Congenital Hypothyroidism*

BACKGROUND: Cardiogenic shock is the most common cause of in-hospital mortality after acute myocardial infarction. Despite improvement in coronary care, the in-hospital mortality rate of cardiogenic shock is very high in conventional conservative therapy. Recently, it was suggested that coronary angioplasty may reduce the mortality associated with cardiogenic shock. METHOD: Thirteen consecutive patients with cardiogenic shock who underwent coronary angioplasty were studied. Shock was not induced by mechanical complications, arrhythmia, hypovolemia and other reversible cause. We collected and analyzed the clinical, hemodynamic survivor groups. RESULTS: Of 13 patients, 11 had successful reperfusion of the infarct-related coronary artery and 2 had unsuccessful reperfusion. Of 11 patients with successful angioplasty, 8 survived at the time of hospital discharge. All patents with unsuccessful angioplasty died in the hospital. Therefore overall hospital survival rate was 62% and the rate increased to 73% in patients with successful reperfusion. Survivor and non-survivor groups in clinical, hemodynamic and angiographic variables were similar except systolic blood pressure and the presence of successful reperfusion. CONCLUSION: In patients with cardiogenic shock, the patency of infarct-related coronary artery was strongly associated with in-hospital mortality. This findings support aggressive interventional strategy in patient with cardiogenic shock complicating acute myocardial infarction.
Angioplasty ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary* ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Blood Pressure ; Coronary Vessels ; Hemodynamics ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Hypovolemia ; Mortality ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Reperfusion ; Shock ; Shock, Cardiogenic* ; Survival Rate ; Survivors

BACKGROUND: Cardiogenic shock is the most common cause of in-hospital mortality after acute myocardial infarction. Despite improvement in coronary care, the in-hospital mortality rate of cardiogenic shock is very high in conventional conservative therapy. Recently, it was suggested that coronary angioplasty may reduce the mortality associated with cardiogenic shock. METHOD: Thirteen consecutive patients with cardiogenic shock who underwent coronary angioplasty were studied. Shock was not induced by mechanical complications, arrhythmia, hypovolemia and other reversible cause. We collected and analyzed the clinical, hemodynamic survivor groups. RESULTS: Of 13 patients, 11 had successful reperfusion of the infarct-related coronary artery and 2 had unsuccessful reperfusion. Of 11 patients with successful angioplasty, 8 survived at the time of hospital discharge. All patents with unsuccessful angioplasty died in the hospital. Therefore overall hospital survival rate was 62% and the rate increased to 73% in patients with successful reperfusion. Survivor and non-survivor groups in clinical, hemodynamic and angiographic variables were similar except systolic blood pressure and the presence of successful reperfusion. CONCLUSION: In patients with cardiogenic shock, the patency of infarct-related coronary artery was strongly associated with in-hospital mortality. This findings support aggressive interventional strategy in patient with cardiogenic shock complicating acute myocardial infarction.
Angioplasty ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary* ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Blood Pressure ; Coronary Vessels ; Hemodynamics ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Hypovolemia ; Mortality ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Reperfusion ; Shock ; Shock, Cardiogenic* ; Survival Rate ; Survivors

High selectivity provided by biomolecules such as antibodies and enzymes has been exploited during the last two decades for development of biosensors. Of particular importance are efficient immobilization methods for biomolecules in order to preserve their biological activities. In this study, we have evaluated immobilization strategies for an anti-DNA antibody on a self-assembled monolayer of omega-functionalized thiols. The antibody was immobilized via peptide bond formation between the primary amines in the antibody and the carboxyl groups on the self-assembled monolayer. The peptide bond coupling was achieved by activating COOH groups on the surface through N-Hydroxysuccimide (NHS)-ester formation, followed by acylation of NH2 group in the antibody. DNA binding activity of the immobilized antibody was examined by counting beta emission from 35S-labeled DNA.
Antibodies, Antinuclear* ; DNA/immunology ; DNA/analysis* ; DNA-Binding Proteins/chemistry ; Gold ; Membranes, Artificial ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polyvinyls/chemistry ; Radioimmunoassay/methods* ; Thioctic Acid/chemistry

PURPOSE: Early identification of causative agents in lower respiratory infection of pediatric patients can reduce morbidity and prevent an overuse of antimicrobials. Two kinds of multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and a commercial shell vial viral culture were performed to identify causative agents in pediatric patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nasopharyngeal aspirates of 220 children diagnosed with viral pneumonia were obtained. Two kinds of multiplex PCR (Seeplextrade mark RV detection kit, and Labopasstrade mark RV detection kit), and a shell vial culture by R-Mix were performed. RESULTS: Positive samples from 220 total samples by two multiplex PCRs were 52.7% and 46.4%, respectively. We also cultured 103 samples that showed positive results of the adenovirus, influenza virus, parainfluenza virus, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) by two multiplex PCR. The RSV was most frequently detected in 53.0% (Seeplex) and 51.7% (Labopass) of patients. The detection rate of adenovirus (AdV) was 10.3% and 12.1%, influenza virus (IFV) A and B was 12.5% and 3.4%, and parainfluenza virus (PIFV) 1, 2, and 3 were 2.9% and 2.6%. Shell vial cultures showed concordant results with each multiplex PCR by 96.1% and 77.7%, respectively. Sequencing results were 90% consistent with multiplex PCR. CONCLUSION: Multiplex PCR showed more positivity than the shell vial culture and it can be an effective primary test. Other complementary efforts such as viral cultures and sequencing analysis could be considered, according to clinical and laboratory conditions.
Adenoviridae/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Orthomyxoviridae/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Pneumonia, Viral/*virology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/*methods ; Respiratory Syncytial Viruses/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Respirovirus/genetics/*isolation & purification

We usually accept 1 : 1 ratio soft tissue change in mandibular set-back surgery. But we cannot sure whether we can use this ratio as a long term predictor after surgery. We investigated the change of hard tissue and its effects to soft tissue and examined the predictability of cephalometric analysis in short term and long term follow-up periods in mandibular set-back surgery. Subjects were 15 patients (5 male, 10 female) performed mandibular set-back procedure only by BSSRO with rigid fixation. Cephalometric data were obtained before orthodontic treatment, immediate before surgery and immediate after surgery, 6 months, and 18 months after surgery consecutively. Differences in soft and hard tissue changes among the time intervals were examined using analysis of variance (ANOVA) ; the association between immediate surgical change in chin landmarks and subsequent short and long term soft and hard tissue changes were examined using linear regression analysis 1. Soft tissue mandibular structures were positioned posteriorly and superiorly after surgery. Average mandibular set-back were 8.17mm at Pog. The horizontal and vertical hard tissue mandibular changes were stable for 18 months after surgery. Although there was a small degree of change, soft tissue and hard tissue remain relatively stable after surgery and there was no clinically discernable changes between 6 months and 18 months post-operatively. 2. Some part of upper lip (Ls & stms)and most part of mandibular soft tissue moves postero-superiorly after mandibular set-back. The ratio of horizontal changes of hard tissue to soft tissue at Inf. labial sulcus(B'), Pogonion(Pog') were 84.7%, 74.7% after 18 months. respectively. 3. Predictability of the soft tissue change is less certain than hard tissue and this predictability is decreased over time. These result suggests that we cannot predict the surgical outcomes exactly. It is recommendable that the oral surgeon should be careful in using the computerized surgical prediction software program as a predictor of long term soft tissue change.
Chin ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Lip ; Male

BACKGROUND: Heat shock proteins (HSPs), or stress proteins, are immunodominant antigens of many microorganisms. In this study, we have detected the anti-HSP 70 antibody and tried to explain the role of the antibody with respect to the pathogenesis of SLE. Furthermore, we have attempted to find out the possibility to link the presence of the autoantibody with the monitoring and diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: A total of 80 samples from 55 SLE patients were screened for the presence of anti-HSP 70 antibodies. Simultaneously 59 healthy people were tested as a control group. The anti-HSP 70 antibodies were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and confirmed by western blot in anti-HSP 70 antibody ELISA positive samples. The activity of disease state was confirmed by the patients' medical record and systemic lupus activity measure (SLAM). RESULTS: The mean optical density (O.D.450) of ELISA in healthy controls and SLE patients were 0.15+/-0.18 (mean+/-S.D.) and 0.13+/-0.14. The correlation of SLAM Score and ELISA O.D. was r2=0.19, P=0.014. And, the mean O.D. value of ELISA was 0.18+/-0.02 and 0.11+/-0.01 before and after treatment (P <0.05). We compared samples with SLAM Score. The O.D. of anti-HSP 70 ELISA in these patients were 0.20+/-0.02 and 0.08+/-0.002 before and after treatment respectively (n=10, mean+/-S.D., P <0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Anti-HSP 70 antibody was not a clinically useful diagnostic marker in SLE patients. However, the titer of anti-HSP 70 antibody can be used for the monitoring of the therapeutic effectiveness in these patients.
Antibodies ; Blotting, Western ; Diagnosis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; Humans ; Immunodominant Epitopes ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Medical Records

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist II (PIVKA-II) appears to be a useful tumor marker for the evaluation of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). But the usefulness of PIVKA-II was not yet clear in Korea where hepatitis B-virus is endemic. We investigated the usefulness of PIVKA-II in the diagnosis and follow-up after treatment of HCC. METHODS: We studied patients with HCC which was pathologically confirmed. PIVKA-II was measured by enzyme immunoassay. PIVKA-II levels before and after treatment, in correlation with imaging studies, were analyzed for the comparison of treatment responses. Kappa index was obtained. RESULTS: A total of 129 patients were included. 93 patients (72%) were HBsAg positive. 86 patients (67%) were PIVKA-II >40 mAU/mL. 52 patients (40%) were AFP >20 ng/mL and 77 patients (60%) were AFP 40 mAU/mL. 68 of 129 patients were evaluated treatment response. On the basis of radiologic response, CR was 33, PR 17, SD 12, and PD 6. Of the 33 radiologic CR patients, 30 patients were CR and 3 patients were PR by means of PIVKA-II response. Of the 17 radiologic PR patients, 6 patients were CR and 7 patients were PR. Therefore, tumor responses by radiologic and PIVKA-II were well correlated (Kappa index was 0.59). CONCLUSIONS: PIVKA-II can be used as a useful tumor marker for patients with HCC, especially those with low levels of AFP, before and after treatment in Korea.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/*diagnosis/therapy ; English Abstract ; Human ; Liver Neoplasms/*diagnosis/therapy ; Protein Precursors/*blood ; Prothrombin ; Tumor Markers, Biological/*blood