No abstract available.
Hemodynamics* ; Hepatocytes* ; Ischemia* ; Liver* ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator* ; Verapamil*

No abstract available.
Dilatation* ; Kidney* ; Pelvis*

BACKGROUND: Glomus tumor is a benign neoplasm derived from the normal glomus body. This tumor includes the following types; solitary, multiple, proliferating, and acral arteriovenous. Histologically, it was subdivided into solid type, glomangioma, and glomangiomyoma. Its malignant counterpart - glomangiosarcoma - was reported. OBJECTIVES: The purposes of this study were aimed to evaluate the clinical and pathologic presentations of glomus tumor. METHODS: A total of 17 patients who have been diagnosed with glomus tumor by histopathologic examination were reviewed. RESULTS: Male patients were ten and female patients were seven. The age of the onset of glomus tumor varied from birth to 61 years. The location of tumors were as follows: arm (7 cases), finger (6 cases), back (2 cases), leg (1 case), foot (1 case). The digit was the most common site for female patients. Clinical manifestations showed solitary bluish papule (6 cases), subcutaneous nodule (5 cases), nail discoloration (3 cases), nail dystrophy (1 case), bluish plaque (1 case). One patient had no specific lesion but tenderness. The most characteristic symptom was pain in 15 (88.2%) of the 17 patients, and the other two patients had no symptom. Two asymptomatic lesions were located on the forearm and histopathologically showed glomangioma. Histopathologically, 13 (76.5%) of the 17 patients classified as solid type, and 4 (23.5%) the glomangioma variety. CONCLUSION: Glomus tumors were most commonly seen as a painful nodule on the upper extremity and especially female patients showed predilection for subungual location. We speculate that multiple, mild symptomatic lesions might be a tendency to be glomangioma.
Arm ; Female ; Fingers ; Foot ; Forearm ; Glomus Tumor ; Humans ; Leg ; Male ; Parturition ; Upper Extremity

Isometric tension was recorded in uterine arterial ring preparation contracted by potassium (60 mM) and norepinephrine(1.8 X 10(-7) M). With pretreatment of various concentrations of nifedipine(2.9 x 10(-9) ~2.9 X10(-7) M) and verapamil(2.2 X 10(-7) -2.2 X 10(-5) M), the relaxation was dose-dependent and inhibitory effects of both agents were more marked on the potassium than norepinephrine-evoked contraction. After immersion of the arterial preparation in calcium-free solution, the potassium-evoked contraction was decreased to 21+/-4.1%(mean+/-SEM) of the response in normal Krebs solution and norepinephrine-evoked contraction to 26+/-3.8%. The responses to both agents were completely restored when the calcium concentration was increased to 4.0 mM. Pretreated nifedipine(2.9 x 10(-7) M) in calcium-free solution depressed the potassium-evoked contraction to 7.3+/-1.6% and norepinephrine-evoked contraction to 12+/-3.7%. In addition of calcium(0-4.0mM), the potassium-evoked contraction increased to 30+/-4.6% and that by norepinephrine to 45+/-5.4%. Pretreated verapamil(2.2 X 10(-5) M) in calcium-free solution depressed the potassium-evoked contraction to 14+/-3.6% and norepinephrine-evoked contraction to 18+/-3.3%. In addition of calcium(0-4.0mM), the potassium-evoked contraction increased to 41+/-4.2% and that by norepinephrine to 57+/-4.7%. It was concluded that nifedipine and verapamil relaxed KC1 contracted ring in the presence of external calcium and relaxed norepinephrine contracted ring in both the presence and absence of external calcium. These findings suggest that calcium antagonists interfere with the release of calcium from intracellular sites as well as with the slow inward current of calcium.
Calcium ; Humans* ; Immersion ; Nifedipine* ; Norepinephrine ; Potassium ; Relaxation ; Uterine Artery* ; Verapamil*

A retrospective analysis on the MRI findings of 24 pathologically contirmed craniopharyngiomas was performed with emphasis on signal intensity of cystic portion and its chemical components. Axial, coronal MR scans were ontained, and in six patients, post-contrast study was done with Gadopentetate Dimeglumine(Gd-DTPA). In 14 cystic portions were aspirated to correlate the amount of chemical components such as calcium, glucose, protein, cholesterol, lipid, and iron with the signal intensity GT scans were also performed in 20 patients. In eight cases, tumors extended to subfrontal, third ventricle, and retrosellar area the extensions were well demonstrated in sagittal and coronal images. The signal intensity of cystic lesions on T2WI were variable but tended to be higher in high protein and iron contents. Calcifications were present in 20 cases and out of these, MRI detected calcification as very low signal intensity or signal void on T1WI and T2WI in 12 cases. Multiplanar imaging of MRI was very useful for the evaluation of tumor extension and the signal intensity of the cystic lesion tended to be higher on T1WI when the contents had high protein or iron components.
Calcium ; Cholesterol ; Craniopharyngioma* ; Glucose ; Humans ; Iron ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Retrospective Studies ; Third Ventricle

PURPOSE: To assess the midterm results of the hydroxyapatite hip system with acetabular cups, with particular emphasis upon cup wear and loosening, using a computer assisted-3 dimensional technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From March 1992 to December 1996, 52 patients (61 hips) were available for inclusion in this study after an average duration of follow up of 6 years and 4 months. Clinical evaluation was performed using the Harris hip scoring system. Initial postoperative and long term follow up films were digitized, and 2 dimensional linear and 3 dimensional wear was measured by using a computer assisted-3 dimensional technique. Acetabular bone changes are described using previous published methods. RESULTS: An analysis of the clinical results showed a mean Harris hip score of 47.2 points preoperatively and 89.8 points at the final visit. The mean polyethylene 3D-linear wear rate was 0.26 mm/year and mean volumetric wear rate was 105.9 mm3/year. In 16 hips (26.2%) the linear wear rate was more than 0.3 mm/year (0.30-0.74 mm/year). Osteolytic changes of the acetabulum were recorded in 51% around acetabular cups, in which considerable wear of the acetabular polyethylene was evident by the five-year radiographic findings. CONCLUSION: Midterm results of hydroxyapatite coated acetabular cups were disappointing in terms of acetabular cup and liner wear, despite early accelerated bone remodeling by hydroxyapatite and excellent early clinical results.
Acetabulum* ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; Bone Remodeling ; Durapatite* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hip* ; Humans ; Osteolysis* ; Polyethylene

Anticoagulation with heparin has been the standard management therapy of deep vein thrombosis during pregnancy. Pregnancy is generally considered as a contraindication for thrombolysis. However, anticoagulation therapy alone does not protect the limbs from post-thrombotic syndrome and venous valve insufficiency. Catheter-directed thrombolysis, combined with angioplasty and stenting, can remove the thrombus and restore patency of the veins, resulting in prevention of post-thrombotic syndrome and valve insufficiency. We report successful catheter-directed thrombolysis and stenting in two early gestation patients with a deep vein thrombosis of the left lower extremity.
Angioplasty ; Catheters ; Extremities ; Female ; Heparin ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular ; Pregnancy Trimester, First ; Stents ; Thrombosis ; Veins ; Venous Thrombosis ; Venous Valves

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate change in the proton MR spectroscopic (1H-MRS) features of the liver according to changes in the severity of the chronic hepatitis spectrum (normal-chronic hepatitis-liver cirrhosis), and to determine the possibility of replacing liver biopsy by1 H-MRS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty profiles of 1H-MRS features from 15 normal volunteers, 30 cases of chronic hepatitis, and 15 of liver cirrhosis were evaluated. All cases of chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis were confirmed by biopsy, and histopathologic disease severity was categorized according to Ludwig 's classification. Using the STEAM(STimulated Echo-Aquisition Mode) sequence, 1H-MRS was performed. The ratios of peak areas of [glutamate+glutamine]/lipid, phosphomonoesters/lipid, [glycogen+glucose]/lipid, and [3.9-4 . 1ppm unknown peak]/lipid and their mean and standard deviation were calculated in normal, chronic hepatitis stages I and II, and early and late liver cirrhosis groups and the results were compared between these groups. One-way variable analysis was applied to the statistics. RESULTS: Mean and standard deviation of phosphomonoesters/lipid in the normal, chronic hepatitis grades I and II, and early and late liver cirrhosis groups were 0.0146 +/-0.0090, 0.0222 +/-0.0170, 0.0341 +/-0.0276, 0 . 0 6 9 8 +/-0.0360, and 0.0881 +/-0.0276, respectively, and [glycogen+ glucose]/lipid were 0.0403 +/-0.0267, 0.0922 +/-0.0377, 0.1230 +/-0.0364, 0.1853 +/-0.0667, and 0.2325 +/-0.1071, respectively. These results implied that the ra-tio of the above metabolites to lipid content increased according to increasing disease severity (p<0.05). For [g-lutamate+glutamine]/lipid however, the ratios for each group were 0.0204 +/-0.0067, 0.0117 +/-0.0078, 0.0409 +/-0.0167, 0.0212 +/-0.0103, and 0.0693 +/-0.0371, respectively, and there was no correlation with disease severity. In the chonic hepatitis grades I and II, and early and late liver cirrhosis groups, the ratios for [3.9 -4.1 ppm un-known peak]/l ipid were 0.0302 +/-0.0087, 0.0513 +/-0.0167, 0.1112 +/-0.0351, and 0.1504 +/-0 . 0 3 5 5 ,and these also increased according to increasing disease severity (p<0.05). On MR spectra of normal livers, an unknown peak at 3.9 -4.1ppm was not detected. CONCLUSION: Changes in MR spectroscopic features in cases of chronic hepatitic and liver cirrhosis correlated with changes in disease severity, and the sensitivity of the unknown peak at 3.9 -4.1ppm changed according to disease severity. It is therefore possible to differentiate between normal liver, chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis by analysis of the 1H-MRS features of the liver. These results indicate that in cases of chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis, biopsy of the liver can be replaced by 1H-MRS.
Biopsy ; Classification ; Healthy Volunteers ; Hepatitis ; Hepatitis, Chronic* ; Liver Cirrhosis* ; Liver* ; Protons*

PURPOSE: To investigate the in vivo proton MR spectra of the bile of human gallbladder in its normal and diseased states and to compare the findings between the two groups. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In vivo proton MRS was performed in 88 subjects comprising 33 healthy volunteers, 41 patients with gallstone, and 14 with distal common bile duct obstruction. For this, a clinical 1.5T system with a body coil and STEAM (STimulated Echo-Acquisition Mode) was used. We analyzed the MR spectra of normal and diseased gallbladder biles and tried to categorized the findings according to the significant peaks occuring within consistent ranges of chemical shift. We also compared the spectral patterns between normal and dis-eased bile. RESULTS: Proton MRS showed four significant major peaks in normal and diseased human bile: peak 1 at 0.8 - 1.4 ppm, peak 2 at 3.2 -3.4 ppm, peak 3 at 3.9 -4.1 ppm, and peak 4 at 5.2 -5.4 ppm. In each group, peak 1 was most frequent(healthy volunteers, 91%, patients with gallstone, 100%, patients with distal common bile duct obstruction, 93%), but as compared with normal bile (peak 2, 36%, peak 3, 33%), in patients with gall-stone, peak 3 was more frequently seen (46%), and in those with distal common bile duct obstruction, peaks 2 (64%) and 3 (64%) were most frequent. According to the significant peak, each MR spectra was categorized as follows: pattern I: peak 1; pattern II: peaks 1 and 2; pattern III: peaks 1 and 3; pattern IV: peaks 1, 2, and 3; pattern V: peaks 1 and 4; pattern VI: peak 3. In normal bile, the common MR spectral patterns were I (36%), II (27%), III, IV, VI, and V, in decreasing order of frequency. In patients with gallstone, however pattern I (44%) and pattern IV (34%) predominated, while in those with distal common bile duct obstruction, pattern IV (57%) CONCLUSION: The spectra of normal and diseased gallbladder bile obtained by in vivo proton MR spectroscopy varied, with some differences in spectral patterns between both groups.
Bile ; Common Bile Duct ; Gallbladder* ; Gallstones ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy* ; Protons* ; Steam ; Volunteers

Nonsystemic vasculitic neuropathy (NSVN) is a localized vasculitis confined to the peripheral nerves. Absence of systemic manifestations frequently leads to mis- or under diagnosis without the aid of pathologic study. NSVN may present typically with multiple mononeuropathies or less commonly with a sensorimotor polyneuropathy. We report two cases of NSVN presenting with acute severe painful neuropathy. Sural nerve pathology showed unequivocal vasculitis. High dose corticosteroid therapy was effective in controlling the pain. NSVN should be considered as a treatable cause of acute painful neuropathy.
Acute Pain* ; Diagnosis ; Mononeuropathies ; Pathology ; Peripheral Nerves ; Polyneuropathies ; Sural Nerve ; Vasculitis