No abstract available.
Humans ; Religion*

In order to evaluate the ability of spin-echo MR imaging to differentiate slow flow from mural thrombus in aortic diseases, we reviewed the spin-echo MR images of 13 patients with intraaortic thrombus documented by CT (N=11) or aortography (N=2). Six patients had aortic aneurysms and seven had aortic dissection. Intraaortic mural thrombi were accompanied by flow-related intraluminal signal of various patterns and extents in all 13 patients. On 10 gated MR studies, slow flow regions showed even-echo rephasing phenomenon (N=8), interslice variation of signal intensities of the intraluminal signal (N=7) and flow-related ghost artifact (N=2). However, these MR flow phenomena were obscured on two of three non-gated studies. Seven of 13 intraaortic thrombi remained hyperintense on T2-weighted second-echo images. In these circumstances, a hypointense boundary layer between slow flow and mural thrombus, which was caused by either 'boundary layer dephasing phenomenon' of slow flow or 'paramagnetic T2 shortening' of fresh clot at the edge of mural thrombus, was useful in discriminating the area of slow flow from that of mural thrombus. Proper interpretation of spin-echo MR images may obviate the need for phase display imaging or gradientecho imaging in differentiating slow flow and mural thrombus.
Aortic Aneurysm ; Aortic Diseases* ; Aortography ; Artifacts ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Thrombosis*

In order to evaluate the ability of spin-echo MR imaging to differentiate slow flow from mural thrombus in aortic diseases, we reviewed the spin-echo MR images of 13 patients with intraaortic thrombus documented by CT (N=11) or aortography (N=2). Six patients had aortic aneurysms and seven had aortic dissection. Intraaortic mural thrombi were accompanied by flow-related intraluminal signal of various patterns and extents in all 13 patients. On 10 gated MR studies, slow flow regions showed even-echo rephasing phenomenon (N=8), interslice variation of signal intensities of the intraluminal signal (N=7) and flow-related ghost artifact (N=2). However, these MR flow phenomena were obscured on two of three non-gated studies. Seven of 13 intraaortic thrombi remained hyperintense on T2-weighted second-echo images. In these circumstances, a hypointense boundary layer between slow flow and mural thrombus, which was caused by either 'boundary layer dephasing phenomenon' of slow flow or 'paramagnetic T2 shortening' of fresh clot at the edge of mural thrombus, was useful in discriminating the area of slow flow from that of mural thrombus. Proper interpretation of spin-echo MR images may obviate the need for phase display imaging or gradientecho imaging in differentiating slow flow and mural thrombus.
Aortic Aneurysm ; Aortic Diseases* ; Aortography ; Artifacts ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Thrombosis*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms* ; Prostate* ; Urethral Obstruction*

We experienced the 17 hands of 11 patients with Dupuytren disease, which was known as relatively rare in orientals. Retrospectively, we analyse it and the results were followings; l. Among 11 patients, 10 patients were male and average age was 62.5 years (49 to 77 years) 2. Most (15 hands, 88%) of patients had symptoms of flexion contracture, nodule and contracted cord, simultaneously. 3. Occupation of patients was agricultural laborer in 9 patients (82%). 4. In 9 patients(82%); individual habit of alcoholic drinking, more than 3 times per week, and smoking, 1 package per day, over 20 years more, was observed. 5. In 15 hands (88%), ulnar side of fingers (4th+5th, 5th only or 3rd+4th+5th)was involved. 6. Surgical treatment was performed in 9 hands of 7 patients, with results of excellent in 6 hands (67%) and no recurrence, in average follow up 2.6 years (1.5 year to 3.7 year)
Alcoholics ; Clinical Study ; Contracture ; Drinking ; Dupuytren Contracture ; Fingers ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hand ; Humans ; Male ; Occupations ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Smoke ; Smoking

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and Influenza virus are the most common pathogen for causing severe upper respiratory infection in all age groups. A multiplex reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) has been developed to detect and subtype influenza A (H3N2 and H1N1), B virus and RSV simultaneously in one tube reaction. Amplification with primers derived from conserved sequences within the nucleocapsid for RSV and hemagglutinin subunit for Influenza A (H3N2 and H1N1) and B viruses yielded a 384 bp, a 300 bp, a 236 bp and a 151 bp, respectively. Assay specificity was confirmed by pulse field gel electrophoresis and autosequencing method. Assay sensitivity was 3 PFU/ml of RSV, 22 PFU/ml, 45 PFU/ml of Influenza type A (H3N2 and H1N1) and 6.6 PFU/ml of Influenza B virus by plaque assay. A rapid and sensitive detection method of a one-tube with multiplex RT-PCR capable of identifying more than one viral template as well as synchronizing reverse transcription and PCR had the potential to produce considerable savings of time and cost effectiveness in the diagnostic laboratory.
Conserved Sequence ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Electrophoresis ; Hemagglutinins ; Herpesvirus 1, Cercopithecine ; Humans* ; Income ; Influenza B virus ; Influenza, Human* ; Nucleocapsid ; Orthomyxoviridae* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human* ; Respiratory Syncytial Viruses ; Reverse Transcription* ; Sensitivity and Specificity

The influence of serum IgE level on T cell function and number in atopic dermatitis was performed. For the study we selected 2 groups of atopic derrnatitis patients which were 10 cases of atopic dermatitis patients with more than 400 IU/ml of serum 1gE level and 1(l cases with less than 400 IU/ml, The lymphocyte transformation test with phytohernagglutinin and E-rosette test with AET treated sheep cell were perforrned in each group and compare the result of each group with each other and al'o with those of control group. The reults are as follows; l. The mean serum level of IgE in AD(538. 8 407.42 IU/ml) was higher than in normal control(126. 5 133, R8 IU/ml) (p<0.01). 2 The mean LTT S.I. in AD(8.83 -3.85) was lower than in nomnal control (13.99 5.55) (p<0.01). 3. The mean percentage of E-rosette in AD(68,65+6.6g) was lower than 4pp IU/ml(mean+2x SD of serum IgE of control groups), 1) The LTT S, I. was decreased in both groups according to increment of serum IgE, The higher IgE group(8.64+3,9p) had statistical significance compared to normal control(13.gg+5.55) (p<0.01) but not in low IgE group(9.08:4.11).2) The percentage of E-rosette was decreased in both groups according to increment of serum IgE. The both groups of low IgE(71.08.-6,24) and high IgE(66. 22 6. R7) had statistical significance compared to normal control(77.65+4.39 %) (p 0.01).
beta-Aminoethyl Isothiourea ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E* ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Sheep

Primary chondrosarcoma of the lung is an extremely rare tumor, and classified into two types, tracheobronchial & lung variety. The tracheobronchial variety is usually localized and lacked lymph nodal or distant spread with good prognosis. The lung variety tends to be more invasive associated with mediastinal lymph node involvement and thoracic metastasis. Authors experienced a case of primary chondrosarcoma, lung variety, of the lung involving left lower lobe with thoracic metastasis, not yet reported in Korean literatures. The patient was 55-year-old Korean female and chief complaints were cough, dyspnea & chest pain. Pathologically, it was confused with the metastatic adenocarcinoma in the first pleural fluid cytology. But bronchoscopic biopsy revealed typical morphology of chondrosarcoma with concentric growth encircling the bronchial tree and partial destruction of the bronchiols, suggesting its primary origin. Later pleural biopsy and aspiration materials during ches tube insertion revealed also metastatic chondrosarcoma. Radiologic studies were also campatible findings to chondrosarcoma. After admision, the patient underwent progressively downhill course & expired at 31st hospital day.
Female ; Humans ; Adenocarcinoma ; Biopsy ; Neoplasm Metastasis

PURPOSE: MRI is known to be an effective imaging modality of the aorta and its role is steadily increasing in the evaluation of acquired aortic diseases including aortic dissections and aortic aneurysms. However, differentiation of the aortic dissections with thrombosed false lumen from the aortic aneurysm with mural thrombus in MRI has not been easy. Therefore, the authors tried to find the characteristic MR featrses which would to differentiate the two diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MR images of 6 patients with thrombosed aortic dissection and 7 patients with thrombosed aortic aneurysms were reviewed retrospectively and compared in regand to shape and extent of thrombus, dimension of aorta, and luminal flow signal. RESULTS: Thrombosed aortic dissections showed sharply demarcated crescent shaped aortic wall thickening of even thickness involving long segment of the aorta, whereas thrombosed aortic aneurysms showed irregular aortic wall thickening of uneven thickness localized in the short dilated segment of the aorta. Characteristically aortic aneurysm with mural thrombus showed eccentric intraluminal slow flow signal. In contrast to the signal void of the true lumen in aortic dissections, the residual lumen of the aortic aneurysm with mural thrombus revealed intraluminal signal due to slow flow. CONCLUSION: Familiarity to these MRI findings of thrombosed aortic dissections and aortic aneurysms may lead to the accurate differential diagnosis in majority of cases.
Aorta ; Aortic Aneurysm* ; Aortic Diseases ; Diagnosis, Differential* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Phenobarbital ; Recognition (Psychology) ; Retrospective Studies ; Thrombosis

Thymic cyst is relatively rare tumor which usually occurs in the neck or mediastinum. Cervical thymic cyst is usually situated laterally and deep to the anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, simulating a branchial cyst. Thymic cyst of the mediastinum is usually detected incidentally and differential diagnoses include cystic degeneration of thymoma, and cystic teratoma. Two case of a cervical and a mediastinal thymic cysts were reported. The one was a cervical thymic cyst developed slowly growing mass in a 53-year-old male a for 10 years. The cyst was unilocular and measures 5.4x2.9x2.8 cm with columnar or squamous cell linings. The other is a mediastinal thymic cyst developed in a 37-year-old female with chest discomfort for 7 months. The cyst was uniocular and measures 2.8x2.2x2.0 cm. The epithelial lining of the cyst was largely desquamated and covered by macrophages with cholesterol granuloma. Involutional thymic stissue in their walls were noted in both cysts. In both cases presence of thymic tissue in the wall of the cyst thought to be the most important diagnostic feature.
Female ; Male ; Humans ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Cysts