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

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*

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

PURPOSE: To investigate the levels of radiation exposure of an operator which may be influenced by the wearing an apron, type of procedure, duration of fluoroscopy and operator's skill during various interventional procedures MATERIALS AND METHODS: Radiation doses were measured both inside and outside the apron(0.5mm lead equivalent) of the operator by a film badge monitoring method and the duration of fluoroscopy was measured in 96 procedures prospectively. The procedures were 30 transcatheter arterial embolizations (TAE), 25 percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainages (PTBD), 16 stone removals (SR), 15 percutaneous needle aspirations (PCNA) and 10 percutaneous nephrostomies(PCN). To assess the difference of exposure by the operator's skill, the procedures of TAE and PTBD were done separately by groups of staffs and residents. RESULTS: Average protective effect of the apron was 72.8%. Average radiation exposure(unit:micro Sv/procedure) was 23.3 in PTBD by residents, 10.0 in PTBD by staffs, 10.0 in SR, 8.7 in TAE by residents, 7.3 in TAE by staffs, 9.0 in PCN and 6.0 in PCNA. Average radiation exposure of residents were 1.9 times greater than those of staffs. CONCLUSION: Radiation exposure was not proportionally related to the duration of fiuoroscopy, but influenced by wearing an apron, various types o[procedure and operator's skills.
Aspirations (Psychology) ; Film Dosimetry ; Fluoroscopy ; Needles ; Pregnenolone Carbonitrile ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; Prospective Studies

The French surgeon and Nobel laureate Alexis Carrel's tissue culture has been highly influential in biomedicine. This paper contextualizes Carrel's works with respect to the birth of gerontology during the first half of the twentieth century. I argue that Carrel contributed to gerontology in several respects. First, using his "immortal" tissues, he asserted that aging was a contingent phenomenon that could be experimentally manipulated. Although this claim was eventually challenged, it prompted many scientists to think that aging was not so much an unavoidable, unidirectional phenomenon as a process amenable to experimental approaches. Second, his research on different culture conditions required by distinct cell types encouraged the idea that the rate and mode of aging differed in distinct parts of the body. This idea became a basis of later gerontologists' claim that each senior person's job in industry should be determined according to the degree of senescence shown in his particular body parts. It also helped gerontologists make their field a multidisciplinary arena that could tackle diverse features of senescence occurring in the body. Third, Carrel's public speeches and appearance in popular media encouraged both scientists and laypeople to think that research on senescence should be pursued more systematically in an era of an increasing elderly population. By analyzing the relation of these issues to the efforts to construct gerontology, this paper illustrates tissue culture's broader meanings with respect to the emerging concerns about the aging population, the need for continued employment of seniors, and scientists' hopes for controlling senile processes.
Aging ; Apoptosis ; Geriatrics/*history ; History, 20th Century ; Humans ; Tissue Culture Techniques/history

PURPOSE: To evaluate the specific findings of angiography for various causes of gastrointestinal bleeding. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 35 patients of gastrointestinal bleeding detected by angiography, between April 1987 and July 1993. There were 28 men and 7 women, 19 to 83 years old (mean, 47 years). Of these 35 cases of gastrointestinal bleedings, there were 12 gastric bleedings, 4 duodenal bleedings, 9 small intestinal bleeings, 6 ileocecal bleedings, and 4 large intestinal bleedings. RESULTS: Of 35 cases, we could diagnose the specific cause of bleeing in 13 patients (37%) by angiography. Of these 13 cases, there were 4 cases of gastric ulcers showing contrast pooling in ulcer crater, 5 cases of vascular malformations showing anomalous vascular mass with early dilated venous drainage, 2 cases of direct invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma showing invasion of hypervascular mass into small bowel, one case of pseudoaneurysm at gastroduodenal artery in a patient of acute pancreatitis, and one case of small intestinal lymphoma showing contrast pooling in a irregular dilated small intestinal lumen. CONCLUSION: in gastrointestinal bleeding, angiography is useful not only in detecting the bleeding site, but also for evaluating the specific causes such as gastric ulcers or vascular malformations.
Aged, 80 and over ; Aneurysm, False ; Angiography ; Arteries ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Diagnosis* ; Drainage ; Female ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Lymphoma ; Male ; Pancreatitis ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Ulcer ; Ulcer ; Vascular Malformations

We have recently experienced a case of cysticercosis treated with praziquantel. The patient, 22-year-old female, with 43 cystic masses had marked clinical response to the administration of praziquantel (75 mg/kg/day) for 7 days. It seems that praziquantel, anticestodal agent, might be a safe and effective therapy for this infection.
Cysticercosis* ; Female ; Humans ; Praziquantel* ; Young Adult