BACKGROUND: Carotid atherosclerosis and aortic at herosclerosis are both a predictor of atherosclertic cardiovascular diseases. However, the relationship between carotid and aortic atherosclerosis is not well known. METHODS: We performed B-mode ultrasound examinations of the carotid arteries in 38 consecutive elderly cases(13 men, mean age 69+/-3 years and 25 women, mean age 69+/-5 years) who underwent transesophageal echocardiography, to assess whether atherosclerosis in the carotid artery correlates with thoracic aortic atherosclerosis or may be a marker for it. RESULTS: The incidence of carotid and thoracic aortic atherosclerotic plaques were 44.7% and 50%, respectively. There was a significant relationship between carotid atherosclerosis and thoracic aortic atherosclerosis(r=0.532, p<0.01), and a increase in the extent of aortic atherosclerosis with increasing grades of carotid atherosclerosis. In the entire study cases, the presence of carotid atherosclerosis had a sensitivity 63.2%, specificity 73.7%, positive value 72.6% and negative predictive value 66.7% in detec-ting thoracic aortic atherosclerosis. CONCLUSION: In the Korean elderly, B-mode ultra sound examination of the carotid arteries is a easy and useful technique for the prediction of the presence and severity of thoracic atherosclerosis.
Aged* ; Aorta ; Aorta, Thoracic* ; Atherosclerosis* ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Carotid Arteries ; Carotid Artery Diseases* ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ultrasonics ; Ultrasonography

No abstract available.

Aneurysms of the pulmonary artery are uncommon in general but have a potentially fatal prognosis. This is derived from the potential for rupture of the aneurysm from the fact that there is commonly underlying severe pulmonary hypertension. Most cases are documented in the large postmortem series. Aneurysms of the pulmonary artery can be classified as congenital or acquired. Possible symptoms include dyspnea on exertion, cough, hemoptysis, and thoracic pain. When a large aneurysm formation of the pulmonary artery is diagnosed, surgical intervention is indicated because conservative treatment of the aneurysm will undoubtedly result in rupture with fatal outcome. We report a case of 46-year old patient with a giant left pulmonary artery aneurysm associated with severe pulmonary hypertension. A Doppler echocardiogram and a computed tomographic scan showed a giant saccular aneurysm of the left pulmonary artery (12 cm in diameter) and estimated systolic right ventricular pressure of 80 mmHg.
Aneurysm* ; Cough ; Dyspnea ; Fatal Outcome ; Hemoptysis ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary* ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Pulmonary Artery* ; Rupture ; Ventricular Pressure

Ischemic heart disease is a common complication of thyrotoxicosis, although the exact mechanism has not been defined. In patient with dextrocardia as a part of situs inversus, coronary heart disease may occur with similar frequency and manifestation as in the general population. A case is reported of angina and thyrotoxicosis in patient with situs inversus totalis in which the angina was manifested by ST-segment elevation during graded exercise, relieved by antithyroid treatment. This unusual case establishes an association between hyperthy-roidism and ischemic heart disease.
Coronary Disease ; Dextrocardia ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism* ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Situs Inversus* ; Thyrotoxicosis

No abstract available.
Electrocardiography* ; Humans ; Pharynx* ; Sensation*

No abstract available.
Sarcoma*

BACKGROUND: It is well known that ultraviolet light(UVL) may cause skin cancer, decrease immune function and promote skin ageing. It is also known that an increase of chlorofluorocabons as air pollution, which csuses the depletion of ozone of the earth in ihe atmosphere, enables harmful ultraviolet-B(UVB) to reaeh the surface of the earth more easily: The purpose of this study is to determine the harmful effect of UVB on the skin by observing coicurrently the morphologieal snd biochemical changes in the UVB irradiated skin. OBJECTIVE: The animal used was the hairless mouse(Hr+/Kud) which are considered to be the most suitable for a UVB irradiation experiment. The Fluorescent sunlamp(Toshiba FL, 20SE, Toshiba electrie Co., Tokyo, Japan) was used as a source of UVB. METHOD: The skin of the back and ear was irradiated by an increasing doses of UVB. In morphological changes, the slteration in keratinocytes and Langerhans cells in cell number and morphology were observed. In biochemical changes, activities of tte superoxide dismutase and eatalsse, which scsvanges reactive oxygen species(O and H) producec in the skin by UVB irradistion were assayed. RESULT: Sunburn cells appeared st 60mJ/cm of UVB and increased in number in proportion to the UVB irradiation with dose dependent pattern. The Langerhans cell decreased in number in proportion to UVB irrsdiation in dose dependent manner(half maximum dose was 60mJ/cm), and was not found at 1J/cm. The morphological changes of the Langerhans cells, such as a loss of dendrites and granulation, were noticed at 60mJ/cm of UVB irradiation. The enzyme activity of catalase decreased in proportion to UVB irradiation. The enzyme activity of SOD was not changed by UVB irradiation, however, it significantly increased at 1000mJ/cm UVB irradiation. CONCLUSION: This study suggest that UVB irradiation to the skin causes a reduction in the immune funetion and alters the normal biochemical function of the skin.
Air Pollution ; Animals ; Atmosphere ; Catalase ; Cell Count ; Dendrites ; Ear ; Keratinocytes ; Langerhans Cells ; Mice ; Mice, Hairless* ; Oxygen ; Ozone ; Skin ; Skin Neoplasms ; Sunburn ; Superoxide Dismutase ; Ultraviolet Rays

BACKGROUND: Angiogenesis is crucial for many biological processes such as embryogenesis, cyclic changes in the endometrium and wound healing. It is also critical for the growth, invasion and metastasis of solid tumors. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) acts as a mitogen for endothelial cells and is expressed by the presence of various tumor cells. The objective of this study is to evaluate if angiogenesis is involved in the mouse skin carcinogenesis and if VEGF is related to angiogenesis. METHODS: We induced premalignant and malignant lesions on mouse (BALB/c) skin using the two stage chemical carcinogenesis moedl, DMBA (7,12-dimethylbenzanthracene) initiation and TPA (tetra decanoyl-phorbol-acetate) promotion. And we analysed the microvessel densities (MVD) and expression of VEGF in various stages of premalignant and malignant lesions by immunohistochemical studies. RESULTS: Squamous papillomas, keratoacanthoma, dermatofibroma, and squamous cell carcinomas were developed in 20 weeks. There were no differences in the incidence of benign and malignant tumors between 10-week and 20-week promotion groups. There were significant increases in MVD from normal and hyperplastic skin through premalignant lesion to invasive squamous cell carcinoma (p<0.0005). But the degree of VEGF expression neither correlated with neither MVD nor the tumor groups. CONCLUSIONS: Increased angiogenesis begins from the hyperplastic stage. VEGF produced by tumor cells may not play major roles in the angiogenesis in the two stage chemical carcinogenesis model of the mouse skin.
9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene ; Animals ; Biological Processes ; Carcinogenesis* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Embryonic Development ; Endometrium ; Endothelial Cells ; Female ; Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous ; Incidence ; Keratoacanthoma ; Mice* ; Microvessels ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Papilloma ; Pregnancy ; Skin* ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A* ; Wound Healing

No abstract available.
Humans

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Merkel Cell* ; Recurrence*