Takayasu's arteritis is an arteritis of undetermined etiology, which affects the aorta, proximal portion of its major branches, and causes narrowing, occlusion, or aneurismal dilatation of vessel. Authors report 2 cases of Takayasu's arteritis with brief review of the literature.
Aorta ; Arteritis ; Dilatation ; Takayasu Arteritis*

No abstract available.

Induction of A-V block by tachycardia is a well-known phenomenon. But there are few case reports of bradycardia-dependent A-V block. We report a case of bradycardia-dependent A-V block with review of literatures. This patient was a 52-year-old female who complained of dizziness and anterior chest discomfort. Electrocardiographic recording demonstrated complete A-V block. Monitor electrocardiographic recordings during sitting position and after atropine administration demonstrated decrease of degree of block from complete A-V block to first degree A-V block. The occurrence of complete A-V block from bradycardia during supine position suggests a phase 4-dependent block. After a permanent ventricular pacemaker was implanted, the patient recovered and was without symptoms during 12 months follow up.
Atropine ; Bradycardia ; Dizziness ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Supine Position ; Tachycardia ; Thorax

BACKGROUND: It has been reported that one or more intermittent reperfusion(s) during ischemia may be beneficial to the myocardium by washing out catabolites that have accumlated during ischemia. We evaluated the effect of four cycles of ichemia (2 minutes) and reperfusion (3 miutes), i.e., preconditioning on sustained ischemia (20 minutes) and reperfusion (60 minutes) using isolated Langendorff-perfused rabbit hearts. METHODS: After a fifty-minutes recovery phase, LVP , dLVP/dt and ECG were simultaneously recorded and ultrastructure of the stunned(or risk) area of the left ventricle was examined with conventional methods. RESULTS: In the preconditioned hearts, functional parameters such as LVPP(peak pressure), LVPP recovery rate and LVEDP(end-diastolic pressure) reached to 99.6+/-4.38mmHg, 98.0+/-4.67% and 14.0+/-2.90mmHg (109.3+/-2.91mmHg, 109.4+/-1.29mmHg and 10.7+/-2.67mmHg for the controls), respectively, after 30 minutes from the onset of reperfusion and maintained as in the controls(p>0.01). In contrast, in the ischemia-reperfusion hearts, LVPP and LVPP recovery rate were significantly reduced(81.6+/-6.83mmHg and 85.7+/-5.30%;p<0.05) and LVEDP elevated(21.2+/-3.00mmHg) but dP/dtmax, heart rate and ECG patterns were not significantly different between the preconditioned and the ischemia-refusion hearts during reperfusion. Furthermore, irreversible myocardial injury was homogeneous(both subendo- and subepicardial) in the ischmia-reperfusion hearts but only focal(subendocardial) in preconditioned hearts. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that preconditioning induced by very short periods of ischemia and reperfusion may enhance recovery of the left ventricular function and delay ultrastructhral changes to a certain extent during reperfusion.
Electrocardiography ; Heart Rate ; Heart Ventricles ; Heart* ; Ischemia ; Myocardium ; Reperfusion ; Ventricular Function, Left

The 8 cases of left ventricular thrombus detected by the 2 D echocardiography or left ventriculography, after acute transmural anterior myocardial infarction were effectively lysed by the thrombolytic agents and heparin therapy. The thrombolytic agents were either urokinase or tissue plasminogen activator. Urokinase was infused intravenously at a dose of 1.0 million unit for three days. And tissue plasminogen activator was infused at a dose of 100mg for a day. In all cases, the thrombi were completely lysed. At follow up, no recurrence of left ventricular thrombus was found. We have experienced 2 cases of peripheral embolization in which, left ventricular thrombi were protruding nonmobile type. The one was the embolic cerebral infarction, the other was transient hoarseness and paresthesia on the left foot, which may be transient ischemic attack. These results show that left ventricular thrombi can be treated by intravenous thrombolytic agents without life-threatening complication. However, for the better establishment of the risk and benefit of therapy further investigation is needed.
Cerebral Infarction ; Echocardiography ; Fibrinolytic Agents ; Follow-Up Studies ; Foot ; Heparin ; Hoarseness ; Ischemic Attack, Transient ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Paresthesia ; Recurrence ; Thrombolytic Therapy* ; Thrombosis* ; Tissue Plasminogen Activator ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator

Cardiac lymphangioma is one of the rarest, primary, benign tumor of the heart. We report a case of cardiac lymphangioma, which was diagnosed with CT and MRI in a 50 years old female. Plain chest film showed minimal enlargement and globular shape of the heart. On CT scan, abnormal fluid density mass lesion was noted within pericardial sac. The signal intensity was lower on T1-weighted image and hgher on T2-weighted image than that of the myocardium and located along the left atrioventricuar groove. Several small low signal spots representing hemorrhage were seen within this lesion.
Female ; Heart ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Lymphangioma* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Myocardium ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: The treatment of chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) is based on antibiotic therapy, but many patients experience a relapse after treatment. Cranberry juice is known for its roles in both the treatment and prevention of urinary tract infections. This study was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of cranberry juice in the prevention of a relapse after the treatment of CPPS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty patients, diagnosed as CPPS (National Institutes of Health; NIH-catagory IIIa), were included in this study. All the patients had initially been treated with levofloxacin and supportive treatment for 8-12 weeks. After completion of the initial treatment, 26 volunteer patients were recommended to drink 150ml of cranberry juice twice a day, 24 patients, as a control group, received no cranberry juice and all the patients re-evaluated after 3 months. RESULTS: On initial diagnosis, the white blood cell (WBC) count in the high power field (HFP) of expressed prostatic secretions (EPS) and the NIH-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) in cranberry group were 18.2 3.4 and 23.1 4.4 and those of the control group 16.4 4.8 and 22.4 3.7, respectively. When the medical treatment was ended, the WBC of the EPS and NIH-CPSI in the cranberry group were 2.5 2.1 and 14.1 4.1, and those of the control group were 2.7 1.9 and 13.7 2.1, respectively. After the three month follow-up, the cranberry group showed a WBC of 2.2 2.5 in the EPS and a NIH-CPSI of 12.7 3.9, a slight decrease or similar result compared to the treatment completion period. No patient showed aggravation of symptoms after drinking cranberry juice, whereas five from the control group did. CONCLUSIONS: Cranberry juice showed an effect in the prevention of a relapse in CPPS patients, with no adverse effects.
Academies and Institutes ; Diagnosis ; Drinking ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Leukocytes ; Levofloxacin ; Pelvic Pain* ; Prostatitis ; Recurrence* ; Urinary Tract Infections ; Vaccinium macrocarpon* ; Volunteers

BACKGROUND: Despite extensive investigation, the clinical features and prognostic significance of the non-Q wave myocardial infarction, when compared with Q wave myocardial infarction, remain controversial. And no definite relationship between EKG findings and infarct related arteries has been reported. METHOD: A retrospective analysis was done on 205 patient with acute myocardial infarction who were undergone coronary angiography and left ventriculography. Among them, 30 patient with non-Q wave myocardial infarction and 175 patients with Q wave myocardial infarction. RESULTS: 1) There was no significant difference between the two groups in risk factors, prevalence of preinfarct angina and preinfarct heart failure. 2) The faction of patients with non-Q wave myocardial infarction who received thromobolytic therapy was significantly less, compared to patient with Q wave myocardial infarction(p<0.0001). 3) The patients with non-Q wave myocardial infarction had a smaller infarct size estimated by peak creatine phosphokinase(p<0.01). But there was no difference in Killip's classification and left ventricular ejection fraction. 4) In patients with non-Q wave myocardial infarction, 87% of the patients had one or more abnormal EKG finding other than Q wave, and the most frequent abnormal finding was primary T wave change. 5) The location of infarct-related artery was significantly different between group(p<0.0001). The most frequently involved coronary artery in non-Q wave myocardial infarction was left circumflex coronary artery, especially in patients with normal EKG findings. 6) There was no significant difference between the two groups in the prognosis. CONCLUSION: There were significant differences between non-Q wave and Q wave myocardial infarction in the infarct size and the location of infarct related arteries. but not in the risk factors, the prevalence of previous coronary artery disease and prognsis. Further prospective and collaborative studies should be performed to define conclusion.
Arteries* ; Classification ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vessels ; Creatine ; Electrocardiography* ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Prevalence ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Stroke Volume

Purpose: The occurrence of coronary artery disease is rising with the recent changes in diet and the westernization of lifestyle. In 1998, the World Health Organization (WHO) defined "metabolic syndrome" as a condition in which all the risk factors of coronary artery disease exist in an elderly individual. We investigated the relationship between metabolic syndrome and voiding difficulty of women. Materials and Methods: In 2004, we investigated 66 female out-patients who visited the endocrinology department and health care center between the months of March and October. We divided the patients into two groups: one which corresponded to the metabolic syndrome criteria (n=42, 56.0+/-5.6 years old) and one which did not (n=24, 55.7+/-05.2 years old), and we compared the voiding factors of these two groups. Results: When comparing the components of metabolic syndrome in the patient study group to that in the control study group, the metabolic syndrome patients scored poorly for all the metabolic syndrome components in comparison to the control group (p<0.05). On comparing the voiding factors of metabolic syndrome patients to that of the control group, the metabolic syndrome patient group scored substantially lower than the control group for all voiding factors (p<0.05). Conclusions: We proved that metabolic syndrome and voiding difficulty of women were related based on the results of this study. Therefore, performing more active investigation for metabolic syndrome in the patients who are admitted with voiding difficulty, earlier diagnosis of metabolic syndrome would be possible.
Aged ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Delivery of Health Care ; Diagnosis ; Diet ; Endocrinology ; Female ; Humans ; Life Style ; Metabolic Syndrome X ; Outpatients ; Risk Factors ; Urination Disorders ; World Health Organization

PURPOSE: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a representative urological disease in men at senescence. The etiology of BPH is multifactorial, with chronic conditions, such as non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), treated hypertension, obesity, low and high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels and high insulin levels, constitute for the development of BPH. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in a BPH population was investigated and the relationship between BPH and metabolic syndrome evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The BPH group consisted of 162 patients (63.4+/-7.8 years old) diagnosed as BPH and the control group of 68 patients (59.7+/-6.4 years old) without voiding difficulties. In each group, the relating factors, prevalence of BPH and metabolic syndrome were investigated and analyzed for comparison. RESULTS: Comparing the voiding factors of the BPH and control groups, all of the measured values showed aggravation of the voiding difficulty in the BPH compared with the control group. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in the BPH group was 64.2%, which was about double that in the control group (32.4%) (p<0.001). Among the components of metabolic syndrome, hypertension (70.4%) was found to have the highest prevalence. CONCLUSIONS: The probability of patients with BPH having metabolic syndrome is high compared to those without BPH. Consequently, in BPH patients, careful evaluation for metabolic syndrome is needed, with the early diagnosis and proper management of metabolic syndrome should accompany the treatment of BPH.
Aging ; Cholesterol ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Insulin ; Lipoproteins ; Male ; Obesity ; Prevalence ; Prostatic Hyperplasia* ; Urologic Diseases