An analysis of echocardiograms was made in 50 patients with pericardial effusion of various origins, diagnosed by clinical and M-mode echocardiographic examinations. In these cases the estimated volume of pericardial effusion ranged between 40 ml and 999 ml. The width of echo-free space behind the left ventricular wall which reflect the amount of effusion showed a significant positive correlation with the systolic excursion and the diastolic mean velocity of both right and left ventricular epicardial surfaces. The echocardiographic patterns of so-called pseudo-mitral valve prolapse and a notch on the right ventricular epicardial surface during systole were found more frequently in patients with large pericardial effusion. Thus, in pericardial effusion, and echocardiographic examination is useful for the visualization of the abnormal motions of cardiac structures as well as for its diagnosis.
Diagnosis ; Echocardiography* ; Humans ; Pericardial Effusion* ; Prolapse ; Systole

No Abstract Available.
Histidine*

No Abstract Available.
Histidine*

Venous hemangioma is a vascular tumor that has been reported by such diverse names as; "cirsoid aneurysm", "arteriovenous hemangioma", "acral arteriovenous tumor" according to the author's opinions of its origin and histopathologic classification. It is benign and rarely biopsied, and it is also rarely reported in dermatology literature. We present two cases of venous hemangioma. The first case was a 64-year-old man who was presented with an elliptical dark-red plaque with overlying several grouped papules on the left periorbital area which had been present for 7 years. The second case was a 56-year-old man who was presented with a single red papule on the right postauricular area which had been present for 4 months. Histopathologically, there were a well-circumscribed proliferation of thick-walled muscle-containing blood vessels in the dermis. Intermingled with the thick-walled blood vessels, there were also thin-walled dilated blood vessels. In both cases, the thick-walled blood vessels resembled arteries, but they lacked elastic fibers on the Verhoeff van Gieson stain.
Arteries ; Blood Vessels ; Classification ; Dermatology ; Dermis ; Elastic Tissue ; Hemangioma* ; Humans ; Middle Aged

BACKGROUND: Decreased heart rate variability(HRV) has been shown to be an independent predictor of poor outcome after acute myocardial infarction, Spectral analysis of HRV has recently been shown to be a reliable noninvasive test for quantiative assessment of cardiovascular autonomic regulatory response. We estimated the reproducibility and circadian rhythm of HRV parameters in patients with acute myocardial infarction. METHODS: Three consecutive 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiographic recordings were made in 24 patients with acute myocardial infarction, with 10~14 days after the acute attack, and analyzed for HRV parameters of both frequency and time domains. Parameters of frequency domain include low frequency(LF) and high frequency(HF) components. Parameters of time domain include sdRR, SDANN, SD, pNN50, rMSSD, HRV index. RESULTS: Mean total, low frequency and high frequency amplitude spectral densities were 33msec, 19msec and 11msec, respectively. Mean values of sdRR, SDANN, SD, rMSSD, pNN50 and HRV index were 103msec, 90msec, 47msec, 28msec, 7% and 32, respectively. Coefficients of variation(CV) of total amplitude spectral density, and low and high frequency components were 7%, 9% and 12%, respectively. CV of most HRV parameters of time domain were also around 10% except rMSSD and pNN50. Heart rate increased in the morning to be sustained during the day time and decreased in the night. Heart rate variability of high frequency component decreased in the early morning to be sustained during day time with increase in the night. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that in the predischarge period of acute myocardial infarction, HRV parameters of frequency and time domains are reproducible and there are some morning fall of cardiac vagal activity.
Circadian Rhythm ; Electrocardiography ; Heart Rate* ; Heart* ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction*

Bartter's syndrome is a rare tubular disorder characterized by hypokalemic, hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis, hyperreninemic hyperaldosteronism, hyporesponsiveness to pressor agents, and juxtaglomerular apparatus hyperplasia. We report here a case of Bartter's syndrome in a 5 month-old male infant who improved with potassium supplements. In addition to a case report, brief review of related literatures was done.
Alkalosis ; Bartter Syndrome* ; Humans ; Hyperaldosteronism ; Hyperplasia ; Infant ; Juxtaglomerular Apparatus ; Male ; Potassium

No abstract available.
Hypertension*

Statins (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors) are widely used lipid lowering agents. They effectively reduce LDL cholesterol (LDL-C), lower triglyceride levels and are very safe. Recent large-scale clinical trials have demonstrated that lowering LDL-C with statins substantially reduces the incidence of major coronary events in patients both with and without coronary artery disease (CAD). While all the clinical benefit of statins result primarily from their LDL-lowering effects, a variety of proposed statin mechanisms unrelated to LDL-lowering appears to further contribute to their benefits. Despite the statin database, the important clinical question persists: what is the ideal LDL level in CAD patients? Ongoing trials of high-dosage statins should confirm whether further reduction below the current LDL goal (<100 mg/dL) will provide worthy additional benefit. Unfortunately, up to 82% of proven CAD patients have not even achieved the current LDL goal, with up to 55% needing a >30 mg/dL reduction in LDL-C merely to reach the existing goal. These findings/considerations suggest that many patients are not receiving a statin or an inadequate dose.
Cholesterol* ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors* ; Incidence ; Oxidoreductases ; Triglycerides

The cardiac dimensions and functions were studied by analyzing simultaneously recorded M-mode echocardiograms and phonocardiograms in 24 cases of essential hypertension with no evidence of heart faliure, and also in 20 healthy adults for comparison. Thirteen hypertensives out of 24 had findings consistent with left ventricular hypertrophy on either routine chest roentgenograms or electrocardiograms or both(group II) and the remaining 11 had no such findings(group I). The posterior wall and septal thickness, and isovolumic relaxation time were significantly was increased even in the group I as well as in the group II. The isovolumic relaxation time was correlated well with the septal thickness in both groups. In contrast, a significant increase in left atrial and left ventricular systolic dimensions was noted only in the group II, and so was a significant reduction in the fractional shortening and mean velocity of circumferential fiber shortening. These findings suggest that the echocardiographic examination is useful in patients with essestial hypertension for the early dagnosis of the increased thickness of the posterior wall and the septum, and the abnormality during early diastolic relaxation of the left ventricle, prior to the appearance of the ventricular hypertrophy on the routine chest films amd/or electrocardiograms, and also that echocardiograms enable early detection of the systolic dysfunction of the hypertrophied left ventricle in the absence of apparent failure.
Adult ; Echocardiography* ; Electrocardiography ; Heart ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Hypertrophy ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular ; Relaxation ; Thorax

No abstract available.
Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Hospitals, General* ; Humans