BACKGROUND: Noninvasive estimation of pulmonary artery pressure is an important component of echocardiographic studies. A number of methods are available for estimation of pulmenary pressure, each with varying degrees of reported accuracy. To assess accuracy and difficulties, noninvasive pulmonary artery pressure estimates were performed in infants and children with congenital heart diseases. METHODS: Noninvasive estimates from 8 methods were compared with catheterization measurements. Systolic pressure was estimated by the Burstin method and from perak tricuspid regurgitation velocity, and also from systolic pressure gradients through the VSD(ventricular septal defect) and PDA(patent ductus arteriosus). Mean pressure was estimated by acceleration time divided by ejection time measured from Koppler spectrum obtained at the right ventricular out flow tract. Diastolic pressure was estimated from pulmonary regurgitation velocity spentrum at end-diastolic, and also from diastolic pressure gradient through the patent ductus arteriosus. RESULTS: IN systolic pressure, Burstin and tricuspid regurgitation velocities estimates correlated significantly(r=0.92, 0.90 respectively), whereas VSD and PDA estimates correlated less well with catheterization estimates(r=0.83, 0.65 respectively). The mean pressure, measured from RVOT(right ventricular outflow tract) Doppler spectrum corresponded well with catheterization pressure(r=0.89), whereas those obtained from the main pulmonary artery correlated less well(r=0.74). The diastolic pressure estimates from pulmonary regurgitation velocity spectrum, revealed good correlation(r=0.79), but those from diastolic Doppler spectrum at PDA correlated less well with catheterization estimates(r=0.63). CONCLUSION: All of eight Doppler echocardiographic methods seemed to be easily performable for estimation of pulmonary artery pressure. But, the degree of accuracy was variable. Because a pressure estimante from only a single method may be in error, care should be taken in combining use of other(one or two) methods.
Acceleration ; Blood Pressure ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Child ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; Echocardiography* ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Infant ; Pulmonary Artery* ; Pulmonary Valve Insufficiency ; Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency

A histopathologic study including iramunohistochemical stains was made in 30 patients who were presented with gastrointestinal lymphoma. The occurrence was 13 in the stomach, 8 in the ileocecum, 7 in the small intestine and 2 in the colon. The disease more frequently affected males than females and the average ages were 53 years in the patients of gastric lymphoma and 44 years in the patients of intestinal lymphoma. Gastric lymphomas were usually presented with a single lesion, and the antrum and/or body were the most common sites. But intestinal lymphomas were presented with a single or multiple lesion, and the ileocecum was the most common site. The most common gross type of gastrointestinal lymphomas was the ulceroinfiltrating type and most are of the diffuse large noncleaved cell type of B-cell lymphoma, histologically. There were 2 cases of T-cell lymphoma presented in the intestine as the superficially ulcerative gross pattern and diffuse immunoblastic cell type. The distinct MALToma was seen in only one case of stomach but the feature was partially remained in each two cases of stomach and intestine. Their coexistent findings may suggest that diffuse large of immunoblastic component arises through blastic transformation of the low-grade M ALToma component.
Female ; Male ; Humans

Infantile hemangioendothelioma of the liver is a common vascular tumor in infancy. The tumor is usually multinodular or diffuse and classified into two types. We present a case of infantile hemangioendothelioma of the liver, which predominantly consists of type 2. A 4-month-old female was admitted for an evaulation of an abdominal distension. A CT scan of the liver showed a multinodular mass. The right lobectomy was done. Grossly, the mass consisted of round nodules ranging from 2cm to 5cm in diameter. Microscopically, the tumor revealed proliferation of small vascular channels lined by endothelial cells. Bizarre cells and mitotic cells were frequently noted. Vesicular nuclei and multilayering of the endothelial cells were also noted.
Endothelial Cells ; Female ; Hemangioendothelioma* ; Humans ; Infant ; Liver* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

The purpose of this study was to compare the positional stability of removable dies using several dowel pin systems. The removable dies were made by using five dowel pin systems: single dowel pin(Group I), single dowel pin and prepared groove on the die base(Group II), two-single dowel pin(Group III), two separate parallel dowel pins with plastic sleeves(Group IV), double straight dowel pins with metal sleeve(Group V). Special aluminum mold was made for specimens, and the dies of specimens removed and replaced thirty times with universal testing machine. Horizontal and vertical shift of dies was measured by Olympus monocular scanning tunneling microscope(STM5). The results were as follows: 1. The vertical shift was larger than the horizontal shift in all the other groups except Group I. 2. Single dowel pin system(Group I) was the most unstable of five dowel pin systems. 3. Double dowel pin systems with sleeve(group IV, V) were the most stable of five dowel pin systems. 4. This study indicates that excellent horizontal positional stability is attainable with use of additional groove on the die base or double dowel pin, and excellent vertical positional stability is attainable with use of sleeve.
Aluminum ; Fungi ; Plastics

This research proposes a safety strategy for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) walkthrough booths to optimize pandemic preparedness. These booths, designed for respiratory sample collection during the COVID-19 pandemic, effectively reduce infection risk and personal protective equipment-related fatigue among healthcare workers. However, inadequate disinfection and glove management could escalate infection transmission. Using computational fluid dynamics simulations, we analyzed droplet dispersion on booth surfaces and gloves under various wind conditions. Our findings suggest that when setting up COVID-19 walk-through booths, their location should be strategically chosen to minimize the effects of wind. All surfaces of booth gloves must be thoroughly disinfected with a certified disinfectant after nasopharyngeal swab collection. It is also recommended to wear disposable gloves over booth gloves when changing between patient examinations. In wind-affected areas, individuals nearby should not solely rely on the 2-meter distancing rule due to potential droplet spread from walk-through booths. We strongly recommend consistent and proper mask use for effective droplet blocking. Adherence to these guidelines can significantly enhance the safety and efficiency of walk-through booths, particularly in potential future pandemics.

Membranous glomerulonephropathy is a common cause of nephrotic syndrome in adults. Kaposi sarcoma is a well-known entity with distinct clinical forms such as nodular cutaneous lesions, generalized lymphadenopathy and visceral involvement. Incidence of Kaposi sarcoma is greater in patients with immunosuppression, particularly those having undergone renal transplantation, but also in patients with other underlying disorders treated with immunosuppressive therapy, notably, corticosteroids. We present a case of Kaposi sarcoma in patient with membranous glomerulopathy during corticosteroid therapy. A 49- year-old man was admitted with a complain of facial and leg edema, 5-kg weight gain for 1 month, and foamy urine. Kidney biopsy showed membranous glomerulopathy. We started corticosteroid therapy to the patient. Two month later, his 24 hr urinary protein was decreased to 2.1 g/day. But, the well defined, various-sized, purple-colored papules and plaque appeared on the both hands and feet. He underwent skin biopsy, which revealed abnormally proliferated and dilated vessels, vascular slits, spindle-shaped cells and extravasated erythrocytes in the dermis. The findings were in accordance with Kaposi sarcoma. So he received cryotherapy with discontinuing corticosteroid. Four months after cryotherapy, skin lesions were cleared leaving slight hypopigmentation and amount of proteinuria was preserved without definite aggravation.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Adult ; Biopsy ; Cryotherapy ; Dermis ; Edema ; Erythrocytes ; Foot ; Glomerulonephritis, Membranous* ; Hand ; Humans ; Hypopigmentation ; Immunosuppression ; Incidence ; Kidney ; Kidney Transplantation ; Leg ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; Proteinuria ; Sarcoma, Kaposi* ; Skin ; Weight Gain

Several investigators have described an interaction between muscle relaxants and hydrocortisones which have showed different results. The exact mechanism of this action is not clear and ther conflicting results have further confusion. The experimental methods were two ways. In the one of method, a group that vecuronium 0.1mg/kg was given intravenously is control and a group that hydrocortisones of various doses(0.3, 0.5 and 1 mg/kg) were administered into vein when T1 was appeared is compared. In the another of method, a control group was anticholinesterase(pyridostigmine 0.12 mg/kg, robinul 0.004mg/kg) were given at the time when T1 reached 25% and a group treated with hydrocortisone 0.5 mg/kg when T1 was appeared is compared. Neuromuscular blockade was measured by recording the twitch response following ulnar nerve stimulation by EMG(ABM, Datex Co. 2Hz 30mA supramaximal voltage). The recovery time from 25% to 75% recovery of twitch height was measured according to recovery index(RI). The results obtained were as follows: `) The RI of control group treated with vecuronium 0.1mg/kg alone was 40.32+/-20.24 minutes and the group which hydrocortisone 0.5mg/kg was combined, was shorten to 18.79+/-5.17 minutes, but in the group combined with hydrocortisone 1.0mg/kg and 0.3mg/kg, the RI was also tended to short, but not significant. 2) In the RI of vecuronium 0.1mg/kg, anticholinesterases were given, was 8.46+/-5.06 minutes and the group combined with hydrocortisone 0.5mg/kg was shorten to 4.77+/-1.82 minutes significantly. Conclusively, in the small doses of hydrocortisone, there is a effect of antagonism to the vecuronium induced blockade and a potentiated effect to the anticholinesterase activity to the vecuronium.
Cholinesterase Inhibitors ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone* ; Neuromuscular Blockade* ; Research Personnel ; Ulnar Nerve ; Vecuronium Bromide* ; Veins

It is well known that malnutrition is a predictor of mortality in hemodialysis patients. The number of diabetic nephropathy patients is increasing rapidly. This study aimed to investigate nutritional status and nutrient intake according to the presence of diabetes among hemodialysis patients. The nutritional intake and general characteristics of outpatients at Ajou University Hospital (24 with diabetes and 30 without diabetes) were investigated between July and September 2015. Patients' general data were collected, and nutritional status by Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) was evaluated. Nutrient intakes were assessed according to 3-day food records. There was no significant difference regarding body weight between the two groups. However, the non-diabetic group showed a better nutritional status by Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) (5.2±4.4 vs. 8.0±4.3 score, non-diabetics vs. diabetics, P<0.05). There was no difference in daily calorie intake (1,473.9±370.5 vs. 1,503.8±397.5 kcal) and protein intake (60.3±19.7 vs. 65.6±20.5 g) in those with diabetes. Intakes of vegetables protein, sodium, potassium, vitamin C, folic acid and fiber were significantly higher in the diabetic group compared to those of the non-diabetic group. There was no difference in daily nutrient intake between the hemodialysis weekday and weekend groups. The non-diabetic group had higher calorie and sodium intakes per meal in the hemodialysis weekday group, but the difference was not significant. Based on these results, intervention should be performed to improve nutritional status in consideration of diabetes and dietary patterns.
Ascorbic Acid ; Body Weight ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; Folic Acid ; Humans ; Malnutrition ; Meals ; Mortality ; Nutritional Status* ; Outpatients ; Potassium ; Prospective Studies* ; Renal Dialysis* ; Sodium ; Vegetables

OBJECTIVE: Sonography is a noninvasive and safe bedside imaging modality that provides rapid and repeatable real-time radiological evaluations without a radiation hazard. However, sonography has not gained widespread acceptance as a diagnostic tool in adult brain disease because of limited imaging resolution through the bony window. We investigated the diagnostic potential and clinical usefulness of bedside brain sonography through surgical bone defects in neurosurgical patients. METHODS: We evaluated twelve patients, each of whom had undergone a decompressive craniectomy, via bedside sonography, and performed comparison CT or MRI for all patients. RESULTS: We obtained reliable information regarding anatomical structure displacement, ventricle systems, intracranial fluid collection, presence and distribution of cerebral infarctions, and hemorrhages. We performed several interventional trials under sonography guidance, including aspiration of entrapped fluid collection and insertion of an external ventricular drainage catheter into a collapsed and displaced ventricle cavity. CONCLUSION: Bedside sonography through surgically created bone defects is a non-invasive method that physicians can repeat as required with no radiation hazard, and it is of particular value in emergent and critical situations when conventional neuroimages are unobtainable. Bedside sonography can be a first-line monitoring tool, in lieu of CT, for critically ill patients with surgical cranial defects.
Adult ; Brain ; Brain Diseases ; Catheters ; Cerebral Infarction ; Critical Illness ; Decompressive Craniectomy ; Displacement (Psychology) ; Drainage ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Neurosurgery ; Ultrasonography, Doppler