No abstract available.
C-Reactive Protein* ; Chorioamnionitis* ; Female ; Humans ; Membranes* ; Pregnancy ; Rupture*

BACKGROUND: Trauma is the third leading cause of death, irrespective of age, and the leading cause of death in persons under 40 years of age. Computed tomography (CT) is an effective technique in the initial emergent evaluation of the abdomen and head following blunt trauma. Most chest indies are not seen on conventional chest radiography, or may be underestimated. But routine use of CT in the initial emergent evaluation of chest trauma is controversial. CT, however, has been shown to be useful in the diagnosis of unsuspected chest injuries and in directing therapeutic interventions. This review discusses the efficacy of emergent CT in patients with blunt trauma on the chest. METHODS: To evaluate the efficacy of CT of the thorax, a retrospective study comparing early thoracic CT scanning with initial chest roentgenogram(CXR) was carried out on 121 patients with blunt trauma on the chest. The interval between CXR and CT was less than 1 hour. RESULTS: Among 121 patients, 42 patients had normal initial chest roentgenogram in whom 19 patients showed normal CT findings. Sensitivities of diagnosing pneumothorax and pleural effusion by CXR were low (49.3%and 45.1%respectively), whereas 65.7% (44/67) of patients had thoracostomy only by CXR. CONCLUSIONS : Although sometimes abused in patients with chest trauma, CT of the thorax is an effective method of detecting thoracic injuries and provides accurate information regarding their pattern and extent in the initial emergent diagnosis.
Abdomen ; Cause of Death ; Diagnosis ; Emergencies* ; Head ; Humans ; Pleural Effusion ; Pneumothorax ; Radiography ; Retrospective Studies ; Thoracic Injuries ; Thoracostomy ; Thorax* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

No abstract available.
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Pregnancy*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of tamoxifen, as shown by mammographic changes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied the mammograms of 20 breast cancer patients treated with tamoxifen (20mg/day) and 20 patients treated with tamoxifen (20mg/day) in combination with chemothrapy. Control groups consisted of 20 breast cancer patients treated with chemotherapy and 20 healthy women; the patterns of age distribution and menstrual cycle among these participants were similar to these of the study groups. Two radiologists determined parenchymal changes as seen on follow-up mammogram, of the contralateral breast in patients with breast cancer, and of the left breast in healthy women. RESULTS: Follow-up mammogram showed decreased breast parenchyma in 75% of patients treated with tamoxifen, and in 70% of patients treated with tamoxifen and chemotherapy. Mammographic changes were not noted in 85% of patients treated with chemotherapy and in 90% of healthy women. CONCLUSION: On follow-up mammogram, breast parenchyma was seen to have been decreased by tamoxifen, used to prevent the recurrence of breast cancer and forits antiproliferative effect. Mammography might be a suitable method for determining the effect of tamoxifen.
Age Distribution ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Mammography ; Menstrual Cycle ; Recurrence ; Tamoxifen*

An autopsy case of holoacardius hemisomus acephalus is reported. She weighed 2,190 gm and the height was 38 cm. The head and upper extremities were absent, while the vertebrae and lower extremities were relatively well developed, but severely edematous. The heart, lungs, stomach, liver, spleen, and pancreas were missing, but the lower abdominal organs including kidneys, adrenal, urinary bladder, and genital organs were present. The intestine was blind-ended at jejunal level but opened into a normal anus. The umbilical cord had two arteries and one vein.

Aneurysm of the superficial temporal artery is rare. We reviewed seven cases of aneurysm of the superficial temporal artery, which were confirmed surgically and angiographically. The results were as follows: The most common site of aneurysm was left superficial temporal artery, major feeding artery was anterior branch of superficial temporal artery, mean diameter was 7.8mm×12.6mm, and all aneurysms showed lobulated margin with intraluminal filling defects.
Aneurysm* ; Arteries ; Temporal Arteries*

No abstract available.
Amputees* ; Humans ; Phantom Limb*

No abstract available.
Knee*

No abstract available.
Amputees* ; Femur Neck* ; Femur* ; Humans

PURPOSE: To evaluate the characteristic color Doppler imaging of vertebral artery flow in the subclavian steal phenomenon. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study group consisted of eight patients with reversed vertebral artery flow proved by color Doppler imaging. We classified this flow into two groups : (1) complete reversal ; (2)partial reversal, as shown by Doppler velocity waveform. Vertebral angiography was performed in six of eight patients ; color Doppler imaging and angiographic findings were compared. RESULTS: On color Doppler imaging, all eight cases with reversed vertebral artery flow showed no signal at the proximal subclavian or brachiocephalic artery. We confirmed shunting of six cases by performing angiography from the contralateral verterbral and basilar artery to the ipsilateral vertebral artery. On the Doppler spectrum, six cases showed complete reversal and two partial reversal. On angiography, one partial reversal case showed complete occlusion of the subclavian artery with abundant collateral circulation of muscular branches of the vertebral artery. CONCLUSION: On color Doppler imaging, a reversed vertebral artery suggests the subclavian steal phenomenon. In particular, partial reversal waveform may reflect collateral circulation.
Angiography ; Arteries ; Basilar Artery ; Collateral Circulation ; Humans ; Subclavian Artery ; Subclavian Steal Syndrome* ; Vertebral Artery