No abstract available.
Humans ; Radiography* ; Spine*

PURPOSE: To determine the accuracy of MRI on postoperative pain syndrome (POPS), including early complications such as hematoma or infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of the 54 patients with the POPS, we analyzed pre-operative MRI findings compared with operative findings on 39 patients, excluding nonunion, instability, metal failure and pseudarthrosis, who underwent an operation for POPS from December 1994 to June 1997. There were 25 men (64.1%) and 14 women (35.9%), aged from 16 to 68 years (average 44.5 years). They were divided into 5 subgroups and calculated for sensitivity, specificity and positive predictability. RESULTS: MRI accuracy in recurred disc was 84%, scar adhesion, recurred or developed stenosis, infection and hematoma was 100% for each overall accuracy of MRI was 93%. Average interval of reoperation in POPS was 3.2 years. In 21 cases (53.8%), symptoms persisted without pain-free interval after first operation. CONCLUSIONS: Early complications, including hematoma and infection, are easily detected with MRI. Especially if patient complains of severe leg pain or neurologic deficit, MRI is a good diagnostic tool. MRI is a useful method for evaluation of most cases of POPS, but it is limited in evaluating recurred disc or scar adhesion only in T1, T2 weighted image. Therefore, Gd-DTPA enhancement is necessary for an accurate diagnosis.
Cicatrix ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Gadolinium DTPA ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Leg ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Male ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Pain, Postoperative* ; Pseudarthrosis ; Reoperation ; Sensitivity and Specificity

No abstract available.
Multicystic Dysplastic Kidney* ; Ultrasonography, Prenatal*

PURPOSE: to assess the role of MR imaging in determining of the atrial situs in complicated congenital heart disease with situs ambiguus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In order to classify the situs, the morphology of atrial appendages, on bronchial length ratio, the superior-inferior relation of the pulmonary artery (PA) and main bronchi on each side, and splenic abnormality were evaluated by MR imaging in 22 patients (12 boys and 10 girls), and the results were compared. RESULTS: In all patients, the superior-inferior relation of the PA and main bronchi tended to lateralize, and in one, bronchial length ratio was not consistent with the relation between the PA and bronchus. Bronchial and atrial situs, as determined by appendage morphology, were consistent in ten of 13 right isomerism patients, and in only three of nine of these with left isomerism. All 13 right isomerism patients, classified by the relation of the PA and main bronchi, showed asplenia, whereas eight of nine of these with left isomerism had polysplenia. CONCLUSION: In the assessment of atrial situs by MR imaging, the positional relation of a bronchus and the PA, bronchial length ratio, and splenic abnormality are constant and reliable. The accuracy of classification of situs on the basis of atrial appendage morphology is, however, limited.
Atrial Appendage ; Bronchi ; Classification ; Heart Defects, Congenital* ; Heterotaxy Syndrome* ; Humans ; Isomerism ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Pulmonary Artery

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate an association between depression and altered immunity, we examined peripheral T lymphocyte or natural killer (NK) cell measures plasma ACTH and cortisol using the flow cytometry in acute and unmedicated patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). METHODS: Forty-two patients with MDD from the outpatient clinic and forty normal controls from the hospital staff were recruited. We applied Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) and Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAM-A) for depressed subjects. Peripheral T lymphocyte or NK cell measures (CD3, CD4, CD8, or CD56) and plasma hormones (ACTH and cortisol) were obtained from all subjects. RESULTS: There were no statistical differences in CD3, CD4, CD8, or CD56 between the two subjects. The number of CD56 cells negatively correlated with HAM-D scores (r=-0.42, p<0.01), but did not correlate with HAM-A scores in patients with MDD. The number of CD56 cells showed strong negative correlation with CD4/CD8 (r=-0.47, p<0.01) in the control group, but not in the depressed group. Patients with MDD had higher cortisol level than controls within the normal range. CONCLUSION: The trait of immunological imbalance and HPA axis abnormality were shown in patients with MDD. Especially, the severity of depression, but not the anxiety, could be reflected as decreased number of CD56 (NK T) cells in acute and unmedicated state.
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Anxiety ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder, Major* ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Killer Cells, Natural ; Lymphocytes ; Natural Killer T-Cells* ; Plasma ; Reference Values

When reduced glutathione(GSH) was incubated at neutral pH and at 37degrees, its concentration decteased slowly with formation of oxidized glutathione(GSSG). Autooxidation of GSH was accelerated by Cu2+ and Hg2+, but not by other common mono-, di-, and tri-valent cations. Tranthyretin was found to stimulate autooxidation of GSH in the presence or absence of Cu2+ and Hg2+. EDTA inhibited perfectly the autooxidation of GSH regardless of the presence of transthyretin. The stimulating activity of transthyretin was maximal at pH 7.0, declining progressively with increase or decrease of pH from 7.0. Sulfhydryl-blocking agents such as p-hydroxymercuribenzoic acid and N-ethylmaleimide markedly inhibited the stimulating activity of transthyretin. Transthyretin stimulated autooxidation of other sulfhydryl compounds such as dithiothreitol and cysteine. However, it did not show a significant effect on autooxidation of sulfhydryl group of egg albumin and eye lens proteins. And transthyretin did not cause any oxidative change to thyroxine(T4), 3, 5, 3'-tri iodo thyronine(T3) and 3, 3', 5'-triiodothyronine(rT3) bound to it in the presence of GSH and Cu2+. The above results suggest that transthyretin may play a role in regulation of oxidized status of sulfhydryl groups in blood plasma and cerebrospinal fluid.
Cations ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Crystallins ; Cysteine ; Dithiothreitol ; Edetic Acid ; Ethylmaleimide ; Glutathione* ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Ovum ; Plasma ; Prealbumin* ; Sulfhydryl Compounds

No abstract available.
Extremities ; Ischemia ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Oxygen ; Perfusion

The anisakiasis disease that is infected through various kinds of larvae of the anisakis family when sea fish ia eaten uncooked or half-cooked. Sinee Van Thiel, a Netherlander, found in 1960 that anisakis larvae parasitize upon the human intestinal tract of the patients who suffer from ahdomieal pain after eating herrings, there have been a number of similar reports in North America and Japan, and the clinical importance of anisakis larvae for the acute gastrontestinal infection is rising. In general, as raw sea fish is not regarded as a source of parasite infestation, the patients who had eaten it and suffered from acute abdominal pain and vomiting are considered as and to be treated of food poisoning. But it is highly possible that some of them suffer from the acute gastrointestinal symptom caused by anisakis larvae. Thereby we report on 7 examples of anisakiasis taken through endoscopic diagnosis of the patients who have the acute upper abdominal pain after eating raw sea fish.
Abdominal Pain ; Anisakiasis* ; Anisakis ; Diagnosis ; Eating ; Foodborne Diseases ; Humans ; Japan ; Larva ; North America ; Parasites ; Upper Gastrointestinal Tract* ; Vomiting

Rheumatoid meningitis, one of the most severe complications of rheumatoid arthritis, presents various symptoms such as headache, confusion, loss of consciousness, seizure, fever, and focal neurological deficits. A 63-year-old man with the history of rheumatoid arthritis presented with intermittent left leg weakness, seizures and later developed fever and confusion. Brain MRI demonstrated leptomeningeal enhancement in right fronto-parietal area. Brain biopsy revealed multifocal suppurative inflammation. After aggressive immunosuppressive treatment, he had gradually recovered and the lesion was reduced on a follow-up MRI.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Biopsy ; Brain ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Headache ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Leg ; Meningitis ; Middle Aged ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Seizures ; Seizures, Febrile ; Unconsciousness