PURPOSE: We investigated reproducibility of the quantification of left ventricular volume and ejection fraction, and grading of myocardial wall motion and systolic thickening when we used gated myocardial SPECT and Cedars quantification software. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed gated myocardial SPECT in 33 consecutive patients twice in the same position after Tc-99m-MIBI SPECT. We used 16 frames per cycle for the gatingof sequential Tc-99m-MTBI SPECT. After reconstruction, we used Cedars quantitative gated SPECT and calculated ventricular volume and ejection fraction (EF), Wall motion was graded using 5 point score. Wall thickening was graded using 4 point score. Coefficient of variation for re-examination of volume and fraction were calculated. Kappa values (k-value) for assessing reproducibility of wall motion or wall thickening were calculated. RESULTS: Enddiastolic volumes (EDV) ranged from 58 mi to 248 ml (122 ml +/- 42 ml), endsystolic volumes (ESV) from 20 mi to 174 mi (65 ml +1- 39 ml), and EF from 20% to 68% (51% +/- 14%). Geometric mean of standard deviations of 33 patients was 5.0 ml for EDV, 3.9 ml for ESV and 1.9% for EF. Their average differences were not different from zero (p>0.05). k-value for wall motion using 2 consecutive images was 0.76 (confidence interval: 0.71-0.81). k-value was 0.87 (confidence interval:0.83-0.90) for assessment of wall thickening. CONCLUSION: We concluded that quantification of functional indices, assessment of wall motion and wall thickening using gated Tc-99m-MIBI SPECT was reproducible and we could use this method for the evaluation of short-acting drug effect.
Heart ; Humans ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*

No abstract available.
Lymphangioleiomyomatosis* ; Tuberous Sclerosis*

A case of xanthoma of the liver in a 61-year-old Korean woman with multiple myeloma, hyperlipidemia and xanthoma of the skin is described. Microscopically, the liver showed a multiple xanthomatous collection of foamy histiocytes as well as diffuse sinusoidal infiltration of the foam cells. This hepatic accumulation of foam cells seems to be related to hyperlipidemia of the patient. The mechanism of hyperlipidemia in multiple myeloma is discussed.
Case Report ; Female ; Human ; Hyperlipidemia/blood/*complications ; Liver Diseases/blood/*complications ; Middle Age ; Multiple Myeloma/blood/*complications ; Xanthomatosis/blood/*complications

No abstract available.
Female ; HELLP Syndrome* ; Pregnancy

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to make a distinction between tuberculous serpiginous-like choroiditis and serpiginous choroiditis, and compare their clinical manifestations. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed thirty eight eyes of twenty-six patients who visited our institution and were diagnosed with serpiginous choroiditis from January 2005 to December 2014. The patients were divided into two groups, tuberculosis serpiginous- like choroiditis (Tb-SLC) and classic serpiginous choroiditis (classic SC), and were analyzed based on the treatment response, previous history of Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccination, positive results of tuberculin skin test (TST), chest X-ray, anterior and fundus examination, and fluorescein angiography (FAG). RESULTS: Twenty seven eyes of eighteen patients were serpiginous choroiditis and eleven eyes of eight patients were tuberculosis serpiginous-like choroiditis. There were no significant differences in age, sex, or previous history of BCG vaccination between the two groups. The positive result of the tuberculin skin test and abnormality in the chest X-ray were shown to be significantly higher in the Tb-SLC group. Multi-focal lesions involving periphery observed in fundus examination and FAG were significantly higher in Tb-SLC. CONCLUSIONS: In tuberculosis endemic areas such as Korea, tuberculosis serpiginous-like choroiditis should be considered as a differential diagnosis when the patient is suspicious of serpiginous choroiditis. The understanding of various clinical manifestations of tuberculosis serpiginous-like choroiditis may derive accurate diagnosis and treatment, enhancing patient's prognosis.
Bacillus ; Choroid* ; Choroiditis* ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential* ; Fluorescein Angiography ; Humans ; Korea ; Mycobacterium bovis ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin Tests ; Thorax ; Tuberculin ; Tuberculosis* ; Vaccination

PURPOSE: To investigate the correlation between en face optical coherence tomography and improvements in the postoperative prognoses of idiopathic epiretinal membranes. METHODS: The medical records of 59 epiretinal membrane patients who had epiretinal membrane peeling between January 2005 and January 2016, and were followed up for > 12 months, were retrospectively reviewed. The preoperative en face images were divided into four sections involving three circular areas (6,000 µm diameter circle, 3,000 µm diameter circle, and 1,000 µm diameter circle) and one square (6,000 × 6,000 µm). The surface area where no epiretinal adhesion was present was quantified by measuring the number of black pixels using image-editing software (Adobe Photoshop CS6, Adobe Systems, San Jose, CA, USA). Then the correlations among the value of black pixels, preoperative and postoperative visual acuities, and central retinal thickness were analyzed. RESULTS: The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was significantly increased after epiretinal membrane peeling (p < 0.001), and the central retinal thickness was significantly decreased (p < 0.001). As the number of black pixels in the circles and the square in the en-face images increased, the postoperative BCVA significantly increased (r = 0.645, p < 0.001; r = 0.590, p < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: As the nonadhesive surfaces of the epiretinal membrane and the retina in preoperative en face images became wider, the increments of the BCVA after surgery were greater. Therefore, en face optical coherence tomography can be used to predict prognosis after epiretinal membrane peeling.
Epiretinal Membrane ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Prognosis ; Retina ; Retinaldehyde ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Visual Acuity

The uterus with rudimentary horn occurs as a result of a lack of development during fetal life of the middle and lower parts of one of the Miillerian ducts, in which there is a failure of fusion of the two ducts, The incidence of this uterine anomaly is rare. Many cases of rudimentary uterine horn are not discovered since they do not become involved in a pregnancy, and thus remain symptomless and uncomplicated, and the diagnosis usually being made only with pregnancy with rupture. In this presentation, we describe a case of diagnosis and management of unruptured non-communicating rudimentary uterine horn pregnancy at the third trimester. The patient diagnosed by ultrasonography and MRI, was hospitalized for further evaluation and delivery under the impression of unruptured non-communicating rudimentary horn pregnancy. A living male infant weighing 1,930 gm was delivered by cesarean section at 33+l weeks due to impending preterm labor. Some articles concerned this subject were reviewed briefly to discuss relevant method of diagnosis, treatment, and clinical characteristics.
Animals ; Cesarean Section ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Horns* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third* ; Pregnancy* ; Rupture ; Ultrasonography ; Uterus

PURPOSE: To report a case of corneal ulcer due to Alcaligenes faecalis in a patient with a preexisting corneal ulcer. CASE SUMMARY: A 58-year-old male patient presented with a corneal ulcer without a history of any trauma. The patient had a history of corneal ulcer 9 months earlier. The patient had previously been diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy and neovascular glaucoma, and his visual acuity was no light perception. Corneal scraping and culture yielded Alcaligenes faecalis susceptible to most antibiotics in the antibiotic susceptibility test. After treatment with empirical systemic antibiotics and eyedrops, his eye improved with a remaining corneal scar. CONCLUSIONS: Alcaligenes faecalis should be considered as a causal pathogen of corneal ulcer in patients with suspicious compromised ocular surface, such as previous corneal ulcer.
Alcaligenes ; Alcaligenes faecalis ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Cicatrix ; Corneal Ulcer ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Eye ; Glaucoma, Neovascular ; Humans ; Light ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ophthalmic Solutions ; Visual Acuity

Tailgut cyst is a rare congenital lesion in retrorectal space. The clinical significance of tailgut cyst presents its morbidity that occurs in the unrecognized and incompletely treated lesion. A forty four year-old female patient visited with lower abdominal pain during defecation. Preoperative abdominopelvic MRI and endorectal ultrasonography revealed a retrorectal mass suggestive of leiomyoma, dermoid cyst, teratoma, or duplication cyst of rectum. She underwent complete resection of retrorectal mass by transsphincteric approach. The mass was multilocular cyst lined by multiple types of epithelium. It was histologically confirmed as a tailgut cyst. She recovered uneventfully. This report includes the case and a brief review of tailgut cyst.
Abdominal Pain ; Defecation ; Dermoid Cyst ; Epithelium ; Female ; Humans ; Leiomyoma ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Rectum ; Teratoma ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of lowering the cutoff values of 3-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). METHODS: Patients with an abnormal 50 gm glucose challenge test (GCT) of more than 130 mg/dL at 24-28 weeks of gestation underwent a 3-hour OGTT at 28-32 weeks of gestation. Patients were divided into four groups according to the criteria recommended by Carpenter-Coustan or National Diabetes Data Group (NDDG) (Control: 50 gm GCT negative [n=268], Borderline: 2 or more abnormal values met or exceeded Carpenter-Coustan criteria but not the NDDG criteria [n=100], NDDG I: 2 or more abnormal values met or exceeded NDDG criteria, [treated, n=70], NDDG II: [not treated, n=42]). Obstetric and perinatal outcomes were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Of 5,827 pregnant women screened for GDM, 112 (1.9%) met the NDDG criteria, whereas 212 (3.6%) met the Carpenter-Coustan criteria. The incidences of poor maternal outcomes were 20.1%, 28.0%, 47.1%, 21.4%, and the incidences of poor neonatal outcomes were 3.7%, 6.0%, 14.3%, 16.7% in the four groups (p<0.05). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that 1) NDDG I showed an independent risk factor for poor maternal outcome (OR, 3.37), but the borderline group did not, 2) NDDG I showed an independent risk factor for poor neonatal outcome (OR, 3.87), but the borderline group did not, 3) the borderline group showed an independent risk factor for preterm delivery (OR, 2.67). CONCLUSION: Lowering the cutoff values would increase the number of pregnant women with GDM, while only minimally affecting the perinatal outcomes. Further large-scale prospective studies for Korean pregnant women may be needed.
Diabetes, Gestational* ; Female ; Glucose ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Humans ; Incidence ; Logistic Models ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors