PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of scatter correction on the assessment of myocardial perfusion and left ventricular function by gated Tc-99m myocardial SPECT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subjects were 11 normal volunteers, 20 patients with non-cardiac chest pain and 13 patients with coronary artery diseases. We classified above 3 groups into normal and diseased groups. Scatter correction was done using dual-energy-window scatter correction method (DEW-SC). We compared acquired counts, image contrast, corrected maximum relative counts, indices of left ventricular function, extent and severity of perfusion defects calculated by 'CEqual program' between scatter non-corrected and corrected images. RESULTS: Scatter corrected studies was lower in counts by 18+/-3% than uncorrected studies, but image contrast were improved in all cases. Scatter correction using DEW-SC took 3 minutes to complete, and 512 kB memory to store. There were no significant differences among indices of left ventricular function between scatter non-corrected and corrected images. Although extents of perfusion defects were not significantly different, severity was severer in scatter corrected images. CONCLUSION: Scatter correction using DEW-SC is simple to do, and improves image contrast without changing other indices of myocardial perfusion and function.
Chest Pain ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Memory ; Perfusion* ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon* ; Ventricular Function, Left*

The proposed factors that affect the prognosis of osteosarcoma are the patient's age, site and size of the primary lesion, pathologic features(type and grade), duration of symptoms, spread of disease (local or regional extension, distant metastasis) at diagnosis, the patient's sex, serum alkaline phos- phatase(ALP) and lactic dehydrogenase(LDH) levels, chromosomal number or DNA index, response to initial chemotherapy, location of the lesion on the bone, presence or absence of pathologic fracture, and mode of therapy. The purpose of this study is to analyze the factors that affect the 5-year survival rates of osteosarcoma. Total 25 patients were included in this study who had treated form Jan. 1988 to Apr. 1994. The overall 5-year survival rate of 25 patients was 65.43%, and the 5-year survival rates were sig- nificantly higher(P < 0.1) in the groups in which limb salvage operation with neoadjuvant chemothera- py were performed(66.67%), with longer duration of symptoms(>2 months; 83.33%), with lower serum level of LDH( < 300 U/L; 100%), and with smaller mass size( < 10cm; 72.92%). However there were no significant differences in the 5-year survival rates according to age and sex of the patients. We also suggest that the better prognosis will be observed in the patients with the favorable radiologic response to the preoperative chemotherapy.
Diagnosis ; DNA ; Drug Therapy ; Fractures, Spontaneous ; Humans ; Limb Salvage ; Osteosarcoma ; Prognosis ; Survival Rate

To evaluate the meaning of anti-HCV detection in patients treated with IVIG, serum levels of aspartate aminotranstferase(AST), alanine aminotransterase(ALT), HCV Ab titer were measured after treatment with IVIG in 36 patients diagnised of Kawasaki disease or neonatal sepsis. Also polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the detection of HCV was done in 8 patients with persistent HCV Ab positivity at 3 months after IVIG treatment. The results were as follows 1) HCV Ab was positive in all 36 patients at 1 week after IVIG treatment, but in only 8 cases it was positive at 3 months after IVIG treatment. 2) AST, ALT were elevated in 9 cases at 1 week after IVIG treatment, but they were normalized in all cases at 3 months after IVIG treatment. 3) PCR for the detection of HCV was done in 8 patients with persistent HCV Ab positivity at 3 months after IVIG treatment, but HCV was not isolated in any cases. These results suggested that detection of anti-HCV was merely transitory phenominon of HCV Ab transmission, did not show any evidence of HCV infection due to HCV transmission.
Alanine ; Aspartic Acid ; Hepacivirus* ; Hepatitis C* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins* ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sepsis

No abstract available.
Fractures, Open*

Requirement of blood transfusion has been progressively increased and supplements by volunteer donor are not sufficient to their requirements. Moreover homologous blood transfusion are not supplied without risks, espcially the transmission of the serum hepatitis. Twenty procedures, including two total hip replacement arthroplasty, were carried out with acute hemodilutional autotransfusion. The results of this study show that autotransfusion is a safe method without difficulty of blood replacement in elective orthopedic procedures.
Arthroplasty ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; Blood Transfusion ; Blood Transfusion, Autologous ; Clinical Study ; Hepatitis ; Humans ; Methods ; Orthopedic Procedures ; Orthopedics ; Tissue Donors ; Volunteers

Fractures involving joints and about the joints provide complex problems with small comminuted fractures, surrounding soft tissue injuries and articular cartilage damage. Various problems are also encountered on the weight bearing surface, especially on the convex side of the distal Femur. Even though many auther had recommended kinds of management upto now, operative methods are more suggested in order to get good results regarding with the accurate anatomical reduction, rigid internal fixation and early joint motion. The clinical analysis of rnanagements of 20 cases of distai femoral fracture demonstrate that seperate dual incision-bilateral or right angle plane-to originate fracture site, and anatomical reduction & rigid internal fixation, early non-weight bearing ROM exercise of joint were sometimes mandatory to treat the displaced, comminuted fracture.
Cartilage, Articular ; Femoral Fractures ; Femur ; Fractures, Comminuted ; Joints ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; Weight-Bearing

BACKGROUND: The Amplified Mycobacterium tuberculosis Direct Test (AMTDT) has been developed for the direct detection of M. tuberculosis complex in respiratory specimens. Traditional methods for diagnosis of extrapulmonary tuberculosis such as the acid-fast bacilli (AFB) stain have their well-known limitations. We investigated the usefulness of the AMTDT for a wide range of non-respiratory specimens to establish early diagnosis of extrapulmonary tuberculosis. METHODS: 346 specimens (219 urine, 117 pleural fluid, 6 ascitic fluid, 2 lymph node, 1 gastric aspirate, and 1 pus specimens) from 340 patients referred from November 1997 to September 1998 were tested by the AMTDT. The AMTDT results were evaluated by comparing with clinical diagnosis and smear results. RESULTS: The overall sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of the AMTDT were 82.9%, 93.8%, 64.2%, and 97.6%, respectively. There were no difference in sensitivity and specificity between pleural fluid and urine specimens. In 31 specimens from tuberculosis patients concurrently tested with AMTDT and stain, 15 were only AMTDT positive and 4 were only stain positive. Among the results considered to be false positive, 47.2% of cases were shown as being less than 150,000 relative light units (RLU). In 30 specimens from tuberculosis patients during or after treatment, all six of the patients with reactivation or aggravation were AMTDT positive, and one case was considered to be false positive. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates the efficacy of the AMTDT in diagnosing extrapulmonary tuberculosis. Prudent interpretation of the AMTDT's results is recommended in case of that being less than 150,000 RLU.
Ascitic Fluid ; Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis* ; Mycobacterium* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Suppuration ; Tuberculosis

PURPOSE: Today, many patients with voiding dysfunction select suprapubic cystostomy (SPC) instead of clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) for practical reasons. There is thus a need to reconsider SPC as a management for voiding dysfunction. We designed SPC with timed drainage (TSPCD) and evaluated its effectiveness compared with continuous drainage with a urine bag (CSPCD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2006 and January 2010, a total of 82 patients underwent SPC. Patients undergoing SPC were randomly assigned to CSPCD or TSPCD. Patient characteristics, complications, and the results of urine cultures were compared between the two groups through retrospective chart reviews. Also, preferences for CSPCD and TSPCD in another 15 patients who had experienced both CSPCD and TSPCD were investigated. RESULTS: The CSPCD and TSPCD groups comprised 46 and 36 patients, respectively. In a comparison of complications between the two groups, the incidence of acute symptomatic cystitis was significantly lower in the TSPCD group than in the CSPCD group (43% vs. 20%, p=0.032). The incidence of symptomatic urinary tract infection (UTI) was lower in the TSPCD group. Positive urine culture rates were 89.7% and 72.4% in groups 1 and 2, respectively. There was a significant difference between the two groups (p=0.004). In another 15 patients who experienced both CSPCD and TSPCD, 14 patients (93%) stated a preference for TSPCD after converting from CSPCD to TSPCD, and one patient (7%) returned to CSPCD only at night. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, TSPCD had the advantages of less morbidity as UTI and being more preferable by patients with relatively good daily activity compared with CSPCD. TSPCD is an alternative to CSPCD for the treatment of voiding dysfunction.
Cystitis ; Cystostomy ; Drainage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intermittent Urethral Catheterization ; Retrospective Studies ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Tract Infections

BACKGROUND: Cryotherapy is a standard treatment for warts. However, there have been few studies to assess the recurrence rate of warts after cryotherapy. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to assess the efficacy and recurrence rate of common viral warts when treated with liquid nitrogen. METHODS: We carried out a retrospective analysis of patients with warts of the hands and/or feet, who had been treated with cryotherapy in Korea University Ansan Hospital between January 2003 and June 2005. Cryotherapy had been performed at 2- or 3-weekly intervals. Warts had been pared prior to freezing and treated with two or three freeze-thaw cycles. Follow-up assessments for recurrence of warts had been done in 78 cases, with a mean follow-up time of 12 months (range 6~30 months). RESULTS: One-hundred and eighty-one patients (78 females, 103 males) were assessed. The mean age was 19.6 years (range 5~73 years). Sixty nine patients had warts on the hands only, 81 on the feet only, and 31 on both sites. The average number of treatments for cured patients was 4.3 (range 1~8). Eighty patients showed complete clearance (44.2%). Thirteen of the 78 patients who could be followed up by telephone or medical records reported recurrences (16.7%) and the mean time of recurrence was 7.7 months. Most recurrences (10/13) occurred within the first 8 months of cryotherapy. CONCLUSION: We consider that cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen is an effective method for the treatment of warts. However, our results indicate that there may be frequent recurrence of warts after treatment with cryotherapy.
Cryotherapy* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Foot ; Freezing ; Gyeonggi-do ; Hand ; Humans ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Nitrogen ; Recurrence* ; Retrospective Studies* ; Telephone ; Warts*

No abstract available.
Streptococcus