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 finite element analysis has been utilized to analyze stress and strain fields and design a new configuration in orthopedics and implant dentistry. Load transfer and stress analysis at implant bone interface are important factors from treatment planning to long term success. Bone configuration and quality are different according to anatomy of expecting implantation site. The purpose of this study was to compare the stress distribution in maxilla and mandible according to implant length and bone engagement types. A three dimensional axi-symmetric implant model(Nobel Biocare, Gothenburg, Sweden) with surrounding cortical and cancellous bone were designed to analyzed the effects of bone engagement and implant length on stress distribution ANSYS 5.5 finite element program was utilized as an interpreting tool. Three cases of unicortical anchorage model with 7, 10, 13mm length and four cases of bicortical anchorage model with 5, 7, 10 and 13mm lenght were compared both maxillary and mandibular single implant situatiion. Within the limits of study, following conclusions were drawn. 1. There is difference in stress distribution according to cortical and cancellous bone thickness and shape. 2. Maximum stress was shown at the top of cortical bone area regardless of bone engagement types. 3. Bicortical engagement showed less stress accumulation when compared to unicortical case overall. 4. Longer the implant fixture length, less the stress on cortical bone area, however there is no difference in mandibular bicortical engagement case.
Dentistry ; Finite Element Analysis* ; Mandible ; Maxilla ; Orthopedics

In order to investigate the dietary intakes and physical characteristics in college women smokers, interviews using questionnaires were done on 33 smokers and 42 nonsmokers residing in seoul area. General living habits, dietary habits, food consumption frequency and nutrient intake by quick estimation were investigated through direct interviews with subjects. Subjects height, weight and blood pressure were measured, and body fat percentage were statistically analyzed using Bio-electrical Impedence Fatness Analyzer(GIF-891). All data were statistically analyzed by SAS PC package program ; percentage or mean and standard error were examined for each item, and the significant difference was evaluated by chi-square test or Student's t-test at alpha=0.05. In the analysis of taste and food preference, smokers consumed larger amount of alcohol and coffee than nonsmokers ; they also disliked sweet taste. The results of food consumption frequency data also showed that smokers consumed less fish, milk and fruits but consumed more instant foods than nonsmokers. As a result of anthropometric measurements, height, age, and body fat percentage showed no difference, but there was a significant difference in weight, BMI, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure. Energy intake in nonsmokers was 1640 kcal/day(CHO : Pro : Fat=66.0 : 14.7 : 19.3), in smokers. Intakes of calcium, iron, vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, and niacin in smokers were not significantly different from those of nonsmokers.
Adipose Tissue ; Ascorbic Acid ; Blood Pressure ; Calcium ; Coffee ; Energy Intake ; Female ; Food Habits ; Food Preferences ; Fruit ; Humans ; Iron ; Milk ; Niacin ; Nutritional Status* ; Riboflavin ; Seoul ; Thiamine ; Vitamin A ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: We investigated how intensive care unit (ICU) nurses understand the meaning of death, death anxiety, death concern and respect for life. METHODS: From November 2009 through February 2010, a survey was conducted on 230 nurses working at the ICU of 10 general hospitals located in Seoul and Gyeonggi province. Participants were asked to answer a questionnaire consisted of 67 questions under four categories of the meaning of death, death anxiety, death concern and respect for life. RESULTS: Participants scored 4.27 points on their understanding of the meaning of death, 4.43 on death anxiety, 4.12 on death concern and 4.18 on respect for life. Participants' meaning of death was negatively correlated with death anxiety and death concern and positively with respect for life. Participants' positive meaning of death was negatively correlated with death anxiety and death concern and positively with respect for life. Participants' negative meaning of death was negatively correlated with death anxiety and death concern and positively with respect for life. Participants' death anxiety was positively correlated with death concern and negatively with respect for life. Participants' death concern was negatively correlated with respect for life. CONCLUSION: Compared with nurses who served at ICU for a long time, nurses with less ICU experience scored lower on the meaning of death and respect for life, while they presented high anxiety and concern about death. A training course may help nurses develop their view on the meaning of death, which in turn would enhance their performance in caring dying patients.
Anxiety ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Critical Care ; Intensive Care Units ; Value of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires

We conducted a retrospective study of 20 penetrating keratoplasty (19patients) for corneal opacity due to herpes simplex keratitis from January 1992 to February 1997 at National Medical Center. We exaniined f requeuey of graft rejection and recurrence of herpetic keratitis after penetrating keratoplasty. The patients were grouped into control & treatinent, group according to the use of antivirial drug after penetrating keratoplasty and we examined the difference in rate of recurrence between two groups. The follow-up period was from 8 months to 68 months, mean follow-up period being 29.6 months. Graft rejection was seen in 3 eyes out of 20 eyes (15.0%) and recurrence was developed 3 eyes out of 20 eyes (15.0%). Recurrent herpetic keratitis developed in 15.4%(2 of 13) of the eyes in control group and 14.3% (1 of 7) of the eyes in treatment group. There was no statistically significant difference in recurrence rate between two groups (p)0.05). Postoperative prophylactic antiviral treatment is not associated with decreased rate of herpes simplex keratitis recurrence.
Corneal Opacity ; Follow-Up Studies ; Graft Rejection ; Herpes Simplex* ; Humans ; Keratitis, Herpetic* ; Keratoplasty, Penetrating* ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies

The authors have evaluated the effect of topically applied 1% cyclosporine A for four weeks after limbal allograft transplantation for ocular surface stability in severely ocular surface damaged rabbits. A total eleven severely damaged rabbits were subdivided into three groups of four limbal autograft (AUTO), three limbal allograft (ALLO), four limbal allograft with topical application of 1% cyclosporine A five times daily for four weeks (ALLO-C). We examined ocular surface smoothness, clarity, corneal vascularization before surgery and three months after surgery, and classified three grade (success, partial success, failure) according to result. In AUTO, three eyes were success, one eye was failure. In ALLO, one eye showed inferior graft detachment and one eye was success, two eyes were failire. In ALLO-C, no graft detachment detected and one eye was success, two eyes were partial success, one eye was failure. We knew that. ALLO-C show more effective ocular surface stability than ALLO. These result suggest ALLO-C can be used as alternative treatment of AUTO in ocular surface reconstruction. But, rnore study for duration and concentration of cyclosporin A will be need.
Allografts ; Autografts ; Cornea* ; Cyclosporine* ; Rabbits ; Transplants

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia is inherited disorder of adrenal steroidogenesis. 21-hydroxylase deficiency is the most commone enzymatic defect and is divided into classic and late-onset or nonclassic forms. Both classic non-classic 21-hydrozylase deficiencies are inherited in a recessive manner as allelic variants. But it is rare that happened in twin infants. Chief complaints of affected twins in our case were ambiguous genitalia, hyperpigmentation and dehydrations. They were revealed into hyponatremia, hyperkalemia and increased amount of serum progesterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone and urinary 17-ketosteroid excretion and were administered with DOCA, 9alpha-fluorohydrocortisone, hydrocortisone to control the electrolyte imbalance. And now, both of them are going to normal ratio of weight gain and body growth.
17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone ; Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital* ; Desoxycorticosterone Acetate ; Disorders of Sex Development ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Hyperkalemia ; Hyperpigmentation ; Hyponatremia ; Infant ; Progesterone ; Steroid 21-Hydroxylase* ; Twins* ; Weight Gain

PURPOSE: This study was aimed to determine the relationship between osteopontin(OPN) and osteoclast, especially focused on whether ostecolast could produce osteopontin or not. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Osteoclasts were isolated from the giant cell tumor of proximal tibia and seeded on the 13 mm round cover slip resided in 24 multi-well plates for culture. After 2 days, osteclasts on the cover slip were fixed with cold acetone for 3 minutes and immunocytochemistry was done with rabbit osteopontin antibody. For in situ RT-PCR, osteoclasts on the cover-slips were fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde for 4 hours and were treated to pepsin. PR-PCR was done and the PCR producst were stained with anti-digoxigenin-AP. RESULTS: Osteopontins were found on the surface of the osteoclast by immunocytochemistry, and intense osteopontin mRNAs were found by in situ RT-PCR. CONCLUSION: We have identified that osteoclast could synthesize the osteopontin, and confirmed that in situ RT-PCR was a very useful method in expressing small amount of mRNA in case of mixed cell culture. Further study was needed to identify the action of the osteopontin produced by the osteoclast.
Acetone ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Giant Cell Tumors ; Immunohistochemistry ; Osteoclasts* ; Osteopontin* ; Pepsin A ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Messenger ; Tibia

No abstract available.
Cerebrospinal Fluid* ; Diagnosis* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay* ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis* ; Mycobacterium* ; Tuberculosis, Meningeal*

We report a case of exogastric schwannoma of the stomach in 41-years-old male patient with papable mass in left upper abdomen. Upper GI series revealed extrinsic compression on the greater curvature of the stomach. CT scan showed a low density mass attached to greater curvature of the stomach with inhomogeneous contrast nhancement in the mass lesion. The mass was removed by surgery, and confirmed pathologically as schwannoma arising from the stomach.
Abdomen ; Humans ; Male ; Neurilemmoma* ; Stomach* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed