BACKGROUND: Cold blood cardioplegic solution has been used to protect myocardium during open heart surgery with the hypothesis stating that it provides more oxygen supply to myocardium compared to crystalloid caridoplegic solution. We repeatedly infused cold blood cardioplegic solution to achieve myocardial protection. We biopsied a small portion of papillary muscle of patients with mitral valve replacement or double valve replacement during aortic cross-clamp time and evaluated the method of myocardial protection through the observation of changes in ultrastructure. We then analysed the relationship between changes in ultrasructure and peak postoperative CK-MB value and SGOT value. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We report observation on changes of myocardial ultrastructure, postoperative CK-MB and SGOT, and electrocardiogram in 31 patients who underwent cardiac operation. There were 11 males and 20 females, and they ranging in age from 28 to 69 years (mean score was 2.08+/-0.560, it was 2.37+/-0.558 at 40 minutes, and it was 2.36+/-0.523 at 70minutes. Mitochondrial score increased significant at 40 minutes. Mean value of postoperative peak CK-MB and SGOT were 37.3+/-17.061IU, 144.5+/-125.5IU respectively. We were not able to find any new Q were in EKG after the operation. There was no significant relationship between myocardium mitochondrial score and mean value of postoperative peak CK-MB and SGOT. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, with this study the cold blood cardioplegic solution was incomplete in preserving ultrastructure of myocardium even with satisfactory results in serum enzyme and EKG evaluation.
Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Cardioplegic Solutions ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Heart* ; Humans ; Male ; Mitral Valve ; Myocardium ; Oxygen ; Papillary Muscles ; Thoracic Surgery*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung*

No abstract available.
Fistula*

Pregnancy is normally a state of erythroid hyperplasia. Increased erythropoiesis during pregnancy is controlled by erythropoietin, which is augmented by the action of placental lactogen and inhibited by high levels of estrogen. We described a case of a patient with pure red cell aplasia during pregnancy that resolved completely in the postpartum period.
Erythropoiesis ; Erythropoietin ; Estrogens ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Placental Lactogen ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy* ; Red-Cell Aplasia, Pure*

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Heart* ; Thoracic Surgery* ; Thyroid Gland*

The hallmark of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is acute and chronic spinal inflammation initiating in the sacroiliac joints, often coupled with enthesitis, presenting as chronic inflammation at the sites of ligamentous and tendinous insertions into bone. Peripheral joint synovitis can be a prominent feature as well. Reactive arthritis (ReA) is a sterile synovitis arising after enteric or urogential tract infections. A great progression has been recently achieved in revealing the causes, and making plans for the treatments for AS and other types of spondyloarthropathy. The human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B27 has been well known to be associated with disease susceptibility in AS and ReA. But the pathogenesis of AS and ReA is still not well defined. Although the clinical manifestations of AS and ReA may differ, in this review we discuss the two diseases together and focus on recent developments on the pathogenesis of both diseases.
Arthritis, Reactive ; Disease Susceptibility ; HLA-B27 Antigen ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Joints ; Leukocytes ; Ligaments ; Sacroiliac Joint ; Spondylarthropathies ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing* ; Synovitis

No abstract available.
Prolactin* ; Prolactinoma* ; Radiosurgery*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical value of the multi-detector row computed tomography (MDCT) in the quantitative assessment of lung volumes and to assess the relationship between the MDCT results and disease severity as determined by a pulmonary function test (PFT) in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a PFT and MDCT on 39 COPD patients. Using the GOLD classification, we divided the patients into three groups according to disease severity; stage I (mild, n=10), stage II (moderate, n=15), and stage III (severe, n=14). Using the pulmo-CT software program, we measured the proportion of lung volumes with attenuation values below -910 and -950 HU. RESULTS: The mean FEV1 (% of predicted) and FEV1/FVC was 82.2+/-2% and 66.2+/-3% in stage I, 53.5+/-11% and 52+/-6% in stage II, and 32.3+/-7% and 44.2+/-13% in stage III, respectively. Differences in lung volume percentages at each of the thresholds (-910 and -950 HU) among the 3 stages were statistically significant (p<0.01, p<0.01) and correlated well with the FEV1 and FEV1/FVC (r=-0.803, r=-0.766, r=-0.817, and r=-0.795, respectively). CONCLUSION: The volumetric measurement obtained by MDCT provides an accurate means of quantifying pulmonary emphysema.
Humans ; Lung ; Lung Volume Measurements ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; Pulmonary Emphysema ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Thorax

Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a new method of sampling mediastinal lymph nodes to aid in diagnosing lymphadenopathy and in staging metastatic cancers. This paper describes a case of renal cell carcinoma with mediastinal and hilar lymph nodes metastasis that was diagnosed using EBUS-TBNA. A 17-year-old woman who had mediastinal lymphadenopathy and a right renal mass underwent imaging studies. The results of a first EBUS-TBNA suggested malignancy, but the type of tumor and exact site of the primary tumor were uncertain. Therefore, we repeated EBUS-TBNA with a lower pressure on the vacuum syringe. We successfully diagnosed the mediastinal lymph node metastasis from renal cell carcinoma.
Adolescent ; Biopsy, Needle ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Needles ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Syringes ; Vacuum