BACKGROUND: Carotid atherosclerosis and aortic at herosclerosis are both a predictor of atherosclertic cardiovascular diseases. However, the relationship between carotid and aortic atherosclerosis is not well known. METHODS: We performed B-mode ultrasound examinations of the carotid arteries in 38 consecutive elderly cases(13 men, mean age 69+/-3 years and 25 women, mean age 69+/-5 years) who underwent transesophageal echocardiography, to assess whether atherosclerosis in the carotid artery correlates with thoracic aortic atherosclerosis or may be a marker for it. RESULTS: The incidence of carotid and thoracic aortic atherosclerotic plaques were 44.7% and 50%, respectively. There was a significant relationship between carotid atherosclerosis and thoracic aortic atherosclerosis(r=0.532, p<0.01), and a increase in the extent of aortic atherosclerosis with increasing grades of carotid atherosclerosis. In the entire study cases, the presence of carotid atherosclerosis had a sensitivity 63.2%, specificity 73.7%, positive value 72.6% and negative predictive value 66.7% in detec-ting thoracic aortic atherosclerosis. CONCLUSION: In the Korean elderly, B-mode ultra sound examination of the carotid arteries is a easy and useful technique for the prediction of the presence and severity of thoracic atherosclerosis.
Aged* ; Aorta ; Aorta, Thoracic* ; Atherosclerosis* ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Carotid Arteries ; Carotid Artery Diseases* ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ultrasonics ; Ultrasonography

No abstract available.
Diagnosis* ; Knee* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging*

Aneurysms of the pulmonary artery are uncommon in general but have a potentially fatal prognosis. This is derived from the potential for rupture of the aneurysm from the fact that there is commonly underlying severe pulmonary hypertension. Most cases are documented in the large postmortem series. Aneurysms of the pulmonary artery can be classified as congenital or acquired. Possible symptoms include dyspnea on exertion, cough, hemoptysis, and thoracic pain. When a large aneurysm formation of the pulmonary artery is diagnosed, surgical intervention is indicated because conservative treatment of the aneurysm will undoubtedly result in rupture with fatal outcome. We report a case of 46-year old patient with a giant left pulmonary artery aneurysm associated with severe pulmonary hypertension. A Doppler echocardiogram and a computed tomographic scan showed a giant saccular aneurysm of the left pulmonary artery (12 cm in diameter) and estimated systolic right ventricular pressure of 80 mmHg.
Aneurysm* ; Cough ; Dyspnea ; Fatal Outcome ; Hemoptysis ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary* ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Pulmonary Artery* ; Rupture ; Ventricular Pressure

Ischemic heart disease is a common complication of thyrotoxicosis, although the exact mechanism has not been defined. In patient with dextrocardia as a part of situs inversus, coronary heart disease may occur with similar frequency and manifestation as in the general population. A case is reported of angina and thyrotoxicosis in patient with situs inversus totalis in which the angina was manifested by ST-segment elevation during graded exercise, relieved by antithyroid treatment. This unusual case establishes an association between hyperthy-roidism and ischemic heart disease.
Coronary Disease ; Dextrocardia ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism* ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Situs Inversus* ; Thyrotoxicosis

No abstract available.
Animals ; Diuresis* ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins* ; Rats* ; Urinary Bladder*

15 cases of acute dislocation of the elbow were treated at Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Capital Armed Forces General Hospital, Seoul, Korea during the period of March, 1985. To June, 1986 were analysed. The length of follow-up period ranged from 6 months to 16 months, with a mean of 9 months. The results were as follows; 1. 7 cases had been surgically treated, and they revealed rupture of the medial collateral ligament in all. So, we think that the medial collateral ligament of the elbow plays an important role in elbow stability. 2. The average immobilization period for the patient with non-operative treatm ent was 2 weeks. And normal ran ge of motion was obtained at 8 weeks. So, there was no. significant difference from other reports in the duration of recovery. 3. The period of recovery in operated patients was 14 weeks, and it was 6 weeks longer than non-operatively treated patients. 4. There was no chronic elbow instability in all 15 patients, but 3 cases with non-operative treatment complained of medial elbow pain on vigorous exercise.
Arm ; Collateral Ligaments ; Dislocations ; Elbow Joint ; Elbow ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Immobilization ; Korea ; Rupture ; Seoul

The relative rarity and anatomical position of presacral tumors may lead to difficulty in diagnosis and surgical treatment. The clinical features and surgical approach of 4such tumors(teratocarcinoma 1, endodermal sinus tumor 1, chordoma 1, neurilemmoma 1) have therefore reviewed. Low back pain or sacral pain was present in 3patients although all tumors were palpable on rectal examination. Surgical resection was carried out using the posterior transverse approach in Kraske's prone position. Complete surgical excision was performed in 3cases(chordoma, teratocarcinoma, neurilemmoma) and incomplete excision in 1 case(endodermal sinus tumor). A review of literature concerning these tumors and the surgical approach are presented.
Chordoma ; Diagnosis ; Endodermal Sinus Tumor ; Low Back Pain ; Neurilemmoma ; Prone Position ; Teratocarcinoma

A forty-seven-year-old male miner complained of paresthesia over right hypothenar area and ring and little fiugers for 3 months. On physical examination and electromyography, ulnar nerve dysfunction below elbow was noted. Intraoperatively, an anomalous muscle, the epitrochleoanconeus muscle, was found between the triceps muscle and flexor carpi ulnaris muscle, but it was clearly distinguished from them. Resection of the muscle and medial epicondylectomy were performed. The epitrochleoanconeus muscle is an anomalous muscle which arises from the medial epicondyle of the humerus and inserts into the medial border of the olecranon. The reports on ulnar nerve entrapment syndrome by this muscle were rare. On 14 months follow up, the symptoms and signs were improved.
Elbow ; Electromyography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Humerus ; Male ; Miners ; Olecranon Process ; Paresthesia ; Physical Examination ; Ulnar Nerve Compression Syndromes ; Ulnar Nerve

No abstract available.
Cartilage, Articular* ; Knee* ; Osmium Tetroxide* ; Synovial Membrane*

The use of lower extremity tourniquets for procedures of the lower leg is considered routine in orthopedic surgery, but, lower extremity tourniquets do harm occasionally. While the tourniquet is inflated, metabolic changes such as increased PaCO2 , lactic acid, and serum potassium and decreased level of PaO2 and pH occur in the ischemic limb. Deflation of tourniquet results in release of anaerobic metabolic products during ischemia into systemic circulation. In this ischemia/reperfusion situation, oxygen free radicals could potentially be produced during the reperfusion period by several mechanisms. One of these mechanisms is release of intracellular superoxide or hydrogen peroxide by activated neutrophils in the area. These reactive oxygen species(ROS) could be a causative factor for the postreperfusion no-flow, lung injury, induction of tourniquet shock, etc. The purpose of this clinical study was to investigate the effect of tourniquet deflation on the hemodynamic changes, changes of blood gas analysis, and hydrogen peroxide production using flow cytometric analysis of fluorescent DCF(Dichlorofluorescein). Quantitative analysis of fluorescent DCF was performed in resting and fMLP(N-formyl-methyonyl-leucyl-phenylalanine) or PMA(phorbol myristate acetate) stimulated neutrophils. Also differences of these factors between two groups of tourniquet time, one is less than one hour and the other more than one to two hours, were analysed. The hemodynamics(blood pressure, pulse rate), arterial PO2, bicarbonate, base excess, and hydrogen peroxide production showed no significant change before and after tourniquet release(p>0.05). Arterial pH and PaCO2 decreased significantly until 10 and 5 minutes after tourniquet release, respectively(p>0.05). Tourniquet time didn’t reveal any significances differences. These results indicate that tourniquet application with400mmHg pressure and less than 2 hours does not release significant hydrogen peroxide into systemic circulation during reperfusion period after tourniquet release.
Blood Gas Analysis ; Blood Pressure ; Clinical Study ; Extremities ; Flow Cytometry ; Free Radicals ; Hemodynamics ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; Hydrogen ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Ischemia ; Lactic Acid ; Leg ; Lower Extremity ; Lung Injury ; Myristic Acid ; Neutrophils ; Orthopedics ; Oxygen ; Potassium ; Reperfusion ; Shock ; Superoxides ; Tourniquets