BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The atherosclerotic plaque in the thoracic aorta has been considered as potential source of cerebral embolization. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relation of atherosclerotic plaque burden and aortic distensibility by combined transesophageal echocardiography(TEE) and acoustic quantification(AQ) in patients with cerebral infarction without cardiac origin of emboli. METHODS: The maximal intimal-medial thickness and distensibility of descending thoracic aorta using TEE (a 7.5 MHz multiplane transducer, Hewlett Packard Sonos 2500) and AQ were prospectively measured in 36 patients(mean age ; 61+/-9 years) with cerebral infarction without cardiac origin of emboli and compared with 87 controls(mean age ; 56+/-11 years) without history of cerebral infarction. After the quality of the short-axis images of the aorta was optimized, a software of AQ was activated and gain controls were adjusted. A region of interest was mannually traced around the descending thoracic aorta and then integrated software was used to compute and instantaneously display arotic lumen area as a function of time. Maximal and minimal cross sectional area and fraction area change were calculated as an average from five consecutive heart cycle. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between two groups in gender, hyperlipidemia and smoking, but hypertension and diabetes were more common in the cerebral infarction group. The atherosclerotic intimal-medial thickness above grade 3 was found in 13(36.1 %) out of 36 patients with cerebral infarction and 15(17.2%) out of 87 controls(p<0.05). Aortic areas normalized for body surface area were not statistically different between patients and normal controls, but there were significant differences for elastic indices except compliance. Patients with cerebral infarction had a lower fractional area change(5.7+/-3.2% vs. 7.8+/-4.1%, p<0.05) and higher stiffness index(12.2+/-7.7 vs. 8.0+/-5.1, p<0.05) compared with control group. There was an inverse relationship between the aortic intimal-medial thickness and the fractional area change of descending aorta(r=-0.380, p<0.01). CONCLUSION: The data suggest that the aortic distensibility noninvasively measured by TEE and AQ predicts the atherosclerotic burden. Thus the aortic distensibility may be an additive risk factor for cerebral infarction.
Acoustics* ; Aorta ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Body Surface Area ; Cerebral Infarction* ; Compliance ; Heart ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; Hypertension ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Transducers

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The atherosclerotic plaque in the thoracic aorta has been considered as potential source of cerebral embolization. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relation of atherosclerotic plaque burden and aortic distensibility by combined transesophageal echocardiography(TEE) and acoustic quantification(AQ) in patients with cerebral infarction without cardiac origin of emboli. METHODS: The maximal intimal-medial thickness and distensibility of descending thoracic aorta using TEE (a 7.5 MHz multiplane transducer, Hewlett Packard Sonos 2500) and AQ were prospectively measured in 36 patients(mean age ; 61+/-9 years) with cerebral infarction without cardiac origin of emboli and compared with 87 controls(mean age ; 56+/-11 years) without history of cerebral infarction. After the quality of the short-axis images of the aorta was optimized, a software of AQ was activated and gain controls were adjusted. A region of interest was mannually traced around the descending thoracic aorta and then integrated software was used to compute and instantaneously display arotic lumen area as a function of time. Maximal and minimal cross sectional area and fraction area change were calculated as an average from five consecutive heart cycle. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between two groups in gender, hyperlipidemia and smoking, but hypertension and diabetes were more common in the cerebral infarction group. The atherosclerotic intimal-medial thickness above grade 3 was found in 13(36.1 %) out of 36 patients with cerebral infarction and 15(17.2%) out of 87 controls(p<0.05). Aortic areas normalized for body surface area were not statistically different between patients and normal controls, but there were significant differences for elastic indices except compliance. Patients with cerebral infarction had a lower fractional area change(5.7+/-3.2% vs. 7.8+/-4.1%, p<0.05) and higher stiffness index(12.2+/-7.7 vs. 8.0+/-5.1, p<0.05) compared with control group. There was an inverse relationship between the aortic intimal-medial thickness and the fractional area change of descending aorta(r=-0.380, p<0.01). CONCLUSION: The data suggest that the aortic distensibility noninvasively measured by TEE and AQ predicts the atherosclerotic burden. Thus the aortic distensibility may be an additive risk factor for cerebral infarction.
Acoustics* ; Aorta ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Body Surface Area ; Cerebral Infarction* ; Compliance ; Heart ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; Hypertension ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Transducers

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Vibration*

Postcoital contraception or emergency contraception(EC), commonly known as the "morning after pills", prevents pregnancy after unprotected intercourse. A comprehensive definition of EC is as follows : "specific contraceptive methods that can be used as emergency measures to prevent pregnancy after unproteted intercourse". Both drugs and certain devices can be used for emergency contraception. The best-studied regimen(Yuzpe) consists of an ordinary combination of oral contraceptives containing ethinyl estradiol and norgestrel. Conventional clinical guidelines recommend a first dose within 72 hours after unprotected intercourse and a second dose 12 hours thereafter. These drugs are most effective when taken as soon as possible after the intercourse. The Yuzpe regimen reduced the risk of unintended pregnancy by at least 75% in clinical trials. The most common side effects of the Yuzpe method are nausea and vomiting. Levonorgestrel is the synthetic progesterone. The major benefits of levonorgestrel are the decreased side effects and greater contraceptive efficacy than Yuzpe regimen. Mifepristone (RU486) is a synthetic steroid that prevents progesterone from binding to the progesterone receptors and glucocorticoid receptors. It has been used extensively in Europe as an abortifacient and also has been used as an effective EC. Its common side effect is a delay in the onset of menses, leading to anxiety for the user. The intrauterine contraceptive device(IUCD) is the only method of emergency contraception available to women presenting beyond 72 h and within 5 days from unprotected intercourse. EC is not protective against infections such as STD(sexually transmitted diseases). There are many situations where EC is indicated, including condom rupture or slip, unplanned unprotected intercourse, incidental misuse of regular contraceptive methods, and sexual assault. Emergency contraceptive pills can prevent ovulation, but an alternative major mechanism of action is to prevent uterine implantation of the embryo at the endometrial level. A 3-week follow-up visit should be scheduled to assess the result and to counsel for regular contraception. EC provides a second chance at preventing undesired pregnancies. but it should not be used as a routine birth control method, because it is actually less effective and needs a higher dose at preventing pregnancies than most types of oral contraceptives. Widespread and appropriate use of EC will provide a promising means to reduce the incidence of unplanned pregnancy and to contribute to the women's health.
Anxiety ; Condoms ; Contraception ; Contraception, Postcoital ; Contraceptives, Oral ; Embryonic Structures ; Emergencies ; Ethinyl Estradiol ; Europe ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Levonorgestrel ; Methods ; Mifepristone ; Nausea ; Norgestrel ; Ovulation ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Unplanned ; Progesterone ; Receptors, Glucocorticoid ; Receptors, Progesterone ; Rupture ; Vomiting ; Women's Health

No abstract available.
Vaccines*

No abstract available.
Cytogenetics* ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute*

This study was carried out to develop a Korean language version of Zung's self-rating anxiety scale(SAS) from august, 1994 to September, 1996. The subjects consisted of 205 normal control subjects from the general population group, and 97 subjects with anxiety disorders. These 97 subjects were chosen from a group by the structured clinical interview for DSM-IV of in patients and out patients. Both normal control subjects and anxiety disorder subjects were drawn utilizing a cluster of sampling methods. In order to analyze the data on anxiety scores, Pearson's product moment correlation coefficient method was carried out, as well as reliability, factor analysis and discrimina;it function analysis, utilizing the SPSS/PC+ program. The results obtained were - as follows: The mean average of the total anxiety scores were 32.36 + 6.35 for the normal control subjects and 50.53 + 7.67 for anxiety disorder subjects. Test-retest reliability(coefficient r=0.98, p < 0.001), and internal consistency(coefficient r=0.96, p < 0.001) were satisfactory. Factor analysis using oblique technique rotation yielded four factors. _ The . normal control subjects scored higher concerning the symptoms such as sweating, restlessness, apprehension, insomnia and dyspnea, and lower for faintness, mental disintegration, paresthesia, dizziness and .tremor. On the other hand, for the anxiety disorders, apprehension, restlessness, sweating, dyspnea and insomnia scored higher, and lower for faintness, paresthesia, nightmare, dizziness and tremor.
Anxiety Disorders ; Anxiety* ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Dizziness ; Dreams ; Dyspnea ; Hand ; Humans ; Outpatients ; Paresthesia ; Population Groups ; Psychomotor Agitation ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Sweat ; Sweating ; Tremor

No abstract available.
Diagnosis* ; Encephalitis*

The distribution and the infestation rates of metacercariae in fishes from the Kum-Ho river were observed from June 1965 to August l967. The results obtained are as follows: The Fourteen kinds of metacercariae; Exorchis oviformis, Metorchis orientalis, Cyathocotyle species, Metacercaria hasegawai, Clonorchis sinensis, Metagonimus species, Pseudexorchis major, Echinochasmus species, Centrocestus species, Prosorhpynchus species, and four kinds of unidentified species, A, B, C and D were detected from 12 kinds of fishes. Clonorchis sinensis, Metagonimus species, Echinochasmus species, and Centrocestus species of the detected 14 kinds of flukes were noted to be parasited in man; Metorchis orientalis and Cyathocotyle species in avian species; and Exorchis ovifomis and Pseudexorchis major in wels, but the definite host of the other 6 kinds of flukes were not identified. Exorchis oviformis was found in 64.5 percent, of all kinds of fishes, Cyathocotyle species in 36.8 percent of 7 kinds of fishes, Metacercaria hasegawai in 36.3 percent of 8 kinds, Clonorchis sinensis in 95.0 percent of 6 kinds and Metagonimus species in 47.9 percent of 10 kinds. Concerning the infested rates of metacercaria and the length of fishes, Exorchis oviformis and Clonorchis sinensis showed increased rate by the length of fishes but the rest of fishes showed no relationship between them. The infested degree of metacercaria of Clonorchis sinensis was highest in Pseudorasbora parva with 34.3 parasites per cubic cm of flesh, of Exorchis oviformis in Carassius carassius with 7.3, of Cyathocotyle species in Acheilognathus with 6.0, and of Metacercaria hasegawai in Pseudogobio esocinus with 5.7 but Prosorhpynchus etc. were very few in all kinds of fishes. The infested rates of metacercaria in the four kinds of fishes, Pseudorasbora parva, Pungtungia herzi, Pseudogobio esocinus and Gnathopogon coreanus seemed not to be influenced by season, Spring and Autumn. In the infested rates of metacercariae by parts of fishes, Exorchis oviformis was chiefly infested in scales and fins; Metorchis orientalis, Cyathocotyle species, Clonorchis sinensis, Pseudexorchis major, Centrocestus species and Prosorhpynchus ecinatus were chiefly infested in muscle; Metacercaria hasegawai in muscle and fins; Metagonimus species chiefly in scales; and Echinochasmus chiefly in gills.
parasitology-helminth-trematoda- Exorchis oviformis-Metorchis orientalis-Cyathocotyle species-Metacercaria hasegawai-Clonorchis ; epidemiology ; metacercaria