No abstract available.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis* ; Mycobacterium* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Sputum*

No abstract available.
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay* ; Herpes Simplex* ; Immunoglobulin G* ; Immunoglobulin M*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the MRI findings of acute facial nerve paralysis in Bell's palsy and herpes zosteroticus, and to correlate these with the clinical findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed theMRI findings in six cases of Bell's palsy(BP) and two of herpes zoster oticus(HZO), and compared them with thefindings for 30 normal facial nerves. This nerve was considered abnormal when its signal intensity was greaterthan that of brain parenchyma or the contralateral normal side on Gd-enhanced T1-weighted axial and coronal MRimages. We analysed the location and degree of contrast enhancement, interval change, and clinical progression incorrelation with House-Brackmann(HB) grade and electroneuronography(ENoG) findings. RESULTS: Fifteen of 30 normalfacial nerves(50%) seen on Gd-enhanced MRI were mildly enhanced in the geniculate ganglion, the proximal tympanic,and the proximal mastoid segment of the facial nerve. No enhancement of the internal auditory canal(IAC) orlabyrinthine segment of the facial nerve was noted, however. In BP and HZO, Gd-enhanced MR images revealed fair tomarked enhancement for more than two segments from the internal auditory canal to the mastoid segment of thefacial nerve. During follow-up MRI, enhancement of the facial nerve varied in location and signal intensity,though gradually decreased in intensity approximately eight weeks after the onset of facial nerve palsy. Nocorrelation between clinical HB grade, ENoG, and follow up MRI findings was noted. CONCLUSION: Except in theinternal auditory canal and labyrinthine segment, normal facial neve may show mild and relatively symmetricalenhancement. In BP and HZO, the facial nerve showed diffuse enhancement from the IAC to the mastoid segment.
Bell Palsy* ; Brain ; Facial Nerve ; Follow-Up Studies ; Geniculate Ganglion ; Herpes Zoster Oticus* ; Herpes Zoster* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Mastoid ; Paralysis ; Retrospective Studies

Aneurysms of superior mesenteric artery (SMA) represent an uncommon but important vascular disease. High mortality rates from rupture of aneurysm and thrombosis of SMA are reported. These lesions are most often infectious in etiology. In the case of relatively abundant collaterals, aneurysm exclusion or SMA ligation is a safe surgical method to prevent serious complications. But in insufficient collaterals, stent-grafting of aneurysm or reconstruction of mesenteric blood flow is unavoidable. Recently we treated a 49-year-old man with SMA pseudoaneurysm and its large orifice located at near the enlarged jejunal branch which is a main collateral of mesenteric blood flow.
Aneurysm ; Aneurysm, False* ; Humans ; Ligation ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior* ; Middle Aged ; Mortality ; Rupture ; Thrombosis ; Vascular Diseases

PURPOSE: This study was performed to evaluate the diagnostic usefulness of double-phase Tc-99m MIBI parathyroidism scintigraphy with single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in patients with hyperparathyroidism. We also evaluated the relationship between Tc-99m MIBI uptake and oxyphil cell contents in parathyroid glands. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The subjects were 28 parathyroid glands of 10 patients who underwent Tc-99m MIBI parathyroid scintigraphy and parathyroidectomy for clinically suspected hyperparathyroidism. Early and delayed pinhole images were obtained at 15 minutes and 2 hours after injection of Tc-99m MIBI, and SPECT images were followed. The weight and oxyphil cell contents of parathyroid of tissue were obtained from pathologic specimen, and the scintigraphic findings were compared with histopathology. RESULTS: In surgical histopathology, 6 parathyroid adenomas and 9 parathyroid hyperplasias were confirmed. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value of early and delayed images were 46.7% (7/15), 76.9% (10/13), 70% (7/10) and 667% (10/15), 92.3% (12/13), 90.9% (10/11), respectively. SPECT image detected an additional small hyperplasia. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value of combined interpretation of early and delayed images with SPECT were 733% f11/15), 100% (13/13), 100% (11/11). The sensitivity was 100% (6/6) for aenoma, whereas that was 555% (5/9) for hyperplasia. Both adenomas and hyperplasias showed significantly increased oxyphil cell contents compared with normal parathyroid glands (p<0.0001), but the oxyphil cell content and weight were not significantly different between adenomas and hyperplasias. CONCLUSION: Double-phase Tc-99m MIBI parathyroid scintigraphy with SPECT is useful for lesion localization m patients with hyperparathyroidism. Although both adenoma and hyperplasia have increased oxyphil cell content, the sensitivity is high in adenoma, but low in hyperplasia.
Adenoma ; Humans ; Hyperparathyroidism* ; Hyperplasia ; Parathyroid Glands ; Parathyroid Neoplasms ; Parathyroidectomy ; Radionuclide Imaging* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

PURPOSE: We evaluated the effectiveness of embolization in the management of congenital vascular malformations(CVMs). METHODS AND MATERIALS: A retrospective analysis was performed in 10 patients who underwent embolotherapy for their soft tissue CVMs(eight arteriovenous malformations, one hemangioma, one venous malformation) involving the extremity or back. In nine patients, intraarterial embolization was performed with multiple embolic agents including Gelfoam, Ivalon, IBCA, ethanol mixed with Lipiodol, and micro-coils. In one patient with venous malformation, direct puncture and embolization of the lesion were performed with absolute ethanol mixed with Lipiodol. RESULTS: In four patients, who subsequently underwent surgery, preoperative embolization decreased operative morbidity and facilitated a thorough extirpation. Five of six patients with inoperable CVMs experienced dramatic reduction of symptoms by single or repeated embolization, with a mean follow-up period of four months. CONCLUSION: We believe that preoperative embolization may decrease operative morbidity and facilitate a thorough extirpation in the patients with extensive but resectable CVMs and repeated embolizations are effective for symptom control in the patients with inoperable CVMs.
Arteriovenous Malformations ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Ethanol ; Ethiodized Oil ; Extremities* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gelatin Sponge, Absorbable ; Hemangioma ; Humans ; Punctures ; Retrospective Studies ; Vascular Malformations*

OBJECTIVE: We aim to analyze each variable affecting FHR to build objective decision basis using canonical correlation analysis METHODS: The sixty four hundred and fifty five cases of NST from 1988 to 1997 at Hanyang University hospital were collected. We used FHR interpretation softwares, HYFM-I & II those were already developed by author, for extraction of each variable of FHR. We classified the variables into 2 groups, F.A.M(FHR, Amplitude, Mean minute range) and N.S.F(NST weeks, Signal loss, Fetal movement) groups. The Canonical correlation was compared between each variable and group. RESULTS: The canonical correlation between F.A.M & N.S.F are as follows; r=0.40 (p=0.001) in preterm, r=0.34 (p=0.001) in term, and r=0.41 (p=0.004) in postterm. The high linear dependency is shown as r=0.79 (p=0.013) before 23 weeks, the irregular changes shown from 23 weeks to 30 weeks (r=0.47 in 23-24 weeks, r=0.29 in 25-26 weeks, r=0.56 in 27-28 weeks, r=0.24 in 29-30 weeks) and the stable relative changes shown (about r=0.3-0.4) after 30 weeks (r=0.32 in 31-32 weeks, r=0.33 in 33-34 weeks, r=0.37 in 35-36, r=0.33 in 37-38 weeks, r=0.37 in 39-40 weeks, r=0.35 after 41 weeks) (p<0.02). In the linear correlation of FHR, two indicies of FHR variables, AMP and MMR pertaining to N.S.F., FHR(r) is 0.06, AMP and MMR seem to be identical as r=0.30 and then the canonization in term and postterm[FHR(r)=-0.27, AMR(r)=0.23, and MMR(r)=0.35]lies in the regular pattern. Moreover, there is rather a linear correlation between F.A.M and the gestational weeks in preterm and it is changed into linearity similar to zero in term and postterm pregnancies[term(r)=0.01, postterm(r)=0.06] CONCLUSIONS: This study shows the linearity of FHR and the variable which are based on the gestational weeks organically, comprehensibly, and quantitatively. It would be utilized as the fundamental standard of the linearity. The changes from the irregular linear correlation to the regular pattern according to advancing gestational weeks means the changes from the immature and transitional level to the mature level. The closer investigation of the linear and
Female ; Fetal Heart* ; Heart Rate, Fetal* ; Pregnancy

No abstract available.
Keratosis*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Transient elastography is a new noninvasive tool for measuring liver stiffness that accurately predicts significant fibrosis and cirrhosis. However, several studies have indicated that liver stiffness can be significantly influenced by major changes in aminotransferase in patients with chronic viral hepatitis. The aim of this study was to determine the factors influencing liver stiffness in patients with chronic liver disease. METHODS: We studied 158 patients with chronic liver disease who underwent transient elastography and liver biopsy sampling. Histologic findings on fibrosis and necroinflammatory activity in the biopsy specimens were evaluated according to the Korean Society of Pathologists Scoring System. Routine biochemical tests were performed according to standard methods. RESULTS: Liver stiffness was strongly correlated with liver fibrosis stage (Spearman coefficient=0.636, P<0.001), lobular activity (Spearman coefficient=0.359, P<0.001), and portoperiportal activity grade (Spearman coefficient=0.448, P<0.001). Liver stiffness was significantly associated with serum levels of total bilirubin (P=0.025), direct bilirubin (P=0.049), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (P=0.014), platelet count (P=0.004), albumin (P<0.001), and international normalized ratio (P<0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that fibrosis stage (B 3.50, P=0.009) and lobular activity grade (B 3.25, P=0.047) were independently associated with liver stiffness. CONCLUSIONS: Liver stiffness as measured by transient elastography is associated with the grade of necroinflammatory activity and the stage of fibrosis, irrespective of serum ALT levels.
Adult ; Aged ; Bilirubin/blood ; Biopsy ; Chronic Disease ; Elasticity ; *Elasticity Imaging Techniques ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic/*complications ; Hepatitis C, Chronic/*complications ; Humans ; International Normalized Ratio ; Liver Cirrhosis/etiology/pathology/*ultrasonography ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Platelet Count ; Risk Factors ; Severity of Illness Index ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase/blood

PURPOSE: Real-time monitoring of urinary bladder volume can not only provide information on urinary bladder function more precisely in laboratories and in the setting of intravesical pressure monitoring, but can also help areflexic neurogenic bladder patients have notice of the timing for optimal urination to prevent secondary complications. Thus we introduce a new implantable bladder volume monitoring device and its usefulness. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten male Sprague-Dawley rats were used under intraperitoneal anesthesia. Two microelectrodes produced by a micro-electrical-mechanical systems (MEMS) process were stitched onto each side wall of the urinary bladder and 25 G needles were inserted through the bladder dome. The distances between two microelectrodes converted from capacitances recorded by LCR meter were monitored in real-time during cystometry. Urinary bladder volume was estimated with its shape approximated as a sphere. RESULTS: Estimated bladder volume correlated well statistically with infused volume in (p<0.05 regression analysis). Since the urinary bladder was filled with over 0.6 cc normal saline in each rat, estimated urinary volume was not different than infused saline volume (p>0.05, repeated measures ANOVA). CONCLUSIONS: In our animal model, an implantable volume-monitoring device produced reliable data. Therefore, we expect that it should be an excellent tool for detecting urinary bladder volume and producing more accurate and useful information during urodynamic laboratory studies with small animals. Furthermore, we expect that this study will be the foundation of research for the clinical application of bladder volume monitoring devices to areflexic neurogenic bladder patients.
Anesthesia ; Animals ; Humans ; Male ; Micro-Electrical-Mechanical Systems ; Microelectrodes ; Models, Animal ; Needles ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic ; Urination ; Urodynamics