PURPOSE: We investigated whether myocardial SPECT had additional usefulness to clinical, functional or surgical indices for the preoperative evaluation of cardiac risks in noncardiac surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 118 patients (M: F=66:52, 62.7+/-10.5 years) were studied retrospectively. Eighteen underwent vascular surgeries and 100 nonvascular surgeries. Rest T1-201/stress Tc-99m-MIBI SPECT was performed before operation and cardiac events (hard event: cardiac death and myocardial infarction; soft event: ischemic ECG change, congestive heart failure and unstable angina) were surveyed through perioperative periods (14.6+/-5.6 days). Clinical risk indices, functional capacity, surgery procedures and SPECT findings were tested for their predictive values of perioperative cardiac events. RESULTS: Peri-operative cardiac events occurred in 25 patients (3 hard events and 22 soft events). Clinical risk indices, surgical procedure risks and SPECT findings but functional capacity were predictive of cardiac events. Reversible perfusion decrease was a better predictor than persistent decrease. Multivariate analysis sorted` out surgical procedure risk (p=0.0018) and SPECT findings (p=0.0001) as significant risk factors. SPECT could re-stratify perioperative cardiac risks in patients ranked with surgical procedures. CONCLUSION:: We conclude that myocardial SPECT provides additional predictive value to surgical type risks as well as clinical indexes or functional capacity for the prediction of preoperative cardiac events in noncardiac surgery.
Death ; Electrocardiography ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Multivariate Analysis ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Perfusion ; Perioperative Period ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*

No abstract available.
Gangwon-do* ; Hepacivirus* ; Hepatitis C* ; Hepatitis* ; Liver Diseases* ; Liver* ; Prevalence*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Dual isotope myocardial SPECT, rest thallium-201/dipyridamole stress Tc-99m sestamibi is used to diagnose coronary artery disease. We examined predictive value of myocardial SPECT for the prognosis of patients having or suspected coronary artery disease. MATERIALS AND METHOD: We examined 692 patients referred for dipyridamole stress myocardial perfusion SPECT. Cardiac events (hard and soft events) were followed up with medical record review and telephone interview. Survival analysis and multivariate Cox proportional hazard model were used to find significant predictors and the incremental predictive value of myocardial SPECT. Patients with coronary angiography (n=246) were analyzed in separate group. RESULTS: There were 4 hard events and 3 soft events in 341 normal SPECT group (1.20%/yr). There were 5 hard events and 21 soft events in 351 abnormal SPECT group (4.69%/yr). Survival curve was separated between normal SPECT group and abnormal SPECT group (p<0.01). In univariate analysis, smoking, history of myocardial infarction, typical chest pain and SPECT findings were important variables. In multivariate analysis, SPECT result was the single most independent predictor. Large reversible perfusion abnormality predicted worse prognosis. In patients with coronary angiography, SPECT did not add statistically significant predictive value to the coronary angiography. CONCLUSION: Dipyridamole stress Tl-201/ MIBI dual isotope myocardial perfusion SPECT provided excellent prognostic information. Extent of reversible perfusion decrease was the independent predictor of future cardiac events.
Chest Pain ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Dipyridamole ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Medical Records ; Multivariate Analysis ; Myocardial Infarction ; Perfusion ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*

No abstract available.
Melanoma ; Nevus

No abstract available.
Cytogenetics*

No abstract available.
Humans

No abstract available.
Humans

No abstract available.
Blood Platelets* ; Diagnosis* ; Flow Cytometry* ; Integrin beta3* ; Thrombasthenia*

PURPOSE: Paraquat, a globally used herbicide, is highly toxic to human beings. Hence, we reviewed some cases of paraquat poisoning in Korea. METHODS: We analyzed the clinical and laboratory findings of 50 patients poisoned with paraquat retrospectively. The patients were admitted to the department of internal medicine in the Eumseong KeumWang hospital from January 2008 to December 2008. RESULTS: Among 50 cases of paraquat poisoning, 28 cases were male. Twenty-four cases (48%) were over 60 years old. Fourty-nine patients ingested paraquat on purpose as suicidal attempts, while 1 patient underwent accidental ingestion. Seven patients swallowed less than one mouthful of paraquat, of which 4 patients survived. Eleven patients swallowed two mouthfuls of paraquat, of which 8 patients survived. Thirty-two patients swallowed over three mouthfuls of paraquat and they all died. Thirty-one patients with leukocytosis died. Twenty-one patients with metabolic acidosis died. Increased levels of blood amylase and glucose were related to high mortality, and increased level of blood creatinine was related to severe mortality. Hemoperfusions were accomplished in 27 patients of paraquat poisoning, of which 12 patients survived. CONCLUSION: Paraquat is a highly toxic herbicide. When patients arrive at the hospital, laboratory findings, urine paraquat concentrations, arrival time, and the amount of paraquat consumed must be considered for treatment plan.
Acidosis ; Amylases ; Creatinine ; Dithionite ; Eating ; Glucose ; Hemoperfusion ; Humans ; Internal Medicine ; Korea ; Leukocytosis ; Male ; Mouth ; Paraquat ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the initial stability of different implants placed above the bone level in different types of bone. MATERIALS AND METHODS: As described by Lekholm and Zarb, cortical layers of bovine bone specimens were trimmed to a thickness of 2 mm, 1 mm or totally removed to reproduce bone types II, III, and IV respectively. Three Implant system (Branemark System(R) Mk III TiUnite(TM), Straumann Standard Implant SLA(R), and Astra Tech Microthread(TM)-OsseoSpeed(TM)) were tested. Control group implants were placed in level with the bone, while test group implants were placed 1, 2, 3, and 4 mm above the bone level. Initial stability was evaluated by resonance frequency analysis. Data was statistically analyzed by one-way analysis of variance in confidence level of 95%. The effective implant length and the Implant Stability Quotient (ISQ) were compared using simple linear regression analysis. RESULTS: In the control group, there was a significant difference in the ISQ values of the 3 implants in bone types III and IV (P<.05). The ISQ values of each implant decreased with increased effective implant length in all types of bone. In type II bone, the decrease in ISQ value per 1-mm increase in effective implant length of the Branemark and Astra implants was less than that of the Straumann implant. In bone types III and IV, this value in the Astra implant was less than that in the other 2 implants. CONCLUSION: The initial stability was much affected by the implant design in bone types III, IV and the implant design such as the short pitch interval was beneficial to the initial stability of implants placed above the bone level.
Linear Models