No abstract available.

The authors reviewed findings of enhanced abdominal computed tomographic (CT) scans to the difference between a higher dose of conventional ionic contrast media(iothalamate meglumine) and a lower dose of a new, nonionic contrast material (ioversol). One hundred adult patients were divided into two groups. Each group consisted of 50 patients. Iothalamate meglumine and ioversol were intravenously administered in each group. The ratio of the male to female in the former was 28.22, and the latter 29:21. We examine the degree of renal streak artifact and measure the Hounsfield number of urine in renal collecting system. There were significant differences of the degree of the streak artifact depending upon the osmolality of contrast media used and that was related with urine CT number (P value<0.005). We authors conclude that nonionic low osmolar contrast media is prone to cause streak artifacts and distortions of renal image than conventional ionic high osmolar contrast media.
Adult ; Artifacts* ; Contrast Media* ; Female ; Humans ; Iothalamate Meglumine ; Kidney* ; Male ; Osmolar Concentration

Adenoid is a kind of tonsil located in the posterior wall of nasopharynx. Enlargement of the adenoid can produce obstruction of the nasopharynx and Eustachian tube. Disturbance in discharge of nasal and paranasal secretions can be a cause of chronic rhinitis, sinusitis, and otitis media. Diagnosis of enlarged adenoid simply by inspection is difficult due to its location. Measurement of nasopharyngeal airway and adenoid using lateral radiographs of nasopharynx may be inaccurate for magnification and rotation. It was some limitations in demonstrating the actual state of nasopharyngeal airway and adenoid because it gives only two-dimensional informations. The authors measured the sizes and areas of nasopharyngeal airway and adenoid using MRI with sagittal and oblique coronal pilot views of T1 weighted spin echo. We categorized the patients into 4 groups according to the scoring system by symptoms such as apnea, mouth breathing, and snoring. The results of several measurements and their ratios were evaluated in these 4 categorized patients. The ratios of area of adenoid and nasopharyngeal airway(AA/Na) in each patient group were 6.52, 7.76, 10.53, 15.93, respectively. And the ratios of adenoid and nasopharyngeal airway (A/N) by Fujioka's method were 0.6, 0.65, 0.69, 0.71, respectively. We found that AA/Na might be the most effective index as an objective indicator in the evaluation of nasopharyngeal obstruction by the enlarged adenoid.
Adenoids* ; Apnea ; Diagnosis ; Eustachian Tube ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Methods ; Mouth Breathing ; Nasopharynx ; Otitis Media ; Palatine Tonsil ; Rhinitis ; Sinusitis ; Snoring

No abstract available.
Fallopian Tubes* ; Female ; Infertility* ; Spermatozoa*

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the expression of uPA and uPAR in eutopic endometrium of advanced stage endometriosis and control patients. METHODS: The 33 endometriosis patients and 32 controls were enrolled. Endometrial samples were obtained from 65 premenopausal women aged 29~44 years, undergoing laparoscopic surgery or hysterectomy for non-malignant lesions. Sufficient samples were collected from 33 patients with endometriosis stage III and IV and 32 controls without endometriosis confirmed by laparoscopic surgery. The mRNA expression of uPA and uPAR from eutopic endometrium were analyzed by RT-QC PCR. RESULTS: The mRNAs of uPA and uPAR were expressed in eutopic endometrium from endometriosis and normal controls throughout the menstrual cycle. Uterine endometrium from women with endometriosis expresses significantly (p<0.05) higher levels of u-PA mRNA than endometrium from normal women without endometriosis in the proliferative phase. There were no significant differences in expression of uPAR in eutopic endometrium between controls and endometriosis patients. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that eutopic endometrium from endometriosis patients may be more invasive and prone to peritoneal implantation because of greater u-PA mRNA expression than endometrium from women without endometriosis. Thus, increased proteolytic activity may be one etiology for the invasive properties of the endometrium resulting in the development of endometriosis.
Endometriosis* ; Endometrium* ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Laparoscopy ; Menstrual Cycle ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Proteolysis ; RNA, Messenger* ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator

Exogenous lipold pneumonia is an unusual disease resulting from aspiration of oil particles. A history of oil ingestion strongly suggests the diagnosis, but the radiological presentation varies from mild perihilar consolidation to diffuse and extensive bilateral involvement, particularly of the posterior basal segment of both lower lung(l). Since magnetic resonance(MR) provides greater contrast resolution than CT, it offers the potential for tissue characterization. In particular, fatty tissue and lipid containing substances are known to have high signal intensities on T1- and T2-weighted spin-echo (SE) images. We report MR findings in two case of exogenous lipold pneumonia caused by ingestion of shark liver oil(Squalene).
Adipose Tissue ; Diagnosis ; Eating ; Liver ; Pneumonia* ; Sharks

No abstract available.
Arthroscopy* ; Bupivacaine* ; Injections, Intra-Articular* ; Knee*

Leiomyomas are the most common mesenchymal tumors of the vulva, which have an extremely low incidence. Although these tumors are known a low grade tumor, they have to be removed immediately to prevent further growing and sarcomatous change in the future. We experienced a case of leiomyoma of the vulva, and reported it with a brief review of literatures.
Incidence ; Leiomyoma* ; Vulva*

It has been known that estradial(E2) level is concerned with the quality, number and growing of follicles. Determination of the serum levels of E2 has been used to predict the oocyte maturity. We experienced the rare case who has significantly low serum E2 level(551.26 pg/ml) in spite of multiple ovarian responses by sonographic finding, but from her we obtained 23 oocytes on MCD#16 after COH with ultrashort protocol(HP-FSH 150 IU, daily). The numbers of retrieved oocyte were 23 and fertilization rate was 56.6%, so the result of IVF-ET was successful twin pregnancy. Serum estradiol level and sonographic finding are essential to measure the number and growing of follicles, but E2 levels may be too unreliable to be used as sole parameter for the number and maturity of oocytes.
Estradiol* ; Fertilization ; Humans ; Oocytes ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Twin ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: There are some challenges to accurate diagnosis of ocular myasthenia gravis (MG) in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) patients because the clinical features of these diseases are similar. The aim of this study was to discuss the clinical features and treatment options that may help differentiate these 2 diseases. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis using the medical records of patients who visited our clinic and were diagnosed with ocular MG and TAO, from January 2002 to December 2012. The diagnosis of Ocular MG was made on the basis of clinical symptoms and signs with laboratory evaluation, including assays for antithyroid and antiacetylcholine receptor (AchRAb) antibodies, and the Ice, neostigmine, and electromyography tests. RESULTS: Of the 9 ocular MG patients with associated ophthalmopathy, 5 were male and 4 were female. The mean age was 36 +/- 16.0 years and the follow-up period was 45.6 +/- 36.6 months. Graves' disease (8 patients) was predominant and all patients showed abnormal thyroid function. Atypical symptoms and/or mild clinical features were predominant in ocular MG patients with TAO. Positive test results were obtained as follows: Neostigmine test 33.3%, electromyography 44.4%, ice test 77.8% and anti-AchR titer test 77.8%. Thyroid function test results were abnormal in all patients. In 3 patients who were first diagnosed with TAO, symptoms remained persistent despite steroid therapy then improved dramatically by administration of an anti-acetylcholinesterase agent. These patients were diagnosed with ocular MG in conjunction with TAO. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with thyroid disease who show atypical features, symptomatic changes with fatigue, odd appearing ptosis, and who, do not exhibit good response to treatment of TAO need to be examined for ocular MG with additional tests and treatment.
Antibodies ; Diagnosis ; Electromyography ; Fatigue ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Graves Disease ; Graves Ophthalmopathy* ; Humans ; Ice ; Male ; Medical Records ; Myasthenia Gravis* ; Neostigmine ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Diseases ; Thyroid Function Tests ; Thyroid Gland ; Troleandomycin