No abstract available.
Female ; Humans ; Low Back Pain*

BACKGROUND: The serum to plasma potassium [K] difference in patients(n=42) on maintenance hemodialysis more than one year was analyzed to evaluate the prevalence of pseudohyperkalemia among them. METHODS: In all 42 hemodialysis patients, the following predialysis serum and plasma K concentration frequencies were as followed : serum K-normal (3.5-5.5 mEq/L) 24, high(>or=5.6 mEq/L) 18, low(

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Several studies have reported an association between antiphospholipid antibodies (APA) and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) following acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, the relationship between APA and the prognosis after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation in patients with AMI is not known. METHODS: Thus, we investigated the relationship between the incidence of MACE and APA levels in patients with AMI who underwent successful DES implantation. RESULTS: Of 182 patients, 78 (42.9%) tested positive for APA. Lupus anticoagulant was positive in 37.6% (68 of 181) patients, anticardiolipin antibody IgM was positive in 8.3% (15 of 180), and anticardiolipin antibody IgG was positive in 1.7% (3 of 180) patients. At follow up, a MACE had occurred in 11 (14.1%) patients in the APA-positive group and in seven (6.7%) patients in the APA-negative group (p = 0.099). CONCLUSIONS: No significant association was found between the incidence of MACE and the presence of APA in patients with AMI who underwent successful DES implantation.
Antibodies, Anticardiolipin ; Antibodies, Antiphospholipid ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Incidence ; Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor ; Myocardial Infarction ; Prognosis

Platelets play an important role in the development of acute coronary syndrome. Platelet-inhibiting drugs, such as glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors, can be beneficial when they are administered at the time of primary percutaneous coronary intervention for acute coronary syndrome. Although an increased risk for bleeding complications is well recognized, the risk associated with diffuse alveolar hemorrhage is much less reported. We report a case of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage after using abciximab.
Acute Coronary Syndrome ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Blood Platelets ; Glycoproteins ; Hemoptysis ; Hemorrhage ; Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Left ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony has been commonly detected among hypertensive patients with normal LV systolic function and no evidence of congestive heart failure. The purpose of our study was to assess the changes in LV systolic dyssynchrony (SDSLV) among hypertensive patients after antihypertensive treatment, and to determine the relationship between SDSLV and other conventional echocardiographic parameters. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Forty one hypertensive patients with normal LV ejection fraction were enrolled. By performing a conventional echocardiographic study, the SDSLV was measured as the time difference between the shortest and longest time of the peak myocardial systolic velocities among 12 segments of the basal and mid-levels of the 3 apical views, and radial dyssynchrony of the basal (RDSbase) and mid-levels (RDSmid) measured as the time difference between the earliest and latest peak values on the radial strain curves of each level of the parasternal short-axis views. RESULTS: Compared to baseline after six months of antihypertensive treatment, the SDSLV improved significantly (48.7+/-37.9 ms vs. 29.5+/-34.1 ms, p=0.020). Also the RDSbase and RDSmid improved significantly in respect to the baseline values (129.9+/-136.3 ms vs. 38.8+/-45.4 ms, p=0.002 and 75.2+/-63.8 ms vs. 28.2+/-37.7 ms, respectively, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The severity of SDSLV improved with antihypertensive treatment, and was associated with the regression of LV mass. Furthermore, it might precede improvement in the mitral inflow pattern, as assessed by conventional echocardiography, so that early detection of the benefit of antihypertensive treatment may be possible.
Echocardiography ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Sprains and Strains

Double-chambered right ventricle (DCRV) is a rare congenital heart disorder in which the right ventricle is divided by an anomalous muscle bundle into a high pressure inlet portion and a low pressure outlet portion. We report a case of isolated DCRV without symptoms in adulthood, diagnosed through echocardiography, cardiac catheterization and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.
Bays ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Echocardiography ; Heart ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Muscles ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of female age on in vitro maturation and fertilization of immature oocytes from controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) in human IVF-ET program. METHOD: A total of 96 immature oocytes (GV & metaphase I) obtained from 40 cycles of IVF-ET (29 patients). The mean age of female patients was 31.8+/-3.1 years. Ovulation was triggered by urinary or recombinant hCG. Immature oocytes were cultured with YS medium containing 30% of patients' human follicular fluids, LH (1 IU/mL), FSH (1 IU/mL) and EGF (10 ng/mL), and then matured oocytes were fertilized by ICSI. In vitro maturation and fertilization of immature oocytes were analyzed according to age of female (< 34 or > or = 34 years). RESULTS: The maturation rate was similar between two groups (68% vs 64%). The fertilization rate of in?vitro-matured oocytes was higher in patients < 34 years old, but there was no statistical significance (64% vs 50%, p=0.347). The fertilization rate of in-vitro-matured oocytes was significantly lower compared with those of in-vivo-matured oocytes in both age groups (64% vs 79%, p=0.035, 50% vs 86%, p=0.007). CONCLUSION: In older female group, fertilization rate of in-vitro-matured oocytes seems to be decreased. Further investigations should be warranted to increase fertilization potential of in-vitro-matured oocytes.
Adult ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; Female ; Fertilization* ; Follicular Fluid ; Humans* ; Metaphase ; Oocytes* ; Ovulation ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic

Ethylene glycol is commonly incorporated into automotive antifreeze agents and a variety of other commercial products. Ethylene glycol poisoning can cause life-threatening metabolic acidosis, cardiopulmonary failure, and renal failure that may be fatal. We present an unusual case of a patient who ingested a large amount of ethylene glycol for the purpose of suicide and developed multiorgan damage, including acute renal failure followed by uremic pericarditis and cardiac tamponade. This unusual complication was effectively managed with echocardiography-guided percutaneous pericardiocentesis and continuous catheter drainage for 3 days. After intensive hemodialysis and supportive care, the patient made a good recovery with near normal cardiac and renal function. Physicians should be aware of the possibility of acute pericarditis and cardiac tamponade in cases of acute renal failure caused by ethylene glycol poisoning.
Acidosis ; Acute Kidney Injury ; Cardiac Tamponade ; Catheters ; Drainage ; Ethylene Glycol ; Ethylenes ; Humans ; Pericardiocentesis ; Pericarditis ; Renal Dialysis ; Renal Insufficiency ; Suicide

We sought to determine whether early amniocentesis is a safe and acceptable method of genetic evaluation in early pregnancy. During the 20-month period from February 1994 to September 1995, 80 consecutive early amniocentesis were performed transabdominally at 12(+3)-14(+6) weeks of gestation and 305 consecutive mid-second-trimester transabdominal amniocenteses were performed at 16(+0)-18(+0) weeks of gestation. All amniotic fluid samples were cultured using flask method. There were no significant differences between the early and mid-second-trimester amniocenteses in failed sampling, ambiguous results, pregnancy loss within 4 weeks after the procedure, pregnancy loss from 4 weeks after procedure to 28 weeks of gestation, preterm birth, and perinatal death. We may conclude that early amniocentesis is a safe and acceptable method for prenatal diagnosis.
Amniocentesis* ; Amniotic Fluid ; Female ; Pregnancy ; Premature Birth ; Prenatal Diagnosis

We encountered one case of Chinese Herb Nephropathy in Korea. But clinical feature of our case was different from those of CHN in Belgium. The purpose of this case report was clarified the features of CHN in Asia. The subjects consisted of a patient diagnosed as interstitial nephritis in Hanyang University Hospital and of those reported in the literature in Asia and Belgium. We investigated the clinical and histological features of CHN patients in Asia and compared them with the Belgian cases. The remarkable differences were as follows; (1) relatively high prevalence in males compared with Belgian cases, (2) digestion with multiple object and mode in Asia, (3) Most of renal failure in Asia were improved or were in stable status. (4) Fanconi's syndrome was found in most cases of Asia. In conclusion, CHN in Asia has some characteristics distinguished from Belgian Chinese Hreb Nephropathy. These findings could indicate that susceptibility to aristolochic acid may be different among races. Furthermore, it is likely that different components of AA could cause different features, that the amount of ingested AA, mode in digestion, or interaction with other components except nephrotoxic agent such as AA might reflect clinical pictures. Other hypothesis may be some other toxic substances affecting the clinical findings although they are not identified at present. Further studies must be undertaken to clarify these differences.
Asia ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; Belgium ; Continental Population Groups ; Digestion ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Nephritis, Interstitial ; Prevalence ; Renal Insufficiency