PURPOSE: The effect of radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) on left atrial (LA) volume and function in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) has not been extensively studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term impact of RFCA on LA volume and function in patients with PAF. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 90 patients with drug-refractory PAF who had sinus rhythm on the initial echocardiogram were examined at baseline, 3 months and 1 year after ablation. We measured LA volume index, LA ejection fraction (LAEF; maximal-minimal LA volume/maximal LA volume), and LA active emptying fraction (LAAEF; mid-diastolic-minimal LA volume/mid-diastolic LA volume). RESULTS: After 12+/-1 months, 78 patients returned, and 61 patients (78%) had sinus rhythm. After 3 months, the LA maximal volume indices decreased (from 33+/-13 to 28+/-12 mL/m2; p<0.001). But, LAEF and LAAEF also decreased (from 48+/-13 to 39+/-12; p<0.001, from 27+/-13 to 19+/-11; p<0.001). After 1 year, LA volumes, LAEF, and LAAEF remained similar at 3 months. In patients without atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence, LAEF and LAAEF decreased after 3 months (from 50+/-12 to 40+/-11; p<0.001, from 29+/-13 to 22+/-11; p<0.001) and did not change after 1 year. However, in patients with AF recurrence, those who did not have decreased levels after 3 months had significantly decreased after 1 year (from 43+/-14 to 34+/-11; p=0.026, from 22+/-12 to 15+/-10; p=0.012). CONCLUSION: Successful RFCA of PAF decreased LA volume and function at 3 months. At one year, LA volume and function was remained unchanged in successfully ablated patients whereas LA function in patients with AF recurrence worsened.
Adult ; Aged ; Atrial Fibrillation/*therapy ; Atrial Function, Left/*physiology ; *Catheter Ablation ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: The effect of radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) on left atrial (LA) volume and function in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) has not been extensively studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term impact of RFCA on LA volume and function in patients with PAF. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 90 patients with drug-refractory PAF who had sinus rhythm on the initial echocardiogram were examined at baseline, 3 months and 1 year after ablation. We measured LA volume index, LA ejection fraction (LAEF; maximal-minimal LA volume/maximal LA volume), and LA active emptying fraction (LAAEF; mid-diastolic-minimal LA volume/mid-diastolic LA volume). RESULTS: After 12+/-1 months, 78 patients returned, and 61 patients (78%) had sinus rhythm. After 3 months, the LA maximal volume indices decreased (from 33+/-13 to 28+/-12 mL/m2; p<0.001). But, LAEF and LAAEF also decreased (from 48+/-13 to 39+/-12; p<0.001, from 27+/-13 to 19+/-11; p<0.001). After 1 year, LA volumes, LAEF, and LAAEF remained similar at 3 months. In patients without atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence, LAEF and LAAEF decreased after 3 months (from 50+/-12 to 40+/-11; p<0.001, from 29+/-13 to 22+/-11; p<0.001) and did not change after 1 year. However, in patients with AF recurrence, those who did not have decreased levels after 3 months had significantly decreased after 1 year (from 43+/-14 to 34+/-11; p=0.026, from 22+/-12 to 15+/-10; p=0.012). CONCLUSION: Successful RFCA of PAF decreased LA volume and function at 3 months. At one year, LA volume and function was remained unchanged in successfully ablated patients whereas LA function in patients with AF recurrence worsened.
Adult ; Aged ; Atrial Fibrillation/*therapy ; Atrial Function, Left/*physiology ; *Catheter Ablation ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

We reviewed the medical records of patients with acute retinal artery obstruction (RAO) and evaluated the importance of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and carotid Doppler ultrasound in determining causes of cardiac and carotid artery origin in RAO. A retrospective case study conducted in the Department of Ophthalmology, Inha University Hospital, Korea comprised 26 patients presenting with acute RAO who underwent systemic evaluation, TTE and carotid Doppler ultrasound between June 1, 1997 and December 31, 2003. Among these 26 patients, abnormal cardiac findings were detected in 12 (46%) and abnormal carotid findings in 4 (15%). Furthermore, other risk factors for RAO were found in 2 (8%) and stroke broke out within 7 months after experiencing RAO in 4 (15%) of the 26 patients. In patients with acute RAO, TTE and carotid Doppler ultrasound play an important role in pinpointing the origins of retinal emboli. It is thought that TTE and carotid Doppler ultrasound may be essential examinations for determining the underlying cause, planning treatment strategies, and preventing stroke and death.
Acute Disease ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carotid Arteries/*ultrasonography ; Carotid Artery Diseases/*ultrasonography ; *Echocardiography ; Female ; Heart Diseases/*ultrasonography ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retinal Artery Occlusion/*complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; *Ultrasonography, Doppler

Lung function reportedly declines with age and that this decline is accelerated during disease progression. However, a recent study showed that the decline might peak in the mild and moderate stage. The prognosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can be improved if the disease is diagnosed in its early stages, prior to the peak of decline in lung function. This article reviews recent studies on early COPD and the possibility of applying the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation 2008 and 2015 for early detection of COPD in Korea.
Advisory Committees ; Disease Progression ; Early Diagnosis ; Health Planning Guidelines ; Korea ; Lung ; Prognosis ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive*

BACKGROUND: Although dental implantation has become widespread and acceptable treatment for dental prosthodontics, maxillary posterior jaw region is often complicated by the pneumatization of the maxillary sinus and physiological resorption of the alveolar bone. When this occurs, the residual bone between the floor of the sinus and the crestal ridge is inadequate for the placement of implants. The sinus elevation procedure provides a way to increase the amount of available bone and to allow the placement of longer implants. MATERIALS & METHODS: We studied 11 patients requiring the implant placements and the maxillary sinus elevation simultaneously from 1996 to 2003 in our clinic. Nine patients were males and two patients were females, aged from 39 to 72(mean=51.6). Four patients had medical compromised states; angina pectoris, diabetes, hypertension, hepatitis. Patients didn't show any pathologic findings clinically or radiographically. We studied the success and survival rate of implants, factors increasing the osseointegrating capacity of implants. RESULTS: The success rate of osseointegration of implants was 93%. At least 6 months after loading on implants, the survival rate of implants was 78.5%. Autogenous bone graft and adequate residual bone height(>6mm) increased survival rate of implants. CONCLUSION: Successful implant placement with maxillary sinus elevation mainly depends on sufficient residual bone height, healthy maxillary sinus, autogenous bone graft.
Angina Pectoris ; Dental Implantation ; Dental Implants ; Female ; Hepatitis ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Jaw ; Male ; Maxillary Sinus* ; Osseointegration ; Prosthodontics ; Survival Rate ; Transplants

BACKGROUND: Although dental implantation has become widespread and acceptable treatment for dental prosthodontics, maxillary posterior jaw region is often complicated by the pneumatization of the maxillary sinus and physiological resorption of the alveolar bone. When this occurs, the residual bone between the floor of the sinus and the crestal ridge is inadequate for the placement of implants. The sinus elevation procedure provides a way to increase the amount of available bone and to allow the placement of longer implants. MATERIALS & METHODS: We studied 11 patients requiring the implant placements and the maxillary sinus elevation simultaneously from 1996 to 2003 in our clinic. Nine patients were males and two patients were females, aged from 39 to 72(mean=51.6). Four patients had medical compromised states; angina pectoris, diabetes, hypertension, hepatitis. Patients didn't show any pathologic findings clinically or radiographically. We studied the success and survival rate of implants, factors increasing the osseointegrating capacity of implants. RESULTS: The success rate of osseointegration of implants was 93%. At least 6 months after loading on implants, the survival rate of implants was 78.5%. Autogenous bone graft and adequate residual bone height(>6mm) increased survival rate of implants. CONCLUSION: Successful implant placement with maxillary sinus elevation mainly depends on sufficient residual bone height, healthy maxillary sinus, autogenous bone graft.
Angina Pectoris ; Dental Implantation ; Dental Implants ; Female ; Hepatitis ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Jaw ; Male ; Maxillary Sinus* ; Osseointegration ; Prosthodontics ; Survival Rate ; Transplants

We report a rare case of tricuspid valve and pulmonary valve endocarditis associated with a double-chambered right ventricle in an adult female with pulmonary artery aneurysm and septic pulmonary embolism by Streptococcus mitis. She was treated with aggressive antibiotic therapy followed by debridement of the infective lesion of tricuspid valve, pulmonary valve replacement using xenograft and resection of obstructing muscular bundles in right ventricle.
Adult ; Aneurysm ; Debridement ; Endocarditis* ; Endocarditis, Bacterial ; Female ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Heart Ventricles* ; Heterografts ; Humans ; Pulmonary Artery ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Pulmonary Valve* ; Streptococcus mitis ; Tricuspid Valve

No abstract available.
Liver Cirrhosis* ; Liver*

No abstract available.
Adrenocortical Carcinoma*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefullness of color vision test for early detection of abnormal choroidal circulation of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) METHODS: We investigated the color vision defect in central serous chorioreinopathy at active and resolved phase on both eyes and to identify the relation between fluorescein angiography (FAG), indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) finding and color vision defect. We examined the color vision with the Neitz anomaloscope OT-II, Farnsworth-Munsell 100-hue test, Ishihara pseudoisochromatic plate in 72 eyes of typical acute CSCR patients. We also performed ICGA in 13 eyes revealed color vision defect in fellow eye and 13 eyes not revealed color vision defect in fellow eye at resolved phase. RESULTS: Dyschromatopsia was detected in CSCR at active and resolved phase on both eyes. Most of them showed blue-yellow color defect. Location of leaking point was associated with red-green color defect in active affected eyes. Dyschromatopsia of fellow eyes at resolved phase was associated with abnormal choroidal circulation on ICGA finding. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that color vision test, as a non-invasive screening test, might be useful for early detection of abnormal choroidal circulation of CSCR.
Angiography ; Central Serous Chorioretinopathy* ; Choroid ; Color Vision Defects ; Color Vision* ; Fluorescein Angiography ; Humans ; Indocyanine Green ; Mass Screening