This study was carried out to visualize lead by Timm sulphide silver method and to define lead-induced change of duodenal absorptive cells of rat after administration of 0.01% lead acetate with drinking water. Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 250g, were used, and they were orally administered with 0.01% sodium acetate and sacrificed at 0.5, 1, 1.5 hours and 2, 7, 15, 30, 45, 60 days after administration. A portion of duodenal tissue was observed under light microscope, scanning and transmission electron microscopes after development with Danscher method. The blood lead concentration in experimental group began to increase from the 2nd day after administration, and it increased gradually until the 45th day and decreased at the 60th day. On light microscope, many brown lead granules were observed at the villi tip at the 2nd day. There is mild blunting of villi tip at the 45th day. At the 60th day, most of the villi were mildly shortened and showed lymphangiectasia. On scanning electron microscope, the villi tip was mildly blunted and the extrusion zone became irregular at the 45th day. The depth of creases did not change. At the 60th day, the villi tip was moderately blunted and the extrusion zone was markedly irregular. The depth of creases increased. On transmission electron microscope, at 0.5 hour after oral administration, numerous lead granules were diffusely scattered and were not confined to any specific microorganelles. The lead granules decreased with time. At the 7th 15th day, the intercellular spaces were widened and several vacuoles appeared and the condensation of mitochondrial matrix. There was also ribosomal detachment from RER, and there was neither secondary lysosomes or post-lysosomes. At the 30th and 45th day, secondary lysosomes appeared and the condensation of mitochondrial matrix with early formation of myelin figures was noted. At the 60th day, the intercellular space widening extended to the upper most portion of the cells, and nonspeciqic degenerative changes became severe. In view of above mentioned findings, it can be concluded that passive diffusion as well as active transport was partly involved in the absorption of lead. Most of the changes of microorganelle are compatible with nonspecific degenerative changes which could occur due to impairment of oxidative phosphorylation.
Rats ; Animals

No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans

We report a case of nonsyphilitic isolated coronary ostial stenosis of the left main coronary artery observed by transesophageal echocardiography(TEE) in a 52-year-old woman with angina. The lesion was suspected during coronary angiography and it was not visualized by transthoracic echocradiography. Coronary ostial stenosis, which is potentially lethal as left main coronary artery disease, occurs rarely in the absence of other coronary artery disease. The diagnosis of ostial stenosis has been usually made by the use of coronary angiography, however, it may be difficult to diagnose at angiography if angiographic catheter is positioned across the stenotic lesion, and the unexpected serious complication during coronary angiography in such a patient may happen. The new ultrasonic imaging technique of TEE provides more detailed images of proximal coronary anatomy and coronary blood flow.
Angiography ; Catheters ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vessels ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND: Patients with sinus rhythm, the left atrial appendage(LAA) appeared as a vigorously contracting structure and the blood flow patterns of LAA showed biphasic configuration. However, patients with AF rhythm the blood flow showed irregular or no configuration in doppler echocardiographic study. The purpose of this study is to evaluate relationship between the blood flow patterns of LAA with the presence of spontaneous contrast(SC) and thrombi in LAA. METHODS: We performed TEE and TTE simultaneously to 58 consecutive patients who had native mitral valve disease or mitral prosthesis. Spontaneous contrast(SC) and the presence and location of LAA thrombi were evaluated during TEE and left atrial dimension(LAD) & ejection fraction(EF) were evaluated during TTE. We divided the whole subjects into three groups according to the blood flow patterns ; regular pattern(Group 1), irregular pattern(Group 2), no flow pattern(Group 3). RESULTS: 1) Blood flow within the left atrial appendage is divided with three groups among of them, atrial fibrillation have two blood flow patterns. 2) Peak prositive & negative flow velocity within LAA in AF rhythm groups were slower than normal sinus rhythm group.(p<0.01) 3) Left atrial dimension in group 3 is significantly larger than others groups.(p<0.01) 4) Spontaneous contrast(SC) with LAA could be detected in 2(6.8%) of the 29 patients of group 1, 6(31.5%) of the 19 patients of group 2, 10(100%) of the 10 patients of group 3. Incidence of SC within LAA in group 3 is significantly higher than others groups. 5) LAA thrombi could be detected in 1(3.4%) of the 29 patients of group 1, 1(5.2%) of the 19 patients of group 2, 3(30%) of the 10 patients of group 3. Incidence of LAA thrombi is significangly higher than other groups. CONCLUSIONS: We can suggest that blood flow within LAA is divided into three groups according to the blood flow patterns, and spontaneous contrast and thrombi in LAA were closely related with the blood flow pattern.
Atrial Appendage ; Atrial Fibrillation ; Echocardiography ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mitral Valve ; Prostheses and Implants

BACKGROUND: Although a number of indices of diastolic function based on transmitral flow have been proposed, no single factor seems to be adequate for seperating patients with normal from with abnormal diastolic functions. Pulsed Doppler echocardiography of pulmonary venous flow(PVF) is another non-invasive method to evaluate left ventricular diastolic performance. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the normal PVF pattern by TEE. METHOD: We performed pulsed-wave Doppler studies of the PVF and of the mitral flow by transesophageal-(TEE) and transthoracic echocardiography(TTE) in a healthy young adults. RESULTS: In TEE, all sublects showed four phases of the PVE pattern ; two antewgrade systolic phase(early and late : SE and SL), one antewgrade diastolic phase(D) and one retrograde diastolic phase(A). In TTE, there were three phases of the PVF pattern ; two antewgrade phase(systolic, diastolic) and one retrograde diastolic phase but we couldn't find out early systolic phase flow. Peak velocity of each phase of PVF was as follows:SE was 48.9+/-14.1cm/sec, SL was 56.3+/-16.1cm/sec, D was 52.6+/-14.9cm/sec. The timing of SL flow was correlated significantly with that of peak aortic flow(r=0.42, p=<0.01), while the timing of D flow and that of A flow were correlated significntly with timing of mitral E peak and A peak, respectively(r=0.84, p<0.01 ; r=0.80, p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In the young normal subject, PVF showed four phase of flow pattern and could be easily obtained by TEE. Furthermore it may be used for evaluation of left ventricular function.
Echocardiography, Doppler, Pulsed ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal* ; Humans ; Ventricular Function, Left ; Young Adult*

OBJECTIVES: Radiofrequency(RF) ablation is an effective and low risk curative treatment for supraventricular arrhythmias. Catheter ablation produced cardiac lesions primarily through formation of coagulation necrosis. We evaluated the degree of myocardial injury after RF catheter ablation by means of serial measurement of myocardial enzyme. METHODS: Fifty-one patients with symptomatic supraventricular tachycardia were included. There were 32 men and 19 women(mean age. 39.5+/-15.4 years)All patients underwent electrophysiologic study to detect accessary pathway and ablation with radiofreguency current. A mean of 18.3+/-14.2 radiofrequency pulses were delivered. The pulses were at a power of 50 to 60 Volts for a duration of 20 to 30 seconds. Unipolar method and a 6F or 7F catheter with a 4 mm tip electrode was used. LDH, CPK and Ck-MB as a kind of cardiac enzyme were measured before and after ablation. RESULTS: 1) The concentration of LDH and CPK were elecated at 8 hours and 16 hours after ablation (p<0.05). 2) The concentration of CK-MB was elevated at 8 hours, 16 hours, 24 hours and 72 hours after ablation(p<0.05). 3) There was no correlation between the number of applications and amounts of radiofrequency current and rise in LDH, CPK, CK-MB concentration. CONCLUSION: The concentration of LDH, CPK and CK-MB were elevated after ablation but they were within normal limits. RF catheter ablation produced myocardial damage inevitably but were within normal limits. RF catheter ablation produced myocardial damage inevitably but minimally, then RF ablation is an effective and safe therapeutic modality for patients with symptomatic tachyarrhythmias.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Catheter Ablation* ; Catheters ; Electrodes ; Humans ; Male ; Necrosis ; Tachycardia ; Tachycardia, Supraventricular*

BACKGROUND: We performed this study to evaluate the long-term clinical prognosis, the effects of anti-anginal medicines on angina, and the factors on recurrence of angina in patients with angina and insignificant coronary artery stenosis (CAS). METHODS: The study population was consisted of 372 patients with angina and normal or minimal (less than 50 % stenosed) CAS out of 2475 consecutive patients who were performed coronary angiogram for 3.5 years. We reviewed the medical record of the study population. RESULTS: Myocardial infarction was developed in 2 cases (0.5%), recurrence of angina 59 cases (16%), and no death during mean 19 months follow-up period out of 372 patients. Patients with normal coronary artery (n=66) were younger (mean 54 yrs vs 59 yrs, p<0.001), had less incidence of diabetes (5% vs 13%, p<0.01), hypertension (19% vs 29%, p<0.05), recurrent angina (15% vs 18%, not significant), and myocardial infarction (0.4% vs 0.9%, not significant) than patients with minimal lesion (n=06). Anti-anginal medicine did not show benefits in relieving recurrent angina. Furthermore, in case of taking nitrates in patients with normal coronary artery, there was more frequent recurrence of angina (23% vs 13%, p<0.01) than not taking nitrates. There were no affecting factors to the recurrent angina among age, sex, ischemic changes on electrocardiogram, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia. CONCLUSION: The long-term clinical outcomes in patients with insignificant CAS were good. Although there were no definite factors for recurrence of chest pain, administration of nitrates may cause more frequent angina in patients with normal coronary angiography.
Chest Pain ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Stenosis* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Electrocardiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Medical Records ; Myocardial Infarction ; Nitrates ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Smoke ; Smoking

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the efficacy of transesophageal echocardiography(TEE) to detect left atrial thrombi(LAT) and to investigate the clinical and echocardiography parameters which related with LAT. METHOD: We performed TEE and TTE simultaneously to 98 consecutive patients who had native mital valve disease or mital prosthesis as usual method. We examined the presence and location of LAT and spontaneous contrast(SC) in TEE and measured left atrial dimension(LAD), ejection fraction(EF), mital valve area(MVA) in TTE. Cardiac rhythm, history of anticoagulation and systemic embolization were also reviewed. We compared such parameters in LAT positive/negative groups and SC positive/negative groups. RESULTS: 1) In TEE, we detected 26 cases of LAT, among them seventeen cases : left atrial appendage(LAA) thrombi, 3 cases : combined LA and LAA thrombi, 6 cases : LA thrombi. In TTE, six cases showed LAT but we couldn't detect LAA thrombi. The difference between two methods was statistically significant(p<0.05). 2) LAT positive group showed larger LAD, lower EF, and higher prevalence of AF, systemic embolization, and LAT than negative groups(p<0.01). 3) SC positive group showed larger LAD, lower EF, higher prevalence of AF, systemic embolization LAT than SC negative groups(p<0.05). 4) In multiple discriminant analysis, the history of systemic embolization was most important factor which can suspect LAT(Wilk's Lambda:0.77152. p<0.0001). SC, EF, presence of AF, LAD, anticoagulation therapy. MVR were also statistically valuable factors in order. The hit ratio of this analysis was 86.84%. CONCLUSION: We can suggest that TEE is very useful method to detect LAT than TTE, and the spontaneous contrast was very important factor which can suggest LAT and systemic embolization in mitral valve disease.
Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal* ; Humans ; Mitral Valve ; Prevalence ; Prostheses and Implants

PURPOSE: To obtain magnetization transfer ratio(MTR) of the annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus and to assess the feasibility of utilizing the changes of these MTRs as an early indicator of disk degeneration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MR images of lumbar spine with magnetization transfer(MT) technique in 42 patients were obtained. spin echo techniques (600/14) with same TR/TE with 1KHz off-resonance saturation were employed in 1.0T MR system. MTRs were calculated in two regions, anterior annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus, and the results were compared between the normal and degenerative disks, from grade I to IV, on T2-weighted images. RESULTS: MTRs of the nucleus pulposus were 17.6% in the normal disks, and 26.7%, 28.4%, 29.1%, 29.7% in degenerative disks, from grade I to IV, respectively, with a significant difference(P<0.05). On the other hand, MTRs in the annulus fibrosus were 30.2% in the normal disks and 31.5%, 33.2%, 32.1% and 35.6% in degenerative disks, from grade I to IV, respectively, without significant difference. CONCLUSION: Since MTRs are significantly higher in degenerative nucleus pulposus than those of the normal disks, increased MTRs in the nucleus pulposus can be used as an early sign of the degeneration of the nucleus pulposus.
Hand ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Spine

Arteriovenous malformation of the uterus is rarely encountered. It is potentially lethal because of profuse, uncontrollable bleeding at the time of diagnostic dilatation and curettage. To our knowledge, only 38 cases of localized uterine arteriovenous malformation have been reported in English and Korean literature. Recently we experienced a case of uterine arteriovenous malformation in a 28-year-old multiparous woman. Under the clinical impression of uterine tumors or arteriovenous malformation, a total hysterectomy was done. Gross examination demonstrated a vascular nature of the mass in the posterior wall of the fundus. Microscopically, there was an ill-defined mass composed of numerous irregular, anastomosing large vessels with various diameters.
Female ; Humans