The penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer of the aorta resulting from the atherosclerosis of the aortic wall can clinically mimic type III aortic dissection, since both diseases produce the ulceration and dissection of aortic wall. However, their imaging features and pathophsiologies are distinctly different from each other. Familial hypercholesterolemia(FH) menifests overt hyperlipidemia that can results in premature atherosclerosis of the aorta as well as the coronary artery. We report a clinically and radiologically evident case of perntrating atherosclerotic ulcer of the descending thoracic aorta which was developed in a 36-year-oldd heterozygote FH male.
Aorta ; Aorta, Thoracic* ; Atherosclerosis ; Coronary Vessels ; Heterozygote* ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II* ; Male ; Ulcer*

To evaluate the coronary vasomotor tone in vasospasic angina, we compared the diameters of non-spastic segments of vasospastic group with those of control group. The internal diameters of each segment of three major coronary arteries were measured on the basal coronary angiogram, and nitroglycerin administration after provocation with ergonovine or acetylcholine. The vasospastic angina group consisted of 26 patients(20 males, 6 females, mean age of 54 years) and control group consisted of 25 patients (7 males, 18 females, mean age of 55 years). The basal coronary arterial diameters in vasospastic angina group were smaller than those in control group(p<0.05) except the distal segment of right coronary artery. The percent dilation ratio in vasospastic angina group was greater than that in control group(p<0.05). In vasospastic angina group there was no significant difference in the degree of constriction after provocation with ergonovine or acetylcholine between proximal and distal segment. These observations suggest that in vasospastic angina, basal coronary arterial tone is increased in the entire coronary arterial tree and the localized spasm may reflect local hyperrespon siveness.
Acetylcholine ; Constriction ; Coronary Vessels ; Ergonovine ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Nitroglycerin ; Spasm

OBJECTIVE: Gestational diabetes mellitus is defined as carbohydrate intolerance of variable severity first diagnosed during pregnancy. It is associated with adverse outcomes of pregnancy including obstetrical complications such as increased rate of cesarean sections, preeclampsia, and birth trauma, and perinatal morbidities, such as macrosomia, hypoglycemia, hypocalcemia, and hyperbilirubinemia. Therefore, screening for gestational diabetes mellitus and early diagnosis of this condition allows intervention to be carried out, thereby, the reduction of the untoward effects mentioned above can be minimized. METHODS: Screening for abnormal glucose metabolism was carried out in 489 pregnant women. A 50-g oral glucose load without regard to time of day or last meal, and a 1-hour plasma glucose determination with a threshold of 140mg/dl were used as a glucose screening test(GST). Patients with an abnormal GST underwent an oral glucose tolerance test(GTT). RESULTS: The overall incidence of gestational diabetes was 2.7%. The occurrence of this disorder was significantly related to the age of pregnant women, parity, or the presence of risk factors for gestational diabetes and obesity(Body Mass Index> or =26kg/m2). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that Korean pregnant women should be screened for gestational diabetes.
Blood Glucose ; Cesarean Section ; Diabetes, Gestational* ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Glucose* ; Humans ; Hyperbilirubinemia ; Hypocalcemia ; Hypoglycemia ; Incidence ; Mass Screening* ; Meals ; Metabolism ; Parity ; Parturition ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Prenatal Diagnosis* ; Risk Factors

No abstract available.
Histamine* ; Pneumocytes*

No abstract available.
Budesonide* ; Humans

No abstract available.
Gases* ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive*

OBJECTIVES: Fibronectin is a high-molecular-weight glycoprotein found in the plasma and extracellular matrix. The presence of fetal fibronectin in cervicovaginal secretion of pregnant women during the second and the third trimester has been suggested as a means of identifying women in preterm labor who be delivered prematurely. Therefore, our purpose was to determine the clinical efficacy of the presence of fetal fibronectin in cervicovaginal secretion of patient in full term as biochemical predictor of Time of Induction. METHODS: Fetal fibronectin was obtained at external os and posterior vaginal fornix in 30 women in full term who had no uterine contraction with intact membrane. The cervix was assessed by digital vaginal examination and scored with a modified Bishop score. RESULTS: There was a good correlation in delivery time after induction between the fetal fibronectin and the modified Bishop score (r=0.695,P<0.005) CONCLUSION: The presence of fetal fibronectin is better than Bishop score that is dependent on clinical experience as biochemical predictor of Time of Induction.
Cervix Uteri ; Extracellular Matrix ; Female ; Fibronectins* ; Glycoproteins ; Gynecological Examination ; Humans ; Membranes ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; Plasma ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Pregnant Women ; Uterine Contraction

BACKGROUND: Lipoprotein(a)(Lp(a))is known as an independent risk factor of the coronary artery disease(CAD). However, it is not clear whether the level of the Lp(a) is elevated in the presence of atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease(PVD) of lower extremities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Considering high prevalence of the coronary artery disease in PVD, the association between the serum level of Lp(a) and the presence of PVD was investigated by comparing Lp(a) level in PVD patients with CAD(PVD+CAD group, N=15), PVD patients without CAD(PVD-CAD group, N=12), and control group who had normal coronary angiograms and no clinical evidence of PVD(Control group, N=22). In all PVD patients coronary angiograms were performed simultaneously with peripheral angiograms. Clinical characteristics, lipid profiles and the level of lipoprotein(a) were compared between two PVD group. The serum level of Lp(a) was measured with ELISA technique. RESULTS: Serum levels of lipoprotein(a) in patients with PVD as a whole(20.4+/-18.7mg/dl, mean standard deviation) were not significantly higher than those in control group(14.9+/-10.5mg/dl). In patients with PVD and CAD, the levels were significantly higher(27.0+/-20.2mg/dl) than those in patients with PVD but without CAD(12.2+/-13.3mg/dl). There was no significant difference between two groups with PVD in age, sex, association of hypertension, smoking, and other lipid profiles. CONCLUSIONS: Lipoprotein(a) level might not be related to the presence of PVD, but rather associated with CAD.
Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vessels ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Lipoprotein(a)* ; Lower Extremity* ; Peripheral Vascular Diseases* ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking

No abstract available.
Lymphadenitis*

No abstract available.
Cholesterol*