BACKGROUND: We performed this study to evaluate the lower limit of the normal endothelial function, which can differentiate normal values from abnormal ones and to evaluate the changes of the endothelial function according to ages. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Study populations were consisted of four groups: patients (group A) with coronary artery disease (CAD) (n=2, mean age: 55 yrs), patients (group B) with one or more risk factors of atherosclerosis (n=3, mean age: 54 yrs), age- and sex-matched healthy subjects (group C, n=5, mean age: 54 yrs), and healthy young subjects (group D, n=3, mean age: 26 yrs). We measured the flow-mediated endothelium-dependent dilation (FMD) of brachial artery using a high-resolution ultrasound in all subjects. We analyzed the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. RESULTS: The FMD of the A and B group were significantly lowered (8.6+/-3.7% vs 9.9+/-4/5% than C (14.3+/-3.3%, p<0.001) or D group (18.0+/-3.5%, p<0.001). The FMD level of 11.5% had 76.3% of sensitivity and 76% of specificity to differentiate normal endothelial function from abnormal one. The spearman correlation coefficient between ages and FMD in groups C and D was -0.543 (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The endothelial function was decreased in patients with CAD or risk factors of atherosclerosis. We observed the age-related declining tendency of endothelial function in healthy subjects. 11.5% FMD) may be used to identify the person at risk of atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis* ; Brachial Artery ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Humans ; Reference Values ; Risk Factors* ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ultrasonography

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 AND OBJECTIVES: There is little clinical data on the results of using Sirolimus-Eluting Stent (SES) for treating In-Stent Restenosis (ISR). We performed this study to evaluate the clinical outcomes for implanting SES for treating ISR in a real world hospital environment. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 30 patients with 32 ISRs (males: 73.3%, mean age: 60.2) (focal lesions: 21.9%, diffuse intra-stent lesions: 34.4%, proliferative lesions: 21.9%, total occlusions: 21.9%) were treated with SES after balloon predilation was performed. We evaluated the clinical results and the performed coronary angiography after 6 months. RESULTS: All the procedures were successful. The mean SES diameter and length were 3.0+/-0.3 mm and 27.1+/-5.5 mm, respectively, and the mean acute gain was 2.42+/-0.38 mm. No in-hospital major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were observed. Twenty five patients with 27 lesions (84.4%) underwent coronary angiography at their 6 month follow-up. The late loss and loss index were 0.41+/-0.56 mm and 0.18+/-0.22, respectively. The binary restenosis rate was 7.4% (2/27 lesions). The rate of target lesion revascularization was 3.7% (1/27 lesion). The incidence of MACE at 6 months was 3.3% (1/30 patient). CONCLUSION: Treating ISR with SES is a safe and effective procedure for reducing ISR without the occurrence of acute or sub-acute thrombosis.
Coronary Angiography* ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Restenosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Stents* ; Thrombosis

No abstract available.
Ankle*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Hyoid Bone ; Orthognathic Surgery

No abstract available.
Cytomegalovirus* ; DNA* ; Humans* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: e undertook this study to determine whether there is any difference in endothelial function according to the presence of restenosis in patients who had undergone percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), although it is well known that endothelial dysfunction is present in patients with coronary artery disease. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: he study population comprised 39 patients (mean age:1 years old, male:0 patients) who underwent PTCA a mean 12 months before follow-up coronary angiogram (CAG). We measured the flow-mediated brachial artery dilation (FMD) using high-resolution ultrasound 1 day before taking the follow-up CAG in an overnight fasting state. We also analyzed the risk factors of atherosclerosis, lipid and glucose levels, the presence of chest pain, and the types of drug taken by patients according to the presence of restenosis. RESULTS: MD was significantly lower in patients with restenosis (n=19) than without restenosis (7.5+/-3.7% vs 10.2+/-2.5%, p=0.013). However, there were no significant differences in other variables according to the presence of restenosis. CONCLUSION: ndothelial dysfunction was more pronounced in patients with restenosis than without restenosis following PTCA. However, we do not yet know whether the severity of endothelial dysfunction is a predictor for restenosis as the FMD was taken just prior to the follow-up coronary angiogram.
Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary* ; Atherosclerosis ; Brachial Artery ; Chest Pain ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Fasting ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glucose ; Humans ; Risk Factors ; Ultrasonography

No abstract available.
Female ; Hydronephrosis* ; Ovarian Cysts*

1. Apparent ocular findings obtained from a survey on 213 workers exposed to radiant energy were chronic hyperemic pigmented blepharoconjunctivitis (36.3%) which was supposed as a chronic abiotic and thermal lesion of photophthalmia, and pigmentation (melanosis) of bulbar conjunctiva near the limbus (11.5%). 2. Pterygium also was observed with high percentage (26.9%) and external irritative exposures ineluding ultra-violet rays were supposed to play a causative role in producing it. 3. Conjunctival and corneal foreign bodies (87.4%) were the most frequently observed among workers, due probably to improper protective eye equipment. 4. Everyone case of leucoma cornea traumatica, Ieucoma adherens traumatica, burned scar of the lid skin, healed scar of macular burn, macular hole after contusion and post-enucleated anophthalmos after rupture of eye ball was observed. 5. None of cataract case in early stage could be found because the slit-lamp biomicroscope was not available in this screening examination. 6. By ophthalmoscopy, 19 cases of hypertensive retinopathies were observed. 7. Comparison this result with author's former result obtained in 1966 also was made. 8. It is advisable to wear standard protective eye equipment and to administer health education to these workers.
Anophthalmos ; Burns ; Cataract ; Cicatrix ; Conjunctiva ; Contusions ; Cornea ; Foreign Bodies ; Health Education ; Hypertensive Retinopathy ; Mass Screening ; Ophthalmoscopy ; Pigmentation ; Pterygium ; Retinal Perforations ; Rupture ; Skin ; Ultraviolet Rays ; Welding*

We report a caae of hepatic and intestinal infestation with paragonimus wewstermani complicating abscess formation. The pathway by which the paragonimus westermani reaehea liver and intestine is not well understood. However, there was possiblity that it may become lodged in other organs that the lung because of polonged larval migrations through the diaphragm or into various sites in the abdomen. The patient, 52-year-old female gave a history of having reyeatedly consumed raw crabs. An x-ray film of the chest showed clear lunga Skin test for paragonimus-westermani was positive. Abdominal ultrasonogram showed enlargement of the liver with multiple hypoechoic lesiona ERCP revealed multiple ie lesions in the right lobe of the liver. Abdaminal CT showed multifocal abscess cavities with slight rim enhancements. Above meetioned diagnostic procedures suggested liver abscess or hepatoma. Then, an exploratory laparotomy was done for a definite diagnosis, Frozen biopsy, from liver and surgically exe mass from ileocecal region revealed extrpulmonary paragnomiasis involving liver and cecum. Thus, the patient was treated with prasiquantel. Three months later, abdominal ultrasonogram demonstrated slight enlargement of the liver but no evidence of abnormal mass like lesions.
Abdomen ; Abscess ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Cecum* ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Diagnosis ; Diaphragm ; Female ; Humans ; Intestines ; Laparotomy ; Liver Abscess ; Liver* ; Lung ; Middle Aged ; Paragonimiasis* ; Paragonimus ; Paragonimus westermani ; Praziquantel ; Skin Tests ; Thorax ; Ultrasonography ; X-Ray Film