BACKGROUND: Carotid atherosclerosis and aortic at herosclerosis are both a predictor of atherosclertic cardiovascular diseases. However, the relationship between carotid and aortic atherosclerosis is not well known. METHODS: We performed B-mode ultrasound examinations of the carotid arteries in 38 consecutive elderly cases(13 men, mean age 69+/-3 years and 25 women, mean age 69+/-5 years) who underwent transesophageal echocardiography, to assess whether atherosclerosis in the carotid artery correlates with thoracic aortic atherosclerosis or may be a marker for it. RESULTS: The incidence of carotid and thoracic aortic atherosclerotic plaques were 44.7% and 50%, respectively. There was a significant relationship between carotid atherosclerosis and thoracic aortic atherosclerosis(r=0.532, p<0.01), and a increase in the extent of aortic atherosclerosis with increasing grades of carotid atherosclerosis. In the entire study cases, the presence of carotid atherosclerosis had a sensitivity 63.2%, specificity 73.7%, positive value 72.6% and negative predictive value 66.7% in detec-ting thoracic aortic atherosclerosis. CONCLUSION: In the Korean elderly, B-mode ultra sound examination of the carotid arteries is a easy and useful technique for the prediction of the presence and severity of thoracic atherosclerosis.
Aged* ; Aorta ; Aorta, Thoracic* ; Atherosclerosis* ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Carotid Arteries ; Carotid Artery Diseases* ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ultrasonics ; Ultrasonography

No abstract available.
Fibrin Tissue Adhesive ; Fibrin ; Surgery, Oral

No abstract available.
Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature* ; Nephroma, Mesoblastic* ; Ultrasonography, Prenatal*

The purposes of this study were to evaluate the diagnostic modalities of the acute rupture of anterior cruciate ligament(ACL) and to know the differences hetween complete and partial ACL rupture preoperatively, analyzing the methods of physical examimation and the clinical features in acutely injured patient. We analyzed the anterior drawer test, Lachman test, KT-2000 arthrometer, MRI findings and associated injuries in the 35 patients who were confirmed to have ACL rupture by arthroscopy of the knee joint, performed within a month after trauma. We divided the patients by arthroscopy into 2 groups: complete rupture group and the partial rupture group. Among the 35 cases of ACL rupture, there were 10 cases of partial rupture and 25 cases of complete rupture. The Lachman s test was the most sensitive method of the physical examinations in detecting acute ACL injuries, with 90% and 92% positive rate in each group retrospectively. KT-2000 arthrometer with more than 3mm side-to-side difference showed all positive findings except one. The findings of ACL rupture in MRI were discontinuity, increased signal intensity, ahnormal course of ACL fibers and so on. The sensitivity of MRI in diagnosing the acute injuries of ACL was 97.2% hut had difficulties in differentiating the complete from partial rupture. Associated injuries of the ACL injured knee were medial and lateral meniscus tear and medial collateral ligament injury. The diagnosis of acute ACL rupture was made possihle hy physical examinations and with use of the KT-2000 arthrometer and MRI was useful in detecting the ACL rupture or associated injuries but not in differentiating complete from partial rupture of the ACL.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament* ; Arthroscopy ; Collateral Ligaments ; Diagnosis* ; Humans ; Knee ; Knee Joint ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Menisci, Tibial ; Physical Examination ; Retrospective Studies ; Rupture

Aneurysms of the pulmonary artery are uncommon in general but have a potentially fatal prognosis. This is derived from the potential for rupture of the aneurysm from the fact that there is commonly underlying severe pulmonary hypertension. Most cases are documented in the large postmortem series. Aneurysms of the pulmonary artery can be classified as congenital or acquired. Possible symptoms include dyspnea on exertion, cough, hemoptysis, and thoracic pain. When a large aneurysm formation of the pulmonary artery is diagnosed, surgical intervention is indicated because conservative treatment of the aneurysm will undoubtedly result in rupture with fatal outcome. We report a case of 46-year old patient with a giant left pulmonary artery aneurysm associated with severe pulmonary hypertension. A Doppler echocardiogram and a computed tomographic scan showed a giant saccular aneurysm of the left pulmonary artery (12 cm in diameter) and estimated systolic right ventricular pressure of 80 mmHg.
Aneurysm* ; Cough ; Dyspnea ; Fatal Outcome ; Hemoptysis ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary* ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Pulmonary Artery* ; Rupture ; Ventricular Pressure

Ischemic heart disease is a common complication of thyrotoxicosis, although the exact mechanism has not been defined. In patient with dextrocardia as a part of situs inversus, coronary heart disease may occur with similar frequency and manifestation as in the general population. A case is reported of angina and thyrotoxicosis in patient with situs inversus totalis in which the angina was manifested by ST-segment elevation during graded exercise, relieved by antithyroid treatment. This unusual case establishes an association between hyperthy-roidism and ischemic heart disease.
Coronary Disease ; Dextrocardia ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism* ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Situs Inversus* ; Thyrotoxicosis

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Breast Feeding* ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Case-Control Studies* ; Female ; Humans ; Korea*

No abstract available.

No abstract available.