To clarify the mechanism of the protective effect of hemodialysis on lipid peroxidation in RBC membrane structures, the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) which is the lipid peroxidation product, and the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were determined before and after hemodialysis in the RBCs from 20 patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD), and from 14 healthy subjects. Before dialysis, MDA levels in the RBCs from the patients with ESRD were higher than those from healthy controls. SOD and catalase activities in the RBCs were lower. After hemodialysis, MDA, SOD, and catalase in the RBCs from the patients with ESRD were normalized. These results indicate that hemodialysis treatment is helpful to protect the peroxidative darnage through normalizing the activities of antioxidant enzymes.
Catalase ; Dialysis ; Erythrocytes* ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Malondialdehyde* ; Membranes ; Renal Dialysis* ; Superoxide Dismutase

No abstract available.

No abstract available.

One family with asymmetric septal hypertrophy was reported. The propositus of this family was 31 years old man who was admitted because of transient syncope. His father and one brother were affected but asymptomatic. His sister was suddenly died at age 21 years. The interventricular septal thickness to left ventricular posterior wall thickness ratios were measured using M-mode echocard ogram. In the affected family, echocardiogram revealed asymmetric septal hypertrophy (1.5:1, 2:1, 1.9:1 respectively). In the propositus, cardiac catheterization and simultaneous biventricular cineangiography were performed. Pressure study revealed mild peak systolic pressure gradient within left ventricular apex and left ventricular outflow tract (4mm Hg respectively). Biventricular cineangiogram showed the septal width increased inferiorly, and left ventricular endocardial surface of the septum was straight, while the right ventricular border convex toward the right ventricle.
Adult ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic* ; Cineangiography ; Fathers ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Siblings ; Syncope

A 52-year-old man was admitted with an incidentally detected right renal artery aneurysm (RAA). Computed tomographic angiography with three-dimensional reconstruction revealed that the aneurysm was 2.2 cm in diameter and located at the renal hilum. We performed hand-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy with ex vivo repair of the RAA and auto-transplantation with minimal elongation of Gibson incision. The operation and postoperative course were uneventful. At last follow-up, the patient was alive with a well-functioning auto-transplant. Hand-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy and auto-transplantation is a useful treatment option for hilar RAA.
Aneurysm* ; Angiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hand-Assisted Laparoscopy ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Nephrectomy* ; Renal Artery*

Candidiasis of the central nervous system (CNS) is a rare condition and like other opportunistic fungal infections, most commonly occurs in immune-compromised patients. Because of the increasing use of antibiotics and the improving survival rate of premature infants requiring intensive care, the incidence of fungal infections in the brain has increased. We report the findings of ultrasonography and MR imaging in two cases of candidiasis of the CNS in premature infants.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Brain ; Candidiasis* ; Central Nervous System ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature* ; Critical Care ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Nervous System* ; Survival Rate ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: We evaluated the usefulness of 24 hour/3 hour radio-uptake ratio, lesion to non-lesion ratio, in differentiating bony metastases from acute (<2 months) and healing ( 2 months) fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-three patients (age range: 26-81, 32 males, 31 females) having 90 lesions (30 bone metastases, 30 acute fractures, 30 healing fractures) were included. Bone scans were obtained 3 and 24 hours after administration of 740 MBq of 99mTc-MDP. The ratio of radio-uptake in the lesion to normal area was measured as 24/3 hour radio-uptake ratio ([lesion/non-lesion RUR at 24 hour]/[lesion/non-lesion RUR at 3 hour], 24/3 RUR) and analyzed clinical significance in differentiating bone metastases from acute or healing fractures. RESULTS: Mean 24/3 RUR were 1.22+/-0.18 for bone metastases, 1.25+/-0.14 for acute fractures, and 0.99+/-0.15 for healing fractures. 24/3 RUR values of bone metastases and acute fractures were not significantly different. But 24/3 RUR values of bone metastases and healing fractures, and those of acute and healing fractures were found to be significantly different (p<0.001). When 24/3 RUR of 1.0 was considered as the cut off point separating metastases from fracture, a sensitivity of 100% (30/30) was obtained. The specificity was 0% (0/30) in separating metastases from acute fractures, and 47% (14/30) in separating metastases from healing fractures. When 24/3 RUR of 1.2 was considered as the cut off point, sensitivity of 53% (16/30) in the diagnosis of bone metastasis, and specificity of 37% (11/30) in separating metastases from acute fractures, and 100% (30/30) in separating metastases from healing fractures were obtained. CONCLUSION: 24/3 RUR is useful in differentiating bone metastases from healing fractures, but not in differentiating bone metastases from acute fractures. A 24/3 RUR of less than 1.0 suggests healing fractures. A 24/3 RUR of more than 1.2 suggests bone metastases or acute fractures.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Male ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Radionuclide Imaging* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Technetium Tc 99m Medronate

No abstract available.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Loss of Heterozygosity*

Ectopia cordis is defined as a congenital malposition of the heart partially or completely outside the thorax and often associated with sternal and congenital heart defects:surgical repair is generally unsuccessful because of the magnitude of the deformity and the associat-ed intracardiac anormalies. Four types of ectopia cordis are described : cervical, thoracic, abdominal and thoracoa- bdominal. Cervical and thoracic type are often fatal within days, because the heart is expo- sed and malformed. Abdominal type carries a better prognosis because cardiac abnormalities are less often found. The prognosis of thoraco-abdominal type mainly depends on the pre- sence of intracardiac abnormalities. We have experienced a case of thoracic ectopia cordis at 25 weeks' gestation by ultra- sonography, so present the case and the review with literature briefly.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Ectopia Cordis* ; Heart ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis* ; Prognosis ; Thorax

The authors describe two cases of simultaneous bilateral hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage which occurred among 440 patients treated for hypertensive intracerebral hematomas between 1991 and 1996. One patient was a 59-year-old male with bilateral putaminal hemorrhages, and the other was an 82-year-old female with bilateral thalamic hemorrhages; both underwent conservative treatment. The male was discharged with mild facial palsy but the female remained in a vegetative state for over three months. The locations of bilateral hematomas with a chronic history of hypertension suggest that in the pathogenesis of this condition, a subtle degenerative process, caused by hypertension may be active. The literature pertaininig to the pathogenesis of simultaneous multiple intracerebral hematomas is briefly reviewed.
Aged, 80 and over ; Facial Paralysis ; Female ; Hematoma ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Intracranial Hemorrhage, Hypertensive* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Persistent Vegetative State