PURPOSE: Although alpha-fetoprotein is one of the most commonly used tumor markers in Korea, most of the radioimmunoassay kits for alpha-fetoprotein have been imported from foreign countries. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of a recently developed domestic immunoradiometric kit for alpha- fetoprotein (Riakey AFP IRMA CTR, Sin-Jin Medics, Seoul, Korea). MATERALS AND METHODS: We evaluated intra- and inter-assay precision, recovery rate, parallelism, and sensitivity of serum alpha-fetoprotein measurement using Riakey AFP IRMA CTR kit. The values of alpha-fetoprotein measured by Riakey AFP IRMA CTR kit were compared with those measured by two foreign commercial kits (alpha-fetoproteina of Radim and alpha-feto.riabead of Abbott). RESULTS: Intra-assay coefficients of variation on three different levels were 5.3% for 18.9 ng/ml, 3.4% for 133 ng/ml and 1.6% for 330 ng/ml. Inter-assay coefficients of variation were 9.7% for 20.9 ng/ml, 3.2% for 137 ng/ml and 4.1% for 330 ng/ml respectively. Recovery rate tests on all three different levels showed within 100+/-10%. Parallelism was also good and the sensitivity was 0.63 ng/ml. There was strong correlation between the measurement of alpha-fetoprotein by Riakey AFP IRMA CTR and that by two foreign commercial kits(r=0.98). CONCLUSION: The first Korean domestic immunoradiometric kit for alpha-fetoprotein, Riakey AFP IRMA CTR, performed well for clinical use.
alpha-Fetoproteins* ; Fetal Proteins ; Immunoradiometric Assay* ; Korea ; Radioimmunoassay ; Seoul ; Biomarkers, Tumor

The utility of positron emission tomography (PET) in gynecologic malignancy has increased rapidly in recent years. This review examines publications in this area. PET scans in gynecologic malignancy are mostly performed using F-18 FDG. It is valuable in primary staging of untreated advanced cervical cancer, for post-treatment unexplained tumor marker elevation, and restaging of potentially curable recurrent cervical cancer. However, its value in early-stage cervical cancer is limited. In ovarian cancer, sequential imaging predicts response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and survival. It is also very useful when increases in CA 125 or CT/MRI defined recurrence is noted, but biopsy deemed infeasible. The role of PET or PET/CT has evolved from a iagnostic tool into a potential indicator of response to treatment and prognosis. Evaluating PET or PET/CT using clinical impact is an attractive new endpoint.
Biopsy ; Drug Therapy ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Positron-Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

Cardiac PET emerged as a powerful tool that allowed in vivo quantification of physiologic processes including myocardial perfusion and metabolism, as well as neuronal and receptor function for more than 25 years. Now PET imaging has been playing an important role in the clinical evaluation of patients with known or suspected ischemic heart disease. This important clinical role is expected to grow with the availability of PET/CT scanner that allow a true integration of structure and function. The objective of this review is to provide an update on the current and future role of PET in clinical cardiology with a special eye on the great opportunities now offered by PET/CT.
Cardiology* ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Humans ; Metabolism ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Neurons ; Perfusion ; Positron-Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography*

No abstract available.
Dyspnea* ; Hypothyroidism*

PURPOSE: Recently the occurrence of dipyridamole stress-induced short term stunning was proven and it is reported that Bland Altman analysis by repeated acquisition Tl-201 gated myocardial SPECT (gSPECT) revealed the 95% limit of agreement for LVEF was 10.3 %. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical value of dipyridamole induced transient LV dysfunction on Tl-201 gSPECT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Total 93 patients were included and coronary angiography was performed in all patients less than 2 month from gSPECT. The patients with myocardial infarction were excluded. All patients underwent both dipyridamole stress and 4-h redistribution Tl-201 gSPECT. Forty nine patients of total 93 showed normal coronary arteries (Group 1) and the remaining 44 patients had coronary artery disease (Group 2). We compared LV EF, EDV and ESV during post-stress and 4-h redistribution period calculated by gSPECT using quantitative gated SPECT software and the incidence of dipyridamole induced transient LV dysfunction between group 1 and 2. The criteria for transient LV dysfunction was defined more decrease > or =11% of LVEF during post-stress than 4-h redistribution according to previous reported Bland Altman analysis. RESULTS: During post-stress and 4-h redistribution average of 3.1% increment in LVEF, 6.6% increment in LVEDV and 0.7% decrement in LVESV were shown after stress in Group 1, whereas 4.1% decrement, 9.7% increment and 7.2% increment in Group 2 respectively. Dipyridamole induced transient LV dysfunction was only detected in group 2 (18.2%) and not in group 1. It was more frequently observed in triple vessel disease and left main disease (31.8%, N=22) than one and two vessel disease (4.5%, N=22). CONCLUSION: As with Tc-99m myocardial agent post-stress LV dysfunction was observed in dipyridamole Tl-201 gSPECT. It was only detected in CAD and more frequently occurred in multivessel disease. Thus this finding seems to provide additional information in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease and prediction of prognosis.
Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vessels ; Diagnosis ; Dipyridamole* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Myocardial Infarction ; Prognosis ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon* ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left*

PURPOSE: It is well known that lung to heart ratio (LHR) is one of the high risk findings in Tl-201 myocardial perfusion SPECT. We evaluated the clinical efficacy of LHR to identify severe coronary artery disease in adenosine stress Tc-99m tetrofosmin gated myocardial perfusion SPECT (gSPECT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population was 157 patients who underwent both adenosine stress Tc-99m gSPECT and coronary angiography (CAG) within one month. According to the results of CAG and gSPECT LHR and the incidence of increased LHR were compared. RESULTS: Among 53 patients with normal coronary arteries increased LHR was found in 2 patients (3.8%) and 0 in 44 patients (0%) with one vessel disease, 2 in 27 with two vessel disease (7.4%) and 8 in 33 with triple vessel disease (24.2%). Significant differences were found in LHR between subgroups of summed stress score, summed rest score and LV ejection fraction (LVEF). There were weak negative correlation between LHR and LVEF and weak positive correlation between LHR and SSS and SRS. CONCLUSION: Increased LHR had higher incidence in patients with triple vessel disease, severe LV dysfunction and/or extensive perfusion defect than those of normal group. Although its sensitivity might be low to identify severe coronary artery disease, LHR could be helpful in abnormal myocardial perfusion SPECT to stratify risk and prognosis.
Adenosine ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vessels ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Heart ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lung ; Perfusion ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

No abstract available.
Connective Tissue Diseases* ; Connective Tissue* ; Diagnosis*

Myocardial perfusion scintigraphy is currently by far the most commonly performed cardiac nuclear study, constituting approximately one third of all nuclear medicine procedure. It plays an important role in the diagnosis, prognosis, risk assessment and management of heart disease. Aim of this review is to describe recent evolution of myocardial perfusion imaging on the focus of diagnosis of coronary artery disease. In addition, current status of other imaging modalities will be reviewed.
Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vessels ; Heart Diseases ; Myocardial Perfusion Imaging ; Nuclear Medicine ; Perfusion ; Perfusion Imaging ; Prognosis ; Risk Assessment ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

PURPOSE: This study was done to survey health behaviors in people at risk for a Cerebrovascular Accident(CVA). METHOD: From November 21 to December 29, 2005, a questionnaire survey was conducted with 171 people at risk for a Cerebrovascular Accident(LDL of above 130 mg/dl & homocysteine of above 15.0 micromol/L). Their physical composition was measured and blood was collected. RESULTS: 1. Of the subjects, 34.5% were smokers, 61.4% were drinkers, 56.7% did not exercise regularly, 57.3% did not control their weight, 26.9% preferred eating meat, and 32.2% preferred salty food. 2. The gender was different between smoking status(Chi2=10.734, p= .001), and drinking status(Chi2=7.185, p= .007), and the age was different between smoking status(Chi2=6.656, p= .010), and drinking status(Chi2=10.722, p= .001). The HbA1C level was different for regular exercise(Chi2= 4.824, p=.028) and the HDL-cholesterol was different for meat-eating preference(Chi2=7.928, p= .005). The observance of troubling signs was different for a salty food preference(Chi2=4.313, p= .038). CONCLUSION: It is necessary to develop programs for taking care of people at risk for a Cerebrovascular Accident and test the effects of the programs in order to reduce the risk factors of CVA and enhance health behavior promotion.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alcohol Drinking ; Body Weight ; Chi-Square Distribution ; Cholesterol, HDL/blood ; Cholesterol, LDL/blood ; Exercise ; Female ; *Health Behavior ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nutritional Status ; Questionnaires ; Risk Factors ; Smoking ; Stroke/*epidemiology/etiology

No abstract available.
Body Weight* ; Cholesterol*