To evaluate the influencing factors on pulmonary venous flow(PVF) pattern, we studied the relationship between PVF and left ventricular ejection fracton(EF), mitral annulus motion(MAM) and transmitral flow using pulsed doppler echocardiography in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy(DCMP), acute myocardioal infarction(AMI), left ventricular hypertrophy(LVH) and atrial fibrillation(AE). Ther results were as follows : 1) In the normal controls(13 cases), two forward flow during ventricular systole(VS) and diastole(VD) and one retrograde flow during atrial systole(AS) were observed. The peak velocity of VS, VD and AS flow was 45.9cm/s, 42.8cm/s and -18.3cm/sec, respectively. The peak VS/VD ratio was 1.1. 2) In patients with DCMP(11 cases), (a) compared to the noraml subjects, the peak velocity of VS flow and VS/VD ratio were were significantly reduced(p<0.005 and p<0.001, respectively) and were positively correlated with ejection fraction(r=0.8 and r=0.7, respectively) (b) in 2 DCMP cases with severe mitral regurgitation, systolic retrograde flow was observed in the pulmonary vein instead of forward VS flow. 3) In 12 AMI cases and 7 LVH cases with normal or slightly diminished left ventricular systolic function but with abnormal diastolic function. (a) the peak velocity of VS flow and peak VS/VD ratio were significantly increased(r<0.005 and p<0.01, respectively). (b) the peak velocity of VD flow is positively correlated with transmitral E/A ratio(r=0.8) and the peak VS/VD ratio was positively correlated with transmitral pressure half time(r=0.8). (c) the peak velocity of retrograde AS flow was significantly increased(p<0.001). (d) there was no correlation between doppler parameters of PVF and left ventricular ejection fraction. 4) In patients with atrial fibrillation(10 cases), VS flow was markedly diminished or absent and only VD flow was observed. Also, retrograde AS flow was not observed. These findings suggest that the pattern of PVF is influnced by LVEF, MAM, transmitral inflow and atrial contraction. However, main contributary factors in determining the pattern of PVF in each disease are diverse according to its main pathophysiology.
Deoxycytidine Monophosphate ; Echocardiography, Doppler, Pulsed ; Heart Diseases* ; Heart* ; Humans ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; Pulmonary Veins ; Stroke Volume

During temporomandibular joint (TMJ) formation, discomalleolar ligament (DML) and anterior malleolar ligament (AML) are formed within the dorsal end of the 1st branchial arch. But, DML is known as a remnant or the degenerated tissue through the TMJ development. There is few reports said that damage of AML and DML cause the damage of middle ear during surgical procedures. Especially, in case of anterior disk displacement of TMJ, aural symptom can be made via DML due to hyperextension anteriorly. A few studies have been reported about DML and AML in embryological and histological points of view, morphology and clinical aspects of DML and AML are still unclear. Four fetuses and sixteen adult hemi -sectioned heads were dissected to clarify the topographical relationship of AML and DML and to find out the anatomico -clinical relevance related with temporomandibular disorder. In fetal specimens, DML was firmly attached from the disk of the TMJ to the malleus. Also, AML in which distinguished into the superior and inferior lamellae was running anteriorly and continuous with the sphenomandibular ligament (SML) through the future petrotympanic fissure (PTF). DML attached to the malleus was observed in all adult specimens and was expanded broadly to the disk and capsule of the TMJ as shown the V -shaped ligament structures. The average distance between the anterior aspects of the malleolar head to the anterior wall of the tympanic cavity was 1.13 mm(0.75 ~1.59), and the length of the DML from the anterior aspect of the malleolar head to the attached site to the TMJ capsule at the PTF was 5.37 mm (4.53 ~6.07). The average width of the DML at the PTF was 6.06 mm (4.72 ~7.46). Most of the posterior attachments of the DML were the cases in which DML was directly attached to the malleus (68.7%). In all specimens, DML was attached to the disk and capsule of TMJ and attached to the anteromedial border of the PTF concurrently. In this study, two morphological patterns of AML were observed according to the presence of the bony ridge on the Huguiers canal in the PTF. The bony ridge of the Huguiers canal showed DML and AML separately in 56.3%, and the fused pattern of DML and AML was observed in 43.7%. AML was not distinguished with two lamellae in most specimens, superior ligament fibers were attached to the anteromedial border of the PTF and most of the inferior lamella was entering the gap in PTF and continuous with the SML. Average length from the anterior aspect of the malleolar head to the exit point of the AML on the PTF was 8.40 mm(6.62 ~11.42), and the shortest distance between the AML and chorda tympani was 2.01 mm(1.25 ~3.02). Taken all together, DML and AML were not the rudimentary, but the distinguishable structures in adults. Through the various morphological findings, DML and AML were separated ligamentous structures in which might be given rise from the divergent origin. And the anterior hyperextension of the disk of TMJ did not lead the movement of the malleus in the tympanic cavity, whereas, the movement of the malleus followed by the traction of the AML and SML was observed in a few cases. So, this results can be explained the possibility of the clinical symptom on the middle ear in case of the over -traction of the AML and SML.
Adult* ; Branchial Region ; Chorda Tympani Nerve ; Ear, Middle ; Fetus* ; Head ; Humans* ; Ligaments* ; Malleus ; Running ; Temporomandibular Joint ; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders ; Traction

Background/Aims: Vascular disease is an established risk factor for stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), which is included in CHA2DS2-VASc score. However, the role of carotid atherosclerosis remains to be determined. Methods: Three hundred-ten patients with AF who underwent carotid sonography were enrolled. Results: During a median follow-up of 31 months, 18 events (5.8%) of stroke were identified. Patients with stroke had higher carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) (1.16 ± 0.33 mm vs. 0.98 ± 0.25 mm, p = 0.017). CIMT was significantly increased according to the CHA2DS2-VASc score (p < 0.001) and it was correlated with left ventricular mass index and early diastolic mitral annular velocity (e’), a ratio of early transmitral flow velocity to e’ (E/e’) and pulmonary artery systolic pressure (all p < 0.05). Cox regression using multivariate models showed that carotid plaque was associated with the risk of stroke (hazard ratio, 3.748; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.107 to 12.688; p = 0.034). C-statistics increased from 0.648 (95% CI, 0.538 to 0.757) to 0.716 (95% CI, 0.628 to 0.804) in the CHA2DS2-VASc score model after the addition of CIMT and carotid plaque as a vascular component (p = 0.013). Conclusions Increased CIMT and presence of carotid plaque are associated with a high risk of ischemic stroke, and CIMT is related to myocardial remodeling and diastolic dysfunction, suggesting that carotid atherosclerosis can improve risk prediction of stroke in patients with AF, when included under vascular disease in the CHA2DS2-VASc scoring system.

BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis(RA) is a systemic disease not infrequently involing the heart. It has been known that pericardial effusion, most commonly observed cardiac abnormality in patients with RA, and other cardiac manifestations such as conduction disturbances, valve thickenings, and enlargement of left atrium or aorta are associated with RA. We have determined the nature and extent of cardiac manifestations of RA in comparison with those of control group by echocardiographic examination. METHOD: 27 patients with RA(4 males and 23 females, mean age=47 +/-13 years) and 22 control subjects(3 males and 19 females, mean age+43 +/- 11 years) were randomly selected. Standard two-dimensional, M-mode and doppler echocardiographic examination were done on each group of subjects. RESULTS: 1) Pericardial effusions were more commonly detectd in patients with RA than control group(55.6% vs 22.7%, p<0.01). There were no significant differences in the amount of pericardial effusion according to the duration and the stage of RA. 2) Thickness of each cardiac valve was thicker in patients with RA than control group. But, there were no statistical significance between them. 3) The left ventricular mass index(LVMI) and the diameter of aorta showed a trend to increase in patients with RA(109.5 +/-28.0 g/m(2) vs 94.2 +/-24.6 g/m(2), p=0.054). 4) The diameter of left atrium was more lager in patients with RA(35.1 +/- 4.0mm vs 31.6 +/- 4.5mm, p=o.005). 5) The E/A ratio of mitral valve was statistically significantly lower in patients with RA(RA:control=1.2 +/- 0.5 : 1.7 +/- 0.4, p=0.01). CONCLUSION: The asymptomatic patients with RA more frequently show cardiac abnormalities such as pericardial effusion, valve thickening, decrease of E/A ratio than control group. So two-dimensional echocardiography is necessary for early, noninvasive and accurate evaluation of asymptomatic cardiac abnormalities in patients with RA.
Aorta ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Heart ; Heart Atria ; Heart Valves ; Humans ; Male ; Mitral Valve ; Pericardial Effusion

Primary lymphoma of the kidney is rare, and in most cases is attributable to lymphomatous renal infilitration of systemic non-Hodgkin's lymphoma or an extension from an adjacent site of the disease. Since the renal parenchyma is not a lymphoid organ, the mechanism by which renal lymphoma occur remains poorly understood. We report here a case of primary bilateral B-cell renal lymphoma in 26-year-old man who was treated successfully with combination chemotherapy.
Adult ; B-Lymphocytes* ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Humans ; Kidney ; Lymphoma* ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin

Primary cardiac lymphomas diagnosed antemortem are extremely rare. We present a case of primary cardiac lymphma diagnosed antemortem by transvenous biopsy under transesophageal echocardiographic guidance. The patient who was a 62 years old male presented with facial edema, dyspnea on exertion and syncope. The chest X-ray film showed double contour at right cardiac border and the ECG showed marked sinus bradycardia. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), chest computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed intracardiac tumor of right atrium, invasing interatrial septum and inlets of superior and inferior vena cava and lateral wall of right atrium. Abdominopelvic CT and bone scan failed to show any extracardiac location. Transvenous biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of malignant lymphoma (diffuse large cell, B cell type). After chemotherapy was begun, the tumor makedly shrunk and symptoms resolved. Primary cardiac lymphoma is extremely rare and almost uniformly fatal, but this case showed that early diagnosis and intensive che-motherapy might contribute to a better prognosis for patients with malignant lymphoma of the heart.
Bays ; Biopsy* ; Bradycardia ; Diagnosis* ; Drug Therapy ; Dyspnea ; Early Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Edema ; Electrocardiography ; Heart ; Heart Atria ; Humans ; Lymphoma* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Syncope ; Thorax ; Vena Cava, Inferior ; X-Ray Film

BACKGROUND: Brief episodic ischemias prior to subsequent prolonged ischemia limit infarct size and attenuate the reperfusion arrythmia. But the effect of ischemic preconditioning on post-ischemic myocardial dysfunction, coronary flow and nitric oxide (NO) remains unclear. METHODS: To investigate the effect of ischemic preconditioning on myocardial function and coronary flow during reperfusion after 15 minutes of global myocardial ischemia, 30 isolated hearts of Sprague-Dowley rats were perfused under constant pressure. Two episodes of three minutes global ischemia followed by 12 minutes of reflow were employed to precondition the hearts. The hearts were randomized to one of three groups : group I had no preconditioning, group II had preconditioning, group III had preconditioning as well as L-arginine pretreatment. Left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP), LV dp/dt, perfused coronary flow, concentration of NO and heart rate were continuously measured. RESULTS: In preconditioning groups (Group II, Group III), LVDP decreased during reflow and was lower than that of the control group. LV dp/dt decreased after reflow and gradually recovered with time but recovered was less in preconditioning groups. Coronary flow increased in the first few minutes after reflow in all groups, but decreased gradually. The decrease of coronary flow was greater in preconditioning groups. NO increased during the first 10 minutes after reflow and then decreased. In preconditioning groups, NO tends to be lower than that in the non-preconditioning group. CONCLUSION: Ischemic preconditioning was not beneficial to post-ischemic myocardial dysfunction, coronary flow and NO concentration in the flow. Cummulative effect of stunning due to repetitive ischemia for preconditioning may be an explanation for worse post-ischemic myocardial dysfunction and coronary flow in preconditioning groups.
Animals ; Arginine ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Heart Rate ; Heart* ; Ischemia ; Ischemic Preconditioning* ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Myocardial Stunning ; Nitric Oxide ; Rats* ; Reperfusion

BACKGROUND: Brief episodic ischemias prior to subsequent prolonged ischemia limit infarct size and attenuate the reperfusion arrythmia. But the effect of ischemic preconditioning on post-ischemic myocardial dysfunction, coronary flow and nitric oxide (NO) remains unclear. METHODS: To investigate the effect of ischemic preconditioning on myocardial function and coronary flow during reperfusion after 15 minutes of global myocardial ischemia, 30 isolated hearts of Sprague-Dowley rats were perfused under constant pressure. Two episodes of three minutes global ischemia followed by 12 minutes of reflow were employed to precondition the hearts. The hearts were randomized to one of three groups : group I had no preconditioning, group II had preconditioning, group III had preconditioning as well as L-arginine pretreatment. Left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP), LV dp/dt, perfused coronary flow, concentration of NO and heart rate were continuously measured. RESULTS: In preconditioning groups (Group II, Group III), LVDP decreased during reflow and was lower than that of the control group. LV dp/dt decreased after reflow and gradually recovered with time but recovered was less in preconditioning groups. Coronary flow increased in the first few minutes after reflow in all groups, but decreased gradually. The decrease of coronary flow was greater in preconditioning groups. NO increased during the first 10 minutes after reflow and then decreased. In preconditioning groups, NO tends to be lower than that in the non-preconditioning group. CONCLUSION: Ischemic preconditioning was not beneficial to post-ischemic myocardial dysfunction, coronary flow and NO concentration in the flow. Cummulative effect of stunning due to repetitive ischemia for preconditioning may be an explanation for worse post-ischemic myocardial dysfunction and coronary flow in preconditioning groups.
Animals ; Arginine ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Heart Rate ; Heart* ; Ischemia ; Ischemic Preconditioning* ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Myocardial Stunning ; Nitric Oxide ; Rats* ; Reperfusion

Ischemia leads to a complex sequence of events culmination in the loss of functional integrity of the nervous system and, ultimately, in neuronal cell death. Intracellular accumulation of calcium ions following ischemia may alter protein kinase C(PKC) activity. But nature of change of the PKC activity depending on duration and degree of ischemia is not well understood. To understand the effect of the experimental focal ischemia on expression of PKC isozyme, we investigated the expression of PKC gamma, beta, alpha immunocytochemically and activities of cytochrome oxidase(CO) histochemically in focal ischemic brain of the rat. Two groups of focal ischemic infarction were produced in two groups of Sprague Dawley rats(200-300 gm) : Group I, Clip compression of left middle cerebral artery(MCA) for 10min and releases and sacrificed 48 hr later ; Group II, Electric coagulation of left MCA and killed 2-24 hr later. In the group I, CO activity and immunoreactivity(IR) for PKC gamma and beta were decreased generally in the left MCA territory, especially in layers II through IV of ischemic cortex. In the group II, decrease of CO activities and marked increase of three PKC isozyme IRs were noted in the layers I through IV. The isozymes displayed different localization in the control cortex, but the IRs of three isozymes markedly increased in the ischmic region, so that the difference among IR patterns disappeared. Although vacuolation and decrease of number of IR neuron were noted, there were remaining IR pyramidal neurons arounf vacuole in layers IV/V showing dense immuostaining in the cell body and apical dendrite. These results indicate that 10min acute ischemia inhibits activity of PKC gamma and beta and that prolonged ischemia longer than 2hr induces the expression of three PKC isozymes. Inhibition and possible induction of PKC are proposed to represent a critical step during ischemic neuronal injury.
Animals ; Brain ; Calcium ; Cell Death ; Cytochromes ; Dendrites ; Immunohistochemistry ; Infarction ; Ions ; Ischemia* ; Isoenzymes ; Neocortex* ; Nervous System ; Neurons ; Protein Kinase C* ; Protein Kinases* ; Rats* ; Vacuoles

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of gemcitabine, a pyrimidine antimetabolite against advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty patients with unresectable stage IIIb to IV, pathologacally documented NSCLC were evaluated. Patients received gemcitabine 1000 mg/m, as a 30 to 60-min, intravenous infusion on days 1, 8 and 15, which was repeated every 28 days. Responses were assessed every two courses. Twenty-five to fifty percent dose reduction was permitted, ptovided that overall toxicity was severe according to World Health Organization (WHO) toxicity criteria. RESULTS: Of all 40 patients (32 men, 8 women; age range 37 to 73 years; median 63 years), 3S patients were assessable for response. 15 patients had stage IIIb disease and 25 had stage IV. Nineteen patients were histologically classified as adenocarcinoma (47.5%), 17 as squamous cell carcinoma (42.5%), 1 as large cell carcinoma (2.5%), 1 as mixed carcinoma (2.5%) and 2 as undifferentiated carcinoma (5.0%). The overall response rate was 20%. None of the patients showed complete response while 7 showed partial response (20%), 5 had stable diseases (23%) and 23 had progressive diseases (57%). During a total of 119 courses, hematologic toxicity was negligible. Granulo- cytopenia worse than WHO grade 3 occured in 11.8%, anemia in O.S% and thrombocytopenia in 0.8%, respectively. Non-hematologic toxicity was minor and easily controlled. There was no case of febrile neutropenia or treatment-related death. CONCLUSION: The single agent efficacy of gemcitabine is comparable to other agents commonly used to treat NSCLC. Gemcitabine has unusually mild side effect profile for such an active agent. This significant activity in conjunction with a very favorable toxicity profile supports further investigation in combination with other agents in patients with inoperable NSCLC.
Adenocarcinoma ; Anemia ; Carcinoma ; Carcinoma, Large Cell ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Febrile Neutropenia ; Female ; Humans ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Male ; Thrombocytopenia ; World Health Organization