BACKGROUND: Identification of specific antinuclear antibodies is useful for the diagnosis, subclassification and determination of prognosis in autoimmune disorders. In many diseases, multiple autoantibodies are detected, and simultaneous detection of multiple autoantibodies has been shown to be useful. Recently, a commercial kit (EL-ANA/6 profiles, TheraTest Laboratories, USA) losing enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method for detection of six specific autoantibodies is avallable. In this study, we attempted to compare the results of EL-ANA/6 profiles with those of routinely used methods and evaluated usefulness of EL-ANA/6 profiles. METHODS: EL-ANA/6 profiles were performed with 28 sera which were positive for fluorescent antinuclear antibody (FANA) Simultaneously we tested anti-dsDNA antibodies with immnofluorescent (If) method and anti-Sm, anti-RNP, anti-SSA and anti-SSB antibodies with double immunodiffusion (DID). To evaluate specificity, EL- ANA/6 profiles tests were performed on 10 sera from healthy blood donors. RESULTS: Ten sera of healthly blood donors were all negative for EL-ANA/6 pro biles. In the results of EL-ANA/6 profiles on sera positive for FANA, the concordance rate with IF method for the anti-dsDNA antibodies was 89.3% (25/28) and the con- cordance rates with DID for anti-Sm, anti-Sm/RNP, anti-SSA and anti-SSB antibodies were 85.7% (24/28), 82.1% (23/28), 92.9% (26/28) and 82.1% (23/28), respectively. In 16 discordant settings, thirteen (81.3%) were negative on DID and positive on EL-ANA/6 profiles. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the EL-ANA/6 profiles show good concordance rates with If and DID. EL-ANA/6 profiles showing quantitative profiles for multiple autoantibodies is useful for diagnosis and tool)ow-up of autoimmune disorders.
Antibodies ; Antibodies, Antinuclear* ; Autoantibodies ; Bile ; Blood Donors ; Diagnosis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Immunodiffusion ; Prognosis ; Sensitivity and Specificity

PURPOSE: MRI is known to be an effective imaging modality of the aorta and its role is steadily increasing in the evaluation of acquired aortic diseases including aortic dissections and aortic aneurysms. However, differentiation of the aortic dissections with thrombosed false lumen from the aortic aneurysm with mural thrombus in MRI has not been easy. Therefore, the authors tried to find the characteristic MR featrses which would to differentiate the two diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MR images of 6 patients with thrombosed aortic dissection and 7 patients with thrombosed aortic aneurysms were reviewed retrospectively and compared in regand to shape and extent of thrombus, dimension of aorta, and luminal flow signal. RESULTS: Thrombosed aortic dissections showed sharply demarcated crescent shaped aortic wall thickening of even thickness involving long segment of the aorta, whereas thrombosed aortic aneurysms showed irregular aortic wall thickening of uneven thickness localized in the short dilated segment of the aorta. Characteristically aortic aneurysm with mural thrombus showed eccentric intraluminal slow flow signal. In contrast to the signal void of the true lumen in aortic dissections, the residual lumen of the aortic aneurysm with mural thrombus revealed intraluminal signal due to slow flow. CONCLUSION: Familiarity to these MRI findings of thrombosed aortic dissections and aortic aneurysms may lead to the accurate differential diagnosis in majority of cases.
Aorta ; Aortic Aneurysm* ; Aortic Diseases ; Diagnosis, Differential* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Phenobarbital ; Recognition (Psychology) ; Retrospective Studies ; Thrombosis

Percutaneous aspiration followed by instillation with 95% ethanol was performed on 15 patients with benign renal cyst. 86.6% of patients showed remarkable reduction in size of renal cyst or abscence of cyst on sonography. Nine(81.8%) of the 11 symptomatic patient were relieved of subjective symptoms such as flank pain after instillation. There was no major complication with this procedure. A slight local irritable pain was noticed in 2 cases and 1 patient had not flush but three symptom were only temporary. This treatment seems to be a safe and simple and effective way to prevent recurrence of the cyst.
Ethanol* ; Flank Pain ; Humans ; Recurrence

CT findings of 19 kidneys in 12 patients with renal and perirenal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were retrospectively reviewed to determine distinguishing characteristic and specific findings. CT manifestation of the renal and perirenal lymphoma included multiple nodules in five kidneys(26.3%), trans-capsular infiltration in three kidneys(15.8%). trans-sinus infiltration in nine kidneys(47.4%) and diffuse infiltration in two kidneys(10.5%0. Perirenal changes were thickening of the renal fascia in ten kidneys(52.6%) and crescentic lesion of low attenuation in the subcapsular area in five kidney(26.3%). Retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy was evident in eleven patient(57.9%). Renal calyceal dilatation without renal pelvic dilatation(selective calcelal dilatation) was noted in three kidneys. Familiarity with these CT findings of renal and perirenal lymphoma may be helpful in the diagnosis and management of patient with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Diagnosis ; Dilatation ; Fascia ; Humans ; Kidney ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin* ; Recognition (Psychology) ; Retrospective Studies

Congenital chylothorax is a rare disorder and can be diagnosed by prenatal ultrasonography recently. Most cases of congenital chylothorax were characterized by different clinical courses of respiratory distress. We describe two female cases with congenital chylothorax observed by ultra- sonography prenatally. In the first case, left-sided pleural effusion was noted by prenatal ultrasonography taken at 34 weeks of gestation, and then pleural fluid was extracted by intrauterine thoracentesis under sonography guidance. After birth, this patient was managed by TPN(total parentral nutrition) and intermittent thoracentesis without surgical treatment. But, pleural fluid was accumulated recurrently and respiratory distress was aggravated. At 15th hospital day, shock state was developed and patient died. In the second case, bilateral pleural effusion and ascites were noted by prenatal ultrasonography, and then patient was delivered immediately without intrauterine thoracentesis. After birth, the second case received conservative therapy including mechanical ventilation, TPN, intermittent thoracentesis and paracentesis. The patient was discharged with complete regression of chylothorax. We report the two cases with brief review of related literatures.
Ascites ; Chylothorax* ; Female ; Humans ; Paracentesis ; Parturition ; Pleural Effusion ; Pregnancy ; Respiration, Artificial ; Shock ; Ultrasonography, Prenatal*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of Gd-DTPA enhanced MR imaging in determining the metastatic lymph nodes in uterine cervical carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty nine patients with histologically proven cervical carcinoma underwent Gd-DTPA enhanced MR imaging. One hundred and thirty-eight pelvic regions(69 right,69 left) in 69 patients were analyzed for lymph node metastases. Pelvic lymph nodes were considered to be abnormal if they were greater than lcm in diameter and were enhanced on postcontrast T1 weighted images. RESULTS: Metastatic lymph nodes were found in 22 pelvic regions by surgicopathologic examinations. On MR imaging there were 14 true positives, 106 true negatives, 10 false positives and 8 false negatives. Gd-DTPA enhanced MR image had an accuracy of 86.9%, a sensitivity of 58.3%, a specificity of 91.4%, a positive predictive value of 58.3% and negative predictive value of 92.9% in evaluation of pelvic lymph node metastases. CONCLUSION: MR imaging with contrast enhancement may be useful in the evaluation of pelvic lymph node metastases in patients with uterine cervical carcinoma.
Gadolinium DTPA ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pelvis ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Balloon pulnounary valvuloplasty is an established method in the treatment of congenital valvular pulmonary stenosis. Balloon valvuloplasty was performed by using one or two balloons in a total of 19 mongrel dogs. Cross sectional area ratio ranging 145-406% was used to compare the relative sizes of the pulmonary annulus the balloon Hemodynamic changes and cardiac damages in single and double balloon groups were analyzed. Survival time of double balloon group was longer than that of single balloon group(P<0.05). Increment of the right ven?dular systolic pressure in single balloon group (mean 38 mmHg) was greater than that in double balloon group (mean 18 mmHg) (p<0.05). Decrement of the femoral arterial pressure in single balloon group (mean 87 mmHg) was greater than in double balloon group (mean 41 mmHg) (p<0.05). The locations of trauma were mainly the right ventricular free wall, the main pulmonary artery, the anterior leaflet of the pulmonary valve and in a less degree, anterior wall of the right atrium, the right ventricular outflow tract and the left pulmonary artery in the order of frequency. There were no significant differences in cardiac damages between single and double balloon groups (P>0.05). Major microscopic findings were sloughing of the endotheliu, fibrin deposition, hemorrhage, localized myocardial infarction and so on. In conclusion, double balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty is superior to single balloon technique in survival time and hemodynamics. Therefore, double, balloon technique is recommended for the pulmonary valvuloplasty.
Animals ; Arterial Pressure ; Balloon Valvuloplasty ; Blood Pressure ; Catheters* ; Dogs ; Fibrin ; Heart Atria ; Hemodynamics ; Hemorrhage ; Methods ; Myocardial Infarction ; Pulmonary Artery ; Pulmonary Valve ; Pulmonary Valve Stenosis

Balloon pulnounary valvuloplasty is an established method in the treatment of congenital valvular pulmonary stenosis. Balloon valvuloplasty was performed by using one or two balloons in a total of 19 mongrel dogs. Cross sectional area ratio ranging 145-406% was used to compare the relative sizes of the pulmonary annulus the balloon Hemodynamic changes and cardiac damages in single and double balloon groups were analyzed. Survival time of double balloon group was longer than that of single balloon group(P<0.05). Increment of the right ven?dular systolic pressure in single balloon group (mean 38 mmHg) was greater than that in double balloon group (mean 18 mmHg) (p<0.05). Decrement of the femoral arterial pressure in single balloon group (mean 87 mmHg) was greater than in double balloon group (mean 41 mmHg) (p<0.05). The locations of trauma were mainly the right ventricular free wall, the main pulmonary artery, the anterior leaflet of the pulmonary valve and in a less degree, anterior wall of the right atrium, the right ventricular outflow tract and the left pulmonary artery in the order of frequency. There were no significant differences in cardiac damages between single and double balloon groups (P>0.05). Major microscopic findings were sloughing of the endotheliu, fibrin deposition, hemorrhage, localized myocardial infarction and so on. In conclusion, double balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty is superior to single balloon technique in survival time and hemodynamics. Therefore, double, balloon technique is recommended for the pulmonary valvuloplasty.
Animals ; Arterial Pressure ; Balloon Valvuloplasty ; Blood Pressure ; Catheters* ; Dogs ; Fibrin ; Heart Atria ; Hemodynamics ; Hemorrhage ; Methods ; Myocardial Infarction ; Pulmonary Artery ; Pulmonary Valve ; Pulmonary Valve Stenosis

PURPOSE: To describe the radiological differences between tuberculous(TBB) and non-tuberculous bronchiectasis(NTBB). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Chest radiographs(n=62), bronchograms(n=18), and CT scans(n=52) of 37 patients with TBB and 25 patients with NTBB were reviewed retrospectively. Diagnostic basis for TBB were positive sputum AFB with or without history of anti-tuberculous chemotherapy(n=35), and radiological findings of pulmonary tuberculosis (n=2). Four of NTBB had a history of severe respiratory tract infection in childhood. RESULTS: Air-fluid levels on chest radiographs were seen in 2% of TBB, and 20% of NTBB. On bronchograms, all patients with TBB had combined focal bronchostenosis, whereas patients with NTBB had tubular(50%), cystic(17%), or mixed(33%) pattern of dilatation without stenosis. On CT scans, focal emphysema was seen in 86% of the patients with TBB, and 38% of the patients with NTBB. Peribronchiolar infiltration were seen in 78% and 44% of patients with TBB and NTBB, retrospectively. CONCLUSION: Basic radiological difference between TBB and NTBB was that the former had coexistent sten.
Bronchiectasis* ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Dilatation ; Humans ; Pulmonary Emphysema ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; Retrospective Studies ; Sputum ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

BACKGROUND: A fully automated enzyme-immunoassay (EIA) analyzer, Enzymun System, ES-300 (Boehringer Mannheim, Germany) uses streptavidin technology and performs single test or panels of up to 12 tests per run. We evaluated the results of ES-300 for anti-HCV by comparing the results with microplate-EIA, radioimmunoassay (RIA), and confirmatory test. METHODS: Total 79 sera (51 positive, 24 negative, 4 indeterminate results confirmed by Lucky HCD Confirm) were analysed. ES-300 with Enzymun-Test(R) Anti-HCV (Boehringer Mannheim, Germany) and microplate-EIA (Green Cross Center Innotest HCV 3.0(R)) were used. Fifty one sera were examined additionally by 2nd-generation RIA method, NANBDINE 125C(General Biologicals Corp., R.O.C.). And all results were compared to the results of Lucky HCD Confirm. RESULTS: The overall concordance rate of ES-300 and Innotest(R) was 72/79 (91.1%). The results of Lucky HCD Confirm on seven discrepant samples were five negative and two indeterminate. The results of ES-300 and NANBDINE 125C showed concordance rate of 90.2%. The sensitivity and specificity of ES-300 with regard to Lucky HCD Confirm were 94.5%, and 87.5%, respectively, and that of Innotest(R) were 98.2% and 66.7%, respectively. Clear distinction of positive and negative results by signal/cut off ratio was available in both EIAs. The positive predictive values of ES-300 and Innotest(R) were 94.5%, and 87.1%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: ES-300 showed relatively good results in sensitivity and positive predictive value with regard to confirmatory test. In EIA-positive persons, however, follow-up study would be necessary for reliable evaluation of HCV infection.
Humans ; Radioimmunoassay ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Streptavidin