We designed software system to detect intermittent arrhythmia from the patients automatically. To overcome the difficulties on real-time processing, we used four variavles; heart rate, QS width, morpholigy and axis. Templete generation routine was designed to produce patient's individual normal ECG pattern and store in the computer. The most important point of automatic detection is to discriminate the Q and J point. It is done by linear phase differentiation, the point that five point gradient is within a minimum value of 6Hz curve gradient is defined as Q and J points. The morphology calculation is simplified by simple addition and substraction, making real-time processing by modified cross correlation method. We find that both value of morphology and QS width will be used as a parameter of datermining the abnormalities of ECG signal automatically.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac* ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Electrocardiography ; Heart Rate ; Humans

PURPOSE: We investigated the role of myocardial perfusion SPECT in prediction of ventricular dilatation and the role of revascularization including thrombolytic therapy and PTCA in prevention of ventricular dilatation after an acute myocardial infarction (AMI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed dipyridamole stress, 4 hour redistribution, and 24 hour reinjection Tl-201 SPECT in 16 patients with AMI two to nine days after attack. Perfusion and wall motion abnormalities were quantified by perfusion index (PI) and wall motion index (WMI). Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), WMI and ventricular volume were measured within 1 week of AMI and after average of 6 months. According to serial changes of left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), patients were divided into two groups. We compared WMI, PI and LVEF between the two groups. Relationships among degree of volume, stress-rest PI, WMI, CKMB, Q wave, LVEF and revascularization were analysed using multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Only initial rest perfusion index was significantly different between the two groups (p<0.05). While initial LVEF, stress PI, CKMB, trial of revascularization procedure, presence of Q wave and WMI were not significantly different between the two groups. Eight of 16 patients (50%) showed LV dilatation on follow-up echocardiography. Three of 3 patients (100%) who did not undergo revascualrization procedure documented LV dilatation. And only 5 (38%) of the remaining 13 patients who underwent revascularization revealed LV dilatation. There was no difference in infarct location between the two groups. By multivariate linear regression analysis in patients only undergoing revascularization, rest perfusion index was the only significant factor. CONCLUSION: Myocardial perfusion SPECT performed prior to revascularization was useful in prediction of LV dilatation after an AMI. Rest perfusion index on myocardial perfusion plays as a significant predictor of left ventricular dilatation after AMI. And revascularization appears to be a valuable procedure in alleviating LV dilatation after AMI with or without viable myocardium in a limited number of patients studied retrospectively.
Dilatation ; Dipyridamole ; Echocardiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Multivariate Analysis ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Myocardium ; Perfusion* ; Retrospective Studies ; Stroke Volume ; Thrombolytic Therapy ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon* ; Ventricular Remodeling*

Generalized perforating granuloma annulare is a rare variant of granuloma. annulare, which was first described by Duncan et al 1) in 1973. A 21-year-old female had hundreds of 3 to 5mm papules over the whole body, which were mainly distributed in the extremities and trunk since three months ago. Individual papules developed a central umbilication with a peripheral collarette of scale. Histopathologic examination showed an epidermal perforation and transepidermal elimination of necrobiotic material. The epidermal perforation communicated with areas of necrobiotic collagen surrounded by palisading granulorna in the dermis. We treated her with oral prednisolone and dapsone, but there was no clinical improvement.
Collagen ; Dapsone ; Dermis ; Extremities ; Female ; Granuloma Annulare* ; Granuloma* ; Humans ; Prednisolone ; Young Adult

A new balloon dissector, a modification of a Foley catheter, was devised and it can be used either as a dissector or a tissue expander. Since most operating time was spent in balloon manipulation (inflation/deflation), the duct for saline injection was made to be wider than the Foley catheter. As a result, the balloon could be inflated faster than before. In order to reduce the scar at the donor site, harvest of the sural nerve using endoscopic technique is currently applied, but utilization of this method is technically difficult and requires a long operating time. For these reasons, new our method of using a balloon dissector was devised. The balloon dissector can also be used for immediate intraoperative tissue expansion for the reconstruction of small skin defects without distortion. We have found that the advantages of using the new balloon dissector include a reduction in operating time, preservation of the perforating vessels, and primary closure with less tension. In addition, this simple and inexpensive instrument is cost-beneficial to patients.
Catheters ; Cicatrix ; Humans ; Skin ; Sural Nerve ; Tissue Donors ; Tissue Expansion ; Tissue Expansion Devices

We have experienced a case of infantile nephritic syndrome confirmed by renal biopsy in a 13-month-old female patient who showed and develop mental retardation and persistent proteinuria. She revealed mild eyelid edema, joint laxity, delayed speech development and adrenal cortical calcification on the radiologic study. Renal biopsy showed microcystic tubular change, micro-glomeruli and marked mesangial proliferation.
Biopsy ; Edema ; Eyelids ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Intellectual Disability ; Joint Instability ; Nephrotic Syndrome* ; Proteinuria

The glomus coccygeum is a glomus body located close to the tip of the coccyx. Because of its large size and multiple anastomotic channels, it mimics glomus tumor. It is very unfamiliar to the pathologits. We describe a case of glomus coccygeum incidentally found associated with coccygeal dimple from 5-month-old infant.
Infant ; Male ; Female ; Humans

As the number of primary total knee arthroplasties (TKA) have increased, there has been a corresponding increase in the number of revision TKAs. The purpose of the this study is to report on the follow-up results of 50 revision TKAs, and to assess their clinical outcome. From January 1990 to December 1995, 50 revision TKAs were perfomed in 43 patients, by one surgeon. Mean follow up time was 2.5 years (range, 1 to 6 years). The mean interval from the initial arthroplasty to revision was 4.6 years (range, 3 months-12.6 years). The causes of the revision were wear of polyethylene in 29 joints (58%), infection in seven (14%) and aseptic loosening in six. The revision components were fixed with cement in all cases. Additional fixations were obtained with modular stems (femoral 11 cases, tibial 13 cases), 9 tibial metal wedges, 7 femoral augmentations, and 12 allografts. The Knee Rating Scale of Hospital for Special Surgery was used for clinical assessment. The mean flexion contracture and further flexion of knee joint were 8.8degrees (range, 0-70degrees), 98.5degrees (range, 5-135degrees) preoperatively, and 3.7degrees (range, 0-15degrees), 112degrees (range, 75-135degrees) postoperatively. The Knee Rating Scale improved from 66.5 points (range, 15-83) to 87.5 points (range, 79-98). There were two cases of complications, dislocation of patella and superficial wound problem in each case. In conclusion, wear was the most common cause of failure of primary TKA. The results of revision in infected TKA were less favorable than that of wear and loosening. The prosthetic design and thickness of polyethylene were the most important factors related to wear. The tibial component of PCA and patellar component of Miller-Galante had significant wear problems.
Allografts ; Arthroplasty* ; Contracture ; Dislocations ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Joints ; Knee Joint ; Knee* ; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis ; Patella ; Polyethylene ; Wounds and Injuries

Primary pulmonary tuberculosis is one of the common pulmonary disease affecting children in Korea. Simple chest film is essential in diagnosis of primary pulmonary tuberculosis, but it is difficult to interpret the findings in some cases. Authors reviewed chest films of 162 cases of clinically confirmed primary pulmonary tuberculosis from April 1978 to June 1981 at Seoul National University Hospital. The results are as follows; 1. Lymph node enlargement, either hilar or mediastinal, was found in 82.7% and pulmonary parenchymal infiltration in74%. 2. Incidence of unilateral and bilateral hilar lymph node enlargement is about 50% (81cases) and 30% (49cases) respectively. Incidence of unilateral and bilateral mediastinal lymph node enlargement is about 21% (34cases) and 4.3% (7 cases), more common in right side. 3. Pulmonary parenchymal lesion is demonstrated in 74% (120cases). The pattern of primary focus is as follows in order; patchy infiltration 47% (76 cases) linear-streaky infiltration 15% (25 cases), lobar or segmental homogenous infiltration 9% (14 cases), nodular infiltration 4% (7cases). The primary focus of right lung is two times as common as that of left. 4. Calcification in primary focusis noted in about 27% in pulmonary parenchyma and 49% in hilum. 5. Plerual effusion is identified in 10%, but pleural effusion without pulmonary parenchymal lesion or lymph node enlargement is noted in only 2% (3 cases).
Child ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Lung ; Lung Diseases ; Lymph Nodes ; Pleural Effusion ; Seoul ; Thorax ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

BACKGROUND: The skin changes of X-linked recessive ichthyosis are cnused by the deficiency of the enzyme steroid sulfatase, which usually results from deletions of this gene in Caucasian populations. OBJECTIVE AND MEHTODS: To disgnose X-linked recessive ichthyosis and detect its carrier, we have investigated distinctive gene deletion and measured gene dosage of steroid sulfatase gene by southern blot hybridization in Korean patients with X-linked recessive ichthyosis. RESULTS: Patients from 8 of 9 unrelated families exhibited deletions, if the steroid sulfatase gene. Of 6 families showing a family history compatible with X-linked recessive inheritance, One family exhibited a normal pattern of hybridization. All but one family showed deletion of steroid sulfatase gene. All three patients lacking a fami1y history of the disease exhibited gene deletions. The ratio of the steroid sulfatsse specific band density to the Factor VIII specific band density was measured in 8 obligate carriers using a laser densitometer. The average ratio exhibited by the car riers was less than half that of normal women. Conclusian: These results suggest that the X-linked recessive ichth osis patient and its carrier can also be diagnosed and detected by Southern blot hybridization of steroid sulfatase gene in Korea.
Blotting, Southern* ; Diagnosis* ; Factor VIII ; Female ; Gene Deletion ; Gene Dosage ; Humans ; Ichthyosis* ; Korea ; Skin ; Steryl-Sulfatase ; Wills

Bullae and sweat gland necrosis have been often described in patients with mental ges, whieh commonly alanifested as erythematous or vesicobullaus lesions on pressure sites. Histopathologically, the aecrosis of sweat glands is a characteristic 6nding. Generalized and/or loca1 tlssue bypoxia due to prolonged ieamobihxation may have resulted in these clinical and histopakological manifestations. To date, we have experielwed 15 cases with bulla and sweat gland necrosis. On admission, about half the patients had carbon monoxide poisoning, and the remainders had alcohol overdosage, drug inioxication, and others. A11 our patients had menfal changes caused by carbon wonoxide poisening, aleohol intoxication, and others. Abrupt erythematous swelling and/or vesicobullous lesione affected pressure sites in all patients. Three patietns had erythematoias lesiqms on non-pressure sites simuhtaneously. Histopathologic examinatians of 12 biopsy specimes showed the necrosis of the epidermis, intra- or sub-epidermal bulla, and/or sweat gland necrosis.
Biopsy ; Carbon ; Carbon Monoxide Poisoning ; Epidermis ; Humans ; Necrosis* ; Sweat Glands* ; Sweat*