PURPOSE: Three-dimensional(3D) magnetic resonance(MR) projection imaging was evaluated as a noninvasive alternative to direct cholangiography for the assessment of its reliability in patients with obsructive jaundice. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A heavily T2-weighted gradient-echo sequence(PSIF) was used for 3D MR projecion imaging of the biliary system in five healthy volunteers and 25 patients with obstructive jaundice. The 3D images of the bile ducts were formed by stacking consecutive coronal MR images obtained with a fast imaging method to a maximum-intensity projection algorithm. RESULTS: In the volunteers, MR cholangiography could demonstrate the anatomy of the biliary tract in only two subjects. The extrahepatic and intraheparic bile ducts were well visualized in 23 patients with obstructive jaundice. The leve of obstruction and the grade of dilatation were dipicted with MR cholangiography in all cases. And the cause of obstruction could be determined with MR cholangiography in 18 cases, MR cholangiography was successful in two patients in whom ERCP failed. The gallbladder or dilated pancreatic duct not demonstrated by means of direct cholangiography was demonstrated with MR cholangiography in six cases.
Bile Ducts ; Biliary Tract ; Cholangiography* ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Dilatation ; Gallbladder ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Jaundice ; Jaundice, Obstructive* ; Pancreatic Ducts ; Volunteers

No abstract available.
Child* ; Cyclosporine* ; Humans ; Nephrosis, Lipoid*

No abstract available.
Hearing*

Twenty five patients (twenty seven hips) who had Chiari osteotomy at Kang Nam St. Marys Hospital between 1980 and 1995 were reviewed to evaluate the factors in the operative technique that contribute to successful outcome and assess the clinical results in various conditions. The length of follow-up ranged from one to fourteen years and the age of at operation ranged from four to twentythree years. Eighteen patients had developmental dysplasia of the hip: four, septic hip: three had another disorders, Prior to the Chiari osteotomy, fourteen hips had an femoral osteotomy and four, trochanteric arthroplasty. We used to the standard osteotomy as described by Chiari with certain modification. A pneumatic saw and osteotome are used instead of Gigli saw. This technique is simple procedure to make the correct level and angle. Bone graft was not performed in all cases even the osteotomy was displaced more than 50 percent of the iliac width. The overall results were 12 excellent, eight good, five fair, and two poor. In eleven patients, the osteotomy had to be displaced more than 50 percent to provide good coverage of the femoral head. Their results were good or excellent. A good result will be obtained if enough attention is paid to displacing the osteotomy. The osteotomy using the pneumatic saw provides accurate level and direction of osteotomy and it is an simple procedure also.
Adolescent* ; Arthroplasty ; Child* ; Femur ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head ; Hip ; Humans ; Osteotomy* ; Transplants

BACKGROUND: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are among the most important threats to patient safety. When hospitalized children face these threats, there is morbidity, mortality, prolonged hospitalization, and increased healthcare costs. Research on local healthcare epidemiology is necessary to enhance collective knowledge and evidence formanaging this problem. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of databases of patients who were diagnosed with HAIs at Chung-Ang University Hospital (CAUH) from 2007 through 2011. Cases were selected from the microbiology registry databases. The data on prevalence of HAIs in various wards and its annual trends were compared to previously reported nationwide data. Moreover, we analyzed the patterns of antibiotic susceptibility results for HAI pathogens. RESULTS: A total of 181 HAIs were identified in 122 patients. The HAI rate among pediatric patients at CAUH was 2.4/1,000 person-hospital days. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) (53 episodes, 29.3%) were the most common, followed by pneumonia (33 episodes, 18.2%). Staphylococcus aureus was found to be the most common gram-positive organism, whereas Escherichia coli was the most common gram-negative organism. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) comprised 84% of the S. aureus infections. Imipenem resistance was detected in 58.8% and 55.0% of Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates, respectively. CONCLUSION: Between 2007 and 2011, UTIs were the most common type of HAIs, and MRSA was the most common pediatric HAI pathogen, both in the general ward and intensive care unit at the CAUH. Further research on the epidemiology and pathogenesis of HAIs is necessary and prevention measures should be implemented to prevent HAIs in children.
Acinetobacter baumannii ; Child ; Child, Hospitalized ; Delivery of Health Care ; Escherichia coli ; Health Care Costs ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Imipenem ; Intensive Care Units ; Methicillin Resistance ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Patient Safety ; Patients' Rooms ; Pneumonia ; Prevalence ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; Retrospective Studies ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Urinary Tract Infections

No abstract available.
Heart Arrest* ; Resuscitation*

It has been shown that wornen with endometriosis have several immunological defects. The effect of interleukin-2 (IL-2) for the treatment of induced endometriosis in rat was studied. The results obtained are as followings: proliferation of epithelium is increased, and the inner surface is undulated with 1.5 nM IL-2. In 7.5 nM IL-2, the epithelial cells are changed to columar ones, and secretory hobs are observed at the apex of individual cell. Secretory activity of epithelium is increased with 0.5 nM IL-2, and apoptosis of the epithelial cell is observed in 15 nM IL-2. The levels of progesterone and estradiol in sera of rat were increased after treatment with IL-2 and were highest in the concentration of 1.5 nM IL-2. The results of this study can be a guide in the development of new therapeutic approaches for the treatment of endometriosis.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Endometriosis ; Epithelial Cells ; Epithelium ; Estradiol ; Female ; Interleukin-2* ; Progesterone ; Rats*

Percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty(PTRA) has become the treatment of choice for major renal artery stenosis. Nonetheless, about 10% of renal artery stenosis could not be properly dilated and 10-15% had a recurrence among the parients successfully dilated. Especially, PTRA in Takayasu's arteritis has technical diffculties due to the tough, noncompliant nature of the stenosis, which art difficult to cross and resist the respeated, prolonged balloon inflations. Intraluminal renal artery stent placement in unsuccessful balloon angioplasty and unsuitable lesions to PTRA may be an attractive approach to improve flow conditions. We report two cases of proximal renal artery stenosis caused by Takayasu's arteritis, who treated with intraluminal renal stenting(Palmaz-Schatz biliary stent). In both cases, clinical and angiographical improvement was achieved.
Angioplasty, Balloon ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Recurrence ; Renal Artery Obstruction* ; Renal Artery* ; Stents* ; Takayasu Arteritis*

BACKGROUND: Patency of the infarct-related coronary artery may influence LV remodeling, provide a more stable electrophysiologic milieu and improves the outcome of patient with acute myocardioal infarction. The result from clinical trials have confirmed that early reperfusion in humans induced by a thrombolytic agent is associated with limitation of infarct size, preservation of ventricular function, and improved survival. The purpose of this study was evaluate the effect of thrombolytic therapy on the severity of the residual stenosis, antegrade flow of infarct-related coronary artery after acute myocardial infarction, and investigate left ventricular function and regianal wall motion abnormality depending on the thrombolytic therapy. METHODS: A retrosperctive study was performed in 166 patients with acute myocardial infarction with underwent coronary angiography within 8 days after acute attack from Oct. 1990 to Sep. 1994. Patients were grouped as thrombolysis group(n=64) who had undertaken urokinase infusion therapy within 6 hours of symptom onset and conservatively treated group(n=102) who had not received thrombolytic trerapy. At 8+/-7days, cardiac catheterization was performed. Status of the infarct related artery was assessed by resiudal % diameter stenosis, TIMI and collateral trading. Left ventricular function and wall motion were analyzed. RESULTS: 1) The was no statistical differenccs in age, sex and risk factors(diabetes, hypertension, smoking and hypercholesterolemia)between two groups. 2) The peak serum CK level was higher(2719+/-2333 vs 1951+/-2064 IU/L) and time to peak CK enzyme level was shorter(19+/-13 vs 32+/-24 hr) in thrombolysis group than conservatively treated group. 3) There was lower incidence of total occlusion(12.5% vs 30.4%), residual % diameter stenosis of infarct-related artery(67+/-34% vs 80+/-27%) and better antegrade flow(TIMI grade 0-1, 12.5% vs 32.4%) in thrombolysis group than conservatively treated group(p<0.05). 4) There were no statistical differences of ejection fraction(51+/-15 vs 51+/-14%). left ventricular end diastolic pressure(21+/-10 vs 21+/-16mmHg) and regional wall motion score(8.6+/-3.4 vs 9.1+/-3.1) between thrombolysis group and conservatively treated group(p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Thrombolytic therapy in acute myocardial infarction resulted in dquisition of early infarct-related arterial patency, effectiove antegrade flow and reduced incidence of totoal occlusion of infarct-related artery. Left ventricular ejection fraciton, regional wall motion score was not affected by thrombolytioc therapy in inhospital period.
Arteries ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Vessels* ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Infarction ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Reperfusion ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Thrombolytic Therapy ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator ; Ventricular Function ; Ventricular Function, Left*

PURPOSE: Excitotoxic injury of the dendrites of inhibitory interneurons could lead to decrease in their synaptic activation, and explain subsequent local circuit hyperexcitability and epilepsy. A hallmark of dendrotoxicity at least in principal neurons of the hippocampus and cortex are focal or varicose swellings of dendritic abors. This research was designed to study morphologic changes of interneuron dendrite in kainate-treated hippocampal slice culture overtime. METHODS: Cultures aged 15-16 Equivalent Postnatal Days (EPD) were exposed to 10 microM kainic acid (KA), and analyzed at 0, 8, 24, 48, 72 hours after transient (1 hour) KA exposure. Neuronal injury was determined by morphologic changes of interneuron dendrites in area CA1 of DiI stained sections. RESULTS: 1) Transient (1 hour) exposure of hippocampal explant cultures to KA produced marked focal swellings of the dendrites of DiI stained interneurons in a highly reproducible manner. 2) The presence of focal swellings was reversible with kainate washout. The dendrites of KA treated explants were no longer beaded at 8, 24, 48, 72 hours after KA exposure. 3) There was no significant difference in the thickness of dendrites in DiI stained interneuron among 8hr, 24hr, 48hr and 72hr recovery group, compared with control group. CONCLUSION: The presence of focal swellings was reversible with kainate washout, and was not accompanied by interneuronal cell death.
Cell Death ; Dendrites* ; Epilepsy ; Hippocampus ; Interneurons* ; Kainic Acid ; Neurons