In this report we describe twenty-two cases of intracranial tumors studied with an MR imager operating at a field strength of 0.064 T for evaluation of the clinical utility of low tesla MRI. The comfirmed diagnoses were meningioma(9 cases), astrocytoma(4 cases), glioblastoma multiforme(1 case), craniopharyngioma(2 cases), intracranial metastasis(1 case). pituitary microadenoma (1 case), hemangioblastoma (1 case), and trigerminal neurilemmoma(1 case). Meningiomas appeared as well-marginated, homogenous signal intensity masses(67%) in most cases. Most meningiomas showed iso-signal intensity(78%) on T1-weighted images, and high signal intensity on T2-weighted images. After Gd-DTPA enhancement, diffuse homogeneous contrast enhancement(75%) was well see. The multiple hemorrhagic foci within the glioblastoma multiforme were identified, which shoed high signal intensity on T1-weighted images and low signal intensity on T2-weighted images(intracellular methemoglobin), or high signal intensity on both T1 and T2-weighted images(extracellular methemoglobin). One case of cerebellar hemangioblastoma was a well-defined cystic mass with contrast enhanced mural nodule but no identification of characteristic signal void vessels. The remianing tumors showed low signal intensity on T1-weighted images, and high signal intensity on T2-weighted images. Gd-DTPA enhancement was helpful in separating the lesion from the surrounding edema or normal tissue, but had limited diagnostic value in characterizing the nature of the mass. The advantages of low tesla MRI are as follows on requirement of cooling water or electricity, open design, shorter T1 relaxation time compared with high tesla unit that increases the difference of T1-relaxation time between tissues, ease of installation, and cost effectiveness. In conclusion, the low tesla MRI is useful for the detection and evaluation of the brain tumors.
Brain Neoplasms ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Diagnosis ; Edema ; Electricity ; Gadolinium DTPA ; Glioblastoma ; Hemangioblastoma ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Meningioma ; Relaxation ; Water

No abstract available.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects and usefulness of fiuroscopy guided celiac ganglion block after marking of needle path with CT scan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Celiac ganglion block with 100% ethyl alcohol was performed in 50 cancer patients who were inoperable and had intractable abdominal pain. Duration and degree of pain relief after the procedure and its complication were analyzed. RESULTS: Early pain relief was observed in 98% and long term relief in 68% without serious complication. CONCLUSION: Fluoroscopy guided celiac ganglion block after marking of needle path with CT scan was a safe and valuable procedure in relieving intractable pain in terminal cancer patients and reduced the time in the CT room.
Abdominal Pain ; Ethanol ; Fluoroscopy* ; Ganglia, Sympathetic* ; Humans ; Needles ; Pain, Intractable ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Clinical study was done on 119 patients with atrial fibrillation in the aspect of underlying diseases, particulary. The results were as follow : 1) In the underlying diseases of atrial finbrillation, rheumatic heart disease, hepertension and ischemic heart disease were common, which occupied 27.8%, 22.7% and and 15.1%, respectly. No apparent underlying disease was found in 21.0%, but in the transient atrial fibrillation, no apparent underlying disease in 42.9%. 2) There were no significant correlations between the ventricular rate, amplitude of f wave and underlying diseases of atrial fibrillation. 3) Complications were found in 29.4% of all cases, such as congestive heart failure(22.7%), embolism(6.7%). Otherwise, atrial fibrillation without underying cardiovascular diseases, congestive heart failure was found only(7.7%).
Atrial Fibrillation* ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Heart ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Rheumatic Heart Disease

The nuclear accumulation of p53 protein is known to correspond with mutation of p53 tumor supressor gene. To investigate the relationsbip between clinico-pathologic features and expression of p53 mutations, 65 cases of primary cervical carcinoma were analysed by an immunohistochemieal method using monoclonal antibody of p53. Immunostaining demonstrated varioua nuclear stinings of cancer cells in 48.4% of squamous cell carcinoma(51.9% in large cell carcinoma and 25.0% in small cell carcinomas) and 23.5% of adenocarcinoma(p<0.05) No differences in clinical stage and p53 positivity were found. There was no significant correlation between p53 positive cases and status of recurrence. This data suggests that p53 protein is not correlated with the disease progression and prognosis.
Carcinoma, Large Cell ; Cervix Uteri* ; Disease Progression ; Female ; Genes, p53* ; Prognosis ; Recurrence

Bleomycin is well recognized as an antineoplastic agent. Pulmonary toxicity is the most significant complication of bleomycin administration. The purpose of this study was to determine whether Captopril(an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor) can ameliorate pulmonary toxicity induced by bleomycin. Eighty mice were divided into two groups. The control group(n=40) received only bleomycin, and the other experimental group(n=40) received bleomycin in combination with captopril. Bleomycin was administered intraperitoneally to the mice, 8 mg/kg twice a week for 5 weeks. Captopril was administered in the feed at a regimen of 50 mg/kg everyday for 5 weeks. The animals were sacrified at 6 weeks later. Morphometric analysis with light microscopy was performed to the following parameters: the number of total pulmonary: cell count, percentage of consolidation of lung parenchyma and degree of fibrosis of lung parenchyma. The results were as follows; 1) In the control group, the number of total pulmonary cell count were 23.30+/-4.35/10(-8) m2 and the percentage of consolidation was 13.9+/-7.l%(P<0.01). 2) In the experimental group, the number of total pulmonary cell count were 18.39+/-3.48/10(-5) m2 and the percentage of consolidation was 9.8+/-4.8%(P<0.01). 3) There were no typical findings of pulmonary fibrosis in Massons trichrome stain, but early fibrotic change in the portion of severe consolidation and alveolar septal thickening in some control group. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that captopril ameliorates the pulmonary toxicity by bleomycin in the mice.
Animals ; Bleomycin* ; Captopril* ; Cell Count ; Fibrosis ; Lung ; Mice* ; Microscopy ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; Pulmonary Fibrosis

No abstract available.
Pregnancy*

Supine exercise test was done with bicycle ergometer and echocardiography in 28 patients with chronic aortic regurgitation. Ejection fraction was measured before and immediately after exercise from echocardiography, wall stress and radius/thickness ratio was calculated from echocardiography and systolic blood pressure. 1. There was no difference in left ventricular end systolic and diastolic dimension, ejection fraction at rest, radius/thickness ratio, wall stress between NYHA functional class I, II, III. But work capacity was greater in NYHA class I than in class II, III(39712+/-10778 watt-sec, 23766+/-14280 watt-sec, 11968+/-6052 watt-sec respectively). Ejection fraction after exercise was significantly increased in class I(66.3+/-8.9% at rast vs 71.3+/-10.7% after exercise). 2. Ejection fraction was increased more than 5% in 12 patients(group I) and increased less than 5% or decreased in 16 patients(group II). There was no difference in basal E.F., Ded, Des and postexercise heart rate-blod pressure product between group I and II. But between group I and II, there was significant difference in diastolic redius/thickness ratio(2.55+/-0.30 vs 3.00+/-0.51), mean radius/thickness ratio(1.86+/-0.23 vs 2.18+/-0.30), systolic wall stress(192.3+/-38.6mmHg vs 240.2+/-57.7mmHg), mean wall stress(265.8mmHg vs 334.8+/-68.7mmHg) and work capacity(33848+/-12682 watt-sec vs 19210+/-12342 watt-sce). 3. Work capacity was more than 23800 watt-sec in 16 patients(group A), and less than 23800 watt-sec in 12 patients(group B). There was no difference in ejection fraction at rest, radius/thickness ratio, wall stress, and left ventricular dimension. But ejection fraction after exercise was significantly different between group A and B(68.6+/-14.6% vs 55.8+/-14.2%). 4. In nine patients with end systolic dimension greater than 50 mm ejection fraction was decreased or increased less than 5% in 7 patients. So mean ejection fraction was significantly decreased after exercise(56.8+/-7.5% at rest, 51.0+/-16.3% after exercise).
Aortic Valve Insufficiency* ; Blood Pressure ; Echocardiography* ; Exercise Test ; Heart ; Humans

We present a patient with ischemic lumbar plexopathy due to unilateral obstruction of iliolumbar artery, a branch of internal iliac artery. Although most parts of lumbar plexus and femoral nerve have rich vascularization and therefore are resistant to ischemic injury, but their poorly vascularized intrapelvic portions are vulnerable to ischeniic insults caused by stenosis or obstruction of internal iliac artery and/or its branch. So in lumbar plexopathy, angiograhpy with many other extensive examinations shoud be recommended for differentiation from various causes.
Arteries* ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Femoral Nerve ; Humans ; Iliac Artery ; Lumbosacral Plexus

Neurilemmoma, also refired to as Schwannoma, neurinoma and perineural fibroblastoma, is well capsulated solitary tumor of Schwann cell origin. The most common sites for benign solitary neurilemmoma are the extremities or the head and neck region. In the retroperitoneum, they are commonly seen in the presacral region. It is incidentally detected and confirmed by pathologic findings. We report a case of retroperitoneal neurilemmoma arising from adjacent to kidney, in 49 years old man.
Extremities ; Head ; Humans ; Kidney* ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; Neurilemmoma*