No Abstract Available.
Diagnosis* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay* ; Flagellin* ; Leptospirosis*

Livedo vasculitis is thought to be a thrombogenic disorder that is related to the autoimmune disease. It clinically shows purplish mottling and recurrent painful ulcers in the lower extremities, leaving atrophie blanche after healing of the ulcers. Histopathologic finding are thrombotic occlusion in the mid-dermal vessels without necrotizing vasculitis. The therapeutic approach has largely been made by the use of drugs that stimulate endogenous fibrinolytic activitiy, that inhibit thrombus formation, or that cause vasodilation, but surgical intervention by excision and skin graftion has rarely been reported as a primary treatment.In our experience, two patients with livedo vasculitis, who had been unresponsive to various medications, were treated with wide excision and several times of skin grafting. And they experienced complete healing without recurrence.
Autoimmune Diseases ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Recurrence ; Skin ; Skin Transplantation ; Thrombosis ; Ulcer ; Vasculitis* ; Vasodilation

Percutaneous mitral ballon valvuloplasty(PMV) is an effective nonsurgical procedure for patients with mitral stenosis. PMV was performed in 13 patients(mean age, 41 years) with mitral stenosis. All patients underwent echophonocardiography(Echophono) before and after PMV. Two dilatation balloons were used in which the diameters approximately equaled the mitral valve annulus diameter as determined. After PMV, the mean mitral valve pressure gradient decreased(22.3+/-1.89mmHg to 5.2+/-2.6mmHg), the mean left atrial pressure decreased(21.3+/-5.1mmHg to 9.0+/-4.5mmHg) and the mitral valve area increased from 0.8+/-0.3cm2 to 1.7+/-0.6cm2. The Echophono data are correlated with clinical and hemodynamic changes produced by PMV. PMV resulted in echophono changes consistent with decresed severity of mitral stenosis ; shortening of Q-S1, from 88+/-14 to 73+/-11 mses(p<0.01) and (Q-S1)-(S2-OS), from 0.9+/-1.7 to -2.1+/-1.6(p<0.001) ; prolongation of S2-OS from 80+/-15 to 103+/-14 msec(p<0.001) and increase of EF slope from 14.7+/-5.4 to 26.7+/-8.1 mm/sec(p<0.001). Compared with pre-PMV, post-PMV Echophono showed significant decrease in the severity of mitral stenosis. Thus Echophono is a simple, low cost method helpful in evaluation and follow-up patients undergoing PMV.
Atrial Pressure ; Balloon Valvuloplasty ; Dilatation ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Mitral Valve ; Mitral Valve Stenosis

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects and adverse side-effects of growth hormone (GH) therapy in children with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). METHODS: Forty-one patients who had been treated with GH for more than two years (24 boys and 17 girls, mean age 7.3+/-3.3 years during treatment initiation) were enrolled for this study. RESULTS: After 2 years of GH therapy, the height and weight standard deviation scores (SDS) increased significantly (- 1.19+/-1.37 vs. - 0.02+/-1.45, and 1.02+/-2.42 vs. 1.63+/-2.22, P<0.002); however the percentage body fat decreased (44.6+/-9.9% vs. 38.1+/-10.5%, P<0.001). Further, no change was observed in the thyroid and serum glucose levels, but the total cholesterol level decreased. GH therapy did not impact glucose control in the patients with diabetes. The most common adverse effects of GH therapy were the progression of scoliosis and adenoid hypertrophy. CONCLUSION: GH therapy improved the height SDS and body composition in patients with PWS. However, GH should be used with caution in patients with scoliosis and adenoid hypertrophy.
Adenoids ; Adipose Tissue ; Body Composition ; Child ; Cholesterol ; Glucose ; Growth Hormone ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Prader-Willi Syndrome ; Scoliosis ; Thyroid Gland

Experiments were designed to characterize the cellular mechanisms of action of endothelium-derived vasodilator substances in the rabbit femoral artery. Acetylcholine (ACh, 10(-8)-10(-5) M) induced a concentration-dependent relaxation of isolated endothelium-intact arterial rings precontracted with norepinephrine (NE, 10(-6) M). The ACh-induced response was abolished by the removal of endothelium. NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NAME, 10(-4) M), an inhibitor of NO synthase, partially inhibited ACh-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation, whereas indomethacin (10(-5) M) showed no effect on ACh-induced relaxation. 25 mM KCl partially inhibited ACh-induced relaxation by shifting the concentration-response curve and abolished the response when combined with L-NAME and NE. In the presence of L-NAME, ACh-induced relaxation was unaffected by glibenclamide (10(-5) M) but significantly reduced by apamin (10(-6) M), and almost completely blocked by tetraethylammonium (TEA, 10(-3) M), iberiotoxin (10(-7) M) and 4-aminopyridine (4-AP, 5 x 10(-3) M). The cytochrome P450 inhibitors, 7-ethoxyresorufin (7-ER, 10(-5) M) and miconazole (10(-5) M) also significantly inhibited ACh-induced relaxation. Ouabain (10(-6) M), an inhibitor of Na+, K(+)-ATPase, or K(+)-free solution, also significantly inhibited ACh-induced relaxation. ACh-induced relaxation was not significantly inhibited by 18-alpha-glycyrrhetinic acid (18 alpha-GA, 10(-4) M). These results of this study indicate that ACh-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation of the rabbit femoral artery occurs via a mechanism that involves activation of Na+, K(+)-ATPase and/or activation of both the voltage-gated K+ channel (Kv) and the large-conductance, Ca(2+)-activated K+ channel (BKCa). The results further suggest that EDHF released by ACh may be a cytochrome P450 product.
Acetylcholine/pharmacology ; Animal ; Biological Factors/physiology* ; Female ; Femoral Artery/physiology* ; Femoral Artery/drug effects ; In Vitro ; Male ; Potassium Channels/physiology* ; Rabbits ; Vasodilation/physiology ; Vasodilator Agents/pharmacology

We studied the incidence of spontaneous infarct related artery recanalization and it's effect on LV function in 120 patients with acute myocardial infarction by angiography within 1 month after onset of acute MI between Nov. 1983 to Sep. 1988. The total occlusion rate of the infarct related artery in 34 cases catheterized from 1st day to 7th day was 55.8%, that of 33 cases from 8th day to 14th day 51.5%, that of 32 cases from 15th day to 21th day 40.7% and that of 21 cases from 21th day to 30th day was 47.7%. These results suggest that spontaneous recanalization of infarct related artery has mainly occurred within 24 hours after acute MI. LV ejection fraction among those patients who showed spontaneous recanalization(n=59) was not significantly superior to those with persistent occlusion of the infarct related artery. Both anterior and inferior MI patients showed no difference in LV function as regard to whether they showed recanalization or persistent occlusion. Although early spontaneous reperfusion of the infarct related artery is not uncommon in acute MI, LV function was not influnced by the spontaneous recanalization at least until 1 month after MI.
Angiography ; Arteries ; Catheters ; Humans ; Incidence ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Reperfusion ; Ventricular Function, Left*

Plunging nasal tip is named on all situations with a long and drooping nose at rest. The severity increases with aging. Morphologically, the nose appears to invade the upper lip, which causes cosmetic problems. In more severe cases, the inspired air flow may be disturbed, leading to functional nasal obstruction. Plunging nasal tip is occasionally termed as smiling tip by some authors. We have classified the plunging nasal tip into 3 categories, based on the McCarthy's classification but with modification, which is more suitable for Asians. The study was undertaken with patients whose nasal tip looks like invade the upper lip, even at rest. In Type I(severe type) the nasal septum is long, invading the lip, and with intact attachment of the alar cartilage to the septal angle. Type II(moderate to mild type) is when the loose attachment of the alar cartilage to the septal angle makes the nasal tip appear drooping, but those less severe than type I. In Type III(pseudo type) the location of the nasal tip is relatively appropriate but, due to maxillary protrusion, the tip looks as if it covers the upper lip. The open rhinoplasty technique was applied regardless of the classified type. Dorsal augmentation, tip plasty, interdomal suture of alar cartilage or detatchment of depressor septi nasi muscle were selectively used when required in all patients. In type I, the removal of caudal septum, cephalic lateral crus resection, anchoring suture of the alar cartilage on the septal angle, and columella strut were concomitantly undertaken. The resection of the cephalic lateral crus, anchoring suture of the alar cartilage on the septal angle and columella strut were applied in type 2. Cephlic lateral crus resection and columella strut were done in type 3. We have made a follow up on 13 patients for up to 6.5 years, who had undergone surgery between March, 1993 to september, 2001. We could get excellent results with no definite re-drooping of nasal tip in all cases.
Aging ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cartilage ; Classification* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lip ; Nasal Obstruction ; Nasal Septum ; Nose ; Rhinoplasty* ; Smiling ; Sutures

Pulmonary artery aneurysms are extremely rare. Even though their etiology or mechanism remain uncertain, congetial anenrysms follow the congenital heart defects which elevate the pulmonary artery pressure or increase the pulmonary blood flow and acquired aneurysms are developed by syphilis, mycotic change and atherosclerosis. Pulmonary artery aneurysms involve the artery trunk rupture and exanguination if untreated, there has been an emphasis in the need for surgical intervention whenever the diagnosis is made regardless of the presence or absence of symptoms. Here we report a case of patient ductus arterious associated with main pulmonary artery aneurysm in 39 year old female patient with review of literatures.
Adult ; Aneurysm* ; Arteries ; Atherosclerosis ; Diagnosis ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent* ; Female ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Humans ; Pulmonary Artery* ; Rupture ; Syphilis

Eleven patients with acute myocardial infarction were treated with recombinant tissue-type plasminogen acrivator(rt-PA). The incidence of coronary thrombolysis, reocclusion and effect on the fibrinolytic system were studied. Dose of 1.25mg/kg up to 100mg of rt-PA was given intravenously for3 hours. Six of 7 patients(85.7%) on whom coronary angiography was performed within 90 min of initiation of therapy showed recanalization of the infarct-related artery and two of 3 patients at 24hrs. Reocclusion was demonstrated in one of 7 patients on whom repeat coronary angioplasty was performed at 15+/-5days. Blood fibrinogen level was higher than 100mg/dl after rt-PA infusion. One patients died during left ventriculography and there were no major bleeding complications. Thus intravenous rt-PA achieves high rate of recanalization without eliciting clinically significant fibrinogenolysis.
Angioplasty ; Arteries ; Coronary Angiography ; Fibrinogen ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Myocardial Infarction ; Plasminogen*

To evaluate the change in valvular morphology and occurence and severity of mitral regurgitation produced by PMV, 45 patients(33 women and 12 men,mean age 38+/-10 years) were studied using two-dimensional(2-D) and Doppler echocaediography before and 1-2 days after this procedure. Mitral valve area after PMV increased in all patients, from 0.9+/-0.2 to 1.8+/-0.4cm2(P<0.0001). In valve area estimation, the correlation between Gorlin`s method and 2-Dechocardiography was better(r=0.61, p<0.0001) than that between Gorlin`s method and Doppler pressure halftime(r=0.38, P<0.01) before valvuloplasty, but after the procedure Gorlin`s and 2-D image valve area correlated less well(r=0.33, P<0.05) than Gorlin`s-Doppler pressure halftime correlation(r=0.46, P<0.002). Before PMV, 37 patients had no mitral regurgutation, 7 had grade 1 and 1 had grade 2 mitral regurgutation. After PMV, new mitral regurgutation occurred in 14 patients, increased in severity in 5 patients and so mitral regurgutation newly developed or increased in severity in 19(42%) patients. There were no differences between the patients with and those without an increase in mitral regurgutation after PMV, in age, sex, caediac rhythm, initial mitral valve area, increase in mitral valve area and fluoroscopic calcification. However, morphologic characteristics especially mobility(P<0.01) and thickening(P<0.05) of mitral leaflets were better pressured, and EBDA/BSA(effective balloon dilating area/body surface area) was significantly smaller(P<0.02) in patients without an increase in mitral regurgutation. Thus, an increase in mitral regurgutation after PMV might be related to the features of valve morphology especially and thickand EBDA/BSA.
Female ; Humans ; Mitral Valve ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency* ; Mitral Valve Stenosis