PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of scatter correction on the assessment of myocardial perfusion and left ventricular function by gated Tc-99m myocardial SPECT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subjects were 11 normal volunteers, 20 patients with non-cardiac chest pain and 13 patients with coronary artery diseases. We classified above 3 groups into normal and diseased groups. Scatter correction was done using dual-energy-window scatter correction method (DEW-SC). We compared acquired counts, image contrast, corrected maximum relative counts, indices of left ventricular function, extent and severity of perfusion defects calculated by 'CEqual program' between scatter non-corrected and corrected images. RESULTS: Scatter corrected studies was lower in counts by 18+/-3% than uncorrected studies, but image contrast were improved in all cases. Scatter correction using DEW-SC took 3 minutes to complete, and 512 kB memory to store. There were no significant differences among indices of left ventricular function between scatter non-corrected and corrected images. Although extents of perfusion defects were not significantly different, severity was severer in scatter corrected images. CONCLUSION: Scatter correction using DEW-SC is simple to do, and improves image contrast without changing other indices of myocardial perfusion and function.
Chest Pain ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Memory ; Perfusion* ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon* ; Ventricular Function, Left*

CT was done 81 times on 63 proven malignant maxillary sinus tumors for 3 years from Feb.1979 to May 1982 atSeoul National University Hospital. Pre-treatment CT were 54 and post-treatment CT were 31 on 28 patient. Theresult were as follows; 1. The most frequent histopathologic diagnosis was 44 cases (69.8%) of squamous cellcarcinoma. Others were 5 cases (7.9%) of adenoid cystic carcinoma, 3 cases (4.8%) of olfactory neuroblastoma, 3cases (4.8%) of malignant lymphoma, 2 cases (3.2%) of melanoma, 2 cases (3.2%) of malignant fibrous histiocytoma,a rhabdomyosarcoma, a basal cell carcioma, a fibrosarcoma and a metastatic carcinoma from thyroid follicular adenocarcinoma. 2. The CT findings in 54 untreated malignant maxillary sinus tumors were sinus opacification, softtissue mass, and bone destruction in all cases. Other findings were fat plane obliteration (70%),osteosclerosis(59%), bone erosion and displacement (46%), low densities within soft tissue mass (27%), and airdensitis wiithin soft soft tissue mass (27%), and air densities within soft tissue mass(13%). 3. The value of pre-treatment CT in malignant maxillary sinus tumors were outlining the disease process especially soft tissuesuch as orbit, infratemporal fossa, pterygopalatine fossa, nasopharynx, pterygoid fossa and intracranialextension, and CT is the choice of diagnostic modality to determine the prognosis and the therapeutic planning insurgery and/or radiotherapy. 4. Post-treatment CT is also helpful to evalute the change in tumor size andpost-treatment complication.
Adenocarcinoma, Follicular ; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic ; Diagnosis ; Esthesioneuroblastoma, Olfactory ; Fibrosarcoma ; Humans ; Lymphoma ; Maxillary Sinus ; Melanoma ; Nasopharynx ; Orbit ; Prognosis ; Pterygopalatine Fossa ; Radiotherapy ; Rhabdomyosarcoma ; Thyroid Gland

BACKGROUND: Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a relatively recently identified respiratory virus that induces respiratory symptoms similar to those of respiratory syncytial virus infection in children. The characteristics of hMPV-infected adults are unclear because few cases have been reported. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of hospitalized adult patients with a positive multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction assay result from 2012 to 2016 at a single tertiary referral hospital in South Korea. We analyzed clinical characteristics of the enrolled patients and divided patients into an acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) group and a non-ARDS group. RESULTS: In total, 110 adults were reviewed in this study. Their mean age was 61.4 years, and the majority (n = 105, 95.5%) had comorbidities or were immunocompromised. Most of the patients had pneumonia on chest X-ray (n = 88, 93.6%), 22 (20.0%) had ARDS, and 12 (10.9%) expired during hospitalization. The mortality rate for patients with ARDS was higher than that of the other patients (36.4% vs. 5.7%, P = 0.001). The risk factor for hMPV-associated ARDS was heart failure (odds ratio, 5.24; P = 0.044) and laboratory values were increased blood urea nitrogen and increased C-reactive protein. The acquisition site of infection was divided into community vs. nosocomial; 43 patients (39.1%) had a nosocomial infection. The risk factors for nosocomial infection were an immunocompromised state, malignancy and immunosuppressive treatment. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that hMPV is one of the important respiratory pathogens important respiratory pathogen that causes pneumonia/ARDS in elderly, immunocompromised individuals and that it may be transmitted via the nosocomial route.
Adult* ; Aged ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; C-Reactive Protein ; Child ; Comorbidity ; Cross Infection ; Heart Failure ; Hospitalization ; Humans* ; Korea ; Metapneumovirus* ; Mortality* ; Pneumonia ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult* ; Respiratory Syncytial Viruses ; Retrospective Studies* ; Risk Factors ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Thorax

No abstract available.
Basement Membrane* ; Child* ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A*

PURPOSE: Cataract and refractive surgical procedures are now among the most common and successful surgeries in medicine. Since 1995, we have annually surveyed the members of the Korean Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery(KSCRS) on cataract surgery technique, anesthesia, intraocular lens and refractive surgery to understand the current situation and future trends in these fields. METHODS: Fifth annual survey forms consisted of 80 multiple-choice questions mailed in January 2000 to 234 ophthalmologists of the KSCRS. Approximately 47% of the questionnaires mailed were returned by the February cutoff date. Current data were compared with previous annual survey and data from Japan and USA. RESULTS: Hospitalized period is decreased annually and use of topical anesthesia(38%) increased steady. Self sealing wound construction was the main wound closure technique in phacoemulsification accounted for 41%. Most preferred intraocular lenses for small incision cataract surgery are silicone(60%), acrylic (33%), and PMMA(7%). Especially, acrylic intraocular lens had been used highly. Viscoelastics(38%) produced by Korean medical company becomes widely used compared with previous year. 61% of the respondents were performing excimer laser keratomy for refractive surgery. Its complications are the regression of visual acuity(39%), halo or glare(36%), and irregular astigmatism(15%). 52% of the respon-dents performing LASIK had the experience of thin or perforated flap formation, and 48% had free cap formation. Also, legal problems on excimer laser and LASIK have been increased highly. CONCLUSION: From this survey, we found current trend and change in cataract and refractive surgery in Korea are similar to those of Japan and USA.
Anesthesia ; Cataract* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Japan ; Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ ; Korea* ; Lasers, Excimer ; Lenses, Intraocular ; Phacoemulsification ; Postal Service ; Refractive Surgical Procedures* ; Wound Closure Techniques ; Wounds and Injuries

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most prevalent functional gastrointestinal disorders. It is a multi-factorial disorder due to abnormal gastrointestinal motility, low-grade inflammation, visceral hypersensitivity, and communication between the gut-brain axis. IBS is traditionally treated with dietary and lifestyle modifications, fiber supplementation, and psychological and pharmacological therapies. Diet therapy including the low FODMAP diet and excluding certain food constituents is often used. Antispasmodics plus stool consistency modifiers to treat the major symptoms and defecation are first-line drug treatments. 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) receptors in the gastrointestinal tract, particularly 5-HT3 and 5-HT4 receptors are involved not only in modulating gut motility but in visceral sensory pathways. Drugs that act on both receptor classes appear to reduce visceral sensitivity and have inhibitory effects on motor activity in the distal intestine. 5-HT4 agonists may improve constipation-predominant IBS by normalizing bowel habits and thereby reduce abdominal pain. IBS continues to be a therapeutic challenge because of its diverse symptomatology and lack of a single pathophysiological target for drug intervention.
Abdominal Pain ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Defecation ; Diet ; Diet Therapy ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; Gastrointestinal Motility ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Hypersensitivity ; Inflammation ; Intestines ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome* ; Korea ; Life Style ; Motor Activity ; Parasympatholytics ; Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT4 ; Serotonin ; Serotonin 5-HT4 Receptor Agonists

No abstract available.
Health Promotion*

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most prevalent functional gastrointestinal disorders. It is a multifactorial disorder with its pathogenesis attributed to abnormal gastrointestinal motility, low-grade inflammation, visceral hypersensitivity, communication in the gut-brain axis, and so on. Traditionally, IBS has been treated with diet and lifestyle modification, fiber supplementation, psychological therapy, and pharmacological treatment. Carbohydrates are intermingled with a wide range of regularly consumed food including grains such as rye and wheat, vegetables, fruits, and legumes. Short-chain carbohydrates that are poorly absorbed exert osmotic effects in the intestinal lumen increasing its water volume, and are rapidly fermented by bacteria with consequent gas production. These effects may be the basis for the induction of most of the gastrointestinal symptoms. This has led to the use of lactose-free diets in those with lactose intolerance and of fructose-reduced diets for fructose malabsorption. As all poorly absorbed short-chain carbohydrates have similar and additive effects in the intestine, a concept has been developed to regard them collectively as FODMAPs (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols) and to evaluate a dietary approach that restricts them all. Based on the observational and comparative studies, and randomized-controlled trials, FODMAPs have been shown to trigger gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with IBS. Food choice via the low FODMAPs and potentially other dietary strategies is now a realistic and efficacious therapeutic approach for managing symptoms of IBS.
*Diet, Carbohydrate-Restricted ; Dietary Supplements ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity/complications ; Inflammation/complications ; Intestines/pathology ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome/complications/*diagnosis/diet therapy ; Malabsorption Syndromes/complications ; Monosaccharides/metabolism ; Oligosaccharides/metabolism

We experienced a case of adenocarcinoma arising in sacrococcygeal teratoma. The patient was a 52-year-old woman. She was admitted due to one month of sacral pain. She had a sacral mass since birth. On physical examination, anal fistula was present at the perianal area and pus drainage was noted. MR image showed multiple variable-sized cysts with inhomogeneous density. Resected specimen, mesuring 12.5 7.0 cm in diameter, showed multiple variable-sized cystic lesions admixed with grayish solid portion. The cysts contained mucoid material. The microscopic examination showed mature teratoma composed of cysts lined by pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium, intestinal mucosa, mature cartilage, bone, and fat tissue. A moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma developed from the cystic area in the mass.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Adult ; Cartilage ; Drainage ; Female ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa ; Middle Aged ; Mucous Membrane ; Parturition ; Physical Examination ; Rectal Fistula ; Suppuration ; Teratoma*

PURPOSE: To describe the appearance and average thickness of the internal anal sphincter with anal endosonography in healthy Korean adults. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 184 subjects(male: 96, female: 88) with no history of anorectal disease or surgery were studied with anal endosonography. The average thickness of internal sphincter was meas ured at the mid-anal canal. For the internal sphincter, which is often asymmetric, the thickness of each 4 part(12, 3, 6 and 9 o'clock direction) were measured in left lateral decubitus position. RESULTS: The anal wall was well visualized in 5 layers(mucosa, submucosa, internal anal sphincter, intersphincteric plane, external anal sphincter) with anal endosonography. The anal endosonogram showed the internal anal sphincter as a homogenous, well-defined, hypoechoic, circular band, and slightly asymmetric. The average thickness of the internal anal sphincter in the area of mid-anal portion was 2.0 0.3 mm(range: 1~3 mm). There was no sexual difference; however, a significant positive correlation with age was found in average thickness of the internal anal sphincter. The correlation with lean body mass was not found. CONCLUSION: The internal anal sphincter is well-visualized, best defined structure by anal endosonography. Average thickeness of the sphincter in Korean appeared to be the same as in the Western.
Adult* ; Anal Canal* ; Endosonography ; Female ; Humans