OBJECTIVES: We investigated the effects of changes in obesity and life style factors, such as cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking, and exercise, on the changes in blood pressure and serum cholesterol among Korean men. METHODS: This study included 7,205 healthy male employees in the steel manufacturing industry. Each subject underwent health examination in 1994 and was re-examined in 1997. The study subjects were classified into four categories, according to changes in body mass index (BMI) (loss; stable; mild gain; severe gain), cigarette smoking (quitter; non-smoker; smoker continued; smoker started), alcohol drinking (quitter; non-drinker; drinker continued; drinker started) and exercise (more exercise; continuous regular exercise; continuous irregular or no exercise; less exercise), respectively. We evaluated the relationship between the categories of change in those independent variables and the changes in blood pressure and serum cholesterol, adjusted for BMI in 1994 and age by analysis of variance. RESULTS: The change in systolic blood pressure was positively associated with the changes in BMI (p<0.001) and drinking (p=0.001), but negatively with smoking (p=0.004), compared to the first category of each independent variables. The systolic blood pressure was significantly less increased in the continuous smoking group than quitter or non-smoker. The changes in diastolic blood pressure and serum cholesterol appeared to have statistically significant linear relationships only with the change in BMI. The change in exercise showed a marginal significance with diastolic blood pressure (p=0.088). CONCLUSIONS: These prospective data emphasize the importance of obesity as a determinant of the changes in blood pressure and serum cholesterol. In addition, the changes in smoking and drinking habits can affect systolic blood pressure.
Alcohol Drinking ; Blood Pressure* ; Body Mass Index ; Cholesterol* ; Drinking ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Life Style* ; Male ; Obesity ; Prospective Studies ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Steel*

To characterize the sympathetic nervous system response to congestive heart failure in infants and children, plasma norepinephrine levels were measured in 29 patients aged 4 months to 15 years undergoing routine cardiac catheterization at Dong San Hospital, Keimyung University during the period of 4 months from November 1990 to February 1991. Plasma norepinephrine levels were significantly higher in patients with heart disease and congestive heart failure than in those without congestive heart failure(P<0.001). A significant association was found between the level of plasma norepinephrine and severity of the symptoms of congestive heart failure. Plasma norepinephrine levels correlated well with size of the shunt (Qp/Qs)(gamma=0.75), degree of pulmonary arterial pressure (gamma=0.79) and degree of right ventricular pressure (gamma=0.82).
Arterial Pressure ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Child* ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP)* ; Heart ; Heart Diseases ; Heart Failure* ; Humans ; Infant* ; Norepinephrine* ; Plasma* ; Sympathetic Nervous System ; Ventricular Pressure

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia is a rare heart muscle disorder of unknown cause that primarily involves the right ventricle. It is characterized pathologically by fibrofatty replacement of the right ventricular myocardium. Clinical manifestations include structural and functional abnormalities of the right ventricle, electrocardiographic depolarization/repolarization changes, and presentation with sudden death or ventricular arrhythmias of right ventricular origin. It is one of the important causes of the ventricular arrhythmia or sudden death among apparently healthy young people. We report a case of arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia with the review of the literature.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia* ; Death, Sudden ; Electrocardiography ; Heart Ventricles ; Myocardium

BACKGROUND: Coronary arteriovenous(AV) fistula is a rare congenital disease, and seldom produce symptoms during childhood. However late complications can occur including congestive heart failure, myocardial ischemia, and bacterial endocarditis. Therefore surgical repair is recommended even if the patients are asymptomatic. In these days many investigators are interested in transcatheter embolization because of high procedural success rate without risks and morbidity associated with cardiac surgery. METHODS: Five patients(4 females and 1 male) of coronary AV fistula were treated with transcatheter coil embolization. All had symptom of chest pain. In coronary angiograms fistulous tracts were originated from left anterior descending artery(LAD) and drained to main pulmonary artery(MPA) in 4 cases. The other case had abnormal vessel from left circumflex artery(LCX) to bronchial artery. Transcatherter coil embolization were done with Judkins left guiding catheter, 018 inch Tracker or 3F Microferret catheter, and 018 inch coils. RESULTS: The fistula tracts were completely occluded in 3 cases after coil emboilzation. In 2 cases with multiple fistular vessels, major fistula were occluded, but minor vessels remained. There were no procedure related complications. CONCLUSION: Transcatheter coil embolization may be an effective treatment modality in coronary AV fistula with excellent result and minimal complications.
Arteriovenous Fistula* ; Bronchial Arteries ; Catheters ; Chest Pain ; Embolization, Therapeutic* ; Endocarditis, Bacterial ; Female ; Fistula ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Research Personnel ; Thoracic Surgery

Cystic parathyroid adenoma is one of the rare causes of hyperparathyroidism, and is usually located in neck and mediastinum. This type of adenoma tends to cause increased serum level of parathyroid hormone and alkaline phosphatase, similar serum calcium level when compared to those of solid adenoma. Thanks to current radioimmunoassay and easy accessibility to serum autoanalyzer, serum calcium level and parathyroid hormone level are more easily measured, which in turn lead to more easier diagnosis of hyperparathyroidism. Also improvement in imaging and nuclear diagnostic method of parathyroid lesion are suggested to enable easy diagnosis of cystic parathyroid adenoma. A 35-year-old male presented with easy fatigability for 12 months. The serum calcium, phosphate, alkaline phosphotase were 11.5mg/dL, 1.4mg/dL, 194IU/L respectively and his parathyroid hormone level in serum was 126.42pg/mL. Neck CT showed enlargement of right lobe of thyroid gland with well defined inhomogenously enhanced density inside the right thyroid gland. The patient was diagnosed of hyperparathyroidim due to parathyroid adenoma and was surgically removed. The surgical biopsy showed cystic parathyroid adenoma. After operation his general condition was improved and serum calcium, phosphate, parathyroid hormone level were normalizd. We report a case of hyperparathyroidism caused by cystic parathyroid adenoma with brief review of literature.
Adenoma ; Adult ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; Biopsy ; Calcium ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Hyperparathyroidism* ; Male ; Mediastinum ; Neck ; Parathyroid Hormone ; Parathyroid Neoplasms* ; Radioimmunoassay ; Thyroid Gland

During 1 year and 9 month period, from September, 1980 to June, 1983, retrospective study was performed on 35 patients with Mitral Valve Prolapse at Kyung Hee University Medical Center. And the following results were obtained; 1) The mitral valve prolapse syndrome presents with various cardiovascular symptoms including dyspnea(63%), palpitation(49%), chest pain(34%), syncope and dizziness(11%). 2) Of 35 patients with MVP, 17 cases were isolated MVP, 13 cases were associated with cardiovascular disorders and 5 cases were associated with non-cardiovascular disorders. 3) Electrocardiographic abnormalities were found in 20 patients with MVP. The most common abnormality was ST-T change and atrial fibrillation, VPB, RBBB, first degree A-V block and W-P-W syndrome were also noted. 4) QTc interval prolongation was more common in serverely symptomatic patients with MVP. 5) 18 cases in 35 patients showed systolic click or murmur on phonocardiography. 6) Of 35 patients with MVP, 19 patients demonstrated prolapse of the anterior leaflet, 11 patients demonstrated prolapse of posterior leaflet and 5 patients demonstrated prolapse of the both leaflets. 7) There were severe derangement on echocardiography in severely symptomatic patients were MVP.
Academic Medical Centers ; Atrial Fibrillation ; Echocardiography ; Electrocardiography ; Humans ; Mitral Valve Prolapse* ; Mitral Valve* ; Phonocardiography ; Prolapse ; Retrospective Studies ; Syncope ; Thorax

No abstract available.
Herpes Simplex* ; Immunocompromised Host* ; Immunosuppression ; Simplexvirus*

No abstract available.
Anemia, Hypoplastic, Congenital*

Although sacrococcygeal mass is rare and usually found in infants or children, adolescent or adult patients with protruding mass in sacrococcygeal region occasionally come to us simply for a cosmetic problem. In this situation, even though there is no definite neurological deficit, it should be evaluated whether or not the underlying bony pathology or dural defect exists. Few cases about the sacrococcygeal mass have been reported in adults. We reviewed our cases including preoperative evaluation methods and postoperative diagnosis. From March, 1993 to February, 1997, we experienced 6 adult patients with sacrococcygeal mass and no neurological abnormality. Preoperative evaluation were made by plain X-ray, myelogram, computed tomography(CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), as needed. Postoperative diagnoses were 2 meningoceles, 2 lipomyelomeningoceles, 1 desmoid tumor, and 1 teratoma. From our experiences, CT or MRI is essential to evaluate the sacrococcygeal mass preoperatively. These methods can visualize the precise anatomic location and extent of the mass, its relation to the spinal cord, and associated bony abnormalities. MRI is superior to CT, especially in defining the nature of the mass and involvement of the spinal cord. Conclusively, even a simple mass in the sacrococcygeal region in adults needs MRI or CT evaluation, and MRI is the most valuable method of evaluating the mass preoperatively and provides important information to establish a treatment plan.
Adolescent ; Adult* ; Child ; Diagnosis ; Fibromatosis, Aggressive ; Humans ; Infant ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Meningocele ; Pathology ; Sacrococcygeal Region* ; Spinal Cord ; Teratoma

No abstract available.
Ependymoma* ; Epidermal Cyst* ; Third Ventricle*