BACKGROUND: Cardiac troponin T (cTnT) is a new serological marker for use as a diagnostic toots for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). This study was designed to evaluate tee diagnostic efficiency of troponin T in AMI. METHODS: We determined the reference range of troponin T in 20 healthy adults without previous cardiovascular diseases and chest pain. We evaluated troponin-T, CK, LD, AST and CK-MB in serum of 13 AMI and 5 angina pectoris patients. The patients were arrived at the hospital within 3 hours after onset of (most recent) acute symptoms. Samples were drawn individually at the times of 0, 1, 3, 7, 18 and 24 hours after admission and continued at 6-h intervals for 2 days and 24-h intervals fort 2 weeks. Troponin T was determined by an enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay (one step sandwich assay) on an ES-300 analyzer. RESULTS: We found that serum troponin-T concentrations in healthy control adults were below 0.07microgram/L. The peak level of troponin-T concentration of patients with AMI was 22.0microgram/L, mean value, at 7 hours after admission and showed 110 times its discrimination limit value (0.2microgram/L). CK-MB value was normalized within 3 days after admission, but cTnT value remained high above its discrimination limit value until 2 weeks after admission during this study. CONCLUSIONS: The data indicate that the measurement of serum cTnT improves efficiency of serological testings of AMI as compared with conventionally used cardiac enzymes.
Adult ; Angina Pectoris ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Chest Pain ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Reference Values ; Serologic Tests ; Troponin T* ; Troponin*

To study left ventricular diastolic filling in patient with hypertension in different form of left ventricular hypertrophy(LVH), 105 patients with hypertension and 30 normal persons underwent M-mode echocardiography and pulsed Doppler measurement of the left ventricular inflow. From the M-mode echocardiographic measurement of left ventricular dimension, hypertensive patients were subdivided into three grouops : group I(n=27) ; no LVH, group II(n=36) ; concentric LVH, grooup III(n=42) asymmetric septal hypertrophy. From the digitized trace of the pulsed Doppler at the mitral valve level, Doppler diastolic time intervals, peak velocities at rapid filling (E velocity) and atrial contraction(A velocity) and the triangle area under the A velocity(A area) and triagle area under the E velocity(E area) were measured. The peak A velocity(normal subjects ; 0.51+/-0.08m/sec, group I ; 0.73+/-0.14m/sec, group II ; 0.78+/-0.15m/sec, group III ; 0.8+/-0.23 m/sec) and the A area(noral subjects ; 4.71+/-1.64, group I; 6.24+/-1.78, group II ; 7.75+/-2.93, group III ; 8.05+/-3.11) and the peak A/E velocity ratio and the A/E area ratio were significantly different from the normal controls(P<0.01). The peak E velocity(normal subjects ; 0.76+/-0.13, group I ; 0.7+/-0.12, group II ; 0.63+/-0.12, group III ; 0.59+/-0.15m/sec) and E area (normal subjects ; 9.61+/-2.8, group I ; 8.11+/-2.13, group II ; 7.82+/-2.73, group III ; 7.34+/-3.07) were significantly different between hypertensive groups with LVH and normal controls. Doppler time intervals, total area were not different between groups. This study shows that abnormal pattern of left ventricular diastolic filling occur in patients with hypertension and the peak A velocity and the peak A/E velocity ratio and the peak A/E area ratio are the earliest findings that can detectable by Doppler echocardiography.
Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic ; Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Mitral Valve

To study factors related to release of atrial natriuretic polypeptide(ANP) in human subjects, instracardiac pressure and plasma ANP concentration in peripheral and central circulation were measured in patients with various heart disease (18 valvular heart disease, 4 congenital heart disease, 2 cardiomyopathy). 1) The concentration in peripheral venous plasma were increased in 14 patients with New York Heart Associaion (NYHA) functional class III-IV (87+/-38 pg/ml) as compared with that in 10 patients with NYHA functional class I-II (39+/-21 pg/ml, P<0.005)and 15 normal subjects (51+/-21 pg/ml, P<0.01). 2)The concentration of plasma ANP in inferior vena cava, right ventricle, pulonary artery, left ventricle and aorta were markedly increased in patient with NYHA functional class III-IV, elevated mean right atrial pressure (MRAP> or =8 mmHg) elevated mean pulmonary capllary wedge pressure (MPCWP> or =15 mmHg) and/or elevated pulminary artery systolic pressure (PASP> or =35 mmHg), as compared with those in patients with NYHA functional class I-II and/or lower intracardiac pressure (MRAP<8 mmHg, MPCWP<15 mmHg, and/or PASP<35 mmHg). 3) A step up in ANP concentration between inferior vena cava and right atrium was seen in patients with elevated MRAP (81+/-28pg/ml, 137+/-60pg/ml, P<0.05), MPCWP (74+/-37pg/ml,112+/-62pg/ml, P<0.05) and/or PASP (75+/-29 pg/ml,119+/-64 pg/ml, P<0.05). But there were no differences among intracardiac ANP concentrations from right atrium though aorta. 4) Plasma concentrations in right atrium, pulmonary artery, left ventricle and aorta correlated with MRAP (r=0.82, 0.63, 0.56, p<0.005 and r=0.52, P<0.01, respectively), MPCWP (r=0.86, 0.75, 0.73 and 0.72 respectively, P<0.005 in all) and PASP (r=0.73, 0.57, 0.68 and 0.59 respectively P<0.005 in all). 5) Left atrial diameter correlated with plasma ANP concentration in peripheral plasma (r=0.55, P<0.01), inferior vena cava (r=0.51, P<0.025), right atrium (r=0.45, P<0.05), right ventricle (r=0.55, P<0.01), pulmonary artery (r=0.52, P<0.01), left ventricle (r=0.55, P<0.01) and aorta (r=0.56, P<0.005). These results suggest that the heart secrets atrial natriuretic polypeptide into right atrium in response to increased mean right atrial pressure, mean pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, pulmonary artery systolic pressure and/or left atrial distention.
Aorta ; Arteries ; Atrial Natriuretic Factor ; Atrial Pressure ; Blood Pressure ; Heart ; Heart Atria ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Heart Diseases* ; Heart Valve Diseases ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Plasma* ; Pulmonary Artery ; Pulmonary Wedge Pressure ; Vena Cava, Inferior

Regional left ventricular wall motion was evaluated by two-dimensional echocardiographic technique with floating-axis (internal frame of reference) system in three groups of subject; normal subject (n=12), patients with acute anterior myocardial infraction(n=16), and patients with acute inferior myocardial infraction(n=10). Significant hypokinetic wall motion were detected in apical portion (Mean Percent Shortening; 0.27-5.84% in anterior infraction group and 9.64-13.17% in controls) and apicoanterior portion (MPS; 2.86% in anterior infraction group and 14.13% in controls) in patients with acute anterior myocardial infraction (P<0.01), and inferior portion (MPS; 3.56-6.93% in inferior infraction group and 18.26-19.8% in controls) and apical portion (MPS; 4.04% in inferior infraction group and 9.64% in controls) in patients with acute inferior myocardial infraction (P<0.01) in apical long-axis views. We conclude that echocardiographic wall motion analysis by floating axis system is an accurate non-invasive method for detecting abnormal wall motion in patients with acute anterior and in ferior myocardial infraction.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Echocardiography* ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction*

In the diagnosis of bile duct carcinoma, oral or intravenous cholangiography is of no air in the majority ofpatients with bile duct carcinoma who are jaundiced. Recently ultrasonography and CT are widely used for evalutionof biliary disease, but direct visualizing methods of the biliary tract by ERCP and PTC gives more detailed information and exact localization of the lesion. ERCP is less invasive and dangerous and has some more advantages than PTC. We analyzed 33 cases of confirmed extrahepatic bile duct caracinoma who were performed ERCP. The resultswere as follows; 1. The 7th decade was the predilection age, and the radio of male to female was 3.:1. 2. Thelocations of extrahepatic bile duct carcinomas were common bile duct in 45.5%, common hepatic duct in 27.3%,junction of cystic duct and widely extended in 12.1% respectively and junction of hepatic duct in 3.05 in order offrequency. 3. ERCP finding of extrahepatic bile duct carcinomas revealed complete obstruction of bile duct in mostcases, and irregular margined protuberant type was more common than smooth margined constricted type atobstruction site. 4. ERCP finding according to the location of lesion showed that protuberant type was relativelyfrequent in common bile duct and constircted type in common hepatic duct respectively.
Bile Ducts ; Bile Ducts, Extrahepatic ; Biliary Tract ; Cholangiography ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Common Bile Duct ; Cystic Duct ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Hepatic Duct, Common ; Humans ; Male ; Ultrasonography

The authors have experienced 3 Rho(D) negative siblings from Rho(D) positive parents. ABO grouping and typing were carried out because the parents wanted their and children's blood types. On the five major Rh antigen(D, C, c, E, e) testing, the phenotypes of the both parents were CcDe, and those of their 3 siblings were cde. We can suspect the possible genotypes on the basis of the frequencies in Korean, both parents are CDe/cde and their 2 daughters and one son are cde/cde.
Genotype ; Humans ; Nuclear Family ; Parents* ; Phenotype ; Siblings*

BACKGROUND: External ventricular drainage (EVD) is an important procedure for draining excessive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and monitoring intracranial pressure. Generally, EVD is performed in the operating room (OR) under aseptic conditions. However, in emergency circumstances, the operation may be performed in the intensive care unit (ICU) to save neuro-critical time and to avoid the unnecessary transfer of patients. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the risk of EVD-induced CNS infections and their outcomes according to the operating place (ICU versus OR). In addition, we compared mortalities as well as hospital and ICU days between the CNS infection and non-CNS infection groups. METHODS: We reviewed medical records, laboratory data and radiographic images of patients who had received EVD operations between January, 2013 and March, 2015. RESULTS: A total of 75 patients (45 men and 30 women, mean age: 58.7 +/- 15.6 years) were enrolled in this study. An average of 1.4 catheters were used for each patient and the mean period of the indwelling catheter was 7.5 +/- 5.0 days. Twenty-six patients were included in the ICU group, and EVD-induced CNS infection had occurred in 3 (11.5%) patients. For the OR group, forty-nine patients were included and EVD-induced CNS infection had occurred in 7 (14.3%) patients. The EVD-induced CNS infection of the ICU group did not increase above that of the OR group. The ICU days and mortality rate were higher in the CNS infection group compared to the non-CNS infection group. The period of the indwelling EVD catheter and the number of inserted EVD catheters were both higher in the CNS infection group. CONCLUSIONS: If the aseptic protocols and barrier precautions are strictly kept, EVD in the ICU does not have a higher risk of CNS infections compared to the OR. In addition, EVD in the ICU can decrease the hospital and ICU days by saving neuro-critical time and avoiding the unnecessary transfer of patients. Therefore, when neurosurgeons decide upon the operating place for EVD, they should consider the benefits of ICU operation and be cautious of EVD-induced CNS infection.
Catheter-Related Infections ; Catheters ; Catheters, Indwelling ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Drainage* ; Emergencies ; Female ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units* ; Critical Care* ; Intracranial Pressure ; Male ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Operating Rooms* ; Retrospective Studies ; Ventriculostomy

No abstract available.
Germ Cells* ; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal*

BACKGROUNDS: The molecular genetic characteristcs of cis-AB blood group have shown that its allele had C, G, C and C at nucleotide positions (nps) 526, 703, 796 and 803, respectively. And all cis-AB analysed and reported molecular genetically in Korea and Japan had T at np 467 (leucine at amino acid position 156). We report a first case of cis-AB with C at np 467 (proline at amino acid position 156). METHODS: Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood of cis-AB patient and amplified by DS1/DS2 and DS3/DS4 allele-specific primers. After PCR, we analysed nps 261, 467, 526, 646, 703, 796, and 803 by restriction digestion, autoradiography and automatic sequencing. RESULTS: PCR-RFLP with DS1/DS2 primers and restriction enzyme KpnI showed that cis-AB had an 0 allele. The results of genomic sequencing, autoradiography and restriction digestion showed that cis-AB allele at nps 467, 526, 646, 703, 796 and 803 had C, C, T, G, C and C, respectively. CONCLUSION: This cis-AB showed characteristic molecular genetic features at nps 526, 703, 796, and 803. And this is a first case of A(Pro) cis-AB with C at np 467. (Korean J Blood Transfusion 10(1): 13-19, 1999)
Alleles ; Autoradiography ; Blood Transfusion ; Cytosine* ; Digestion ; DNA ; Humans ; Japan ; Korea ; Molecular Biology* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

There are various complex formations between immunoglobulin and serum enzymes in the body. Of these, LD-Immunoglobulin complex is most common. It has reported that LD-IgG or LD-IgA complex existed in the serum of healthy person or many patients who have various clinical disorders. The clinical significance of complexes is not known, but it results in the increase of total LD activity and interference to the LD isoenzyme electrophoresis interpretation due to its anomalous pattern. We have reported a case of LD-Immunoglobulin complex in AILD(Angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysproteinemia) with reference. The patient was admitted with fever, chills and cervical LN enlargement, in LN biopsy, diagnosed AILD, and during treatment expired by sepsis. Since admission, serum total LD activities were increased and serum LD isoenzyme EP showed that LD3-5 fractions was not separated in broad single band. Its pattern was due to LD-immunoglobulin complex, LD-bound immunoglobulin was IgG ,lamda. For the identification of immunoglobulin, we at first did serum protein immunoelectrophoresis. then stained the plate with tetrazolium dye for LD activity.
Biopsy ; Chills ; Electrophoresis ; Fever ; Humans ; Immunoblastic Lymphadenopathy* ; Immunoelectrophoresis ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulins ; Lactic Acid* ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Sepsis