PURPOSE: In order to evaluate the relationship between the dose to the liver parenchyma and focal liver reaction (FLR) after stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR), we suggest a novel method using a three-dimensional dose distribution and change in signal intensity of gadoxetate disodium-gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA)-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) hepatobiliary phase images. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In our method, change of the signal intensity between the pretreatment and follow-up hepatobiliary phase images of Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI was calculated and then threshold dose (TD) for developing FLR was obtained from correlation of dose with the change of the signal intensity. For validation of the method, TDs for six patients, who had been treated for liver cancer with SABR with 45-60 Gy in 3 fractions, were calculated using the method, and we evaluated concordance between volume enclosed by isodose of TD by the method and volume identified as FLR by a physician. RESULTS: The dose to normal liver was correlated with change in signal intensity between pretreatment and follow-up MRI with a median R2 of 0.935 (range, 0.748 to 0.985). The median TD by the method was 23.5 Gy (range, 18.3 to 39.4 Gy). The median value of concordance was 84.5% (range, 44.7% to 95.9%). CONCLUSION: Our method is capable of providing a quantitative evaluation of the relationship between dose and intensity changes on follow-up MRI, as well as determining individual TD for developing FLR. We expect our method to provide better information about the individual relationship between dose and FLR in radiotherapy for liver cancer.
Evaluation Studies as Topic ; Feasibility Studies* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gadolinium DTPA ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Liver Neoplasms* ; Liver* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Pentetic Acid ; Radiation Effects ; Radiosurgery ; Radiotherapy*

BACKGROUND: The goal of our study was to investigate the effects of propofol anesthesia on the pulmonary vascular response to prostacyclin during U46619 precontraction in dogs. METHODS: Eight mongrel dogs were anesthetized and instrumented to measure the left pulmonary vascular pressure-flow relation, by loosely positioning a hydraulic occluder around the right main pulmonary artery and placing an electromagnetic flow probe around the left main pulmonary artery. During slowly occlusion of the right main pulmonary artery, the pressure-flow plots were measured in the left main pulmonary artery in the control and propofol-anesthetized (5.0 mg/kg plus 0.5 mg/kg/min intravenously) states at baseline, after preconstriction with the U46619, and during the cumulative intravenous administration of prostacyclin. RESULTS: Propofol had no effect on the baseline pressure-flow relation versus the control state. A lower (P <0.05) dose of U46619 was necessary to achieve the same degree of preconstriction during propofol anesthesia. The pulmonary vasodilator response to prostacyclin was markedly attenuated (P <0.05) during propofol anesthesia compared to the control state. CONCLUSIONS: These results imply that propofol directly inhibits the pulmonary vasodilatory effects of prostacyclin. However the signal transduction pathway of cyclooxygenase-induced pulmonary vasodilation requires further investigation to determine mechanisms involved.
15-Hydroxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-(epoxymethano)prosta-5,13-dienoic Acid* ; Administration, Intravenous ; Anesthesia ; Animals ; Dogs* ; Epoprostenol ; Magnets ; Propofol* ; Pulmonary Artery ; Pulmonary Circulation ; Signal Transduction ; Vasodilation*

PURPOSE: Thallous-201 chloride produced at Korea Cancer Center Hospital(KCCH) is used in detecting cardiovascular disease and cancer. Thallium impurity can cause emesis, catharsis and nausea, so the presence of thallium and other metal impurities should be determined. According to USP and KP, their amounts must be less than 2 ppm in thallium and 5 ppm in total. In this study, the detection method of trace amounts of metal impurities in [201Tl]TlCl injection with polarography was optimized without environmental contamination. MATERALS AND METHODS: For the detection of metal impurities, Osteryoung Square Wave Stripping Voltammetry method was used in Bio-Analytical System (BAS) 50W polarograph. The voltammetry was composed of Dropping Mercury Electrode (DME) as a working electrode, Ag/AgCl as a reference electrode and Pt wire as a counter electrode. Square wave stripping method, which makes use of formation and deformation of amalgam, was adopted to determine the metal impurities, and pH 7 phosphate buffer was used as supporting electrolyte. RESULTS: T1, Cu and Pb in thallous-201 chloride solution were detected by scanning from 300 mV to -800 mV. Calibration curves were made by using TlNO3, CuSO4 and Pb(NO3)2 as standard solutions. Tl was confirmed at -450 mV peak potential and Cu at -50 mV. Less than 2 ppm of Tl and Cu was detected and Pb was not detected in KCCH-produced thallous-201 chloride injection. CONCLUSION: Detection limit of thallium and copper is approximately 50 ppb with this method. As a result of this experiment, thallium and other metal impurities in thallous-201 chloride injection, produced at Korea Cancer Center Hospital, are in the regulation of USP and KP. Polarograph could be applied for the determination of metal impurities in the quality control of radiopharmaceuticals conveniently without environmental contamination.
Calibration ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Catharsis ; Copper ; Electrodes ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Korea ; Limit of Detection ; Metals, Heavy* ; Nausea ; Polarography* ; Quality Control ; Radiopharmaceuticals ; Thallium ; Vomiting

OBJECTIVES: The 2nd to 4th digit length(2D:4D) ratio reflects the amount of exposure and sensitivity to the prenatal sex hormone and it is considered to be the most convenient and useful way to understand the influence of sex hormone in the determination of human behavioral traits. This study was carried out to find the correlation between the 2D:4D ratio and characteristics of temperament and character in Korean university students. We assumed that 2D:4D ratio would show a strong correlation with temperament which is defined to be an inclination of an automatical emotional response to a stimulus. METHODS: Participants were 104 university students who completed 2 self-report measures:Temperament and Character Inventory(TCI), Temperament Test. We examined the 2D:4D ratio of each subject by measuring the lengths of the 2nd and 4th fingers using a photocopy measurement. We performed statistical analyses using correlation test and t-test to examine the relationship between 2D:4D ratio and psychological characteristics. RESULTS: We found out the typical sex difference in 2D:4D ratio. Women had significantly higher 2D:4D ratio than men. TCI-Character factor(TCI-C) didn't show any significant correlation with the 2D:4D ratio. TCI-Tempterament factor(TCI-T) and the item of Temperament Test showed a significant correlation with the 2D:4D ratio. In correlation analysis of the total group including all women and men, the 2D:4D ratio showed a significant positive correlation in a subscale(shyness with stranger) of harm avoidance scales in TCI-T. In correlation analysis of women's group, the 2D:4D ratio showed a significant positive correlation in two subscales( fear of uncertainty) and[shyness to stranger] of harm avoidance scales in TCI-T. In correlation analysis of men's group, the 2D:4D ratio showed a significant negative correlation with a sanguine temperament item of the Temperament Test. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the amount of exposure to sex hormone in the prenatal period seems to have an impact on the determination of temperament and characteristics.
Female ; Fingers ; Humans ; Male ; Sex Characteristics ; Temperament ; Testosterone ; Weights and Measures

Streptococcus constellatus (S. constellatus) is a commensal microorganism belonging to the "Streptococcus milleri" group, but may cause infections in different locations in immunocompromised patients. The infection of S. constellatus has high mortality and morbidity due to its tendency to cause abscesses in infected patients, which require immediate surgical drainage for effective treatment. We report on a 72-year-old woman with end stage renal disease, who suffered from dyspnea and general weakness that had developed over 7 days. Chest CT showed loculated pleural effusion. S. constellatus was cultured from exudative pleural effusions and confirmed by an analysis of 16S rRNA sequence. The patient was treated with drainage of pleural effusion and piperacillin/tazobactam for 5 weeks.
Abscess ; Aged ; Drainage ; Dyspnea ; Empyema ; Female ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Pleural Effusion ; Streptococcus ; Streptococcus constellatus ; Streptococcus milleri Group ; Thorax

Situs inversus totalis with dextrocardia is a rare congenital anomaly and its incidence is approximately 1: 6,000-35,000 in general population. Such patients usually have structurally normal hearts and are expected to have normal life span. Coronary angioplasty in such patients have previously been reported, but reported cases in literature are scanty. This report describes our experience of successful percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty with stent in acute myocardial infarction patient with situs inversus totalis and dextrocardia who exhibited total occlusion of the mid left anterior descending coronary artery.
Angioplasty ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary* ; Coronary Vessels ; Dextrocardia ; Heart ; Humans ; Incidence ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Situs Inversus* ; Stents*

The prevailing model of osteology is that bones constantly undergo a remodeling process, and that the differentiation and functions of osteoblasts are partially regulated by leptin through different central hypothalamic pathways. The finding that bone remodeling is regulated by leptin suggested possible endocrinal effects of bones on energy metabolism. Recently, a reciprocal relationship between bones and energy metabolism was determined whereby leptin influences osteoblast functions and, in turn, the osteoblast-derived protein osteocalcin influences energy metabolism. The metabolic effects of bones are caused by the release of osteocalcin into the circulation in an uncarboxylated form due to incomplete gamma-carboxylation. In this regard, the Esp gene encoding osteotesticular protein tyrosine phosphatase is particularly interesting because it may regulate gamma-carboxylation of osteocalcin. Novel metabolic roles of osteocalcin have been identified, including increased insulin secretion and sensitivity, increased energy expenditure, fat mass reduction, and mitochondrial proliferation and functional enhancement. To date, only a positive correlation between osteocalcin and energy metabolism in humans has been detected, leaving causal effects unresolved. Further research topics include: identification of the osteocalcin receptor; the nature of osteocalcin regulation in other pathways regulating metabolism; crosstalk between nutrition, osteocalcin, and energy metabolism; and potential applications in the treatment of metabolic diseases.
Bone Remodeling/physiology ; Bone and Bones/*metabolism ; *Energy Metabolism ; Humans ; Leptin/metabolism ; Osteocalcin/genetics/*metabolism

Efforts to apply augmented reality (AR) technology in the medical field include the introduction of AR techniques into dental practice. The present report introduces a simple method of applying AR during an inferior alveolar nerve block, a procedure commonly performed in dental clinics.
Anesthesia* ; Dental Clinics ; Dentistry ; Mandibular Nerve* ; Methods ; Nerve Block

The purpose of this study was to select the manageable diseases which are prevalent in Korea for periodic health examinations and to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of periodic health examination in detecting these diseases. The data was derived from reimbursement data of the Korea Medical Insurance Corporation over a two year period (April 15, 1986 to April 14, 1988) and interviews with Yonsei Medical School professors. This study demonstrated that: 1. The manageable diseases which were selected for periodic health examinations are pulmonary tuberculosis, viral hepatitis, diabetes mellitus, syphilis groups, essential hypertension, renal disease groups, and iron deficiency anemia. 2. The sensitivity of the health screening for each disease was as follows: pulmonary tuberculosis 51.5%, viral hepatitis 60.3%, diabetes mellitus 64.7%, syphilis groups 63.3%, essential hypertension 49.9%, renal disease groups 44.0%, and iron deficiency anemia 80.9%. We conclude that peiodic health esaminations should focus on the manageable diseases that we have defined. The number of items in periodic health screening tests and hospital quality control should be increased for the diseases with a demonstrated low sensitivity.
Anemia, Iron-Deficiency ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Hepatitis ; Hypertension ; Hypertension, Renal ; Insurance ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; Quality Control ; Schools, Medical ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Syphilis ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

PURPOSE: To develop a software program for computer-assisted instruction on MR imaging of congenital heart disease for medical students and residents to achieve repetitive and effective self-learning. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used a film scanner(Scan Maker 35t) and IBM-PC(486 DX-2, 60 MHz) for acquisition and storage of image data. The accessories attached to the main processor were CD-ROM drive(Sony), sound card(Sound blaster-Pro), and speaker. We used software of Adobe Photoshop(v 3.0) and Paint Shop-Pro(v 3.0) for preprocessing image data, and Paint brush from Microsoft Windows 3.1 for labelling. The language used for programming was Visual basic(v 3.0)from Microsoft Corporation. RESULTS: We developed a software program for computer-assisted instruction on MR imaging of congenital heart disease as an effective educational tool.
CD-ROM ; Computer-Assisted Instruction ; Education ; Heart Defects, Congenital* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Paint ; Students, Medical