No abstract available.
Female ; Ovary* ; Ultrasonics*

PURPOSE: To classify the cavernous sinus lesions, to describe their radiological findings, and to assess the usefulness of MR compared to CT. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Fourty-five patients with lesions involving the cavernous sinus proved by histological and/or clinical and imaging methods were studied retrospectively and classified into neoplastic, vascular, and inflammatory lesions. CT and MR findings were compared in 21 patients evaluated by both modalities simultaneously according to these 4 categories. RESULTS: Pitiutary macroadenoma was the most common cavernous sinus lesion(42%). Diffuse convex bulging of the lateral wall of cavernous sinus was the most frequent radiological finding(84%), and the others were encasement of the cavernous carotid artery(49%), remodelling of the surrounding bones(44%), and complete obliteration of Meckel's cave(38%), in descending order of frequency. Bulging of the lateral wall of cavernous sinus was equally well demonstrated on both modalities, but encasement or displacement of the cavernous carotid artery and complete or partial obliteration of Meckel's cave were much better delineated on MR than on CT with the ratio of 3.8:1 and 4.6: 1, respectively. Only bone changes were much better demonstrated on CTthan on MR with the ratio of 3.8: 1. CONCLUSION: MR issuperior to CTin demonstrating thecavernouscarotid artery encasement and obliteration of Meckel's cave, but CT is much better than MR in demonstrating bone changes.
Arteries ; Carotid Arteries ; Cavernous Sinus* ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies

The transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) has been used for the assessment of right and left ventricular function, valvular structure and function, regional wall motion abnormalities and localization of intravascular catheters, cannular and prosthesis. We inserted the pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) under the guidance of intraoperative TEE because of the difficulty of placing PAC with the pressure tracing method in two patients. The PAC was inserted from right atrium to right ventricle with the basal four chamber view and advanced to pulmonary artery through pulmonary valve with the longitudinal view of TEE. We observed typical pulmonary arterial wave form to confirm the correct position. We suggest that the TEE can be used for successful placement of a PAC to facilitate manipulation of the catheter as an alternative method in the patients whose PAC can not be positioned with the pressure tracing method.
Catheters* ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal* ; Heart Atria ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Prostheses and Implants ; Pulmonary Artery* ; Pulmonary Valve ; Ventricular Function, Left

This is a retrospective study of 161 ovarian neoplasms, all of which were surgically removed and had preoperative sonographic examinations. They were evaluated respect to age, tumor size and its echogenicity. The results were as follows: 1. Of all 161 tumors, physiologic lesions were 67 cases (41.6%), germ cell tumors were 28 cases (17.4%) and serous tumors were 19 cases (11.8%). 2. Of all 161 tumors, right ovarian lesions were 82 cases (50.9%), left were 59 cases (36.7%), and bilateral lesions were 20 cases(12.4%). 3. The most characteristic findings of tumors were as follows: 1) Physiologic tumors were 2-9cm sized (88.1%), anechoice-5% echogenic (79.1%), and developed during 4th & 5th decades (91.0%). 2) Inflammatory tumors were 2-9cm sized (94.1%), 50%-totally echogenic (76.5%), and during 4th & 5th decades (94.1%). 3) Serous tumors were 2-9cm sized (60.3%), anechoic-5% echogenic (89.5%), and during 3rd & 4th decades (84.2%). 4) Mucinous tumors were 5-19 cm sized (77.8%), anechoic-5% echogenic (77.8%), during 2nd-8th decades with diffuse distribution. 5) Endometrioid tumors were 5-14cm sized (100.0%), variable echogenic, and during 3rd & 4th decades (90.9%). 6) Germ cell tumors were 5-14cm sized (75.0%), variable echogenic, during 3rd & 4th decades (82.1%). 7) Parovarian cysts were 2-14cm sized (90.0%), anechoic-5% echogenic (100.0%), with diffuse age distribution. 4. The malignant and borderline malignant tumors were 9 caseswith more than 10cm sized (77.8%), and developed during older than 4th decade (100.0%). Anechoic 3 cases, 1-5% echogenic 2 cases, and totally echogenic 4 cases were found.
Age Distribution ; Female ; Mucins ; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Parovarian Cyst ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography

No abstract available.
Polychondritis, Relapsing*

S100A6 (calcyclin) is a member of the S100 family and has been originally isolated from the cDNA library of Syrian baby hamster kidney cells. The S100A6 gene expression is reported to remain high throughout the cell cycle following induction by serum or growth factors, suggesting that the gene may be required for cell cycle progression. Nevertheless, the role that S100A6 may play in tumor progression remains unknown. In this study, we have explored the expression patterns of S100A6 gene in human thyroid tissues by northern blot analysis. Using the S100A6 monoclonal antibody, we carried out the immunohistochemical staining to determine the distribution/localization of S100A6 protein within tumor or non-tumorous cells of the thyroid. To modulate the regulation of endogenously expressed S100A6 protein in the intracellular level, overexpressed or anti-sense treated transfectant was constructed by using the eukaryotic expression vector. As a result, immunohistochemistry for S100A6 showed a strong positivity in the malignant tumors of thyroid and a high expression level of S100A6 protein affected cell proliferation in the overexpressed transfectant. These findings suggest that S100A6 may be involved in the tumor pathogenesis and provides another parameter for the differentiation of malignant and benign lesions. A well defined monoclonal antibody against S100A6 protein is now available for the immunohistochemical studies of the various thyroid tissues.
Animals ; Blotting, Northern ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Proliferation ; Cricetinae ; Gene Expression ; Gene Library ; Humans* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Kidney ; Thyroid Diseases* ; Thyroid Gland*

No abstract available.
Granuloma, Lethal Midline*

We experienced a case of eisenmenger syndrome treated by simple surgical intervention. Eisenmenger syndrome refers to patients with congenital heart defects who have a systemic level of pulmonary arterial pressure and high pulmonary vascular resistance, with right-to-left or bidirectional shunting. Because a progressive rise in pulmonary vascular resistance may be better tolerated with an intracardiac communication, surgical repair in such patients may shorthen their life. But, urgent surgical intervention should be undertaken to reverse process if the pulmonary vascular disease is of recent origin. Patients who respond to vasoilator therapy, such as oxygen, are subjected to surgery. We reported a case of PDA with eisenmenger syndrome whose pulmonary vascular resistance fall following vasodilator, 100% oxygen, and closure of defect during cardiac catheterization, preoperatively, and who may faborable after simple surgical repair.
Arterial Pressure ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent* ; Eisenmenger Complex* ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Humans ; Ligation* ; Oxygen ; Vascular Diseases ; Vascular Resistance

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is an invasive procedure carrying potential complication such as pancreatitis, hemorrhage, perforation and cholangitis. Most of those complications are mild and usually need a short additional hospitalization periods. Perforation, however, often requires surgical intervention and in this case, the rate of mortality is up to 10%. Prompt diagnosis and proper management are key determinants for successful outcome. For this, endoscopist should be aware of possibility of perforation before procedure especially in high risk patients with altered anatomy such as prior Billroth II or Roux-en-Y anastomosis. After diagnosis of perforation, multidisciplinary approach involving medical, surgical and radiologic interventional subspecialties, is essential. Usually, surgical treatment is needed for type I free wall perforation and medical and endoscopic treatments are recommended for type II-IV perforation. Recently, several anecdotal studies reported successful endoscopic treatment using new devices for type I duodenal wall perforation but it is not warranted that endoscopic treatments can substitute the surgical intervention.
Anastomosis, Roux-en-Y ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cholangitis ; Diagnosis ; Gastroenterostomy ; Hemorrhage ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Mortality ; Pancreatitis

BACKGROUND: Due to the increase in average life expectancy, the number of elderly people in the population has also increased and it is argued that this has led to a rise in chronic regression type diseases or dementia and related psychoneurological diseases, together with the growing occurrence of cognitive function disorders. However, it can be said that research in Korea towards systematic general function assessment or machinery for diagnosis is insufficient. Accordingly, the authors of this paper, investigated elderly people, both institutionalized and shill living in the community for their cognitive functions and their ability to carry out daily life skills. Afterwards, the early diagnosis of mental illness and rehabilitation management for elderly patients was put into operation for this research. METHODS: During October of 1997 a certain retirement home in Kyonggi-do and a public health centre in Seoul were visited and forty patients from the home, and forty-five patients from the health centre, all over 65 years of age, were the objects of tests for cognition functions using the mini-mental status examination -Korea(MMSE-K), Their ability to carry out activity of daily living was tested through the modified Ballhel index for measurement, comparison and analysis. RESULTS: The group from the institution had an average MMSE-K of 24.05 with no significant difference between gender, age and degree of education. The health centre group's MMSE-K of 26.16 was a higher ,score(p<0.05), by men and by at least elementary ,school education. If we look at different classifications, the institutionalized group included 13 people(32.5%) ar a normal level, 18 people (45.0%) with mildly impairments, 9 people(17.5%) had moderately impairments and no severly handicapped patients. Looking at the community elderly, 23 people(51.1%) were at a normal level, 19 people (42.2%) had middle impairments, 3 people(6.7%) had moderately impairments and there were no severly impairments. With the MBI, the institutionalized group had an average of 95.9 and the community group had an average of 98.62 so both ,scored highly(p<0.05). If the MBI of the two group's dependency is compared, 17 people(42.5%) of the institution's elderly were independent in activity of daily living, 17 people(42.5%) were minimal dependent and the remaining 6 people(15.%) were mild dependent. 30(66.7%) of the community elderly were independent in daily living activity, 14 people (31.1%) were mild dependent and 1 people(2.2%) war mild dependent. Even the elderly with normal cognitive functions had disorders with their daily living activity Therefore a sample of the patients have above average damaged cognitive functions and severe living activity disorders are being seen in both groups. CONCLUSION: Both the community and institutionalized elderly had resonable cognition and the institutionalized groups had especially high levels. It is now believed that there is a relation between this and the lack of suitable evaluation in Korea. Even if the daily living activity disorders were not severe, they were observed in both groups, so henceforth, if cognitive function tests were made with consideration given to age and gender, and activity of daily living tests were implemented efficiently, the overall health and well-being of the elderly, and therefore demands for medical treatment and social services, could be decided and put into operation.
Activities of Daily Living ; Aged* ; Classification ; Cognition ; Dementia ; Diagnosis ; Disabled Persons ; Early Diagnosis ; Education ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Korea ; Life Expectancy ; Male ; Nursing Homes* ; Nursing* ; Public Health ; Rehabilitation ; Retirement ; Seoul ; Social Work