BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The assessment of left ventricular (LV) diastolic function is important in chronic renal failure because abnormal LV diastolic function has been frequently described in patients on maintenance hemodialysis both during the dialysis and in the dialysis-free interval despite the normal LV systolic function. But the echocardiographic indexes of LV diastolic function is known to be affected by several factors such as loading condition, LV compliance and heart rate. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of hemodialysis on the echocardiographic indexes of left ventricular diastolic function in chronic renal failure. Materials AND METHODS: We examined transmitral flow velocity, pulmonary venous flow velocity, and mitral annulus velocity in 20 patients (15 men and 5 women, average 50+/-14, range 19-69 years) of chronic renal failure with normal LV systolic function by echocardiography before and after hemodialysis. RESULTS: 1)According to the body weight change (from 59.5+/-8.3 to 57.2+/-8.1 kg, p=0.0001), after hemodialysis, inferior vena cava dimension (from 18+/-4 to 13+/-5 cm, p=0.0001), left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (from 57+/-6 to 53+/-7 cm, p=0.0001), and left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT)-time velocity integral (TVI, from 26+/-5 to 23+/-5 cm, p=0.004), which reflect intravascular blood volume, decreased significantly. 2)The peak velocity of early transmitral flow (E, from 0.79+/-0.14 to 0.64+/-0.11 m/s, p=0.0001), the peak velocity of late transmitral flow (A, from 0.84+/-0.21 to 0.78+/-0.21 m/s, p=0.011), and E/A ratio (from 0.99+/-0.25 to 0.87+/-0.27, p=0.007) decreased significantly, and deceleration time (DT, from 241+/-48 to 267+/-59 ms, p=0.055) showed tendency of prolongation after hemodialysis. 3)Peak systolic velocity of pulmonary venous flow decreased significantly after hemodialysis (from 0.65+/-0.11 to 0.59+/-0.12 m/s, p=0.042). 4)The difference between duration of reversal flow of pulmonary vein and duration of transmitral flow during atrial contraction (ADD) did not change significantly after hemodialysis (from 5+/-31 to 1+/-29 ms, p=0.502), and did not correlate with the change of peak velocity of early transmitral flow during hemodialysis (DMVE, r=0.390, p=0.089). 5)The peak early diastolic velocity (Ean, from 0.07+/-0.02 to 0.06+/-0.02 m/s, p=0.002) and Ean/the peak late diastolic velocity (Aan) ratio (from 0.78+/-0.27 to 0.62+/-0.19, p=0.003) of medial annulus of mitral valve decreased significantly after hemodialysis. CONCLUSION: Hemodialysis, which reduces LV preload by fluid removal, changes the echocardiographic indexes of left ventricular diastolic function in chronic renal failure. Preload condition need to be accounted for when we evaluate the LV diastolic function with echocardiography.
Blood Volume ; Body Weight Changes ; Compliance ; Deceleration ; Dialysis ; Echocardiography* ; Female ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Male ; Mitral Valve ; Pulmonary Veins ; Renal Dialysis* ; Vena Cava, Inferior

No abstract available.
Female* ; Humans ; Urinary Incontinence*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Nitric oxide (NO) reduces the intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in smooth muscle cells, whereas the effect of NO on [Ca2+]i in endothelial cells is still controversial. Therefore, the effect of NO on the [Ca2+]i, and its mechanism in mouse aortic endothelial cells (MAEC) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were examined. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In primary cultured MAEC and HUVEC, cells were loaded with fura 2-AM and [Ca2+]i and measured using a microfluorometer. RESULTS: The NO donor, sodium nitroprusside (SNP), reduced the [Ca2+]i in 72% of the cells tested (n=100). In the remaining cells, the effect of SNP was biphasic, or the [Ca2+]i was increased. In addition, the membrane-permeable cGMP, 8-bromo cGMP, decreased the [Ca2+]i. The effects of SNP and 8-bromo cGMP were inhibited by the soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitor, 1H-[1,2,4] oxadiazole[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ), and the cGMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor, KT5823, respectively. In contrast, in the presence of 8-bromo cGMP or ODQ, SNP increased the [Ca2+]i. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that NO inhibits the [Ca2+]i through a cGMP-dependent mechanism and increases the [Ca2+]i through a cGMP-independent mechanism.
Animals ; Cyclic GMP ; Endothelial Cells* ; Endothelium ; Guanylate Cyclase ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; Humans ; Mice ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitroprusside ; Protein Kinases ; Tissue Donors

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia is inherited disorder of adrenal steroidogenesis. 21-hydroxylase deficiency is the most commone enzymatic defect and is divided into classic and late-onset or nonclassic forms. Both classic non-classic 21-hydrozylase deficiencies are inherited in a recessive manner as allelic variants. But it is rare that happened in twin infants. Chief complaints of affected twins in our case were ambiguous genitalia, hyperpigmentation and dehydrations. They were revealed into hyponatremia, hyperkalemia and increased amount of serum progesterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone and urinary 17-ketosteroid excretion and were administered with DOCA, 9alpha-fluorohydrocortisone, hydrocortisone to control the electrolyte imbalance. And now, both of them are going to normal ratio of weight gain and body growth.
17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone ; Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital* ; Desoxycorticosterone Acetate ; Disorders of Sex Development ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Hyperkalemia ; Hyperpigmentation ; Hyponatremia ; Infant ; Progesterone ; Steroid 21-Hydroxylase* ; Twins* ; Weight Gain

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory systemic disease of young or middle aged adults, characterized by destructive and proliferative changes in the synovial membrane, periarticular structures, skeletal muscle and perineural sheath. Eventually, the joints are destroyed, ankylosed and deformed. Therfore, the aim of treatment is to keep the inflammatory process at a minimum, thereby preserving the joint motion, maintaining the health of muscle supplying motor power about the joint and preventing secondary joint stiffness and deformity. Surgical treatment in rheumatoid arthritis has progressed and there have been advances in the relief of pain and increase in the range of motion. Among them the results of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) have improved steadily during the past decade due to refinements in design, fixation, and surgical technique. At orthopedic department of seoul national university hospital, we performed 31 total knee replacement in 18 patients who had suffered from rheumatoid arthritis during the period from Aug. 1982 to Dec. 1988. Following results were obtained. 1. Knee score increased from 37.8 to 76.9. 2. Tibio-femoral angle was corrected from 0.9° valgus to 5.3° valgus. 3. Conplications were peroneal nerve palsy in 3 knees, instability in 1 knee, tuberculous arthritis in 1 knee. 4. In 25 out of 31 knees, good functional results were obtained.
Adult ; Arthritis ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Arthroplasty ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Humans ; Joints ; Knee ; Middle Aged ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Orthopedics ; Paralysis ; Peroneal Nerve ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Seoul ; Synovial Membrane

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) allows a detailed evaluation of the structure and function of the left atrial appendage (LAA) by two-dimensional imaging and Doppler interrogation of appendage flow. LAA dysfunction has been associated with spontaneous echo contrast (SEC), thrombus formation and thromboembolism. The purpose of this study was to define normal heart reference values of LAA maximal forward velocity (LAAV), and to correlate LAAV with cardiac rhythm, mitral valve disease severity, SEC grade and left atrial thrombi development. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: LAA volume measurement and pulse Doppler evaluation of LA appendage flow during TEE were undertaken in 95 subjects; 32 patients with normal heart and 63 patients with various cardiac diseases. RESULTS: Mean LAAV was 87.1+/-26.7 cm/s, mean LAA maximal backward velocity 66.0+/-15.0 cm/s and mean LAA volume 2.2+/-1.2 mL in those patients with normal heart (n=32). There was a negative correlation between LAAV and SEC grade, mitral stenosis severity, LA size and LAA volume. Among those patients with atrial fibrillation, LAAV was lower in the subgroup with LA thrombi than in the subgroup without thrombi (14.9+/-8.1 cm/s (n=16), vs. 29.7+/-21.2 cm/s (n=33), p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Reduced LAAV, SEC and mitral stenosis are all associated with LAA thrombus formation in patients with atrial fibrillation.
Atrial Appendage* ; Atrial Fibrillation ; Echocardiography* ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Heart ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Mitral Valve ; Mitral Valve Stenosis ; Reference Values ; Thromboembolism ; Thrombosis

PURPOSE: We evaluared the risk factors, clinical characteristic, diagnosis and treatment of neonatal systemic fungal infection in 28 cases in order to find ways to prevent development of and to improve the prognosis of neonatal systemic fungal infection METHODS: From November 1994 to August 1996, 28 premature infants who were diagnosed as systemic fungal infection at Ilsin Christian Hospital NICU were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: 1) The mean gestational age was 30.7 weeks(27-35.5weeks) and the mean birth weight was 1528g(975-2980g). 2) The risk factors associated with the development of neonatal systemic fungal infection included long-term use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, prolonged hyperalimentation, prolonged use of aminophylline and steroid, and endotracheal intubation. 3) The most common presenting clinical manifestations were temperature instability, feeding intolerance, and apnea. 4) In laboratory studies, blood, urine, and CSF culture positivity was 92.8%, 92.8%, and 10.7%, respectively and renal and cranial sonogram were helpful to evaluate the renal and CNS involvement. 5) The principal treatment was intravenous amphotericin B administration for 4 weeks. The side effects, such as renal toxicity, hepatotoxicity, hypokalemia, and vomiting, developed but were reversible. 6) The mortality rate was 7.1%, and ventriculo-peritoneal shunts was performed in 3 cases who had fungal meningitis for the management of postmeningitic hydrocephalus. CONCLUSION: For was beformedin the diagnosis of neonatal systemic fungal infection is very difficult and the mortality is high, we recommend that antifungal therapy be initiated in clinically ill infants who are not responsive to antibiotic therapy and have negative culture findings and have some of the risk factors associated with systemic fungal infection.
Aminophylline ; Amphotericin B ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Apnea ; Birth Weight ; Diagnosis ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Hypokalemia ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Meningitis, Fungal ; Mortality ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt ; Vomiting

The authors measured the lateral & 3rd ventricles and cortical sulci in computerized axial tomographic films of 15 male patients with chronic alcoholism and 16 controls, who had been admitted to Kyng Hee University Hospital from Jan. 1, 1979 to Mar. 31, 1983. The results were as following: 1. The average age of patients was 47.5 yrs., and that of conntrols was 34.5 yrs. The average duration of habitual drinking was 11.6 yrs., and complicated with delirium tremens, head trauma, liver diseases (46.7% each other) and seizure (33.3%). 2. The sulcal widening was found in 9 cases (60.0%) of patients (mean +/- S.D. = 6.7 +/- 1.76mm) and no cases in control group (mean +/- S.D. = 2.3 +/- 0.88mm). The difference between patients and control group was statistically significant, especially in twenties (P<0.05). 3. The lateral ventricular enlargement was seen in 12 cases (80.0%) of patients (mean +/- S.D. = 17.1 +/- 0.93mm), and 8 cases (50.0%) of control group (mean +/- S.D. = 14.7+/- 1.46mm). There was statistical significance, especially in forties (P<0.05). There were no statistical significance except cella media index (P<0.05), according to various measuring indices. The width of 3rd ventricle was 1.88 +/- 0.152mm (mean+/-S.D.) in patients and 1.12+/-0.311mm (mean +/- S.D.) in control group. And the difference was statistically significant. 4. Cerebral atrophy was noticed in 10 cases (67.0%) among 15 taken C.A.T. of brain.
Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium ; Alcoholics* ; Alcoholism ; Atrophy ; Brain ; Cerebral Ventricles* ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Drinking ; Humans ; Liver Diseases ; Male ; Seizures

PURPOSE: To evaluate the relationship between the size of internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling and the elongation of foveal tissue after macular hole (MH) surgery. METHODS: The medical records of 29 patients (29 eyes) who developed elongation of foveal tissue on spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) after vitrectomy with ILM peeling and gas tamponade for idiopathic MH were retrospectively reviewed. These eyes were classified into 3 subgroups by the size of ILM peeling: group A (9 eyes), smaller than 2 disc diameter (DD); group B (12 eyes), larger than 2 DD and within the major temporal vascular arcade, and group C (8 eyes), till the edge of the major temporal vascular arcade. Inter-outer plexiform layer (OPL) distance, representing elongation of foveal tissue, was measured 1, 3, and 6-8 months (only 18 eyes) postoperatively. 'Asymmetric elongation' was defined as non-uniform elongation of the foveal tissue in certain directions. RESULTS: Horizontal/vertical inter-OPL distances 1 month postoperative, in descending order, were: group B, 436.58 +/- 88.54 / 404.92 +/- 78.55 microm; group A, 421.33 +/- 109.97 / 404.14 +/- 120.9 microm; and C group, 389.25 +/- 48.75 / 400 +/- 52.23 microm. Variations in the horizontal/vertical inter-OPL distance 3 months after MH surgery were: group B, 136.83 +/- 65.64 / 103.92 +/- 73.37 microm; group A, 88.11 +/- 41.57 / 75.89 +/- 53.18 microm; and group C, 140.25 +/- 68.51 / 83.63 +/- 56.62 microm. There were no significant differences in inter-OPL distance, variation in inter-OPL distance, or percent asymmetry in both horizontal and vertical directions among these groups. CONCLUSIONS: Elongation of the foveal tissue and asymmetric elongation after MH surgery were not associated with the size of ILM peeling.
Humans ; Medical Records ; Membranes ; Retinal Perforations* ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Vitrectomy

PURPOSE: To evaluate the prognostic factors that predict visual outcome after vitrectomy for lamellar macular hole using optical coherence tomography (OCT). METHODS: This study included 26 eyes that underwent pars plana vitrectomy, epiretinal membrane removal, and internal limiting membrane peeling for lamellar macular hole. The maximum parafoveal thickness, maximum height and diameter of lamellar macular hole, maximum height and diameter of intraretinal splitting, thinnest foveal floor thickness, and inner segment/outer segment disruption length on preoperative OCT image were investigated for prognostic factors that predict visual outcome. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 32.2 months and the mean best corrected visual acuity improved significantly after vitrectomy from log MAR 0.47 +/- 0.32 to log MAR 0.23 +/- 0.23. The postoperative visual acuity correlated significantly with preoperative visual acuity, thinnest foveal floor thickness and inner segment/outer segment disruption length, but not with maximum parafoveal thickness, maximum height and diameter of lamellar macular hole and maximum height and diameter of intraretinal splitting. CONCLUSIONS: The thinnest foveal floor thickness and inner segment/outer segment disruption length on preoperative OCT image were significant prognostic factors.
Epiretinal Membrane ; Follow-Up Studies ; Membranes ; Retinal Perforations* ; Tomography, Optical Coherence* ; Visual Acuity ; Vitrectomy*