OBJECTIVES: Alcohol-induced oxidative stress has been known to injure various tissues or organs. This stress is related with free radicals which are produced as the result of long-term alcohol consumption. Malonyldialdehyde(MDA) is produced by the interaction of free radicals and cell membrane lipids, and indicates the degree of lipid peroxidation indirectly. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between red blood cell(RBC) membrane lipid peroxidation by free radicals, and associated hepatic injuries and hematologic changes. METHODS: Thirty-three subjects diagnosed as alcohol dependence according to DSM-IV diagnostic criteria were evaluated within 72 hours after discontinuing alcohol drinking. Clinical characteristics were evaluated by CAGE questionnaire and Korean Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test(MAST). RBC membrane MDA level was measured as the marker of RBC membrane lipid peroxidation. Aspartate aminotransferase(AST), alanine aminotransferase(ALT) and gamma-glutamyltransferase(GGT) were used as the biochemical markers of liver damage due to alcohol ingestion. The alcohol-induced hematologic change was assessed by mean corpuscular volume(MCV). RESULTS: The results were as follows. Clinical characteristics were not different between two groups having normal and abnormal levels of AST, ALT, GGT or MCV. The levels of MDA were not correlated with the clinical characteristics and serum levels of AST, ALT and GGT. However, there was a significant correlation between the levels of MDA and the value of MCV(p=0.017). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that oxidative stress in alcohol dependence may not be reflected in liver enzyme markers such as AST, ALT and GGT, but may be reflected in MCV.
Alanine ; Alcohol Drinking ; Alcoholism* ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Aspartic Acid ; Biological Markers ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Eating ; Erythrocyte Indices* ; Erythrocytes* ; Free Radicals ; Humans ; Lipid Peroxidation* ; Liver* ; Mass Screening ; Membrane Lipids ; Membranes* ; Michigan ; Oxidative Stress ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Polyarteritis nodosa is systemic necrotizing vasculitis of medium and small-sized arteries and results in variable manifestations due to ischemia of the involving organs. Diagnosis can either be made pathologically by demonstrating necrotizing vasculitis of arteries or angiographycally by demonstrating small arterial aneurysm. We experienced a case of PAN with dilated cardiomyopathy, confirmed by clinical feature, renal biopsy, angiography and echocardiography.
Aneurysm ; Angiography ; Arteries ; Biopsy ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated* ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Ischemia ; Polyarteritis Nodosa* ; Vasculitis

Congenital pericardial defect is relatively rare and two different types, partial and complete, of different clinical significance have been recognized. Most reported defects are complete type and left-sided lesion. Most patients are asymptomatic or complain of vague chest pain. Partial pericardial defect can be potentially fatal due to cardiac herniation and strangulation or coronary insufficiency. Plain chest reontgenography shows abnormal prominence along the cardiac border. 2-D echocardiography demonstrates a drop-off of pericardial echo and protruding cardiac chamber through the defect. Because of the potential fatality, surgical repair is recommended for the partial pericardial defect. We report a case of congenital partial left pericardial defect, which was diagnosed by plain chest reontgenography and 2-D echocardiography, with related literatures.
Chest Pain ; Echocardiography ; Humans ; Thorax

We present two cases of adrenocortical oncocytomas that were well-delineated on multi-detector computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. The images showed a well-enhanced large mass with multiple stippled calcifications in a 10-yr-old girl who was consulted due to precocious puberty. A well-enhanced solid mass with necrotic components was incidentally noticed in a 54-yr-old man. These lesions were resected and diagnosed as adrenocortical oncocytomas through immunohistochemical studies and electron microscopy. Adrenocortical oncocytomas are rare disease entities, therefore, we report these interesting, rare adrenocortical oncocytomas here with radiologic findings, and discuss differential diagnosis.
Adenoma, Oxyphilic/*diagnosis/pathology/radiography ; Adrenal Gland Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology/radiography ; Child ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

No abstract available.
Penicillamine*

BACKGROUND: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA) is an increasingly common cause of nosocomial infections worldwide. Epidemiologic investigation of MRSA outbreaks and identification of pathways of nosocomial MRSA spread require the ability to distinguish individual MRSA strains. We applied molecular tap ing of the methicillin-resistant determinant (mec) and coagulase typing in the investigation of a nosocomial MRSA infections. METHODS: We randomly selected 79 strains of mecA positive MRSA isolated from patients who visited Dong-A university Hospital from Dec. 1995 to Oct. 1996. Molecular typing of MRSA was performed by comparing the size of the mac-associated hypervariable region amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Coagulase typing with type I-VIII antisera was also used for classification of MRSA based on its phenotype. Each isolates were classified by the combination of molecular analyses and coagulase type. RESULTS: The 79 MRSA isolates were grouped Into sin hypervariable legion (HVR) genotypes on the basis of the size of the PGR products. In coagulase typing, the most predominant type was II(46.8%) and type V was not found. Nine strains were not typable. The combination of HVR genotypes and coagulase types showed 23 different types in 79 MRSA Isolates. The strains which were repeatedly isolated from the same patients showed the same HYR genotypes and coagulate types. CONCLUSION: The combination of HVR genotypes and coagulase types is thought to be useful in epidemiolgical Investigation of nosocomial infections caused by MRSA ,because of its simplicity and reproducibility.
Classification ; Coagulase* ; Cross Infection* ; Disease Outbreaks ; Genotype ; Humans ; Immune Sera ; Methicillin Resistance* ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus* ; Molecular Typing* ; Phenotype ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Staphylococcus

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Corpus Callosum*

We performed erotic stimulation that in 63 patients with erectile dysfunction in order to investigate erectile responses to visual sexual stimulation in patients with psychogenic and organic impotence and to elucidate valuable parameters for differential diagnosis between psychogenic and organic impotence. After the test using polygraph system and erotic film, subjective sexual drive in each patient was evaluated as grade I (poor), grade II (moderate), grade III (good). Following parameters were statistically analyzed : degree of maximal rigidity, degree of maximal tumescence, T -up phase (time taking place from the beginning of the erection to maximal level). The T-max phase (time taking place for the plateau phase of maximal erection). The results obtained were summarized as follows. Regardless of sexual drive of each patient, psychogenic impotence group showed better maximal rigidity and shorter T-up phase of rigidity than organic impotence group (p<0.05}. Of patients with psychogenic impotence, good sexual drive group showed better maximal rigidity and maximal tumescence than poor sexual drive group (p<0.06). Psychogenic impotence group showing good sexual drive revealed much better maximal rigidity and shorter T-up phase of rigidity than organic impotence group with same degree of sexual drive (p<0.05). These results indicate erotic stimulation test is highly valuable method for differential diagnosis between psychogenic and organic impotence, especially when the patient shows sexual drive in moderate or good degree. And it is suggested that maximal rigidigity and T-up phase of erection parameters in erotic stimulation test provide high validity for the differention.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Erectile Dysfunction* ; Humans ; Male

Agnogenic myeloid metaplasia (AMM) is a myeloproliferative disorder characterized by leukoerythroblastosis, tear-drop erythrocytes, extramedullary hematopoiesis with hepatosplenomegaly, and varying degrees of myelofibrosis. The mean age at presentation is about 60 years, and pediatric cases are rare. We experienced a case of AMM in a 9 months old female who was presented with pallor, huge splenomegaly and intermittent fever. Peripheral blood showed leukoerythroblastosis poikilocytosis, and tear drop cells. Bone marrow was difficult to aspirate, and biopsy specimen showed increased reticulin with decreased cellularity, which was compatible with myelofibrosis. We presented a case of AMM with brief review of the literatures.
Biopsy ; Bone Marrow ; Erythrocytes ; Female ; Fever ; Hematopoiesis, Extramedullary ; Humans ; Infant ; Myeloproliferative Disorders ; Pallor ; Primary Myelofibrosis* ; Reticulin ; Splenomegaly