A clinical obsevation was made on 8 patients with Corrected Transposition of the Great Arteries who visited seoul National University Hospital during the period of Feb., 1979-Sep., 1982. 1. Sex distribution was 5 male and 3 female patients. 2. Age distribution was from 16 to 39 years and the mean age was 24 years. 3. Symptoms were exertional dyspnea in all cases, cyanosis in 3 cases. Other symptoms were palpitation, chest pain, growth retardation and chest deformity. Duration of illness was from 6 to 16 years and N.Y.H.A. functional class was between II and III. 4. On physical examination, cardiac mumurs were heard in all cases. Cyanosis on the lips and nail beds were noticed in 3 cases and clubbing of fingers was seen in 1 case. 5. Situs inversus was noticed in 1 case, mesocardia in 3 cases, dextrocardia in 1 cases and right sided aortic arch in 1 case by simple Chest PA. 6. Electrocardiographic findings were Biventricular hypertrophy in 3 cases, Left ventricular hypertrophy in 2 cases, Right ventricular hypertrophy in 2 cases and Incomplete right bundle branch block in 1 case. No arrhythmias were observed. Septal Qwave was not observed on the left precordial leads in all cases. 7. CTGA were suspected or diagnosed by Echocardiography in 7 cases. 8. The diagnosis of CTGA and its associated anomalies were confirmed in all cases by cardiac catheterization and angiocardiography. There were one case of I.D.D. type CTGA and seven cases of S.L.L. type CTGA's. Associated anomalies were ventricular septal defect in 5 cases, pulmonary stenosis in 5 cases, patent foramen ovale in 3 cases, atrial septal defect in 2 cases, patent ductus arteriosus in 1 case, dextrocardia in 1 case, left sided A.V. valve regurtation in 2 cases, and right sided aortic arch in 1 case. 9. Operation was done in the case associated with patent ductus arteriosus, and corrective surgery was done in the another case associated with ASD, VSD, PS and TR with C-TGA.
Age Distribution ; Angiocardiography ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Arteries ; Bundle-Branch Block ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Chest Pain ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Cyanosis ; Dextrocardia ; Diagnosis ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; Dyspnea ; Echocardiography ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Fingers ; Foramen Ovale, Patent ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular ; Hypertrophy, Right Ventricular ; Lip ; Male ; Physical Examination ; Pulmonary Valve Stenosis ; Seoul ; Sex Distribution ; Situs Inversus ; Thorax

No abstract available.
Budesonide* ; Humans

PURPOSE: We performed this study to evaluate the outcomes and complications of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) at a single institute with a large series. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 610 patients who underwent PCNL between March 1995 and June 2008 for staghorn calculi in 139 (22.8%), partial staghorn calculi in 104 (17.0%), renal pelvis stone in 222 (36.4%), proximal ureter calculi in 60 (9.8%), and calculi within a caliceal diverticulum in 85 (13.9%) patients. Stone-free status was defined as no visible residual calcification or remnant calcification smaller than 4 mm in diameter (clinically insignificant residual fragment) on a plain KUB (X-ray examination of the kidney, ureter, and bladder) image. Characteristics of the stones, operation time, stone-free rate, and complications were evaluated. RESULTS: Initial stone burden was 665.9+/-600.6 mm2. Average operation time was 103.2+/-58.6 minutes. The mean hospital stay was 7.9 days. The stone-free rate was 84.9%, and ancillary procedures were required in 66 patients (10.8%), including 34 (5.6%) second-look PCNL and 26 (4.3%) ureteroscopic procedures. In the univariate analysis for prediction of stone-free rate, hydronephrosis, stone type, stone composition, and stone burden were significant prognostic factors. In the multivariate analysis, initial stone burden was the only independent factor affecting the stone-free rate. Complications were found in 95 patients (16.1%), 5 (0.8%) of whom needed embolization due to bleeding and 23 (3.8%) of whom showed pleural complications. CONCLUSIONS: PCNL is an effective method for the treatment of staghorn, large calyceal, and some upper ureteral stones with acceptable complication rates.
Calculi ; Diverticulum ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Kidney ; Kidney Calculi ; Kidney Pelvis ; Length of Stay ; Medical Records ; Multivariate Analysis ; Nephrostomy, Percutaneous ; Ureter

PURPOSE: We wanted to analyze the clinicopathologic characteristics of patients with gastric carcinoid tumor, which is a rare gastric tumor (less than 2% of all gastric tumors). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed all the carcinoid patients who were treated from 1996 to 2006. The clinicopathologic characteristics, the treatment modalities and the survival rates were retrospectively analysed. RESULTS: There were 8 type I patients and 10 type III patients, but there were no type II patients. The mean age of onset for type I was 47.75 years and that for type III was 57.90 years. More type III patients were female, but the gender ratio of type I patients was equal at a ratio of 1:1. There were 4 cases of solitary tumor, which were all T1 except for one case, and there was neither distant metastasis nor lymph node involvement for the type T1 cases. In the 13 patients who had no metastasis, 5 underwent endoscopic mucosal resection and 8 underwent surgery, and their combined 5 year survival rate was 92.3%. For the 5 cases who had metastastses, their mean survival was 22 months and especially, 3 of them underwent palliative surgery and their median survival were 24 months (95%, +/-6.52). CONCLUSION: Higher incidence of type III gastric carcinoid tumor and less multiplicity in type I gastric tumor were identified in our study compared with previous reports. For the type III cases, there were some noteable differences compared with the Western country's survival rate for the patients who underwent palliative surgery, so physicians must pay close attention to the definite clinicopathologic characteristics of gastric carcinoid patients.
Age of Onset ; Carcinoid Tumor ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Palliative Care ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

Noncompaction of the ventricular myocardium is a rare congenital cardiomyopathy that is thought to be caused by arrest of normal endomyocardial embryogenesis. It is usually diagnosed via echocardiography. The three major clinical manifestations of noncompaction are heart failure, arrhythmia and embolic events. We report here on a case of isolated noncompaction of the ventricular myocardium, and the patient was admitted due to palpitation and dyspnea. Sadly, he died of intractable heart failure despite that we administered intensive medical treatment.
Aged* ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Cardiomyopathies ; Dyspnea ; Echocardiography ; Embryonic Development ; Female ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Isolated Noncompaction of the Ventricular Myocardium* ; Myocardium ; Pregnancy

OBJECTIVES: Intrapulmonary vascular abnormalities resulting in right-to-left shunt have been described in patients with severe liver disease, especially advanced hepatic cirrhosis. They result in hypoxemia which is associated with liver cirrhosis without preexisting cardiac or pulmonary diseases. Since Rydell and Hoffbauer first described intrapulmonary shunt in a cirrhotic patient in 1956, it has been reported recently that 13 to 47 percent of the end-stage hepatic disease patients have these intrapulmonary vascular abnormalities. Contrast echocardiography(CE) has been proved useful in detecting intrapulmonary shunt. The aim of the study is to determine the prevalence of intrapulmonary shunt by CE in patients with hepatic cirrhosis, and to compare the clinical characteristics of those with and without evidence of intrapulmonary shunt. METHODS: We performed CE studies in 24 stable cirrhotic patients without the evidence of severe complications such as massive ascites, upper GI bleeding, and hepatic coma. Clinical information including symptom and sign, results of liver and pulmonary function tests, and arterial blood gas values measured both at the supine and erect position, were analyzed in each group of patients with or without intrapulmonary shunt. RESULTS: Positive CE suggesting intrapulmonary shunt was found in 8 of 24 patients(33.3%). However the degree of relative opacifications were one positive(1+) in all 8 patients, and hypoxemia and its related symptom and sign appeared to be rare. Any of the parameters of liver and pulmonary function test did not show the significant difference between CE-positive and CE-negative group. CONCLUSION: Only the presence of spider angioma was associated with intrapulmonary shunt among the several clinical signs, which suggests common pathogenesis of both vascular abnormalities.
Anoxia ; Ascites ; Echocardiography* ; Hemangioma ; Hemorrhage ; Hepatic Encephalopathy ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis* ; Liver Diseases ; Liver* ; Lung Diseases ; Prevalence ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Spiders

Objective: : Patients with mild ischemic stroke experience various sequela and residual symptoms, such as anxious behavior and deficits in movement. Few approaches have been proved to be effective and safe therapeutic approaches for patients with mild ischemic stroke by acute stroke. Sildenafil (SIL), a phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor (PDE5i), is a known remedy for neurodegenerative disorders and vascular dementia through its angiogenesis and neurogenesis effects. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of PDE5i in the emotional and behavioral abnormalities in rats with mild ischemic stroke. Methods: : We divided the rats into four groups as follows (n=20, respectively) : group 1, naïve; group 2, middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo30); group 3, MCAo30+SIL-pre; and group 4, MCAo30+SIL-post. In the case of drug administration groups, single dose of PDE5i (sildenafil citrate, 20 mg/kg) was given at 30-minute before and after reperfusion of MCAo in rats. After surgery, we investigated and confirmed the therapeutic effect of sildenafil on histology, immunofluorescence, behavioral assays and neural oscillations. Results: : Sildenafil alleviated a neuronal loss and reduced the infarction volume. And results of behavior task and immunofluorescence shown possibility that anti-inflammation process and improve motor deficits sildenafil treatment after mild ischemic stroke. Furthermore, sildenafil treatment attenuated the alteration of theta-frequency rhythm in the CA1 region of the hippocampus, a known neural oscillatory marker for anxiety disorder in rodents, induced by mild ischemic stroke. Conclusion : PDE5i as effective therapeutic agents for anxiety and movement disorders and provide robust preclinical evidence to support the development and use of PDE5i for the treatment of mild ischemic stroke residual disorders.

BACKGROUND: New therapeutic modalities such as high dose chemotherapy and stem cell support have been tried to prolong the survival period of the patients with multiple myeloma. However, little is known about the criteria for the application of those new therapies. There are only a few reports for the prognostic factors of multiple myeloma in Korea. The purpose of this study is to analyze the prognostic factors affecting chemotherapy response and survival in patients with multiple myeloma. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed the clinical records of 122 patients who were newly diagnosed as multiple myeloma by SWOG criteria, between November, 1989 and April, 1997 at Asan Medical Center. RESULTS: 1) The peak incidence was the 7th decade and male to female ratio was 1.3:1. The most common presenting symptom at first diagnosis was bone pain. 2) Initial clinical stage was as followed: stage I in 17.2% , stage II in 16.4% and 66.4% in III. The immunoglobulin classes were IgG in 51.6%, light chain only in 25.4%, IgA in 16.4%, IgD in 4.1%, and non-secretory type in 2.5%. Plasma cell types in bone marrow were classified as plasmablastic type in 45.9%, plasmacytic type in 54.1%. 3) Eighty two patients who recieved chemotherapy more than 3 cycles were evaluable for chemotherapy response. Overall response rate was 69.5%. Factors affecting response to chemotherapy were serum creatinine level, plasma cell type, total plasma cell percentage and plasmablast percentasge of total nucleated cells in bone marrow. 4) For total 122 patients, overall median survival period was 21 months, and estimated 5 year survival rate was 23.5%. Factors affecting survival were serum creatinine, corrected calcium, albumin, beta2-microglobulin level, response to chemotherapy, total plasma cell percentage and plasmablast percentage in bone marrow. CONCLUSION: Bone marrow findings at initial diagnosis are significantly associated with response to chemotherapy and survival duration.
Bone Marrow ; Calcium ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Creatinine ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy* ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; Immunoglobulin D ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin Isotypes ; Incidence ; Korea ; Male ; Multiple Myeloma* ; Plasma Cells ; Retrospective Studies ; Stem Cells ; Survival Rate

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: We performed this study to evaluate the common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCA IMT), and its correlation with several clinical variables, including the 10 year coronary heart disease (10 Yr CHD) risk in both healthy and hyperlipidemic hypertensive (HH) Koreans. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This was a multi-centered prospective epidemiological study. The study population consisted of 227 healthy subjects without risk factors, with the exception of age (mean 49 years old, 114 males), and 243 HH subjects (mean 51 years old, 120 males). The carotid IMT and presence of plaques were semi automatically measured in both carotid arteries at a central reading facility. RESULTS: Linear regression analysis of all the subjects revealed that the independent factors of both CCA IMT were age, pulse pressure (PP) and HDL-cholesterol, and that of the right CCA IMT were sex and 10 Yr CHD risk. In healthy subjects, the independent factor of both CCA IMTs was age, and that of the right CCA IMT was body weight. In the HH subjects, age, sex, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and PP were independent factors of both CCA IMTs, but 10 Yr CHD risk was an independent factor of only the right CCA IMT. Carotid plaques were seen in 17% of the healthy subjects and 35% of the HH subjects. An ROC curve analysis showed a right CCA IMT of 0.646 mm and left CCA IMT of 0.656 mm demonstrated 60% sensitivity and specificity in differentiating healthy from HH subjects. CONCLUSION: This result reliably demonstrates the Korean CCA IMT, as well as several other significant pieces of information.
Blood Pressure ; Body Weight ; Carotid Arteries ; Carotid Artery, Common ; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness* ; Cholesterol ; Coronary Disease ; Epidemiologic Studies* ; Humans ; Korea* ; Linear Models ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors* ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Porphyromonas gingivalis, one of the major periodontal pathogens, is implicated in the initiation and progression of periodontal disease. The initial stages of periodontal inflammation are accompanied by vascular hyperpermeability. In our present study, we report that the P. gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (LPS) increases the mRNA expression of interleukin-8 (IL-8), a major inducer of vascular permeability, in vascular endothelial cells. P. gingivalis LPS also stimulated the induction of IL-8 secretion in endothelial cells. The P. gingivalis LPS-induced expression of IL-8 was primarily modulated by nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB). P. gingivalis LPS significantly enhanced the vascular permeability both in vitro and in vivo, and a blockade of the IL-8 receptor decreased the P. gingivalis LPS-induced vascular permeability. Taken together, these results suggest that P. gingivalis LPS increases vascular permeability through the NF-kappaB-dependent production of IL-8 in vascular endothelial cells.
Capillary Permeability ; Endothelial Cells ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-8 ; Periodontal Diseases ; Porphyromonas ; Porphyromonas gingivalis ; RNA, Messenger