BACKGROUND: In patients with myocardial infarction, one needs to know the location, extent and severity of wall motion abnormalities to assess prognosis and guide therapy. Thus more precise quantatative estimates of regional ventricular function are required. Regional wall motion has generally been assessed by displaying the multiple cardiac images of RVG as endless-loop movie, but the cinematic display was not objective. We used the usefulness of the phase analysis in evaluating the global left ventricular function and regional wall motion abnormalities of patients with myocardial infarction. The accuracy of the RVG cinematic display in detecting regional wall motion abnormalities in patients with myocardial infarction was also evaluated. METHODS: Studied cases were 97 patients with myocardial infarction and 20 normals with low likelihood of coronary artery disease. Coronary angiography and contrast left ventriculography were performed in all patients with myocardial infarction. The regional wall myocardial infarction(presence) is defined when the EKG presented the evidence of myocardial infarction, left ventriculogram showed RWMA(regional wall motion abnormality) along with stenosis of 50% or greater of the regional supplying coronary artery. Each patient was imaged in 45 left anterior oblique(LAO) view, anterior(Ant) view and left lateral(Lt Lat) view. We evaluated Left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF) from time-activity curve. We constructed the histogram for the left ventricle and both ventricle separately to obtain the global and total phase angle(GPA, TPA), standard deviation of phase angle(GSDPh, TSDPh), full width half maximum(GFWHM, TFWHM). The left ventricle was divided into 7 segments. LAO projection ; septal, apical, basal lateral, apical lateral, Ant projection ; anterolateral, Lt Lat projection ; inferior, posterior, Phase angle(RPA) and full width half maximum(RFWHM) from the histogram (regional 7 segments) were examined. On the RVG cinematic display, the standard 4 grading system was used, normal, hypokinesia, akinesia, dyskinesia. The observer evaluated regional wall motion abnormality of the 7 segments for all cases. The sensitivity of the above parameters and RVG cinematic display was evaluated. We analyzed the regional parameters among the patents with regional wall myocardial infarction(presence), those without regional wall myocardial infarction(absence) and control group using the t-test. The statistical analysis was done by one way ANOVA between regional phase analysis and RVG cinematic display. RESULTS: The sensitivity of LVEF was lowest(70.1%) and the GFWHM was highest among the global parameters(89.1%). But RFWHM showed even higher sensitivity(96.9%), thus regional phase analysis was also required. The RVG cinematic display was also sensitive(92.7%), but less sensitive than the RFWHM. On regional phase analysis the RPA of septal, apical, inferior, posterior walls of the left ventricle was able to separate presence group from absence group and also presence group from control group and the RPA of the apical lateral wall could separate presence group from absence group. The RPA of basal lateral and anterolateral wall was inaccurate in diagnosing the regional wall myocardial infarction, because basal lateral wall was overlapped by adjacent vascular structures, and the area of anterolateral wall dose not correlate completely beteen the RVG & the left ventriculogram, also the anterolateral wall can be supplied by the obtuse marginal branch of left circumflex artery. The RFWHM of all regional walls of left ventricle could separate presence group from absence group and presence group from control group. We found good correlation between regional phase analysis & left ventriculogram for detection of regional wall myocardial infartion. On RVG cinematic display, the RPA of the normal group was different from that of dyskinesia, akinesia and hypokinesia groups. The RPA of the dyskinesia group was also different from that of skinesia and hypokinesia groups by oneway ANOVA(p<0.05). The RFWHM of the dskinesia group was different from that of the normal group and hypokinesia group. RVG cinematic display correlated well with regional phase analysis and also quantitation of wall motion. CONCLUSIONS: Thus RVG cinematic display was useful and can not be replaced by phase analysis. But the regional phase analysis was sensitive and objective in diagnosing the wall motion abnormality in myocardial infarction.
Ants ; Arteries ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vessels ; Dyskinesias ; Electrocardiography ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Hypokinesia ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Prognosis ; Radionuclide Ventriculography ; Ventricular Function ; Ventricular Function, Left

No abstract available.
Angelica*

No abstract available.
Biopsy* ; Prostate*

No abstract available.
Aged* ; Humans

PURPOSE: This study was done to identify the effects of individual postpartum breast-feeding education on adaptation, attitude and practice of breast-feeding in primiparas. METHODS: A quasi-experimental nonequivalent design was used to examine the effects of individual postpartum breast-feeding education among primiparas. The data were analyzed using chi2-test, Fisher's exact test and paired t-test. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in breast-feeding adaptation (t=-12.94, p<.001), breast-feeding attitude (t=-2.71, p=.011) and breast-feeding practice (chi2=16.47, p<.001) between the group education (experimental group I) and individual education after group education (experimental group II). CONCLUSION: The results indicate that individual education on breast-feeding compared to group education has more positive effects on increasing breast-feeding adaptation, attitude and practice in primiparas. This result also indicates that many primiparas should be given opportunities of various types of education to improve breast-feeding practice such as individual approaches and postpartum breast-feeding education programs.
Breast Feeding ; Postpartum Period

No abstract available.
Child* ; Heart Neoplasms* ; Humans

Rheumatoid nodules are the most common extra-articular presentations of rheumatoid arthritis. Although rheumatoid nodules can develop anywhere in the body, they develop most commonly in the subcutaneous region, where they are easily exposed to repetitive trauma or pressure. However, an infrascapular presentation has not yet been reported. We report a case of giant bilateral rheumatoid nodules that developed in the infrascapular area, complicating its distinction from elastofibroma dorsi on radiological examination.

Adipose tissue inflammation is considered a major contributing factor in the development of obesity-associated insulin resistance and cardiovascular diseases. However, the cause of adipose tissue inflammation is presently unclear. The role of mitochondria in white adipocytes has long been neglected because of their low abundance. However, recent evidence suggests that mitochondria are essential for maintaining metabolic homeostasis in white adipocytes. In a series of recent studies, we found that mitochondrial function in white adipocytes is essential to the synthesis of adiponectin, which is the most abundant adipokine synthesized from adipocytes, with many favorable effects on metabolism, including improvement of insulin sensitivity and reduction of atherosclerotic processes and systemic inflammation. From these results, we propose a new hypothesis that mitochondrial dysfunction in adipocytes is a primary cause of adipose tissue inflammation and compared this hypothesis with a prevailing concept that “adipose tissue hypoxia” may underlie adipose tissue dysfunction in obesity. Recent studies have emphasized the role of the mitochondrial quality control mechanism in maintaining mitochondrial function. Future studies are warranted to test whether an inadequate mitochondrial quality control mechanism is responsible for mitochondrial dysfunction in adipocytes and adipose tissue inflammation.
11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases ; Adipocytes ; Adipocytes, White ; Adipokines ; Adiponectin ; Adipose Tissue ; Anoxia ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Homeostasis ; Inflammation ; Insulin Resistance ; Metabolism ; Mitochondria ; Nitric Oxide ; Obesity ; Quality Control

PURPOSE: Retrospective studies were carried out to evaluate the usufulness of CT in differentiating benign or malignant intrahepatic duct(IHD) dilatation due to extrahepatic duct(EHD) obstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among 75 cases of IHD dilatation, 35 cases(47%) which did not show causative lesion on CT were classified into central or peripheral type according to the extent of the dilatation and into pruned or beaded form according to its pattern. We considered central type or pruned form as a benign feature while peripheral type or beaded from as a malignant feature. Predictions of benignancy or malignancy were made according to the pattern and the extent of IHD dilatation. In all 75 cases, maximum caliber of IHD at portal vein bifurcation were examined. RESULTS: In regard to the classification of the extent, 80% (28 out of the 35 cases:11 of 15 cases of benignancy and 17 of 20 cases of malignancy) of our prediction was correct. As to the classification of the pattern, similar results(82% correct prediction) were obtained(14 out of 17 cases):ln 15 cases of benignancy, we observed six cases of pruning and 1 case of beading. Among the 20 cases of malignancy, two cases of pruning and eight cases of beading of IHD dilatation were observed. Mean diameters of IHD at portal vein bifurcation were 10.1ram in benignancy and 15.1mm in malignancy.(Diameters less than 11mm was suggestive of benignancy(alpha =0.05). CONCLUSION: Evaluation of the extent, the pattern, and the degree of IHD dilatation is necessary in differential diagnosis of benignancy and malignancy of EHD obstruction. We conclude that CT is a useful tool for this purpose of differential diagnosis of the benignancy and the malignancy of extrahepatic biliary obstruction.
Classification ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Dilatation* ; Portal Vein ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed*

PURPOSE: MR is the most useful imaging method in evaluating the anatomic changes of the optic chiasm (OC). The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between the OC displacement and visual manifestations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 44 patients who showed displacement of OC on brain MR. The pattern of OC displacement was classified into 3 groups according to following criteria: group A included the patients with OC displacement only due to empty sella;group B represented the patients with OC displacement by a lesion and the border between the lesion and OC was distinct;and group C was the patients with OC displacement by a lesion and had a indistinct border or thinning of the OC. RESULTS: Visual symptoms and signs were noted in 12 patients and the most common sign was bitemporal hemianopsia. In group A(7 patients), the visual symptoms and signs were seen in only one patient(14%), in whom contracted visual fields persisted since previous pituitary apoplexy had developed. In group B(30 patients), the visual symptoms and signs were seen in 4 patients(13%) who had tumorous conditions except one case of cysticercosis. In group C(7 patients), the visual symptoms and signs were seen in all patients (100%). CONCLUSION: The more OC is compressed, the more the prevalence of visual symptoms and signs increases. However, there was no correlation between the occurrence of visual symptoms and the presence of OC displacement only without compression.
Brain ; Cysticercosis ; Hemianopsia ; Humans ; Optic Chiasm* ; Pituitary Apoplexy ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Visual Fields