PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of scatter correction on the assessment of myocardial perfusion and left ventricular function by gated Tc-99m myocardial SPECT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subjects were 11 normal volunteers, 20 patients with non-cardiac chest pain and 13 patients with coronary artery diseases. We classified above 3 groups into normal and diseased groups. Scatter correction was done using dual-energy-window scatter correction method (DEW-SC). We compared acquired counts, image contrast, corrected maximum relative counts, indices of left ventricular function, extent and severity of perfusion defects calculated by 'CEqual program' between scatter non-corrected and corrected images. RESULTS: Scatter corrected studies was lower in counts by 18+/-3% than uncorrected studies, but image contrast were improved in all cases. Scatter correction using DEW-SC took 3 minutes to complete, and 512 kB memory to store. There were no significant differences among indices of left ventricular function between scatter non-corrected and corrected images. Although extents of perfusion defects were not significantly different, severity was severer in scatter corrected images. CONCLUSION: Scatter correction using DEW-SC is simple to do, and improves image contrast without changing other indices of myocardial perfusion and function.
Chest Pain ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Memory ; Perfusion* ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon* ; Ventricular Function, Left*

OBJECTIVES: Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) is the treatment of choice and has been shown to reduce the frequency of nocturnal respiratory events, improve sleep architecture, and decrease daytime sleepiness in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). However, little is known about the compliance of nCPAP treatment in Korea. Our objective was to look into the nCPAP compliance and examine the factors influencing it. METHODS: We reviewed the records of one hundred and twenty consecutive patients with OSAS referred for nocturnal polysomnography with nCPAP pressure titration during the period of January 1995 through April 1999 to the Seoul National University Hospital. We performed a telephone interview and obtained data from eighty-three patients. RESULTS: In sixty patients who had accepted nCPAP treatment, twenty-six patients (43.3%) were still using nCPAP device, while thirty-four patients (56.7%) stopped using it. Fifteen patients (25%) were using nCPAP device everyday. In thirty-four patients who discontinued nCPAP use, twenty-five patients (73.5%) did within the first three months, and thirty-one (91.2%) within the first year. Significant predictor of long-term nCPAP use was the presence of subjective daytime sleepiness before nCPAP application. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term compliance with nCPAP treatment appears to be associated with the presence of subjective daytime sleepiness before nCPAP application. Long-term compliance with nCPAP may be mostly predicted from the usage pattern within the first three months of use.
Compliance* ; Continuous Positive Airway Pressure* ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Korea ; Polysomnography ; Seoul ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive*

The efficacy of acetaminophen, sponging plus acetaminophen, and sponging alone as method of lowering body temperature was compared in 108 children aged 8 weeks to 5 years who presented with an axillary temperature of 38.5degrees C or greater during the period from January 1993 to April 1993. The following results were obtained. 1) The male to female ratio was 2.5:1 and clinical diagnosis in the order of frequency were upper respiratory infection, gastroenteritis, pneumonia, urinary tract infection, cellulitis, chickenpox and hand-foot-mouth disease. 2) At thirty minutes after treatment, there was no significant difference on the decrement of temperature among the three groups. 3) At sixty minutes, the temperature decrement was the greatest in the group of sponging plus acetaminophen and that was statistically significant (P<0.01). But there was no significant difference between the group of acetaminophen and that of sponging.
Acetaminophen ; Body Temperature ; Cellulitis ; Chickenpox ; Child* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Fever* ; Gastroenteritis ; Humans ; Male ; Pneumonia ; Urinary Tract Infections

The authors determined the value of performing urine microscopy on biochemically negative urine sepcimens in a pediatric population. The 746 urine specimens of patients who were either visited or admitted to the Department of Pediatrics, National Police Hospital, from March 1991 to July 1992 were reviewed on the basis of comparative evaluation of biochemical and microscopic urine analysis. Eight reactions of Clinitek(r) 200 were used as biochemical indicators, namely, pH, nitrite, albumin, glucose, ketone, urobilinogen, bilirubin, and blood. Out of 746 urine specimens studied, 186 were true positive. Thirty-six specimens reacted biochemically in the absence of positive microscopic findings (false postive), 492 specimens were true negatives. Thirty-two specimens had negative biochemical indicators, in spite of positive microscopy. The sensitivity of the biochemical parameters for predicting significant microscopy of urinary sediment is 85% and the specificity is 99%. The positive predictive value is 69.7% and the negative predictive value is 99.3%. The sensitivity of blood for RBC is 94%. and the specificity is 99%. The predictive value of a positive result is 84.6% and that of a negative result is 99.7%. We therefore conclude that urine microscopy is less necessary in biochemically negative urine specimens from asymptomatic pediatric patients, with hopefully resultant time and cost effectiveness.
Bilirubin ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Glucose ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Microscopy ; Pediatrics ; Police ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Urinalysis* ; Urobilinogen

PURPOSE: Myocardial SPECT is an effective test for detecting coronary artery disease in the general population. But the diagnostic accuracy between sexes is not defined. The purpose of this study is to compare the diagnostic accuracy between males and females. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and seventy seven male and 98 female patients who underwent myocardial SPECT within 1 month of coronary angiography were studied. Myocardial SPECTs were considered abnormal if fixed or reversible perfusion defects were detected. Stenosis severity of > or = 50% luminal diameter reduction of any artery defined coronary artery disease (CAD). RESULTS: Overall sensitivity for detection of CAD was 98% in men and 97% in women (p=not significant). However, specificities, accuracies, and positive predictive values (PPV) in men and women were 49% vs 31% (p<0.05), 81% vs 57% (p<0.01), 78% vs 48% (P<0.01), respectively Diagnostic accuracies for detection of right coronary artery disease were not different in both sexes, however, accuracies for detection of left anterior descending artery disease and left circumflex artery disease were significantly lower in female (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: A significant difference of diagnostic accuracy between sexes, especially in LAD and LCx disease, was noted. Artifacts from breast attenuation might be a cause for the lower diagnostic accuracy in female.
Arteries ; Artifacts ; Breast ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Perfusion* ; Phenobarbital ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*

We report a false positive case of I-131 scan due to a sialolithiasis in right submandibular gland. I-131 images showed not only remnant thyroid tissues and functional metastases in the anterior neck but also a hot uptake near right submandibular gland. We confirmed the sialolithiasis by radiologic studies. Sialolithiasis should be regarded as a false positive cause when I-131 scan shows a hot spot near salivary bed.
Neck ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Salivary Gland Calculi* ; Submandibular Gland ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms*

The present study is aimed to investigate the clinical and pathologic features of GI lymphomas and the immunocytochemical characteristics, using 71 cases of primary GI lymphomas examined at the Department of Pathology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Youngdong Serverance Hospital and Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine from January, 1976 to December, 1985. Results obtained were as follows: 1) Sixty eight cases were Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and 3 Hodgkin's lymphoma. Surgical resection was done in 58 patients and surgical biopsy in 13. 2) The primary sites of the tumors were stomach, small intestine, ileocecal area and large intestine in a descending order of frequency. 3) The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 45 years. The tumor of the small intestine was generally detected in the younger age and that of the large intestine in the older age. The overall male to female ratio was 1.9 : 1. 4) Abdominal pain was the most common presenting symptom irrespective of the sites of the tumor. Duration of the symptoms were evenly distributed from hours to 12 monthes. 5) The size of the tumors was less than 10 cm in the largest dimension in most of the cases (79.3%). The gross types of the GI lymphomas were ulcerative (27.6%), polypoid (20.7%), multinodulated (17.2%) and diffuse thickening. The rate of lymph node involvement was 44.4% in tumors confined to the serosa, while 82.6% in tumors with serosal penetrations. 6) Classification of 68 cases of Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma according to Working Formulation revealed 50 cases of intermediate grade, 13 cases of high grade and 5 cases of low grade. According to Rappaport classification, all were diffuse types, among which diffuse histiocytic type was the most common. According to Lukes-Collins classification, 60 cases were B cell types, 4 cases genuine histiocytes types and 3 cases T cell types. Most of the gastric and intestinal lymphomas belonged to the follicular center cell (small and large cleaved, large cleaved) types. 7) Immunoperoxidase stains were done in 55 cases of malignant lymphomas. Thirty (65.9%) of 47 B cell lymphomas revealed a positivity for B cell markers. Twenty three (48.9%) of them showed a monoclonality, in which kappa/IgG pattern was most frequently demonstrated. Four cases of true histiocytic lymphomas were positive for alpha-1-antichymotrypsin and lysozyme, the former of which was seemed to be a more sensitive marker for histiocytic differentiation. An attempt was made to evaluate the significance of the degree of reactive histiocytic infiltrates within the lymphoma in relation to the progosis, but correlation could not be made because of the limited cases.
Female ; Male ; Humans ; Biopsy

The symmetrical peripheral gangrene syndrome consists of sudden onset of symmetrical gangrene of the fingers, toes and more raely, the nose, upper lip, ear lobes, or genitalia. There is no evidence of occulusion of large vessels or vasculitis. We experienced a case of symmetrical peripheral gangrene developed in fingers and toes with disseminated intravascular coagulation in 20 day-old permature infant with sepsis by Enterobacter aerogenes. Thereafter, we presented a case with a brief review of the related literatures.
Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation* ; Ear ; Enterobacter aerogenes ; Fingers ; Gangrene* ; Genitalia ; Humans ; Infant ; Lip ; Nose ; Sepsis ; Toes ; Vasculitis

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the effectiveness of reinforced contact precautions and active surveillance cultures (ASCs) in reducing the incidence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and other healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). METHODS: A before- and after-experimental study was performed at the intensive care unit (ICU) in a university-affiliated hospital. Reinforced contact precautions were applied to all patients, and ASCs for MRSA were performed for newly admitted patients at the time of admission and once a week thereafter. The HAIs were investigated in accordance with the National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance (NNIS) definitions and compared before and after the interventions. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: The number of HAIs caused by MRSA decreased from 2.2 to 0.5 per 100 patients discharged (P=0.02) and from 3.6 to 1.0 per 1,000 patient-days (P=0.032). The number of overall HAIs decreased from 7.6 to 4.0 per 100 patients discharged (P=0.011) and from 12.7 to 7.3 per 1,000 patient-days (P=0.034). The invasive device-associated infections caused by MRSA and other pathogens decreased, but the decrease was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Reinforced contact precautions and ASCs were effective in decreasing both MRSA infections and overall HAIs in the ICU. Further, it was assumed that the incidence of device-associated infections would have decreased if the intervention period was extended.
Cross Infection ; Humans ; Incidence ; Critical Care ; Intensive Care Units ; Methicillin Resistance ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

No abstract available.
Alexander Disease*