BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: It has been suggested that the indices based on tissue doppler and color M-mode echocardiography reflect the left ventricular end-diastolic pressure. These include the early diastolic transmitral velocity (E) to early myocardial velocity ratio measured by tissue doppler (E') and the E to the wave propagation velocity (Vp) ratio measured from color M-mode images. However, these indices have not been well validated in congestive heart failure patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS:Thirty one congestive heart failure patients who underwent simultaneous cardiac catheterization and echocardiography, and had normal sinus rhythm were enrolled in this study. The left ventricular end-diastolic pressure obtained from the left heart catheterization was compared with the diastolic indices using pulsed doppler, tissue doppler and color M-mode echocardiography. RESULTS: The left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) ranged from 3.3 to 23 mmHg. Some parameters showed a significant correlation with the LVEDP. The propagation velocity showed a significant correlation with the LVEDP (r=0.382, p=0.034), and the E to propagation velocity ratio (E/Vp) showed a good correlation with the LVEDP(r=0.408, p=0.023). In addition, the E to early diastolic velocity of the mitral annulus (E') ratio had an insignificant correlation with the LVEDP(r=0.322, p=0.078). Among the patients with ischemic congestive heart failure, the E to the propagation velocity ratio (E/Vp) showed a marginal correlation with the LVEDP (r=0.461, p=0.047). CONCLUSION: In patients with congestive heart failure, the Vp and E/Vp showed a good correlation with the LVEDP. In the subgroup of patients with ischemic congestive heart failure, only the E/Vp showed a significant correlation with the LVEDP.
Blood Flow Velocity ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Echocardiography* ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Mitral Valve ; Ventricular Pressure

Notch stenosis had been thought to be related with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the possible relationship between notch stenosis and ACL injury. We measured the notch seen on the axial section in MRI at popliteal groove. We have retrospectively analyzed 116 cases of knee MRI. All cases were divided into three groups ; Group I were fifty six normal knee. Group II were thirty knee with contact ACL injuries. Group III were thirty knee with non contact ACL injuries. The result were as follows; 1. Statistically significant difference was found in the notch width index (NWI) between group I and group III but no significant differences was found in the NWI between group I and group II. 2. Statistically significant correlation to non-contact ACL injuries was found in the NWI at both anterior and posterior outlet of the notch. 3. An unique shape of the notch was found in the majority of group III.There seemed to be an obvious relationship between notch stenosis and non-contact ACL injuries.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament* ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Knee ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: This study was performed to know and compare the diagnostic usefulness of Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI) and Computed Tomography(CT) for the evaluation of patients with seizure. METHODS: We studied retrospectively 96 children who visited Hanyang University Hospital due to seizure and took a brain CT between January 1996 and June 1999, and 60 children who visited Hanyang University Hospital due to seizure and took a brain MRI between June 1999 and March 2002. All children who were enrolled in this study divided into few groups according to seizure type and EEG findings. RESULTS: Among 96 children who took a brain CT, 12 patients had brain abnormalities on CT, and among 60 children took a brain MRI, 13 patients had brain abnormalities on MRI. Abnormalities on CT were more frequently seen in children with focal seizure and/or focal abnormalities on EEG, but contrarily in MRI, abnormalities were more frequently seen in children with generalized seizure. CONCLUSION: Even the MRI is more expensive to be taken than the CT, MRI isrecommended when there is a need to evaluate the causes of seizures even for thepatients with generalized seizure as a result of our study.
Brain* ; Child* ; Electroencephalography ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Retrospective Studies ; Seizures*

PURPOSE: This study was performed to know and compare the diagnostic usefulness of Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI) and Computed Tomography(CT) for the evaluation of patients with seizure. METHODS: We studied retrospectively 96 children who visited Hanyang University Hospital due to seizure and took a brain CT between January 1996 and June 1999, and 60 children who visited Hanyang University Hospital due to seizure and took a brain MRI between June 1999 and March 2002. All children who were enrolled in this study divided into few groups according to seizure type and EEG findings. RESULTS: Among 96 children who took a brain CT, 12 patients had brain abnormalities on CT, and among 60 children took a brain MRI, 13 patients had brain abnormalities on MRI. Abnormalities on CT were more frequently seen in children with focal seizure and/or focal abnormalities on EEG, but contrarily in MRI, abnormalities were more frequently seen in children with generalized seizure. CONCLUSION: Even the MRI is more expensive to be taken than the CT, MRI isrecommended when there is a need to evaluate the causes of seizures even for thepatients with generalized seizure as a result of our study.
Brain* ; Child* ; Electroencephalography ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Retrospective Studies ; Seizures*

We report a successful pregnancy in a woman who at the age of 31years received chemotherapy for mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of the right ovary. She was treated with multiple chemotherapy including cis-platinum, cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, and oral melphalan. She had microscopic residual cancer at the opposite ovary at second-look laparotomy. She developed secondary amenorrhea with symptoms of menopause after commencing treatment which persisted on its completion. Biochemical investigations were consistent with ovarian failure, which was assumed to be chemotherapy-induced. She was given hormonal replacement therapy with a conjugated equine estrogen/medroxyprogesterone acetate combination, resulting in regular withdrawal bleeding. The patient conceived 5 years after completing chemotherapy and gave birth a normal infant at term.
Amenorrhea ; Cisplatin ; Cyclophosphamide ; Cystadenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; Doxorubicin ; Drug Therapy* ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Infant ; Laparotomy ; Melphalan ; Menopause ; Neoplasm, Residual ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Ovary ; Parturition ; Pregnancy*

PURPOSE: Recent studies have suggested that specific single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) contribute to the clinical features of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). In this study, we investigated the relationships of genetic polymorphisms of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) gene and the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene with BPH. METHODS: A total of 218 patients with BPH were enrolled in this study. We evaluated the relationship between eight SNPs in the EGF and EGFR genes and prostate volume, prostate-specific antigen (PSA), and International Prostate Symptom Score of BPH patients. Each SNP was genotyped by direct sequencing. Statistical analysis applying codominant, dominant, recessive, and log-additive models was performed via logistic regression. RESULTS: The rs11568943 and rs11569017 SNPs in the EGF gene showed significant associations with prostate volume (rs11568943: P=0.038 in the log-additive model, P=0.024 in the allele distribution; rs11569017, P=0.031 in the dominant model, P=0.028 in the log-additive model, P=0.020 in the allele distribution). Additionally, the rs3756261, rs11568943, and rs11569017 SNPs of the EGF gene and the rs2293347 SNP of the EGFR gene were associated with PSA levels (P<0.05 in each model, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the EGF gene may affect prostate volume. In addition, the EGF and EGFR genes may be associated with PSA levels in patients with BPH.
Alleles ; Epidermal Growth Factor* ; Genes, erbB-1 ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Prostate ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Prostatic Hyperplasia* ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor*

An inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) is an uncommon, benign lesion characterized by the mesenchymal proliferation and infiltration of inflammatory cells composed primarily of lymphocytes and plasma cells. A percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is an effective and safe therapeutic modality used for the management of liver malignancies. Here we report, for the first time, a case of IMT as a complication of RFA for hepatocellular carcinoma in a 61-year-old man with a Child's class A hepatitis B-related liver cirrhosis. Gastrohepatic fistula formation was pathologically proven and associated with the RFA. Such a longstanding inflammation of the fistula might have been a possible cause of the development of IMT in this case.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/*surgery ; Catheter Ablation/*adverse effects ; Contrast Media ; Granuloma, Plasma Cell/*etiology ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/*surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the frequency doubling technology (FDT) screening algorithm and parapapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in the eyes of glaucoma suspects and patients with open angle glaucoma. FDT C20-1 screening program and a scanning laser polarimetry (SLP) system (GDx-NFA) was used to assess 53 glaucomatous eyes, 53 glaucoma suspects and 36 normal control eyes. In glaucomatous eyes, there were correlations between the FDT the screening algorithm and RNFL retardation values in several polarimetric indices, most significantly "inferior thickness" (r = -0.321, P = 0.029). In the eyes of glaucoma suspects, however, we observed no correlation between the FDT results and RNFL retardation values (r = 0.080, P > 0.05, "inferior thickness"). In glaucomatous eyes, the abnormal scores obtained with FDT screening program correlated negatively with RNFL retardation values, as measured by SLP. Despite poor correlation between the FDT abnormal score and RNFL retardation value in glaucoma suspects, detection of abnormality using the FDT screening protocol may aid in the assessment of early glaucomatous structural damage.
Comparative Study ; Glaucoma, Open-Angle/*diagnosis/physiopathology ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Lasers/diagnostic use ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Middle Aged ; Nerve Fibers/*pathology ; Ocular Hypertension/diagnosis/physiopathology ; Optic Nerve/*pathology ; Perimetry/*methods ; Retinal Ganglion Cells/*pathology

Pure sensory stroke (PSS), first described by Fisher in 1965, is a clinical condition characterized by numbness and paresthesia of the face, arm and trunk on one side, in absence of other neurologic deficit. PSS could arise anywhere along the sensory system from the cerebral cortex to the medulla. The authors experienced 5 patients with PSS: one patient had a hemorrhage on the thalamocortical pathway including the internal capsule and the corona radiata. Two another had thalarnic lesions. The fourth had a pontine hemorrhage with perioral onionpeel distributed face sensor- involvement. And the last had a pontine lacune involving crossed trigeminothalamic tract and lateral spinothalamic tract.
Arm ; Cerebral Cortex ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Internal Capsule ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Paresthesia ; Spinothalamic Tracts ; Stroke*

PURPOSE: Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most potent antigen presenting cells and should be differentiated to mature form to induce primary T cell response. In this study, we intended to generate mature DCs from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), so that develope the basis for immunotherapy using DCs. METHODS: PBMCs were isolated from 25 mL of normal adults' peripheral blood and evenly distributed in 5 wells of a 6-well plate. Nonadherent cells were gently aspirated after 2 hour-incubation under humidified 5% CO2 at 37degrees C. Adherent monocytes were cultured in 3 mL of 10% fetal bovine serum plus RPMI-1640 media containing granulocyte/macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) 200 ng/mL and interleukin (IL)-4 20 ng/mL. To assess the effect of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interferon (IFN)-alpha on DC maturation, either or both were added on day 4 of culture. Cells were harvested on day 4 and 7 to calculate the cell counts, CD83 /HLA-DR cells, and CD86 /HLA-DR cells. RESULTS: On day 4, large amounts of DCs were observed. CD83 /HLA-DR cells and CD86 / HLA-DR cells were 11.6% and 16.6% of total cells counted and yields were 1.3% and 2.0%, respectively. On day 7, DCs were more frequently observed in all instances and purity ranged from 24.0% to 31.0% as a mean value. The final yields of matue DCs were 2.9~3.4% of PBMCs inoculated. Adding TNF-alpha plus IFN-alpha led to the best yield. But, IFN-alpha alone did not increase the mature DCs compared to the control. CONCLUSION: We successfully cultured large quantities of mature DCs from PBMCs using GM-CSF and IL-4. IFN-alpha seems to have a synergistic effect when added with TNF-alpha, but further studies are required to prove the clinical significance.
Antigen-Presenting Cells ; Cell Count ; Dendritic Cells* ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; HLA-DR Antigens ; Immunotherapy ; Interferon-alpha ; Interferons ; Interleukin-4 ; Interleukins ; Monocytes ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha