No abstract available.
Interleukin-6* ; Rabbits*

No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans

A uremic patient on hemodialysis, who had concurrent cardiomyopathy showed intense myocardial uptake of (99m)Tc-methylene diphosphonate (MDP). The presumed cause of Uptake in the myocardium is metastatic calcification due to hypercalcemia secondary to the renal failure. However, supplementary mechanism caused by cardiomyopathy should be considered. We describe a case with bone tracer uptake in the myocardium in the absence of infarction in a patient with chronic renal failure,
Cardiomyopathies* ; Humans ; Hypercalcemia ; Infarction ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Myocardium ; Renal Dialysis ; Renal Insufficiency ; Technetium Tc 99m Medronate*

No abstract available.
Basilar Artery ; Female ; Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome

OBJECTIVE: We investigate risk factors of cerebral microbleeds(MBs) and their relation to concomitant magnetic resonance (MR) findings in intracerebral hemorrhages(ICHs) patients. METHODS: We studied 100 consecutive patients with primary ICH over a 1-year period. These patients underwent brain MR images using 3.0-T scanners within the first week of the hemorrhage. MBs and old hematomas were located and counted by using T2*-weighted gradient-echo MR imaging. We also counted lacunes and graded white matter and periventricular hyperintensity on T1- and T2-weighted spin-echo sequences. The association between MBs and vascular risk factors and MR abnormalities were analyzed. RESULTS: MBs were seen in 77 of ICH patients, and their number ranged from 1 to 65 lesions (mean 11, median 6). The locations of MBs were subcortex-cortex (40.6%), basal ganglia (26.7%), thalamus (14.1%), brain stem (12.5%), and cerebellum (9.1%). Analysis of clinical data revealed that age, hypertension, history of stroke, and duration of hypertension were frequently associated with MBs. The incidence of lacunes, old hematomas, and advanced leukoaraiosis was significantly higher in the MBs group, compared with the patients without MBs. CONCLUSION: MBs are frequently observed in ICH patients with advancing age, chronic hypertension, and previous hemorrhagic stroke, and are also closely related with morphological signs of occlusive type microangiopathy, such as lacunar infarct and severe leukoaraiosis.
Basal Ganglia ; Brain ; Brain Stem ; Cerebellum ; Cerebral Hemorrhage* ; Hematoma ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Leukoaraiosis ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Risk Factors ; Stroke ; Stroke, Lacunar ; Thalamus

PURPOSE: To determine (1) the relationship between the cortical defects seen on 99 mTc-DMSA renal scans and age, and (2) the presence and degree of vesicoureteral reflux, and then to depict the risk factors for cortical defects in children with acute urinary tract infection (UTI). Furthermore, to assess the diagnostic value of VCUG in predicting a defect on 99 mTc-DMSA renal scans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 134 kidneys in 67 children aged 15 days-10 years (M:F=39:28) in whom symptomatic UTI was present. In all these children, both DMSA renal scans and voiding cystourethrography (VCUG) were performed. Scanning took place within 7 days of diagnosis and VCUG was performed after one month of diagnosis. Scintigraphic findings were graded according to the extent and number of cortical defects. We evaluated the relationships between the cortical defects seen on DMSA scans and age, and the grade of vesicoureteral reflux. The diagnostic value of VCUG in predicting cortical defects was analysed. Results: The prevalence of cortical defects was greater in patients older than two years (38/54, 70%) than in those aged less than two (38/80, 48%). The frequency of cortical defects was related to vesicoureteral reflux (p<0.05) and grade of reflux (p<0.05). As this latter increased, the extent of cortical defects also increased (p<0.05), and DMSA scans revealed the presence of these in 76 of the 134 kidneys (57%) with acute UTI. In 30 of these 76 (39.5%), VCUG demonstrated the presence of vesicoureteral reflex. On the other hand, vesi-coureteral reflex was found in 36 of the 134 kidneys (27%), and in 30 of these 36 (83%), cortical defects were noted. The sensitivity of VCUG in predicting cortical defect was 39.5%, while specificity was 89.7%. The positive predictive value for defects was 83.3%, and the negative predictive value was 53.1%. The relative risk of cortical defect in the presence of vesicoureteral reflux was 1.78. CONCLUSION: Renal cortical defects are significantly related to age and grade of vesicoureteral reflux. Risk factors for developing cortical defects were older age (> or =2yrs) at the time of acute UTI, and high grade of vesicoureteral reflux. The specificity of VCUG in predicting cortical defects is relatively high but the sensitivitiy is low, and a significant proportion of cortical defects therefore occurred in the absence of vesicoureteral reflux.
Child* ; Diagnosis ; Hand ; Humans ; Kidney ; Prevalence ; Radionuclide Imaging* ; Reflex ; Risk Factors* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Succimer* ; Urinary Tract Infections* ; Urinary Tract* ; Vesico-Ureteral Reflux

No abstract available.
Female ; Humans ; Karyotyping* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third*

BACKGROUND: Currently establishment of public pharmaceutical companies became an issue for securing stable supply of national essential drugs in order to respond appropriately to national public health crisis. Pharmacy students as future pharmacists need to be interested in drug related issues under the discussion in our society. This study aimed to investigate perceptions of pharmacy students on the national drug supply strategy through public pharmaceutical companies. METHODS: A 20-items questionnaire designed for this study was used. Pharmacy students nationwide were enrolled in July 2017. They responded to questions through on-line survey program. Data were analyzed descriptively. RESULTS: 160 students from 26 pharmacy schools participated. 5th and 6th grade students accounted for two-thirds, and one third aspired future jobs in pharmaceutical industry. Among responders, 71.3% was unaware of current national essential drugs, 52.5% did not know the Rare and Essential Drug Center, and 91.9% was unaware of the legislation on the supply and management of essential drugs. 82.5% favored the establishment of public pharmaceutical companies. 80.6% agreed that government should intervene in pharmaceutical market for ensuring drug accessibilities, 73.8% agreed that public pharmaceutical companies make possible to reach a goal of stable supply of pharmaceuticals, and 85.1% agreed that active compulsory license by public pharmaceutical companies is necessary. CONCLUSION: We found that pharmacy students recognized the need for governmental control to achieve social values of pharmaceuticals. More attention and participation of the pharmacy students as well as pharmacists in the process of national debate on public pharmaceutical companies are expected.

BACKGROUND: Echocardiographically detected left ventricular(LV) hypertrophy is a risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. A better understanding of the determinants of LV mass may aid in strategies directed toward the promary and secondary prevention of LV hypertrophy and its consequences. Previous studies have reported that male gender, arterial blood pressure(BP), obesity, age, aortic valvular stenosis, dietary sodium, endocrine factors, and physical activity are positively correlated with LV mass. Of these determinants male gender, hypertension, and obesity are well known but age and blood pressure in healthy adults are controversial. To assess the determinants of LV mass, the relation of 2-dimensional(2D) echocardiographically determined LV mass to body mass inedx(BMI), age, sex, casual BP, and 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure(ABP : systolic, diastolic, and mean BP of 24 hour, day-time, and night-time) was examined in healthy adults. METHODS: The study population consisted of 200 healthy adults who were normotensive, nonobese, and had no evidence of cardiovascular disease(range in age from 20 to 69 years, five decades, 20 men and 20 women per each decade). LV mass was derived from area length method measurements obtained by 2D echocardiography and corrected for height. ABP monitoring was performend over 24 hour(divided into day-time(6am-10pm) and night-time(10pm-6am)periods) with 30 minute inervals. RESULTS: 1) BMI was significantly and independently related to LV mass corrected for height (p<0.001, partial R2=0.31 in men and 0.43 in women). An increase of BMI by 1 kg/m2increased LV mass corrected for height by 1.9g/m in men and 2.0g/m in women. 2) Age was significantly and independently related to LV mass corrected for height(p<0.001, partial R2=0.15 in men and 0.17 in women). The increments of Lv mass corrected for height per decade were 2.1 g/m in men and 3.4 g/m in women. 3) Gender was significantly and independently related to LV mass corrected for height(p<0.001, partial R2=0.12), which was greater in men than in women by 6.34g/m. 4) Casual Bp and 24 hour ABP were not significantly associated with LV mass corrected for height in total population and women, and 24 hour systolic BP was significantly related to LV mass corrected for height only in men(p<0.001) with weak partial R2(0.05). CONCLUSION: BMI, age, and male gender were statistically significant and independent correlates of LV mass corrected for height(p<0.001). Maintenance of ideal body weight and normal BP, weight reduction in obese persons and BP control inhypertensive patients may contribute to the primary and secondary prevention of LV hypertrophy and its sequalae.
Adult* ; Blood Pressure ; Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory* ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Echocardiography* ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypertrophy ; Ideal Body Weight ; Male ; Mortality ; Motor Activity ; Obesity ; Risk Factors ; Secondary Prevention ; Sodium, Dietary ; Weight Loss

PURPOSE: In this study, we compared the quantitative characteristics of dynamic salivary gland scintigraphy with static scintigraphy in patients with clinical sicca syndrome using Tc-99m pertechnetate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-two parotid glands and 52 submandibular glands out of 26 patients with clinical sicca syndrome were studied by dynamic and static salivary gland scintigraphy. Ten normal volunteers were also studied as a control group for comparison of scintigraphic parameters. Ten minutes after injection of 370 MBq Tc-99m pertechnetate, we obtained pre-stimulus static images for a few minutes. Then dynamic salivary gland scintigraphy with lemon juice stimulation was performed for 20 minutes. Finally we obtained post-stimulus static images after dynamic images. On dynamic study, functional parameters such as uptake rate, secretion rate and re-uptake rate were calculated. The results of dynamic study and static images were compared. RESULTS: On dynamic study, we could obtain functional parameters of salivary glands successfully. On dynamic study, 22 parotid glands and 22 submandibular glands out of each of 52 glands are abnormal. The static images demonstrated somewhat different results, of which reasons we could assume via dynamic study. CONCLUSION: Dynamic salivary gland scintigraphy using Tc-99m perechnetate were more functional than static images and might be useful in the assessment of the functional change of the salivary gland in patients with clinical sicca syndrome.
Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Parotid Gland ; Radionuclide Imaging* ; Salivary Glands* ; Sjogren's Syndrome* ; Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m ; Submandibular Gland