PURPOSE: To assess the signal enhancement by gadolinium-DTPA-polylysine (Gd-polylysine) as compared to gadopentetate (Gd-DTPA) in MR imaging of heart that have undergone ischemia-reperfusion, and to estimate the extent of myocardial damage covered bythe MR signal enhancement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A series of contrast enhanced cardiac MR images were obtained from 17 cats subjected to a 90 minutes of occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) followed by a 90 minutes of raperfusion. Time courses of changes in the signal intensity (Sl) of the ischemic area were measu red in Gd-polylysine group (8 cats) and Gd- DTPA group (9 cats). The size of U R signal enhanced area was then compared to the sizes of infarction and the area at risk revealed byTTC histochemical staining. RESULTS: Maximum Sis were obtained at 60 minutes and 30 minutes after injection of the contrast material, respectively for Gd-polylysine group and Gd-DTPA group. Signal enhancement was stronger and persistent for a longer period in Gd-polylysine group than in GD-DTPA group. Sizes of the enhanced area, the infarction, and the area at risk were about 30%, 15%, and 50% of the total left ventricle (LV) area; the difference between the groups was statistically insignificant. CONCLUSION: Gd-polylysine can be used better for a blood pool marker than Gd-DTPA in MR imaging of myocardial ischemia, due to its strong and persistent signal enhancement. The MR signal enhanced area includes both the infarcted area and a portion of the area at risk.
Animals ; Cats* ; Coronary Vessels ; Gadolinium DTPA ; Gadolinium* ; Heart ; Heart Ventricles ; Infarction ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Pentetic Acid ; Polylysine*

No abstract available.
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone*

In vivo 31P NMR spectroscopic study of forearm wrist flexor muscles was performed in two groups of volunteers composed respectively of 6 sedentaries and 6 canoe athletes. A continuous isometric contraction of endurance exercises was adopted in oder to assess the endurance capacity and recovery potential of skeletal muscles. Differences in high energy phosphorus metabolism between the sedentaries and athletes were evaluated with and emphasis on the intracellular pH and Pi/PCr ratio as indicators of high energy phosphorus metabolism. There were no differences of baseline pH and Pi/PCr ratio between the two groups. The athletes sustained the exercise at more acidic intracellular pH and at a higher Pi/PCr ratio of intracellular conditions for an all-out than did the sedentaries. The recovery rate of pH showed no difference between the two groups. There was a tendency of faster recovery of Pi/PCr in athletes showing half recovery time(T1/2) of 39.0±3.0 seconds as compared to that of sedentaries (55.7±7.5 seconds). The recovery rate of Pi/PCr as a function of Pi/PCr ratio at a given period of time was significantly faster in athletes than in sedentaries (P<0.001). The correlation coefficient of the recovery rate of Pi/PCr against the Pi/PCr ratio was 0.985 and 0.914 respectively for the athletes and sedentaries. The pH and the Pi/PCR ratio at an all-out state can be used as indicators of endurance capacity and the recovery rate of Pi/PCr, as a reovery potential of skeletal muscles.
Athletes* ; Exercise ; Forearm ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; In Vitro Techniques* ; Isometric Contraction ; Metabolism ; Muscle, Skeletal* ; Muscles ; Phosphorus ; Volunteers ; Wrist

The blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome(CRBNS) is a rare disorder characterized by distinctive vascular malformations of the skin and gastrointestinal tract. The syndrome is associated commonly with iron deficiency anemia due to gastrointestinal bleeding. Most cases are sporadic, although a few have been reported with autosomal dominant inheritance. We report a case with clinical characteristics of the blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome. The patient had typical skin manifestations of the BRBNS and chronic iron deficiency anemia. However, we could not find any gastrointestinal vascular malformations radiologically.
Anemia, Iron-Deficiency ; Blister* ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Nevus* ; Rubber* ; Skin ; Skin Manifestations ; Vascular Malformations ; Wills

A case of Coats' disease in 15 years old boy was presented with some clinical observation. This is a rare unilateral retinal disorder with hemorrhagic and exudative properties affecting otherwise healthy young boys. A brief review of literatures has also been described.
Adolescent ; Humans ; Male ; Retinaldehyde

The pathogenesis of lupus er thematosus(LE) appears to be multifactorial, including genetic, hormonal and environmental influences. Genetic factors have long been suspected to an important role in its pathogenesis. This was been shown in family studies and twin studies. We report a family in which mother developed SLE and son developed DLE. The mother, 35 year old female, had hyperpigmcnted brownish macules and atrophic scars on the face and also complained of fever, chill and arthralgia for 2 years. The clinical, laboratory and histopathological findings showed characteristic features of systemic lupus erythematosus. she had been treated with systemic prednisolone, hydrcxychloroquin sulfate and topical corticosteroid ointment for about 4 years resulting favorable improvement skin lesions. Laboratory studies during her course had demonstrated persist leukopenia, peckled pattern ANA and VDRL positive. The son, 10-year-old, had peasized, multiple erythematous papules and plaques on the face and arms for 2 months. The lirical, laboratory and histopathological findings showed characteristic features of discoid lupus erythematosus. He was treated with systernic prednisolone for 2 years, hydroxychloroquin sulfate and topical corticosteroid ointment for abcut 4 years resulting nearly all clearing of skin lesions with slighthly hyperpigmentation. Laboratory studies during his course had demonstrated only weakly ANA positive.
Adult ; Arm ; Arthralgia ; Child ; Cicatrix ; Female ; Fever ; Humans ; Hyperpigmentation ; Leukopenia ; Lupus Erythematosus, Discoid ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Mothers* ; Naphazoline ; Prednisolone ; Skin

Sick sinus syndrome comprises a variety of conditions involving sinus node dysfunction and commonly affects elderly persons. Though sudden cardiac death accounts for as much as 15% of all cause mortality in uremia, requiring permanent cardiac pacing in end-stage renal disease hemodialysed patients are very few. Most cases of sick sinus syndrome are idiopathic, and the cause can be multifac- torial. A-V conducton defects were attributed to extensive metastatic calcifications, involving the cardiac skeleton, conservative to severe hyperparathyroidism and inadvertent use of calcitriol and calcium carbonate as phosphate binders. If optimal hemodialysis is provided, benefits of permanent pacing are equal in uremic or non uremic patients and pacemaker implantation should be instituted. We report a case of sick sinus syndrome derived in elderly patient on hemodialysis.
Aged* ; Calcitriol ; Calcium Carbonate ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; Humans ; Hyperparathyroidism ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Mortality ; Renal Dialysis* ; Sick Sinus Syndrome* ; Skeleton ; Uremia

BACKGROUND: The red cell distribution width(RDW) has been reported to be of value in discriminating iron deficiency anemia(IDA) from the anemia of the other causes(non-IDA). The combination of a low MCV and a high RDW may indicate iron deficiency anemia. The purpose of this study was to discriminate IDA from anemia, using automated blood cell count alone. METHODS: We collected 139 cases of anemia in outpatients, with 80 cases of IDA and 59 cases of anemia due to other causes, from July 1995 to September 1996 in department of family medicine, Pusan Paik hospital. RESULTS: The sex distribution was 39(28.1%) in male, 100(71.9%) in female. The age distribution was 15 to 79 year. The hemoglobin level and MCV in IDA(9.5+/-1.6g/dl, 77.5+/-8.9fl) was significantly lower than those in non-IDA(10.1+/-1.5g/dl, 87.6+/-10.5fl)(P=0.042, P<0.001, respectively). And mean RDW in IDA(16.9+/-3.3%) was significantly higher than that in non-IDA(15.1+/-3.2%)(P<0.001). In discriminating IDA from anemia, we drew receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC curves) with each value of MCV and RDW. The cut-off value of MCV was 83fl, and in that value, the sensitivity and specificity were 75.9% and 72.9%, respectively. The cut-off value of RDW was 14.3%, and the sensitivity and specificity were 78.2% and 57.6 %, respectively. We combined each value of MCV with RDW, the cut off value were 83fl of MCV and 14.3% of RDW, and the sensitivity and specificity were 76.3% and 71.3%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The sensitivity and specificity of MCV, RDW and combination of MCV and RDW were not so high in discriminating IDA from the anemia of the other causes in ambulatory patients.
Age Distribution ; Anemia* ; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency ; Blood Cell Count ; Busan ; Female ; Humans ; Iron ; Male ; Outpatients ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sex Distribution

No abstract available.
Animals ; Astrocytes* ; Interleukin-1* ; Interleukin-10* ; Interleukin-12* ; Interleukin-1beta* ; Interleukin-2* ; Interleukin-6* ; Melanoma* ; Mice* ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae* ; Mycoplasma* ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma*

The incidence of the cutaneous tuberculosis has shown a steady decline over the past decades. This parallels the decreasing incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis. We experienced 5 cases of cutaneous tuberculosis from January 1990 to February 1991. We present herein 4 cases of cutaneous tuberculosis. They were 3 cases of vulgaris and 1 case of tuberculosis verrucosa cutis. Mantoux tests were done except one case and were reactive in all cases. Culture for Mycobacterium tuberculosis were done but Mycobacterium tuberculosis were not cultivated in the all cases. Histopathological findings showed tuberculoid granulomas in the dermis except one case and no acid fast bacilli were demonstrated on AFB stains.
Coloring Agents ; Dermis ; Granuloma ; Incidence ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Cutaneous* ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary