Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) which is thought to be autoimmune in nature affects multiple organs and produces a diversity of signs and symptoms. However, cardiovascular manifestations of SLE are manifested more frequently by autopsy. Recently, with the prolonged survival and improvement of diagnostic methods in SLE including echocardiography, the morbidity and mortality associated with cardiovascular manifestations of SLE became more apparent and increased. Simultaneous involvement of the pulmonary artery and the myopericardium in SLE is known to be rare. Pulmonary hypertension is known to be associated with poor prognosis. We report a 27 year-old female patient of SLE with pulmonary hypertension, pericarditis and left ventricular systolic dysfunction.
Adult ; Autopsy ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary* ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Mortality ; Pericarditis* ; Prognosis ; Pulmonary Artery

Endometriosis of the rectum is unusual condition, since it represents an invasion of previously normal bowel by hormone-dependent nonmalignant cell from uterus of the same patient. It is estimated that the incidence of endometriosis is about 8-15% of reproductive women, of whom 3-34% show intestinal invasion of rectosigmoid colon, appendix, ileum, and cecum in order of decreasing frequency. Symptoms related bowel involvement may vary from none to complete intestinal obstruction. Because the mucosa is involved infrequently there is rarely rectal bleeding. X-ray and sigmoidoscopic studies are usually negative. It was not reported that colonic endometriosis was confirmed by endoscopic biopsy. Recently we experienced a case of rectal endometriosis which presented itself as a cyclic rectal bleeding with abdominal pain and diagnosed by colonoscopic biopsy.
Abdominal Pain ; Appendix ; Biopsy* ; Cecum ; Colon ; Colonoscopy ; Endometriosis* ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Ileum ; Incidence ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Mucous Membrane ; Rectum ; Uterus

Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (NBCCS), also known as Gorlin syndrome, is characterized by various embryological deformities and carcinoma formation. It is caused by PTCHI gene mutations and is autosomal dominantly inherited. Some of the main symptoms of NBCCS are multiple basal cell carcinomas, multiple keratocystic odontogenic tumors (KCOTs) of the mandible, hyperkeratosis of the palmar and plantar, skeletal deformity, calcification of the falx cerebri, and facial defomity. Recurrent KCOT is the main symptom of NBCCS and is present in approximately 90% of patients. In NBCCS, KCOTs typically occur in multiples. KCOTs can be detected in patients under the age of 10, and new and recurring cysts develop until approximately the age of 30. The postoperation recurrence rate is approximately 60%. This case report presents a 14-year-old female patient with a chief complaint of a cyst found in the maxilla and mandible. The patient was diagnosed with NBCCS, and following treatment of marsupialization and enucleation, the clinical results were satisfactory.
Adolescent ; Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome* ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Female ; Humans ; Jaw Cysts ; Mandible ; Maxilla ; Odontogenic Cysts ; Odontogenic Tumors ; Recurrence ; Spinal Cord

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Coronary angioplasty of total occlusion is associated with low primary success rate. The most common reason for failure is the inability to cross the lesion with a guidewire. The new nitinol wire consists of an extraordinary flexible nitinol core, a platinum/iridium coil at the distal tip, and a polymer hydrophilic coating providing the wire with an extremely slippery surface after moistening. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We analyzed the angiographic results in 117 patients (86 M, 31 F, 58.5+/-11.7 year), who underwent angioplasty for total occlusion with Crosswire (TM) at Chonnam University Hospital between Oct '97 and Apr '99. Clinical diagnosis was acute myocardial infarction (MI) in 61, old MI in 16, unstable angina in 23, and stable angina in 17 patients. RESULTS: Target coronary arteries were 51 left anterior descending arteries (LAD), 13 left circumflex arteries (LCX) and 53 right coronary arteries (RCA). Lesion morphology was 40 abrupt and 77 tapered lesions, and collateral circulation was observed in 75 cases. The success rate was 80.3% (94/117). The reasons of procedural failure were failure to cross the lesion using wire in 8 and balloon in 6 cases. In the failed cases, clinical diagnosis was acute MI in 10, unstable angina in 8 and stable angina in 5, and target artery was 11 LAD, 2 LCX and 10 RCA, and collateral circulation was observed in 20. In 56 cases of chronic total occlusion, the success rate was 76.8% (43/56) and the reasons of procedural failure were failure to cross the lesion using wire in 6 and balloon in 2 cases. No major cardiac events were developed. There was no predictive factor for the procedural failure with Crosswire (TM) for total occlusion. CONCLUSIONS: A new nitinol wire, Crosswire (TM) was an effective tool for the recanalization of total occlusive coronary artery.
Angina, Stable ; Angina, Unstable ; Angioplasty* ; Arteries ; Collateral Circulation ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vessels ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Jeollanam-do ; Myocardial Infarction ; Polymers

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Coronary angioplasty of total occlusion is associated with low primary success rate. The most common reason for failure is the inability to cross the lesion with a guidewire. The new nitinol wire consists of an extraordinary flexible nitinol core, a platinum/iridium coil at the distal tip, and a polymer hydrophilic coating providing the wire with an extremely slippery surface after moistening. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We analyzed the angiographic results in 117 patients (86 M, 31 F, 58.5+/-11.7 year), who underwent angioplasty for total occlusion with Crosswire (TM) at Chonnam University Hospital between Oct '97 and Apr '99. Clinical diagnosis was acute myocardial infarction (MI) in 61, old MI in 16, unstable angina in 23, and stable angina in 17 patients. RESULTS: Target coronary arteries were 51 left anterior descending arteries (LAD), 13 left circumflex arteries (LCX) and 53 right coronary arteries (RCA). Lesion morphology was 40 abrupt and 77 tapered lesions, and collateral circulation was observed in 75 cases. The success rate was 80.3% (94/117). The reasons of procedural failure were failure to cross the lesion using wire in 8 and balloon in 6 cases. In the failed cases, clinical diagnosis was acute MI in 10, unstable angina in 8 and stable angina in 5, and target artery was 11 LAD, 2 LCX and 10 RCA, and collateral circulation was observed in 20. In 56 cases of chronic total occlusion, the success rate was 76.8% (43/56) and the reasons of procedural failure were failure to cross the lesion using wire in 6 and balloon in 2 cases. No major cardiac events were developed. There was no predictive factor for the procedural failure with Crosswire (TM) for total occlusion. CONCLUSIONS: A new nitinol wire, Crosswire (TM) was an effective tool for the recanalization of total occlusive coronary artery.
Angina, Stable ; Angina, Unstable ; Angioplasty* ; Arteries ; Collateral Circulation ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vessels ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Jeollanam-do ; Myocardial Infarction ; Polymers

No abstract available.
Coronary Vessels* ; Spasm*

Cross Infection ; Humans ; Klebsiella ; Mandibular Fractures ; Middle Aged ; Osteomyelitis ; Prognosis ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Wound Infection

Primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) is one of rare and fatal vascular disorder. The exact mechanisms for the increased pulmonary vascular resistance and pressure in PPH are unknown. The disease is advanced pro-gressively and patients naturally die within three years after the initial diagnosis. PPH is characterized with mean pulmonary artery pressure over 25-30 mmHg and intractable hypertension despite any intensive therapeutic maneuvers. Associated congenital anomaly is very rare. We report a 19 year-old female patient who diagnosed as PPH 10 years ago and suffered from severe pulmonary hypertension (100 mmHg of pulmonary arterial pressure) with the congenital absence of inferior vena cava. Her venous blood from lower body was drained through azygous vein into superior vena cava.
Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypertension, Pulmonary* ; Pulmonary Artery ; Vascular Resistance ; Veins ; Vena Cava, Inferior* ; Vena Cava, Superior ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor and aniotensin II receptor blocker have been used in the treatment of heart failure. However, the effects of both agents are not known exactly in patients with ischemic heart failure. The clinical effects of Imidapril, Losartan and its combination on ischemic heart failure were observed after percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). METHODS: Thirty six patients (58+/-8.8 year-old, 30 male) with myocardial infarction who underwent PCI with ejection fraction less than 45% by echocardiogram were included. The patients were divided into four groups; low (5 mg) and high (10 mg) doses of Imidapril (Group I: 58+/-6.1 years, M:F=:2 and II: 61+/-6 years, M:F=:1), combination of low dose Imidapril and 50 mg Losartan (Group III: 56+/-13 years, M:F=:0), and Losartan alone (Group IV: 57+/-9.3 years, M:F=:3). Clinical symptoms of angina and dyspnea, laboratory changes, exercise tolerance by treadmill test, and left ventricular function with dimension, and wall motion score by echocardiogram were observed at 4-week interval for 12 weeks. RESULTS: There were no significant differences among 4 groups in baseline clinical characteristics. In Group I, dyspnea and ejection fraction improved 12 weeks after therapy. Dyspnea and exercise tolerance improved in Group II. However, dyspnea and left ventricular function were unchanged in Group III, and 4 of them developed hypotension. In Group IV, left ventricular ejection fraction improved after therapy. Dry cough observed in 3 of Imidapril-treated patients, but withdrawal of drug was performed only in one of Group II. CONCLUSIONS: Monotherapy of Imidapril or Losartan is effective in the management of ischemic heart failure, but its combination shows no additional benefit.
Cough ; Dyspnea ; Exercise Test ; Exercise Tolerance ; Heart Failure* ; Heart* ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Losartan* ; Myocardial Infarction ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Stroke Volume ; Ventricular Function, Left

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor and aniotensin II receptor blocker have been used in the treatment of heart failure. However, the effects of both agents are not known exactly in patients with ischemic heart failure. The clinical effects of Imidapril, Losartan and its combination on ischemic heart failure were observed after percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). METHODS: Thirty six patients (58+/-8.8 year-old, 30 male) with myocardial infarction who underwent PCI with ejection fraction less than 45% by echocardiogram were included. The patients were divided into four groups; low (5 mg) and high (10 mg) doses of Imidapril (Group I: 58+/-6.1 years, M:F=:2 and II: 61+/-6 years, M:F=:1), combination of low dose Imidapril and 50 mg Losartan (Group III: 56+/-13 years, M:F=:0), and Losartan alone (Group IV: 57+/-9.3 years, M:F=:3). Clinical symptoms of angina and dyspnea, laboratory changes, exercise tolerance by treadmill test, and left ventricular function with dimension, and wall motion score by echocardiogram were observed at 4-week interval for 12 weeks. RESULTS: There were no significant differences among 4 groups in baseline clinical characteristics. In Group I, dyspnea and ejection fraction improved 12 weeks after therapy. Dyspnea and exercise tolerance improved in Group II. However, dyspnea and left ventricular function were unchanged in Group III, and 4 of them developed hypotension. In Group IV, left ventricular ejection fraction improved after therapy. Dry cough observed in 3 of Imidapril-treated patients, but withdrawal of drug was performed only in one of Group II. CONCLUSIONS: Monotherapy of Imidapril or Losartan is effective in the management of ischemic heart failure, but its combination shows no additional benefit.
Cough ; Dyspnea ; Exercise Test ; Exercise Tolerance ; Heart Failure* ; Heart* ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Losartan* ; Myocardial Infarction ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Stroke Volume ; Ventricular Function, Left