BACKGROUND: Exercise testing is an importnat diagnostic and prognostic procedure in the assessment of patients with ischemic heart disease. But standard ST-segment depression criteria was not high enough to estimate coronary srtery disease. Recently, the heart rate adjustment of ST segment depression, ST segment/heart rate slope and index, have been proposed as a more accurate criteria for diagnosing significant coronary artery disease. The objective of this study was to compare the discriminating power of proposed ST segment/heart rate slope and index with that of a standard method of assessing exercise-induced ST segment depression for estimating coronary artery disease. METHODS: Sixty nine patients with ischemic heart disease were studied with exercise treadmill testing and coronary angiography. Computer-measured ST-segment amplitudes were obtained and analysis of the heart rate-adjusted ST segment depression(ST/HR slope and big up tri, Delta ST/HR index) was done. The sensitivity, specificity, and extent of coronary artery disease on each criteria were compared. RESULTS: 1) The sensitivity of big up tri, Delta ST/HR index partition of 1.6uV/beats/min was slightly higher(83%) and the specificity of ST/HR slope partition of 2.4uV/beats/min was higher(87%) than the standard exercise electrocardiographic criteria. 2) Early onset of ischemic ST-segment depression, profound ST-segment depression(> or =2mm), and downsloping ST-segment were associated with more extensive coronary artery disease. 3) On ST/HR slope, no CAD was 1.7+/-0.26uV/beats/min, one vessel disease was 2.6+/-0.34 uV/beats/min, two vessel disease was 2.7+/-1.36uV/beats/min, one vessel disease was 2.8+/-0.35uV/beats/min, and on big up tri, Delta ST/HR index, no CAD was 1.8+/-0.38uV/beats/min, one vessel disease was 2.8+/-1.36uV/beats/min, two vessel disease 3.4+/-1.44uV/beats/min, and three vessel disease was 3.7+/-2.95uV/beats/min. The increment of ST/HR slope and big up tri, Delta ST/HR index were associated with the coronary artery disease and its severity, but the correlations were not high enough. CONCLUSION: The heart rate adjustment of ST segment depression was not high enough for improved detection of coronary artery disease, compared with standard ST-segment depression criteria. But these indexes can be improved the clinical usefulness of the treadmill exercise test for coronary aretry disease.
Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Depression* ; Electrocardiography ; Exercise Test ; Heart Rate* ; Heart* ; Humans ; Myocardial Ischemia* ; Sensitivity and Specificity

We report a case of penile lymphangioma circumscriptum developed in a 22- year-old male soldier. Rice-sized papule on glans penis was noted at birth and progressed to yellow straw-colored, peanut-sized, asymptomatic grouped papulovesicles resembling frog spawn. The predilection sites of lymphangioma circumscriptum are the abdomen, axilla and tongue. Glans penis is a very rare site. Histopathologic findings showed papillornatosis, hyperkeratosis and cystically dilated lymph vessels lined by a single layer of endothelial cells.
Abdomen ; Axilla ; Endothelial Cells ; Humans ; Lymphangioma* ; Male ; Military Personnel ; Parturition ; Penis ; Tongue

No abstract available.

BACKGROUND: It has been demonstrated that ischemic preconditioning(IP, repetitive brief period of ischemia and reperfusion) enhances recovery of post-ischemic contractile dysfunction and reduces incidences of reperfusion-arrhythmia and infarct size after a prolonged ischemia. A lot of mechanisms have been proposed, however, controversies still remain. Recent studies suggested that IP could activate protein kinase C(PKC). Therefore, we measured left ventricular function, myocardial creatinin and PKC activities, and infarct size to assess whether IPs cardioprotective effect is related to PKC activation using isolated rabbit hearts. METHODS AND RESULTS: Hearts isolated from New Zealand White rabbits(1.5-2.0kg body weight) were perfused with Tyrode solution by Langendorff technique. After stabilization of baseline hemodynamics, the hearts were subjected to 60-min ischemia followed by 120-min reperfusion with IP(IP group, n=15) or without IP(control group, n=14), IP was induced by 4 cycles of 5-min global ischemia and 5-min reperfusion. Left ventricular function including developed pressure(LVEDP), dp/dt, heart rate(HR), and coronary flow(CF) was measured to determine the recovery of LVEDP, RPP(rate-pressure product, HRXLVEDP) and CF to baseline measurement. Frequency of arrhythmia was counted on reperfusion. Myocardial CK-MB, myocardial cytosolic and membrance PKC were measured and the infarct size was determined by staining with tetrazolium salt and planimetry. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA, Tukey's post-hoc test and t-test. There was no significant differences in the recovery of LVEDP, dp/dt, RPP, and CF and frequency of arrhythmia during reperfusion between the control and the IP groups. In comparison with the control groups, however, CK-MB was significantly lowered in the IP group(P < 0.05). Cytosolic PKC was significantly decreased but membrance PKC was increased(p < 0.05). These findings indicate that PKC was translocated and activated by IP. Furthermore infarct size was smaller and limited to the antero-lateral or posterior wall and papillary muscle in the IP group(p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These results indicate that IP dose not improve post-ischemic contractile dysfunction after a prolonged ischemia of 60 minutes but has an infarct-limiting effect. This cardioprotective effect of IP may be related to PKC activation.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Cytosol ; Heart* ; Hemodynamics ; Incidence ; Ischemia ; Ischemic Preconditioning* ; New Zealand ; Papillary Muscles ; Protein Kinase C ; Protein Kinases* ; Reperfusion ; Ventricular Function, Left*

BACKGROUND: Acute myocardial infarction is one of major cardiovascular disease that increases according to the changes of diet and life style. Early diagnosis and treatment of acute myocardial infarction is critical for better prognosis and for reducing mortality. But early diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction is limited by several factors. Recently it was reported that measurements of several serum cardiac enzymes were useful for early diagnosis of acute mocardial infarction. This study was performed to investigate which method of serum creatine kinase measurement is the faster and accurate and whether serum creatine kinase is an early noninvasive predictor of coronary artery patency following thrombolysis in patients with acute myocardial infarction by means of analysis of serial changes in serum creatine kinase. METHODS: This study included 32 patients who had acute myocardial infarction. Serum CK-MB was measured by electrophoretic method and enzymatic immuoasssay method. and compared with EKG and total CK activity which measured by photoabsorbance method. Also we studied whether CK time-activity could be predictor for reperfusion. RESULTS: Immunoassay method accurately measures the serum CK-MB and correlates well with that of electrophoretic method in patients with acute mocardial infarction. Immunoassay method is more sensitive than EKG and has the similar sensitivity to electrophoretic method in diagnosis of acute myoardial infarction. Reperfusion of an occluded coronary artery results in early elevation of serum creatine kinase and CK-MB reflected by earlier appearance time, peak, and onset of clearance. CONCLUSION: Because immunoassay measurement of serum creatine kinase is faster than electrophoresis and requires less technical expertise, it is possible to make diagnosis in patients with acute myocardial infarction in a more timely and cost effective manner and creatine kinase is good predictor of recanalization of an occluded coronary artery after intravenous thrombolytic therapy.
Cardiovascular Diseases ; Coronary Vessels ; Creatine Kinase* ; Creatine* ; Diagnosis ; Diet ; Early Diagnosis* ; Electrocardiography ; Electrophoresis ; Humans ; Immunoassay ; Infarction ; Life Style ; Mortality ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Professional Competence ; Prognosis ; Reperfusion* ; Thrombolytic Therapy

BACKGROUND: Lipoprotein(a)[Lp(a)], an independent risk factor for athrosclerosis, consist of low density lipoprotein like particle and specific glycoprotein, apolipoprotein(a). The levels of Lp(a) are mainly determined by the genetic pleomorphism of apolipoprotein(a) and has been though not to be influenced by age, sex and other biochemical parameters. Recent reports have shown that the concentrations of Lp(a) are correlated with age in women. The purpose of this study was to invastigate the association of Lp(a) concentration with sex and age. METHODS: The concentrations of Lp(a) were measured in 3,707 women and 389 men, free of diseases and medications known to affect the lipid levels. Plasma Lp(a) concentration were measured by commercial radioimmunoassay kit and other lipid profiles by conventional method. RESULTS: In female, median Lp(a) concentration increased with age till the early sixth decade (P=.0000) and then decreased. If peri- and postmenopausal women were excluded in the fifth decades, the relation between age and Lp(a) disappeared. In male, Lp(a) concentration were not associated with age. Median Lp(a) concentrations were higher in females than in males in the fifth(p=.0039) and the sixth decades(p=.0007), The difference became negligible after the exclusion of peri- and postmenopausal woman in the fifth decade. CONCLUSION: The concentrations of Lp(a) were corrected with age only in female. Females had higher levels than males in the fifth and the sixth decades. The relations are thought to be nither due to aging process nor sex but due to postmenopausal increase of Lp(a).
Aging ; Apoprotein(a) ; Female ; Glycoproteins ; Humans ; Lipoprotein(a)* ; Lipoproteins ; Male ; Menopause ; Plasma ; Radioimmunoassay ; Risk Factors

BACKGROUND: Lipoprotein(a)[Lp(a)], an independent risk factor for athrosclerosis, consist of low density lipoprotein like particle and specific glycoprotein, apolipoprotein(a). The levels of Lp(a) are mainly determined by the genetic pleomorphism of apolipoprotein(a) and has been though not to be influenced by age, sex and other biochemical parameters. Recent reports have shown that the concentrations of Lp(a) are correlated with age in women. The purpose of this study was to invastigate the association of Lp(a) concentration with sex and age. METHODS: The concentrations of Lp(a) were measured in 3,707 women and 389 men, free of diseases and medications known to affect the lipid levels. Plasma Lp(a) concentration were measured by commercial radioimmunoassay kit and other lipid profiles by conventional method. RESULTS: In female, median Lp(a) concentration increased with age till the early sixth decade (P=.0000) and then decreased. If peri- and postmenopausal women were excluded in the fifth decades, the relation between age and Lp(a) disappeared. In male, Lp(a) concentration were not associated with age. Median Lp(a) concentrations were higher in females than in males in the fifth(p=.0039) and the sixth decades(p=.0007), The difference became negligible after the exclusion of peri- and postmenopausal woman in the fifth decade. CONCLUSION: The concentrations of Lp(a) were corrected with age only in female. Females had higher levels than males in the fifth and the sixth decades. The relations are thought to be nither due to aging process nor sex but due to postmenopausal increase of Lp(a).
Aging ; Apoprotein(a) ; Female ; Glycoproteins ; Humans ; Lipoprotein(a)* ; Lipoproteins ; Male ; Menopause ; Plasma ; Radioimmunoassay ; Risk Factors

PURPOSE: Misdiagnosis is frequent in femoral hernia as inguinal hernia. The aims of this study were to examine the diagnostic concordance and to define the factors having influence on the correct diagnosis of femoral hernia. METHODS: Thirty-two patients who underwent femoral hernia operations were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: The mean age of the study subjects was 65.8+/-15.5 (36~97) and the female to male ratio was 5.4:1. The mean body mass index (BMI) was 19.8 kg/m2 (14.6~26.9 kg/m2). Twelve patients (37.5%) showed pre- and post-operative diagnostic concordance and 20 patients (62.5%) did not. Among the 20 misdiagnosed cases, 16 cases were misdiagnosed as inguinal hernia, 2 cases as lipoma, and 1 case as lymphadenopathy. The factors related to the correct diagnosis of femoral hernias were associated with groin mass (96.9%, 31/32: 23 painless and 8 painful), size fluctuation of mass (cyclic wax and wane pattern) (84.4%, 27/32), long duration of mass (over 1 month) (75.0%, 24/32), femoral venous compression CT findings (63.6%, 14/22), and positive ultrasonographic findings (42.1%, 8/19). Emergency operation was done in 12 cases (37.5%). Incarceration was found in 23 cases (71.9%) and most of the incarcerated organs were omental fat (11 cases) and small bowel (10 cases). Bowel resection was done in 4 cases and 2 patients combined inguinal hernia. CONCLUSION: Through the careful taking of medical history and physical examination, physicians can achieve the correct diagnosis and can also decrease the frequency of emergency operations and their related complications.
Body Mass Index ; Diagnostic Errors ; Emergencies ; Female ; Groin ; Hernia, Femoral ; Hernia, Inguinal ; Humans ; Lipoma ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Male ; Physical Examination

OBJECTIVES: Echocardiographically determined left ventricular hypertrophy is associated with increased risk for sudden cardiae death and for complex ventricular arrhythmias in 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring. In subjects with left ventricular hypertrophy, the presence of asymptomatic complex ventricular arrhythmias is associated with higher incidence of sudden cardiac death and higher cardiovascular mortality. However, their accurate relationship and prognostic significances have been remained to be established. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between complex ventricular arrhythmias, left ventricular hypertrophy, and sudden cardiac death in Korean patients. METHODS: Twenty four hour ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring, echocardiographic data and medical records were reviewed in 360 subjects from 1991 to 1994. We evaluated the relationship between complex ventricular arrhythmias and left ventricular mass index, and the prognostic values of them. Of the 360 subjects, 187 could be followed up for one to four years. The mean follow-up period was 2.8 years. RESULTS: The incidence of complex ventricular arrhythmias was significantly correlated with left ventricular mass index and ejection fraction in all subjects. During the follow-up periods, seven of 187 subjects died from sudden cardiac death. Six of them had complex ventricular arrhythmias with left ventricular hypertrophy. CONCLUSION: The incidence of complex ventricular arrhythmias was significantly correlated with echocardiographically determined left ventricular hypertrophy and it is suggested that subjects with complex ventricular arrhythmias combined with left ventricular hypertrophy have higher risk for sudden cardiac death.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac* ; Cardia ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; Echocardiography ; Electrocardiography, Ambulatory ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular* ; Incidence ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Prognosis

No abstract available.
Dust* ; Humans