BACKGROUND: Carotid atherosclerosis and aortic at herosclerosis are both a predictor of atherosclertic cardiovascular diseases. However, the relationship between carotid and aortic atherosclerosis is not well known. METHODS: We performed B-mode ultrasound examinations of the carotid arteries in 38 consecutive elderly cases(13 men, mean age 69+/-3 years and 25 women, mean age 69+/-5 years) who underwent transesophageal echocardiography, to assess whether atherosclerosis in the carotid artery correlates with thoracic aortic atherosclerosis or may be a marker for it. RESULTS: The incidence of carotid and thoracic aortic atherosclerotic plaques were 44.7% and 50%, respectively. There was a significant relationship between carotid atherosclerosis and thoracic aortic atherosclerosis(r=0.532, p<0.01), and a increase in the extent of aortic atherosclerosis with increasing grades of carotid atherosclerosis. In the entire study cases, the presence of carotid atherosclerosis had a sensitivity 63.2%, specificity 73.7%, positive value 72.6% and negative predictive value 66.7% in detec-ting thoracic aortic atherosclerosis. CONCLUSION: In the Korean elderly, B-mode ultra sound examination of the carotid arteries is a easy and useful technique for the prediction of the presence and severity of thoracic atherosclerosis.
Aged* ; Aorta ; Aorta, Thoracic* ; Atherosclerosis* ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Carotid Arteries ; Carotid Artery Diseases* ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ultrasonics ; Ultrasonography

No abstract available.
Diagnosis* ; Knee* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging*

Aneurysms of the pulmonary artery are uncommon in general but have a potentially fatal prognosis. This is derived from the potential for rupture of the aneurysm from the fact that there is commonly underlying severe pulmonary hypertension. Most cases are documented in the large postmortem series. Aneurysms of the pulmonary artery can be classified as congenital or acquired. Possible symptoms include dyspnea on exertion, cough, hemoptysis, and thoracic pain. When a large aneurysm formation of the pulmonary artery is diagnosed, surgical intervention is indicated because conservative treatment of the aneurysm will undoubtedly result in rupture with fatal outcome. We report a case of 46-year old patient with a giant left pulmonary artery aneurysm associated with severe pulmonary hypertension. A Doppler echocardiogram and a computed tomographic scan showed a giant saccular aneurysm of the left pulmonary artery (12 cm in diameter) and estimated systolic right ventricular pressure of 80 mmHg.
Aneurysm* ; Cough ; Dyspnea ; Fatal Outcome ; Hemoptysis ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary* ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Pulmonary Artery* ; Rupture ; Ventricular Pressure

Ischemic heart disease is a common complication of thyrotoxicosis, although the exact mechanism has not been defined. In patient with dextrocardia as a part of situs inversus, coronary heart disease may occur with similar frequency and manifestation as in the general population. A case is reported of angina and thyrotoxicosis in patient with situs inversus totalis in which the angina was manifested by ST-segment elevation during graded exercise, relieved by antithyroid treatment. This unusual case establishes an association between hyperthy-roidism and ischemic heart disease.
Coronary Disease ; Dextrocardia ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism* ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Situs Inversus* ; Thyrotoxicosis

No abstract available.
Animals ; Diuresis* ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins* ; Rats* ; Urinary Bladder*

The relative rarity and anatomical position of presacral tumors may lead to difficulty in diagnosis and surgical treatment. The clinical features and surgical approach of 4such tumors(teratocarcinoma 1, endodermal sinus tumor 1, chordoma 1, neurilemmoma 1) have therefore reviewed. Low back pain or sacral pain was present in 3patients although all tumors were palpable on rectal examination. Surgical resection was carried out using the posterior transverse approach in Kraske's prone position. Complete surgical excision was performed in 3cases(chordoma, teratocarcinoma, neurilemmoma) and incomplete excision in 1 case(endodermal sinus tumor). A review of literature concerning these tumors and the surgical approach are presented.
Chordoma ; Diagnosis ; Endodermal Sinus Tumor ; Low Back Pain ; Neurilemmoma ; Prone Position ; Teratocarcinoma

A forty-seven-year-old male miner complained of paresthesia over right hypothenar area and ring and little fiugers for 3 months. On physical examination and electromyography, ulnar nerve dysfunction below elbow was noted. Intraoperatively, an anomalous muscle, the epitrochleoanconeus muscle, was found between the triceps muscle and flexor carpi ulnaris muscle, but it was clearly distinguished from them. Resection of the muscle and medial epicondylectomy were performed. The epitrochleoanconeus muscle is an anomalous muscle which arises from the medial epicondyle of the humerus and inserts into the medial border of the olecranon. The reports on ulnar nerve entrapment syndrome by this muscle were rare. On 14 months follow up, the symptoms and signs were improved.
Elbow ; Electromyography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Humerus ; Male ; Miners ; Olecranon Process ; Paresthesia ; Physical Examination ; Ulnar Nerve Compression Syndromes ; Ulnar Nerve

15 cases of acute dislocation of the elbow were treated at Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Capital Armed Forces General Hospital, Seoul, Korea during the period of March, 1985. To June, 1986 were analysed. The length of follow-up period ranged from 6 months to 16 months, with a mean of 9 months. The results were as follows; 1. 7 cases had been surgically treated, and they revealed rupture of the medial collateral ligament in all. So, we think that the medial collateral ligament of the elbow plays an important role in elbow stability. 2. The average immobilization period for the patient with non-operative treatm ent was 2 weeks. And normal ran ge of motion was obtained at 8 weeks. So, there was no. significant difference from other reports in the duration of recovery. 3. The period of recovery in operated patients was 14 weeks, and it was 6 weeks longer than non-operatively treated patients. 4. There was no chronic elbow instability in all 15 patients, but 3 cases with non-operative treatment complained of medial elbow pain on vigorous exercise.
Arm ; Collateral Ligaments ; Dislocations ; Elbow Joint ; Elbow ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Immobilization ; Korea ; Rupture ; Seoul

No abstract available.
Cartilage, Articular* ; Knee* ; Osmium Tetroxide* ; Synovial Membrane*

About half of all burst fractures at the thoracolumbar junction lead to neurological impairment and several clinical series have demonstrated a statistically significant correlation between canal encroachment and neurologic impairment, but not directly related. Spontaneous canal remodelling over time due to bone resorption has been observed in conservatively treated burst fractures. The aim of this study was to measure spinal canal remodelling after stabilization of burst fractures. So, we evaluated 22 cases of surgically stabilized burst fractures of thoracolumbar junction about pre and postoperative spinal canal stenotic ratio and canal remodelling by bone resorption over time. The results were as follows; l. Pedicle splaying increases the spinal canal area and necessitates correction. 2. Patients with neurological deficits had average 53% encroachment and the neurological normal patient had a canal compromise of 33.9%. 3. Postoperatively canal encroachment had decreased to a mean of 17.4% and further reduced by resorption of bony fragment to a mean of 8.3% within 14 months. In conclusions, remodelling of the spinal canal by resorption of encroaching bone fragments is a consistent feature in surgically stabilized thoracolumbar burst fractures and most patients regain their prefracture canal demensions within 14 months.
Bone Resorption ; Humans ; Spinal Canal*