No abstract available.
Hysterectomy* ; Sexual Behavior*

No abstract available.
Gestational Trophoblastic Disease*

A case of a fistula running from the pulmonary vein to the esophagus after a staged hybrid procedure combining total thoracoscopic ablation and percutaneous radiofrequency catheter ablation has not been reported previously. We describe such a case in a 37-year-old man who was successfully treated by surgery.
Adult ; Catheter Ablation* ; Esophageal Fistula* ; Esophagus ; Fistula ; Humans ; Pulmonary Veins* ; Running

No abstract available.
Angina Pectoris* ; Electrocardiography* ; Pheochromocytoma*

No abstract available.
Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone* ; Gonads* ; Steroids* ; Trophoblasts*

In diabetes mellitus, thickening of basement membrane in capillaries and small vessels is a well-known finding and important in the progression of diabetic microangiopathy. We evaluated whether the plasma levels of type IV collagen and fibronectin, which are important factors of basement membrane, are related with the presence of diabetic microangiopathy. Plasma type IV collagen and fibronectin levels were measured in 40 healthy controls (Mean +/- SD, age; 50.3 +/- 5.5 yr) and 94 diabetic patients (age; 52.4 +/- 13.5 yr) with and without microvascular complications. The mean plasma levels of type IV collagen (5.3 +/- 2.9 ng/ml) and fibronectin (474.4 +/- 119.4 ug/ml) in diabetic patients were significantly higher (p < 0.01) than in healthy controls (3.7 +/- 1.3 ng/ml and 319 +/- 50.9 ug/ml). The mean plasma level of type IV collagen in diabetic patients with complications (6.6 +/- 3.7 ng/ml) was significantly higher (p < 0.01) than in those without complications (4.3 +/- 1.7 ng/ml) and became higher in more complicated patients. Furthermore, the severity of retinopathy and several indicators of nephropathy such as serum BUN, creatinine and proteinuria were closely associated with plasma type IV collagen level and a significant correlation was found between plasma type IV collagen and creatinine clearance (r = -0.31, p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in plasma fibronectin concentrations, however, between the diabetic patients with complications and those without complications.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Adult ; Aged ; Biological Markers/blood ; Blood Proteins/urine ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Collagen/*blood ; Creatinine/blood ; Diabetic Angiopathies/*blood/diagnosis ; Diabetic Nephropathies/blood/diagnosis ; Diabetic Retinopathy/blood/diagnosis ; Female ; Fibronectins/*blood ; Human ; Male ; Middle Age

No abstract available.
Choriocarcinoma* ; Female ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Pregnancy

No abstract available.
Animals ; Macrophages* ; Mice*

BACKGROUND: Prosthetic valve thrombosis is an uncommon but serious complication. Thrombolytic therapy has recently been proposed as an alternative to surgical methods in treating this condition and is used increasingly. However, the indications for thrombolytic treatment in prosthetic valve thrombosis have not been well defined and differential diagnosis of thrombosis is still difficult. METHODS: Four symptomatic patients with prosthetic valve thrombosis underwent 9 thrombolytic sessions for 7 distinct episodes. Transthoracic or transesophageal echocardiography and cinefluoroscopy were performed and repeated after each thrombolytic session. Urokinase or rt-PA (recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator) was used and repeated dose was given if necessary. Recurrent thrombosis was treated also either with urokinase or rt-PA. RESULTS: All patients were female and mean age was 38.5 years old. Two valves were in mitral position and the other two were in tricuspid position. The anticoagulation status was inadequate in three patients. The initial success after first dose was 43% (3/7), which increased to 54% (4/7) after repeated thrombolytic therapy. Thrombolytic therapy was failed in three episodes; two thromboses and one ingrowths of pannus. Operations were needed in these cases. No complication was seen. CONCLUSION: Thrombolytic treatment can be used as an alternative to surgical therapy with a low risk of complications. But guideline of thrombolytic therapy for the recurrent thrombosis and education for the patients about the adequate anticoagulation were needed.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Education ; Female ; Humans ; Plasminogen ; Thrombolytic Therapy ; Thrombosis* ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator

PURPOSE: Hyperhomocysteinemia was observed in epileptic patients receiving anticonvulsants, especially homozygotes for mtehylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene 677C->T mutation. Hyperhomocysteinemia induce atherosclerosis, fetal anticonvulsant syndrome, etc. Therefore, we examined any other factors that might affect the level of homocysteine in epileptic patients. METHODS: We investigated the plasma total homocysteine level in 145 patients with epilepsy. And then we analyzed various factors (clinical findings, neuro-image finding, drugs, MTHFR gene, serum folate and vitamin B12 level) affecting the level of homocysteine. RESULTS: Among the various factors, male, present neurological deficits, frequent seizure attacks, MTHFR gene 677 TT genotype, polypharmacy, and conventional drug (phenytoin, carbamazepine, valproic acid, phenobarbital, primidone, benzodiazpines) than new drug (lamotrigine, vigabatrin, topiramate, oxcarbazepine zonisamide) were related with elevated homocysteine levels. CONCLUSION: We recommend monotherapy with new drugs and higher vitamin requirement in the male epileptic patients of MTHFR TT genotype with neurological deficits and frequent seizure attacks.
Anticonvulsants ; Atherosclerosis ; Carbamazepine ; Epilepsy ; Folic Acid ; Genotype ; Homocysteine* ; Homozygote ; Humans ; Hyperhomocysteinemia ; Male ; Oxidoreductases ; Phenobarbital ; Plasma ; Polypharmacy ; Primidone ; Seizures ; Valproic Acid ; Vigabatrin ; Vitamin B 12 ; Vitamins