No abstract available.
DNA* ; Flow Cytometry* ; Gestational Trophoblastic Disease*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Movement of mitral valve during diastole and blood flow velocity through the valve can be accurately measured using M-mode and pulsed wave Doppler technique, respectively. However, the relationship between mechanical excursion and flow phenomenon at the same cardiac cycle has not been seriously investigated. METHOD: The subjects of this study included twenty cases with normal mitral flow pattern in Doppler echocardiography (Group I, mean age:44+/-20.8years, mean ejection fraction (EF):52+/-20.9%), twenty three cases with relaxation abnormality (Group II, mean age:59+/-11.4years, mean EF:43+/-18.2%) and seventeen cases with restrictive physiology (Group III, mean age: 47+/-15.9years, mean EF: 24+/-11.0%). We measured excursion of mitral leaflets at early (DE) and late (DA) diastole, area of mitral valvular opening using two dimensional calibration on M mode images, and transmitral inflow velocity (E (early ventricular filling)-, A (atrial contraction)-velocity), TVI (time velocity integral) on Doppler echocardiography. RESULTS: DE-excursions (mm) in group I, II, III were 16.8+/-4.7, 14.2+/-3.5, 15.3+/-4.1, DA-excursions (mm) were 9.8+/-3.2, 10.7+/-3.0, 8.3+/-2.7, E-areas (cm2) were 2.8+/-1.3, 2.6+/-0.8, 2.5+/-1.0, A-areas (cm2) were 1.7+/-0.8, 1.7+/-0.7, 2.0+/-0.6, respectively. In E-, A-velocity, deceleration time, E-TVI and A-TVI, there were significant differences among three groups. However, in DE-, DA-excursion, E-, A-area, there were no significant differences among three groups. Between DE excursion and E velocity, DA excursion and A velocity, and total opening area and total TVI in total subjects, significant correlations were absent. CONCLUSION: The mitral excursions and mitral opening areas on M mode images did not show any significant correlations with the mitral inflow velocities and TVI by pulsed Doppler, which suggests that the excursion of mitral leaflets is independent of transmitral inflow.
Blood Flow Velocity ; Calibration ; Deceleration ; Diastole ; Echocardiography* ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; Mitral Valve* ; Physiology ; Relaxation

Although ascending aortic aneurysm is a uncommon disease, it has fatal complications such as aortic rupture, dissection, or death. So, experts recommend a preemptive aortic operation. A 77-year-old man with hypertension visited for slow progressive exertional dyspnea and general weakness. Chest X-ray showed deviation of trachea to right, mediastinal widening, cardiomegaly, and bulging of right heart border to right. Transthoracic echocardiography(TTE) and transesophageal echocardiography(TEE) showed marked dilated ascending aorta with wall calcification associated with severe aortic regurgitation and pericardial effusion. Measured diameter of ascending aorta was 12 x 11 cm on Chest Computed Tomography (CT) scan, 8.35 cm on TTE, and 10.2 cm on TEE. Our exam found out the obstructive pneumonia and aortic regurgitation as consequences of complications of huge aneurysm. We report a case of huge ascending aortic aneurysm without any previous aortic operation, aortic complications, trauma, or other etiologic factors.
Aged ; Aneurysm ; Aorta ; Aortic Aneurysm* ; Aortic Rupture ; Aortic Valve Insufficiency ; Cardiomegaly ; Dyspnea ; Heart ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Pericardial Effusion ; Pneumonia ; Thorax ; Trachea

OBJECTIVES: Recirculation is one of the factors preventing effective hemodialysis(HD) and one of the methods which can detect vascular access stenosis. We analyzed the possible clinical risk factors and relationship between the recirculation rate(R) and adequacy of hemodialysis. Also, we attempted to find out whether vascular access stenosis actually exist in the high R group. METHODS: We examined the period of hemodialysis, the presence of diabetes mellitus(DM), use of artificial grafts, the venous pressure(VP) during HD, the difference(deltaKt/V) between prescribed Kt/V(Kt/V') and delivered Kt/V(Kt/V") in 113 patients(22 DM, 39 artifical graft patients) receving maintenence HD. R was obtained by two needle slow flow method. Fistulogram was performed in the high R group(R>10%) and if significant stenosis was found, surgical correction was performed followed by repeated R, VP, Kt/V" measurement. RESULTS: As a whole R was 5.6%(+/-8.8), VP was 92mmHg(+/-44), the duration of hemodialysis was 36 months(+/-25) and Kt/V" was 1.20 (+/-0.29). The VP of the group with artificial graft was higher than that of the group with native fistula, but there was no relationship between R and duration of HD, Kt/V", deltaKt/V as a whole. The VP and deltaKt/V of group with high R(>10%) were significantly higher than the group with low R(<10%). Positive correlation between R and deltaKt/V was demonstrated in the group with high R. In six patients with high R, fistulograms were taken and significant vascular stenosis were found. After surgical correction, R was significantly decreased from 25.5% to 5.2%. On the other hand, the R as well as the rate of diabetes or prosthetic grafts were higher in the group with high VP(>or=100mmHg) than in the group with low VP(<100mmHg) as well as in patients with diabetes or prosthetic grafts, CONCLUSION: We believe recirculation should be measured during maintenance HD especially when the patient has diabetes, artificial graft or high venous pressure during HD. When the recirculation rate is high, reconstructive vascular surgery with proprer mediacl management may lead to better dialysis adequacy.
Constriction, Pathologic ; Dialysis ; Fistula ; Hand ; Humans ; Needles* ; Renal Dialysis ; Risk Factors ; Transplants ; Venous Pressure

Bell's palsy is a relatively common, unilateral facial paralysis of unknown etiology. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of several electrophysiologic tests in Bell's palsy. Blink reflex (BR), side-to-side compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitude comparison, and side-to-side nerve excitability test (NET) threshold differ once have been studied during the first 2 weeks in 66 patients with Bell's palsy. According to the early response of BR(Rl), the patients were divided into 3 groups: Rl< or = 13ms(17cases) ; Rl>13ms(22cases), and absent BR(27cases). There was a remarkable tendency towards a satisfactory recovery from paralysis if BR occurred during the first 2 weeks from onset(p<0.001). In patients with normal BR, 88.2% had a satisfactory recovery, when the reflex was absent a bad prognosis was given in 59.3% of the patients. According to side-to-side CMAP amplitude comparison, the patients were divided into 2 groups; CMAP amplitude comparison > or = 25% (35cases), and CMAP amplitude comparison <25% (31cases). There was a tendency towards a satisfactory recovery from paralysis if side-to-side CMAP amplitude comparison was more than 25% (p < 0,003). In patients with more than 25% of CMAP amplitude comparison, 82.9% of the patients had a satisfactory recovery, but in patients with less than 25% of CMAP amplitude comparison, 51.6% of the patients had a bad prognosis. According to side-to-side NET threshold difference, the patients were divided into 2 groups, NET threshold difference < or = 3.5mA(43cases), and NET threshold difference >3.5mA (23cases). When the threshold of electrical excitability on both sides differs 3.5mA or more an unsatisfactory recovery has strongly to expected(p<0.001). In patients with less than 3.5mA of NET threshold, 81.4% had a satisfactory recovery, but in patients with more than 3.5mA of NET threshold, 60.9% had a bad prognosis. BR, side-to-side CMAP amplitude comparison, and side-to-side NET threshold difference seem to be useful independent indices for predicting the prognosis an early stage of the paralysis.
Action Potentials ; Bell Palsy* ; Blinking ; Facial Paralysis ; Humans ; Paralysis ; Prognosis ; Reflex

Marchiafava-Bignami disease (MBD) is a rare alcohol-related disorder that results in progressive demyelination and necrosis of the corpus callosum. The process may extend to the optic chiasm and tracts, cerebellar peduncle, subcortical resion, neighboring white matter, and rarely, cortical gray matter. We report a case of MBD in which fluid-attenuated inversion recovery and diffusion magnetic resonance imaging studies revealed symmetrical hyperintense lesions in the cerebral cortex in addition to the callosal lesions.
Alcoholism/complications ; Brain/pathology ; Cerebral Cortex/*pathology ; Corpus Callosum/*pathology ; Demyelinating Diseases/pathology ; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods ; Humans ; Male ; Marchiafava-Bignami Disease/*diagnosis/*pathology/*therapy ; Middle Aged ; Necrosis/pathology ; Neurodegenerative Diseases/pathology ; Optic Chiasm/pathology ; Seizures ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome ; Vitamin B Complex/therapeutic use

No abstract available.
Hepacivirus* ; Hepatitis C* ; Hepatitis* ; Myositis*

No abstract available.
Infarction ; Spinal Cord

PURPOSE: The optimal initial treatment for burn wound is generally applying cold running tap water of temperature 12~18degrees C for approximately 20 minutes. But most of the patients are not susceptible to this initial treatment because they are likely to get embarrassed in such situation. According to statistics of our hospital, 92.2% of patients who visited ER (emergency room) had less than 10 minutes of water cooling. In this study, our aim was to find out the clinical effect of biocellulose sheet (Bestian M(R) pack) as an emergent treatment. METHODS: Between November 2010 and October 2011, 93 patients with burn wound showing first or superficial second degree at first inspection were evaluated in our study. Biocellulose sheet (Bestian M(R) pack) was applied at the wound as soon as possible for 25 minutes and second inspection was done. Routine moisture dressing was done thereafter and patients were followed as outpatient. RESULTS: Among 93 patients, 28 were male and 65 were female. Scalding burn, contact burn, flame burn and other causes were 78, 6, 4 and 5 patients respectively. Average complete healing time was 7.99 days and average follow-up time was 5.49. CONCLUSION: Biocellulose sheet has the effect of cooling down the skin temperature up to 6~8degrees C after 10 minutes of its application. Recent studies reported that appropriate cooling in burn wound improves the zone of stasis and zone of erythema histologically eventually reducing the chance of skin graft. Therefore, biocellulose sheet has the effect of improving initial pain, histologic status, healing time and cost in patients with burn wound whose depth is not deep. Furthermore it reduces the risk of scar formation.
Bandages ; Burns ; Cicatrix ; Cold Temperature ; Erythema ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Running ; Skin ; Skin Temperature ; Transplants ; Water

Hereditary spastic ataxia is a familial neurological disorder which exhibit the features of a progressive combined pyramidal tract and cerebellar deficiency. The main features are progressive gait disturbance, incoordination, nystagmus, visual impairment, hyperreflexia, extensor plantar response, peripheral neuropathy, and pes cavus. A 27-year-old male patient with spastic ataxic gait was evaluated. He showed characteristic features of hereditary spastic ataxia. There were another twelve affected members in four generations of his family which may be inherited by autosomal dominant pattern. One of them is reported with review of the literature on familial spastic ataxia.
Adult ; Ataxia* ; Family Characteristics ; Foot Deformities ; Gait ; Humans ; Male ; Muscle Spasticity* ; Nervous System Diseases ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; Pyramidal Tracts ; Reflex, Abnormal ; Reflex, Babinski ; Vision Disorders