BACKGROUND: Studies of human coronary plaque specimens have shown that T lymphocytes and macrophages are present in all types of lesions, from fatty streaks to advanced plaques. There is growing evidence for a pathogenic role for immune response in progression of atherosclerosis. This study was designed to investigate cytokine production by mononuclear leukocytes from patients with myocardial infarction. METHOD: We measured the kinetics of secretion of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interferon-r (IFN-r) by mononuclear leukocytes from 8 control subjects and 12 patients with acute myocardial infarction. Mononuclear leukocytes were isolated and incubated with plant lectin mitogen concanavalin-A for 24 and 48 hours. TNF-alpha and IFN-r secretions were measured by ELISA. RESULTS:There were no significant differences between TNF-alpha and IFN-r secretions by mononuclear leukocytes at and before 24 hours of incubation from both patients and control subjects, but TNF-alpha and IFN-r secretions at 48 hours of incubation were higher (p<0.005, p<0.05) in patients when compared with control subjects. TNF-alpha and IFN-r secretions by mononuclear leukocytes after incubation correlated with the peak level of creatine phosphokinase (CK) and CK-MB. CONCLUSION: Increased cytokine secretory capacity of mononuclear leukocytes may be due to the acute inflammatory response of myocardial infarction. Further trials may be needed to determined the effects of increase in secretory capacity of mononuclear leukocytes before myocardial infarction.
Atherosclerosis ; Creatine Kinase ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Kinetics ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear* ; Macrophages ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Plants ; T-Lymphocytes ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha*

We report unusual 3 cases of adult coronary arteriovenous fistula(CAVF) diagnosed by coronary arteriography in Soonchunhyang University Hospital. In one patient with mitral stenoinsufficiency, multiple CAVFs originated from left anterior descending and left circumflex coronary areries. In another patient with significant stenosis(90%) in distal right coronary artery, new CAVF was seen in mid right coronary artery during consecutive coronary arteriography. In the remaining one, it was arose from contus branch of right coronary artery. Surgical correction was performed in two cases.
Adult* ; Angiography ; Arteriovenous Fistula* ; Coronary Vessels ; Humans

We experienced a case of pedunculated left atrial primary fibrosarcoma, which obstructed the mitral orifice and produced symptoms and manifestations of mitral stenosis clinically. There was no evidence of metastasis to adjacent tissue or distant organs. It was treated by open heart surgery.
Fibrosarcoma* ; Heart Atria* ; Mitral Valve Stenosis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Thoracic Surgery

Bronchial artery embolization is well-accepted and widely used for management of massive and recurrent hemoptysis. This may either provide a definite therapeutic measure or a stabilizing effect on the patents in preparation for surgery. Retrospectively we reviewed 129 cases(106 patients) of bronchial artery embolization with Gelfoam pudding & Ivalon for control of hemoptysis from July 1985 to january 1991. The causes of hemoptysis were pulmonary tuberculosis(80.2%). Bronchiectasis(11.3%), asperigilloma(2.8%), and others(5.7%). The cases of pulmonary tuberculosis included tuberculous bronchiectasis (40.0%), active(34.1%), undetermined(14.1%) and inactive(11.8%). @ES The results were as follows: @EN Immediate control of hemoptysis was achieved in 104 of 122 cases(85.2%). Immediate control of massive hemoptysis was achieved in 94 of 107 cases(87.6%) and of chronic intermittent hemoptysis in 10 of 15 cases(76.0%). Hemoptysis recurred in 39 of 90 follow up cases(43.3%) on follow-up studies performed ranging in period from 2 to 49 month after the initial studies. Thirty three of 81 cases of massive hemoptysis recurred(40.7%) and six of 9 cases of chronic intermittent hemoptysis recurred(67.0%). One years rebleeding rate of massive hemoptysis was 34.6%. The rebleeding cases of massive hemoptysis were controlled by conservative treatment in 25 of 33 cases(75.8%). In conclusion. Bronchial artery embolization for hemoptysis control is effective in massive hemoptysis, but nearly ineffective in chronic intermittent hemoptysis, The goal of bronchial artery embolization is lifesaving procedure without permanent effect. Especially hemoptysis related to pulmonary tuberculosis.
Bronchial Arteries* ; Bronchiectasis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gelatin Sponge, Absorbable ; Hemoptysis ; Retrospective Studies ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

We observed the motion of left ventricular posterior wall aortic root posterior wall in 20 normal persons and 20 patients with left ventricular hypertrophy during the period from March 1985 to Agust 1985. The results were as followings; 1) The percentage of rapid filling time to one cycle of heart beat obtained from the ventriculat posterior wall motion was significantly prolonged in patients with left ventricular hypertrophy(24.1+/-5.44%) than in normal persons(13.5+/-3.69%)(p<0.05) and that of slow filling time was significantly shortend in patients with left ventricular hypertrophy(27.4+/-6.10%) than in normal persons(38.7+/-9.06%)(P<0.005). 2) The rapid filling slop obtained from left ventricular postrior wall motion was significantly reduced in patients with left ventricular hypertrophy(44.0+/-12.45mm/sec)than in normal persons(91.7+/-53.16mm/sec)(P>0.005) but the slow were not signigficantly different between the two groups. 3) The left artial emptying index calculated from the aortic root posterior wall motion was significantly lower in patients with left ventricular hypertrophy(0.6+/-0.18) than in normal persons(1.1+/-0.26)(P<0.005).
Echocardiography* ; Heart ; Humans ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the correlation between onset of brain infarction and Gd-DTPA enhancing patterns on MRI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed MRI of 58 lesions in 45 patients with clinically documented brain infarction retrospectively. Axial, coronal and sagittal T1WI (TR/TE 450-520/20), T2WI (TR/TE 2190/90) and Gd-DTPA enhanced T1WI were performed with a 0.5T superconductive MR system. We analyzed Gd-enhancing patterns lhat were divided into intravascular, meningeal, and parenchymal enhancement. Parenchymal pattern was subdivided into mottled, partial ring like and dense enhancement. RESULTS: lntravascular enhancement was seen at 1-10 days in 30(53%) of 58 infarctions. Meningeal enhancement (13%) was noted at 1--6 days. Parenchymal enhancement (50%) was seen at 2--28 days and subdividing patterns are as follows:The mottled enhancement pattern was seen earlier at 2-8 days and partial ring like or dense enhancement patterns at 5-28 days. CONCLUSION: After reviewing Gd-enhanced MRI of infarction, the intravascular and meningeal enhancement patterns were earlier than parenchymal enhancement. Among parenchymal patterns, the mottled pattern was seen earlier than partial ring like or dense patterns. In conclusion, Gd-enhancing patterns of brain infarction are useful in estimating the age of infarction including acute infarction.
Brain Infarction* ; Brain* ; Gadolinium DTPA* ; Humans ; Infarction* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Retrospective Studies

The authors analyzed data from 15 patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy to evaluate the hemodynamic changes and left ventricular cineangiogram as compared with normal control. Mean right atrial pressure, right ventricular systolic pressure, mean pulmonary artery pressure and mean pulmonary wedge pressure were signigicantly elevated in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. Left ventricular enddiastolic volume was increased in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy(139.9+/-58.73 ml/m2). Cardiac index, left ventricular ejection fraction and circumferential fiber shortening were significantly reduced in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy as compared with normal control(p<0.001). Hypokinetic, diffuse wall motion abnormalities of left ventricle were common in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. A few cases of akinetic or dyskinetic segmental wall motion abnormalities were present. Left ventricular configurations in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy were globe shape(53.4%) as compared with pear core shape(90%) of normal control. Associated mitral regurgitations in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy confirmed by left ventricular cineangiogram were 53.3 percent. Mild to moderate mitral regurgitations were often present(46.6%).
Atrial Pressure ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated* ; Heart Ventricles ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Pulmonary Artery ; Pulmonary Wedge Pressure ; Pyrus ; Stroke Volume

BACKGROUND: Hemodynamic derangements of cardiac tamponade are generally believed to result from compression of the cardiac chambers, which limits diastolic filling. The character and magnitude of the alternation are determined by the compliance characteristics of the pericardium and the total pericardial fluid volume. During serial pericardial fluid withdrawal, improvement of hemodynamic alternations is expected in patients with pericardial effusion. Method : Hemodynamic study was performed before and during serial fluid drainage in 11 patients with chronic moderate to severe pericardial effusion. RESULTS: 1) Intrapericardial pressure was elevated and equal to mean right atrial ventricular diastolic, and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure. Pulmonary arterial and right ventricular systolic pressure were also midly elevated equal to one another. 2) Pericardial fluid was gradually removed in 50ml aliquots in all patients. The most significant hemodynamic improvement occured during intial 50mL withdrawal. Futher drainage of intrapericardial fluid was accompanied by slight hemodynamic improvement. 3) There were significant correlations between total pericardial fluid volume and intrapericardial and right atrial pressure (r=0.75 (p<0.005), r=0.71(p<0.01)). Correlations between intrapericardial pressure and right atrial, right ventricular diastolic and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure were also significant. 4) Two groups of patient could be distinguished based upon intrapericardial pressure as 7mmHg. More significant hemodynamic changes were in 6 patients with higher intrapericardial pressure after withdrawal of 200mL fluid. CONCLUSION: In chronic moderate to severe pericardial effusion, the most significant hemodynamic improvement occurred during initial fluid drainage. Early pericardiocentesis is important in management of pericardial effusion with high intrapericardial pressure.
Atrial Pressure ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiac Tamponade ; Compliance ; Drainage* ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Pericardial Effusion* ; Pericardiocentesis ; Pericardium ; Pulmonary Wedge Pressure

We studied 105 patients with trasmural myocardial infarction who were admitted to Soonchunhyang university hospital from 1984-1988, and evaluated the clinical and coronary angiographic findings accordin to the age. The following results were obtained: 1) Among 105 patients with myocardial infarction, the prevalent age were sixth and seventh decade(27.6%) and the ration of male to female was 2:1, But the raion of male to female was 5.3:1 under the 50 years of age. 2) In frequency of risk factor of coronarhy heart disease, cigarrette smoking was present in 66.7%, hypertensio in 44.8% and hypercholesterolemia in 28.6%. The mean number of risk factor was 1.3 under the 50 years of age and was 1.7 over the 50 years of age. 3) Anterior myocardial infarction was most common under 50 years of age whereas anterior and inferior myocardial infarction occur similarly over the 50 years of age. 4) By coronary angiography, one vessel disease of stenosis of left anterior descending coronary artery was common findings under 50 years of age, but multivessel disease was common findings over the 50 years of age.
Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Vessels ; Female ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Inferior Wall Myocardial Infarction ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking

This study was designated to investigate communication barriers of nurses in clinical settings. This study was done in 2 phases, first content analysis on descriptions of 50 nurses in three general hospitals and 40 nursing students on communication barriers for nurses in clinical settings, and second a survey to investigate the factors related to communication barriers and the relation between the nurse's characteristics and the extent of communication barriers in clinical settings from two nurses educators, 13 nursing students who experienced clinical practice and 71 nurses in 11 general hospitals. The results are as follows : 1. Through content analysis, 11 properties of communication barriers for nurses in clinical settings were identified. These were inappropriate communication style as a nurse, lack of professionalism, in appropriate control of emotions, lack of knowledge about the clincal setting, the lack of preparation about content of communication, the problem in trust relation, differences in priorities in needs, uncontroleable situation for nurses, inappropriate nurses' perception about patients, conflict with medical team and inadequate systematic support were identified and grouped in to four categories, communicator, message, feedback and communication context. 2. The four factors in communication barriers for nurses in the clinical setting were identified and named as ambiguity in the nurses' position, lack of confidence, difference in perspectives with patients and inadequate nurse -patient relationship. 3. There was a significant difference (F=5.31, P=0.0022, F=3.62, p=0.0316, F=2.80, P=0.067, F=9.01, p=0.0003) among the groups according to work place in rating the extent of the communication barrier in the clinical setting and In the four factors, the nurses working in the psychiatric patient unit rated the communication barrier in the clinical setting lowest among the groups. There was a significant negative correlation between the length of the nurses's carrier and the extent of communication barrier in three factors, ambiguity in the nurses' position, lack of confidence and inadequate nurse-patient relationship.
Communication Barriers* ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Students, Nursing ; Workplace