BACKGROUND: Lesions in distal target arteries hinder surgical bypass procedures in patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease. METHODS: Between April 2012 and October 2015, 16 patients (18 limbs) with lifestyle-limiting claudication (n=12) or chronic critical limb ischemia (n=6) underwent femoral–above-knee (AK) polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) bypass grafts with a bridging stent graft placement between the distal target popliteal artery and the PTFE graft. Ring-supported PTFE grafts were used in all patients with no available vein for graft material. Follow-up evaluations assessed clinical symptoms, the ankle-brachial index, ultrasonographic imaging and/or computed tomography angiography, the primary patency rate, and complications. RESULTS: All procedures were successful. The mean follow-up was 12.6 months (range, 11 to 14 months), and there were no major complications. The median baseline ankle-brachial index of 0.4 (range, 0.2 to 0.55) significantly increased to 0.8 (range, 0.5 to 1.0) at 12 months (p<0.01). The primary patency rate at 12 months was 83.3%. The presenting symptoms resolved within 2 weeks. CONCLUSION: In AK bypasses with a diffusely diseased distal target popliteal artery or when below-knee (BK) bypass surgery is impossible, this procedure could be clinically effective and safe when used as an alternative to femoral-BK bypass surgery.
Angiography ; Ankle Brachial Index ; Arterial Occlusive Diseases ; Arteries ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis* ; Extremities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Ischemia ; Polytetrafluoroethylene* ; Popliteal Artery* ; Stents* ; Transplants ; Veins

BACKGROUND: Lesions in distal target arteries hinder surgical bypass procedures in patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease. METHODS: Between April 2012 and October 2015, 16 patients (18 limbs) with lifestyle-limiting claudication (n=12) or chronic critical limb ischemia (n=6) underwent femoral–above-knee (AK) polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) bypass grafts with a bridging stent graft placement between the distal target popliteal artery and the PTFE graft. Ring-supported PTFE grafts were used in all patients with no available vein for graft material. Follow-up evaluations assessed clinical symptoms, the ankle-brachial index, ultrasonographic imaging and/or computed tomography angiography, the primary patency rate, and complications. RESULTS: All procedures were successful. The mean follow-up was 12.6 months (range, 11 to 14 months), and there were no major complications. The median baseline ankle-brachial index of 0.4 (range, 0.2 to 0.55) significantly increased to 0.8 (range, 0.5 to 1.0) at 12 months (p<0.01). The primary patency rate at 12 months was 83.3%. The presenting symptoms resolved within 2 weeks. CONCLUSION: In AK bypasses with a diffusely diseased distal target popliteal artery or when below-knee (BK) bypass surgery is impossible, this procedure could be clinically effective and safe when used as an alternative to femoral-BK bypass surgery.
Angiography ; Ankle Brachial Index ; Arterial Occlusive Diseases ; Arteries ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis* ; Extremities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Ischemia ; Polytetrafluoroethylene* ; Popliteal Artery* ; Stents* ; Transplants ; Veins

There are considerable in vitro and in vivo evidences for remineralization and demineralization occurring simultaneously in incipient enamel caries. In order to "heal"the incipient dental caries, many experiments have been carried out to determine the optimal conditions for remineralization. It was shown that remineralization is affected by different pH, lactic acid concentrations, chemical composition of the enamel, fluoride concentrations, etc. Eighty specimens from sound permanent teeth without demineralization or cracks, 0.15 mm in thickness, were immersed in lactic acid buffered demineralization solutions for 3 days. Dental caries with a surface zone and subsurface lesion were artificially produced. Groups of 10 specimens were immersed for 10 or 12 days in lactic acid buffered remineralization solutions consisting of pH 4.3 or pH 6.0, and 100, 50, 25, or 10 mM lactic acid. After demineralization and remineralization, images were taken by polarizing microscopy (x100) and micro-computed tomography. The results were obtained by observing images of the specimens and the density of the caries lesions was determined. 1. As the lactic acid concentration of the remineralization solutions with pH 4.3 was higher, the surface zone of the carious enamel increased and an isotropic zone of the subsurface lesion was found. However, the total decalcification depth increased at the same time. 2. In the remineralization solutions with pH 6.0, only the surface zone increased slightly but there was no significant change in the total decalcification depth and subsurface zone. In the lactic acid buffer solutions with the lower pH and higher lactic acid concentration, there were dynamic changes at the deep area of the dental carious lesion.
Dental Caries ; Dental Enamel ; Fluorides ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Lactic Acid ; Microscopy ; Tooth

Adenocarcinoma of small intestine is rare disease, but its incidence of iluem is the least of small intestinal adenocarcinoma. Its rarity and vague symptoms results in delayed diagnosis, treatment and poor prognosis, Recently we experienced a 65 years old man of ileal adenocarcinoma with liver metastasis, which does not obstuct intestinal lumen, We treat the metastatic tumor with chemoembolization(lipiodol and doxorubicin) through the hepatic artery and so we report the case with review of literature.
Adenocarcinoma ; Aged ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Hepatic Artery ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intestine, Small ; Liver ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Prognosis ; Rare Diseases

As part of an initial inquiry into the function of the outer membrane proteins (OMPs) of Helicobacter pylori Korean strain 51, we have conducted an extensive proteome analysis via quadrupole time of flight (Q-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS). Fifty one OMPs of H. pylori were purified using sarcosine and resolved via two-dimensional electrophoresis with immobilized pH gradient strips. The most abundant proteins were observed in the alkaline pI regions (6.0~11.0) at molecular masses between 10~100 KDa. Here, 15 spots were identified, representing 9 types of genes (KHP0852, KHP0853, KHP1353, KHP1017, KHP0172, KHP0076, KHP0617, KHP1069, KHP0614) from the sarcosin-insoluble fraction of H. pylori 51. These may be employed in the characterization of the OMPs of H. pylori 51, which will help to identify new potential target proteins for vaccine development and drug therapy.
Electrophoresis ; Helicobacter ; Helicobacter pylori ; Mass Spectrometry ; Membrane Proteins ; Membranes ; Proteins ; Proteome ; Proton-Motive Force ; Sarcosine ; Sprains and Strains

Malaria was rarely reported in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We report a case of P. vivax infection in a patient with SLE. A 42-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital because of fever, anemia, and severe thrombocytopenia and had transfusion of multiple blood products including 16 units of red blood cells (RBC). The patient was diagnosed as having SLE complicated with antiphospholipid syndrome. From the 96th hospital day, the patient had cyclic high fever for 4~5 hours, myalgia and shaking chills, follwed by generalized diaphoresis and resolution of fever. Examination of her peripheral blood smear showed gametocytes of P. vivax. She received hydroxychloroquine of a total dose of 25 mg/kg orally over 3 days and then oral primaquine 15 mg/day for 14 days. Blood donors were traced retrospectively. The 13 RBC products were negative for malaria but other three RBC products could not be checked on P. vivax. The patient was presumed to have acquired malaria from infected blood products. Relapse did not occur 1 year later. In conclusion, malaria should be considered in the differential diagnosis of persistent fever in a patients with SLE who received multiple blood products in Korea.
Adult ; Anemia ; Antiphospholipid Syndrome ; Blood Donors ; Chills ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Erythrocytes ; Female ; Fever ; Humans ; Hydroxychloroquine ; Korea ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Malaria ; Myalgia ; Plasmodium vivax* ; Plasmodium* ; Primaquine ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Thrombocytopenia

We report a case of Aspergillus osteomyelitis of the spine in a 52-year-old female with back pain. Anteroposterior and lateral roentgenograms showed narrowing of the intervertebral disc space of T12-L1 with irregular vertebral endplates. MRI showed spondylodiscitis at T12-L1. Although tuberculous spondylitis is far more prevalent that fungal spondylitis, it is difficult to differentiate one from the other radiographically.
Aspergillosis ; Aspergillus* ; Discitis ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Osteomyelitis* ; Spine* ; Spondylitis

BACKGROUND: Elastic recoil contributes to the residual lumen reduction immediately after PTCA. We evaluated the factors to influence on immediate elastic recoil after the successful PTCA. METHODS: 88 patients(96 lesions) were studied by quantitative angiography. Angiograms were obtained in two identical near orthogonal projection before PTCA and immediately after the last balloon deflation. RESULTS: Immediately after PTCA, minimal luminal diameter increased from 0.7+/-0.6mm to 1.9+/-0.6mm and percent diameter stenosis was reduced from 77+/-20 to 34+/-21%. The calculated mean elastic recoil was 0.5+/-0.7mm in diameter and % elastic recoils were lesser both in calcified(3+/-23 vs 23+/-24%, p=0.04) and thrombotic(9+/-20 vs 23+/-35%, p=0.02) lesions. The elastic recoil increased significantly according to the inflation diameter of balloon(r=0.32, p<0.01. No significant correlation between the immediate elastic recoil and age, sex, risk factors, eccentricity and lesion length was shown. CONCLUSION: The elastic recoil immediately after a successful PTCA was dependent on the existance of calcium and thrombus on the target lesion and on the balloon size at the maximal inflation.
Angiography ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary* ; Calcium ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Inflation, Economic ; Phenobarbital ; Risk Factors ; Thrombosis

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The objective of this study was to compare the degree of hepatic enhancement and image quality using contrast media of different iodine concentrations with the same iodine dose. METHODS: From July 2011 to June 2013, 50 patients with chronic liver disease who underwent baseline and follow-up 128-slice multidetector computed tomography(MDCT) using contrast media with 350 mg I/mL (group A) and 400 mg I/mL (group B) iodine concentrations were included in this prospective study. The patients were randomly allocated to one of two protocols: 350 mg I/mL initially and then 400 mg I/mL; and 400 mg I/mL initially and then 350 mg I/mL. The bolus tracking technique was used to initiate the arterial phase scan. The computed tomography values of hepatic parenchyma, abdominal aorta and portal vein were measured. The degrees of hepatic and vascular enhancement were rated on a 4-point scale for qualitative assessment. The paired Student t test was used to compare outcome variables. RESULTS: The mean hepatic enhancement was significantly higher in group B than in group A during the portal (p = 0.025) and equilibrium phases (p = 0.021). In all phases, group B had significantly higher mean liver-to-aorta contrast (p < 0.05) and mean visual scores for hepatic and vascular enhancement (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that a higher iodine concentration (400 mg I/mL) in contrast media was more effective at improving hepatic enhancement in portal and equilibrium phase images and overall image quality using 128-slice MDCT in chronic liver disease patients.
Aorta, Abdominal ; Contrast Media ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Iodine* ; Liver Diseases* ; Liver* ; Multidetector Computed Tomography* ; Portal Vein ; Prospective Studies

This study investigated the effect of intermittent polymerization on the rate of polymerization shrinkage and cuspal deflection in composite resins. The linear polymerization shrinkage of each composite was measured using the custom-made linometer along with the light shutter specially devised to block the light at the previously determined interval. Samples were divided into 4 groups by light curing method; Group 1) continuous light (60s with light on); Group 2) intermittent light (cycles of 3s with 2s light on & 1s with light off for 90s); Group 3) intermittent light (cycles of 2s with 1s light on & 1s with light off for 120s); Group 4) intermittent light (cycles of 3s with 1s light on & 2s with light off for 180s). The amount of linear polymerization shrinkage was measured and its maximum rate (Rmax) and peak time (PT) in the first 15 seconds were calculated. For the measurement of cuspal deflection of teeth, MOD cavities were prepared in 10 extracted maxillary premolars. Reduction in the intercuspal distance was measured by the custom-made cuspal deflection measuring machine. ANOVA analysis was used for the comparison of the light curing groups and t-test was used to determine significant difference between the composite resins. Pyramid showed the greater amount of polymerization shrinkage than Heliomolar (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the linear polymerization shrinkage among the groups. The Rmax was group 4 < 3, 2 < 1 in Heliomolar and group 3 < 4 < 2, 1 in Pyramid (p < 0.05). Pyramid demonstrated greater cuspal deflection than Heliomolar. The cuspal deflection in Heliomolar was group 4 < 3 < 2, 1 and group 4, 3 < 2, 1 in Pyramid (p < 0.05). It was concluded that the reduced rate of polymerization shrinkage by intermittent polymerization can help to decrease the cuspal deflection.
Acrylic Resins ; Bicuspid ; Composite Resins ; Light ; Polymerization ; Polymers ; Polyurethanes ; Tooth