No abstract available.
Plasma* ; Prostate* ; Prostatic Neoplasms* ; Stomach Neoplasms*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Evaluation of right ventricular dysfunction in patients with pulmonary hypertension is useful for clinical management and it has prognostic implications. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of pulmonary hypertension on the regional strain of the right ventricle and to assess the correlation between pulmonary arterial (PA) pressure and right ventricular (RV) strain. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of fiftyone patients with chronic obstructive lung disease were classified into two groups on the basis of the presence of normal PA pressure (group I, PA pressure<35 mmHg, n=22) or high PA pressure (group II, PA pressure(35 mmHg, n=29), as estimated by the peak tricuspid regurgitation velocity on Doppler echocardiography. The left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction and RV fractional area change were assessed by conventional echocardiography, and the strain values were obtained from the RV, the LV free wall and the septum. RESULTS: The baseline characteristics were similar in both groups except for the peak PA pressure (group I: 30.2+/-3.9 mmHg, group II: 44.4+/-7.5 mmHg, p<0.00001). Group II had statistically reduced basal RV strain (-%) (20.3+/-7.1) compared to group I (24.1+/-6.7, p=0.033). The basal RV strain correlated with the PA pressure (r2=0.269, p=0.004). CONCLUSION: RV strain could determine regional RV dysfunction in patients with pulmonary hypertension.
Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary* ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Right

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare, cystic lung disease that is associated with mutation in the tuberous sclerosis genes, renal angiomyolipomas, lymphatic spread and a remarkable female gender predilection. The pathology of LAM is represented by the proliferation of immature smooth muscle cells in the walls of airways, and venules and lymphatic vessels in the lung. The clinical course of LAM is characterized by progressive dyspnea on exertion, recurrent pneumothorax and collections of chylous fluid. The diagnosis of pulmonary LAM can be made on chest X-ray, a high-resolution CT scan and lung biopsy. We experienced a case of pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis in a 28-years-old female patient who had suffered from progressive dyspnea on exertion, so we report on it along with a brief review of the relevant literature.
Angiomyolipoma ; Biopsy ; Dyspnea ; Female ; Humans ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Lung ; Lung Diseases ; Lymphangioleiomyomatosis ; Lymphatic Vessels ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; Pneumothorax ; Thorax ; Tuberous Sclerosis ; Venules

Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) is a rare disorder that's characterized by accumulation of surfactant components in the alveolar space. Idiopathic PAP is recognized as an autoimmune disease that's due to impaired alveolar macrophage function and this caused by autoantibodies against granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). We report here a case of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis that was deemed interstitial lung disease at the initial diagnosis. A 61-year-old man presented with intermittent blood tinged sputum and dyspnea on exertion. The man was a painter for 30 years and he had a 10 pack-years smoking history. Chest computerized tomography (CT) revealed multifocal ground-glass opacity with interstitial thickening at both lungs. His pulmonary function tests and methacholine test revealed non specific results. He was diagnosed with interstitial lung disease on the basis of the chest CT finding and occupational history. However, seven months later, his symptoms progressed. Follow-up chest CT was performed. Wedge resection via video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (the anterior basal segment of the left lower lobe) was done. Microscopic examination showed large groups of alveoli with excessive amounts of surfactant and a complex mixture of protein and lipid (fat) molecules. Finally, he was diagnosed as having pulmonary alveolar proteinosis.
Autoantibodies ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Benzeneacetamides ; Dyspnea ; Follow-Up Studies ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Humans ; Lung ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; Macrophages, Alveolar ; Methacholine Chloride ; Middle Aged ; Piperidones ; Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Sputum ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; Thorax ; Tolnaftate

Calcitriol therapy is an important treatment for the prevention and control of secondary hyperparathyroidism in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients. However, this often has been limited by the associated hypercalcemia and hyperphosphatemia due to increase in intestinal calcium and phosphorus absorption. Many studies reported that these limitations could be avoided by changing routes, frequency and dose of calcitriol treatment. But, there are still controversy about each methods and the results on the PTH response to conventional calcitriol treatment in CAPD patients. This study was performed to evaluate the factors affecting the response to oral calcitriol in CAPD patients. A retrospective study was done in 92 CAPD patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism(intact PTH level >200pg/ml) on oral calcitriol treatment. After baseline study of serum calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, BUN, creatinine and intact PTH, calcitriol therapy was begun via oral rou- te, daily. Serum calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, BUN, creatinine, intact FI'H and other bio- chemical markers were checked at 3 month, 6 month after treatment. Parathyroid gland ultrasonography was performed to detect parathyroid hypertrophy and nodule and to measure the diameter of parathymid gland. All the patients were divided into two groups according to percent reduetion of i-PTH(initial PTH PTH after 3, 6 months)X100/initial PTH(%),deltaPTH during oral calcitriol therapy for 3 and 6 months(group I ; delta PTH >30%, group II ; delta PTH <30%). RESULT: 1) All 92 patients(mean age 46.5 11.3yr, M: F 45: 47, mean CAPD duration 51.3 39.4 months) were administered oral calcitriol, daily. Mean calcitriol dose during 3 month was 0.43 0.22Mg and during 6month 0.43 0.24Mg. 2) After 3-month treament, there were significant differences in initial i-PTH, the diameter of parathyroid gland, initial phosphorus, intial total alkaline phosphatase and duration of CAPD between group I and II(406.7+/-196.5 vs. 871.0+/-478Apglml, 6.2+/-2.6 vs. 13.1+/-5.2mm, 5.0+/-1.3 vs. 5.7+/-1.3mg/dl, 93.7+/-4L1 vs. 171.9+/-137.6IU/L, 40.1+/-34.9 vs. 73.5+/-37.8months, p< 0.05, respectively). 4) After 6-month treament, there were significant differences in initial i-PTH, the diameter of parathyroid gland, intial total alkaline phosphatase and duration of CAPD between group I and II(474.1+/-266.6 vs. 889.7+/-485.4pg/ml, 6.4+/-2.7 vs. 14.5+/-5.1mm, 107.9+/-80.1 vs. 180.7+/-121.5IU/L, 40.5+/- 32.9 vs. 81.8+/-35.3months, p<0.05, respectively). 5) The significant negative correlation was shown between deltaPTH and the duration of peritoneal dialysis, the diameter of parathyroid gland, initial PTH level and PTH response during 3-month and 6-month oral calcitriol treatment. The response to oral calcitriol was poor when i-PTH level more than 500pg/ml(kappa 0.429, p value <0.01), the diameter of parathyroid gland more than 10.0mm(kappa 0.641, p value<0.01), the duration of CAPD more than 55months(kappa 0.524, p value< 0.01). These data suggested that initial i-PTH level, the diameter of parathyroid gland size and the duration of CAPD were independent risk factors of the poor response to oral calcitriol therapy in CAPD patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism.
Absorption ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; Calcitriol* ; Calcium ; Creatinine ; Humans ; Hypercalcemia ; Hyperparathyroidism, Secondary* ; Hyperphosphatemia ; Hypertrophy ; Parathyroid Glands ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory* ; Phosphorus ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Ultrasonography

Lupus nephritis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality arising from systemic lupus erythematous. It is generally acknowledged that the presence of diffuse proliferative lupus nephritis(DPLN) is highly predictive of a poor prognosis in terms of renal and patient out- come on survival. The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinicopathologic characteristics, renal out- come according to therapeutic regimen, and prognostic factors of biopsy-proven diffuse proliferative lupus nephritis. Among the biopsy-proven lupus nephritis patients who were admitted to Yonsei University Medical Center from January 1986 to June 1997, 36 patents who were diagnosed DPLN by renal biopsy and treated for at least 6 months and regularly followed-up for at least 12 months were included. We retrospec-tively reviewed the medical recorders. Patients were treated with steroid regimen with or without cyclo-phosphamide. According to the therapeutic response, patients were divided into two groups : a therapeutic response group(n=24), and a therapeutic non-response group Academic Medical Centers ; Biopsy ; Creatinine ; Cyclophosphamide ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lupus Nephritis* ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Nephritis ; Prognosis ; Proteinuria ; Survival Rate

It's well known that protein/creatinine ratio(P/C ratio) in random urine samples reflects 24-hour urine protein. However, the factors affecting accurate quantitation of proteinuria using random urine P/C ratio are not fully evaluated. The aim of this study is to evaluate factors affecting accurate quantitaion of proteinuria using random urine P/C ratio. 118 patients admitted in Yonsei university medical center during June 1998 and Dec. 1998 were assessed for the measurement of random urine protein/creatinine ratio from second voided urine. 118 patients(mean age 41.5year, male: female 2.36: 1) had mean creati-nine level 1.83+/-1.78mg/dL, 24-hour pmteinuria 6.06+/-7.64g/day and P/C ratio 4.80+/-4.48, All the patiient.s were divided into A, B, C, I, II, K, IV according to serum creatinine level and 24-hour proteinurim amount. The correlation coefficient(R value) between proteinuria and P/C ratio are shown that in all pa- tients is 0.875, group A(Cr* Academic Medical Centers ; Creatinine ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Proteinuria* ; Sensitivity and Specificity

The most widely used method for treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism(SH) in CAPD patients has been the administration of calcitriol by oral route. In this study, we compared the efficacy and safety of daily low dose calcitriol therapy with those of intermittent high dose pulse therapy. The study group consisted of 38 patients undergoing CAPD with serum intact PTH level of more than 200pg/ mL. Twenty patients were randomly administered daily low dose calcitriol(0.25 microgram/day for 1 month followed by 0.5 microgram daily dose for the next 3 mon-ths) while 18 patients were given intermittent pulse therapy (0.5 microgram-0.5 microgram-0.75 microgram 3 times a week for 1 month, increased to 1.0 microgram-1.25 microgram-1.25 microgram 3 times a week for the next 3 months). Thirty five patients completed the study : 17 on daily oral calcitriol (M: F=0.7:1, mean age=47.3+/-10.6 years, mean duration of CAPD=48.9+/-41.1 months), and 18 on oral pulse calcitriol (M:F=1.6:1, mean age=41.5+/-12.7 years, mean duration of CAPD=49.2+/-41.6 months). The baseline serum levels of calcium, phosphorus, i-PTH, alkaline phosphatase, and total CO2 were not different between daily and pulse group(9.5+/-0.8 vs 9.3+/-0.9mg/dL, 5.8+/-1.3 vs 5.1+/-1.2mg/dL, 443.1+/-162.5 vs 546+/-385.9pg/mL, 91.8+/-47.7 vs 108.9+/-66.5IU/L, 23.7+/-1.9 vs 25.5+/-2.0mEq/L, p>0.05, respectively). The i-PTH level decreased significantly in daily calcitriol group after 1 month (332.8+/-214.8pg/mL, p<0.01), and at final evaluation (180.4+/-254.8pg/mL, p<0.01). In pulse calcitriol group, i-PTH level also decreased significantly to 400,4+/-225.8pg/mL(p<0.05), 89.4+/-122.6 pg/mL(p<0.01), respectively. The rate of decline in i-PTH level from baseline were similar(daily=25.4+/-22.7 vs pulse=19.5+/-12.6%decline/month, p>0.05). The serum calcium increased similarly in both groups after treatment (daily=10.6+/-0.8 vs pulse=l0.1+/-1.0mg/dL, p>0.05). Hypercalcemia(>11.0mg/dL) was rarely observed in all patients (daily=5, pulse=8 episodes). In conclusion, both daily and pulse calcitriol therapy were similarly effective and safe in control of SH.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Calcitriol* ; Calcium ; Humans ; Hyperparathyroidism, Secondary* ; Peritoneal Dialysis* ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory ; Phosphorus

Treatment of nephrotic syndrome associated with hepatitis B are controversial, but some patients may respond to interferon therapy. Steroid therapy in these patients could be limited, because it may aggravate hepatitis with the acute viral replication. Lamivudine may also be effective in reducing viral burden and may convert patients from HBsAg and HBeAg positive to negative. But there was no report for the usefulness of lamivudine in treatment of these patients. We performed a randomized comparative study to assess the usefulness of lamivudine and the effect of steroid in the use of lamivudine in treatment of B-viral associated nephrotic syndrome. Twelve patients(M:F=1:0.2, mean age 34.3 years, MCD 1, MPGN 5, MGN 6 patients) suspected to have the acute viral replication with nephrotic syndrome were included. They were randomly assigned to receive lamivudine and steroid combination therapy(group I, 150mg of lamivudine with high-dose steroid, 1mg/kg/day, orally once daily in 6 patients) or lamivudine alone therapy(group II, 150 mg of lamivudine orally once daily alone in 6 patients). The duration of lamivudine use was 6 months in both groups, and that of steroid use was 6 weeks in group 1. Then, lamivudine and steroid were tapered according to the amount of proteinuria and serum HBV-DNA titer. All patients were closely monitored every 2 months with clinical, bioche mical, and serological parameters for 10 months. The rate of negative sero-conversion of HBV- DNA were 91.7%(11/12) at 2 months of lamivudine therapy in all patients, and there was no difference between group I and II(83.3% vs. 100%, p>0.05). In group I, there were a significant decreases of mean serum HBV-DNA values(899.2+/-711.9 vs. 31.4+/-32.7, 12.7+/-27.6, and 137.2+/-278.1pg/ml, p<0.05, respectively), proteinuria(11.0+/-3.6 vs. 3.9+/-2.3, 2.1+/-2.3, and 2.5+/-3.1g/d, p<0.05, respectively), and SGPT (57.7+/-18.9 vs. 30.5+/-12.4, 23.8+/-10.2, and 26.0+/-10.4 IU/L, p<0.05, respectively) measured at 2, 6, and 10months compared to before therapy, and serum albumin levels were significantly increased at 2, 6, and 10months compared to before therapy(2.2+/-0.5 vs. 3.1+/-0.5, 3.9+/-0.8, and 3.9+/-0.9g/dL, p<0.05, respectively). In group II, serum HBV-DNA was significantly decreased at 2, 6, and 10 months compared to before therapy(358.8+/-369.3 vs. 19.1+/-27.0, 0.0+/-0.0, and 0.0+/-0.0pg/ml, p<0.05, respectively), and proteinuria and SGPT were significantly decreased at 6 and 10 months compared to before therapy(8.5+/-5.5 vs. 2.6+/-1.3 and 2.1+/-2.3g/d, p<0.05; 67.5+/-43.0 vs. 25.3+/-11.6 and 31.5+/-9.2IU/L, p<0.05, respectively). Serum albumin levels were significantly increased at 10 months compared to before therapy(2.8+/-0.8 vs. 4.3+/-0.1g/dL, p<0.05). Serum HBV-DNA levels rebounded in two patients of group I, but none was observed in group II. No serious adverse events were observed in all the patients. In conclusion, lamivudine and steroid combination therapy may more rapidly decrease proteinuria than lamivudine alone in B-viral associated nephrotic syndrome, but may induce the rebound of serum HBV-DNA.
Alanine Transaminase ; DNA ; Glomerulonephritis, Membranoproliferative ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B virus ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Interferons ; Lamivudine* ; Nephrotic Syndrome* ; Proteinuria ; Serum Albumin ; Viral Load

Sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis (SEP) is a rare but serious complication in patients with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), and is characterized by a progressive, intra-abdominal, inflammatory process resulting in the formation of sheets of new fibrous tissue, which cover, bind, and constrict the viscera, thereby compromising the motility of the bowel. No satisfactory estimate is available on the comparative incidence of dialysis related SEP and the pathogenesis of SEP still remains uncertain. Although recent therapeutic approaches have reported varying degrees of success, an efficient measure to detect, at an early stage, patients at risk for SEP would be beneficial and a standardized treatment regimen to prevent the illness is urgently needed. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical features of SEP and to identify the possible risk factors for the development of SEP in CAPD patients. We retrospectively reviewed by questionnaire SEP cases among CAPD patients from 7 university hospital dialysis centers in Korea, including Yonsei University, Ajou University, Catholic University, Inha University, Kyungpook University, Seoul National University and Soonchunhyang University, from January 1981 to December 2002. Out of a total of 4, 290 CAPD patients in these centers, 34 cases developed SEP with an overall prevalence of 0.79%. The male to female ratio was 17: 17. The median age of these patients was 44.5 years (range 19 - 66). The median duration of CAPD before SEP was 64 months (9 - 144) and 68% of patients (23/34) had been on CAPD for more than 4 years. Peritonitis (including two fungal cases) was the main cause of catheter removal in SEP (27 cases, 79%). Seventy-five percent of the cases (15/ 20) were administered beta-blocker for a mean duration of 85 months (26 - 130). Among 10 cases with available peritoneal equilibration test (PET) data, 8 showed high transporter characteristics, and the remaining 2 were high average. Eighteen cases were diagnosed by clinical and radiologic methods, and 16 were surgically diagnosed. Eleven cases were surgically treated and the others were treated conservatively with intermittent total parenteral nutrition (TPN). The overall mortality rate was 24%. SEP is a serious, life threatening complication of CAPD. Most cases had a PD duration of more than 4 years, a history of severe peritonitis, and high transporter characteristics in PET. Therefore, to reduce the incidence of SEP, careful monitoring and treatment, including early catheter removal in patients with severe peritonitis, should be considered for long-term CAPD patients with the above characteristics.
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory/*adverse effects/*statistics & numerical data ; Peritonitis/*epidemiology/etiology/*pathology ; Prevalence ; Sclerosis