Ultrasound was developed several decades ago as a useful imaging modality, and it became the second most popular diagnostic tool due to its non-invasiveness, real-time capabilities, and safety. Additionally, ultrasound has been used as a therapeutic tool with several therapeutic agents and in nanomedicine. Ultrasound imaging is often used to diagnose many types of cancers, including breast, stomach, and thyroid cancers. In addition, ultrasound-mediated therapy is used in cases of joint inflammation, rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoarthritis. Microbubbles, when used as ultrasound contrast agents, can act as echo-enhancers and therapeutic agents, and they can play an essential role in ultrasound imaging and ultrasound-mediated therapy. Recently, various types of ultrasound contrast agents made of lipid, polymer, and protein shells have been used. Air, nitrogen, and perfluorocarbon are usually included in the core of the microbubbles to enhance ultrasound imaging, and therapeutic drugs are conjugated and loaded onto the surface or into the core of the microbubbles, depending on the purpose and properties of the substance. Many research groups have utilized ultrasound contrast agents to enhance the imaging signal in blood vessels or tissues and to overcome the blood–brain barrier or blood-retina barrier. These agents are also used to help treat diseases in various regions or systems of the body, such as the cardiovascular system, or as a cancer treatment. In addition, with the introduction of targeted moiety and multiple functional groups, ultrasound contrast agents are expected to have a potential future in ultrasound imaging and therapy. In this paper, we briefly review the principles of ultrasound and introduce the underlying theory, applications, limitations, and future perspectives of ultrasound contrast agents.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Blood Vessels ; Breast ; Cardiovascular System ; Contrast Media ; Inflammation ; Joints ; Microbubbles* ; Nanomedicine ; Nitrogen ; Osteoarthritis ; Polymers ; Stomach ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; Ultrasonography*

Thanatophoric dysplasia (TD) is a lethal inherited skeletal disorder characterized by extremely short limbs, narrow chest, skull deformity and underdeveloped lungs. TD is divided into two types, depending primarily upon whether the bone in the upper leg (the femur) is curved or straight. We experienced two case of TD type I that were confirmed by clinical and radiological features after birth. Unlike previously reported cases of TD in our country, the multiple anomalies of CNS, kidney and cardiovascular system were identified in one of these cases.
Cardiovascular System ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Extremities ; Kidney ; Leg ; Lung ; Parturition ; Skull ; Thanatophoric Dysplasia ; Thorax ; Ultrasonography, Prenatal

Fetal bilateral renal agenesis is a lethal congenital anomaly characterized by bilateral pulmonary hypoplasia, deformities and death due to severe oligohydramnios. This syndrome is associated with malformations of genitourinary tract, cardiovascular system, vertebral bodies or imperforated anus in more than half of the affected individuals. An early and reliable prenatal diagnosis is extremely important because it may offer options for pregnancy termination as early as possible. The criteria for the ultrasonographic diagnosis of bilateral renal agenesis are severe oligohydramnios, nonvisualization of the bladder, empty renal fossae. But poor sonographic resolution of severe oligohydramnios makes it difficult to diagnose the disease. We present a case of bilateral renal agenesis diagnosed at the 18th weeks gestation by using Transvaginal Ultrasonography and Color Doppler.
Anal Canal ; Cardiovascular System ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Oligohydramnios ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Ultrasonography* ; Urinary Bladder

PADAM is defined by International Society for the Study of the Aging Male(ISSAM) as a biochemical syndrome associated with advancing age and characterized by a deficiency in serum androgen with or without decreased tissue sensitivity to androgen. The precise role of androgens in the aging process of men remains unclear, and there have been few controlled clinical studies in aging men to investigate the effects of androgen replacement therapy on various organs and human functions known to deteriorate with age(except for studies on muscle and bone). These organs and functions include the mind, the cardiovascular system, the immune system, and the composition of body fat. In addition, the effect of androgen replacement therapy on the prostate is very important in terms of its safety in aging men. Good randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical studies in the aging male are clearly lacking. We need studies that can help us better understand the effect of long-term androgen replacement therapy(both with testosterone and DHEA) on important aspects of men's health: cardiovascular disease, body composition, cognition and dementia, osteoporosis, and the prostate. Until such data will become available(probably not for the next decade), we recommend a careful and individualized evaluation of present health problems combined with assessment of prostatic health(rectal examination, transrectal ultrasound, and PSA measurement), cardiovascular health, and cerebral status(including overall quality of life) be undertaken before androgen replacement is initiated. Treatment should be monitored by the same criteria. The future will probably bring the development of 'designer androgens' with(ideally) beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system, bone, muscle, fat tissues, and brain, and simultaneous neutral or even inhibitory effects on the prostate. The onset of PADAM is unpredictable and its manifestations are subtle and variable, which has led to a paucity of interest in its diagnosis and treatment. Urological practice commonly includes a large proportion of men older than 50 years. Therefore, it is important for urologists to recognize the manifestations of PADAM and be familiar with evaluations necessary to document, monitor, and treat it.
Adipose Tissue ; Aging* ; Androgens ; Body Composition ; Brain ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cardiovascular System ; Cognition ; Dementia ; Diagnosis ; Hormone Replacement Therapy* ; Humans ; Immune System ; Male ; Men's Health ; Osteoporosis ; Prostate ; Testosterone ; Ultrasonography

Persistent cloaca is a very rare congenital malformation with the incidence of 1/50,000-250,000 births. This malformations have a single common perineal opening for the genital, urinary and gastrointestinal tracts. Because of wide spectrum of abnormal anatomy involving upper urinary tract, gastrointestinal systems, cardiovascular system, central nervous system, and respiratory system, prenatal diagnosis is difficult through ultrasound during pregnancy. It has been reported that if the anomalies are diagnosed early, they can be corrected surgically. We present a case of persistent cloaca with meconium peritonitis and hydrometrocolpos confirmed by neonatal surgery after emergency cesarean section.
Cardiovascular System ; Central Nervous System ; Cesarean Section ; Cloaca* ; Emergencies ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Incidence ; Meconium* ; Parturition ; Peritonitis* ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Respiratory System ; Ultrasonography ; Urinary Tract

Fetal bilateral renal agenesis is a lethal congenital anomaly characterized by bilateral pulmonary hypoplasia, deformities and death due to severe oligohydramnios. This syndrome is associated with malformations of genitourinary tract, cardiovascular system, vertebral bodies or imperforated anus in more than half of the affected individuals. An early and reliable prenatal diagnosis is extremely important because it may offer options for pregnancy termination as early as possible. The criteria for the ultrasonographic diagnosis of bilateral renal agenesis are severe oligohydramnios, nonvisualization of the bladder, empty renal fossae. But poor sonographic resolution of severe oligohydramnios makes it difficult to diagnose the disease. We present a case of bilateral renal agenesis diagnosed at the 32nd weeks gestation by using color doppler and "lying down" adrenal sign.
Anal Canal ; Cardiovascular System ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Oligohydramnios ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Ultrasonography ; Urinary Bladder

Renal agenesis is a disorder characterized by the congenital absence of one or both kidneys due to complete failure of the kidney to form. The syndrome of renal agenesis is severe oligohydramnios, amnion nodosum, flattened face, low-set and floppy ears, and bilateral pulmonary hypoplasia. Bilateral renal agenesis occurs in 0.1 to 0.3 per 1000 births and unilateral involvement occurs in 1 in 500 to 1 in 1300 live births.1,2 Bilateral renal agenesis is an invariably lethal condition, and is associated in more than half of the affected individuals with malformations of the genitourinary tract, cardiovascular system, vertebral bodies or imperforated anus.2 Accurate diagnosis in the mid-trimester permits the parents to allow elective termination. However, the nearly absent amniotic fluid makes an accurate assessment of fetal kidney difficult. We present a case of unilateral renal agenesis with contralateral renal hypoplasia, diagnosed by ultrasonography after amnioinfusion at 21 weeks gestation.
Amnion ; Amniotic Fluid ; Cardiovascular System ; Diagnosis ; Ear ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney ; Oligohydramnios ; Parents ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Ultrasonography

Persistent cloaca is a very rare congenital anomaly with a single common perineal opening for the genital, urinary and gastrointestinal tracts, which arises from defects in the embryonal process of descent of urorectal septum or fusion to cloacal membrane. Anomalies associated with persistent cloaca are found in the upper urinary tract, gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular system, central nervous system and respiratory system, which are not easily detected through ultrasound during pregnancy. It has been reported that if those anomalies are diagnosed early, they can be corrected surgically. We present a case of persistent cloaca with hydrocolpos confirmed by autopsy after emergency cesarean section which was initially presented as a huge abdominal cystic mass and bilateral hydronephrosis by ultrasound at 34 weeks of gestation.
Autopsy ; Cardiovascular System ; Central Nervous System ; Cesarean Section ; Cloaca* ; Emergencies ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Hydrocolpos* ; Hydronephrosis ; Membranes ; Pregnancy ; Respiratory System ; Ultrasonography ; Urinary Tract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of fetal anomaly and perinatal outcome in pregnant women with polyhydramnios. METHODS: Ultrasound examinations from January 1998 to August 2001 were reviewed to identify 170 patients with singleton pregnancy which diagnosed polyhydramnios. Frequency of fetal anomaly and perinatal outcomes were compared with amniotic fluid index (AFI) 20.0-25.0 cm as group 1 and AFI >25.0 cm as group 2. RESULTS: The prevalence of polyhydramnios was 0.54% (170/31,358). The types of structural anomalies were gastrointestinal system (10/34, 29.4%), genitourinary system (9/34, 26.5%), central nervous system (CNS, 6/34, 17.7%), cardiovascular system (CVS, 3/34, 8.8%), neuromuscular system (2/34, 5.9%), respiratory system (1/34, 2.9%) and others (3/34, 8.8%). The structural anomaies between two groups were significantly different. The rate of cesarean section, low 5-min Apgar score (<7), large for gestational age (LGL, 95 percentile), Nursery Intensive Care Unit (NICU) visitation and perinatal death were not significantly different between two groups. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of fetal anomaly was 20% (34/170) and significantly different between two groups (p=0.0143). However, the perinatal outcome was not significantly different between two groups. CNS, gastrointestinal system and CVS anomalies were more frequent in group 2 (AFI>25.0 cm) and genitourinary system anomaly was dominant in group 1 (AFI 20.0-25.0 cm). Polyhydramnios (AFI>25.0 cm) indicated an increased risk of severe fetal anomaly.
Amniotic Fluid ; Apgar Score ; Cardiovascular System ; Central Nervous System ; Cesarean Section ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Nurseries ; Polyhydramnios* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Prevalence ; Respiratory System ; Ultrasonography ; Urogenital System

This study was carried out to offer the basic data for more qualitative lives of the middle-aged women through their health maintenance and control. So, the researcher reviewed and analyzed the health problems of the middle-aged women, the differences of main symptoms in each subject, positive rates in screening tests, the difference of screening tests with age and the correlation of obesity and blood pressure with screening tests. All subjects were 218 women(40-59 years) who had a check-up at a comprehensive health check-up center in K University Hospital in Seoul from July 1, 1998 to August 31, 1998. Questionnaires were developed to get subjects, general characteristics, main symptoms, medical examination and diagnosed disease by the researcher referring through the questionnaires of comprehensive health check-up center and the medical recorders where used as a tool of study. The researcher analyzed the data with SPSS PC+; the distribution of the subjects, general characteristics and main symptoms with percentage; the difference between main symptoms and screening tests with X2-test, ANOVA. The results are as follows. 1) Among the age distribution, most were 40-45 years old and unemployed. 2) The most common complaints were indigestion in digestive system, cough in respiratory system, heart beat in cardiovascular system, general sweat in endocrine system, edema in urinary system, easy bruise in hematologic system, backache in musculoskeletal system, headache in psychoneurologic system, lochia in gynecology, itch in dermatology system, eye ball pain in visual system and tinnitus in auditory system. 3) In main symptoms according to age, the 40-45 age group had a higher rate of complaints in digestive system and gynecology than other age group ; the 46-49 age group in endocrine system. 4) The main symptoms according to diagnosis had no difference statistically. 5) The screening tests which showed high rates of abnormality were mammography(the highest), abdominal ultrasonography, upper gastrointestinal series/gastrofiberscopy, PFT. In all age group the highest rate of abnormality was seen n mammography. 6) In screening tests according to age, the 46-49 age group showed higher positive rates of pap smear, blood sugar test, urine test than any other age group; the 50-55 age group showerd higher positive rates of obesity, BP, chest X-ray, abdominal ultrasonography, ESR, SGOT, CRP and urine micro. 7) In correlation of obesity with screening test, the obesity group showed higher positive rates of blood pressure, chest X-ray, abdominal ultrasonography, HCT and CRP than the normal weight group. 8) In correlation of blood pressure with screening test, the hypertension group showed higher positive rate of obesity, chest X-ray, abdominal ultrasonography, pap smear and blood sugar than the normal blood pressure group. In conclusion, the middle-aged women have various physical symptoms and affected by age. The obesity and BP have an important effect on the health of the middle aged women. Therefore, this study is considered significant as data for qualitative lives of the middle-aged women playing an important part of family health care by catching of their health problem complaints for prevention of disease and promotion of health.
Age Distribution ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Back Pain ; Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiovascular System ; Contusions ; Cough ; Dermatology ; Diagnosis ; Digestive System ; Dyspepsia ; Edema ; Endocrine System ; Family Health ; Female ; Gynecology ; Headache ; Health Promotion ; Heart ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Mammography ; Mass Screening ; Medical Records ; Middle Aged ; Musculoskeletal System ; Obesity ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Respiratory System ; Seoul ; Sweat ; Thorax ; Tinnitus ; Ultrasonography