• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.333-342
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• 2022

Objective: Intracranial atherosclerotic stroke occurs through various mechanisms, mainly by artery-to-artery embolism (AA) or branch occlusive disease (BOD). This study evaluated the spatial relationship between middle cerebral artery (MCA) plaques and perforating arteries among different MCA territory infarction types using vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging (VW-MRI). Materials and Methods: We retrospectively enrolled patients with acute MCA infarction who underwent VW-MRI. Thirty-four patients were divided into three groups according to infarction pattern: 1) BOD, 2) both BOD and AA (BOD-AA), and 3) AA. To determine the factors related to BOD, the BOD and BOD-AA groups were combined into one group (with striatocapsular infarction [BOD+]) and compared with the AA group. To determine the factors related to AA, the BOD-AA and AA groups were combined into another group (with cortical infarction [AA+]) and compared with the BOD group. Plaque morphology and the spatial relationship between the perforating artery orifice and plaque were evaluated both quantitatively and qualitatively. Results: The plaque margin in the BOD+ group was closer to the perforating artery orifice than that in the AA group (p = 0.011), with less enhancing plaque (p = 0.030). In the BOD group, plaques were mainly located on the dorsal (41.2%) and superior (41.2%) sides where the perforating arteries mainly arose. No patient in the AA group had overlapping plaques with perforating arteries at the cross-section where the perforator arose. Perforating arteries associated with culprit plaques were most frequently located in the middle two-thirds of the M1 segment (41.4%). The AA+ group had more stenosis (%) than the BOD group (39.73 ± 24.52 vs. 14.42 ± 20.96; p = 0.003). Conclusion: The spatial relationship between the perforating artery orifice and plaque varied among different types of MCA territory infarctions. In patients with BOD, the plaque margin was closer and blocked the perforating artery orifice, and stenosis degree and enhancement were less than those in patients with AA.

• Annals of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.313-316
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• 2023

Attenuated portal vein (PV) flow is challenging in pediatric liver transplantation (LT) because it is unsuitable for classic end-to-end jump graft reconstruction from a small superior mesenteric vein (SMV). We thus introduce a novel technique of an end-to-side jump graft from SMV during pediatric LT using an adult partial liver graft. We successfully performed two cases of end-to-side retropancreatic jump graft using an iliac vein graft for PV reconstruction. One patient was a 2-year-old boy with hepatoblastoma and a Yerdel grade 3 PV thrombosis who underwent split LT. Another patient was an 8-month-old girl who had biliary atresia and PV hypoplasia with stenosis on the confluence level of the SMV; she underwent retransplantation because of graft failure related to PV thrombosis. After native PV was resected at the SMV confluence level, an end-to-side reconstruction was done from the proximal SMV to an interposition iliac vein. The interposition vein graft through posterior to the pancreas was obliquely anastomosed to the graft PV. There was no PV related complication during the follow-up period. Using a jump vascular graft in an end-to-side manner to connect the small native SMV and the large graft PV is a feasible treatment option in pediatric recipients with inadequate portal flow due to thrombosis or hypoplasia of the PV.

• Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.145-149
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• 2023

BACKGROUND: ¹⁸F-sodium fluoride positron emission tomography/computed tomography (¹⁸F-NaF PET/CT) has been proven to be useful in identification of microcalcifications, which are stimulated by inflammation. Blood speckle imaging (BSI) is a new imaging technology used for tracking the flow of blood cells using transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). We evaluated the relationship between turbulent flow identified by BSI and inflammatory activity of the aortic valve (AV) as indicated by the ¹⁸F-NaF uptake index in moderate aortic stenosis (AS) patients. METHODS: This study enrolled 18 moderate AS patients diagnosed within the past 6 months. BSI within the aortic root was acquired using long-axis view TEE. The duration of laminar flow and the turbulent flow area ratio were calculated by BSI to demonstrate the degree of turbulence. The maximum and mean standardized uptake values (SUVmax, SUVmean) and the total microcalcification burden (TMB) as measured by ¹⁸F-NaF PET/CT were used to demonstrate the degree of inflammatory activity in the AV region. RESULTS: The mean SUVmean, SUVmax, and TMB were 1.90 ± 0.79, 2.60 ± 0.98, and 4.20 ± 2.18 mL, respectively. The mean laminar flow period and the turbulent area ratio were 116.1 ± 61.5 msec and 0.48 ± 0.32. The correlation between SUVmax and turbulent flow area ratio showed the most positive and statistically significant correlation, with a Pearson's correlation coefficient (R²) of 0.658 and a p-value of 0.014. CONCLUSIONS: The high degree of trans-aortic turbulence measured by BSI was correlated with severe AV inflammation.

• Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.51-61
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• 2023

BACKGROUND: Valvular heart disease (VHD) is a common cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality worldwide; however, its epidemiological profile in Korea requires elucidation. METHODS: In this nationwide retrospective cohort study from the Korean valve survey, which collected clinical and echocardiographic data on VHD from 45 medical centers, we identified 4,089 patients with VHD between September and October 2019. RESULTS: The aortic valve was the most commonly affected valve (n = 1,956 [47.8%]), followed by the mitral valve (n = 1,598 [39.1%]) and tricuspid valve (n = 1,172 [28.6%]). There were 1,188 cases of aortic stenosis (AS) and 926 cases of aortic regurgitation. The most common etiology of AS was degenerative disease (78.9%). The proportion of AS increased with age and accounted for the largest proportion of VHD in patients aged 80-89 years. There were 1,384 cases of mitral regurgitation (MR) and 244 cases of mitral stenosis (MS). The most common etiologies for primary and secondary MR were degenerative disease (44.3%) and non-ischemic heart disease (63.0%), respectively, whereas rheumatic disease (74.6%) was the predominant cause of MS. There were 1,172 tricuspid regurgitation (TR) cases, of which 46.9% were isolated and 53.1% were associated with other valvular diseases, most commonly with MR. The most common type of TR was secondary (90.2%), while primary accounted for 6.1%. CONCLUSIONS: This report demonstrates the current epidemiological status of VHD in Korea. The results of this study can be used as fundamental data for developing Korean guidelines for VHD.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.85 no.2
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• pp.297-307
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• 2024

Coronary artery disease (CAD) narrows vessel lumens at the sites of atherosclerosis, increasing the risk of myocardial ischemia or infarction. Early and accurate diagnosis of CAD is crucial to significantly improve prognosis and management. CT angiography (CTA) is a noninvasive imaging technique that enables assessment of vascular structure and stenosis with high resolution and contrast. Coronary CTA is useful in the diagnosis of CAD. Recently, the CAD-reporting and data system (CAD-RADS), a diagnostic classification system based on coronary CTA, has been developed to improve intervention efficacy in patients suspected of CAD. While the CADRAD is based on CTA, it includes borderline categories where interpreting the coronary artery status solely based on CTA findings may be challenging. This review introduces CTA findings that fall within the CAD-RADS categories that necessitate additional tests to decide to perform invasive coronary angiography and discusses appropriate management strategies.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.312-318
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• 1980

The first case was a 20 year old female who has been suffered from epigastric pain, and anorexia for 2 years. A thumb tip sized pulsion diverticulum 4cm above the esophagocardial junction was elicited by esophagogram and on exploration. A diverticulectomy with long esophagocardiomyotomy was performed. The second case was a 30 year old house wife who has had postprandial epigastric pain for 2 months accompained with frequent vomiting. Fiberscopy and esophagogram showed epiphrenic diverticulum of the esophagus. Same operative procedures were carried out and obtained a good result as first case. The third case was a 55 year old house wife who was admitted to this Chest Surgery Department because of regurgitation and intermittent vomiting for approximately 3 months. Esophagogram showed a large epiphrenic diverticulum of the esophagus. On exploration, a tennis ball sized pulsion diverticulum was found on the anterolateral wall of the esophagus. A partial esophagectomy including the diverticulum and esophagoesophagostomy was performed. The specimenshowed some erosive changes of the mucosal surface of the diverticulum and also the esophagus suggestive of diverticulitis and esophagitis. She has been satisfactory result until 4 months postoperatively, when she developed regurgitation and epigastric pain. Esophagogram showed stenosis of the operative site. Readmission and esophageal dilatations were done and improved without any problem. Epiphrenic or supradiaphragmatic diverticulum of the esophagus is a rare condition. Pathophysiologically, the conditions accompanied the spasm of the esophagus, many authors prefered the procedures of a diverticulectomy plus long esophagocardiomyotomy rather than simple diverticulectomy or esophagectomy and esophagoesophagostomy. Here we report the cases and reviewed the literatures.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.68-71
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• 2004

Thymic cysts are uncommon tumors which usually occur in the neck and mediastinum. It is known to arise from embryonic remnants of the thymopharyngeal duct or from inflammation of thymic tissues. Patients with thymic cyst are often asymptomatic and identified after surgical removal and histologic examination. We experienced a 73 year-old man with recently developed dyspnea. During the examination, chest CT showed a $5\times6cm$ sized cystic mass causing deviation of the trachea. It was located in between the right thyroid gland and anterior mediastinum. It also caused tracheal narrowing noted by bronchoscopy. Right anterior cervical incision and removal of the mass was performed and a histological diagnosis of thymic cyst was confirmed. The patient was discharged without complication.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.269-278
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• 1996

The mechanism of impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation in the aorta of one-kidney, one clip Goldblatt hypertensive (1K,1C-GBH) rats was investigated. 8 week-old Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats were made hypertensive by left renal artery stenosis with contralateral nephrectomy. Endothelium-dependent relaxation was significantly reduced in 1K,1C-GBH rats as compared with WKY rats. However, the relaxation by sodium nitroprusside in 1K,1C-GBH rats was not reduced as compared with WKY rats. The impairment of endothelium-dependent relaxation in 1K,1C-GBH rats was partially restored by the pretreatment of indomethacin or SQ29548. When the nitric oxide production was inhibited by L-nitroarginine methyl ester, acetylcholine (ACh) induced a endothelium-dependent contraction that was greater in 1K,1C-GBH rats than in WKY rats. Endothelium-dependent contraction by ACh was completely abolished by indomethacin or SQ29548. However, imidazole, tranylcypromine and superoxide dismutase did not affect the endothelium-dependent contraction in 1K,1C-GBH rats. These results suggest that impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation in the 1K,1C-GBH rats might be due to the simultaneous release of EDCF, and that prostaglandin B2 may be involved as a mediator of endothelium-dependent contraction.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.90-95
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• 2005

A coronary artery perforation is a rare but often fatal complication of angioplasty. We experienced a coronary artery perforation and cardiac tamponade during balloon angioplasty. A polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE)-covered stent was used to successfully close the perforation.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2003

Ischemic stroke is among the principal causes of death and disability in the elderly. Although control of blood pressure, decreased cigarette smoking, and modified dietary habits are among important reasons for stroke decline, the use of antithrombotic therapy, rigorously prescribed. Several antiplatelet agents are approved to reduce the risk of recurrent stroke. Aspirin is the best-studied and most widely used antiplatelet agent for stroke prevention; it provides approximately 15% to 25% relatively risk reduction for secondary prevention of stroke or the major vascular death. Combining 2 antiplatelet agents with different mechanism of action was demonstrated to provide a substantial increase in efficacy in several studies. Anticoagulation should be considered first with potential cardiac sources of embolism. Heparin reduces development of erythrocyte-fibrin thrombi that form in regions of vascular stasis especially within the heart, in severely stenosed arteries sometimes engrafted on white thrombi, in acute arterial occlusion. Heparin should not be indiscriminately given to all acute brain ischemia patients, but may contribute to treatment of large artery occlusion and severe stenosis, cardiogenic embolism with a high acute recurrence risk, and dural sinus and cerebral venous thromobosis.