Cerivastain(LIPOBAY®) is recently developed HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor which is effective in lowering serum cholesterol levels at microgram does. We evaluated the clinical efficacy and safety of cerivastatin(LIPOBAY®) in patients with hypercholesterolemia.

Thirty-seven patients(male : 13, female : 24) with hypercholesteolemia defined as baseline serum total cholesterol ≥240mg/dl, or ≥220mg/dl in patients with known coronary artery disease were included for this study. After 2 weeks of low cholesterol diet, if the serum total choesterol level meet the criteria, cerivastain 0.4mg/day was prescribed for 8 weeks. Clinical follow-up and laboratory tests were performed 4 weeks and 8 weeks after medication.

After 4 weeks of cerivastain 0.4mg/day treatment, low density lipoprotein(LDL) cholesterol decreased 38% and total cholesterol decreased 28.8% from baseline. Triglyceride decreased 11.6%, and high density lipoprotein(HDL) cholesterol decreased 7.8% from baseline. Total cholesterol/HDL ratio decreased 20.8% and LDL/HDL ratio decreased 31.1% from baseline. After 8 weeks of treatment, no further significant changes were noted compared with the values at 4 weeks. Cervastatin was discontinued in one patient(2.7%) due to continuous liver enzyme elevation.

Cerivastatin 0.4mg/day is effective in lowering serum cholesterol levels without significant adverse reactions. Cerivastatin is effective and safe for patients with hypercholesterolemia who needs aggressive LDL cholesterol lowering.

To evaluate the CT findings of pulmonary tuberculosis in diabetic patients compared with patients without underlying disease.

The chest CT scans of pulmonary tuberculosis in 23 diabetic patients(M : F=21 : 2 ; mean age, 59 yrs.) and in 24 nondiabetic patients(M : F=12 : 12 ; mean age, 48 yrs.) were retrospectively analyzed by two radiologists ; decisions were reached by consensus.

The frequencies of consolidation(100%, 42%), inhomogeneity of consolidation(70%, 21%), multiple small low-density areas(52%, 13%), cavitation(70%, 25%), multiple small cavity(35%, 4%), bizarre-shaped cavity(22%, 0%), air-bronchogram(95%, 54%) were significantly more common in pulmonary tuberculosis in diabetic patients than in nondiabetic patients(p<.05). There was no significant difference in localization of pulmonary lesions between diabetic and nondiabetic patients.

Diabetic patients have a high prevalence of inhomogeneous consolidation containing multiple small low densities and multiple or bizarre-shaped cavities than do patients without diabetics.

Our purpose was to discuss the current results of renal transplantation at our institute and to document the usefulness of the ultrasonography in the follow-up of renal allograft.

Thirty five renal allografts who operated and followed-up at our hospital were included. All patients underwent renal duplex and Doppler sonography. According the clinical course of allograft, the sonographic findings were classified into successful renal transplantation(SRT), acute rejection(AR), chronic rejection(CR), and graft failure(GF). We retrogradely analyzed the sonographic findings as follows : renal size(length, width, thickness), cortex echogenicity, corticomedullary differentiation, renal sinus and pyramid, renal pelvis, resistive index(RI).

Results of allografts were as follows : SRT, 24 case(68.6%) ; AR, 6(17.1%) : CR, 3(8.6%) ; and GF, 2(5.7%). The changes of length of allografts were shown no statistically significant changes between the groups, but there is significant increase of thickness of allograft in AC and GF with significance. The mean RI was statistically increased in AR(RI=0.87), and the mean RI's of other groups were 0.65, 0.70, and 0.67 in order to SRT, CR, GF. Parenchymal echogenicities are changed in 66.7% of AC and CR, 25% of SRT, and 50% of GF without clinical significance. There are changes of CMJ, pyramid, sinus echo, renal pelvis of allografts, however, which were shown no statistical significance.

Even though we have small cases and short experiences of renal transplantation at our institute, we considered we have relatively good results and it was guessed there were many efforts for the renal transplantation. The duplex and Doppler sonography were useful tools in the follow-up of allograft, especially deciding acute rejection and graft failure, although it is difficult to decide chronic rejection and can not used to differentiate between the main parenchymal causes of graft failure.

To investigate whether measurements of hepatic metastases before contrast administration are different from measuments after contrast administration. And to gain more effective follow up method by analyzing the difference of contrast between pre- and postcontrast scans.

Thirty patients with herpatic metastases were underwent conventional CT. Continuous 10mm thick slices were obtained from liver dome to pelvic inlet, then the patients received IV injection of contrast material, and same method as precontrast CT scan was performed. Additional 5mm thin slice scan was obtained in case of need. Three radiologists performed independent bidimensional measurements of the randomly selected lesion on both pre- and postcontrast images at the same level and analyzed the difference of the size and contrast.

The size of hepatic metastases were measured as smaller on postcontrast images ; average 41.4±43.5cm² on precontrast scan & 35.2±37.5cm² on postcontrast scan. There was significant difference by paired t-test(p<0.02). 24 of 30 cases(80%) showed better conspicuity on postcontrast images, 5(16.7%), on precontrast images and 1(3.3%) showed similiar conspicuity on both pre- and postcontrast images. The contrast of hepatic metastases was significantly higher on postcontrast scan by chi-square test(p<0.01).

Hepatic metastases are significantly smaller on postcontrast images. The contrast between metastatic lesion & liver parenchyme was better on postcontrast scan. Therefore, serial assessment of hepatic metastases size by CT should not be compared mixed pre- and postcontrast image. And postcontrast scan is more effective method than precontrast for follow up of hepatic metastasis.