BACKGROUND: Reactive Oxygen species have been known to be a key factor to promote atherosclerosis. DDR2(Discoidin Domain Receptor 2) is a cell surface receptor tyrosine kinase which is activated by fiber collagen. Recently, DDR2 was suggested to be involved in activation of smooth muscle cell in blood vessel of atherosclerosis. METHODS: The effect of antioxidant, N-acetyl cysteine and H2O2(Hydrogen peroxide) in the activation of DDR2 by collagen was studied using HEK293 cells expressing DDR2. The direct activation of DDR2 tyrosine kinase domain by tyrosine phosphorylation upon the treatment of H2O2 was analysed after the kinase domain was expressed in sf9 cells. RESULTS: H2O2 enhanced DDR2 auto-phosphorylation and its cellular signaling to induce MMP-1 expression. However N-acetyl cysteine suppressed the DDR2 activation. The reactive oxygen induced tyrosine phosphorylation in DDR2 tyrosine kinase domain to activate its tyrosine kinase activity. CONCLUSIONS: DDR2 activity can be up-regulated by oxidative stress and this provides a mechanism that DDR2 plays a critical role when reactive oxygen species promote atherosclerosis. Therefore inhibition of the activated DDR2 could be a new therapeutic strategy for atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis* ; Blood Vessels ; Collagen ; Cysteine ; HEK293 Cells ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; Oxidative Stress* ; Oxygen ; Phosphorylation ; Phosphotransferases ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Sf9 Cells ; Tyrosine

No abstract available.
Drug Therapy*

No abstract available.
Osteoarthritis*

No abstract available.
Aging* ; Humans* ; Obesity*

Three case of plexiform schwannoma displayed multinodular masses and microscopically a multicentric pattern of growth featuring Antoni A cellular component, Verocay bodies and presence of Antoni B areas. Clinically von Recklinghausen's disease was not observed in all cases. The first patient was a 17 year old male who had a protruding nodule of walnut size which was located at the dermis of the left flank for 13 years. The second case, a 25 year old male, had an irregular whitish brown multinodular mass in the choana for 5 years. The last case, a 56 year old woman, had an ovoid yellowish brown mass with multiple nodules in the retroperitoneum.
Female ; Male ; Humans

No abstract available.
DNA* ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Ploidies*

The back pain is increasingly becoming a major problem in the elderly people. The cause of back pain in the elderly patient is quite different from in the young subject. And relationship of the occurrence of osteoporosis with the incidence of fractures in general is currently regarded as a major factor. The authors performed clinical observation on 194 elderly patients who were treated for back pain during 5 years period from April, 1983 to April, 1988 at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Severance Hospital and relationship between osteoporosis and compression fracture of spine was reviewed. The results were as follows : l. Among the 194 cases of back pain(28.3% of total admission cases), whose age were over 50: 142 cases were female and 52 cases were male, being more common in female. 2. Most common cause of back pain was the compression fracture of spine : 86 cases(44.3 %). Osteoporosis was associated with 66 cases(76.7%) out of 86 cases. 3. The number of compression fracture in same patient was more frequent in osteoporotic patient and thoracolumber junction (T12, Ll) was the major site of fracture (45.6%). Compression fracture of spine caused by osteoporosis occured at multiple level in 60.6%. 4. Twenty three cases(34.8%) of compression fracture of spine with osteoporosis were found to have previous history of fractures of spine and/or extremities by radiological examination. Regarding this results, compression fractures of spine was not infrequent cause of back pain in the elderly. It was thought that re-fracture of spine should be prevented by vigorous approach against osteoporosis along with the treatment of presenting fracture in these patients.
Aged ; Back Pain ; Clinical Study ; Extremities ; Female ; Fractures, Compression ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Osteoporosis ; Spine

Since 1952, Ilizarov external fixator has been developed and used for more than 30 years in Russia and world-wide interest on it has been prevalent during last 2-3 years. The fixation of the tension applied thin wires to the metal frame resist flexional and translational deformity just like other extenal fixators. But, it allows cyclic axial micro-motion at the fracture site without loss of reduction so that it can provide good environment for the fracture healing biologically and biomechanically. Another advantage of Ilizarov external fixator is that it permits mobilization of the adjacent joints and weight bearing of the fractured limb during the application of it and shortens the duration of administration. Since 1988, We applied the Ilizarov external fixator for the treatment of diffcult tibial fractures (open comminuted, segmented and comminuted fractures, nonunion, maunion) and obtained good results in 7 cases. So we report our results even if we had limited cases and experiences.
Congenital Abnormalities ; External Fixators ; Extremities ; Fracture Healing ; Fractures, Comminuted ; Joints ; Russia ; Tibia ; Tibial Fractures ; Weight-Bearing

We present the first case report of fragile X-associated tremor ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) in the Republic of Korea. A 75-year-old male developed progressive gait ataxia, parkinsonism, and a mood disorder. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed T2 high signal intensity within the middle cerebellar peduncles. Analysis of the fragile X mental retardation 1 gene revealed a CGG trinucleotide repeat number of 136. FXTAS should be considered when a patient has atypical parkinsonism, cerebellar ataxia, and specific MRI abnormalities.

No abstract available.
Clubfoot*