Coronary restenosis is still regarded as Achilles' Hill of interventional cardiology despite relentless efforts of many investigators. Recent experimental and clinical studies have suggested that both gamma and beta radiation can be reduce restenosis after angioplasty. Currently, intracoronary brachytherapy for the prevention of restenosis has become a new evolving treatment modality in interventional cardiology. This report discusses a physical aspect of gamma and beta radiation, initial clinical results and delivery systems used in intracoronary brachytherapy. We shall take a brief overview of methods and their advantages in intracoronary brachytherapy. Future work should provide further insight for the best way of treating restenosis.
Angioplasty ; Beta Particles ; Brachytherapy ; Cardiology ; Coronary Restenosis ; Humans ; Research Personnel

Pulmonary function test is one of the most important tools in the management of patients with respiratory tract diseases and allergic diseases. As with the difficulties in performing the test, it has been seldom used in pediatric field. But with the advent of simple, computerized tools, pediatric pulmonologist and allergist try to manage the patients using PFT. Still the normal predicted values are variable among the reports. So it is important to have normal predicted value in Korean children. From April to July 1992, pulmonary function test was performed in 965(male: 490, female: 475) primary school-aged children except <3 or >97 percentile of Korean-children Physical developemental standards with history of allergic diseases and respiratory tract diseases ay SungNam, KyongKiDo. We evaluated the predicted normal values of the FEV1.0, FVC and PEFR and logarithmic regression equation setting the predicted values by using the microspirometer of Micromedical Ltd. England that could that could be easily applied to children. 1) Predicted values of pulmonary function test items were generally higher in boys than those of girls. 2) Correlation coefficient to the parameters examined was the highest in height 0.78, then age 0.75, weight 0.70 and chest circumference 0.61.
Child* ; England ; Female ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate ; Reference Values ; Respiratory Function Tests* ; Respiratory Tract Diseases ; Thorax

The stem barks, heartwoods, and leaves of Acer tegmentosum (Aceraceae) are widely used in Korea to treat hepatic or cerebral disorders mainly due to alcohol poisoning. This study was aimed to analyze phenolic substances in A. tegmentosum. Quantitative analysis of the three phenolic substances (salidroside, (+)-catechin and scopoletin) was performed by HPLC and the identification of volatile phenolic substances were done by GC-MS. The contents of the three compounds in the three MeOH extracts were higher in the stem bark (salidroside: 80.22 mg/g, (+)-catechin: 23.31 mg/g, and scopoletin: 9.45 mg/g) compared to the heartwoods and leaves. And GC-MS analysis of the stem bark extract demonstrated that p-tyrosol is a main substance of twenty-one compounds identified.
Acer* ; Aceraceae ; Catechin ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid* ; Korea ; Phenol* ; Poisoning ; Scopoletin

BACKGROUND: Since the first implanted in September 1997, the use of On-X prosthetic heart valve has been increasing around in the world. This study was designed to assess the feasibility, safety, and the postoperative hemodynamics with this new valve in clinical setting. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The current study was carried out on 52 patients undergoing aortic valve replacement with this prosthesis between April 1999 to August 2002 at Chonnam National University Hospital to evaluate the surgical results. 52% of the patients were male and the average age at implant was 50+/-13 years. The study followed the guidelines of the AATS/STS. Preoperatively, 32 (61.5%) patients were in NYHA functional class III or IV and 2 patients had previous aortic valve surgery. Concomitant cardiac surgery was performed in 71.1%. The implanted valve sizes were 19 mm in 13 patients, 21 mm in 26, 23 mm in 10 and 25 mm in 3, respectively. Mean follow-up was 16.6+/-10.5 months (1~39 months). Echocardiographic assessment was performed pre- and immediate postoperatively, as well as 3, 6, 12 months after surgery, evaluating pressure loss and regression of left ventricular hypertrophy. RESULT: Mean cardiopulmonary bypass time was 191+/-94.7 minutes with an aortic cross-clamp time of 142+/-51.7 minutes. There was no early and late mortality. Freedom from adverse events at 1 year in the study were as follows: thromboembolism, 95.6+/-6%; bleeding events, 90.2+/-4%; paravalvular leakage 92.3+/-4%; and overall valve-related morbidity at 1 year was 76.6+/-3%. There were no cases of valve thrombosis, prosthetic valve endocarditis and structural or non-structural failure. Left ventricular function at 12 months after surgery (EF=62.7+/-9.8%) revealed a statistically significant improvement compared to preoperative investigation (EF=55.8+/-15.9%, p=0.006). Left ventricular mass index was 247.3+/-122.3 g/m2 on preoperative echocardiographic study, but regressed to 155.5+/-58.2 g/m2 at postoperative 1 year (p=0.002). Over the follow-up period a further decrease of peak transvalvular gradients was observed in all patients: 62.5+/-38.0 mmHg on preoperative assessment, 18.2+/-6.8 mmHg at immediate postoperative period (p<0.0001), 7.6+/-5.09 mmHg (p<0.0001) at 6 month, 18.0+/-10.8 mmHg (p<0.0001) at 1 year. CONCLUSION: The On-X prosthetic heart valve performs satisfactorily in the first 1 year period. Clinical outcome by examining NYHA functional classification revealed especially good results. Effective regression of left ventricular hypertrophy and statistically significant decrease of transvalvular gradient were observed over the first year, but longer-term follow-up of this patient group is needed to establish the expected rates for late valve-related events as well as the long-term clinical efficacy of this valve.
Aortic Valve* ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Classification ; Echocardiography ; Endocarditis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Freedom ; Heart Valve Prosthesis ; Heart Valves* ; Heart* ; Hemodynamics ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular ; Jeollanam-do ; Male ; Mortality ; Postoperative Period ; Prostheses and Implants ; Thoracic Surgery ; Thromboembolism ; Thrombosis ; Ventricular Function, Left

PURPOSE: We investigated the risk factors related to the development and aggravation of allergic rhinitis, which is associated with residential environment and lifestyle habits of children residing in Incheon. METHODS: A total of 182 children diagnosed with moderate to severe allergic rhinitis and 67 healthy children were enrolled. A detailed questionnaire of the environmental characteristics and the dietary habits were completed by the parents. Further, skin prick tests with 14 common allergens were performed. RESULTS: The mean age of the children with allergic rhinitis and healthy control was 8.2+/-2.8 and 9.4+/-2.0 years, respectively. The presence of indoor mold was associated with an increased risk of development of allergic rhinitis. (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 4.26; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.96-9.27) Among the food groups, there was no significant difference of the daily intake of milk and yogurt between the patients and the controls. However, daily intake of vegetables, except Kimchi, and daily intake of fruits or fruit juice were associated with a decreased risk of allergic rhinitis. (aOR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.20-0.92 / aOR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.13-0.90, respectively) CONCLUSION: The results indicate that an indoor dampness is one of the risk factors of development and aggravation of allergic rhinitis. Control of indoor humidity and daily intake of fruits and vegetables can prevent the development and control symptoms of allergic rhinitis.
Allergens ; Child ; Diet ; Food Habits ; Fruit ; Fungi ; Humans ; Humidity ; Life Style ; Milk ; Odds Ratio ; Parents ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Rhinitis ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; Risk Factors ; Skin ; Vegetables ; Yogurt

PURPOSE: Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) is a chemokine that can increase adhesion molecule expression on monocytes and produce superoxide anions. Hyperglycemia induces MCP-1 production in vascular endothelial cells and retinal pigmented epithelial cells, and has been implicated as a causal factor in the facilitation of vascular complications in diabetes. In the present study, we evaluated the association of a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the MCP-1 gene with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) in a Korean population with type 2 diabetes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a case-control study, which enrolled 590 subjects with type 2 diabetes, and SNP genotyping of c.2518A/G in the MCP-1 gene was performed using polymerase chain reaction followed by digestion with PvuII restriction enzyme. RESULTS: The prevalence of c.2518A/G polymorphism in diabetic patients was 13.2% (A/A), 47.1% (A/G) and 39.7% (G/G). In patients with diabetic retinopathy, the prevalence of PDR was significantly higher (p=0.009) in diabetic subjects with the c.2518A/A genotype (35.9%; n=78) compared to those with either the A/G or G/G genotype (22.3%, n=512). The prevalence of any other micro and macro-complications, including nephropathy and cerebrovascular events, were not different according to the c.2518A/G genotype. CONCLUSION: Our new genetic findings suggest that the c.2518A/A genotype in MCP-1 could be used as a susceptibility gene to predispose Koreans exhibiting type 2 diabetes for the development of PDR.
Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Chemokine CCL2/*genetics ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/*complications ; Diabetic Retinopathy/etiology/*genetics ; Female ; Genetic Association Studies ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Republic of Korea

Purpose: This study aimed at identifying the level of active aging in older adults and the influence of the individual and community levels of community capacity on active aging. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on a stratified sample of 380 older adults living in 35 neighborhoods of five regions in Seoul, the capital of South Korea. The structured questionnaire included the Korean version of instruments that measure active aging and community capacity at the individual level. Secondary data including metropolitan statistical information, a public data portal, and a city plan were used to acquire community-capacity factors at the community level. Data were analyzed with multilevel models. Results: The overall active aging mean score was 3.00 ± 0.55 out of 5; the highest mean score was in the security domain (3.46 ± 0.65) and the lowest one was in the participation domain (2.71 ± 0.66). Individual factors associated with active aging included age, education, income, and community capacity at the individual level. At the community level, two community-capacity factors (senior leisure welfare facilities and cooperative unions) were significantly associated with active aging. In active aging, 6.4% and 4.1% of total variance could be explained by 35 neighborhoods, after considering individual and community level variables, respectively. Conclusion This study showed that community capacity is important for active aging among older adults. Appropriate strategies that consider both individual and community factors, such as contextual indicators of community capacity, are necessary to improve active aging.

Purpose: This study aimed at identifying the level of active aging in older adults and the influence of the individual and community levels of community capacity on active aging. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on a stratified sample of 380 older adults living in 35 neighborhoods of five regions in Seoul, the capital of South Korea. The structured questionnaire included the Korean version of instruments that measure active aging and community capacity at the individual level. Secondary data including metropolitan statistical information, a public data portal, and a city plan were used to acquire community-capacity factors at the community level. Data were analyzed with multilevel models. Results: The overall active aging mean score was 3.00 ± 0.55 out of 5; the highest mean score was in the security domain (3.46 ± 0.65) and the lowest one was in the participation domain (2.71 ± 0.66). Individual factors associated with active aging included age, education, income, and community capacity at the individual level. At the community level, two community-capacity factors (senior leisure welfare facilities and cooperative unions) were significantly associated with active aging. In active aging, 6.4% and 4.1% of total variance could be explained by 35 neighborhoods, after considering individual and community level variables, respectively. Conclusion This study showed that community capacity is important for active aging among older adults. Appropriate strategies that consider both individual and community factors, such as contextual indicators of community capacity, are necessary to improve active aging.

The three flavone glycosides, 4′-O-methylisoscutellarein 7-O-(6‴-O-acetyl)-β-D-allopyranosyl(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranoside (1), isoscutellarein 7-O-(6‴-O-acetyl)-β-D-allopyranosyl(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranoside (3), and isoscutellarein 7-O-β-D-allopyranosyl(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranoside (4) in addition to a flavonol glycoside, kaempferol 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (astragalin, 2), were isolated from Stachys japonica (Lamiaceae). In cholinesterase inhibition assay, compound 1 significantly inhibited aceylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) activities (IC₅₀s, 39.94 µg/ml for AChE and 86.98 µg/ml for BChE). The content of isolated compounds were evaluated in this plant extract by HPLC analysis. Our experimental results suggest that the flavonoid glycosides of S. japonica could prevent the memory impairment of Alzheimer's disease.
Alzheimer Disease ; Butyrylcholinesterase ; Cholinesterases ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Glycosides ; Lamiaceae ; Memory ; Plants ; Stachys

The causes of the chylothorax can be classified to the congenital cases, such as the atresia of thoracic duct and thoracic duct-pleura fistula, and the acquired ones, such as thoracic surgery, trauma, malignant disease, venous thrombosis, infection and so on. We experienced a case of left chylothorax in a 10-year-old girl with a lymphangiomatosis of left thorax extending from axillar to buttock. She first received the two weeks of conservative management, which was unsuccessful to subside the chylothorax. Then she was taken the partial pleurectomy and chemical pleurodesis under the thoracoscopy as a surgical intervention, but this is also insufficient to reduce the chylous effusion. Finally she received 10 times of radiotherapy on left thorax, then the chylothorax is controlled completely.
Buttocks ; Child ; Chylothorax* ; Female ; Fistula ; Humans ; Pleurodesis ; Radiotherapy* ; Thoracic Duct ; Thoracic Surgery ; Thoracoscopy ; Thorax* ; Venous Thrombosis