Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is a rarely identified entity whose exact incidence, etiology, pathogenesis, medium-term evolution and optimal treatment have not yet been firmly estabilished. The cause of spontaneous disection remains unclear but theories of etiology include a medial eosinophilic angiitis, pregnancy induced degeneration of collagen and rupture of the vasovasoum. Most paients die suddenly, but a clinical spectrum is seen including and unstable angina, myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock. We experienced 4 cases with spontaneous coronary artery dissection found angiographically which caused myocardial infarction and unstable angina. Our patients were treated medically.
Angina, Unstable ; Collagen ; Coronary Vessels ; Eosinophils ; Humans ; Incidence ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myocardial Ischemia* ; Pregnancy ; Rupture ; Shock, Cardiogenic ; Vasculitis

No abstract available.
Pregnancy*

BACKGROUND: Low levels of serum vitamin D is associated with several lung diseases. The production and activation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) may play an important role in the pathogenesis of emphysema. The aim of the current study therefore is to investigate if vitamin D modulates the expression and activation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in human lung fibroblasts (HFL-1) cells. METHODS: HFL-1 cells were cast into three-dimensional collagen gels and stimulated with or without interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) in the presence or absence of 100 nM 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) or 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D) for 48 hours. Trypsin was then added into the culture medium in order to activate MMPs. To investigate the activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9, gelatin zymography was performed. The expression of the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP-1, TIMP-2) was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Expression of MMP-9 mRNA and TIMP-1, TIMP-2 mRNA was quantified by real time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: IL-1beta significantly stimulated MMP-9 production and mRNA expression. Trypsin converted latent MMP-2 and MMP-9 into their active forms of MMP-2 (66 kDa) and MMP-9 (82 kDa) within 24 hours. This conversion was significantly inhibited by 25(OH)D (100 nM) and 1,25(OH)2D (100 nM). The expression of MMP-9 mRNA was also significantly inhibited by 25(OH)D and 1,25(OH)2D. CONCLUSION: Vitamin D, 25(OH)D, and 1,25(OH)2D play a role in regulating human lung fibroblast functions in wound repair and tissue remodeling through not only inhibiting IL-1beta stimulated MMP-9 production and conversion to its active form but also inhibiting IL-1beta inhibition on TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 production.
Collagen ; Emphysema ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fibroblasts* ; Gelatin ; Gels ; Humans ; Interleukin-1beta ; Lung Diseases ; Lung* ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reverse Transcription ; RNA, Messenger ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 ; Trypsin ; Vitamin D* ; Wounds and Injuries

We reviewed one case of AHA in 14 year old female child which followed a chronic course. The patient showed hypergammaglobulinemia with elevated IgM, positive direct coomb's test and positive cold aggutinin test. The patient improved with steroid therapy, and over the past six months has showen a fair course. We have presented a review of the literature briefly and given our report.
Adolescent ; Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune* ; Child ; Coombs Test ; Female ; Humans ; Hypergammaglobulinemia ; Immunoglobulin M

Recently studies about bi-allelic markers such as SNP, which is commonly found in about every 1.2 kb, seem to be increasing. Compared to STR marker, much have to be improved if it is to be used for individual identification. Nevertheless many researchers have interests in SNP and it 's scope is unpre-dictable. SNP may be promising as an auxiliary tool in individual identification, especially in Y chromo-somal study, in which the usefulness of conventional STR markers are restricted as the concept of haplo-type is applied. We report allelic distribution pattern in Korean for several previously known bi-allelic markers, that are SY81, M9, SRY1532, SRY2627, YAP. In three loci that are SY81, SRY1532, SRY2627, no polymorphism was noted. In M9, YAP loci, bi-allel-ic polymorphism was noted. In M9, 79.3% was G-type, and C-type was 20.7%. The YAP insertion was positive only in 6%. Remaining 94% was YAP(-). These pattern was compared with that of other popu-lation, and racial difference was evident. Several key points about SNP were discussed.
Y Chromosome*

BACKGROUND: The presence of cardiac metastasis from cervical cancer is very rare. Due to the rarity of this condition, clinical characteristics of the patients with cardiac metastasis from cervical carcinoma is not well known. This study is to investigate the clinical profiles and outcomes of patients with cardiac metastasis from the carcinoma of the uterine cervix. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From Jan. 1990 to May 1999, 4 patients with cardiac metastasis from cervical cancer during the course of the disease were registered in Korea Cancer Center Hospital. The clinical characteristics of these patients were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: Mean age of patients was 49 years, and median interval from initial diagnosis to recurrence was 27 months. Histologically, all 4 cases were squamous cell type carcinoma. The stage distribution is two patients with FIGO stage II, one with stage I and one with stage III. Clinical symptoms of patients were dyspnea and facial edema in 2 patients, facial edema in one patients, and dyspneas only in one patient. All patients were confirmed histologically by pericardiocentesis. Synchronous metastatic lesions were supraclavicular lymph node, lung parenchyme and paraaortic, mediastinal lymph node. Following pericardiocentesis or pericardiodesis, all patients were improved clinically and survived for mean interval of 5.3 months. CONCLUSIONS: The patients with pericardial metastasis from cervical carcinoma showed a short survival time, but could be managed by pericardiocentesis or pericardiodesis with improvement of clinical symptoms.
Cervix Uteri ; Diagnosis ; Dyspnea ; Edema ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Lung ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Pericardiocentesis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

Five monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) and chicken immunoglobulin (IgY) were developed by immunizing with flagella purified from Listeria monocytogenes 4b and the five MAbs have been confirmed to be specific against three different epitopes of flagellin. The antibodies showed specific reaction to Listeria genus and no cross-reactivity with other bacteria tested in this experiment including E.coli O157:H7 and Salmonella enteritidis. Sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) using the MAbs and IgY were developed to detect Listeria species and the sensitivity and specificity of the developed ELISA have been analyzed. The detection limit of ELISA using MAb 2B1 and HRP labeled IgY was 1 x105cells/0.1 ml at 22degrees C and 1x106 cells/0.1 ml at 30degrees C. ELISA using the pair of MAbs (MAbs 2B1 and HRP labeled MAbs 7A3) detected up to 104cells/0.1 ml at 22degrees C and 30degrees C. Detection limit of sandwich ELISA using IgY was 10 times lower than MAb pair. Using the developed ELISA, we could detect several Listeria contaminated in food samples after 48 h-culturing. In conclusion, both MAbs and IgY have been proved to be highly specific to detect Listeria flagella and the developed sandwich ELISA using these antibodies would be useful tool for screening Listeria spp. in food.
Animals ; Antibodies, Bacterial/*chemistry ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Antibody Specificity ; Antigens, Bacterial/analysis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay/*methods ; Flagella/*genetics ; Food Microbiology ; Immunoglobulins/analysis ; Listeria/*classification/immunology/*isolation&purification ; Meat/microbiology ; Milk/microbiology ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Swine

Mesenteric panniculitis (MP) is non-specific inflammation of the adipose tissue that primarily involves the small bowel mesentery. Omental involvement has been rarely reported but we report a case of 25 years old woman with isolated lesser omental panniculitis. This patient was diagnosed by CT findings and recovered completely with conservative treatment. Invasive diagnostic methods or surgical exploration has been used to diagnose MP. However, all six reported cases of omental panniculitis including the current case showed a benign course; therefore, awareness of the CT findings is essential for the best diagnosis and management of omental panniculitis.
Adipose Tissue ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Mesentery ; Omentum ; Panniculitis ; Panniculitis, Peritoneal* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: Tuberculosis (TB) is a major infectious disease and is responsible for two million deaths annually. For the identification and quantitation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis), a causative agent of TB, a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) against the MPT64 protein of M. tuberculosis, an antigen marker of the M. tuberculosis complex, was developed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The MPT64 protein was expressed, and anti-MPT64 monoclonal antibodies were prepared. A sandwich ELISA was established using recombinant MPT64 protein and anti-MPT64 monoclonal antibodies. The sandwich MPT64 ELISA was evaluated using reference and clinical mycobacterial strains. RESULTS: The sandwich MPT64 ELISA detected MPT64 protein from 2.1 ng/mL to 250 ng/mL (equivalent to 1.7x10(4) CFU/mL and 2.0x10(6) CFU/mL). All 389 clinical M. tuberculosis isolates tested positive in the sandwich MPT64 ELISA (sensitivity, 100%), and the assay showed no cross reactivity to any tested nontuberculous mycobacterial strain (specificity, 100%). CONCLUSION: The sandwich MPT64 ELISA is a highly sensitive and quantitative test for MPT64 protein, which can identify M. tuberculosis.
Antigens, Bacterial/*analysis/immunology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay/*methods ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis/*immunology

Tibial nerve compression occurs most often at the ankle. A proximal tibial nerve entrapment at the popliteal fossais rare because of the deep location of the nerve. We report a case of tibial neuropathy caused by a myxoid liposarcoma at the popliteal fossa, which was diagnosed by electrophysiologic studies, magnetic resonance imaging and an open excisional biopsy. This case illustrates that tumors should be considered when patients present with an entrapment neuropathy of the proximal tibial nerve.
Animals ; Ankle ; Biopsy ; Humans ; Liposarcoma, Myxoid ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Nerve Compression Syndromes ; Tibial Nerve ; Tibial Neuropathy