No abstract available.
Fetus* ; Humans* ; Mesencephalon* ; Serotonergic Neurons*

BACKGROUND: Coronary blood flow shows phasic and diastolic dominant flow pattern in normal coronary artery, which can be changed in coronary artery stenosis. We measured and analysed coronary blood flow velocity by Doppler-tipped guidewire to clarify the change of flow pattern in the proximal and distal segments of coronary narrowings. METHODS: Coronary flow velocity were measured by 0.018 or 0.014 inch Doppler-tipped guidewire in 14 paients, 17 sites(LCS 11, RCA 6) in the proximal and distal segment of coronary narrowings, during coronary angiography or coronary angioplasty after bolus intracoronary infusion of 20microg nitroglycerine. Coronary flow reserve also measured after adenosine intracoronary infusion(LCA 12gmicrog, RCA 6microg). Perent stenosis of coronary artery was measured by digital cailper in 2 different projections and averaged. RESULTS: 1) The was no significant correlation between percent stenosis and proximal distal velocity ratio(P/D) ration(r=0.56. P>0.05). 2) Average peak velocity(APV, cm/sec) and diastolic artery, respectively(p<0.01) Distal APV was significantly lower than proximal APV(p<0.01) but DSVR showed no significant difference(P>0.01). 3) Coronary flow reserve(CFR) was significantly lower in significant coronary stenotic patients compared to insignificant stenotic patients(1.8 vs 3.6, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Coronary flow velocity measurement by Doppler dipped guidewire gave us physiologic information. We think it could be used as an important tool to assess the significance of the intermediate coronary narrowings and the effect of conorary angioplasty.
Adenosine ; Angioplasty ; Arteries ; Blood Flow Velocity ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Stenosis ; Coronary Vessels* ; Humans ; Nitroglycerin

Oral contraceptives cause a number of serious side effects in young woman. Prominent among these is an increased incidence of thromboembolic events. Although these thromboemboli almost invariably occur on the venous side of the circulation, there have been reports describing the occurrence of arterial thromboses. Spontaneous thrombosis of the renal artery is a rare event. When reported, it has usually superimposed on an underlying anatomic abnormality of the renal artery after trauma, or very rarely in the setting of systemic disease such as polycythemia vera or thromboangiitis obliterans. Since isolated renal artery thrombosis in the absence of these underlying conditions has been rarely described, wewish to bring attention to the diagnosis of this disorder in a young woman taking oral contraceptives and without any other predisposing abnormality.
Contraceptives, Oral* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Polycythemia Vera ; Renal Artery* ; Thromboangiitis Obliterans ; Thrombosis*

BACKGROUND: In Korea, a screening panel of cells from abroad without Di(a) positive cells has been commonly used when a patient has an unexpected antibody screening test. It has been reported that Di(a) occurs with a frequency of 6.14 to 14.5% among Koreans. However, the current popular antibody screening panels contain no Di(a) positive cells. In this study, we evaluate the clinical usefulness of the Di(a) Cell Panel (Diagnostic Grifols, Barcelona, Spain) for Koreans. METHODS: A total of 3,372 pretransfusion samples were employed for unexpected antibody screening testing using panels of cells by the DG Gel microtube column agglutination system, including additional Di(a) cells (Diagnostic Grifols, Barcelona, Spain). The positive cases in this system were confirmed again with DiaMed Di(a) antigen positive panel cells (DiaMed Ag, Cresssier, Morat, Switzerland) and this was followed by sequence- based Diego genotyping. RESULTS: The positive detection rate of an unexpected antibody screening test using SeraScan Diana I and II was 1.07% (36/3372), and seven samples were reactive (1+~2+) with the SeraScan Di(a) panel cells (0.21%). However, among the 5 available genotyped samples, two cases were typed as Di(a-b+). CONCLUSION: Even though there is discrepancy between the genotype and the two antibody screening kits, the addition of Di(a) positive cells as unexpected antibody screening panel cells is recommended.
Agglutination ; Genotype ; Humans ; Korea ; Mass Screening

No abstract available.
Hematoma*

Tracheal agenesis is an extremely rare and typically lethal congenital disorder. Approximately 150 cases have been described since 1900, and very few cases of survival have been reported. We describe tracheal reconstruction with external esophageal stenting in a patient with Floyd's type II tracheal agenesis. Neither long-term survival nor survival without mechanical ventilation for even a single day has previously been reported in patients with Floyd's type II tracheal agenesis. The infant in the present case survived for almost a year and breathed without a ventilator for approximately 50 days after airway reconstruction using external supportive stents.
Congenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities ; Humans ; Infant ; Respiration, Artificial ; Stents* ; Trachea ; Ventilators, Mechanical

BACKGROUND: In early phase of peritonitis, mononuclear cells as well as polymorphonuclear leukocytes migrate rapidly into peritoneal cavity. For the migration of mononuclear cells, the expression of VCAM-1 on peritoneal mesothelial cells is important. In this study, we investigated the effect of TGF-beta1 on tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) or interleukin-1beta(IL-1beta) induced VCAM-1 expression in the cultured HPMCs. METHODS: HPMCs were cultured in the presence of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and/or TGF-beta1. VCAM-1 mRNA level was measured by Northern blot. VCAM-1 in total cell lysate and VCAM-1 expressed on cell surface were measured by Western blot and cellular ELISA, respectively. RESULTS: Incubation of the cultured HPMCs with TNF-alpha (10 ng/mL) or IL-1beta (1 ng/mL) caused an increased level of VCAM-1 mRNA, VCAM-1 protein in total cell lysate, and VCAM-1 expressed on cell surface. This stimulatory effects of TNF-alpha or IL- 1beta were inhibited by TGF-beta1 (0.1, 1, 10 ng/mL), dose-dependently. The level of VCAM-1 mRNA, VCAM-1 protein in total cell lysate, and VCAM-1 expressed on cell surface in the unstimulated cells were also inhibited by TGF-beta1 (10 ng/mL). The rate of VCAM-1 mRNA degradation after an application of actinomycin D was not affected by TGF-beta1. CONCLUSION: TGF-beta1 inhibited inflammatory cytokine induced VCAM-1 production and expression in the cultured HPMCs. Treatment of the cells with TGF-beta1 seems to suppress TNF-alpha or IL-1beta induced VCAM-1 mRNA transcription rather than decrease stabilization of VCAM-1 mRNA.
Blotting, Northern ; Blotting, Western ; Dactinomycin ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans* ; Neutrophils ; Peritoneal Cavity ; Peritonitis ; RNA Stability ; RNA, Messenger ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1*

Duplicated inferior vena cava (IVC) is a congenital anomaly seen rarely in the general population. Patients with IVC variants usually do not present any symptoms and are found incidentally in many cases. However, physicians are urged to recognize the presence of such anomalies during diagnostic or invasive procedures as these variants of blood vessel systems can impose substantial implications in certain clinical situations. Subsequently, information about IVC variants may become critical if surgical injuries or predisposing conditions act as life-threatening risks to patients during medical procedures. We present a case of duplicated IVC in a 68-year-old female patient with rectal cancer where an IVC anomaly was found during surgical resection of her tumor. From our experience, we emphasize the importance of having the knowledge of IVC variations in patients undergoing invasive surgical procedures which may involve large vessels.
Aged ; Blood Vessels ; Female ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Humans ; Intraoperative Complications ; Laparotomy ; Rectal Neoplasms ; Vena Cava, Inferior

No abstract available.
Hyperaldosteronism* ; Nephrocalcinosis*

BACKGROUND: When enzyme immunoassays (EIA) were implemented, considering the limited sensitivity of 1st generation EIAs, the Korean Red Cross (KRC) applied grey zones for detection of weak reactive samples that could lead to false negative results. Despite improved performance of assays, grey zone application is still in practice. We examined whether application of a grey zone to HCV and HIV EIAs is still necessary. METHODS: HCV and HIV EIA results, number of grey zone results, results of further testing done on grey zone samples, and NAT results from 2005 to 2012 were analyzed retrospectively using the Blood Information Management System of the KRC. RESULTS: Among 18,736,094 cases tested, 4,817 HCV (0.03%) and 5,108 HIV (0.05%) cases repeatedly had grey zone results. Twenty-eight (0.58%) HCV grey zone cases were positive on the recombinant immunoblot assay, but negative on NAT. For HIV, 3 cases were diagnosed as indeterminate by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). However these cases did not seroconvert after several years and were also negative on NAT. CONCLUSION: For HCV, since the grey zone led to detection of true anti-HCV positive cases, not detected by NAT, application of the grey zone should be continued. For HIV, since none of the grey zone cases has been diagnosed as HIV positive by the KCDC, further application of the grey zone is thought not to be necessary. Re-evaluation of the grey zone will save costs for testing, and prevent discard of blood components and loss of donors.
Blood Donors* ; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) ; HIV* ; Humans ; Immunoassay* ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Information Management ; Korea ; Mass Screening* ; Red Cross ; Retrospective Studies ; Tissue Donors