No abstract available.
Antibodies* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Root Resorption* ; Tooth Movement* ; Tooth Root* ; Tooth*

No abstract available.
Prognathism

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Spontaneous progression of severe congestive heart failure is structurally characterized by cellular degeneration and multiple foci of myocardial cell death. The cardiac troponin I (cTnI), one of the subunits of the troponin regulatory complex, binds to actin and inhibits interaction between actin and myosin. cTnI is uniquely expressed in the adult human myocardium, and an increase in its circulating levels is highly indicative of myocardial injury. In this study, we addressed the usefulness of cTnI as a sensitive and specific molecular marker for severity in patients with congestive heart failure. MethodscTnI, creatinin kinase-MB (CK-MB), and myoglobin were assessed in 59 patients with severe congestive heart failure diagnosed by the echo-cardiography and gated equilibrium blood pool heart scan. Also we assesed cTnI, creatinin kinase-MB (CK-MB), and myoglobin in 25 persons without cardiac disease in echocardiography. RESULTS: 1) The cTnI con-centration was 89.6+/-69.3 pg/mL in patients with congestive heart failure and its level was greater than that of the control group (22.4+/-17.1, p=0.001). 2) The cTnI level differed significantly according to left ventricular ejection fraction (EF), 117.3+/-73.8 pg/mL in patients with EF\<40% (28 patients), 66.3+/-44.5 pg/mL in patients with EF> or =40% (31 patients), 22.4+/-17.1 pg/mL in the control group (25 persons) (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: cTnI was useful as a specific and sensitive serum molecular marker in patients of congestive heart failure. And its level reflected the severity of congestive heart failure.
Actins ; Adult ; Cell Death ; Echocardiography ; Equidae ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP)* ; Heart ; Heart Diseases ; Heart Failure* ; Humans ; Myocardium ; Myoglobin ; Myosins ; Stroke Volume ; Troponin I* ; Troponin*

It has been shown that neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM)-induced neuronal differentiation is extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-dependent. However, an involvement of the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase (MEK), an upstream kinase of ERK, has not been directly demonstrated in this process. Therefore, we investigated whether the MEK1 plays a critical role in the NCAM-induced neuronal differentiation of hippocampal neural progenitor cells (NPCs). NPCs were transiently transfected with expression plasmids encoding activated or dominant negative (DN) forms of MEK1. The expression of DN MEK1 inhibited neuronal phenotype acquisition and soluble NCAM rescued the defect in the neuronal phenotype acquisition in DN-MEK1-transfected cells, suggesting that NCAM might contribute to the neuronal differentiation via distinct, parallel pathways including the MEK pathway. In cells expressing wild type MEK1 or constitutively active MEK1 on the other hand, the percentage of cells positive for beta-tubulin type III (Tuj1), a marker for early postmitotic neurons, was higher than seen in vector-transfected cells. These results suggest that the activation of MEK1 is required for obtaining neuronal phenotype in NPCs.
Transfection ; Stem Cells/cytology/drug effects/*metabolism ; Solubility ; Rats ; *Phenotype ; Neurons/cytology/drug effects/*metabolism ; Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules/*pharmacology ; Mutation/genetics ; MAP Kinase Kinase 1/genetics/*metabolism ; Hippocampus/cytology/drug effects/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Cells, Cultured ; Cell Differentiation ; Animals

From January 1986 to December 1991, 87 men who underwent single-layer microscopic vasovasotomy were evaluated and also 61 men were followed postoperatively. There was 90.2 (55/ 61 ) per cent return of sperm and 50.8 (31/61) per cent pregnancy using this technique. A 78.4 (24/ 31 ) per cent pregnancy rate was achieved within 8 months postoperatively. In this study there is no difference between the single-layer microscopic vasovasostomy and other microscopic vasectomy reversal in per cent of postoperatively obtaining normal sperm count and pregnancy. Since the single-layer microscopic vasovasostomy is easier, simpler, and time saving, this technique deserves further evaluation and performance.
Humans ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Sperm Count ; Spermatozoa ; Vasovasostomy*

No abstract available.
Ectopia Cordis*

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The combination of an aging population with a chronic diseased population is leading to an increase in the mortality rate due to cardiovascular diseases. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in the Korean population and to evaluate its related factors for sex differences. METHODS: From April 2007 to December 2008, a total of 2,729 volunteers aged 40-69 years living in Changwon city underwent a clinical examination at a hospital in Changwon, Korea. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed following the criteria defined in Circulation 2009. The clinical examination included measuring anthropometric variables and cardiovascular risk factors, while lifestyle factors were assessed through a questionnaire. RESULTS: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in our sampling pool was 25.2% with a break down by sex showing a rate of 30.2% in men and 22.2% in women. Related factors associated with metabolic syndrome common to both sex were age, self-health assessment, and alcohol consumption. Sleep duration seemed to be a related factor in men, while income, education, and menstruation status played significant roles in women. CONCLUSIONS: To better manage metabolic syndrome, men need to be educated on alcohol use and women of low socioeconomic status require particular attention as do the aging population and postmenopausal women.
Adult ; Aged ; Aging ; Alcohol Drinking ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Life Style ; Male ; Menstruation ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Sex Characteristics ; Social Class

BACKGROUND: Androgenetic alopecia is considered to be a genetically determined disorder influenced by age and androgen. The proportion of patients with androgenetic alopecia among the total number of patients with alopecia seems to be gradually increasing. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to find the family history, clinical and endocrine status of the patients with androgenetic alopecia. METHOD: 736 patients with androgenetic alopecia who had visited the Department of Dermatology, Yongsan and Pil-dong Hospital, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University during the last 2 years(1999.1-2000.12) were examined. RESULTS: 1) Incidence of androgenetic alopecia among the total number of alopecia patients was 75.8%. 2) There were 571 male and 165 female patients being most prevalent in the 3rd decade in male patients and in the 4th decade in female patients. 3) In male androgenetic alopecia, Norwood-Hamilton's type II was the most common and following IIIv, II, IV, IIIa, and in female patients, Ludwig's type I was most common. 4) There was a family history of baldness in 59.5% of first degree relatives in male patients and 30.9% in female patients. 5) The most common associated disorder is seborrheic dermatitis. 6) Serum testosterone levels were increased in 78 males(13.7%) and 23 females(13.9%). CONCLUSION: Based on these results, the number of young patients who visit dermatologists tends to be increasing and genetic factor, ages and abnormal androgen metabolism in scalp are affecting the development of androgenetic alopecia.
Alopecia ; Dermatitis, Seborrheic ; Dermatology ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Metabolism ; Scalp ; Testosterone

No abstract available.
Stents* ; Ureter*

Intraspinal lipomas are rare, benign neoplasms, comprising less than 1% of all intradural spinal tumors. Such tumors occur in the thoracic and cervical region, however, extension into the posterior fossa is most unusual. A case of large cervical intradural spinal liplma with extension into the posterior fossa in adult female is presented. Clinical feature was slowly progressing quadriparesis. Brain and cervical spine computed tomography confirmed the diagnosis and Magnetic resonance imaging was very useful for delineation of the anatomy of the lipoma as an aid in planning the operation. Operative therapy consisted of combined suboccipital craniectomy, spinal laminotomy and laminoplasty, subtotal tumor decompression.
Adult ; Brain ; Decompression ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; Lipoma* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Quadriplegia ; Spine