Constrictive pericarditis is caused by fibrosis of the pericardium leading to decrease in ventricular compliance. The diagnosis is often delayed due to nonspecific signs and symptoms. The authors experienced eight cases of constrictive pericarditis detected on chest CT scan while being treated for considerable length of time under the clinical impressions of intrathoracic tumor, tuberculous pleural effusion, liver cirrhosis, etc. Constrictive hemodynamics of these patients were confirmed by echocardiogram and cardiac catheterization. Among them five cases were due to tuberculosis. In four cases with pathologically proven tuberculous granuloma, the pericardium was markedly thickened and intensely enhanced. Associated pericardial effusion (n=3), and mediastinal lymphadenitis (n=3) were present, but pericardial calcifications were not seen. On the other hand, the fibrosis group (n=3) displayed mild pericardial thickening. All the three patients showed pericardial calcifications, mild or absent enhancement of pericardium, but no mediastinal lymphadenitis. The cardiovascular changes such as inferior or superior vena caval distension, left ventricular deformity, interventricular septum angulation, and biatrial enlargements were more severe than those in patients with active granuloma. In patients with constrictive pericarditis with nonspecific signs and symptoms, CT scan is very helpful in making the diagnosis and can give informations about the evolution of the disease.
Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Compliance ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Diagnosis* ; Fibrosis ; Granuloma ; Hand ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Lymphadenitis ; Pericardial Effusion ; Pericarditis, Constrictive* ; Pericardium ; Pleural Effusion ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tuberculosis

Constrictive pericarditis is caused by fibrosis of the pericardium leading to decrease in ventricular compliance. The diagnosis is often delayed due to nonspecific signs and symptoms. The authors experienced eight cases of constrictive pericarditis detected on chest CT scan while being treated for considerable length of time under the clinical impressions of intrathoracic tumor, tuberculous pleural effusion, liver cirrhosis, etc. Constrictive hemodynamics of these patients were confirmed by echocardiogram and cardiac catheterization. Among them five cases were due to tuberculosis. In four cases with pathologically proven tuberculous granuloma, the pericardium was markedly thickened and intensely enhanced. Associated pericardial effusion (n=3), and mediastinal lymphadenitis (n=3) were present, but pericardial calcifications were not seen. On the other hand, the fibrosis group (n=3) displayed mild pericardial thickening. All the three patients showed pericardial calcifications, mild or absent enhancement of pericardium, but no mediastinal lymphadenitis. The cardiovascular changes such as inferior or superior vena caval distension, left ventricular deformity, interventricular septum angulation, and biatrial enlargements were more severe than those in patients with active granuloma. In patients with constrictive pericarditis with nonspecific signs and symptoms, CT scan is very helpful in making the diagnosis and can give informations about the evolution of the disease.
Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Compliance ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Diagnosis* ; Fibrosis ; Granuloma ; Hand ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Lymphadenitis ; Pericardial Effusion ; Pericarditis, Constrictive* ; Pericardium ; Pleural Effusion ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tuberculosis

The safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of an oral cholera vaccine (OCV) was assessed in adult Korean male through an open-label, non-comparative clinical study. Two doses of vaccine with an interval of 2 weeks were given to 20 healthy subjects. A total of 7 adverse events occurred in 6 subjects. However, no clinically significant change was observed in electrocardiograms, vital signs, physical examinations, and clinical laboratory tests. The immunogenicity of OCV was evaluated by serum vibriocidal assay where anti-Vibrio cholerae O1 and O139 antibodies were measured at day 0, 14, and 28 of vaccine administration. The antibody titers ranged from < 2.5-5,120 for V. cholerae O1 Inaba, < 2.5-10,240 for V. cholerae O1 Ogawa and < 2.5-480 for V. cholerae O139. In addition, the fold increase in antibody titers ranged from 1-4,096 for O1 Inaba, 1-8,192 for O1 Ogawa, and 1-384 for O139. The seroconversion rate was 95% and 45% for O1 and O139 antibodies, respectively. Our study clearly shows that administration of two doses of OCV at a 2 week-interval increases an appropriate level of antibody titer in the serum of healthy Korean adult males (Clinical Trial Number, NCT01707537).
Administration, Oral ; Adult ; Antibodies, Bacterial/*blood/immunology ; Antibody Formation ; Cholera/*prevention & control ; Cholera Vaccines/adverse effects/*immunology ; Creatine Kinase/blood ; Humans ; Male ; Republic of Korea ; Toothache/etiology ; Vibrio cholerae O1/immunology

BACKGROUND: Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is one of the most common inherited disorders and is characterized by abnormalities in multiple tissues derived from the neural crest. OBJECTIVES: We analyzed the presence of mutations of NF1 gene in unrelated 56 Korean NF-1 patients. METHODS: Mutations were detected by polymerase chain reaction, single strand conformational polymorphism analysis and direct DNA sequencing. RESULTS: We found five different kinds of mutations in the NF1 gene from 5 out of 56 unrelated Korean NF1 patients. Sequence analysis revealed a nucleotide substitution at codon 1276 of exon 22 (CGA to TGA, R1276X), 4 by insertion at codon 1270 of exon 22 (3809 ins TGGA), a base pair deletion at codon 1398 of exon 24 (4192 del G), 4 by deletion at codon 1638 of exon 28 (4914 del CTCT), and a base pair substitution at codon 1947 of exon 31 (CGA to TGA, R1947X). All of these mutations resulted in premature termination of the mutant alleles. CONCLUSION: Results showed that common consequences of NF1 mutations are introduction of a premature stop codon, and these mutant genes may encode truncated forms of neurofibromin.
Alleles ; Base Pairing ; Codon ; Codon, Nonsense ; Exons ; Genes, Neurofibromatosis 1* ; Humans ; Neural Crest ; Neurofibromatoses* ; Neurofibromatosis 1* ; Neurofibromin 1 ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

BACKGROUND: To find compatible rare bloods, the Korean Red Cross (KRC) blood center is currently testing many units randomly selected from the units in storage. Since this procedure is usually very time-consuming, it is necessary to establish a new donor management system for the rare blood types. METHODS: We evaluated 261 units of red blood cells (RBCs), which were supplied as compatible bloods to the requests of hospitals in 2003. RESULTS: A total of 14 hospitals requested 248 units of compatible RBCs for their 39 patients through 64 occasions and 261 units were supplied. The blood types of 35 patients were identified using the medical records of the hospitals. A total of 19 kinds of specific antigens were negative and, among them, 10 kinds of single specific antigens were negative and 9 kinds of multiple antigens were negative. The frequencies of the negative antigens were C+e(17.9%), E+c(10.3%) and Jka(10.3%), respectively. The number of tested blood units was 1,894 and the rate of compatibility was 13.8%. The mean age of 257 blood donors was 22.5 and, among them, 220 donors (85.6%) were multiple donors with 7.5 collections on average. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the rare blood type donor registration system is necessary and suggest the following preconditions. First, the results of compatible blood test and irregular antibody screening test for the blood donor need to be registered automatically by the blood information management system(BIMS). Second, the test system should be improved to enhance the irregular antibody detection rate. Third, establishment of a frozen-thawing system for RBCs is needed. Fourth, the donors need to be informed of the results of their rare blood type, if any, including irregular antibody. Fifth, a new organization should be established to manage the rare blood type donor registration system. Finally, well cooperation with hospitals and KRC blood center is needed to ensure the stability of blood service for rare blood type RBCs.
Blood Donors ; Erythrocytes ; Hematologic Tests ; Humans ; Information Management ; Mass Screening ; Medical Records ; Red Cross ; Tissue Donors*

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to identify the predictive factors in the early laboratory findings for cardiac sequelae in Kawasaki disease(KD). METHODES: A retrospective review of the records was conducted of all children with KD who were admitted to the Ulsan Dongkang General Hospital, Masan Samsung Hospital, and Gyeongsang National University Hospital between January 1995 and December 1999. We analyzed and compared the early laboratory findings between the patients with and without coronary artery dilatation. RESULTS: A total of 981 patients were divided into two groups : 826 patients(84.3%) with normal coronary artery and 155 patients(15.7%) with coronary artery dilatation. Age and sex were not significantly different between the two groups. The mean serum C-reactive protein(CRP) in the coronary artery dilatation group and in the normal coronary artery group were 5.0 mg/dl(+/-5.3) and 4.1 mg/dl(+/-5.0), respectively, with a significant difference(P<0.05), whereas the other early laboratory findings had no difference between the groups. CONCLUSION: This study shows that the early serum CRP was higher in patients with KD who had coronary artery dilatation than in those with normal coronary artery. There may be a strong possibility of cardiac sequelae at a high level of serum CRP. However, the cut-off value of serum CRP could not be determined for the prediction of cardiac sequelae in patients with KD.
Child ; Coronary Vessels ; Dilatation ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome* ; Retrospective Studies ; Staphylococcal Protein A* ; Ulsan

No abstract available.
Acidosis, Renal Tubular* ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic*

Uterine anomalies have been reported in 4% of women with infertility and in up to 15% of those with recurrent abortion. One of the major intrauterine disorder associated with infertility and recurrent abortions is intrauterine septum, The reproductive outcome of 41 patients of intrauterine septum (7 complete, 34 incomplete) with repeated abortions or infertility was assessed after the uterine septotomy. 5 of 7 patients with comlete uterine septum undergone uterine septotomy (3; hysteroscopic metroplasty, 2; abdominal metroplasty) had total 6 pregnancies and all of them had live biths. 28 patients with incomplete uterine septum got the hysteroscopic intrauterine septotomy and the viable pregnancy rate was 62% (3 ongoing pregnancies, 13 live biths of total 26 pregnancies). 6 patients with incomplete uterine septum had not the operation and 5 patients had 5 live births after total 6 pregnancies with 1 spontaneus abortion. Even though, the number of cases were small, the live birth rate in the group of septotomy of the patients of complete uterine septum (100%, 6/6) was higher than that in the group of not-done (50%, 1/2). The live birth rate in the group of not-done of the patients with incomplete uterine septum (83%, 5/6) was higher than that in the group of hysteroscopic uterine septotomy (62%, 16/26), but 5 of 6 had short uterine septal length (<1 cm), 1 had 1.5 cm septal length in the group of not-done. All the patients with successful pregnancy outcome had no other co-factors at the diagnostic laparoscopy, but the 5 primary infertility patients with no live birth even after treatment (all were with incomplete septum; 3 undergone hysteroscopic septotomy, 2 not-done with one abortion) had other co-factors such as endometriosis, peritoneal or tubal facor. In conclusion, hysteroscopic uterine septotomy would be useful for the patients with habitutal abortion or infertility and more advanced managemnet protocols should be applied to the patients having other co-factors if there was no pregnancy even after the uterine septotomy.
Abortion, Habitual* ; Endometriosis ; Female ; Humans ; Hysteroscopy* ; Infertility* ; Laparoscopy ; Live Birth ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy Rate

BACKGROUND: Ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation can induce apoptosis of melanocytes and melanoma cells. However, mechanism of UVB-induced apoptosis of melanoma cells is not clarified yet. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to study the molecular mechanism of UVB-induced apoptosis of melanoma cells. METHODS: G361 lightly pigmented melanoma cells were analyzed for apoptotic mechanism by flow cytometry and western blotting. RESULTS: G361 melanoma cells showed apoptotic features with gradual increment of UVB doses by MTT and flow cytometry. Western blotting disclosed activation of caspase-3 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) after UVB irradiation. CONCLUSION: In this study, we showed that UVB-induced apoptosis of melanoma cells is mediated by PARP activation which is induced by caspase cascade.
Apoptosis* ; Blotting, Western ; Caspase 3 ; Caspases* ; Cell Line* ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans* ; Melanocytes ; Melanoma*

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study are 1) to determine if GAST is a better indicator in predicting ovarian response to COH compared with patient's age or basal FSH level and 2) to evaluate its role in detecting abnormal ovarian response. DESIGN : Prospective study in 118 patients undergoing IVF-ET using GnRH-a short protocol during May-September 1995. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After blood sampling for basal FSH and estradiol (E2) on cycle day two, 0.5 ml (0.525 mg) GnRH agonist (Suprefact, Hoechst) was injected subcutaneously. Serum E2 was measured 24 hours later. Initial E2 difference (deltaE2) was defined as the change in E2 on day 3 over the baseline day 2 value. Sixteen patients with ovarian cyst or single ovary or incorrect blood collection time were excluded from the analysis. The patients were divided into three groups by deltaE2; group A (n=30):deltaE2<40 pg/ml, group B (n=52): 40 pg/ml< or =deltaE2<100 pg/ml, group C (n=20): deltaE2< or =100 pg/ml. COH was done by GnRH agonist/HMG/hCG and IVF-EF was followed. Ratio of E2 on day of hCG injection over the number of ampules of gonadotropins used (E2hCGday/Amp) was regarded as ovarian responsiveness. Poor ovarian response and overstimulation were defined as E2 hCGday less than 600 pg/ml and greater than 5000 pg/ml, respectively. RESULTS: Mean age (+/-SEM) in group A, B and C were 33.7+/-0.8*, 31.5 +/-0.6 and 30.6+/-0.5*, respectively (*: p<0.05). Mean basal FSH level of group A (11.1+/-1.1 mIU/ml) was significantly higher than those of B (7.4+/- 0.2 mIU/ml) and C (6.8+/-0.4 mIU/ml) 0<0.001). Mean E2hCGday of group A was significantly lower than those of group B or C, i.e., 1402.1+/-187.7 pg/ml, 3153.2+/- 240.0 pg/ml, 4078.8+/-306.4 pg/ml respectively (p<0.0001). The number of ampules of gonadotropins used in group A was significantly greater than those in group B or C: 38.6+/-2.3, 24.2+/-1.1 and 18.5+/-1.0 (p<0.0001). The number of oocytes retrieved in group A was significantly smaller than those in group B or C: 6.4+/-1.1, 15.5+/-1.1 and 18.6+/-1.6, respectively (p<0.0001). By stepwise multiple regression, only deltaE2 showed a significant correlation (r=0.68, p<0.0001) with E2HCGday/Amp, while age or basal FSH level were not significant. Likewise, only deltaE2 correlated significantly with the number of oocytes retrieved (r=0.57, p<0.001). All four patients whose COH was canceled due to poor ovarian response belonged to group A only (Fisher's exact test, p<0.01). Whereas none of 30 patients in group A (0%) had overstimulation, 14 patients among 72 patients (19.4%) in group B and C had overstimulation (Fisher's exact test, p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that initial E2 difference after GAST may be a better prognostic indicator of ovarian response to COH than age or basal FSH level. Since initial E2 difference demonstrates significant association with abnormal ovarian response such as poor ovarian response necessitating cycle cancellation or overstimulation, GAST may be helpful in monitoring and consultation of patients during COH in IVF-ET cycle.
Estradiol ; Female ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone* ; Gonadotropins ; Humans ; Oocytes ; Ovarian Cysts ; Ovary ; Ovulation Induction* ; Prospective Studies