To assess the effects of regional wall motion abnormalities on left ventricular function, mitral annulus(MA) motion and left ventricular posteior wall(LVPW) motion were studied by M-mode and Doppler echocardiography in 13 normal subjects and 40 mitral valve replaced(MVR) patients. In MVR patients, mitral annulus motion showed significantly delayed contraction(DC) after A2 by 3.7+/-3.0mm in amplitude and 80+/-35 msec in time(normal control; 0.1+/-0.3mm, 35+/-15msec, p<0.01 for both) and reduction in systolic % thickening of LVPW(39.7+/-23.6 VS 63.2+/-18.4%, p<0.01). MVR patients were devied into 2 group according to the amplitude of MA motion, 4mm Group I(n=13, DC> or =4mm) showed increase epicardial excursion of LVPW compared with Group II(n=27, DC<4mm)(Group I vs Group II, 11+/-3.7 vs 8.6+/-2.6 mm, p<0.05). In mechanical prosthetic valve replaced patients(n=22), time relationship between valve opening, mitral flow, peak thining rate of LVPW and valve peak excursion were studied also and the phase difference that are observed in normal subjects, were lost. We interpreted these delayed contraction of mitral annulus motion and epicardial motion increment as muscle fiber architectural abnormalities which might effect on MVR patients as a factor of left ventricular systolic and diastolic dysfunction.
Echocardiography, Doppler ; Humans ; Mitral Valve* ; Ventricular Function, Left

Authors analysed systolic pressure-volume-stress relations by combined echo-pressure-cineangiographic measurement in 10 normal subjects(Group I) and 37 patients with chronic valvular heart diseases. Patients with chronic valvular heart diseases were divided into 3 groups : Group II ; mitral stenosis(n=9), Group III ; mitral stenosis with aortic regurgitation(n=19). The aims of this study are to find useful left ventricular(LV) contractility indices and evaluate left ventricular contractility at various volume loading states. Studied LV contractility indices were maximal elastance of isovolumic contraction(Eiso), endsystolic pressure-volume ratio(Ees) and slope of regression line in late systolic stress-volume loop(A). Eiso was estimated using an isovolumic contraction model of Sunagawa and A was analysed in a single ejecting beat. Endsystolic volume index(ESVI), end diastolic volume index(EDVI), stress at peak pressure(Speak), cardiac index, Vmax, mean Vcf and ejection fraction were determined also. The obtained results were as follows. 1) Significant correlations were found in whole group(n=47) between Eiso and Ees(r=0.88, P<0.005), Elso and cardiac index(r=0.83, P<0.005), Ees and CI(r=<0.76, p<0.005). Further, these correlation coefficiencies were not different between any two groups of Group I, Group II, Group III, Grouop IV and whole group (p<0.05); that is Eiso or Ees had a constant significance at various loading state. 2) Significant correlation between A and cardiac index was noted in Group I+II+III(n=28, r=0.48, p<0.01), but this correlation coefficiency was significantly different from that of Group IV(n=19, r=0.08); p<0.05. 3) In Group II(patients with mitral stenosis), cardiac index* and EDVI* and stress at peak pressure** were decreased significantly(*:p<0.05, **:p<0.005). But Eiso, Ees, A and all the other idices were not decreased. These findings suggested that left ventricular contractility is not reduced in mitral stenosis. 4) In Group IV(patients with amitral regurgitation with or without aortic regurgitation), **EDVI and ESVI** were increased while Eiso**, Ees, Vmax*, mean Vcf* and cardiac index** were decreased significantly. But ejection fraction and A were not decrease. These findings suggested that ejection fraction and A may not be decreased at volume overload, despite of impaired left ventricular contractility. In summary; Eiso or Ees was evaluated as an useful contractility index which appeared not to be influenced by various volume loading state, while eiection fraction and A to be influenced. Patients with mitral stenosis as a group have reduced cardiac performance which is not due to impairment of left ventricular contractility(muscle function) but to reduced preload.
Constriction, Pathologic ; Heart Valve Diseases* ; Humans ; Mitral Valve Stenosis

Early diastolic left ventricular relaxation was determined in 20 patients by combined echopressure measurement. 7 normal control cases and 13 cases with valvular regurgitation were studied with reference to incremental delta elastance. The hemodynamic and echocardiographic data were analysed during the phase of decreasing left ventricular elastance (that is, when pressure is decreasing while volume is increasing). Starting from a fixed level of wall stress (40 kdyne/cm2), we determined Incremental Delta Elastance(ratio big up tri, Delta p/big up tri, Delta V) by a constant increase in LV volume(eg. 10 ml/M2 or 20 ml/M2). We named Incremental Delta Elastance at 10 ml/M2 and 20 ml/M2 of LV volume increase as d-E 10 and d-E 20 respectively. In valvular regurgitation, incremental delta elastances were statistically different from those of normal subjects(p<0.01). d-E10 was -1.67+/-0.69(versus -3.38+/-1.75 in normal subjects) mmHgm2/ml and d-E20 was -0.98+/-0.39(versus -1.69+/-0.84 in normal subjects) mmHgm2/ml. d-E 10 and d-E20 were compared with ejection phase indices(ejection fraction, meanVcf) in whole group(n=20). There was significant correlation between d-E and ejection fraction(d-E10 : r=-0.47, d-E20:r=-0.50) p<0.05. There was significant correlation between d-E and meanVcf(d-E10: r=0.53, d-E20: r=-0.57) p<0.05. d-E10 and d-E20 were compared with volume indices(end-diastolic volume index and end-systolic volume index) but no significant correlation was found. Because we evaluated that inotropic state or afterload would influence incremental delta elastance, further study, especially with reference to endsystolic volume index may be needed. The absolute values between d-E10 and d-E20 were different but they were simliar in property. We concluded that incremental delta elastance(d-E10 or d-E20) could be used as a useful index of early diastolic relaxation in chronic valvular regurgitation.
Echocardiography ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Relaxation*

BACKGROUND: The generation of the invasiveness in transfromed cells represents an essential step of tumor progression. The primary cause of the scattering of the cells in invasive carcinoma is a loss of the integrity of the intercellular adherens junction often involving loss of a functional cell-cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin. Therefore, the perturbation of E-cadherin function causes diaggregation of tumor cells and may promote the invasion and metastases. OBJECTIVE: The reduction in E-cadherin activity seems to correlate with the infiltrative ability of tumor cells. The purpose of this study was to compare the E-cadherin expression among different cell lines which were normal to undifferentiated and to check the virtual relationaship between E-cadherin and invasiveness. METHODS: We used 5 cell lines, HaCaT, A431, C3, SiHa and HeLa cell. To check the expression patterns and amounts of E-cadherin in each cell line, immunofluorescence staining, Western blot anlysis and Northern blot analysis were done. An in vitro invasion assay using the collagen gel and MRC-5 fibroblast under the influence of HECD-1 antibody which block the E-cadherin function was done to measure the invasiveness of tumor cells. Collagenase activity in culture supernatants of each cell were analyzed by zymography. RESULTS: Immunofluorescence staining revealed a homogenously well preserved pattern in HaCat, A431, C3 cells. SiHa cells showed patch distribution but HeLa cells did not express the E-cadherin. Western blot analysis and Northern blot results largely corresponded with the immunofluorescence results. The in vitro invasion assay revealed invasion into the collagen matrix of the HeLa cells. When HECD-1 antibody was added to the medium, other cells showed partially disrupted stratification. The collagenolytic activity at 72 kDa sixe was detected in the HeLa cell line only. CONCLUSION: There is an inverse relationship between E-cadherin expression and tumor invasion. Therefore, through their regulation of cell adhesion and motility, cadherin plays a crucial role in the suppression of tumor invasion and metastasis.
Adherens Junctions ; Blotting, Northern ; Blotting, Western ; Cadherins* ; Cell Adhesion ; Cell Line* ; Collagen ; Collagenases ; Fibroblasts ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Neoplasm Metastasis

Proliferative fasciitis is a benign pseudosarcomatous mesenchymal lesion occurring in the subcutis. The lesion occurs clinically as a tumorous mass that develops within a rather short time in elderly patients. We recently experiecened a case of fine needle aspiration cytology of proliferative fasciitis in the left anterior chest wall of a 72 year-old male patient. The smear revealed two types of cells. One was the large and mostly oval cell with one or two nuclei lying at the periphery of the cell body and abundant basophilic cytoplasm like the ganglion cell. The nuclei were round to oval, had vesicular chromatin and contained prominent nucleoli. The other was the spindle shaped fibroblast with an oval nucleus. The differential diagnosis includes a true tumor such as ganglioneuroma, rhabdomyosarcoma, and liposarcoma and therefore fine needle aspiration cytology is very much indicated in order to exclude these possibilities.
Actinomycosis ; Aged ; Basophils ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Chromatin ; Cytoplasm ; Deception ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Fasciitis ; Fibroblasts ; Ganglion Cysts ; Ganglioneuroma ; Hematuria* ; Humans ; Intrauterine Devices ; Liposarcoma ; Male ; Mass Screening* ; Rhabdomyosarcoma ; Thoracic Wall

No abstract available.
Humans

No abstract available.
Adenocarcinoma ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Scrotum

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome*

A prospective study had been performed in infants with hydronephrosis due to ureteropelvic junction stenosis to determine adequate management plan. Forty infants (47 renal units) were selected for the study during the period from January 1995 to July 1997 in the Department of Pediatrics, Asan Medical Center. They were diagnosed prenatally or early postnatally (<3 months of age) on the basis of renal ultrasonography and techotium-99m-mercap- toacetyltriglycerine (MAG3) scan. The antero-poste- rior pelvic diameter (APPD) was measured from serial renal ultrasonography and relative renal function and clearance half time (T1/2) were calculated from serial MAG3 scan. Those who had accompanying other urogenital anomalies or vesicoureteral reflux were excluded in this study. Follow-up tests (ultrasonography and MAG3 scan) and surgical corrections, if necessary, were performed according to the predetermined algorithrn. The male to female ratio was 3: 1. Hydronephrosis was involved the left side in 24 renal units, the right side in 9 renal units, and the bilateral sides in 14 renal units. All the hydronephrotic renal units were divided into 2 groups; Group A (19 renal units) those had taken surgical correction, and group B (28 renal units) those revealed spontaneous improvement without surgical correction. The mean follow-up duration was 7.2+/-6.3 months in group A and 14.1+/-12.6 months in group B. The mean APPD in the first postnatal renal ultrasonography was 19.4+6.8 mm in group A and 10.0+/-3.0mm in group B and this was statistically significant (P<0.01). The rela- tive renal function of group A in the first MAG3 scan was under 35% in 7 renal units and over 35M in 12 renal units. In group B, the relative renal function was over 35% in the all 28 renal units. Tl/2 in the first MAG3 scan was longer than 20 minutes in the all 19 renal units in group A. In group B, Tl/2 was shorter than 10 minutes in 15 renal units, between 10 minutes and 20 minutes in 6 renal units, and longer than 20 rninutes in 7 renal units. The mean APPD of the 7 renal units in group B of which Tl/2 was longer than 20 minutes was 12.62.6mm and that of group A was 19.4+/-6.8mrn and this was statistically significant (P<0.01). In conclusion, the renal ultrasonography and MAG3 scan can be used effectively to determine the degree of the stenosis of the ureteropelvic junction in hydronephosis during infancy. When the babies are diagnosed with hydronephrosis due to ureteropelvic junction stenosis in the early infantile period, serial renal ultrasonography and MAG3 scan play an important role in the decision of the management.
Chungcheongnam-do ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis* ; Infant ; Male ; Pediatrics ; Ultrasonography* ; Vesico-Ureteral Reflux