Porokeratosis are characterized by distinct clinical findings of a keratotic ridge that corresponds to the cornoid lamella on histology and has well defined potential for malignancy. We report a case of basal cell carcinoma(BCC) arising in linear porokeratosis in a 77-yearold man.
Carcinoma, Basal Cell* ; Porokeratosis*

BACKGROUND: It is well known that ischemic preconditioning protects the heart against infarction or arrhythmias from a subsequent ischemic injury. Recent laboratory data indicate that the adenosine during the ischemic period may trigger protection via A1 or A3 adenosine receptor and also protein kinase C(PKC) plays a central role. This study was designed to determine the role of adenosine receptor subtypes and PKC in the preconditioning protection. METHODS: All cat heart groups were subjected to 40min ischemia and 30min reperfusion. The preconditioning protocol consists of 4min ischemia and then 10min of reperfusion 4 times. The effects of ischemic preconditioning, nonselective adenosine receptor blocker(SPT), an A1 specific antagonist(DPCPX) and protein kinase C inhibitor(Polymyxin B), on ischemic preconditioning were determined by infarction size. There were 5 groups : (1) control group (Group 1, n=10)(2) Ischemic preconditioned group(Group 2, n=9)(3) DPCPX pretreatment group(Group 3, n=6)(4) SPT preteatment group(Group 3, n=6)(5) Polymyxin B pretreatment group(Group 5, n=6). SPT and DPCPX were given intravenously 5 min before ischemic preconditioning. Polymyxin B was administered to cats for 30min during ischemic preconditioning period. RESULTS: Ischemic preconditioning only or pretreatment with DPCPX prior to preconditioning demonstrated a significant reduction in infarct size(22.6+/-1.5, 25.4+/-0.9% infarction of the risk zone, respectively, p<0.05) with respect to control, SPT-pretreatment, and polymyxin B-pretreatment groups(44.0+/-1.7, 43.0+/-2.0 and 40.3+/-0.4% infarction of the risk zone, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Ischemic preconditioning protects heart from subsequent ischemia. Protection was blocked by SPT and protein kinase C inhibitor(polymyxin B), but not by A1 antagonist DPCPX. The cardioprotective effects by ischemic preconditioning in the in vivo cat heart appear to be dependent on A3 adenosine receptors and activation of protein kinase C.
Adenosine* ; Animals ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Cats* ; Heart* ; Infarction ; Ischemia ; Ischemic Preconditioning* ; Polymyxin B ; Polymyxins ; Protein Kinase C* ; Protein Kinases* ; Receptors, Purinergic P1* ; Reperfusion

BACKGROUND: It is well known that intracoronary thrombolysis during the early period of acute myocardial infarction leads to the limitation of myocardial necrosis, preserves left ventricular function, and improves survivals. The recanalization rate of intracoronary rrokinase infusion into infarct-related coronary artery was known as 62-94 percents in previos studies. The various factors influence the outcome of intracoronary thrombolysis, including total dose of urokinase, time from onsrt of chest pain to thrombolysis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the occlusion site morphology influences recanalization rates of intracoronary thrombolysis. METHODS: We evaluated infarct-related coronary artery morphology of 56 acute mycardial infarction patients who performed intracoronary thrombolytic therapy within 6-12 hours after the onset of acute myocardial infarction. Intracoronary urokinase infusion was performed at a rate of 25000 IU/minute. The presence of calcification, collaterals, side branches and the stump site morphologies(thrombus type, pencil type, cutting type) were identified on magnified 35mm cine frames. RESULTS: Reperfusion was successed in 34 patients and failed in 22 patients. There were no statistically significant difference in the pressure of calcification, collaterals, and side branches between success and failure groups. Intracoronary thrombus was identified in 21 percent of success group, but not in failure group. The reperfusion rates according to stump site morphology were 76% in thrombus type, 58% in cutting type, and 42% in pencil type(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Our study indicates the presence of intracoronary thrombus and the morphology of thrombus type is more effective in intracoronary thrombolysis in acute myocardial infarction. The identification of types of the coronary obstruction will be helpful for the selection of intracoronary thrombolysis in acute myocardial infarction patients. And the results suggest that the difference of stump composition show different stump morphologies.
Chest Pain ; Coronary Vessels* ; Humans ; Infarction ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Necrosis ; Reperfusion ; Thrombolytic Therapy ; Thrombosis ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator ; Ventricular Function, Left

The coronary artery fistula from right coronary artery to left ventricle is a rare disease among coronary artery anomaly. We experienced three cases of rare coronary fistula and report with literature review. Although symptoms of coronary artery fistula are associated with arteriovenous shunt and coronary steal phenomenon, many cases are asymptomatic. In this report, all patients had no symptom. but incidental murmur was noted (two are continuous, one is diastolic rumbling). The diagnosis was made by transthoracic or transesophageal echocardiogram and selective coronary angiography. Because patients were relatively young and the diameter of dilated coronary artery were huge, we perfomed operation on three patients.
Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Vessels* ; Diagnosis ; Fistula* ; Heart Ventricles* ; Humans ; Rare Diseases

Congenital constricting band of the trunk is a rare malformation with a wide spectrum of associated congenital anomalies. A 3-year-old boy with a congenital constricting band around the waist and anterior thigh and clubfoot deformity is reported. Laboratory test and chest and abdominal X-ray examination were within normal limits and unremarkable. Histopathologic examination revealed compact fibrocollagenous bundles in deep dermis. The compact fibrocollagenous bundles are parallel to the skin surface and have thin wavy nuclei. We think these bundles caused annular constriction on the trunk. We follow up the patient regularly without specific treatment because the constricting band caused no functional impairment and hypertrophic scar had developed at the biopsy site.
Biopsy ; Child, Preschool ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic ; Clubfoot ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Constriction ; Dermis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Skin ; Thigh ; Thorax

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery spasm plays an important role in the pathogenesis of not only variant angina but also other forms of angina,acute myocardial infarction, and sudden death. However precise mechanisms by which coronary spasms occur remains unknown. The role of increased coronary artery tone as a part of pathogenesis of conary spasm and relation to the severity of coronary artery disease are still controversial. Thus we underwent this study to investigate the role of increased coronary artery tone as a part of pathogenesis of conary spasm and realtion to the severity of coronary artery disease. METHODS: Intracoronary acetylcholine and isosorbide dintrate were used as a spasm-provocative agent and vasodilator respectively. We analyzed 176 vessels(69 right coronary artery, 58 left anterior descending coronary artery, 49 left circumflex coronary artery) of 75 patients admitted for evaluation of chest pain syndrome. Among the 176 vessels, spasm occurred in 39 vessels of 25 patients. RESULTS: 1)Coronary artery spasm occured in 30.4%(21/69), 17.2%(10/58), 16.3%(8/49) of right coronary artery, left anterior descending coronary artery, left circumflex coronary artery respectively. 2) There is no relationship between angiographically visible minimal coronary artery disease and occurrence of spasm provoked by acetylcholine. 3) There was no significant difference of coronary risk factor predicting coronary spasm between two groups. 4) There is more significant % vasodilation by isosorbide dintrate(ISDDN) occurred din both the spastic and nonspastic arterial segment of vasospastic angina group than no spasm group(30.2%, 28.4% vs 14.2%, p<0.05). 5) Degree of % vasodilation by ISDN was more significantly larger in vasospastic angina group than no spasm group despite the presence of same amount of angiographically visible minimal coronary artery disease(38.3% vs 12.5%, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: These findings suggests that the occurrence of conronary artery spasm is not related to minimal coronary artery disease. Increased coronary artery tone observed only in vasospastic angina group may be part of pathogenesis of coronary spasm.
Acetylcholine* ; Arteries ; Chest Pain ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vessels* ; Death, Sudden ; Humans ; Isosorbide ; Muscle Spasticity ; Myocardial Infarction ; Risk Factors ; Spasm ; Vasodilation

The hand is complex embryological organ and the supernumerary digit is one of the most common congenital anomalies of the upper limbs. We report a premature female with congenital grotesque mass on her left hand that was found roentgenographically and histopathologically to be composed of infarcted cartilage structure. The patient had also congenital heart disease. We treated it with total excision.
Cartilage ; Female ; Hand ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Humans ; Necrosis ; Upper Extremity

BACKGROUND: Among the various mechanisms of Myocardial reperfusion injuries, neutrophil is thought to be one of them. Endogenous coronary vasodilator adenosine is known to have myocardial protective effect through variable pharmacologic action, influencing the function of several cell types involved in the pathogenesis of myocardial reperfusion injury. This study was designed to determine the beneficial effect of adenosine on the left ventricular function during reperfusion and whether this effect is due to the adenosine on the role of neutrophil. METHODS: 27 open-chest cats were randomly divided into 3 groups. 6 cats received ischemic injury without reperfusion(group 1). 21 cats were subjected to 60 minutes of proximal left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion followed by a 60-minute reperfusion. 11 of 21 cats received intravenous adenosine(0.15mg/Kg/min) infusion starting 5 minutes before reperfusion throughout the entire period(group 3). 10 cats received equal volume of saline instead of adenosine(group 2). RESULTS: 1) During the experimental period, significant decrease of heart rate, blood pressure, RPI, negative dP/dT and increase of LVEDP were noted in group 2 and 3 with no difference between the two groups. The reduction of positve dP/dT was more significant in group 2 at 30 and 60 minute of reperfusion than the preocclusion value(1404+/-111, 1631+/-161 vs 1832+/-169mmHg/sec at baseline, p<0.05). In contrast, positive dP/dT in group 3 at 30 and 60 minute of reperfusion were similar to baseline values(1890+/-92, 2052+/-112 vs 2025+/-227mmHg/sec at baseline, p=NS). These were significantly higher(p<0.05) than untreated group 2. 2) Infarct size was significantly reduced in adenosine-treated group 3, when expressed as a percentage of the area at risk(28.4+/-3.3% vs 44.5+/-3.2% of group 2, p<0.05). The significant increase in myeloperoxidase activity observed after reperfusion was not detected in adenosine treated group 3.(0.18+/-0.05 vs 0.46+/-0.09 unit/100mg wet tissue weight, p<0.05). A significant correlation was present between infarct size (% of left ventricle) and myeloperoxidase activity(r=0.72, p<0.01). 3) Light microscopic examination demonstrated the decreased acute interstitial and intra vascular inflammatory infiltration and capillary plugging together with decreased tendency of incidence of contraction band necrosis in adenosine treated group 3. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that intravenous administration of adenosine during the early reperfusion period significantly reduces infarct size, improving the early recovery of global ventricular function. The probable cause is the effect of adenosine on neutrophil as one of the various protective mechanisms of adenosine in feline heart model subjected to coronary occlusion and reperfusion, 60 minutes each.
Adenosine* ; Administration, Intravenous ; Animals ; Blood Pressure ; Capillaries ; Cats ; Coronary Occlusion ; Coronary Vessels ; Heart Rate ; Heart* ; Incidence ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury* ; Myocardial Reperfusion* ; Necrosis ; Neutrophils ; Peroxidase ; Reperfusion ; Reperfusion Injury ; Ventricular Function ; Ventricular Function, Left

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the correlation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) concentrations in follicular fluid (FF) with the ovarian response as well as the age in women undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH). METHODS: This study was performed in 72cycles who underwent COH for in vitro fertilization at infertility clinic of Changwon Hanmaeum Hospital and Pusan National University Hospital from Aug., 2003 to Dec., 2003. Each FF was collected at the oocyte retrieval according to the follicular size and VEGF concentrations in FF were assessed. We analyzed the correlation of VEGF concentrations in FF with ovarian response as well as the age in women undergoing COH. RESULTS: In 72cycles, the clinical pregnancy rate was 37.5% (27cycles). There were no significant differences in patient's age, ampules of gonadotropin used, estradiol (E2) level on the day of hCG administration, the number of oocyte retrieved, and fertilization rate between pregnant and nonpregnant groups. However, positive correlation was found between the follicular size and VEGF concentrations in FF in pregnant and nonpregnant groups. No significant correlation was found between age and VEGF concentrations in FF. There were no significant differences in the VEGF concentrations in FF between pregnant and nonpregnant women by age. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that VEGF concentrations in FF cannot be the marker for the prediction of ovarian response, and have no correlation with all parameters of COH including patients' age with exception for the follicular size.
Busan ; Estradiol ; Female ; Fertilization ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Follicular Fluid* ; Gonadotropins ; Gyeongsangnam-do ; Humans ; Infertility ; Oocyte Retrieval ; Oocytes ; Pregnancy Rate ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*

Carcinoma of the parathyroid gland is rare, comprising only 0.1% to 5% of all patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. It presents with severe hypercalcemia, bone disease, palpable neck mass, renal involvement and etc. Since the initial operation offers the best chance for cure, preoperative localization and intraoperative recognition of parathyroid cancer are essential. Recently parathyroid imaging has been described with 99mTc-sestamibi as an alternative to 201Tl. This newer agent has many physical and dosirnetric advantages and represents higher detection sensitivity than 201Tl-99mTc subtraction scan. We experienced a 41-year-old man presenting with recurrent hyperparathyroidism in spite of 2 previous operations. In preoperative localization, there was no abnormal uptake in 201Tl-99mTc subtraction scan but 99mTc-sestamibi scan revealed metastatic foci on right cervical area. He was successfully treated with modified radical neck dissection.
Adult ; Bone Diseases ; Humans ; Hypercalcemia ; Hyperparathyroidism ; Hyperparathyroidism, Primary ; Neck ; Neck Dissection ; Parathyroid Glands ; Parathyroid Neoplasms* ; Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi*