BACKGROUND: bFGF, a member of the fibroblast growth factor family, potently induces vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and decreased synthesis of the collagens. OBJECTIVE: For further investigation of the effect of bFGF on extracellular matrix homeostasis in the skin, we evaluated the expression of type I and type VII collagen gene at the transcriptional levels. METHOD: We examined that recombinant human bFGF affects the expression of genes involved in ECM synthesis and remodeling in human dermal fibroblasts cultures as judged by Northern blot analysis. RESULTS: The steady state levels of type I and VII collagen gene mRNA were decreased with age dependent pattern up to 0.13 and 0.44 folds respectively. The transcriptional levels of type I collagen mRNA were increased by TGF-B, treatment but markedly decreased by bFGF as well as TNF-a. But there were no synergistic effects bFGF and TNF-a on type I collagen gene expression. The levels of type VII collagen gene expression were increased by both bFGF and TGF-B,. The TNF-a showed slightly antagnostic effects on type VII collagen gene expression. CONCLUSION: The type I and VII collagen gene expression in dermal fibroblasts is clearly subjected to modulation by the cytokines including bFGF with uncoordinate regulatory pathway. In addition to its function of vascular proliferation, bFGF also may play a major role in physiologic skin condition and in repair process such as formation of a stable dermoepidermal junction during skin wound healing.
Blotting, Northern ; Cell Proliferation ; Collagen Type I ; Collagen Type VII ; Collagen* ; Cytokines ; Extracellular Matrix ; Fibroblast Growth Factors ; Fibroblasts* ; Gene Expression* ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Methods ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; RNA, Messenger ; Skin ; Wound Healing

This study was aimed to elucidate the effect of intracerebroventricular losartan administration on arterial pressure regulation during hemorrhage in rats by power spectral analysis of blood pressure and heart rate variability. Nineteen male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 240-300g were divided into losartan-administered(n=10) and control(n=9) groups. Hemorrhage was induced with a withdrawal pump from the femoral artery at 3ml/kg/min for 5min. Arterial presure was measured with a pressure transducer connected to the contralateral femoral artery for 5min before, during and after hemorrhage. The blood pressure signal digitized at 500 Hz through a data acquisition system was analyzed with fast Fourier transform algorithm to yield power spectra of systolic(SP) and diastolic(DP) blood pressure and instantaneous heart rate(HR). Powers of very low frequency (VLF, 0.02-0.26 Hz), low frequency(LF, 0.26-0.75 Hz) and high frequency(HF, 0.75-5.00 Hz) band were obtained. Basal systolic and diastolic blood pressure was 149+/-9 and 99+/-2mmHg, respectively, and was not changed by hemorrhage in control rats. Basal blood pressure in losartan group was 143+/-9 and 97+/-6mmHg and was significantly lowered to 116+/-13 and 77+/-9mmHg, respectively. HR was significantly increased during and after hemorrhage in both groups. Total power of SP variability in losartan group was 13.9+/-3.2mmHg2 before hemorrhage and was significantly increased to 66.6+/-25.3mmHg2 during hemorrhage. VLF, LF and HF powers of SP variability were 7.3+/-2.0, 3.8+/-1.1 and 2.8+/-0.7mmHg2, respectively, in losartan group and 5.5+/-1.4, 3.7+/-1.5 and 2.8+/-0.8mmHg2 in control rats. VLF and HF powers of SP were increased to 33.0+/-15.2 and 20.3+/-6.4mmHg2 in losartan group, and VLF power was increased to 7.9+/-1.5mmHg2 in control group. VLF power of DP variability increased from 3.3+/-0.9 before hemorrhage to 5.9+/-1.0mmHg2 during hemorrhage in control group. Powers of DP variability in losartan group and those of HR variability in both groups were not changed by hemorrhage. The above results suggested that losartan aggravated the arterial pressure fall during hemorrhage by impairing the sympathetic nerve activation by central angiotensin II.
Angiotensin II ; Animals ; Arterial Pressure ; Blood Pressure* ; Femoral Artery ; Fourier Analysis ; Heart Rate* ; Heart* ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Lateral Ventricles* ; Losartan* ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transducers, Pressure

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Though the surgical intervention of subclavian artery stenosis has been effective, its high morbidity and mortality have limited its clinical application. In 1980 percutaneous balloon angioplasty of stenotic artery was introduced as a substitute for surgical intervention and subsequent reports have supported its efficacy noting that it is more effective when combined with stent. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of percutaneous intervention as an alternative or primary therapy for symptomatic subclavian artery stenosis. METHODS: Between September 1993 and October 1998, 17 lesions in 16 patients of symptomatic subclavian artery stenosis were enrolled as candidates for nonsurgical intervention. We performed percutaneous balloon angioplasty with stenting to the subclavian artery stenosis and evaluated the early results. RESULTS: 1)The patients had a mean age of 55+/-14 years and 13 of 16 patients were male. 2)Subclavian artery stenting was successful in 94% (16/17) of the lesion without significant complications. The cause of failure was suboptimal result after deployment of stent. 3)The types of stents deployed were Strecker stents in 4, Palmaz stents in 8, Wall stents in 3 and Jo stents in 2 cases. 4)The peak and mean pressure gradient reduced from 58.5+/-17.0 to 8.5+/-7.4 and 31.4+/-13.0 to 4.7+/-5.5 mmHg respectively (p<0.01) and the degree of luminal stenosis decreased from 92.5+/-8.5% to 10.0+/-14.3%. (p<0.01) CONCLUSION: Subclavian artery stenosis can be managed safely and effectively through percutaneous balloon angioplasty with stenting, with an excellent technical success rate and less morbidity and mortality particularly in patients coexisting other vascular and systemic diseases. However, the long-term patency and clinical effects should be warranted.
Angioplasty, Balloon ; Arteries ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Humans ; Male ; Mortality ; Phenobarbital ; Stents* ; Subclavian Artery* ; Subclavian Steal Syndrome

Primary peptic ulcer disease in not known to be the result of underlying illness or trauma. These are most frequently duodenal or prepyloric. Since clinical features of peptic ulcer in children can easily be confused with many other disorders, the diagnosis is usually made when one of the more dramatic presentations, such as perforation, bleeding and obstruction. Recently, we experienced 2 cases of duodenal obstruction due to peptic ulcer in children. So, we report it with review of references.
Child* ; Diagnosis ; Duodenal Obstruction* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Peptic Ulcer*

No abstract available.
Blood Coagulation*

To analyse the age of onset, etiologic microorganisms, clinical manifestations, managements and genetic variation of chromic granulomatous disease, the authors reviewed four patients who were diagnosed as CGD at Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National Univesity Children's Hospital. They were siblings in relationship-two of them were brothers, the others were brother-sister. @ES The results were as follows; 1) Initial manifestations developed within 1 year old, and lymphadenopathy associated with BCG vaccination was the most common. 2) In culture study of micro-organism, catalase positive microorganisms such as Staphylococcus aureus, Serratia marcescens, Coagulase (-) Staphylococcus, Enterococcus, Proleus vulgaris, Klebsiella pneumoniae, E. coli and fungus such as Candida albicans were isolated. In 2 cases, culture study revealed no growth. 3) Fever, lymphadenopathy, hepatomegaly, suppurative dermatitis and pneumonia were the most common manifestations. In most of cases, antituberculous medications were administered under the impression of tuberculosis without response. 4) Immunologic screening tests including B-cell system, T-cell system, and complement system were within normal limit except NBT test. 5) In spite of severe infections, NBT scores of all the cases were less than those of controls. Liver biopsies of 3 cases showed granuloma formation with characteristic yellow brown pigment-laden macrophages.
Age of Onset ; B-Lymphocytes ; Biopsy ; Candida albicans ; Catalase ; Coagulase ; Complement System Proteins ; Dermatitis ; Enterococcus ; Fever ; Fungi ; Genetic Variation ; Granuloma ; Hepatomegaly ; Humans ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; Liver ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Macrophages ; Mass Screening ; Mycobacterium bovis ; Pediatrics ; Pneumonia ; Seoul ; Serratia marcescens ; Siblings ; Staphylococcus ; Staphylococcus aureus ; T-Lymphocytes ; Tuberculosis ; Vaccination

Nethertons syndrome is characterized by a triad of ichthyosiform dermatosis, multiple hair-shaft defects(including trichorrhexis invaginata), and an atopic diathesis. Intermittent amminoaciduria, mental retardation, or recurrent infection have been observed in some cases. We have seen an 8-year-old girl presenting with polycyclic, erythematous patches bordered by distintive double-edged scales as a skin manifestation and ball-and-socket deformity as a hair defect.
Child ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Disease Susceptibility ; Female ; Hair ; Humans ; Intellectual Disability ; Skin Diseases ; Skin Manifestations ; Weights and Measures

PURPOSE: To find the rebleeding factors in bronchial arterial embolization for treatment of hemoptysis, a retrospective study was performed. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Medical records, anglographic findings and embolic materials of 35 patients who had undertaken arterial embolization for control of hemoptysis were reviewed. The period of follow-up for rebleeding was from 3 to 32 months after arterial embolization. We investigated the anglographic findings of extravasation, neovascularity, intervascular shunt, aneurysm and periarterial diffusion. Neovascularity was classified as mild(numerable neovascularity) and severe(innumerable). RESULTS: Rebleeding occured in 15(43%) among 35 cases. Only two of 11 cases with no past episode of hemoptysis showed recurrence, while 9 of 15 cases who had more than three episodes did. Severe neovascularity were seen in 11 of 15 recurred cases, but seven of 20 non-recurred cases showed severe neovascularity. More than three anglographic findings representing hemoptysis were seen on 11(73%) among recurred 15 cases and seven(35%) among non-recurred 20 cases. The lesion was supplied by more than two different arteries on 8(54%) of the recurred cases, but only three(15%) of the non-recurred cases. Six of seven cases persistent neovascularity after arterial embolization were recurred. CONCLUSION: The history of repeated hemoptysis, severe neovascularity, variable anglographic findings, and post-embolization persistency of neovascularity were the factors related with the rebleeding after arterial embolization for hemoptysis. Careful and active arterial embolization are required on these conditions.
Aneurysm ; Arteries ; Diffusion ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemoptysis* ; Humans ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies

We report a case of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) with trisomy 12 detected by FISH using chromosome 12 alpha-satellite Probe (Oncor , USA) in uncultured interphase cells. Chromosome studies did not produce an analyzable metaphase by standard short term culture and revealed only normal female karyotype by B cell mitogen (phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate) stimulated 96 hr culture. The patient, a 59-year-old female, did not have hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, lymphadenopathy and any other symptoms. The peripheral blood of the patient showed marked lymphocytosis (WBC : 28,300/microL, Lymphocyte: 80%) and the diagnosis by immunophenotyping was B cell CLL:CD5, CDl9, CD2O, SmIg, HLA-DR positive.
Chromosomes, Human, Pair 12 ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Fluorescence* ; Hepatomegaly ; HLA-DR Antigens ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; In Situ Hybridization* ; Interphase ; Karyotype ; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell* ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Lymphocytes ; Lymphocytosis ; Metaphase ; Middle Aged ; Splenomegaly ; Trisomy*