No abstract available.

Local cutaneous reactions have been reported at injection sites of interferon therapy, but these are usually erythema or rarely induration. Skin necrosis at the injection site is rare. We describe here a patient with multiple sclerosis who presented with cutaneous necrosis at the injection sites of interferon-β. Biopsy of the necrotic lesion showed dermal vessel thrombosis and complete ischemic coagulative necrosis of epidermis and dermis.
Biopsy ; Dermis ; Epidermis ; Erythema ; Humans ; Interferon-beta* ; Interferons ; Multiple Sclerosis ; Necrosis* ; Skin* ; Thrombosis

We report a case of ruptured mycotic aneurysm involving innominate artery requiring an urgent surgical treatment. A 62-yr-old woman presented with fever and dyspnea. Previously, she was diagnosed with colon cancer and received right hemicolectomy and one cycle of adjuvant chemotherapy. On echocardiogram, pericardial effusion was noted and emergency pericardiocentesis was performed. CT scan revealed aortic aneurysm involving ascending aorta and innominate artery, and thrombi surrounding those structures. Patch repair of the defect in the ascending aorta and ringed Goretex graft to bypass the innominate and ascending aorta were performed. We believe that this is the first case of ruptured mycotic aneurysm involving innominate artery.
Aneurysm, Infected/*surgery ; Aorta/pathology ; Aortic Aneurysm/surgery ; Brachiocephalic Trunk/pathology ; Colonic Neoplasms/drug therapy/surgery ; Female ; Human ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Transplants

OBJECTIVE; This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of pregnancy on the activities of oxygen hee radical generating and scavenging system in the female rats. MATERIAL & METHOD; Rats weighing 200-220 gm were grouped to non-pregnant, 2nd trimester and 3rd trimester of pregnancy. The experiment was carried out following overnight fasting. Animals were anesthetized by administration of pentothal sodium, and blood was drawn via abdominal aorta. After exsanguination, the liver, kidney, heart, lung, with or without placenta tissues were excised immediately. The excised tissue was frozen in liquid nitrogen rapidly, and stored in liquid nitrogen for analysis. RESULTS; The gain in body weight was higher in pregnant rats than in normal rats. Lipid peroxidation was not significantly different among all groups in the liver, kidney, heart, lung, and placenta tissue. Xanthine oxidase activity of the kidney in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy was lower than that of non-pregnant rats. Superoxide dismutase activity of the liver was significantly decreased in the 2nd and 3rd trimester of pegnancy compared with that of non-pregnant rats, and that of lung was also decreased than that of non-pregnant rats. Catalase activity of the kidney was decreased in the 2nd and 3rd trimester of pregnancy compared with that of non-pregnant rats. Glutathione content of the liver was markedly decreased in the 2nd and 3rd trimester of pregnancy compared with that of non-pregnant rats. CONCLUSION; In conclusion, these results suggest that oxygen free radical will not increase in the liver, kidney, heart, lung, and placenta during normal pregnancy, but in the cases of overproduction of oxygen free radical, the liver, kidney, and lung will have me chance of tissue damage because of decreased activity of some anti-oxidant enzymes and/or decreased amount of anti-oxidant materials.
Animals ; Aorta, Abdominal ; Body Weight ; Catalase ; Exsanguination ; Fasting ; Female ; Glutathione ; Heart ; Humans ; Kidney ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Liver ; Lung ; Nitrogen ; Oxygen* ; Placenta ; Pregnancy ; Rats ; Sodium ; Superoxide Dismutase ; Thiopental ; Xanthine Oxidase

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the bioactivity, and the biomechanical and bone-regenerative properties of Ti6Al4V miniscrews subjected to anodization, cyclic precalcification, and heat treatment (APH treatment) and their potential clinical use. METHODS: The surfaces of Ti6Al4V alloys were modified by APH treatment. Bioactivity was assessed after immersion in simulated body fluid for 3 days. The hydrophilicity and the roughness of APH-treated surfaces were compared with those of untreated (UT) and anodized and heat-treated (AH) samples. For in vivo tests, 32 miniscrews (16 UT and 16 APH) were inserted into 16 Wistar rats, one UT and one APH-treated miniscrew in either tibia. The miniscrews were extracted after 3 and 6 weeks and their osseointegration (n = 8 for each time point and group) was investigated by surface and histological analyses and removal torque measurements. RESULTS: APH treatment formed a dense surface array of nanotubular TiO2 layer covered with a compact apatite-like film. APH-treated samples showed better bioactivity and biocompatibility compared with UT and AH samples. In vivo, APH-treated miniscrews showed higher removal torque and bone-to-implant contact than did UT miniscrews, after both 3 and 6 weeks (p < 0.05). Also, early deposition of densely mineralized bone around APH-treated miniscrews was observed, implying good bonding to the treated surface. CONCLUSIONS: APH treatment enhanced the bioactivity, and the biomechanical and bone regenerative properties of the Ti6Al4V alloy miniscrews. The enhanced initial stability afforded should be valuable in orthodontic applications.
Alloys* ; Body Fluids ; Hot Temperature* ; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions ; Immersion ; Osseointegration ; Rats, Wistar ; Tibia ; Torque

BACKGROUND: Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1(PAI-1) is known as the primary physiological inhibitor of tissue-type plasminogen activator(t-PA) in the plasma, and is present within the atherosclerotic vessels. Increased plasma levels of PAI-1 are one of the major disturbances of the hemostatic system in patients with diabetes and/or hypertension, and may have multiple interrelations with the important risk factors in the development of atherosclerosis. This study was performed to determine whether altered gene expression of PAI-1 occurs within the arterial wall, and thereby potentially contributing to the increase of cardiovascular risks associated with diabetes and/or hypertension. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The aortic vascular smooth muscle cells of the rat were exposed to 22 mM glucose, angiotensin II, and insulin increased PAI-1 mRNA expression with the use of Northern blotting were examined. Also examined were the effects of 22 mM glucose, angiotensin II and insulin on the growth of the rat's aortic smooth muscle cells by using MTT assay. RESULT: Twenty-two mM glucose treatment increased the PAI-1 mRNA expression in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Aniotensin II treatment synergistically increased the glucose-induced PAI-1 mRNA expression. In contrast, addition of insulin attenuated the increase of 22 mM glucose and angiotensin II induced PAI-1 mRNA expression. Furthermore, treatment of 22 mM glucose, angiotensin II and insulin resulted in a significant increase in cell numbers. This study demonstrated that 22 mM glucose and angiotensin II have a synergistic effect in stimulating the PAI-1 mRNA expression and in the cell growth of the rat's aortic smooth muscle cells. CONCLUSION: Elevation of glucose and angiotensin II may be important risk factors in impairing fibrinolysis and developing atherosclerosis in diabetic patients.
Angiotensin II* ; Angiotensins* ; Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; Blotting, Northern ; Cell Count ; Fibrinolysis ; Gene Expression ; Glucose* ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Insulin* ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular* ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; Plasma ; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 ; Plasminogen Activators* ; Plasminogen* ; Rats* ; Risk Factors ; RNA, Messenger

No abstract available.
Animals ; DNA* ; Mice* ; Vaccination*

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary embolism is associated with varying degrees of pulmonary vascular obstruction. This study was undertaken to establish whether the extent of perfusion defect in lung scintigraphy can be predicted from analysis of echocardiographic measurements in patients with pulmonary embolism. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 28 patients who presented with clinical evidence of pulmonary embolism. In order to compare the extent of perfusion defect in lung scintigraphy, we devised a scoring system (echocardiographic severity index, ESI) for various echocardiographic parameters, which include right ventricle size, area, shape, systolic function, and pulmonary artery pressure. [ESI=sum of scores/number of parameters measured]. RESULTS: The mean values (+/-SD) of each parameter were as follow; right ventricular end-diastolic dimension (RVedD), 34.5+/-5.7 mm; LVedD, 40.9+/-5.2 mm; ratio of RVedD to LVedD, 0.87+/-0.2; right ventricular end-diastolic area (RVedA), 24.7+/-9.5 cm2; right ventricular end-systolic area (RVesA), 17.8+/-7.8 cm2; fractional area change, 28.8+/-9.7%; angle between IVS and RV, 96.0+/-14.8degrees; RV hypokinesia, absence or mild in 29%, moderate in 50%, severe in 21%; TR grade, absence or mild in 25%, moderate in 43%, severe in 32%; pulmonary artery systolic pressure, <30 mmHg in 21%, 30 to 50 mmHg in 68%, >50 mmHg 11% of patients. The echocardiographic severity index (ESI) in patients with pulmonary embolism was 0.52+/-0.24, and the perfusion defect score was 0.21+/-0.14. There was a close correlation between the ESI and the extent of perfusion defect (r=0.622, p<0.01). CONCLUSION: The echocardiographic severity index may reflect the extent of the perfusion defects in patients with pulmonary embolism, therefore it is potentially applicable in clinical practice for evaluating patients with pulmonary embolism and furthermore in their follow-up over a period of time.
Blood Pressure ; Echocardiography* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Hypokinesia ; Lung ; Perfusion ; Pulmonary Artery ; Pulmonary Embolism* ; Radionuclide Imaging ; Retrospective Studies

No abstract available.
Chorion* ; Chorionic Villi* ; Female ; Humans* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic* ; Telomerase*

Multiple dermatofibromas are rare and their etiology is unknown. An association with immunosuppression or altered immunity including autoimmune disorders has been reported. The mechanism for the development of multiple eruptive dermatofibromas in the setting of immune disturbance remains unclear. We herein report four cases of multiple dermatofibromas, one of them is associated with immunosuppression.
Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous* ; Immunosuppression