No abstract available.
Drug Therapy, Combination* ; Necrosis* ; Radiotherapy* ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma*

No abstract available.
Thoracoscopy*

Cardiac involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE) is common and has been reported in more than 50% of the patients at the same stage during their illness. SLE can affect the heart in a number of ways;myocarditis, pericarditis, aortic insufficiency, hypertensive heart disease, and coronary arteritis. In recent years, with prolonged survival and improvement in diagnostic modalities, the cardiovascular manifestations of SLE have become more apparent. Coronary artery disease has a number of possible pathogenic mechanisms;atherosclerosis, coronary arteritis, spasm, and hypercoagulability. For management purposes, differentiation between arteritis and artheroslerosis is important. Atherosclerosis in the coronary as well as other vessels appears to be accelerated by SLE. Cardiovascular care to the SLE patients should be emphasized, because corticosteroid treatment and auto-immune mechanisms of SLE are able to promote the atherosclerosis of coronary arteries. We report 36-year-old otherwise healthy female with SLE who presented with severe ischemic heart disease requiring coronary by-pass surgery.
Adult ; Arteritis ; Atherosclerosis ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Vessels ; Female ; Heart ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Pericarditis ; Spasm ; Thrombophilia

PURPOSE: We investigated the impacts of the methylation states of the P16 and the hMLH1 genes on pathogenesis and genetic expression of stomach cancer and their relationships with Helicobater pylori infection, and with other clinico-pathologic factors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In our study, to detect protein expression and methylation status of the P16 and the hMLH1 genes in 100 advanced gastric adenocarcinomas, used immunohistochemical staining and methylation-specific PCR (MSP) and direct automatic genetic sequencing analysis. RESULTS: Methylation of the P16 gene was observed in 19 out of 100 cases (19%) and in the 18 of those cases (94.7%) loss of protein expression was seen. We were sble to show that loss of P16 gene expression was related to methylation of the P16 gene (kappa coefficient=0.317, P=0.0011). Methylation of the hMLH1 gene was observed in 27 cases (27%), and in 24 cases of those 27 cases (88.8%), loss of protein expression was seen, which suggested that loss of protein expression in the hMLH1 gene is related to methylation of hMLH1 gene (kappa coefficient=0.675, P<0.0001). Also methylation of the hMLH1 gene was related to age, size of the mass, and Lauren's classification. CONCLUSION: We found that methylation of DNA plays an important role in inactivation of the P16 and the hMLH1 genes. The methylation of the hMLH1 genes is significantly related to age, size of the mass, and Lauren's classification.
Adenocarcinoma ; Classification ; DNA ; Genes, p16 ; Methylation* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Stomach Neoplasms

An abrupt increase of intracellular Ca2+ is observed in cells under hypoxic or oxidatively stressed conditions. The dysregulated increase of cytosolic Ca2+ triggers apoptotic cell death through mitochondrial swelling and activation of Ca2+-dependent enzymes. Transglutaminase 2 (TG2) is a Ca2+-dependent enzyme that catalyzes transamidation reaction producing cross-linked and polyaminated proteins. TG2 activity is known to be involved in the apoptotic process. However, the pro-apoptotic role of TG2 is still controversial. In this study, we investigate the role of TG2 in apoptosis induced by Ca2+-overload. Overexpression of TG2 inhibited the A23187-induced apoptosis through suppression of caspase-3 and -9 activities, cytochrome c release into cytosol, and mitochondria membrane depolarization. Conversely, down-regulation of TG2 caused the increases of cell death, caspase-3 activity and cytochrome c in cytosol in response to Ca2+-overload. Western blot analysis of Bcl-2 family proteins showed that TG2 reduced the expression level of Bax protein. Moreover, overexpression of Bax abrogated the anti-apoptotic effect of TG2, indicating that TG2-mediated suppression of Bax is responsible for inhibiting cell death under Ca2+-overloaded conditions. Our findings revealed a novel anti-apoptotic pathway involving TG2, and suggested the induction of TG2 as a novel strategy for promoting cell survival in diseases such as ischemia and neurodegeneration.
*Apoptosis ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins/metabolism ; Calcimycin/pharmacology ; Calcium/*metabolism ; Caspases/metabolism ; Cell Death ; Cell Survival ; Cytochromes c/metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; GTP-Binding Proteins/*metabolism ; HEK293 Cells ; Hela Cells ; Humans ; Ionophores/pharmacology ; Mitochondria/metabolism ; Transglutaminases/*metabolism ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein/genetics/*metabolism

PURPOSE: Although gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal tumors and express CD117, the prediction of their malignant potential remains difficult. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prognostic accuracy of elevated Ki67 index and p53 overexpression in combination with classical prognostic factors (tumor size and mitotic index). METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted in 84 patients who had been re-evaluated for confirmation of diagnosis based on immunohistochemical analysis with CD117 expression, between Jan 1991 and Dec 2001. Cases were classified as very low, low, intermediate and high-risk groups according to 2001 NIH consensus symposium. Elevated Ki67 index was assigned to the lesion that displayed 10% or more of immunoreactive cells. And p53 expression was assigned to the area with 5% or more of eosinophilic nucleus. RESULTS: Elevated Ki67 was noted in 37 (44.0%) out of 84 cases. High-risk patients showed elevated Ki67 index more frequently (P<0.0001) and there was significant relation between elevated Ki67 and survival rate (P=0.0417). The p53 expression was noted in 32 (38.1%) out of 84 cases. The p53 expression was significantly higher in high-risk patients (P=0.0081) than low-risk patients. But, there was no significant relation between p53 expression and survival rate. As a result of multivariate analysis, tumor size (P=0.0059), mitotic index (P=0.0016) and elevated Ki67 index (P=0.0384) were proved as significant independent prognostic factors. CONCLUSION: According to the results of our retrospective study, p53 expression is related to disease progression but its value as a prognostic factor in GISTs is uncertain. It is suggested that tumor size, mitotic rate and elevated Ki67 index are the helpful prognostic factors in GISTs.
Consensus ; Diagnosis ; Disease Progression ; Eosinophils ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; Humans ; Mitotic Index ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

Treatment of ventricular arrhythmias (VA) usually involves managing the underlying cardiac conditions that cause the arrhythmia. However, managing the underlying disease is often challenging, and catheter ablation, or treatment targeting the VA itself might be required in a few patients. In this article, we explored evidence and recommendations regarding the treatment of VA in patients with structural heart disease focusing on the utilization of catheter ablation in these patients. The administration of optimal medical therapy, insertion of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, or resynchronization therapy improves survival in patients with left ventricular dysfunction. The role of catheter ablation in preventing sudden cardiac death remains uncertain in this population. In patients with coronary artery disease, reversing myocardial ischemia via revascularization is important in managing VA. Catheter ablation is recommended in patients with recurrent ventricular tachycardia in a setting of ischemic heart disease. In patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathies such as dilated cardiomyopathy or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, catheter ablation may be considered for those presenting with drug-refractory ventricular tachycardia.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Cardiomyopathies ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated ; Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic ; Catheter Ablation ; Catheters ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; Defibrillators, Implantable ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Tachycardia, Ventricular ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left

The recommendations outlined constitute the first clinical practice guidelines of the Korean Heart Rhythm Society regarding catheter ablation of ventricular arrhythmias (VA). This is a guideline PART 2, which includes VA in the structurally normal heart, inherited primary arrhythmia syndromes, VA related to congenital heart disease, as well as VA and sudden cardiac death observed in specific populations. In the structurally normal heart, treatment is guided by the occurrence of symptoms or the frequency of arrhythmias that cause ventricular dysfunction over time. Catheter ablation can be recommended in patients in whom anti-arrhythmic medications are ineffective. The sites of origin of arrhythmic activity are known to be the outflow tract, fascicles, papillary muscle, or the annulus. Specific cardiac channelopathies include congenital long QT and Brugada syndrome. This guideline discusses the diagnostic criteria, risk stratification, and treatment of these syndromes. We have included recommendations for adult congenital heart disease. Moreover, we have discussed the management of VA occurring in specific populations such as in patients with psychiatric and neurological disorders, pregnant patients, those with obstructive sleep apnea or drug-related pro-arrhythmias, athletes, and elderly patients.
Adult ; Aged ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Athletes ; Brugada Syndrome ; Catheter Ablation ; Catheters ; Channelopathies ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; Heart ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Humans ; Nervous System Diseases ; Papillary Muscles ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; Ventricular Dysfunction

Ventricular arrhythmias (VA) are a major cause of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in patients with known heart disease. Risk assessment and effective prevention of SCD are key issues in these patients. Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) insertion effectively treats sustained VA and reduces mortality in patients at high risk of SCD. Appropriate anti-arrhythmic drugs and catheter ablation reduce the VA burden and the occurrence of ICD shocks. In this guideline, authors have described the general examination and medical treatment of patients with VA. Medications and catheter ablation are also used as acute phase therapy for sustained VA.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Catheter Ablation ; Catheters ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; Defibrillators ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Mortality ; Risk Assessment ; Shock