Early treatment to facilitate the muscular blood flow can avert myonephropathic metabolic syndrome (MNMS) and major amputation for patients suffering with acute limb ischemia. Delayed reperfusion or microemboli in the small vessels can aggreviate: ischemic changes and lead to irreversible muscle necrosis. Amnion is an excellent biological dressing, and we tried using it to treat anterior compartment muscle necrosis (ACMN). The amnions were aseptically collected from caesarean sections. Additional betadine (1 : 3 solution) and vaseline-soaked gauzes were applied over the amnion as a daily biologic wet dressing. The amnion was replaced every three days. Finally, split skin grafting was performed on the healthy granulation tissue. We treated two patients who happened to have shin muscle necrosis. A 65-year-old man with a femoro-femoral arterial bypass showed graft thrombosis. Thirteen days after performing balloon angioplasty with stent insertion in the right femoral artery, new emboli were found in the stent and in the left popliteal artery. There was an attack of myocardial infarction the next day after embolectomy. The severe MNMS and ACMN at the right shin occurred after cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The dry gangrene was excised 3 months later, and this was followed by a skin graft 4 months later. An 81-year-old woman with atrial fibrillation showed left common femoral arterial obstruction and ACMN on the left shin during the management of congestive heart failure. The dry gangrene was excised 2 months later, and this was followed by a skin graft 3 months later. The amnion dressing shows promises for providing healthy granulation tissue for split skin grafts when treating muscle necrosis of the leg. Biologic dressing with using amnion is an option for limb salvage in the case of muscle necrosis that is caused by acute limb ischemia, although the treatment takes a long time.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Amnion* ; Amputation ; Angioplasty, Balloon ; Atrial Fibrillation ; Bandages* ; Biological Dressings ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Cesarean Section ; Embolectomy ; Extremities* ; Female ; Femoral Artery ; Gangrene ; Granulation Tissue ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Ischemia* ; Leg ; Limb Salvage ; Lower Extremity* ; Myocardial Infarction ; Necrosis* ; Popliteal Artery ; Povidone-Iodine ; Pregnancy ; Reperfusion ; Skin ; Skin Transplantation ; Stents ; Thrombosis ; Transplants

BACKGROUND: Mycobacterium tuberculosis is one of the most clinically significant infectious agents. Especially during mass outbreaks, accurate identification and monitoring are required. The proportion of Beijing family members is very high among infecting strains, and spoligotyping is not suitable for strain typing. Therefore, we studied the homogeneity of isolates using the mycobacterial interspersed repetitive units-variable number of tandem repeats (MIRU-VNTR) method and identified its utility for carrying out molecular epidemiologic analysis. METHODS: Eighty-one clinical M. tuberculosis isolates that had previously been analyzed by spoligotyping were used in this study. We used the 12 standard MIRU loci and further four exact tandem repeat (ETR) loci (ETR-A, -B, -C, and -F). Four strains each of randomly selected Beijing and Beijing-like families were subjected to IS6110- restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. RESULTS: All 81 samples showed amplification products of all VNTR loci, and all of them showed differences in at least one locus. The calculation of the Hunter-Gaston diversity index (HGDI) for MIRU-VNTR gave the value of 0.965. Discriminatory index in the six loci (MIRU-10, -16, -26, -31, -39, and ETR-F) were found to be highly discriminated (HGDI >0.6). Beijing and Beijing-like family isolates were discriminated into different MIRU-VNTR types. CONCLUSIONS: MIRU-VNTR analysis by using well-selected loci can be useful in discriminating the clinical M. tuberculosis isolates in areas where the Beijing family is predominant.
Bacterial Typing Techniques/*methods ; DNA, Bacterial/analysis ; Genotype ; Humans ; *Minisatellite Repeats ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Republic of Korea ; Tuberculosis/diagnosis/*microbiology

Anti–glomerular basement membrane (GBM) nephritis is characterized by circulating anti-GBM antibodies and crescentic glomerulonephritis (GN) with deposition of IgG along the GBM. In a limited number of cases, glomerular immune complexes have been identified in anti-GBM nephritis. A 38-year-old female presented azotemia, hematuria, and proteinuria without any pulmonary symptoms. A renal biopsy showed crescentic GN with linear IgG deposition along the GBM and mesangial IgA deposition. The patient was diagnosed as concurrent anti-GBM nephritis and IgA nephropathy. Therapies with pulse methylprednisolone and cyclophosphamide administration were effective. Concurrent cases of both anti-GBM nephritis and IgA nephropathy are rare among cases of anti-GBM diseases with deposition of immune complexes. This rare case of concurrent anti-GBM nephritis and IgA nephropathy with literature review is noteworthy.
Adult ; Anti-Glomerular Basement Membrane Disease ; Antibodies ; Antigen-Antibody Complex ; Azotemia ; Basement Membrane ; Biopsy ; Cyclophosphamide ; Female ; Glomerulonephritis ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; Immunoglobulin G ; Methylprednisolone ; Nephritis ; Proteinuria

Hantaan virus is widely distributed among rodent populations in Korea. Two antigenically distinct hantaviruses were isolated from Apodemus agrarius in 1976 and Rattus norvegicus in 1980 in Korea. This study was designed to investigate the serological evidence of hantavirus infection among indegenous wild rodents, which were captured in 11 mountains located in Kyunggi, Kangwon, Chungnan, Chunbug and Kyungnam province of South Korea. A total 252 wild rodents of 3 species were trapped from Myungsung Mt., Chumbong Mt., Kali Mt., Hansuk Mt., Chachil peak, Kyebang Mt., Odae Mt., Kyerong Mt., Kaya Mt., Togju Mt. and Chiri Mt. in 1997. Serologic test for hantavirus infection was performed using hantavirus antigens by indirect immunofluorescent antibody technique. Among 122 Apodemus agrarius, 88 Apodemus peninsulae and 42 Eothenomys regulus; 18 A. agrarius (14.8%), 12 A. peninsulae (13.6%) and 4 E. regulus (9.5%) were immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) positive against hantaan virus. IFA titers 3 Eothenomys regulus sera were higher against puumalavirus than hantaan virus. These data imply that above three species of rodent might be natural reservoirs of hantaviruses in Korea.
Animals ; Gangwon-do ; Gyeonggi-do ; Gyeongsangnam-do ; Hantaan virus ; Hantavirus Infections* ; Hantavirus* ; Korea* ; Murinae ; Rats ; Rodentia ; Seroepidemiologic Studies* ; Serologic Tests

BACKGROUND: Whole body vibration (WBV) confers a continuous vibration stimuli to the body. While some reports have described the effects of WBV on bone mineral density, muscle mass, muscle power, study of WBV effects on body composition in postmenopausal women is rare. The aim of this pilot study was to examine the effect of WBV on the changes of body weight and body composition in postmenopausal women. METHODS: Fifteen postmenopausal healthy and obese women who were on staff of one university hospital staff located in Suwon, Korea were voluntarily recruited. Inclusion criteria were age over 50 years, and body mass index (BMI) > or =25 kg/m2. WBV group training was performed in 10 minute sessions twice weekly for 8 weeks. Before and after training, anthropometric measurements and body composition analysis were performed. RESULTS: Weight (-1.18 +/- 1.61 kg), BMI (-0.49 +/- 0.66 kg/m2), waist circumference (-2.34 +/- 2.48 cm) and muscle mass (-0.54 +/- 0.59 kg) decreased significantly the 8 week intervention. Decrease of muscle mass was correlated with weight (r = 0.621, P = 0.013), BMI (r = 0.596, P = 0.019) and percent body fat (r = -0.518, P = 0.048). Linear regression analysis revealed that the changes of muscle mass had negative relationship with percent body fat change and a positive relationship with body weight changes. CONCLUSION: WBV might display a weak but positive effect on body weight and waist circumference reduction in healthy postmenopausal obese women. However, attention must be given to avoid a decrease of muscle mass.
Adipose Tissue ; Body Composition ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Bone Density ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Linear Models ; Muscles ; Pilot Projects ; Postmenopause ; Vibration ; Waist Circumference

Peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor (pPNET), a rare, highly aggressive neoplasm of indetermined histogenesis, occurs typically in the soft tissues of the chest wall and the paraspinal region. Comprehensive diagnostic studies including histological, ultrastructural, immunohistochemical and molecular analyses have been stressed to diagnose this entity. We report a case of primary renal PNET which was incidentally found in a 59-year-old man who presented with generalized weakness for 4 months. He was diagnosed as a non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus 15 years ago and has been made well by oral therapy. An ill-defined mass, measuring 3.5 3 cm, located in the left kidney and perirenal fat, was incidentally found by ultrasonogram during a renal diabetic examination. The mass was resected because of the unresponsiveness against one-year chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Grossly, a homogeneously solid, gray-white mass, measuring 2.8 1.8 cm, was noted in the mid portion of renal cortex. The mass showed severe adhesion to the perirenal fatty tissue. Microscopically, tumor cells were rather uniform, small round with scanty cytoplasm and often showed rosette formation. Ultrastructurally, they showed membrane-bound dense core granules, measuring 125~150 nm, intercellular junctions and microvillous cytoplasmic projections. The tumor cells were uniformly immunoreactive for neuron-specific enolase and were focally immunoreactive for CD99 (013), chromogranin, synaptophysin and cytokeratin. They were not reactive for S-100 protein, vimentin, Leu-7, leukocyte common antigen, desmin and smooth muscle actin. To our knowledge, this is the smallest renal PNET in literature.
Actins ; Adipose Tissue ; Antigens, CD45 ; Cytoplasm ; Desmin ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Intercellular Junctions ; Keratins ; Kidney* ; Middle Aged ; Muscle, Smooth ; Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive* ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase ; Rosette Formation ; S100 Proteins ; Sarcoma, Ewing ; Synaptophysin ; Thoracic Wall ; Ultrasonography ; Vimentin

Cyclin D1, a cell cycle regulator essential for G1 phase progression, is a candidate proto-oncogene implicated in pathogenesis of several human carcinomas including breast carcinoma. We studied the cyclin D1 expression in 101 cases of primary breast carcinoma tissues. The overexpression of cyclin D1 was immunohistochemically demonstrated in 34 (37.8%) of 90 cases of invasive breast carcinoma. Positive cyclin D1 staining was seen in 32 of 79 invasive ductal carcinomas, and 2 of 3 mucinous carcinomas. All 5 medullary carcinomas, 2 invasive lobular carcinomas, and 1 metaplastic carcinoma were negative. Cyclin D1 overexpression was observed in 9 of 11 ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Normal epithelial components, either ductal or lobular, were not immunoreactive for cyclin D1. No significant correlations were observed between cyclin D1 immunoreactivity and other parameters including tumor size, clinical stage, nuclear or histologic grades, lymphatic or angioinvasion, lymph node metastasis, and immunohistochemical status of progesterone receptor, p53 and c-erbB-2. The overexpression of cyclin D1 was positively correlated with estrogen receptor status (p=0.025). Based on our results, the cyclin D1 protein aberration may play a role in tumorigenesis of breast carcinoma, but does not seem to have prognostic value in invasive breast carcinoma without hormonal treatment.
Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Carcinogenesis ; Carcinoma, Ductal ; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating ; Carcinoma, Lobular ; Carcinoma, Medullary ; Cell Cycle ; Cyclin D1* ; Cyclins* ; Estrogens ; G1 Phase ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Proto-Oncogenes ; Receptors, Progesterone

Bone Marrow ; Kidney Transplantation ; Maxilla ; Multiple Myeloma ; Neoplasms, Plasma Cell ; Plasma ; Plasma Cells

Animals ; Bisphosphonate-Associated Osteonecrosis of the Jaw ; Diphosphonates ; Humans ; Ilium ; Imidazoles ; Macrophages ; Maxillary Sinus ; Membranes ; Osteonecrosis ; Periosteum ; Rabbits ; Sodium Chloride ; Transplants

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a major cause of death in patients with dermatomyositis (DM). This study was aimed to examine the utility of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) as a predictor of ILD and prognostic marker of mortality in patients with DM. One hundred-and-fourteen patients with DM were examined, including 28 with clinically amyopathic DM (CADM). A diagnosis of ILD was made based on high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scans. The association between elevated ESR and pulmonary impairment and mortality was then examined. ILD was diagnosed in 53 (46.5%) of 114 DM patients. Cancer was diagnosed in 2 (3.8%) of 53 DM patients with ILD and in 24 (92.3%) of those without ILD (P < 0.001). The median ESR (50.0 mm/hour) in patients with ILD was significantly higher than that in patients without ILD (29.0 mm/hour; P < 0.001). ESR was inversely correlated with forced vital capacity (Spearman rho = - 0.303; P = 0.007) and carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (rho = - 0.319; P = 0.006). DM patients with baseline ESR > or = 30 mm/hour had significantly higher mortality than those with ESR < 30 mm/hour (P = 0.002, log-rank test). Patients with a persistently high ESR despite immunosuppressive therapy was associated with higher mortality than those with a normalized ESR (P = 0.039, log-rank test). Elevated ESR is associated with increased mortality in patients with DM due to respiratory failure. Thus, monitoring ESR should be an integral part of the clinical care of DM patients.
Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Blood Sedimentation ; Carbon Monoxide/metabolism ; Cohort Studies ; Dermatomyositis/blood/*diagnosis/mortality ; Disease Progression ; Erythrocytes/*cytology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents/therapeutic use ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial/*complications/diagnosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prognosis ; Republic of Korea ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Survival Analysis