PURPOSE: Metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMPs) have been linked to the angiogenic process in general. In order to understand the potential roles of MMPs and TIMPs in corneal neovascularization process, we examined the expression and activities of MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 during the course of suture-induced corneal neovascularization in rat model. METHODS: Corneal neovascularization of rat cornea was induced by suturing. The expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in sutured corneas was examined by immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were measured before and after suture by gelatin zymography. RESULTS: MMP-2 proenzyme, and TIMP-1, -2 were expressed in normal corneas, predominantly in corneal epithelium. After injury, expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 increased, notably in healing corneal epithelium, infiltrating inflammatory cells, stromal fibroblasts, and ingrowing vascular endothelial cells. The intensity of immunostaining and enzymatic activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 paralleled the magnitude of inflammatory cell infiltration, which peaked around day 7 after suture. Immunoreactivity of MMP/TIMP decreased significantly two weeks after suturing. At day 35 after suture, staining of MMP-2, TIMP-1, -2 remained visible only in corneal epithelium and vascular endothelial cells. CONCLUSIONS: MMPs as well as TIMPs were upregulated during suture-induced corneal neo-vascularization, suggesting that both may take part in extracellular matrix remodeling in the corneal wound healing, inflammatory, and neovascularization processes.
Animals ; Cornea ; Corneal Neovascularization* ; Endothelial Cells ; Epithelium, Corneal ; Extracellular Matrix ; Fibroblasts ; Gelatin ; Immunohistochemistry ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2* ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; Metalloproteases ; Models, Animal ; Rats ; Stromal Cells ; Sutures ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1* ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 ; Wound Healing

No abstract available.
Coronary Vessels* ; Pulmonary Artery*

No abstract available.
Aorta* ; Pulmonary Artery*

PURPOSES: To evaluate the effect of hormone replacement therapy(HRT) on serum insulin-like growth factors(IGFs) levels and to investigate if changes in serum IGFs reflect changes in BMD after HRT in postmenopausal women. MATERIAL & METHODS: IGF-I and IGF-II were measured by radioimmunoassay after Bio-spin P-10 seperation in sera obtained every 3 months from postmenopausal women who was taking premarin alone (premarin group; n=17) or premarin-medroxyprogesterone acetate(MPA group; n=42) for 1 year. Also, bone mineral density(BMD) were determined before and 1 year after HRT by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry(DEXA). All statistics were performed by Paired t-test, student's t-test, repeated measures ANOVA test, Pearson's coefficient. RESULTS: HRT increased BMD of the lumbar spine and proximal femur in both premarin group and MPA group, but any difference in degreee of increase in BMD was not noted between premarin group and MPA group. Compared with pretreatment levels, serum IGF-I levels decreased at 3, 6 and 12 months after therapy only in latter group whereas serum IGF-II levels increased at 6 and 12 months after HRT in both groups. Changes in serum IGF-I and IGF-II levels during therapy did not show any difference by the bone response to HRT. Changes in serum IGF-II levels after HRT did not correlated with the 1 year changes in BMD at any skeletal sites studied, but changes in serum IGF-I levels from pretreatment to 6 months after HRT was negatively correlated with change in BMD of Ward's triangle. CONCLUSION: HRT influences serum IGF levels in postmenopausal women and changes in serum IGF-I levels may predict the changes in BMD of Ward's triangle after HRT.
Bone Density* ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Female ; Femur ; Hormone Replacement Therapy* ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor II ; Postmenopause ; Radioimmunoassay ; Spine

Cutaneous or subcutaneous metastases occur in 2% to 9% of visceral malignancies. Skin metastases are seen most commonly from carcinomas of the breast, lung, large intestine. Skin metastases of prostatic origin are quite uncommon and preferentially localized to the lower abdomen and genital area. Two cases of cutaneous metastases of prostatic origin have been reported in the Korean dermatological literature in our review. We report a case of cutaneous metastases from prostatic cancer
Abdomen ; Breast ; Intestine, Large ; Lung ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Prostatic Neoplasms* ; Skin

Nevus lipomatosus superficialis is a fairly uncommon disease characterized by ectopic fat tissue in the dermis. Lesions most commonly occur on the lower trunk, especially on the back, buttocks or abdomen. Rarely, lesions also occur on the knee, axilla, arm, ear and scalp. To our knowledge this is the first case of nevus lipomatosus superficialis developing on the dorsal foot.
Abdomen ; Arm ; Axilla ; Buttocks ; Dermis ; Ear ; Foot* ; Knee ; Nevus* ; Scalp

No abstract available.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Fallopian Tubes* ; Female

No abstract available.
Arthrodesis* ; Femur* ; Giant Cell Tumors* ; Giant Cells* ; Transplants*

Fifty percents of patient with achondroplasia present neurological disturbances of varying degree. Congenital narrowing of the spinal canal in achondroplastics seems to be the main cause of the cord disturbance, and there are several other causes such as prolapse of intervertebral discs, spondyloarthitic degenerative manifestations and wedging of vertebral body. Surgical treatment of the cord disturbance consist of anterior decompression with fusion and posterior decompression. We experienced L1-2 disc herniation in achondroplasia with rapid progression of neurologic symptoms and treated with posterior decompression. Two years after operation, the patient had good result.
Achondroplasia ; Decompression ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Prolapse ; Spinal Canal

Operations on the inner aspect of the pelvis are often necessary for irreducible fracture of the ilium, irreducible fracture of superior and medial portion of the acetabulum, tumors and infections involving iliac fossa, and fracture-dislocation and infection of the sacro-iliac joint. Until now Letournel and Judet's ilioinguinal and iliofemoral approaches provided access to anterior column of the pelvis by elevating muscle layer on inner aspect of the pelvis. We used modified iliofemoral approach using ASIS(anterior superior iliac spine) osteotomy to gain better access to anterior column, the pelvlc brim, and in some occasions as far as anterior sacroiliac joint while avoiding injury to the structures in the inguinal ligament and lateral femoral cutaneous nerve and reported six cases treated with this approach. In conclusion, a modified iliofemoral approach using ASIS osteotomy is a useful approach which can obtain an excellent exposure in the inner pelvis.
Acetabulum ; Ilium ; Joints ; Ligaments ; Osteotomy ; Pelvis ; Sacroiliac Joint