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.
Aorta* ; Pulmonary Artery*

No abstract available.
Coronary Vessels* ; 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

There are several considerations in performing free vascularized fibular graft for the treatment of the large bone defect, e.g., bone fixation, additional bone graft, and management of complication. Authors have analyzed 25 cases treated with free vascularized fibular graft at Holy Family Hospital between Jun. 1985 and Dec. 1994. The mean follow up was 27.4 months The results were as follows: 1. The causes of the defect were traumatic defect with infection of 16 cases, bone tumor of 4 cases, congenital pseudoarthrosis of tibia of 3 cases and osteomyelitis of 2 cases. 2. Hypertrophy of the graft was more common in the lower extremity and in the patient under the age of 15. 3. Nonunion of graft occurred in 4 cases(16%). These cases were fixed with screws and/or pin ini tially and subsequently treated with rigid internal fixation. 4. Stress fracture of graft occurred in 3 cases(12%). Two cases of them were treated with internal fixation. 5. Additional bone graft were performed in 6 cases(24%), among 17 cases who had bone defect of lower extremity in adult. In conclusion, authors emphasize that rigid internal fixation and additional bone graft in performing free vascularized fibular graft are recommended for obtaining early solid bony union and achieving early rehabilitation.
Adult ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fractures, Stress ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Lower Extremity ; Osteomyelitis ; Pseudarthrosis ; Rehabilitation ; Tibia ; Transplants

Incidence of non-contiguous multiple spine fracture was increased from 3.2%~4.5% at 1960th and 70th to 5.7% ~23.8% at 80th and 90th. But there is no reports in Korea which has high incidence of traffic and industrial accidents. In 345 consecutive patients with acute spine fracture, we found that 43 patients (12.5%) had multiple non-contiguous spine fractures. At the 43 patients studies 37 (87.4%) sustained fractures at 2 levels while 6 had more than 3 levels of injury, 26 were injured by fall from heights, 27 (62.8%) had 2.33 associated injuries on an average, and 12 (27.9%) had a neurologic deficit. There are five patterns account for 26 (50%) of the total number of patients. In 19 patients (44.2%), there was a mean 29.3 days delay (from 3 to 233 days) in diagnosis of the minor lesions. In 19 delay diagnosed minor lesions, it confirmed by bone scan in 12 patinets(63.6%). Two patients died within 24 hours after accident, and 41 patients (41 major and 50 minor fractures) were treated in our hospital. Among them, 21 (51.2%) needed modification of treatment by the presence of non-con- tiguous multiple spine fractures. According to above findings, the physician must be aware of the possible noncontiguous multiple spine fractures when examine and treat the patients with spine fracture.
Accidents, Occupational ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Spine

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