No abstract available.
Asthma* ; Humans ; Pneumocytes* ; Superoxides*

The mechanism of cytolysis by complement attack of nucleated cells(NC) is of special interest in comparison to that of red blood cells. It is known that NC death by membrane attack comples, C5b-9, is caused by many factors, i.e., efficiency of complex assembly, activation of intrinsic metabolic pathway by signal transduction, cytotoxic effect of the channel itself and natural repair ability. These factors suggest that colloid osmotic lysis, known in red blood cells, does not fully explain the complement-mediated cell death of NC. In this study, the authors investigated correlation between biochemical and morphological changes to prove "Ca2+-mediated metabolic death"8~13) representing a mechanism of NC death caused by C5b-9 attack. The L1210 cells, mouse leukemic cell line carrying small complement channel(TAC5b-91) were used in the experiments. The amounts of intracellular adenine nucleotides to extracellular Ca2+, ouabain, KC1 and dextran were analyzed by bioluminescence method using luminometer. Cell viability was checked by 0.4% trypan blue dye and LDH release. Morphological observation of TAC5b-91 was done by immunocytochemical staining and electron microscope. The results were as follows: 1) The release of ATP, ADP and AMP followed by cell death was rapid and progressive along the incubation time at 37 degrees C and it was accelerated in 1.5 mM of [Ca2+]0. 2) There was no evidence of ATP repairment in the TAC5b-91. 3) Extracellular KC1(150 mM), dextran(0.66 mM) and ATP supplement(0.2 microM) could not effectively inhibit ATP depletion and cell death. Ouabain(27 and 100 microM) enhanced cell death and could not completely prevent ATP loss. 4) Most of the mitochondria showed swelling, loss of cristae and Ca2+ deposit in matrix in the electron microscopic observation. Rapid, sustained and irreversible depletion of adenine nucleotides was due to Ca2+ deposit with destruction of mitochondria and also the leakage through transmembrane channels. Moreover this energy depletion was accelerated by high extracellular Ca2+ concentration. These results indicate that Ca2+-mediated, energy exhaustion is one of the mechanisms of the metabolic cell death by C5b-9 attack of NC.
Mice ; Animals

A hospital-based, matched case-control study was carried out to evaluate the relation ship of various suspected risk factors including snoring and serum level of cholesterol to cerebrovascular disease in Korea. A total of 127 incident cases of cerebrovascular disease(74 cases of cerebral infarction and 53 cases of intracerebral hemorrhage) admitted to the department of neurology in a university hospital from December, 1993 to March, 1995 were compared with 127 matched controls admitted to same hospital in same period. A multivariate analysis suggested that ECG abnormality(left ventricular hypertophy and atrial fibrillation), family history of cerebrovascular disease, fundoscopic abnormality, previous history of transient ischemic attack and hypercholesterolemia were risk factors of cerebrovascular disease. ECG abnormality, fundoscopic abnormality, smoking and hypercholesterolemia were also suggested as risk factors of cerebral infarction.
Case-Control Studies* ; Cerebral Infarction ; Cholesterol ; Electrocardiography ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Ischemic Attack, Transient ; Korea ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neurology ; Risk Factors* ; Ships ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Snoring

PURPOSE: Our purpose in this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of bronchial and nonbronchial systemic arteries for the control of hemoptysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy patients with massive or recurrent hemoptysis underwent percutaneous transcatheter embolotherapy between 1991 and 1993. Retrospectively we reviewed 77 cases of bronchial artery embotization and 32 cases of nonbronchial systemic artery embolization in the 70 patients. RESULTS: Immdiate control of hemoptysis was achieved in 33 of 39 patients with massive hemoptysis(84.6%) and 20 of 24 patients with recurrent hemopt ysis(83.3%). In 32 cases, nonbronchial systemic arteries contributed significantly to areas of pathologic pulmonary tissue and frequently were the major arterial supply. CONCLUSION: Bronchial artery embolization is an effective and life saving procedure in non-surgical candidates. Recognition and occlusion of nonbronchial systemic arteries that feed to hypervascular pulmonary lesions is essential for successful percutaneous embolotherapy of hemoptysis.
Arteries ; Bronchial Arteries ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Hemoptysis* ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: The authors reviewed experience with patients harboring intracerebral hematoma (ICH) treated by stereotactic computed tomography (CT) guided thrombolysis and aspiration and evaluated feasibility, safety and prognostic factors of this procedure. METHODS: One hundred and ten patients with supratentorial ICH >25 ml without underlying structural etiology or coagulopathy were recruited. The patients with Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) <5 were excluded. A catheter was directed stereotactically into the ICH under CT guidance. Hematoma aspiration was followed by instillation of urokinase. This was repeated every 6 hours until less than half of its initial volume remained. For analysis of prognostic factors, we classified them into two groups;good (Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) > or =4) and bad (GOS<4) prognosis group, and performed comparative analysis between two groups. RESULTS: Mean age was 59.8 years. The baseline hematoma size ranged from 15 to 72 mL. ICH volume reduced by an average of 74.2%. At 6 months after the procedure, 56 patients had achieved a good recovery, 29 patients were dependent, and 10 remained vegetative. Fifteen patients died in hospital. The main good prognostic factors were young age, small ICH volume, high GCS, absence of rebleeding, underlying disease and complications. CONCLUSION: CT-guided thrombolysis and aspiration appears safe and effective in the reduction of ICH volume. Patients of ICH presenting with bad prognostic factors should require frequent radiological investigation and more meticulous procedure. Further studies are needed to assess optimal thrombolytic dosage and must include controlled comparisons of mortality, and disability outcome.
Catheters ; Glasgow Coma Scale ; Hematoma* ; Humans ; Mortality ; Prognosis ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator

PURPOSE: The isoflavones in soy are likely to contribute to the historically low incidence of breast cancer among Asian women who consume traditional diets. The possible role of isoflavones in controlling the expression of p27(kip1) and p57(kip2) has not been previously explored. In this study, the ability of the isoflavone, genistein, to regulate the expression of p27(kip1) and p57(kip2) in breast cancer cells was evaluated. METHODS: The effects of genistein was examined on the expression of p27(kip1) and p57(kip2) at the mRNA level, using the MDA-MB 231 human breast cancer cell lines. RESULTS: By genistein treatment, p27(kip1) mRNA increased significantly in comparison to the control group. In particular, p27(kip1) mRNA level in 10 micrometer and 50 micrometer genistein treated- groups increased about two-folds more than the control. p57(kip2) mRNA was not different from control group. p57(kip2) mRNA decreased slightly only in the 50 micrometer genistein treated-group. PPAR-gamma mRNA level increased slightly according to the concentration-dependent manner of genistein, but it was not significantly different. Conclusions: These results suggest that the up-regulated p27(kip1) by genistein might contribute to cancer prevention or inhibition.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Cell Line ; Diet ; Female ; Genistein* ; Humans* ; Incidence ; Isoflavones ; RNA, Messenger

Pelvic fistulas may result from obstetric complications, inflammatory bowel disease, pelvic malignancy, pelvic radiation therapy, pelvic surgery, or other traumatic causes, and their symptoms may be distressing. In our experience, various types of pelvic fistulas are identified after pelvic disease or pelvic surgery. Because of its close proximity, the majority of such fistulas occur in the pelvic cavity and include the vesicovaginal, vesicouterine, vesicoenteric, ureterovaginal, ureteroenteric and enterovaginal type. The purpose of this article is to illustrate the spectrum of imaging features of pelvic fistulas.
Bladder Fistula/diagnosis/etiology ; Female ; Fistula/*diagnosis/*etiology ; Human ; Intestinal Fistula/diagnosis/etiology ; *Pelvis ; Ureteral Diseases/diagnosis/etiology ; Urinary Fistula/diagnosis/etiology ; Uterine Diseases/diagnosis/etiology ; Vaginal Fistula/diagnosis/etiology

Pulmonary artery sling is an uncommon and potentially lethal vascular anomaly that can produce airway obstruction. Despite the availibility of a corrective operation, the mortality rate remains very high due to the high incidence of associated obstructive anomalies of the tracheobronchial tree. We experienced a 70-day-old male infant who was admitted to our unit because of sudden dyspnea, cyanosis, coarse expiratory wheezing and inspiratory stridor. At first, he was treated with bronchodilator and steroid under the impression of infantile asthma, but the symptoms went on without interval change. We performed magnetic resonance imaging study followed esophagography and two dimensional echocardiography. Finally he was diagnosed as a vascular sling. We report this with a brief review and related literatures.
Airway Obstruction ; Asthma ; Cyanosis ; Dyspnea ; Echocardiography ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Mortality ; Pulmonary Artery ; Respiratory Sounds

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between developmental lumbar spinalstenosis and its BMD value by using the single energy quantitative CT(SEQCT). MATERIALS & METHODS: Eighty normal volunteers(20-60years) were selected as a control group and 28 patients with developmental lumbar spinal stenosis were selected as a disease group. The two groups were divided into a younger (20-39years) and an older subgroup(40-60 years), and were further divided into male and female subgroups. All the cases showed no evidence of metabolic disease, fracture, herniated nucleus pulposus, degererative spondylosis, infectious disease, tumors orhad no history of absolute immobilization of more than two weeks. All underwent lumbar spine CT and SEQCT. We measured bone mineral density(BMD) at the cancellous bone of L1, 2, 3 and obtained the mean and its one standard deviation, and compared the data between each subgroup of the control and the disease group using ANOVA. RESULTS: There was a significant low BMD value in the younger male patient subgroup compared with the control subgroup(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Developmental lumbar spinal stenosis in a young male may be a factor of decreasing BMD of the body of the spine.
Communicable Diseases ; Female ; Humans ; Immobilization ; Male ; Spinal Stenosis* ; Spine ; Spondylosis

Intraspinal synovial cysts are rare but they are being documented with increasing frequency due to improvements in radiological imaging. However, hemorrhage into synovial cysts is uncommon, and affected patients may present with acute onset radiculopathy. This type of hemorrhage is known to result from rupture of fragile neoangiogenic vessels in the cyst wall, due to a traumatic event or anticoagulant therapy. Here, the authors present a rare case of hemorrhagic lumbar synovial cyst caused by spinal instability after microscopic discectomy. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of hemorrhagic lumbar synovial cyst caused by spinal instability following microscopic discectomy in the absence of a traumatic event or anticoagulant therapy. We discuss the pathophysiological mechanism of this uncommon entity and provide a review of the literature.
Diskectomy* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Radiculopathy ; Rupture ; Synovial Cyst*