One hundred seven consecutive patients aged 3 years to 34 years with simple ventricular septal defect were prospectively investigated with 2-dimensional Doppler echocardiography to assess the echocardiographic criteriae in defining the anatomic site of the VSD. The anatomy was confirmed in all patients at operation. Two-dimensional Doppler echocardiography correctly categorized the site and extension of VSDs in 104 of 107(97%). All doubly committed subarterial VSDs were correctly diagnosed as an area of discontinuity beneath the pulmonary valve in the parasternal short-axis plane taken at the aortic root level. Forty eight of 49 perimembranous VSDs with infundibular extension showed an area of discontinuity beneath the right aortic cusp in the parasternal long axis plane of the left ventricle. Of 17 perimembranous VSDs with trabecular extension, 16 had an area of discontinuity around the medial papillary muscle in the short axis plane taken at the level of high left ventricular outflow tract(LVOT). All 5 perimembranous VSDs with inlet extension showed an area of discontinuity adjacent to the septal leaflet attachment in the short axis plane taken at the level of high LVOT. One muscular trabecular VSD was categorized correctly by the short axis view and the apical 4-chamber view. Thus, these 2-dimensional Doppler echocardiographic criteriae are a simple and reliable in identifying the anatomic site of VSDs.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Bays ; Classification* ; Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Doppler* ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular* ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Papillary Muscles ; Prospective Studies ; Pulmonary Valve

No abstract available.
Humans

No abstract available.
Hepatolenticular Degeneration*

No abstract available.

Metabolic acidosis (MA) is associated with increased proteolysis, increased osteoclast activity and blunted cardiac muscle response, but the effect of MA on various clinic al parameters in CAPD patients is not well known. To evaluate the effects of MA on serum albumin level and other nutritional parameters in CAPD patients, we studied 106 CAPD patients retrospectively who have had monthly biochemical measurement and urea kinetic studies every 6 months for more than 2 years. The patients were divided into three groups according to their mean total CO2 (tCO2) level of the 2-year follow-up (Group l; mean tCO2 < 22mM/L, Group ll; 22mM/L < or = mean tCO2 < 26mM/L, and Group lll; mean tCO2 > or = 26mM/L), and the clinical, biochemical, and urea kinetic data were compared among the three groups. 1)The mean age of the subjects was 46.9+/-12.2 years with a sex ratio of 1.2:1, the mean CAPD duration 28.3+/-21.8 months, mean body weight (Bwt) 59.0+/-8.9kg, %Bwt/IBW 104.1+/-11.5%, %LBM/Bwt 75.5+/-11.1% and well-nourished patients by subjective global assessment (SGA) were 65%. 2)The mean BUN, creatinine, total protein and albumin of all patients were 55.6+/-13.6mg/dL, 12.3+/-3.5mg/dL, 6.6+/-0.7g/dL and 4.0+/-0.4g/dL, respectively. In urea kinetic study, the mean NPCR, weekly Kt/ Vurea, SCCr and RRF were 0.96+/-0.16g/kg/day, 2.02+/-0.37, 63.7+/-18.4L/week/1.73m2, and 0.99+/-1.32ml/ min, respectively. 3)The mean age was significantly higher in group l (51.0+/-10.8) than those of group ll (47.0+/-12.4) and lll (42.6+/-11.4) (P<0.05). %Bwt/IBW of group l (114.4+/-15.8%) was also significantly higher than those of group ll (104.6+/-12.6%) and lll (103.5+/-13.7 %) (P<0.05), but there were no significant differences in sex ratio, CAPD duration, %LBM/Bwt, and SGA among the three groups. 4)The mean tCO2 in group l, group ll, and group lll were 20.6+/-1.2mM/L, 23.9+/-1.1mM/L, and 27.3+/-0.8mM/L, respectively. Compared to group lll, group l had significantly higher BUN (61.1+/-14.3 vs. 46.1+/-7.2mg/dL, P<0.05) and serum albumin (4.04+/-0.31 vs. 3.75+/-0.39g/dL, P<0.05), in spite of comparable dialysis dose and albumin loss into dialysate. 5)NPCR (1.02+/-0.21g/kg/day vs. 0.88+/-0.14g/kg/ day, P<0.05) and ultrafiltration volume (1.4+/-0.4 vs. 1.0+/-0.3, P<0.05) were significantly higher in group l than those of group lll. But there were no significant differences in Kt/Vurea, SCCr, RRF, and 24-hour dialysate loss of protein/albumin among the three groups. 6)No differences were observed among the three groups in the changes of body weight, %Bwt/IBW, %LBM/Bwt, BUN, albumin, NPCR, and RRF from the baseline values after the 2-year follow-up. 7)There were significant inverse correlations between the mean tCO2 level and NPCR (r=-0.33, P<0.001), %Bwt/IBW (r=-0.32, P<0.001), RRF (r=-0.29, P<0.005), and serum albumin level (r=-0.24, P<0.05). But, creatinine, %LBM/Bwt, and Kt/Vurea did not show any correlation with the mean tCO2 level. 8)Using stepwise multiple regression analysis, NPCR (beta=-0.3491, P<0.001), %Bwt/IBW (beta=-0.046, P<0.001), and ultrafiltration volume (beta=-0.0012, P< 0.005) were independent factors affecting the mean tCO2 level. In conclusion, low total CO2 level in long-term CAPD patients may reflect increased protein intake and mild to moderate degree of metabolic acidosis may not affect the nutritional status of well-dialyzed CAPD patients.
Acidosis* ; Body Weight ; Creatinine ; Dialysis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Myocardium ; Nutritional Status ; Osteoclasts ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory* ; Proteolysis ; Retrospective Studies ; Serum Albumin* ; Sex Ratio ; Ultrafiltration ; Urea

BACKGROUND: Follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) play key roles during T cell-dependent humoral immune responses by allowing antigen-specific B cells to survive, proliferate, and differentiate within the FDC networks of secondary follicles, i.e., germinal centers (GC). METHODS: A novel monoclonal antibody, 3C8, was generated by immunizing with an FDC line HK, in order to understand the molecular signals involved in the FDC-B cell interactions in the microenvironment of the GC. RESULTS: The 3C8 antibody did not bind to mononuclear cells, including T cells, B cells, and monocytes. Murine L929 and human skin fibroblasts exhibited no or little reactivity to 3C8. However, 3C8 specifically recognized HK cells by flowcytometry. Furthermore, the antigen recognized by 3C8 was restricted to the GC of the human tonsil. Dendritic networks of the GC were intensely stained by 3C8, but cells out side the GC were not. CONCLUSION: Our result s suggest that the antigen 3C8 may play some unique role on FDCs during the GC reactions.
B-Lymphocytes ; Cell Communication ; Dendritic Cells, Follicular* ; Fibroblasts ; Germinal Center ; Humans ; Immunity, Humoral ; Monocytes ; Palatine Tonsil ; Skin ; T-Lymphocytes

BACKGROUND: Malassezia species (spp.) are cutaneous opportunistic pathogens and associated with various dermatological diseases including seborrheic dermatitis, dandruff and atopic dermatitis. Almost all Malassezia spp. are obligatorily lipid-dependent, which might be caused by lack of the myristic acid synthesis. Recent genome analysis of M. restricta and M. globosa suggested that the absence of a gene encoding fatty acid synthesis might be compensated by abundant genes encoding hydrolases, which produce fatty acids, and that lipases and phospholipases may play a role in virulence of the fungus. OBJECTIVE: The current study aimed to investigate the contribution of lipases and phospholipases in virulence of the M. restricta as being the most frequently isolated Malassezia spp. from the human skin. METHODS: Swap samples of two different body sites of at least 18 patients with seborrheic dermatitis were obtained and in vivo expression of lipases and phospholipases of M. restricta was analyzed by the gene specific two-step nested RT-PCR. RESULTS: The results of the current study suggest that majority of the patients display expression of lipase RES_0242. CONCLUSION: These data imply a possible role of lipase in the host environment to produce free fatty acids for the fungus.
Dermatitis, Atopic ; Dermatitis, Seborrheic ; Fatty Acids ; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified ; Fungi ; Genes, vif ; Genome ; Humans ; Hydrolases ; Lipase ; Malassezia ; Myristic Acid ; Phospholipases

BACKGROUND: Malassezia species (spp.) are cutaneous opportunistic pathogens and associated with various dermatological diseases including seborrheic dermatitis, dandruff and atopic dermatitis. Almost all Malassezia spp. are obligatorily lipid-dependent, which might be caused by lack of the myristic acid synthesis. Recent genome analysis of M. restricta and M. globosa suggested that the absence of a gene encoding fatty acid synthesis might be compensated by abundant genes encoding hydrolases, which produce fatty acids, and that lipases and phospholipases may play a role in virulence of the fungus. OBJECTIVE: The current study aimed to investigate the contribution of lipases and phospholipases in virulence of the M. restricta as being the most frequently isolated Malassezia spp. from the human skin. METHODS: Swap samples of two different body sites of at least 18 patients with seborrheic dermatitis were obtained and in vivo expression of lipases and phospholipases of M. restricta was analyzed by the gene specific two-step nested RT-PCR. RESULTS: The results of the current study suggest that majority of the patients display expression of lipase RES_0242. CONCLUSION: These data imply a possible role of lipase in the host environment to produce free fatty acids for the fungus.
Dermatitis, Atopic ; Dermatitis, Seborrheic ; Fatty Acids ; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified ; Fungi ; Genes, vif ; Genome ; Humans ; Hydrolases ; Lipase ; Malassezia ; Myristic Acid ; Phospholipases

In order to determine the distribution of each type of glaucoma in Korea, a retrospective clinical study was carried out on 206 glaucomatoils patients (295 eyes) who were followed from July 1982 to December 1985 in theClaucoma Clinic of the Department of Ophthalmology of Hanyang University Hospital. The distribution of glaucomatous patients was as follows; 34.0% primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG),32.5% secondary glaucoma,20.9% primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG),7.3% ocular hypertension,3.9% congenital glaucoma, and 1.5% low tension glaucoma. In serondary glaucoma, glaucoma associated with uveitis occurred most frequently, and aphakic glaucoma, neovascular glaucoma, steroid-induced glaucoma, pigmentary glaucoma and exfoliative glauroma followed. The acute stage of PACG presented the highest initial IOP, 55.2+/-8.4mmHg, where as the initial IOP of POAG patients was 33.4+/-15.5 mmHg. Sixty-two per percent of POAG and 98% of PACG patients were over 40 years of age, and the mean age of the POAG and PACG patients was 43.1+/-16.3 and 61.6+/-9.5 years, respectively. There was no remarkable sex-difference associated with glaucoma, in PACG which showed an incidence of 79.1% in females. There was no significant difference in laterality between the right and left eyes with either glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Bilateral involvement of POAG and PACG during the follow-up period was 7l.4% and 32.6%, respectively.
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Glaucoma/*epidemiology ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

No abstract available.
Plasma* ; Prostate* ; Prostatic Neoplasms* ; Stomach Neoplasms*