No abstract available.
Humans ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory* ; Pregnancy*

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Temporary soft relining materials are used in a diverse clinical situations such as tissue conditioner, relining material, functional impression by varying its viscoelasticity. However, reproduction of consistent viscoelasticity has been not possible. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Considering setting mechanism of this material, this study has measured the effect of varying amount of void in dynamic viscoelasticity of soft relining material, with three different mixing methods. In each methods 10 specimens were made and subjected to dynamic viscoelastic test which were measured at specific times over period of 72 hours. RESULTS: The analysis of the result shown that there was no statistically significant differences between different mixing methods. CONCLUSION: Different mixing methods had no effect over control of viscoelasticity of soft lining material. Further research is recommended for under similar oral environmental condition.
Reproduction

Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), a multifunctional protein that is able to function as a negative regulator of solid tumor progression and angiogenesis, is normally present at a very low level but rapidly elevated in pathological tissues. To understand the cellular regulation of TSP-1 expression, the mode of it's expression in Hep3B, SK-HEP-1, and porcine aortic endothelial (PAE) cells was examined in the presence of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). ATRA or IL-6 induced a dose-dependent increase of TSP-1 protein and mRNA levels in PAE cells, while they negatively regulated TSP-1 expression in the Hep3B and SK-HEP-1 cells. In contrast, PMA showed just the opposite effects on the TSP-1 expression in the same cells. IFN-gamma had little effect on TSP-1 level in Hep3B and PAE cells. The TSP-1 expression in SK-HEP-1 cells by these agents showed a close resemblance to that of liver cells rather than that of the endothelial cell line. Possible TSP-1 promoter-mediated responses by ATRA, IL-6, IFN-gamma, or PMA in Hep3B and PAE cells examined with luciferase activity of TSP-LUC reporter plasmid showed that levels of TSP-1 promoter activity were lower than that of the expressed TSP-1 protein and mRNA levels. Transfection of c-Jun and/or RARalpha expression vectors into Hep3B and PAE cells resulted in the enhanced TSP-1 promoter activity as well as the increments of of its protein and mRNA level. These results suggest that regulatory agents-induced TSP-1 expression may be attributed to mRNA stability and/or translational activation in concert with transcriptional activation and TSP-1 expression may be independently controlled via each signal pathway stimulated by PMA or ATRA.
Animal ; Cell Line ; Endothelium, Vascular/cytology/drug effects/metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation/drug effects ; Genes, Reporter ; Genes, jun ; Human ; Immunoblotting ; Interferon Type II/pharmacology ; Interleukin-6/pharmacology ; *Promoter Regions (Genetics) ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun/genetics/metabolism ; Receptors, Retinoic Acid/genetics/metabolism ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins/metabolism ; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate/pharmacology ; Thrombospondin 1/*genetics/metabolism ; Transcription, Genetic ; Tretinoin/pharmacology

Forty-seven ampicillin-resistant R plasmids derived from 218 Shigella sonnei isolates from Daegu and Gwangju areas from 1980 to 2000 were epidemiologically compared by fragments of restriction endonuclease patterns by EcoRI and SmaI, and by Southern hybridization with a blaTEM-1 probe. All the ampicillin-resistant strains isolated in the 1980S carried a conjugative R plasmid responsible for multiple resistance other than ampicillin, and an ampicillin-resistance plasmid. Ampicillin-resistant strains isolated in the 1990S harbored single conjugative R plasmid encoding ampicillin resistance along with variable antimicrobial resistances. The restriction endonuclease digestion patterns and Southern hybridiztion analysis of conjugative R plasmids showing identical resistance pattern and a same size showed different fragment and Western blotting patterns according to different isolation years and areas, while identical patterns were observed among the plasmids derived from a same isolation year and area. These findings suggest that ampicillin resistance among S. sonnei isolates was due to introduction of ampicillin-resistant R plasmids originated from different sources.
Ampicillin Resistance* ; Ampicillin* ; Blotting, Western ; Daegu ; Digestion ; DNA Restriction Enzymes ; Gwangju ; Plasmids ; R Factors ; Shigella sonnei* ; Shigella*

PURPOSE: The expression of the PIM-1 gene, which is a proto-oncogene that encodes a serine/threonine kinase, is associated with multiple cellular functions such as proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis and tumorigenesis. In particular, several studies have reported that the PIM-1 gene is associated with the development of lymphoma, leukemia and prostate cancer. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the association between the single nucleotide polymorphisms in the PIM-1 gene and the risk of lung cancer occurrence in the Korean population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To evaluate the role of the PIM-1 gene in the development of lung cancer, the genotypes of the PIM-1 gene were determined in 408 lung cancer patients and 410 normal subjects. RESULTS: We found that the T-C-T-C haplotypes of the PIM-1 gene (-1196 T>C, IVS4 +55 T>C, IVS4 +1416 T>A and +3684 C>A) were associated with an increased risk of lung cancer [adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 3.98; 95% CI: 1.24~12.75, p-value: 0.020]. In particular, these haplotypes showed an increased risk of lung cancer in males (aOR: 5.67; 95% CI: 1.32~24.30, p-value: 0.019) and smokers (aOR: 7.82; 95% CI: 1.75~34.98, p-value: 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: The present results suggest that the T-C-T-C haplotype of the PIM-1 gene could influence the risk of developing smoking-related lung cancer in the Korean population. Additional functional studies with an larger sample sized analysis are warranted to reconfirm our findings.
Apoptosis ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; Genotype ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Leukemia ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Lymphoma ; Male ; Odds Ratio ; Oncogenes ; Phosphotransferases ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Proto-Oncogenes

PURPOSE: The authors conducted a multicenter study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of combination chemotherapy with Padexol(R) and cisplatin for treating patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: From November 2003 to April 2005, 42 chemo-naive patients with advanced NSCLC were enrolled into this study from 4 hospitals. The treatment consisted of Padexol(R) 175 mg/m2 as a 3-hr infusion, and this was followed by cisplatin 75 mg/m2 administered as an intravenous infusion with standard premedication. The treatment was repeated every 3 weeks. RESULTS: Among the 42 patients (pts), 33 pts were evaluable for response. On the per protocol analysis, 1 patient (pt) (3.0%) achieved complete response (CR), 17 pts (51.5%) achieved partial response (PR), 6 pts (18.2%) achieved stable disease (SD), and 9 pts (27.3%) progressed; therefore, the overall response rate was 54.6% (95% CI: 37.6~71.5%). On the intention-to-treat analysis, 1 pt (2.4%) achieved CR, 18 pts (42.9%) achieved PR, 11 pts (26.2%) achieved SD, and 9 pts (21.4%) progressed; therefore, the overall response rate was 45.2% (95% CI: 30.2~60.3%). The response, as evaluated by the investigators, was independently reviewed by 2 external radiologists and it was as follows; 13 PR (43.3%), 14 SD (46.7%) and 3 progressive disease (10%). The median duration of response was 5.9 months. The median follow-up duration was 10.3 months (range: 1.3 to 22.1 months). The median time to progression was 5.8 months (95% CI: 4.7 to 7.4 months). The median survival time on the intention-to-treat analysis was 10.5 months (95% CI: 8.1 to 18.8 months). The most common grade 3 or 4 hematologic toxicities were neutropenia (26/180 cycles, 14.4%), anemia (7/180 cycles, 3.9%) and febrile neutropenia (2/180 cycles, 1.1%). The most frequent grade 3 or 4 non-hematologic toxicities were nausea (14/42 patients, 14.3%), anorexia (3/42 patients, 7.1%) and myalgia (3/42 patients, 7.1%). CONCLUSION: The authors observed that Padexol(R) was as good as the other paclitaxel (Taxol(R) or Genexol(R)) formulations when combined with cisplatin for treating patients with advanced NSCLC.
Anemia ; Anorexia ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* ; Cisplatin* ; Drug Therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Febrile Neutropenia ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Myalgia ; Nausea ; Neutropenia ; Paclitaxel ; Premedication ; Research Personnel

Transesophageal echocardiography is a useful device to evaluate the posterior structure of heart with an advantage of enabling clearer images, as compared to transthoracic echocardiography. With intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography, we can reconfirm pre-diagnosed lesions, determine the success of the operation, and in particular, diagnose new lesions that are undetected in pre-operative evaluation. In the present case, undiagnosed patent ductus arteriosus was found on intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography during cardiopulmonary bypass. Subsequently, the patent ductus arteriosus was ligated successfully. With transesophageal echocardiography, we can diagnose the structural and functional abnormality of heart unidentified in the pre-operative evaluation. Also, transesophageal echocardiography can play the role of a rescuer to solve the problems that occur during cardiopulmonary bypass.
Cardiopulmonary Bypass* ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent* ; Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal* ; Heart ; Humans

PURPOSE: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) hepatitis is a usually asymptomatic and self-limiting disease in immunocompetent patients. However, the range of severity is wide, and the serological diagnosis is typically difficult until the convalescent phase. Thus, we examined the value of plasma EBV DNA real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) in EBV hepatitis for the timely diagnosis and the relationship between EBV viral load and clinical severity. METHODS: Sixty samples were confirmed as having EBV infection by RT-qPCR with the EBV BALF5 gene sequence. We examined the clinical characteristics of EBV hepatitis by reviewing medical records. RESULTS: The median total duration of fever was 8 days (range: 0-13 days). The mean peak value of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) was 241+/-214 U/L, and the mean peak value of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was 298+/-312 U/L. There was no correlation between the serum levels of liver enzyme and plasma EBV DNA titer (p=0.1) or between median total duration of fever and EBV DNA titer (p=0.056). The median age of the EBV VCA IgM-negative group was lower compared with the EBV VCA IgM-positive group in EBV hepatitis (2 years vs. 6 years, p=0.0009). CONCLUSION: The severity of EBV hepatitis does not correlate with circulating EBV DNA load according to our data. Furthermore, we suggest that plasma EBV PCR may be valuable in young infants in whom the results of serology test for EBV infection commonly are negative.
Alanine Transaminase ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; DNA ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; Fever ; Hepatitis ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; Humans ; Infant ; Liver ; Plasma ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Viral Load

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between thyroid hormone levels and infarct severity in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed thyroid hormone levels, infarct severity, and the extent of transmurality in 40 STEMI patients evaluated via contrast-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS: The high triiodothyronine (T3) group (> or = 68.3 ng/dL) exhibited a significantly higher extent of transmural involvement (late transmural enhancement > 75% after administration of gadolinium contrast agent) than did the low T3 group (60% vs. 15%; p = 0.003). However, no significant difference was evident between the high- and low-thyroid-stimulating hormone/free thyroxine (FT4) groups. When the T3 cutoff level was set to 68.3 ng/dL using a receiver operating characteristic curve, the sensitivity was 80% and the specificity 68% in terms of differentiating between those with and without transmural involvement. Upon logistic regression analysis, high T3 level was an independent predictor of transmural involvement after adjustment for the presence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and the use of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors (odds ratio, 40.62; 95% confidence interval, 3.29 to 502; p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: The T3 level predicted transmural involvement that was independent of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor use and DM positivity.
Aged ; Area Under Curve ; Biological Markers/blood ; Chi-Square Distribution ; Contrast Media/diagnostic use ; Coronary Angiography ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Myocardial Infarction/blood/*diagnosis/pathology/radiography ; Myocardium/*pathology ; Odds Ratio ; Predictive Value of Tests ; ROC Curve ; Retrospective Studies ; Severity of Illness Index ; Thyroxine/blood ; Triiodothyronine/*blood

Pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm (PAP) is a very rare vascular abnormality and is often caused at least in part by infection. While Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a relatively common cause of PAP, it can also result from a lung abscess. Aneurysm rupture resulting in massive hemoptysis is potentially fatal, with death caused by aspiration of blood and consequent asphyxiation. We admitted a 55-year-old man with massive hemoptysis. He had been treated with intravenous antibiotics for three weeks after diagnosing a lung abscess. Contrast-enhanced chest computed tomography revealed a pseudoaneurysm inside the abscess. Diagnostic catheter pulmonary angiography confirmed the diagnosis of pseudoaneurysm of the pulmonary artery. Embolization successfully controlled the airway bleeding. However, the patient died of acute respiratory failure on the seventh hospital day. When hemoptysis is due to sustained inflammation, such as a lung abscess, bleeding from the pulmonary artery should be considered.
Abscess ; Aneurysm ; Aneurysm, False* ; Angiography ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Catheters ; Diagnosis ; Hemoptysis* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Lung Abscess* ; Lung* ; Middle Aged ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Pulmonary Artery* ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Rupture ; Thorax