PURPOSE: To assess the signal enhancement by gadolinium-DTPA-polylysine (Gd-polylysine) as compared to gadopentetate (Gd-DTPA) in MR imaging of heart that have undergone ischemia-reperfusion, and to estimate the extent of myocardial damage covered bythe MR signal enhancement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A series of contrast enhanced cardiac MR images were obtained from 17 cats subjected to a 90 minutes of occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) followed by a 90 minutes of raperfusion. Time courses of changes in the signal intensity (Sl) of the ischemic area were measu red in Gd-polylysine group (8 cats) and Gd- DTPA group (9 cats). The size of U R signal enhanced area was then compared to the sizes of infarction and the area at risk revealed byTTC histochemical staining. RESULTS: Maximum Sis were obtained at 60 minutes and 30 minutes after injection of the contrast material, respectively for Gd-polylysine group and Gd-DTPA group. Signal enhancement was stronger and persistent for a longer period in Gd-polylysine group than in GD-DTPA group. Sizes of the enhanced area, the infarction, and the area at risk were about 30%, 15%, and 50% of the total left ventricle (LV) area; the difference between the groups was statistically insignificant. CONCLUSION: Gd-polylysine can be used better for a blood pool marker than Gd-DTPA in MR imaging of myocardial ischemia, due to its strong and persistent signal enhancement. The MR signal enhanced area includes both the infarcted area and a portion of the area at risk.
Animals ; Cats* ; Coronary Vessels ; Gadolinium DTPA ; Gadolinium* ; Heart ; Heart Ventricles ; Infarction ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Pentetic Acid ; Polylysine*

OBJECTIVE: We previously described that Diva is highly expressed in matured metaphase II (MII) oocytes compared to immature germinal vesicle (GV) oocytes in mouse.1 We report here that the expression of Diva transcript as well as protein is oocyte-specific. To elucidate its physiological role in oocyte, the binding partner(s) of Diva has been identified by using immunoprecipitation (IP) followed by Mass Spectrometry. METHODS: NIH/3T3 cells were transiently transfected for 24 h with either empty vector for control or FLAG-tagged mouse Diva construct, and IP was performed with anti-FLAG antibody. The immuno-isolated complexes were resolved by SDS-PAGE on a 12% gel followed by Coomassie Blue staining. For in-gel digestion, 15 bands of interest were excised manually and digested with trypsin. All mass spectra were acquired at a positive reflector mode by a 4700 Proteomics Analyzer (Applied Biosystems, Framingham, MA). Proteins were identified by searching the NCBI nonredundant database using MASCOT Peptide Mass Fingerprint software (Matrixscience, London). RESULTS: Diva-associated complexes were formed in FLAG-tagged mouse Diva-overexpressed NIH/3T3 cells via IP using anti-FLAG-conjugated beads. Among the excised 15 bands, actin and actin-binding proteins such as tropomyosin, tropomodulin 3, and alpha-actinin were identified. Binding between Diva and actin or tropomyosin was confirmed by IP followed by Western blot analysis. Both bindings were also detected endogenously in mouse ovaries, indicating that Diva works with actin and tropomyosin. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report that immuno-isolated Diva-associated complexes are related to actin filament of the cytoskeletal system. When we consider the association of Diva with actin and tropomyosin, oocyte-specific Diva may play a role in modulating the cytoskeletal system during oocyte maturation.
Actin Cytoskeleton ; Actinin ; Actins ; Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Dermatoglyphics ; Digestion ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Female ; Immunoprecipitation ; Mass Spectrometry* ; Metaphase ; Mice ; Microfilament Proteins ; Oocytes ; Ovary ; Proteomics ; Tropomodulin ; Tropomyosin ; Trypsin

No abstract available.
Hepacivirus* ; Hepatitis C Antibodies* ; Hepatitis C* ; Hepatitis* ; Prevalence*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Burns* ; Rats*

Regular hemodialysis has been established as a way of treatment for end stage renal failure. In adults, hemodialysis 5 hours each time, three times weekly with one square meter hemodialyzer is now widely accepted as a standard, and there are many reports on long term follow up studies. Quite a large difference are present, however, in our community mainly originated from patient's poor compliance in frequent dialysis with short interdialysis interval. The author analyzed 200 cases of chronic renal failure who have received hemodialysis treatments during the 5 year period from July 1976 to June 1981 at the hemodialysis unit of the hanyang University Hospital and the following results are obtained; 1. Actual one year survival rate was much higher in thrice(87.1%) than one(35.1%) or twice(54.1%) weekly dialysis. 2. Long term(more than 6 months) complications were also more frequent in once(85.7%) or twice(70.2%) weekly treatments than in thrice(22.2%). The predominant complications were congestive heart failure, pericarditis, and infections. 3. Those who recieved three times weekly dialysis had better rehabilitation grades than the patients groups of twice or once weekly treatment. 4. Of peridialysis distressful symptoms, nausea, vomiting dizziness were less frequent in the group three times a week dialysis. In contrast, headache, hypotension, muscle cramps, and weakness were not significantly related with frequency of hemodialysis. 5. Those who voided a large amount of urine output had better survival and less frequent requirement of blood transfusions. 6. Main causes of death were due to patient poor compliance, hyperkalemia and cerebrovascular acidents. 7. Economic problems were the major cause of dialysis interruption.
Adult ; Blood Transfusion ; Cause of Death ; Compliance ; Dialysis ; Dizziness ; Follow-Up Studies ; Headache ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Hyperkalemia ; Hypotension ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Kidneys, Artificial ; Muscle Cramp ; Nausea ; Pericarditis ; Rehabilitation ; Renal Dialysis* ; Renal Insufficiency ; Survival Rate ; Vomiting

No abstract available.
Graves Disease* ; Insulin*

No abstract available.
Rabbits ; Transplants

We have evaluated the clinical results following the 46 cases of free vascularized osteocutaneous fibular flap transfer to the tibial defect combined with soft tissue defect, which were performed from May 1982 to January 1997. In the 46 consecutive procedures of free vascularized osteocutaneous fibular flap transfer, initial bony union were obtained in the 43 grafted fibulars at average 3.75 months after operation. There were 2 cases in delayed unions and 1 in nonunion. 44 cutaneous flaps among the 46 cases were survived but 2 cases were necrotized due to deep infection and venous insufficiency. One necrotized flap was treated with latissimus dorsi free flap transfer and the other was treated with soleus muscle rotational flap. Grafted fibulas have been hypertrophied during the follow-up periods. The fracture of grafted fibula (15 cases) was the most common complication and occurred at average 9,7 months after the operation. The fractured fibulas were treated with the cast immobilization or internal fixation with conventional cancellous bone graft. In the cases of tibia and fibula fracture at recipient site, the initial rigid fixation for the fibula fracture at recipient site could prevent the fracture of grafted fibula to the tibia.
Fibula ; Follow-Up Studies ; Free Tissue Flaps ; Immobilization ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Superficial Back Muscles ; Tibia* ; Transplants* ; Venous Insufficiency

No abstract available.
HIV* ; Korea*

This study was performed to assess the accuracy of 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy(MRS) in the evaluation of myocardial ischemia in cats. Twelve cats underwent myocardial ischemia and reperfusion induced by 90 minutes ligation followed by 90 minutes recirculation of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). MRS was performed using a 4.7T Biospec MRS/MRI system (Bruker, Switzerland). An inner diameter 1.5cm-sized doubly tuned surface coli was used for the collection of the MR signal. The coli was implanted to the epicardial surface at the expected area of infarction. 31P MRS was acquired before and during the periods of ischemia and reperfusion with 5-minute to 30-minute of intervals. After completion of the 31P MRS study, animals were sacrificed and the hearts were excised for 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTG0 histochemical staining. The area of infarct was measured on the photographs of TTG stained heart slices using a computer programmed planimetry and the results were compared with those of the 31P MRS study. The level of phosphocreatine (PCr) was decreased to 28.2±6.9% of the baseline level 90 minutes after occlusion and recovered to 43.8±4.8% of the baseline level at the end of the reperfusion. A 50% depletion of PCr was reached 5 minutes after the LAD occlusion. The ATP was decreased to a 26.6±3.6% of the baseline level 90 minutes after occlusion and recovered to a 35.9±6.0 of the baseline level 90 minutes after reperfusion. The decreasing rate of ATP was slower than that of PCr showing a 50% of depletion 15 minutes after occlusion. The PCr/ATP ratio was 1.16±0.09 at the baseline, decreased to 0.88±0.07 at 30 minutes of occlusion, and then progressively increased during the late ischemic and reperfused periods. The ratio of the infarcted area to the effective signal area of the surface coli was inversely correlated to the ATP (r=0.68) and PCr (r=0.40) levels obtained at the end of reperfusion. In conclusion, 31P MRS reflects the changes in myocardial high energy phosphorous metabolism during the actue ischemia and reperfusion. If on adequate localization technique is feasible, 31P MRS can be used clinically in the diagnosis and monitoring of the patients with acute myocardial infarction.
Adenosine Triphosphate ; Animals ; Cats* ; Coronary Vessels ; Diagnosis ; Heart ; Humans ; Infarction ; Ischemia ; Ligation ; Metabolism ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Phosphocreatine ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reperfusion ; Spectrum Analysis*