No abstract available.
Germ Cells* ; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal*

No abstract available.
Krukenberg Tumor*

BACKGROUND: Atherosclerosis is the most important disease that may cause ischemic syndrome in many organs including heart. It is supposed that apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMCs) is closely related to the progression and rupture of atheromatous plaque. Recent studies have documented evidence for elevated level of nitric oxide(NO) within advanced human atheroma and evidence of regression of atheroma by NO. So this study is designed to evaluate whether exogenous NO from NO donors can induce apoptosis of cultured rat VSMCs and which proapoptotic gene(s) is involved in this type of apoptosis. METHODS: Rat VSMCs were cultured and used for experiment at passage 5 through 7. For NO donor, sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine(SNAP) of 0.5, 1, 2, 4mM were exposed to subconfluent VSMCs. The cells were harvested at 6, 12, 24, 48, 72hours after exposure of NO donors. Apoptosis was to be identified by 4, 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole dihydrochloride(DAPI) staining of nuclei and in-situ nick end labeling(TUNEL). The amount of fragmented DNA was analyzed semiquantitatively by diphenylamine(DPA) assay. Immunocytochemical(ICC) staining and western bolt analyses were designed to detect apoptosisrelated gene products, such as Bax-a, Fas and Bcl-2. RESULTS: 1) Decreased mitotic activity was shown after 12 hours exposure of exogenous NO donors, and condensation and margination of chromatin was identified agter 24 hours exposure, by DAPI staining. 2) Percent DNA fragmentation assessed by DPA method was 0,2,9,48,45% at 0,6,12,24,48 hours after exposure of 2mM of NO donors respectively. 3) The expression of Bax-a and Bcl-2 proteins was demonstrated in apoptotic cells by ICC staining. 4) The expression of Bax-a protein in cells under 24 hours exposure of NO donors was elevated by more than 18% of control level on densitometric analysis of western blot. The level of Bcl-2 was suppressed by 26% of control. So, Bax-a/Bcl-2 ratio in cells under exposure of NO donors was elevated to 2.0 from 1.2 of control level. CONCLUSIONS: Exogenous NO from NO donors can induce apoptosis of cultured rat VSMCs, and it is considered that bax-a and bcl-2 genes are involved in this type of apoptosis.
Animals ; Apoptosis* ; Atherosclerosis ; Blotting, Western ; Chromatin ; DNA ; DNA Fragmentation ; Genes, bcl-2 ; Heart ; Humans ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular* ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitroprusside ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; Rats* ; Rupture ; Tissue Donors

A 3 year and 3 months old boy with recurrent infections since his age of 5 months was presented with clinical data and autopsy findings. He was the 4th product of healthy parents. His elder brother died of recurrent perianal abscess and sepsis at his age of 3 years. His 2nd elder sister died on the 14th day of life probably from the complication of BCG vaccination. Beginnig with perianal abscesses at his age of 5 months, he has been continuously suffering from recurrent infections such as arthritis, ostomyelitis, pneumonia, epididymitis, subcutaneous abscesses and perianal abscesses. In spite of meticulous supportive and aggressive antibiotic therapy persistent positive cultures for staph. Aureus, klebsiella, E. Coli, Enterococcus and coliform bacilli from different sited were noted. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate of 25 to 40 were constant. White cell count varied frem 15500 to 33400 with polymorphonucleocytes predominance. NBT test showed persistent low scoring of 2% throught the course. He finally died of pneumonia and empyema. At postmortem examination, multiple abscesses and grnulomas of right lung and multipe granulomas in the liver, spleen, lymph node, bone, marrow, adrenal gland, kidney and intestinal wass were noted. At microscopic examination histiocytic granulomas with lipid containing histiocyte infiltrations were noted in every organs described including brain.
Abscess ; Adrenal Glands ; Arthritis ; Autopsy ; Blood Sedimentation ; Bone Marrow ; Brain ; Cell Count ; Empyema ; Enterobacteriaceae ; Enterococcus ; Epididymitis ; Granuloma ; Granulomatous Disease, Chronic* ; Histiocytes ; Humans ; Infant ; Kidney ; Klebsiella ; Liver ; Lung ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Mycobacterium bovis ; Parents ; Pneumonia ; Sepsis ; Siblings ; Spleen ; Vaccination

Human papillomavirus(HPV) has been implicated in the development of uterine cervical cancer. Detectioe of the small amounts of HPV DNA in cervical cells has been very difficult. The polymerase chain reaction(PCR) is a new technique that can specifically amplify target DNA to facilitate its detectiion. PCR technique wes used to detect HPV types 16 and 18 in cervical specimeas obtained from nnormal cervix(20 cases), dysplasia(25 cses), carcinoma in situ(21 cases), microinvasive cancer(ll cases), and invasive cancer(46 cases). And then, case of invasive carcinoma of the uterine cervix were analyzed to determine that the presence of specific human papillomavirus DNA in the neoplasm was a contributing factor to their outcome. The detection rate of HPV 16 DNA in normnal cervix, dysplasia, ClS, microinvasive cancer, and invasive squamous cell carcinoma were 50.0%, 36.0%, 81.0%, 45.5%, and 58.7%, respectively. The detection rate of HPV 18 DNA in normal cervix, dysplasia, CIS, microinvasive cancer, and invasive squamous cell carcinoma were 0.0%, 8,0%, 4.8%, 0.0%, and 19.6%, respectively. of the factors evaluated in invasive cervical cancer, adenocarcinomatous component(p= 0.004) and tumor grade(p=0.015) were found to be correlated with HPV l8 infection. 5 of 8 women whose tumors contained glandular elements had HPV 18 DNA, whereas only 4 of 38 women whose tumors contained only squamous elements showed this infection. 6 of 9 women of HPV l8 infected tumors were grade 3 tumors as compared to only 7 of 28 of HPV 16 infected tumors. Age at diagnosis and nodal status in relation to HPV type 18 exhibited a trend but were not statisitically significant. These observations suggest that HPV type 18 may be associated with a more aggressive form of cervical cancer than HPV type 16.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cervix Uteri ; Diagnosis ; DNA ; Female ; Human papillomavirus 16 ; Human papillomavirus 18 ; Humans* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

OBJECTIVES: The renin-angiotensin system(RAS) had an important role in the pathogenesis of ischemic heart disease(IHD). Angiotensinogen(ATG), angiotensin-converting enzyme(ACE), and angiotensin II receptor are key components of RAS and reported to have polymorphisms. We studied to investigate the separate and interactive effects of ACE (I/D) and ATG (M235T) gene polymorphisms on the pathogenesis of IHD, and to compare the genetic influences between on the chronic stable angina(CSA) and on the acute coronary syndrome(ACS). METHODS: We studied total 468 patients who underwent CAG. Control group comprised 159 patients who did not have a significant coronary lesion. IHD group was subgrouped according to clinical manifestation into CSA group(n=90) and ACS group(n=219). To determine the frequency of ACE and ATG genotype, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and enzyme digestion was done. RESULTS: 1) In ACS group, genotype frequency of ACE(II:ID:DD) was 0.27:0.48:0.25 and ATG (MM:MT:TT) was 0.31:0.59:0.10, which was significantly different from control group (ACE II:ID:DD =0.38:0.45:0.17 and ATG MM:MT:TT =0.51:0.40:0.09) (p<0.05). 2) There was no significant difference in genotype frequency of ACE, ATG gene between CSA group and control. 3) In multiple logistic regression analysis, sex, age, ATG and ACE genotype were independent risk factors for ACS. The relative risk for ACS in ACE DD compared to II genotype was 3.52 (95% CI: 1.52-8.13) and that in ACE ID compared to ACE II genotype was 1.55 (95% CI: 0.82-2.94), which showed that the risk increased with the number of ACE D-allele. In contrast, sex, age, and DM were independent risk factors for CSA, whereas ATG and ACE genotype were not. 4) In combined analysis including both ACE and ATG gene polymorphism, the relative risk for ACS associated with ATG genotype increased with the number of ACE D-allele. CONCLUSION: ACE and ATG gene polymorphism are associated with the development of ACS but not CSA, which suggests that ACE and ATG genes may be involved in the plaque unstabilization or thrombosis rather than the chronic progression of coronary atherosclerosis.
Acute Coronary Syndrome* ; Angina, Stable* ; Angiotensinogen* ; Angiotensins* ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Digestion ; Genotype ; Heart ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Receptors, Angiotensin ; Renin-Angiotensin System ; Risk Factors ; Thrombosis

A 20 year-old male with recurrent syncope and wide QRS tachycardea with LBBB type underwent radopfreqiemcu catjeter ab;atopn. Symptoms were present for 8 years. Electrophysiologic study revealed an antidromic atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia using an atrioventricular Mahaim fiber which conducted only anterogradely and resulted in LBBB QRS morphology on preexcitation. ecremental conduction was also noticed during single atrial extrastimulation and rapid atrial pacing. The ateial insertion of thd Mahaim fiber was at the lateral tricuspid annulus and the venteicular insertion was at the lateral right ventricle near the tricuspid annulus. iscrete Mahaim fiber potential was recorded during atrial pacing and during tachycardia. ahaim fiber was successfully ablated at the atrial side of lateral tricuapid annulus where the discrete Mahaim fiber potential was recorded. No complications occurred. Tachycardiadid not recur during a follow-up of 6 months.
Catheter Ablation* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Male ; Syncope ; Tachycardia ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: A left to right shunt through an iatrogenic atrial septal defect(ASD) is known to occur after percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty(PMV), however, its hemodynamic significance as well as methods for the quantitation and follow-up evaluation have not been well established. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: In order to compare the feasibilities of noninvasive diagnostic methods for the detection and quantitation of the left-to-right shunt after PMV. 35 patients(age 37+/-10 years) undertook either radionuclide angiography or transesophageal echocardiography or both within a week after PMV. Qp/Qs was calculated by Fick's oxygen method during cardiac catheterization and by indicator dilution method during radionuclide angiography. The left-to-right shunt was also quantified with transesophageal echocardiography(TEE) by calculating shunt flow rate(Q=2 pir2Vr) using isovelocity surface area. RESULT: TEE was the most sensitive to detect ASD(16 among 27 patients, 59%) compared to either RI angiography(5 among 27 patients, 18%, Qp/Qs>1.5) or cardiac catheterization(4 among 35 patients, 11%, oxygen step-up>7%). Calculated shunt flow rate by TEE showed significant linear correlation to the Qp/Qs by cardiac catheterization(r=0.73, p<0.001). Also there was a significant correlation between Qp/Qs by radionuclide angiography and by cardiac catheterization(r=0.49, p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Both radionuclide angiography and TEE appear useful for the detection and quantitation of the left to right shunt after PMV. Since TEE seems to be not only more sensitive to detect the presence of the ASD than either radionuclide angiography or cardiac catheterization but useful to quantify the left-to-right shunt, it appears to be useful method for the follow-up evaluation after PMV.
Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Oxygen ; Radionuclide Angiography

BACKGROUND: Better imaging resolution and less flow masking with TEE than with TTE makes it easier to evaluate the prosthetic valve dysfunction. However, direct comparison between two methods to evaluate prosthetic valve dysfunction remains elucidated. METHODS: Both TTE and TEE were performed in 19 patients with suspected prosthetic valve dysfunction who were admitted to Seoul National University Hospital for evaluating porsthetic valve dysfunction from July, 1992 to May, 1993 and those findings were compared with those of cardiac catheterization and angiography, and surgery 19 cases were included in this study. RESULTS: 11 patients with congestive heart failure underwent TTE, TEE and angiography and each finding was compared to one another. We could see that there is good correlation between transesophageal echocardiographic and angiographic grading in the severity of regurgitation but poor correlation between transthoracic echocardiographic and angiographic finding in that of regurgitation. We also could differentiate between central and eccentric leakage with TEE and in 2 cases TEE enabled us to detect a vegetation on prosthetic valve not detected with TTE and in 1 case the cause of cardiac hemolysis could be known with TEE : eccentric leakage in prosthetic mitral valve. Left atrial thrombi were detected with TEE in two patients with recent cerebral infaction history. CONCLUSION: We conclude that TEE is a good method that enables us to diagnosize the prosthetic valve dysfunction and detect the structural abnormalities surrounding prosthetic valve such as paravalvular leakage, vegetation, cardiac hemolysis and Left atrial thrombi not detected easily by TTE.
Angiography ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Echocardiography ; Heart Failure ; Hemolysis ; Humans ; Masks ; Mitral Valve ; Seoul

BACKGROUND: Endothelin, a very potent vasoconstricting substance released from the endothelium, has been known to be elevated in various cardiovascular disorders, however, the sites of endothelin porduction as well as the influence of acute hemodynamic changes upon plasma endothelin-1 concentration remains elucidated. METHODS: In order to evaluate the probable site of endothelin production and relationship between levels of plasma endothelin and hemodynamic variables, six patients with moderate to severe mitral stenosis underwent percutaneous mitral commissurotomy(PMC) were included. Measurement of mean pulmonary arterial pressure, cardiac output as well as plasma endothelin-1 concentration of renal vein, main pulmonary artery, and ascending aorta were performed before and 20 minutes after PMC. RESULTS: After PMC, cardiac output increased significantly, whereas mean pulmonary artery pressure and transvalvular pressure gradient were reduced significantly(both p<0.05). Before PMC, plasma endothelin-1 concentration tended to be higher in renal vein(6.12+/-3.7pg/ml) and pulmonary artery(5.07+/-1.7) than that in aorta(3.05+/-1.2pg/ml). After hemodynamic improvement with PMC, plasma endothelin-1 concentration decreased at all the site, however the change at pulmonary artery was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that endothelin-1 may be produced mainly somewhere in systemic venous circulation such as kidney rather than pulmonary circulation, and plasma endothelin-1 concentration tends to decrease in response to the acute hemodydnamic im provement.
Aorta ; Arterial Pressure ; Cardiac Output ; Endothelin-1* ; Endothelins ; Endothelium ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Kidney ; Mitral Valve Stenosis ; Plasma* ; Pulmonary Artery ; Pulmonary Circulation ; Renal Veins