PURPOSE: The analysis of recurring chromosome aberrations has become an integral part of the diagnostic and prognostic workup of many human cancers, and their molecular analyses have facilitated the identification of genes related to the pathogenesis of cancer But the technical limitation of conventional cytogenetic method makes unable us to characterize all recognizable chromosome rearrangements. The generation of chromosome region specific painting probe by PCR amplification of microdissected chromosomal DNA has proven extremely useful in identification of chromosomal derivation for marker chromosomes which are indeterminable by routine chromosome banding analysis. In this study we have constructed and analyzed the band-specific painting probe for unidentified marker chromosomes of renal cell carcinoma cell line, Caki-1 to determine the derivative chromosomes and the painting probes applied to CURC-II to compare the marker chromosomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Microdissection was performed on 9q+ and unidentified one of Caki-1, and chromosomal BNAs were amplified by PCR using topoisomerase I and T7 DNA polymerase. Fluorescent in situ hybridization was conducted with biotin labeled PCR products to normal, Caki-1 and CURC- II metaphase chromosomes. RESULTS: With this method, it was possible to construct the band-specific painting probes for markers and the probes hybridized specifically to the dissected regions and derivative chromosomes. The 9q+ and unidentified one were identified as t(9;17)(q34;q21) and t(15;20) respectively. The marker chromosomes - t(9;I 7), der(1 ;17)(ql0;q10), t(15;20), t(?;15), der(1 ;20), t(14;89) were examined same in Caki-1 and CURC-II. CONCLUSIONS: Thus this methodological advance significantly extends the limits of conventional cytogenetic analysis by enabling the analysis of unknown chromosome regions, and these painting probes can be applied to detect the similar marker chromosomes in renal cell carcinoma, and the probe pools for markeys may be used to identify the cancer-relevant genes.
Biotin ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Cell Line* ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Chromosome Banding ; Cytogenetic Analysis ; Cytogenetics ; DNA ; DNA Topoisomerases, Type I ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Metaphase ; Microdissection* ; Paint ; Paintings ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

In order to investigate the efficacy and safety of oral fosinopril, a new phosphorus containing angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, a single dose of 10 to 20mg was administered in 23 hypertensive patients with diastotic blood pressure above 95mmHg and all other anti-hypertensive agents were not administered during 4 weeks of study. Blood pressure and heart rate were measured on the 2nd and 4th week of therapy. The complete blood count with platelet count, blood chemistry by SMA-12 and serum electrolytes were performed at the begining and 4th week of therapy. The urinalysis and electrocardiography were performed at the beginning and 4th week of therapy. Any kinds of side effects were actively questioned by the examining physicians. The following results were obtained : 1) At the beginning and 4th weeks of therapy, the average systolic and diastolic pressure were 170.0+/-17.6/101.6+/-6.1mmHg, 142.7+/-15.1/87.3+/-6.7mmHg respectively. The systolic and diastolic blood pressure were declined statistically significantly(p<0.05) throughout the period of treatment and diastolic blood pressure of all subjects except 3 patients(86%) was maintained below 90mmHg after 4th week of treatment. 2) There was no significant change in the pulse rate before and after therapy. 3) There were no significant changes in blood chemistry, serum electrolytes, hematologic findings, urinalysis and electrocardiographic findigns. 4) side effect were developed in 5 patients(23%) with dry cough, 3 patients(13%) with headache and 2 patients with facial edema but side effects were mostly mild in nature without potenitally serious episodes. These results suggested that antihypertensive therapy with onec-daily fosinopril was effective and well tolerated in essential hypertensive patients.
Antihypertensive Agents ; Blood Cell Count ; Blood Pressure ; Chemistry ; Cough ; Edema ; Electrocardiography ; Electrolytes ; Fosinopril* ; Headache ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; Phosphorus ; Platelet Count ; Urinalysis

Forty eight female Sprague-Dawley rats received a subcutaneous implant containing 12.5 mg estradiol ant the age of 3 weeks. Three rats were killed in 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 weeks and in every month during 2~12 months after implantation, and the breasts were examined by light microscope. In all rats, enlargement of terminal end buds was obseved in 1~2 weeks, maximum development of hyperplastic alveolar nodules in 3 weeks, and marked dilatation and secretion of alveoli or ducts in 1~12 months after implantation. Ductal epithelial hyperplasia was observed in 27 rats and carcinomas developed in 23 rats in 2~12 months after implantation. It was thought that the changes induced by estradiol are more similar to the human breast lesions, compared with changes induced by chemical carcinogens such as dimethylbenzanthracene(DMBA), because breast carcinomas developed in close relationship with ductal epithelial hyperplasia in both estradiol-treated rats and humans, but not in DMBA-treated rats.
Female ; Humans ; Rats ; Animals ; Carcinogens

No abstract available.
Bone Density* ; Female ; Lactation* ; Postpartum Period*

BACKGROUND: Flatfoot deformity is a lever arm disease that incurs kinetic inefficiency during gait. The purpose of this study was to measure the degree of kinetic inefficiency by comparing the gait analysis data of a flatfoot group with a normal control group. METHODS: The patient group consisted of 26 children (21 males and 5 females) with symptomatic flatfoot. They were examined with gait analysis between May 2005 and February 2014. Exclusion criteria were patients with secondary flatfoot caused by neuromuscular disorders, tarsal coalition, vertical talus, or others. Patients' mean age was 9.5 years (range, 7 to 13 years). The gait analysis data of the study group and the normal control group were compared. RESULTS: The mean vertical ground reaction force (GRF) in the push-off phase was 0.99 for the patient group and 1.15 for the control group (p < 0.05). The mean ankle moment in the sagittal plane during the push-off phase was 0.89 for the patient group and 1.27 for the control group (p < 0.05). The mean ankle power in the sagittal plane during the push-off phase was 1.38 for the patient group and 2.52 for the control group (p < 0.05). The aforementioned results show that patients with pes planovalgus had a reduction of moment, power, and GRF in the push-off phase during gait. CONCLUSIONS: Symptomatic flatfeet had a moment inefficiency of 30% and power inefficiency of 45% during gait compared to feet with preserved medial longitudinal arches.
Ankle ; Arm ; Child* ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Flatfoot* ; Foot ; Gait* ; Humans ; Kinetics ; Male ; Observational Study* ; Talus

BACKGROUND: In survivors of acute myocardial infarction(ANI), reduced heart rate variability(HRV) has been demonstrated to be an independent predictor of sudden cardiac death and mortality. The heart rate variability can be examined and analyzed non-invasively and quantitated with 24-hour ambulatory ECG monitoring. In general, the patency of infarct-related artery appears to be one of the most important prognostic factor after AMI. Therefor, the correlation between infarct artery patency and HRV was examined in survivors of AMI. METHODS: The 24-Hour ambulatory electrocardiogram was performed in 23 patients with AMI and 20 normal controls, and analyzed for frequency & time domain HRV. HRV was recorded dwithin 7 days after AMI, and coronary angiogram was performed at 7th day after AMI. The AMI patients were divided into two groups, depending upon patency of infarct-related artery and correlated to clinical manifestations. Thirteen patients had patent vessel(Group 1) and ten patients had non-patent vessel(Group 2). Parameters of frequency domain HRV include LF, HF & LF/HF ratio and time domain HRV include SDNN, SDANN, SD, rMSSD and pNN50. RESULTS: All parameters of HRV was depressed in patients of AMI than in normal control(p<0.05). The mean left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF) was 54.1+/-10.6% in group 1 and 42.6+/-12.2% in group 2(p<0.05). The mean values of LF, SDNN, SDANN, and SD in group 1 and group 2 were 5.09+/-0.83msec2/Hz & 4.09+/-0.53msec2/Hz, 84.5+/-24.2msec & 59.0+/-11.8msec, 73.2+/-22.8msec & 50.5+/-12.6msec, and 37.8+/-13.1msec & 27.2+/-4.4msec(p<0.05), respectively. There was no difference between two groups in HF,rMSSD and pNN50. The location of infarction and thrombolytic therapy itself did not influence of HRV. The mean values of HF, SDANN, rMSSD and pNN50 in patients with LVEF<40% were reduced significantly than in patients with LVEF> or =40%. There was a significant correlation between LVEF and LF, between LVEF and HF and between LVEF and LF/HF ratio(r:0.55, p<0.05;r:0.67, p<0.05;r:-0.56, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: HRV was depressed due to reduced vagal activity in patients with AMI. The values of LF, SDNN, SDANN, and SD in group of patent infarct-related artery were reduced significantly than in non-patent group.
Arteries* ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; Electrocardiography ; Heart Rate* ; Heart* ; Humans ; Infarction ; Mortality ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Survivors ; Thrombolytic Therapy

BACKGROUND: Previous studies indicated that a recently approved synthetic HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, atorvastatin, reduces LDL cholesterol and triglyceride. To assess the efficacy on the level of serum LDL cholesterol and other lipoprotein fractions and its safety, we investigated 59 patients for lipid and side effect profile. METHOD: In patients with hypercholesterolemia, who showed 12-hours fasting serum LDL cholesterol>145 mg/dl and <250 mg/dl and triglyceride levels<400 mg/dl were enrolled to diet therapy for 4 weeks. After 4 weeks of diet therapy, serum lipid profile were reevaluated and patients with LDL cholesterol > or =130 mg/dl were assigned to receive 10 mg dose of atorvastatin once daily for 4weeks. After 4 weeks of drug therapy, serum lipid profile were rechecked, if showed LDL cholesterol level> or =130 mg/dl, assigned to receive 20 mg dose of atorvastatin once daily until 8 weeks. RESULTS: Of the 59 patients were assigned to receive atorvastatin therapy, 52 patients completed the study. Among lipid profiles, total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein B levels showed significant reduction with mean reduction rate of 28%, 13%, 38%, 32% respectively after 4 weeks and 31%, 13%, 41% and 34% respectively after 8 weeks. HDL-Cholesterol and lipoprotein (a) level did not show significant change after 8 weeks of therapy. Nine patients had mild adverse events, such as elevated ALT, epigastric pain, insomnia, thumb pain. postural hypotension, palpitation and constipation. Only three patients of fifty-nine withdrew from the study due to adverse events related to drug treatment. CONCLUSION: The atorvastatin was highly effective and generally well tolerated with an acceptable safety profile in patients with primary hypercholestelemia.
Apolipoproteins ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Constipation ; Diet Therapy ; Drug Therapy ; Fasting ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia* ; Hypotension, Orthostatic ; Lipoprotein(a) ; Lipoproteins ; Oxidoreductases ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Thumb ; Triglycerides ; Atorvastatin Calcium

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and clinical results of percutaneous insertion of inferior vena cava(IVC) filter. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Over a two year period, eight IVC filters were placed in eight patients with pulmonary thromboembolism resulting from deep vein thrombosis of the legs. The indications for placement were contraindication to anticoagulation(3), and recurrent pulmonary embolism during anticoagulant therapy(5). Both femoral(7) and jugular(1) routes were used for percutaneous transvenous insertion. To delineate the caval anatomy and to ensure placement just caudal to the renal vein, a cavogram was obtained before filter placement. Bird's Nest (7) and Greenfield (1) filters were inserted. Follow-up information was obtained by means of duplex sonography, CT scan, abdominal radiograph, and perfusion scan of the lungs, followed by clinical evaluation. RESULTS: In all cases, procedures were technically successful. Placement complications occurred in three patients. In one, the filter was inadvertently placed above the iliac bifurcation; in the other two, prolapse of the Bird's Nest filter wire occurred. Occlusion of IVC occurred in two patients, and recurrent pulmonary embolism was suspected in one, who suffered from chest pain and shortness of breath. In the other patients, there was no clinical evidence of recurrence of the pulmonary embolism. CONCLUSION: Insertion of an inferior vena cava filteris a safe and effective method for the prevention of pulmonary embolism when anticoagulant therapy is either ineffective or contraindicated.
Chest Pain ; Dyspnea ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Leg ; Lung ; Perfusion ; Prolapse ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Recurrence ; Renal Veins ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vena Cava Filters* ; Vena Cava, Inferior* ; Venous Thrombosis

PURPOSE: To describe CT and ultrasound(US) appearances of phytobezoar in the small intestine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During the past two years, CT and US scans of six patients with phytobezoars of the small intestine were retrospectively reviewed. All patients presented symptoms of bowel obstruction, and four had a history of gastric surgery. Four phytobezoars were found in the jejunum and two in the ileum at surgery. We evaluated CT and US findings of phytobezoar and compared these with CT images of the removed phytobezoars. RESULTS: In three patients, US studies showed a curvilinear echogenic mass within the lumen of the dilated small bowel, with a clear posterior acoustic shadow. In six, CT scans revealed an intraluminal mass seen as having a thin soft tissue rim at the periphery and numerous aggregated low attenuation areas representing gas in the central portion. CT findings of the specimens were the same as those of phytobezoars in vivo. CONCLUSION: US and CT appearances of small intestinal phytobezoars are sufficiently distinctive to advocate the preoperative routine use of US and CT for diagnosing this entity.
Acoustics ; Bezoars ; Humans ; Ileum ; Intestine, Small* ; Jejunum ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Photoaging skin occurs as a result of long-term exposure to ultraviolet radiation. In contrast to intrinsic aging, skin changes of photoaging can be reversed by the topical use of skin care products. Several skin care products have now undergone sufficient evaluation and have a well-defined role in our practice. Retin-A and alpha hydroxy acids have a significant number of data available for evaluation; data for Vitamin C and antioxidants are still emerging. We conducted clinical trial to compare the anti-photoaging effects of Rein-A and Vitamin C in 25 women volunteers. Each formulation wes applied daily to the randomly assigned hemifaces over the 8-month study period. Comparative evaluations of anti-photoaging effects were made using subject self-appraisal questionnares, plastic surgeon's assessment, ultraviolet revelations, and histologic examinations. Subject self-appraisal and plastic surgeon's assessment showed predominance of Retin-A over Vitamin C. But both Retin-A and Vitamin C provided objective and subjective improvement in photodamaged facial skin and no significant difference was found between Retin-A and Vitamin C in histologic examinations.
Antioxidants ; Ascorbic Acid* ; Diagnostic Self Evaluation ; Female ; Humans ; Hydroxy Acids ; Skin Aging ; Skin Care ; Skin* ; Tretinoin* ; Vitamins* ; Volunteers