No abstract available.
Gallbladder* ; Lithotripsy*

An anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery(Bland-White-Garland syndrome) is a rare congenital malformation and sometimes fatal. It is caused by an abberant endothelial budding from or an anomalous division of the truncus arteriosus. Echocardiography (transthoracic and transesophageal) and angiographical imaging are essential for the diagnosis of this anomaly. Corrective Surgery is recommended due to its fatal natural course. A case was diagnosed in a 45-year-old man who presented with intermittent palpitation. This patient was successfully treated with closure of anomalous left coronary artery orifice combined with right saphenous vein graft anastomosis.
Bland White Garland Syndrome ; Coronary Vessels* ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Artery* ; Saphenous Vein ; Transplants ; Truncus Arteriosus

OBJECTIVE: Miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expansion (MARPE) is a means for expanding the basal bone without surgical intervention in young adults. Here, we assessed the differences in dental, alveolar, and skeletal measurements taken before (T0), immediately after (T1), and 1 year after (T2) MARPE. METHODS: Twenty-four patients (mean age, 21.6 years) who had undergone MARPE and cone-beam computed tomography at T0, T1, and T2 were included. Changes in the following parameters were compared using paired t-tests: intercusp, interapex, alveolar, nasal floor, and nasal cavity widths; inclination of the first molar (M1) and its alveolus; and thickness and height of the alveolar bone. A linear mixed-effects model was used to determine variables that affected periodontal changes in the M1. RESULTS: MARPE produced significant increases in most measurements during T0–T2, despite relapse of some measurements during T1–T2. The alveolar thickness decreased on the buccal side, but increased on the palatal side. The alveolar crest level at the first premolar moved apically. Changes in the thickness and height of the alveolar bone were affected by the corresponding initial values. CONCLUSIONS: MARPE can be used as an effective tool for correcting maxillomandibular transverse discrepancy, showing stable outcomes 1 year after expansion.
Bicuspid ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Humans ; Molar ; Nasal Cavity ; Recurrence ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Although insulin resistance and decreased insulin secretion are characteristics of established type 2 DM, which of these metabolic abnormalities is the primary determinant of type 2 DM is controversial. It is also not well known how insulin resistance and beta cell dysfunction influence serum insulin, proinsulin, proinsulin/insulin ratio in type 2 DM. METHODS: We compared serum insulin, proinsulin and proinsulin/insulin ratio in type 2 diabetic patients and control subjects. We also investigated the relationship between serum insulin, proinsulin and proinsulin/insulin ratio and several biochemical markers which represent insulin resistance or beta cell function. RESULTS: Insulin, proinsulin and proinsulin/insulin ratio were significantly higher in type 2 DM than control(p < 0.001). In diabetic patients, total insulin level was correlated with urinary albumin excretion rates(r = 0.224, p = 0.025) and body mass index(r = 0.269, p = 0.014). Proinsulin level was correlated with fasting C-peptide(r = 0.43, p = 0.002), postprandial 2 hour blood glucose(r = 0.213, p = 0.05) and triglyceride(r = 0.28, p = 0.022). Proinsulin/insulin ratio was positively correlated with fasting C-peptide(r = 0.236, p = 0.031), fasting blood glucose (r = 0.264, p = 0.015), postprandial 2 hour blood glucose(r = 0.277, p = 0.001) and triglyceride(r = 0.428, p < 0.001). In control subjects, insulin level was correlated with triglyceride(r = 0.366, p = 0.002). Proinsulin/insulin ratio was correlated with age(r = 0.241, p = 0.044). CONCLUSION: The serum levels of insulin and proinsulin seem to be associated with several markers of insulin resistance. Whereas proinsulin/insulin ratio might represent beta cell function rather than insulin resistance. But more studies are needed to clarify the mechanisms of elevated proinsulin/insulin ratio in type 2 DM.
Aged ; Diabetes Mellitus, Non-Insulin-Dependent/etiology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Non-Insulin-Dependent/blood* ; Female ; Human ; Insulin/blood* ; Insulin Resistance* ; Islets of Langerhans/physiopathology* ; Male ; Middle Age ; Proinsulin/blood* ; Sulfonylurea Compounds/pharmacology

Objective: Recently, microRNA (miRNA) has been identified both as a powerful regulator involved in various biological processes through the regulation of numerous genes and as an effective biomarker for the prediction and diagnosis of various disease states. The objective of this study was to identify and validate miRNAs and their target genes involved in inflammation in placental tissue. Methods: Microarrays were utilized to obtain miRNA and gene expression profiles from placentas with or without inflammation obtained from nine normal pregnant women and 10 preterm labor patients. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blots were performed to validate the miRNAs and differentially-expressed genes in the placentas with inflammation. Correlations between miRNA and target gene expression were confirmed by luciferase assays in HTR-8/SVneo cells. Results: We identified and validated miRNAs and their target genes that were differentially expressed in placentas with inflammation. We also demonstrated that several miRNAs (miR-371a-5p, miR-3065-3p, miR-519b-3p, and miR-373-3p) directly targeted their target genes (LEF1, LOX, ITGB4, and CD44). However, some miRNAs and their direct target genes showed no correlation in tissue samples. Interestingly, miR-373-3p and miR-3065-3p were markedly regulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment, although the expression of their direct targets CD44 and LOX was not altered by LPS treatment. Conclusion These results provide candidate miRNAs and their target genes that could be used as placental biomarkers of inflammation. These candidates may be useful for further miRNA-based biomarker development.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome (MS) is characterized by insulin resistance accompanied by one or more of the following: obesity, hypertension, impaired glucose tolerance, low HDL cholesterol levels, and/or hypertriglyceridemia. However, the precise underlying pathogenic mechanism of MS is not known. Several recent reports have suggested a positive association between components of MS and markers of the acute-phase response, including C-reactive protein (CRP). These results imply that MS is accompanied by an ongoing inflammatory process. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the association between circulating levels of C-reactive protein, a sensitive systemic marker of inflammation, with components of metabolic syndrome in Korean adults. METHODS: A total of 1,461 subjects aged between 20 and 81 years, who visited the Health Management Center at Korea university between November 2000 and February 2001 were studied. We investigated the correlation between CRP levels and components of MS. The components of MS were categorized, and age-sex adjusted mean values of CRP calculated for the categorized components. The BMI was categorized into 5 classes, and the CRP levels examined according to their BMI class. In addition, subjects with a different number of the MS components were grouped as follows: group 1 for 0 components, group 2 for 1 components, group 3 for 2 components and group 4 for > or = 3 components, and the CRP levels calculated for each group. RESULTS: There were significant positive correlations of CRP levels with age, BMI, TG, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), fasting blood glucose (FBS), uric acid, insulin,and homeostasis model assessment IR (HOMAIR). A significant inverse correlation was observed between CRP levels and serum HDL. From the multivariate analysis, age and BMI were significantly correlated with CRP levels. The means of the CRP for the categorized components of MS were significantly higher in the BMI categories: > or =25 for female/27 for male, TG > or =200 mg/dL, fasting plasma glucose > or =126 mg/dL and blood pressure > or =140/90 mmHg, and the CRP levels by BMI class were: 1.19 (BMI <18.5), 1.54 (BMI 18.5~22.9), 1.59 (BMI 23.0~24.9), 1.77 (BMI 25.0~29.9) and 2.07 (BMI >30.0) mg/L. Furthermore, the increase in the CRP levels in relation to the numbers of MS were 1.46 (group 1), 1.70 (group 2), 1.95 (group 3) and 2.11 mg/L (group 4) with statistical significance. CONCLUSION: The above data showed associations between the CRP levels and the different components of MS. This might suggest that MS in Koreans could be accompanied by a systemic inflammation response
Acute-Phase Reaction ; Adult* ; Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; C-Reactive Protein ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Fasting ; Glucose ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypertriglyceridemia ; Inflammation ; Insulin Resistance ; Korea ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Obesity ; Uric Acid

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is an important as well as common disease in primary practice, so family physicians should concern about it. It is well known that if hypertension were well controlled, it could lower cardiovascular complications. However, there are few studies on the impact of hypertension affecting the quality of life. Therefore, we carried out this study to compare the quality of life in the hypertensive patients by whether it is well controlled or not. METHODS: The authors surveyed the quality of life using the questionnaire named as CMC Health Survey Version 1.0 for the hypertensive patients. The subjects had no complications and no other diseases, and aged 40 or more, and visited doctors at the Department of Family Medicine, Kyung Hee University Hospital or the Department of Internal Medicine, Sungmin Hospital from May 1 to Aug 31, 1998. We categorized the subjects into the two groups of the well controlled group(SBP<140 mmHg and DBP<90 mmHg) and the uncotrolled group(SBP> or = 140 mmHg or DBP> or = 90 mmHg) and compared the quality of life and lifestyle. RESULTS: The total number of subjects was 119, that of well controlled group was 69, and that of the uncontrolled group was 50. Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure was 133.1+/-7.5 mmHg and 85.3+/-5.2 mmHg in the well controlled group, 159.2+/-7.4 mmHg and 100.2+/-5.5 mmHg in the uncontrolled group. The comparison of the distribution of age, sex, education, occupation, and monthly income between the two groups showed no difference. The comparision of the lifestyle between two groups by Alameda 7 questionnaire showed no difference ,too. As for the comparison of quality of life between two groups, the well controlled group had significantly higher scores in the domain of physical function, social function, general health, vitality(above P<0.01), emotional function, role limitation, and health perception(above P<0.05) than uncontrolled group. However, the scores of the domain of change in health, satisfaction, bodily pain were not significantly different between two groups. After covariated by obesity, the comparion of quality of life between two groups showed similar results. CONCLUSION: We confirmed that the well controlled group had better quality of life than the uncontrolled group. So family physicians should consider the quality of life when they consult the patients with hypertension.
Blood Pressure ; Education ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Internal Medicine ; Life Style ; Obesity ; Occupations ; Physicians, Family ; Quality of Life* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: Topoisomerase II-alpha is a key enzyme in DNA replication and a molecular target for many anti-cancer drugs. The C-erbB-2 oncogene (HER-2/neu) is the most frequently amplified oncogene in breast cancer. Because of the physical proximity of c-erbB-2 and topoisomerase II-alpha, co-amplification of the c-erbB-2 and topoisomerase II-alpha may occur. To investigate the clinical significance of the topoisomerase II-alpha and c-erbB-2, the correlation between topoisomerase II-alpha and c-erbB-2 was examined by immunohistochemical staining in 43 invasive ductal breast carcinomas and its relationship with other prognostic factors. METHODS: Topoisomerase II-alpha and c-erbB-2 expression was studied immunohistochemically using sections of formalin fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor specimens from 43 invasive ductal breast carcinomas. The correlation between topoisomerase II-alpha and c-erbB-2 expression, and its relationship with the clinicopathological factors such as the tumor size, lymph node metastasis, TNM stage, histological grade, nuclear grade, estrogen receptors and progesteron receptors was investigated. RESULTS: C-erbB-2 was expressed in 9 (20.9%) out of the 43 infiltrating ductal carcinoma cases. Among the prognostic factors, the tumor size, lymph node metastasis, tumor stage, nuclear grade, status of progesteron receptors and estrogen receptors did not significantly correlated with c-erbB-2 expression. The tumor size, lymph node metastasis, tumor stage, histological grade, and the absence of estrogen receptors displayed a significant relationship with the increase in the topoisomerase-alpha index. However, the topoisomerase II-alpha index did not correlate with the nuclear grade and the status of progesterone receptors. The topoisomerase II-alpha index was slightly higher in the c-erbB-2 positive expression cases compared to c-erbB-2 negative expression cases but this increase was not significant (P=0.503). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that topoisomerase II-alpha may play some role as a prognostic factor, but further investigation is needed.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Carcinoma, Ductal ; DNA Replication ; Formaldehyde ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Oncogenes ; Receptors, Estrogen ; Receptors, Progesterone

The present study was conducted to develop an effective method for establishment of porcine parthenogenetic embryonic stem cells (ppESCs) from parthenogenetically activated oocyte-derived blastocysts. The addition of 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) to the medium on the 3rd day of oocyte culturing improved the development of blastocysts, attachment of inner cell masses (ICMs) onto feeder cells, and formation of primitive ppESC colonies. ICM attachment was further enhanced by basic fibroblast growth factor, stem cell factor, and leukemia inhibitory factor. From these attached ICMs, seven ppESC lines were established. ppESC pluripotency was verified by strong enzymatic alkaline phosphatase activity and the expression of pluripotent markers OCT3/4, Nanog, and SSEA4. Moreover, the ppESCs were induced to form an embryoid body and teratoma. Differentiation into three germ layers (ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm) was confirmed by the expression of specific markers for the layers and histological analysis. In conclusion, data from the present study suggested that our modified culture conditions using FBS and cytokines are highly useful for improving the generation of pluripotent ppESCs.
Animals ; Blastocyst/*cytology ; Cell Culture Techniques/*veterinary ; *Cell Differentiation ; Cytokines/metabolism ; Embryonic Stem Cells/*cytology ; Parthenogenesis ; Pluripotent Stem Cells/*cytology ; Swine/*physiology

PURPOSE: Topoisomerase II-alpha is a key enzyme in DNA replication and a molecular target for many anti-cancer drugs. The C-erbB-2 oncogene (HER-2/neu) is the most frequently amplified oncogene in breast cancer. Because of the physical proximity of c-erbB-2 and topoisomerase II-alpha, co-amplification of the c-erbB-2 and topoisomerase II-alpha may occur. To investigate the clinical significance of the topoisomerase II-alpha and c-erbB-2, the correlation between topoisomerase II-alpha and c-erbB-2 was examined by immunohistochemical staining in 43 invasive ductal breast carcinomas and its relationship with other prognostic factors. METHODS: Topoisomerase II-alpha and c-erbB-2 expression was studied immunohistochemically using sections of formalin fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor specimens from 43 invasive ductal breast carcinomas. The correlation between topoisomerase II-alpha and c-erbB-2 expression, and its relationship with the clinicopathological factors such as the tumor size, lymph node metastasis, TNM stage, histological grade, nuclear grade, estrogen receptors and progesteron receptors was investigated. RESULTS: C-erbB-2 was expressed in 9 (20.9%) out of the 43 infiltrating ductal carcinoma cases. Among the prognostic factors, the tumor size, lymph node metastasis, tumor stage, nuclear grade, status of progesteron receptors and estrogen receptors did not significantly correlated with c-erbB-2 expression. The tumor size, lymph node metastasis, tumor stage, histological grade, and the absence of estrogen receptors displayed a significant relationship with the increase in the topoisomerase-alpha index. However, the topoisomerase II-alpha index did not correlate with the nuclear grade and the status of progesterone receptors. The topoisomerase II-alpha index was slightly higher in the c-erbB-2 positive expression cases compared to c-erbB-2 negative expression cases but this increase was not significant (P=0.503). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that topoisomerase II-alpha may play some role as a prognostic factor, but further investigation is needed.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Carcinoma, Ductal ; DNA Replication ; Formaldehyde ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Oncogenes ; Receptors, Estrogen ; Receptors, Progesterone