No abstract available.
Replantation*

This paper describes the cloning and sequence analysis of the cDNAs encoding the canine homologues of interleukin-3 (IL-3) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). The coding sequences for canine IL-3 and IL-6 were obtained by using the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with RNA harvested from canine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Canine IL-3 cDNA includes a single open reading frame of 432 nucleotides, which encodes a 143 amino acid polypeptide and has 44.7, 42.4, 37 and 23.7% homology with the cow, sheep, human and rat IL-3 sequences, respectively. Canine IL-6 cDNA (GenBank accession number; AF275796) encodes a putative 20-amino acid signal peptide followed by a 187-amino acid mature protein. The predicted amino acid sequence of canine IL-6 shares 60.4, 77.2, 71.0, 55.8 and 42.0% sequence identity with those of human, feline, porcine, sheep and rat IL-6, respectively.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Base Sequence ; Cloning, Molecular ; Concanavalin A/pharmacology ; DNA, Complementary/*chemistry ; Dogs/blood/genetics/*immunology ; Interleukin-3/chemistry/*genetics ; Interleukin-6/chemistry/*genetics ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear/chemistry/drug effects ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Open Reading Frames/genetics ; Protein Sorting Signals/genetics ; RNA/blood/genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction/veterinary ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid

Patients with advanced carcinoma of the bladder that relapses or persists after conventional therapy have a poor prognosis. The management of the patient with recurrent local or disseminated bladder cancer presents a difficult clinical problem. In l985, Sternberg et al reported 7l% significant tumor regression and 50% complete clinical remission with M-VAC(Methotrexate, Vinblastin, Adriamycin and Cisplatin) combination chemotherapy for treatment of advanced bladder carcinoma Herein, we report 4 cases of M-VAC combination chemotherapy in far advanced bladder carcinoma with had measurable metastatic lesions enough to evaluate the objective response of chemotherapy.
Doxorubicin ; Drug Therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination* ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms* ; Urinary Bladder*

Primary tumors of the heart are rare, three quarter of the tumors are benign, and nearly half of the benign heart tumors are myxomas. Cardiac myxoma usually originate in the left atrium about 75 percent, however, only 3 to 4 percent of myxoma are detected in the left ventricle. We report on a 32 years old woman with left ventricular myxoma who presented with shortness of breath, chest tightness, and general weakness. Acute pulmonary embolism and left ventricular myxoma were found on a perfusion lung scan and echocadiogram. A mass located on septal wall of left ventricle was excised en bloc. The patient recovered uneventfully and careful follow up has be performed periodically.
Adult ; Dyspnea ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart ; Heart Atria ; Heart Neoplasms ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Lung ; Myxoma* ; Perfusion ; Pulmonary Embolism* ; Thorax

Esthetics ; Humans ; Mandibular Condyle ; Mandibular Reconstruction ; Mouth ; Temporomandibular Joint ; Transplants

Behcet's disease is a recurrent and multisystemic disorder which usually persists over many years. In 1937 Behcet described a chronic relapsing triple symptom complex of recurrent oral ulceration, genital ulceration and ocular inflammation. Other manifestations of the syndrome include arthritis, cutaneous vasculitis, thrombophlebitis, epididymitis, ulcers of gastrointestinal tract and meningoencephalitis. Recently, a case was experienced involving intestinal Behcet's syndrome with duodenal ulcer bleeding. A 32-year-old male patient was admitted due to hematemesis, and epigastric pain. The patient had ulcers on the oral mucosa, soft palate, external genitalia, and anus. An irregularly marginated ulcer with bleeding was found on the anterior of the duodenal bulb through esophago- gastroduodenoscopic examination. The patient was diagnosed with Behcet's disease and was treated with steroids. In this paper, the case of duodenal bulb involvement of Behcet's disease is reported with a review of relevant literature.
Adult ; Anal Canal ; Arthritis ; Behcet Syndrome ; Duodenal Ulcer* ; Epididymitis ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Genitalia ; Hematemesis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Male ; Meningoencephalitis ; Mouth Mucosa ; Oral Ulcer ; Palate, Soft ; Steroids ; Thrombophlebitis ; Ulcer ; Vasculitis

PURPOSE: hear stress (SS) and cyclic strain (CS) influence the expression of membrane type 1-matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) in microvascular endothelial cells (MVECs). It is known that changes in the level of Sp1 phosphorylation are important for MT1-MMP expression following SS and CS. However, the exact mechanism underlying this process is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of PKCzeta on serine phosphorylation and activation of Sp1 in response to SS and CS. METHOD: MVECs were exposed to SS or CS for up to 8 hours with or without PKCzeta inhibitors. The activity and phosphorylation of Sp1 were assessed by Western blot analysis and immunoprecipitation. MT1-MMP protein expression was assessed by Western blot analysis. RESULT: PKCzeta was phosphorylated and activated under SS, whereas no significant changes were noted under CS. SS increased Sp1 phosphorylation in a time-dependent manner, but no changes in the Sp1 phosphorylation were observed when the MVECs were pretreated with the PKCzeta inhibitors. By contrast, MVECs exposed to CS in the presence or absence of PKCzeta inhibitors showed no change in the phosphorylation of Sp1. SS decreased MT1-MMP protein expression in a time-dependent manner, but in the presence of PKCzeta inhibitors, MT1-MMP expression was not changed compared with the static levels after SS. CS increases MT1-MMP expression in a time-dependent manner. Similar expression was observed when the cells were pretreated with PKCzeta inhibitors under CS. CONCLUSION: These data demonstrate that the increased affinity of Sp1 for the MT1-MMP's promoter site occurs because of PKCzeta induced phosphorylation of Sp1 in response to SS.
Blotting, Western ; Endothelial Cells* ; Immunoprecipitation ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 14* ; Membranes ; Phosphorylation ; Serine

PURPOSE: To assess the characteristic features of MR imaging in the diagnosis of spinal tuberculosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed MR imaging of 27 cases with pathologically-proven spinal tuberculosis and analyzed the MR findings including the extent of the lesions on non-contrast T1, proton density, and T2*VI, and the specific contrast enhancement patterns of the lesion on Gd-DTPA enhnced TIWI. RESULTS: The inflammatory lesions showed low signal intensity on T1WI in 25 patients(93%) and high signal intensity on T2*gradient echo image in 25 patients(93%). Bone destruction was noted in 15 patients(55%), disc-space narrowing in 21 patients(77%), paravertebral abscess in 16 patients(59%), subligamentous extension in 23 patients(85%), kyphosis in 8 patients(29%), and spinal canal narrowing in 19 patients(70%). After Gd-DTPA was administrated, rim-enhancement was noted in all patients(100%). CONCLUSION: We conclude that MR imaging is an excellent imaging modality for establishing the diagnosis of spinal tuberculosis as well as delineating the extent of soft tissue involvement. Characteristic peripheral rim enhancement after injection of Gd-DTPA may provide rather specific diagnosis in spinal tuberculosis.
Abscess ; Diagnosis ; Gadolinium DTPA ; Kyphosis ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Protons ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Canal ; Tuberculosis, Spinal*

Urinary diversion with a continent ileal reservoir has been performed in 2 patients following the method modified by Skinner. An important modification included isolation of a narrow strip mesentery for 6-8cm along the efferent and afferent limbs of the pouch to allow adequate ileal intussusception and fixation to prevent reflux and to ensure continence. The reservoir generally is emptied by intermittent catheterization every 4 to 6 hours during the day and once at night. The volume capacity of the reservoir is more than 590ml. Retrograde reservoirgrams have demonstrated no reflux in one patient and mild reflux in the other patient and post-operative excretory urograms show normal urinary tract in one patient and mild hydronephrosis in the other patient. All patients are satisfied with this type of urinary diversion.
Catheterization ; Catheters ; Colonic Pouches* ; Cystectomy ; Extremities ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Intussusception ; Mesentery ; Urinary Diversion ; Urinary Tract

Intraaortic balloon counterpulsation (IAB) has been shown to prolong survival in the critically ill cardiac patients. Originally developed for use in the patients with cardiogenic shock, the indications have been expanded. But despite technical advances, the complication rate associated with IAB remains high. The most commonly reported complications include damage to the femoral artery and distal embolization. Other reported major complications are balloon rupture, limb loss, bleeding, systemic infection and bowel infarction. We report a patient complicated by ischemic colitis causing stenosis and intestinal obstruction after IAB insertion.
Colitis, Ischemic* ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Counterpulsation* ; Critical Illness ; Extremities ; Femoral Artery ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Infarction ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Rupture ; Shock, Cardiogenic