Normal human B cells produce autocrine growth factor in response to Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I strain (SAC). However, the functional role and molecular nature of the B cell derived-B cell growth factor (B-BCGF) are largely unknown. We have tried to investigate the nature of B-BCGF using mAb for several years. We report here that B- BCGF is capable of binding to hemoglobin (Hb). The concentrated culture supernatant from tonsillar B cells stimulated with SAC for 24 h was loaded into the fast protein liquid chromatography and ion-exchange chromatography. The peak with BCGF activity was shown to have a M.W. of 16-18 Kda in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by silver stain. Amino acid sequence of the fraction was found to identical to human hemoglobin (Hb) by more than 85%. However, Hb itself had no BCGF activity. The presence of Hb in culture supernatant was due to the contamination of SRBC during B cell purification. SRSC were completely removed from B cells by percoll-gradient centrifugation and B cells were stimulated with SAC and exogenous Hb was added to the cultures. The Hb fraction from FPLC again showed a BCGF activity. These data strongly suggested that BCGF binds to Hb. We confirmed this in dot blot as well as Western blot. The M.W of Hb-binding BCGF was 20 Kda. This information may provide a rapid progress in research of BCGF.
Amino Acid Sequence ; B-Lymphocytes ; Blotting, Western ; Centrifugation ; Chromatography, Ion Exchange ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Humans ; Silver ; Staphylococcus aureus

The size and configuration of the lumbar spinal canal constitute one of the important factors in the production of symptoms referable to cauda equina and nerve roots of the lumbar spine and the narrowness of the spinal canal. Numerous attempts have been made to measure the size of the lumbar spinal canal, but most of those are not sufficient to measure the oblique diameter of the lumbar spinal canal. Also, echographic diagnosis is much simple, safe, less expensive and non-invasive and furthermore demonstrates much more accuracy than other alternative and radiographic procedures. The purpose of this study is to establish the range of normal values of the oblique diameter of the lumbar spinal canal in Korean Army-aged group by echographic method in the interest of facilitating clinical evaluation of the lumbar spinal canal stenosis. The author measured oblique diamenter of the lumbar spinal canal in thirty healthy persons of both sexes of ages between nineteen and twenty-five years by ultrasound using sonolayergraphy model SSL-21A. Distance from the ligamentum flavum to the posterior longitudinal ligament was measured in millimeters with dial vernier caliper. Actual distance of oblique diameter of the lumbar spinal canal is obtained by multiplication of the distance of echogram by calibration factor 2.22. The results were as follows; 1. The mean values of the oblique diameter of the lumbar spinal canal in male and female between nineteen and twenty-five years of age were 14.77±0.85mm and 14.87±0.82mm in Ll, 13.99±0.87mm and 14.13±0.96mm in L2, 13.40±0.69mm and 13.71±0.75mm in L3, 12.88±0.69mm and 12.93±0.68mm in L4, 14.58±0.79mm and 14.42±0.84mm in L5 respectively. 2. The oblique diameter of the lumbar spinal canal was the widest at the first lumbar vertebra, the next at the fifth lumbar vertebra and the narrowest at the fourth lumbar vertebra. 3. There was no difference of diameter of the lumbar spinal canal between both sexes.
Calibration ; Cauda Equina ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Ligamentum Flavum ; Longitudinal Ligaments ; Male ; Methods ; Reference Values ; Spinal Canal ; Spine ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Many studies have shown that coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery prolongs the life of patients with left main coronary artery disease (LMCD). Recently, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been applied to treat LMCD, with good clinical results. However, a significant portion of patients decline any revascularization therapy, so receive medical treatment only. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long term clinical outcome in these patients with LMCD, according to the treatment strategies. SUBJECTS AND MEHTODS: The clinical outcomes of 281 consecutive patients, with significant LMCD, between January 1997 and December 2000, were evaluated. The patients were divided into three groups, according to their initial treatment strategies;1) CABG, 2) PCI and 3) medical treatment. The mean follow-up duration was 37.4+/-14.9 months. RESULTS: The 1- and 3-year survival rates in the CABG group (97.4+/-1.5% and 95.6+/-1.9%) were significantly higher than those of the medical group (89.8+/-3.9% and 76.1+/-5.9%;p=0.03). The survival rates in the PCI group (one year and 3-year survival rate, 98.1+/-1.3% and 93.8+/-2.5%) were similar to those of the CABG group (p=0.93). The incidence of 3-year MACE in the medical group (40.7%) was higher than those of the CABG (10.5%, p<0.001) and PCI groups (20.4%, p=0.007). There was no significant difference between the CABG and PCI groups (p=0.06). CONCLUSION: In patients with LMCD, a CABG remains the standard therapy for prolonging survival and lowering the incidence of MACE. PCI offers similar survival benefits in selected patients. Medical treatment is associated with a significantly higher mortality and MACE. Active revascularization therapy should be the treatment of choice for the patients with LMCD.
Angioplasty ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Disease* ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mortality ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Survival Rate ; Transplants

To assess the efficacy of 2 different mitral balloon valvotomy (PMV) techniques, PMV was performed using Inoue balloon (I) in 35 pts and double balloon (D) in 33 pts with mitral stenosis (male 27, female 41, mean age 42+/-12 years). The success rate of PMV was 89%(31/35 pts) in I group and 97%(33/33 pts) in D group. Mitral valve area after dilation increased equally effectively in both groups (I and D) from 0.9+/-0.2 and 0.8+/-0.2 to 1.9+/-0.2 and 1.9+/-0.3cm2 respectively (p<0.0001). There were no differences in degree of improvement of cardiac output, mitral gradient, left atrial pressure, pulmonary artery pressure and various doppler echocardiographic findings in both groups, but EF slope was more improved from 13+/-7 to 48+/-16 mm/sec in D group than those (from 15+/-6 to 39+/-15mm/sec) of I group. Increments of long and short diameters of mitral valve orifice by 2D-echocardiogram were 1.1+/-0.6 and 0.3+/-0.3cm in D group and 0.9+/-0.5, 0.4+/-0.3cm in I group. The ratio of long and short diameter increase was significantly larger in D than that of I group (long/short 2.8+/-0.7 vs 2.4+/-0.7, p<0.05) and short diameter of orifice after dilation was more improved in I than that of D group (1.1+/-0.2 vs 1.0+/-0.2cm p<0.05). Complications included deflation failure of Inoue balloon in 2, and cerebral embolic episode in 1 (D). Incidence of increased mitral regurgitation was 50% in D and 45% in I, development of ASD (Qp/Qs>1.2) was 20% in D, 13% in I group respectively and mean amount of left to right shunt (Qp/Qs) was 1.7+/-0.3 in D and 1.5+/-0.1 in I group. Total procedure and fluoroscopic time were 84+/-24 and 25+/-11 min. in D and 56+/-20 and 16+/-6 min. In I, which had statistically significant differences (p<0.002). Thus we concluded PMV using Inoue or double balloons was equally effective in selected patients. Total procedure and fluoroscopic time of Inoue balloon technique were significantly shorter than those of double balloons. Double balloon technique had more tendency of longitudinal splitting of the commissures.
Atrial Pressure ; Balloon Valvuloplasty* ; Cardiac Output ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mitral Valve ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; Mitral Valve Stenosis ; Pulmonary Artery

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanism of endothelium-dependent and independent responses to endothelins (ETs) in porcine coronary artery. METHODS: The vascular rings of left anterior descending artery or left circumflex artery from 7 pigs were suspended in conventional organ chambers for the measurement of isometric force. To evaluate relaxation responses, vascular rings with endothelium were exposed to ET-1 and ET-3. To evaluate contraction responses, vascular rings with and without endothelium were exposed to ET-1 and ET-3 in the presence or absence of BQ 123 (ET(A) receptor antagonist) or TAK-044 (ET(A) and ET(B) receptor antagonist). RESULTS: Transient relaxation responses of vascular rings occurred after exposure of ET-1 and ET-3. These transient responses disappeared after preincubation with N-nitro-L arginine. There was an increased contractions of vascular rings according to increasing concentration of ET-1 and ET-3. The initial responses were enhanced in vascular rings without endothelium in ET-1 and ET-3. In vascular rings with endothelium, the contraction responses were more reduced in vascular rings with preincubation of BQ 123 than in vascular rings without BQ 123 in ET-1. In vascular rings without endothelium, the contraction responses were more reduced in vascular rings with preincubation of TAK-044 than in vascular rings without TAK-044 in ET-1. CONCLUSION: ET(B) receptor on the endothelium might mediate the transient vasodilator responses to ET-1 and ET-3 through release of nitric oxide in porcine coronary artery. ET(A) and ET(B) receptor on vascular smooth muscle cells might mediate vasoconstrictor responses to ETs.
Arginine ; Arteries ; Coronary Vessels* ; Endothelins* ; Endothelium ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; Nitric Oxide ; Receptors, Endothelin ; Relaxation ; Swine

No abstract available.
Neuroblastoma*

Recent studies suggest that coronary endothelial dysfunction in atherosclerosis may contribute to the predisposition both for coronary spasm as well as for thrombus formation. The integrity of at least one aspect of endothelial function can be assessed by the intracoronary administration of acetylcholine. Eleven(13.4%, mean age 48+13, male 11) out of 82 consecutive patients with acute myocardial infarction showed angiographically normal or near normal coronary arteries at 7~10 in-hospital days. Ten(91%) had history of heavy smoking and 7 patients(64%) had no history of previous angina. Anterior myocardial infarction was in 8 and inferior in 3 patients. After intracoronary administration of acetylcholine(incremental dose of 20, 50ug for the right and 20, 50, 100ug for the left), 9(82) of 11 infarct related arteries showed total or subtotal occlusion, but only in 3(17%) out of 18 non-infarct related arteries of 10 patients. Multivessel spasm was noticed in 3. Ergonovine test(graded doses of 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 mg intravenously) was performed 30 minutes after completion of acetylcholine test in 5 patients. In 1 patients, acetylcholine test was positive and but ergonovine test was negative. Conclusion : 1) Eleven(13.4%) out of 82 patients with acute myocardial infarction had angiographically normal coronary arteries. 2) Ach positive responses of infarct-related arteries are more frequent(82%) than that of non-infarct related arteries(17%), suggesting that the infarction might be related to coronary artery spasm. 3) Positive Ach responses of non-infarct related arteries occurred in 30% of Patients. 4) Ach and Erg induced vasospasm developed at the same site in 5, which suggests that local hyperreactivity might be related to spasm.
Acetylcholine* ; Arteries ; Atherosclerosis ; Coronary Vessels* ; Ergonovine ; Humans ; Infarction ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Spasm* ; Thrombosis

No abstract available.
Magnesium Sulfate* ; Magnesium* ; Torsades de Pointes*

To assess the likelihood of procedural success in patients with multivessel coronary artery disease, 46 consecutive patients (male 34, female 12, mean age 60+/-9 years) umderwent single or multiple site angioplasty. The clinical diagnosis of unstable angina was in 20(44%), stable angina in 10 and acute or old myocardial infarction in 16. Coronary angiographic findings of 2 vessel disease was in 38(83%), triple vessel disease in 8. Left ventricular function was generally well preserved (mean ejection fraction 65+/-12%, range 30-82%) and mean 2.0 stenosis per patient angic, lasty had attempted. Single vessel angioplasty (SVA) was performed in 13 and multivessel angioplasty (MVA) in 33. Procedural success was achieved in 79(86%) out of total 92 stenoses. Sixty-six(88%) out of 75 stenoses in MVA and 13(76%) out of 17 stenoses in SVA had procedural success respectively. According to angiographic morphology of lesions, procedural success of type A stenoses was 17/17(100%), type B stenoses 57/66(86%) and type C stenoses was 5/9(33%). In 13 failures included inability to pass the guide wire cross the lesion in 7, inability to guide the griding catheter in 2 and inability to dilate lesions in 4. Before and after angioplasty, treadmill test (modified Bruce protocol)could be performed in 29 patients. Total duration of exercise and maximal double product improved significantly from 8.5+/-2.3 minute 5188+/-2403 to 12.2+1.3 min., 23,062+/-4111 respectively (p<0.001). 17 out of 24 patients who had positive treadmill test before angioplasty showed negative conversion after procedure. Complications included dissection in 29, prolongd chest pain in 5, acute closure in 3, cardiac tamponade in 1 and ventricular fibrillation due to side branch oclusion in 1. Thus, coronary angioplasty in selected paients with multivessel coronary artery disease might be useful and have relatively good immediate results, but the long-term efficacies with other forms of treatment must be evaluated prospectively.
Angina, Stable ; Angina, Unstable ; Angioplasty* ; Cardiac Tamponade ; Catheters ; Chest Pain ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Diagnosis ; Exercise Test ; Female ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction ; Ventricular Fibrillation ; Ventricular Function, Left

Percutenous transluminal coronary angioplasty(PTCA) for total coronary occlusion was performed in 20 patients(mean age 51+11years, male 16, female 4) including 12 patients with recent myocardial infaction. Primary success rate of procedure was 71%(15 out of 21 lesions). The success rate with occlusion<3 months duration was 11 out of 13(85%) lesions vs 4 out of 8(50%) with occlusion>3 months duration(P=NS). There was no difference in success rate according to vessel dilated(left anterior descending and intermediate branch 70%, right coronary artery 83%, left circumflex 67%). All patients had well developled(>grade 2 in 15 patients) collateral flow to the occluded vessel. The leng of occluded lesion more than 1.5cm was in 4 out of 21, and 3 of them had procedural failure because of inability to cross with a guide wire. Six procedsural failures included inability to cross the lesion with a guide wire in 5 and one in inability to dilate the lesion due to recoiling. Complications included intimal dissection in 3(1.5%), prolonged chest pain in 1 1 and one death due to cardiogenic shock. Although the primary success rate is relatively lower than that associated with conventional stenotic lesions, coronary angioplasty could be performed safely and successfully in the majority of patients with coronary occlusion.
Angioplasty* ; Chest Pain ; Coronary Occlusion ; Coronary Vessels* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Shock, Cardiogenic