The visualization of coronary arteries by transthoracic two-dimensional echocardiography has been used for over 10 years. In many cases, the imaging quality is too poor to allow an anatomic evaluation. During the last few years, transesophageal echocardiography has been shown to provide optimal imaging quality in virtually all patients and of all cardiac structures including the coronary arteries. The purpose of this study was to test the ability of transesophageal echocardiography in the visualiation of the coronary arteries and assessment of coronary blood flow by transesophageal two-dimensional pulsed Doppler echocardiography. We Studied 285 patients, 91 men and 194 women, aged 16 to 81 year(mean 50.6 year men, mean 54.2 year women). We have been used a 5-MHz phased array transducer with incorporated color-coded Doppler. The left main coronary artery was visualized 95.1%, left circumflex artery 27.4, left anterior descending artery 21.4% and the main stem of the proximal right coronary artery 45.1%. The time-sequential left anterior descending artery flow pattern generally consisted of a small late systolic component and a large diastolic component. The peak flow velocity in the proximal left anterior descending artery during diastole was 40.8+/-8.0cm/sec(integrity 7.6+/-0.9) and during late systole was 18.5+/-5.5cm/sec(integrity 2.9+/-0.9). There were no complications during and after examination. This study suggests that transesophageal color-coded Doppler two-dimensional echocardiography appers to be a feasible noninvasive technique for imaging the proximal left coronary artery and the left anterior descending artery flow is detectable from the transesophageal approach.
Arteries ; Coronary Vessels* ; Diastole ; Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Doppler* ; Echocardiography, Doppler, Pulsed ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Systole ; Transducers

This study is an analysis of distribution of patients who installed Xive implant in Yonsei University Hospital and types of implant site for about 2 years recall check and cumulative survival rate. 41 implant were used in this study. It shows the conclusion below. 1. Patients at the age of 40s and 50s were 60% of all implant cases and average number of implant was 2.4(man), and 1.9(woman). All cases were operated on mandible, 3 implants on anterior region and 38 implants on posterior region. 2. The major cause of tooth loss is dental caries(48.8%), followed by periodontal disease. 3. Most distribution of bone qaulity for mandibular implant site was type II(65.8%) and bone quantity was type B(75.6%). 4. The majority of implants were those of 11, 13mm in length(95%) and regular diameter in width(64%). 5. The 41(19 persons) Xive implants that were placed in the mandibular anterior and posterior region were all survival and showed a 100% 2 year cumulative survival rate. The results provided us with basic data on patient type, implant distribution, bone condi- tion, and survival rate. We wish that our results coupled with other research data helps assist in the further study for better implant success rates, etc.
Humans ; Mandible* ; Periodontal Diseases ; Survival Rate* ; Tooth Loss

No abstract available.
Fibroblasts* ; Humans* ; Lasers, Gas*

PURPOSE: Current results of autologous stem cell transplantation (SCT) suggest that this procedure may prolong disease free survival in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Autologous SCT is increasingly used as treatment for AML in first remission. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of autologous SCT for patients with AML in first remission treated by autologous SCT using cytarabine, melphalan and total body irradiation (TBI) as the conditioning regimen. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 1995 and December 1999, 29 patients with AML in first remission underwent autologous SCT. The median age of patients was 33 years (range, 16 to 47). The conditioning regimen consisted of cytarabine (3.0 gm/m2 for 3 days), melphalan (100 mg/m2 for 1 day) and TBI (total 1000 cGy in five fractions over 3 days). RESULTS: The median follow up was 40 months with a range of 3 to 58 months. The 4-year cumulative probability of disease free survival was 69.0%, and median survival was 41.5 months. The 4-year relapse rate was 27.6%. The factor influencing disease free survival and relapse rate was the French-American-British (FAB) classification (M3 group vs. other groups; p=0.048, p=0.043). One patient died from treatment-related toxicity. CONCLUSION: Although the small number of patients does not allow us to draw any firm conclusion, our results were encouraging and suggest that the association of cytarabine, melphalan and TBI as a conditioning regimen for autologous SCT for AML in first remission appears to be safe and effective.
Classification ; Cytarabine* ; Disease-Free Survival ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; Melphalan* ; Recurrence ; Stem Cell Transplantation* ; Stem Cells* ; Whole-Body Irradiation*

The vast majority of ampullary tumors are epithelial in nature and are either adenoma or adenocarcinoma. Rarely lymphoma or mucinous and squamous elements may be found. Primary lymphoma of pancreaticobiliary region are exceedingly rare, and mostly nodal. Recently, we have experienced a 29-year-old woman with primary malignant lymphoma of the ampulla of Vater with recurrent acute pancreatitis and jaundice. On duodenoscopy, bulging ampulla with normal overlying duodenal mucosa was observed. Endoscopic sphincterotomy was done and tumor inside the ampulla was exposed. ERCP showed high grade biliary and pancreatic ductal strictures extending from the papillary orifice, with upstream ductal dilatation, respectively. With endoscopic biopsy alone, the tumor was confirmed as B-cell lymphoma histologically.
Adenocarcinoma ; Adenoma ; Adult ; Ampulla of Vater* ; Biopsy ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Dilatation ; Duodenoscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Jaundice ; Lymphoma* ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; Mucins ; Mucous Membrane ; Pancreatic Ducts ; Pancreatitis ; Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic

An abrupt increase of intracellular Ca2+ is observed in cells under hypoxic or oxidatively stressed conditions. The dysregulated increase of cytosolic Ca2+ triggers apoptotic cell death through mitochondrial swelling and activation of Ca2+-dependent enzymes. Transglutaminase 2 (TG2) is a Ca2+-dependent enzyme that catalyzes transamidation reaction producing cross-linked and polyaminated proteins. TG2 activity is known to be involved in the apoptotic process. However, the pro-apoptotic role of TG2 is still controversial. In this study, we investigate the role of TG2 in apoptosis induced by Ca2+-overload. Overexpression of TG2 inhibited the A23187-induced apoptosis through suppression of caspase-3 and -9 activities, cytochrome c release into cytosol, and mitochondria membrane depolarization. Conversely, down-regulation of TG2 caused the increases of cell death, caspase-3 activity and cytochrome c in cytosol in response to Ca2+-overload. Western blot analysis of Bcl-2 family proteins showed that TG2 reduced the expression level of Bax protein. Moreover, overexpression of Bax abrogated the anti-apoptotic effect of TG2, indicating that TG2-mediated suppression of Bax is responsible for inhibiting cell death under Ca2+-overloaded conditions. Our findings revealed a novel anti-apoptotic pathway involving TG2, and suggested the induction of TG2 as a novel strategy for promoting cell survival in diseases such as ischemia and neurodegeneration.
*Apoptosis ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins/metabolism ; Calcimycin/pharmacology ; Calcium/*metabolism ; Caspases/metabolism ; Cell Death ; Cell Survival ; Cytochromes c/metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; GTP-Binding Proteins/*metabolism ; HEK293 Cells ; Hela Cells ; Humans ; Ionophores/pharmacology ; Mitochondria/metabolism ; Transglutaminases/*metabolism ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein/genetics/*metabolism

Transglutaminase 4 is a member of enzyme family that catalyzes calcium-dependent posttranslational modification of proteins. Although transglutaminase 4 has been shown to have prostate-restricted expression pattern, little is known about the biological function of transglutaminase 4 in human. To gain insight into its role in prostate, we analyzed the expression status of human transglutaminase 4 in benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer (PCa). Unexpectedly, RT-PCR and nucleotide sequence analysis showed four alternative splicing variants of transglutaminase 4: transglutaminase 4-L, -M (-M1 and -M2) and -S. The difference between transglutaminase 4-M1 and -M2 is attributed to splicing sites, but not nucleotide size. The deduced amino acid sequences showed that transglutaminase 4-L, -M1 and -M2 have correct open reading frames, whereas transglutaminase 4-S has a truncated reading frame. RT-PCR analysis of clinical samples revealed that transglutaminase 4-M and -S were detected in all tested prostate tissue (80 BPH and 48 PCa). Interestingly, transglutaminase 4-L was found in 56% of BPH (45 out of 80) and only in 15% of PCa (7 out of 48). However, transglutaminase 4-L expression did not correlate with serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, prostate volumes or PSA densities. These results will provide a clue to future investigation aiming at delineating physiological and pathological roles of human transglutaminase 4.

The treatment of cystamine, a transglutaminase (TGase) inhibitor, has beneficial effects in several diseases including CAG-expansion disorders and cataract. We compared the inhibition characteristics of cystamine with those of cysteamine, a reduced form of cystamine expected to be present inside cells. Cystamine is a more potent inhibitor for TGase than cysteamine with different kinetics pattern in a non- reducing condition. By contrast, under reducing conditions, the inhibitory effect of cystamine was comparable with that of cysteamine. However, cystamine inhibited intracellular TGase activity more strongly than cysteamine despite of cytoplasmic reducing environment, suggesting that cystamine itself inhibits in situ TGase activity by forming mixed disulfides.
Cell Line, Tumor ; Comparative Study ; Cystamine/*pharmacology ; Cysteamine/*pharmacology ; Enzyme Inhibitors/*pharmacology ; Humans ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Transglutaminases/*antagonists & inhibitors

BACKGROUND: Toluene diisocyanate (TDI) can cause contact allergy and occupational asthma, but the mechanism underlying sensitization to this chemical compound remains controversal. Also the correlation of mast cell with contact hypersensitivity (CHS) and the role of mast cell in the TDI-induced CHS is unknown. This issue was investigated by administrating TDI on the skin of genetically mast cell-deficient WBB6F1/J-Kit(W)/ Kit(W-v) (W/W(V)) and congenic normal WBB6F1/J-Kit +/+ (+/+) mice. METHODS: To development of animal model of TDI-induced CHS and to investigate the correlation of mast cell with CHS and the role of mast cell in the TDI-induced CHS, W/W(V) and +/+ mice were sensitized with TDI on the back skin at day 1 and day 8, and then challenged with 1% TDI on the ear at day 15. At 1, 2, 4, 8, and 24 hours after 1% TDI challenge, the ear thicknesses were measured. It was investigated the histologic changes of dermis in the ear of W/W(V) and +/+ mice at 24 hours after 1% TDI challenge. RESULTS: TDI induced a significant ear swelling response in W/W(V) and +/+ mice. TDI induced the significant infiltrations of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and eosinophils in W/W(V) and +/+ mice, but not of mast cells in normal mice. And TDI increased a characteristic extent of mast cell degranulation in normal mice. There were no significant differences in the ear swelling and the infiltrations of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and eosinophils of normal versus W/W(V) mice, either at baseline or after TDI-induced CHS. CONCLUSION: From the above results, TDI can be used as a murine CHS model, and the mast cells may not be essential in TDI-induced CHS.
Animals ; Asthma, Occupational ; Dermatitis, Contact* ; Dermis ; Ear ; Eosinophils ; Hypersensitivity ; Mast Cells ; Mice ; Models, Animal ; Neutrophils ; Skin ; Toluene 2,4-Diisocyanate ; Toluene*

BACKGROUND: Toluene diisocyanate (TDI) can cause contact allergy and occupational asthma, but the mechanism underlying sensitization to this chemical compound remains controversal. Also the correlation of mast cell with contact hypersensitivity (CHS) and the role of mast cell in the TDI-induced CHS is unknown. This issue was investigated by administrating TDI on the skin of genetically mast cell-deficient WBB6F1/J-Kit(W)/ Kit(W-v) (W/W(V)) and congenic normal WBB6F1/J-Kit +/+ (+/+) mice. METHODS: To development of animal model of TDI-induced CHS and to investigate the correlation of mast cell with CHS and the role of mast cell in the TDI-induced CHS, W/W(V) and +/+ mice were sensitized with TDI on the back skin at day 1 and day 8, and then challenged with 1% TDI on the ear at day 15. At 1, 2, 4, 8, and 24 hours after 1% TDI challenge, the ear thicknesses were measured. It was investigated the histologic changes of dermis in the ear of W/W(V) and +/+ mice at 24 hours after 1% TDI challenge. RESULTS: TDI induced a significant ear swelling response in W/W(V) and +/+ mice. TDI induced the significant infiltrations of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and eosinophils in W/W(V) and +/+ mice, but not of mast cells in normal mice. And TDI increased a characteristic extent of mast cell degranulation in normal mice. There were no significant differences in the ear swelling and the infiltrations of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and eosinophils of normal versus W/W(V) mice, either at baseline or after TDI-induced CHS. CONCLUSION: From the above results, TDI can be used as a murine CHS model, and the mast cells may not be essential in TDI-induced CHS.
Animals ; Asthma, Occupational ; Dermatitis, Contact* ; Dermis ; Ear ; Eosinophils ; Hypersensitivity ; Mast Cells ; Mice ; Models, Animal ; Neutrophils ; Skin ; Toluene 2,4-Diisocyanate ; Toluene*