BACKGROUND: Intracoronary stent implantation is a promising modality for establishing the blood flow of complex coronary arterial stenosis. However, previous studies have demonstrated that the angiographically visible thrombus is a high risk factor for possibility of stent thrombosis. So many investigators avoided stent implantation traditionally for thrombus containing lesion because of the potency of thrombogenecity of stent. But recently, advanced rapidly growing technique for stenting and powerful antithrombotic regimens make stent thrombosis rare. Stent implantantion has already been showed a acceptable method for bailout procedure of thrombotic occlusion in patients with angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction and also effective in intimal dissection, suboptimal results and arterial recoil. Accordingly, we investigated the effectiveness of stent implantation in the presence of intracoronary thrombus. METHODS: Eighteen patients(AMI 14, Unstable angina 4) underwent PTCA & stent implantation on culprit arterial lesion in all successfully. The stent group was comprised of Palmatz-Schatz stent 10, Cordis 2, Cook 5 and Jo-Med stent 1. Stent implanted to the lesion of remained thrombus visualization on coronary angiography after PTCA. RESULTS: No major complications were developed during hospitalization in all 18 patients. In all patients no stent thrombosis have occurred within 2 weeks after stent implantation. But one patients have showed intracoronary stent thrombus persistently, so we used intracoronary urokinase infusion for 36 hours but there was no visible thrombus after modified anticoagulation and antithrombotic regimen CONCLUSIONS: We harvested good preliminary results of intracoronary stent implantation in the setting of thrombus containing lesion.
Angina, Unstable ; Angioplasty ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Angiography ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction ; Research Personnel ; Risk Factors ; Stents* ; Thrombosis* ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator

In connective tissue diseases, autoantibodies cause pulmonary interstitial inflammation and fibrosis, and patients require treatment with an immunosuppressive agent such as a steroid. Dermatomyositis is an incurable, uncommon form of connective tissue disease that occasionally causes diffuse pulmonary inflammation leading to acute severe respiratory failure. In such cases, the prognosis is very poor despite treatment with high-dose steroid. In the present case, a 46-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with dyspnea. He was diagnosed with dermatomyositis combined with cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP) with respiratory failure and underwent treatment with steroid and an immunosuppressive agent, but the COP was not improved. However, the respiratory failure did improve after treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin, which therefore can be considered a treatment option in cases where steroids and immunosuppressive agents are ineffective.
Autoantibodies ; Connective Tissue Diseases ; Cryptogenic Organizing Pneumonia* ; Dermatomyositis* ; Dyspnea ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins* ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Inflammation ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; Middle Aged ; Pneumonia ; Prognosis ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Steroids

In situ hybridization (ISH) using single-stranded DNA probe (ssDNA probe) is a useful method for observing the specific transcripts in cells, since it is convenient to prepare probe which is specific and sensitive. In this study, ssDNA probe for detection of alphaB-crystallin (aBC) mRNA, transcript of a heat shock protein, was prepared and aBC mRNA-expressed cells were spatiotemporally observed in the retina of the developing chick embryos. Single-stranded antisense probe produced by reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction was identified as a specific probe for aBC mRNA in comparison to negative control using sense probe and immunohistochemistry for aBC protein. In the ISH experiment, aBC mRNA was expressed only in the peripapillary glial cells which are a specific cell type located in the avian retina adjacent to the optic nerve at E12 and E14 retinas. At E16, a small number of aBC mRNA-expressed cells were identified in the nerve fiber layer (NFL) of the retina. At E18, aBC mRNA-expressed cells were observed in the ganglion cell layer (GCL) as well as the NFL. At E20, the number of aBC mRNA-expressed cells was increased in the GCL and the NFL. Based on the same localization of nkx2.2 immunoreactive cells and aBC mRNA-expressed cells, aBC mRNA-expressed cells were identified as oligodendrocytes. These results indicate that ssDNA probe for aBC mRNA detection is very useful tool for oligodendrocyte research such as distribution, migration and differentiation of the cells.
DNA, Single-Stranded ; Ganglion Cysts ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Hybridization ; Nerve Fibers ; Neuroglia ; Oligodendroglia ; Optic Nerve ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Retina ; Reverse Transcription ; RNA, Messenger

The study of microsatellite instability (MSI) has provided the evidence to support asequential, progressive pathway for the development of cancer. In this study, we analyzed the role of MSI at chromosome 11p15.5 using microdissection of paraffin-embedded tissue from 68 matched normal and breast tumor samples. Components of intraductal, invasive and metastatic foci in lymph node were assessed for MSI using the polymorphic markers D11S922, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and D11S988. We found that MSI at D11S922 was relatively high incidence than other two markers and increased during breast cancer progression. The overall frequency of MSI at D11S922 was 26.7% in pure intraductal carcinoma, 36.4% in invasive carcinoma, and 40.0% in invasive carcinoma with metastases. We observed no significant correlation between MSI at chromosome 11p15.5 and the patient's age, tumor size, histological grade, or lymph node metastasis. We compared the MSI incidence with the expression of prognostic markers, such as p53, c-erb B2, estrogen receptor, and progesterone receptor, and found no significant correlation. We suggest that the MSI of chromosome 11p15.5 is increased during breast cancer progression, but long-term follow-up study would establish whether MSI at chromosome 11p15.5 could be useful as a potential prognostic marker for breast cancer.
Breast Neoplasms/*genetics/metabolism/pathology ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast/*genetics/metabolism/pathology ; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating/*genetics/metabolism/pathology ; *Chromosomes, Human, Pair 11 ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Prognosis ; Protein p53/metabolism ; Receptor, erbB-2/metabolism ; Receptors, Estrogen/metabolism ; Receptors, Progesterone/metabolism

Radial glia are transdifferentiated into astrocytes within the developing brain and spinal cord. The neural retina contains Muller cells, which are retinal radial glia. Some of the cells that surround the optic nerve head among Muller cells in the chicken retina are called peripapillary glial cells (PPGCs). PPGCs express different molecules compared to typical Muller cells. However, an antigenic PPGC phenotype has not yet been clearly established. In this study, we classified the antigenic PPGC phenotypes and identified the differentiation stages of these cells. At embryonic day (E)8, alphaB-crystallin-positive PPGCs had a bipolar shape with long processes that traversed entire layers of the retina. Pax2 and vimentin were expressed in alphaB-crystallin-positive PPGCs. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunoreactivity was not observed in PPGCs. At E18, alphaB-crystallin immunoreactivity disappeared from the vitread processes of PPGCs. However, the PPGC cell bodies and ventricular processes contained alphaB-crystallin protein, and the PPGCs retained the same Pax2-positive/vimentin-positive/GFAP-negative profile as that seen at E8. At post-hatch day 120, alphaB-crystallin and Pax2 immunoreactivity was not observed, but vimentin and GFAP expression was clearly observed in the presumptive location of the PPGCs. Furthermore, these two proteins overlapped within that location. Considering that vimentin expression is prolonged until the post-hatching period in chicken brain, these findings suggest that Pax2-negative/vimentin-positive/GFAP-positive PPGCs are phenotypically identical to mature astrocytes in this avian species.
Astrocytes ; Brain ; Chickens ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; Neuroglia ; Optic Disk ; Phenotype ; Proteins ; Retina ; Retinaldehyde ; Spinal Cord ; Vimentin

BACKGROUND: Germline mutations in the breast cancer-associated genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 confer susceptibility and a lifetime risk of breast. Several morphological and clinical features have been attributed to hereditary tumors. However, in sporadic breast cancer, the interrelationship between the loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of these loci and clinical features remains to be fully elucidated. METHODS: Microdissected paraffin-embedded tissue blocks of 48 cases of surgically resected breast carcinoma were investigated to identify the LOH of BRCA1 and BRCA2 using microsatellite markers. RESULTS: Of 48 cases, 22 (45.9%) exhibited LOH at BRCA1 locus while in 29 out of 48 (60.4%) cases LOH was observed for the BRCA2 region. There was no significant correlation between LOH at BRCA1/2 and the patient's age, tumor size, histologic grade or lymph node metastasis. When comparing the frequency of LOH with the expression of several prognostic factors, such as p53, c-erb B2 protein, estrogen and progesterone receptor using immunohistochemical stain, there was only correlation with LOH at BRCA2 and the progesterone receptor. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that allelic deletion play a role to the development of sporadic breast cancers.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Estrogens ; Germ-Line Mutation ; Loss of Heterozygosity* ; Lymph Nodes ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Paraffin* ; Receptors, Progesterone

The nationwide prevalence of major depressive disorder in Korea is lower than most countries, despite the high suicide rate. To explain this unexpectedly low prevalence, we examined the functional disability and quality of life in community-dwelling subjects with significant depressive symptoms not diagnosable as depressive disorder. A total of 1,029 subjects, randomly chosen from catchment areas, were interviewed with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale, Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview, WHO Quality of Life scale, and the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule. Those with scores over 21 on the depression scale were interviewed by a psychiatrist for diagnostic confirmation. Among community-dwelling subjects, the 1-month prevalence of major depressive disorder was 2.2%, but the 1-month prevalence of depressive symptoms not diagnosable as depressive disorder was 14.1%. Depressive disorders were the cause of 24.7% of work loss days, while depressive symptoms not diagnosable as depressive disorder were the cause of 17.2% of work loss days. These findings support the dimensional or spectrum approach to depressive disorder in the community and might be the missing link between the apparent low prevalence of depressive disorder and high suicide rate in Korea.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Analysis of Variance ; Depression/*diagnosis/epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Male ; Mental Health ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; *Quality of Life ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: The objectives of this study were to evaluate whether intravesical protrusion of the prostate (IPP) and bladder wall thickness (BWT) are related to prostate volume (PV), prostate-specific antigen (PSA), International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) in patients with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). MATERIALS AND METHODS: From September 2003 to May 2004, 152 patients with LUTS/BPH were included in this study. Their ages ranged from 46 to 86 years, with an average of 65.0 years. PV (measured by transrectal ultrasonography), serum PSA, IPSS, maximal flow rate (Qmax), post-voiding residual urine volume (PVR), acute urinary retention (AUR) and relationship with irritative or obstructive voiding symptoms were recorded. IPP and BWT were measured using transabdominal ultrasonography. The degree of protrusion was classified as grade I (less than 5mm), II (5 to 10mm) or III (greater than 10mm). The degree of thickness was classified as grade I (less than 5mm) or II (5mm or greater). RESULTS: The higher IPP and BWT grades showed significant differences with higher PV, serum PSA and IPSS (p<0.05). Especially, higher BWT grade was associated with higher PVR and AUR (p<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between grades and irritative or obstructive symptoms (p>0.05). Qmax showed no statistical significance between IPP and BWT (p>0.05). There was no correlation between IPP and BWT grades. CONCLUSIONS: IPP and BWT showed a statistically significant relation with PV, serum PSA and IPSS. Especially, higher BWT was associated with higher PVR and AUR. If symptomatic BPH patients receive medical treatment, IPP and BWT measurements appear to be useful predictors of BOO.
Humans ; Prostate ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Prostatic Hyperplasia* ; Ultrasonography* ; Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction ; Urinary Bladder* ; Urinary Retention

The obturator artery normally originates from the internal iliac artery. However, variation in the origin of obturator artery has been reported in many countries. Since no such case has been reported in Korea, we examined variations in the origin of obturator artery in cadavers donated to the medical school at the Chungbuk National University. Thirty-six pelvic halves from 18 cadaveric subjects (13 males and 5 females) were studied in this study. Normal origin of the obturator artery from the internal iliac artery was observed in 88.9% (16/18) of cadavers or in 91.7% (33/36) of pelvic halves. A variation in the origin of obturator artery was observed in 11.1% (2/18) of cadavers or in 8.3% (3/36) of pelvic halves. All of the variant obturator arteries originated from external iliac arteries as branches of inferior epigastric arteries. Bilateral presence of variant obturator arteries was observed in 5.6%(1/18) of cadavers. The obturator artery arose from inferior epigastric artery at a distance of 1 to 2.4 cm from origin point of inferior epigastric artery, and then the obturator artery ran inferiorly and medially with the inferior epigastric artery running superiorly and laterally. Presence of variant obturator artery would be important to clinical fields with interest to pelvic anatomy, such as radiology and surgery.
Arteries ; Cadaver ; Epigastric Arteries ; Humans ; Iliac Artery ; Korea ; Male ; Running ; Schools, Medical

PURPOSE: Following legal reform in 2013, the annual number of asylum seekers entering South Korea has increased from 1,143 in 2012 to 5,711 in 2015. We interviewed six African refugee mothers of young children regarding their health needs and barriers to access maternal child health services. METHODS: We recruited mothers who had visited a clinic for immigrants between July 2013 and August 2015. Participants were African refugee women, aged over 18 years, who had given birth in Korea within the previous 5 years and had come to Korea over a year before recruitment. Interview questions examined participants' experiences in pregnancy and childbirth and concerns regarding their child's health status. Initial data analysis involved all researchers' immersion in the entire collection of transcripts. We then noted recurrent topics and themes and identified similar issues. RESULTS: At the time of giving birth, 5 participants were asylum seekers and one had undocumented status. The following barriers impeded their access to maternal child healthcare: socioeconomic factors (unstable social identity, low economic status, difficulty obtaining health insurance), language barriers (lack of linguistically appropriate health information, limited access to translation services), and cultural barriers (religious and cultural differences). Weak social support also hindered access to healthcare soon after migration; however, social links with the community emerged as a key coping strategy following settlement. CONCLUSION: We identified barriers to maternal and child healthcare and coping strategies among African refugee mothers in Korea. Future research should assess refugees' health status and improve health access and literacy among refugee mothers.
Child ; Communication Barriers ; Delivery of Health Care* ; Emigrants and Immigrants ; Female ; Health Services Accessibility ; Humans ; Immersion ; Infant ; Korea* ; Literacy ; Maternal-Child Health Services ; Mothers* ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Refugees* ; Social Identification ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Statistics as Topic