The authors analyzed data from 15 patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy to evaluate the hemodynamic changes and left ventricular cineangiogram as compared with normal control. Mean right atrial pressure, right ventricular systolic pressure, mean pulmonary artery pressure and mean pulmonary wedge pressure were signigicantly elevated in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. Left ventricular enddiastolic volume was increased in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy(139.9+/-58.73 ml/m2). Cardiac index, left ventricular ejection fraction and circumferential fiber shortening were significantly reduced in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy as compared with normal control(p<0.001). Hypokinetic, diffuse wall motion abnormalities of left ventricle were common in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. A few cases of akinetic or dyskinetic segmental wall motion abnormalities were present. Left ventricular configurations in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy were globe shape(53.4%) as compared with pear core shape(90%) of normal control. Associated mitral regurgitations in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy confirmed by left ventricular cineangiogram were 53.3 percent. Mild to moderate mitral regurgitations were often present(46.6%).
Atrial Pressure ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated* ; Heart Ventricles ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Pulmonary Artery ; Pulmonary Wedge Pressure ; Pyrus ; Stroke Volume

The coronary artery cross sectional area (CSA) is proportional to LV mass. We have measured the cross sectional area of the left and right coronary arteries in patients with ischemic heart disease to see whether it is related to the change in the LV mass. The following results were obtained ; 1) There were no significant difference in mean CSA of coronary arteries and LV mass determined by echocardiography and cineangiography between control and ischemic heart disease. 2) There were significantly increased ratio of left ventricular mass by cineangiogram to CSA of left anterior descending coronary artery in patients with myocardial infarction as compared with control group. 3) A linear relation between LV mass by cineangiogram and CSA of left coronary artery was noted in control group (r=0.53, P<0.05) and ischemic heart disease group (r=0.51, P<0.05). 4) A linear relation between LV mass determined by echocardiography and CSA of left coronary artery was noted in control group (r=0.55, P<0.05).
Cineangiography ; Coronary Vessels* ; Echocardiography ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myocardial Ischemia

Seven patients with aortic valve vegetation were examined by M-mode and two dimensional echocardiography. Underlying cardiac abnormalities were found in 6 patients, four had rheumatic heart disease, one had congenital bicuspid aortic valve, one had coexistence of asymmetrical septal hypertrophy and aortic regurgitation. Aortic regurgitation were found in all patients. One of seven patients had cerebral embolization and all patients had overt congestive heart failure. Of 5 patients medically treated, three became moribund, one died and one improved clinically. One patient underwent cardiac surgery, the aortic cusps were congenital bicuspid with vegetation, aortic valve replacement was successful. Echocardiogram of 7 patients with aortic valve vegetation showed characteristic shaggy, irregular mass of echoes produced by vegetation in the aortic valve during systole and diastole. Two of seven patients had abnormal mass of echoes in the left ventricular outflow tract. During systole, two had vegetation on the right coronary cusp and one had vegetation on the noncoronary cusp by M-mode echocardiography. In other patients we could not localize invoving aortic cusps by M-mode echocardiogram. All patients had left ventricular volume overload. For of seven patients had fluttering of anterior mitral valve. Two had fluttering of interventricular seputm. Five had premature mitral valve closure before QRS complex.
Aortic Valve Insufficiency ; Aortic Valve* ; Bicuspid ; Diastole ; Echocardiography* ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Mitral Valve ; Rheumatic Heart Disease ; Systole ; Thoracic Surgery

Stress distribution on mandibular implants supporting overdentures were registered in vitro experimental model by means of 4 rosette gauges which were placed around the implant. The overdenture attachments used in this study were the Resilient Dolder bar, Rigid Dolder bar, Round bar, Hader bar&Dal-Ro attachment. An occlusal jig was placed on the overdenture and the loading sites were 3 points which mimicked working, balancing, and median relations. With 5 and 10kg loading, strains were measured by strain indicator(P-3500, Measurement group, Raleigh, USA), and using these data, maximum and minimum principal stresses and Von Mises stress were calculated and evaluated. The results were as follows: There was a tendency of high stress concentration in the lingual side of the implant, and in the buccal side low stress was developed regardless of the attachment systems. The resilient Dolder bar concentrated highest stress among the attachment systems, and the Round bar and the Dal-Ro attachment provided comparatively low stresses around the implant. The rigid Dolder bar concentrated high stress in the mesial side, and the Dal-Ro attachment developed tensile stress patterns in the lingual and distal sides of the implant at the balancing relation.
Denture, Overlay* ; Models, Theoretical

BACKGROUND: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) can be defined by their extensive in vitro self renewal capacity and multi-lineage differentiation potentiality. These cells possess in vitro immunosuppressive properties that appear not to be major histocompatibility complex (MHC) restricted. This study evaluated the immune suppressive effect of mouse MSC on mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR), and the mechanisms were investigated. METHODS: MSC were obtained from BALB/c bone marrow and cultured in low-glucose DMEM media. The expression of surface antigens and cell cycle were analyzed by flow cytometry. The MSC-induced suppression was assessed by MLR and transwell culture. RESULTS: The BALB/c MSC constitutively expressed MHC class I and CD54 (ICAM-1) antigens but were negative for MHC class II, CD40, CD80 (B7-1) and CD106 (VCAM-1) antigens. MSC suppressed allogeneic C57BL/6 T lymphocytes proliferation by adding them to MLR in which C3H spleen cells were used as a stimulator. This inhibition was dependent on the dose of BALB/c MSC but independent of MHC. C57BL/6 T lymphocytes proliferation was still inhibited when BALB/c MSC were added in culture 3 days after starting of MLR. When MSC were separated from C57BL/6 T cells by using the transwell membrane, the suppression of immune response wasn't observed, which suggested that the suppressive effect was dependent on cell-cell contact between BALB/c MSC and C57BL/6 T cells. When C57BL/6 T lymphocytes were cultured with MSC, the percentage of C57BL/6 T cells in G0 phase increased from 51.8+/-7.66% to 77.2+/-7.39% compared with the case that only C57BL/6 T cells were cultured. When the C57BL/6 T cells were cultured with C3H spleen cells, most of C57BL/6 T cells were in G2/M (96.38+/-3.33%). But by the addition of MSC to MLR, the percentage of T cells in G2/M decreased to 33.0+/-9.66% while that of T cells in G0 increased to 66.2+/-7.46%. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that the cell cycle of responder T lymphocytes in MLR is arrested at G0 phase by MSC.
Animals ; Antigens, Surface ; Bone Marrow ; Cell Cycle ; Flow Cytometry ; G0 Phase ; Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed ; Lymphocytes* ; Major Histocompatibility Complex ; Membranes ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Mice* ; Spleen ; T-Lymphocytes

Arthroscopic synovectomy has some limitations for adequate posterior visualization, and it is difficult to establish the posterior portal because of potential damage to neurovascular structures. The purpose of this study is to introduce a newly designed arthroscopic technique passing through posterior septum and to review the arthroscopic synovectomy using transposterior septal portal in the knee. Routine arthroscopic examination of the knee joint is performed using standard anterolateral and anteromedial portals. Posterior arthroscopic technique is divided into four steps. The first step is to make a posteromedial portal. The second step is to make a posterolateral portal. The third step is to make a hole at the posterior septum and to examine the posterolateral compartment. The fourth step is to examine the posteromedial compartment by switching the arthroscope to the posterolateral portal in the same manner. This technique provides complete visualization of the posterior compartment of the knee joint including the posterior aspect of the medial and lateral femoral condyles, posterior horn of both menisci, the posterior cruciate ligament(PCL), the meniscofemoral ligament, posterior aspect of the popliteal tendon, and the posterior capsule. We reviewed 47 cases(of 43 patients) of arthroscopic synovectomy using anterolateral, anteromedial and transposterior septal portal. The results were assessed with follow up of at least 1 year using the criteria of pain, synovitis, effusion, and range of motion. In 15 case rheumatoid arthritis, we had good result in 14 cases, but 1 case of recurrence was noted at 2 months after surgery. Non specific synovitis, 11 cases, had the similar result of rheumatoid arthritis. In 9 cases with hemophilic arthritis, pain and effusion were improved, but range of motion was improved minimally. In 2 cases with gouty arthritis, 2 cases with tuberculous arthritis, and I case with pigmented villonodular synovitis(PVNS), range of motion was rather reduced. It is considered that arthroscopic technique using transposterior septal portal is safe procedure without damaging the PCL, posterior capsule, neurovascular structures, and very efficient method in removing hypertrophied synovium or debris of persistent synovitis or arthritis of the knee joint and helpful in removing encapsulated loose bodies located behind the PCL.
Animals ; Arthritis ; Arthritis, Gouty ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Arthroscopes ; Arthroscopy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Horns ; Knee ; Knee Joint ; Ligaments ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Recurrence ; Synovial Membrane ; Synovitis ; Tendons

Diagnosis of knee jont pathology has been mainly dependent on clinical manifestations and invasive proceduressuch as arthrography and arthroscopy etc. However, these procedures are invasive. Arthroscopy is perfromed undergeneral anesthesia. Recently, with development of high resuloution CT with thin slices and multiplanarreconstructions capability, CT could be used to verify the internal structures of knee joint in noninvasive orless invasive way. From June ot December 1985, authors have experienced 19 cases of the knee joint CT. Among them,13 cases were operated and confirmed. We concluded as follows. 1. The diagnostic accuracy of the knee CT was 100%in lateral meniscal tearing, 92.3% in medial meniscal tearing, 92.3% in detachment of lateral collateral ligament,92.3% in medial collateral ligament, 100% in tearing of cruciate ligaments. 2. CT could be considered as a primarydiagnostic procedure in the knee pathology rather than more invasive arthrocopy or arthrography. 3. For theaccurate diagnosis of knee joint pathology, CT which can obtain thin slies, high resolution, multiplanarreconstructions is indispensable.
Anesthesia ; Arthrography ; Arthroscopy ; Collateral Ligaments ; Diagnosis ; Knee Joint ; Knee ; Ligaments ; Pathology ; Tears

Bipotent progenitors for T and natural killer (NK) lymphocytes are thought to exist among early precursor thymocytes or liver lymphocytes. The identification of such a progenitor population or mature NK cells in such organs remains undefined. Here we report the identification of a novel receptor of NK cells, p58 (HLA class I-specific inhibitory receptors), in fetal thymocytes and fetal liver lymphocytes. Our finding suggests the NK cells mature in the developmental stage during feta1 ontogeny. Flow cytometric analysis revealed p58 positive cells in thymocytes or in fetal liver lymphocytes and reverse transcription PCR also showed amplification of p58 RNA. The result of single stranded conformational polymorphism (SSCP) showed it discriminates one or two base pair differences of the p58 gene. Although the question still remains as to whether the expression of p58 is due to the NK cells or natural T cells, it is clear the p58 is expressed in fetal thymocytes or liver lymphocytes. And SSCP analysis using appropriate sets of primers used in this study, is helpful to study the diversity of p58.
Base Pairing ; Killer Cells, Natural ; Liver* ; Lymphocytes* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational ; Reverse Transcription ; RNA ; T-Lymphocytes ; Thymocytes*

There are many unknown factors in the surgical treatment of congenital cataract such as time of surgery, surgical problems, and aphakic visual correction. Recently, the advancement of microsurgical technique and visual rehabilitation have reduced the rate of postoperative complications and visual losses. We have studied 81 eyes of 55 patients who had recieved cataract surgery from January 1994 to January 1998 at the department of ophthalmology, Yonsei University College of Medicine. These eyes have been categorized by age into three groups : Group l (0~1 year), Group ll (2~5 years), and Group lll(6~10 years). Cataract extraction was done in all eyes and posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation was performed in groups ll and lllfor aphakic visual correction and the followings were investigated : preoperative vision; surgical method; postoperative vision; refractive error;and complications. Improvements in surgical procedures such as lens aspiration, posterior continuous circular capsulorhexis, anterior vitrectomy, intraocular lens implantation, and intraocular lens capture (Group ll) have brought better visual outcomes in groups II and III as well as decreased incidence of after-cataract. Thus, intraocular lens implantation in congenital cataract of 1year and older should actively be considered.
Capsulorhexis ; Cataract Extraction ; Cataract* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lens Implantation, Intraocular ; Lenses, Intraocular ; Ophthalmology ; Postoperative Complications ; Rehabilitation ; Vitrectomy

Fetal thymus may be the organ for NK cell maturation, but the in vivo evidences are few, Here, by analyzing NK cell receptor, we present that NK cells develop in fetal thymus and fetal liver and that NK cell receptor appears earlier than the expression CD16 or CD56. Moreover, the finding that the repertoire of NK cell receptor is different between fetal thymus and fetal liver lymphocytes suggests that the environmental factors may influence the NK cell receptor repertoire during NK cell maturation.
Killer Cells, Natural* ; Liver* ; Lymphocytes* ; Thymocytes* ; Thymus Gland