BACKGROUND: Studies of human coronary plaque specimens have shown that T lymphocytes and macrophages are present in all types of lesions, from fatty streaks to advanced plaques. There is growing evidence for a pathogenic role for immune response in progression of atherosclerosis. This study was designed to investigate cytokine production by mononuclear leukocytes from patients with myocardial infarction. METHOD: We measured the kinetics of secretion of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interferon-r (IFN-r) by mononuclear leukocytes from 8 control subjects and 12 patients with acute myocardial infarction. Mononuclear leukocytes were isolated and incubated with plant lectin mitogen concanavalin-A for 24 and 48 hours. TNF-alpha and IFN-r secretions were measured by ELISA. RESULTS:There were no significant differences between TNF-alpha and IFN-r secretions by mononuclear leukocytes at and before 24 hours of incubation from both patients and control subjects, but TNF-alpha and IFN-r secretions at 48 hours of incubation were higher (p<0.005, p<0.05) in patients when compared with control subjects. TNF-alpha and IFN-r secretions by mononuclear leukocytes after incubation correlated with the peak level of creatine phosphokinase (CK) and CK-MB. CONCLUSION: Increased cytokine secretory capacity of mononuclear leukocytes may be due to the acute inflammatory response of myocardial infarction. Further trials may be needed to determined the effects of increase in secretory capacity of mononuclear leukocytes before myocardial infarction.
Atherosclerosis ; Creatine Kinase ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Kinetics ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear* ; Macrophages ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Plants ; T-Lymphocytes ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha*

We report unusual 3 cases of adult coronary arteriovenous fistula(CAVF) diagnosed by coronary arteriography in Soonchunhyang University Hospital. In one patient with mitral stenoinsufficiency, multiple CAVFs originated from left anterior descending and left circumflex coronary areries. In another patient with significant stenosis(90%) in distal right coronary artery, new CAVF was seen in mid right coronary artery during consecutive coronary arteriography. In the remaining one, it was arose from contus branch of right coronary artery. Surgical correction was performed in two cases.
Adult* ; Angiography ; Arteriovenous Fistula* ; Coronary Vessels ; Humans

No abstract available.

Many operative techniques for the repair of cleft lip nasal deformities have been reported. However, the situation with regard to nasal deformity is less satisfactorily understood than lip deformity, in which we have experienced significant improvement led by enhanced understanding of the total anatomic deformity of the primary cleft lip and the consequent refinement of surgical techniques. Our purposes in tip plasty are the restoration of nasal tip symmetry and correction of the obtuse angle of the cleft side nostril. Additionally, an inconspicuous scar is one of the merits of our method. The alar cartilage war exposed through both the alar rim and transcolumella incision, and then interalar loose connective tissue based superiorly was dissected and elevated. Cleft side alar cartilage was cross-hatched(Lipsett technique) on the deformed dome and relocated superomedially by a 4-0 vicryl fixation suture. The elevated intera1ar loose areolar tissue was used for augmentation of the alar dome. Conchal cartilage graft on cleft side dome and septoplasty were carried out in cases of specific necessity. We have performed this procedure in 19 patients, aged between 15 to 19. Average follow-up period was one year. Results have been rated good to excellent by patients and surgeons. There has been no recurrence of this deformity.
Cartilage ; Cicatrix ; Cleft Lip* ; Congenital Abnormalities* ; Connective Tissue ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lip ; Polyglactin 910 ; Recurrence ; Sutures ; Transplants

No abstract available.
Knee* ; Menisci, Tibial*

No Abstract Available.
Natriuretic Peptides*

We experienced a case of granulation tissue occuring in lateral sulci of the right thumb, index, middle and left thumb, middle finger nails in 71-year-old psoriatic male patient taking 5pmg daily(0.6mg/kg/day) during 4th week of etretinate therapy. The excision of the granulation lesion and partial nail ablation was performed and his doses was lowered to 25mg daily (0. 3mg/kg/day). The condition were resolved with no recurrence 4 weeks later after the operation.
Acitretin* ; Aged ; Etretinate* ; Fingers ; Granulation Tissue* ; Humans ; Male ; Nails ; Recurrence ; Thumb

No abstract available.
Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted*

The differential diagnosis of atypical mycobacteriosis caused by atypical mycobacteria (with the exception of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium bovis, and Mycobacterium leprae) which are widly distributed in soil and water, from pulmonary tuberculosis is possible only when atypical mycobacteria are isolated and identified. In this investigation, attempts were made to isolate atypical mycobacteria from persons registered as tuberculosis patients in the Anyang Health Center in Anyang City, Kyungki province, Korea. Biological and biochemical tests were performed for the atypical mycobacteria isolated from these patients, also retrospective analysis of clinical and X-ray findings of the patients with bacteriologically confirmed atypical mycobacteriosis were done. The results can be summarized as follows; 1. 103 strains of mycobacteria were isolated among 334 sputum samples from patients. 2. Among the isolated mycobacteria, 10 strains (9.7%) were found to be an atypical mycobacteria and 93 strains (90.3%) were tubercle bacilli of human type. 3. On the basis of Runyon's grouping of atypical mycobacteria, there were 3 strains (30.0%) of scotochromogen and nonphotochromogen respectively, 4 strains (40.0%) of rapid grower, and no photochromogen. 4. By biochemical tests, 3 strains of scotochromogen were identified as Mycobacterium scroful-aceum (2 strains) and Mycobacterium szulgai (1 strain) 3 strains of nonphotochromogen were Mycobacterium avium-complex (2 strains) and Mycobacterium terriae (1 strain), and 4 strains of rapid grower were Mycobacterium fortuitum (3 strains) and Mycobacterium chelonae. 5. In drug sensitivity tests, all 10 strains isolated atypical mycobacteria showed resistance to various concentration of INH and SM and low concentration (10 mcg, 40 mcg and 50 mcg) of EB, TH, and CS, and were sensitive to only high concentration (20 mcg and 100 mcg) of EB, TH, CS, and RFP. 6. In analysis of clinical findings by the patients with bacteriologically confirmed atypical mycobacteriosis, it was found that clinical symptoms of these patients appeared not to be mild than those of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. The patients with atypical mycobacteriosis had been treated for pulmonary tuberculosis for a long time and they showed no improvement.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Drug Resistance* ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Korea ; Mycobacterium ; Mycobacterium bovis ; Mycobacterium chelonae ; Mycobacterium fortuitum ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Nontuberculous Mycobacteria* ; Retrospective Studies ; Soil ; Sputum ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary* ; Water

BACKGROUND: Hemodynamic derangements of cardiac tamponade are generally believed to result from compression of the cardiac chambers, which limits diastolic filling. The character and magnitude of the alternation are determined by the compliance characteristics of the pericardium and the total pericardial fluid volume. During serial pericardial fluid withdrawal, improvement of hemodynamic alternations is expected in patients with pericardial effusion. Method : Hemodynamic study was performed before and during serial fluid drainage in 11 patients with chronic moderate to severe pericardial effusion. RESULTS: 1) Intrapericardial pressure was elevated and equal to mean right atrial ventricular diastolic, and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure. Pulmonary arterial and right ventricular systolic pressure were also midly elevated equal to one another. 2) Pericardial fluid was gradually removed in 50ml aliquots in all patients. The most significant hemodynamic improvement occured during intial 50mL withdrawal. Futher drainage of intrapericardial fluid was accompanied by slight hemodynamic improvement. 3) There were significant correlations between total pericardial fluid volume and intrapericardial and right atrial pressure (r=0.75 (p<0.005), r=0.71(p<0.01)). Correlations between intrapericardial pressure and right atrial, right ventricular diastolic and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure were also significant. 4) Two groups of patient could be distinguished based upon intrapericardial pressure as 7mmHg. More significant hemodynamic changes were in 6 patients with higher intrapericardial pressure after withdrawal of 200mL fluid. CONCLUSION: In chronic moderate to severe pericardial effusion, the most significant hemodynamic improvement occurred during initial fluid drainage. Early pericardiocentesis is important in management of pericardial effusion with high intrapericardial pressure.
Atrial Pressure ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiac Tamponade ; Compliance ; Drainage* ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Pericardial Effusion* ; Pericardiocentesis ; Pericardium ; Pulmonary Wedge Pressure