No abstract available.
Pulmonary Artery*

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Coronary Artery Bypass* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Mortality*

Bronchogenic cysts (BCs) are relatively common congenital anomalies in the mediastinum. Most of the patients with BC can be managed both safely and effectively by minimally invasive methods. Selected patients with a BC in a favorable location can have the cyst partially or completely excised by mediastinoscopic techniques. Herein we report on a case of a left lower paratracheal bronchogenic cyst that was completely resected by a video-assisted mediastinoscopic technique, and we discuss the technical aspects of this procedure.
Bronchogenic Cyst ; Humans ; Mediastinal Diseases ; Mediastinoscopy ; Mediastinum

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the inhibitory effects of N-acetylcysteine(NAC) and methylprednisolone on lung injury in the paraquat-poisoned rat model. METHODS: Sixty rats were divided into four groups(n=15 in each group) accordingly to the drug administered : group I, only intraperitoneally injected paraquat (20 mg/kg); group II, intraperitoneally injected paraquat and NAC(300 mg/kg); group III, intraperitoneally injected paraquat and methylprednisolone(60 mg/kg); and group IV, intraperitoneally injected paraquat, NAC(300 mg/kg), and methylprednisolone(60 mg/kg). On the 7th day after injection, the survival rate of experimental rats and the positive area of collagen fiber in the injured lung stained by Masson's trichrome were evaluated. RESULTS: 1. There were no differences in the 7-day survival rates for the four groups. 2. The percent of collagen fiber for group II(6.3+/-4.7%) was significantly decreased in comparison with that for group I (14.4+/-9.7%). 3. The percent of collagen fiber for Group III(13.2+/-5.9%) was not significantly different from that for group I(14.4+/-9.7%). 4. The percent of collagen fiber for Group IV(6.9+/-4.6%) was significantly decreased in comparison with that for group I, but was not different from that for group II. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that NAC protects against pulmonary fibrosis in paraquat-poisoned rats whereas methylprednisolone does not protect against pulmonary fibrosis.
Acetylcysteine* ; Animals ; Collagen ; Lung Injury* ; Lung* ; Methylprednisolone* ; Models, Animal* ; Paraquat ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; Rats* ; Survival Rate

The lymphoid system of the lung represents a complex network of lymphoid tissue and lymphatic vessels. Lymph nodes are normally located in the hila, adjacent to the lobar bronchi and within the lung to the level of the fourth-order bronchi. Clinically apparent intrapulmonary lymph nodes are rare. Although their histogenesis is uncertain, intrapulmonary lymph nodes are probably hyperplastic lymphoid nodules related to inhalation of irritant dusts and attendant distortion of local lymphatic vessels. Intrapulmonary lymph nodes are detected as solitary or multiple pulmonary nodules. These nodules are difficult to differentiate from intrapulmonary metastasis by radiologic finding. We experienced a case of intrapulmonary lymph nodes presenting multiple nodules in a 46 years old man, which was confirmed by thoracoscopic biopsy.
Biopsy ; Bronchi ; Dust ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Lung ; Lymph Nodes* ; Lymphatic Vessels ; Lymphoid Tissue ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Pulmonary Nodules ; Neoplasm Metastasis

No abstract available.
Choriocarcinoma* ; Female ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Pregnancy

BACKGROUND: Development of thoracic aortic aneurysms and aortic dissections (TAAD) is attributed to unbearable wall tension superimposed on defective aortic wall integrity and impaired aortic repair mechanisms. Central to this repair mechanisms are well-balanced and adequately functional cellular components of the aortic wall, including endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells (SMCs), inflammatory cells, and adventitial fibroblasts. Adventitial fibroblasts naturally produce aortic extracellular matrix (ECM), and, when aortic wall is injured, they can be transformed into SMCs, which in turn are involved in aortic remodeling. We postulated the hypothesis that adventitial fibroblasts in patients with TAAD may have defects in ECM production and SMC transformation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adventitial fibroblasts were procured from the adventitial layer of fresh aortic tissues of patients with TAAD (Group I) and of multi-organ donors (Group II), and 4-passage cell culture was performed prior to the experiment. To assess ECM production, cells were treated with TNF-alpha (50 pM) and the expression of MMP-2 / MMP-3 was analyzed using western blot technique. To assess SMC transformation capacity, cells were treated with TGF-beta1 and expression of SM alpha-actin, SM-MHC, Ki-67 and SM calponin was evaluated using western blot technique. Fibroblasts were then treated with TGF-beta1 (10 pM) for up to 10 days with TGF-beta1 supplementation every 2 days, and the proportion of transformed SMC in the cell line was measured using immunofluorescence assay for fibroblast surface antigen every 2 days. RESULTS: MMP-3 expression was significantly lower in group I than in group II. TGF-beta1-stimulated adventitial fibroblasts in group I expressed less SM alpha-actin, SM-MHC, and Ki-67 than in group II. SM-calponin expression was not different between the two groups. Presence of fibroblast was observed on immunofluorescence assay after more than 6 days of TGF-beta1 treatment in group I, while most fibroblasts were transformed to SMC within 4 days in group II. CONCLUSION: ECM production and SMC transformation are compromised in adventitial fibroblasts from patients with TAAD. This result suggests that functional restoration of adventitial fibroblasts could well be a novel approach for the prevention and treatment of TAAD.
Actins ; Aneurysm ; Antigens, Surface ; Aorta ; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic ; Azides ; Blotting, Western ; Calcium-Binding Proteins ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Line ; Deoxyglucose ; Endothelial Cells ; Extracellular Matrix ; Fibroblasts ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Humans ; Microfilament Proteins ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; Tissue Donors ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

No abstract available.
Echocardiography* ; Heart Valves* ; Humans

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is the standard surgical treatment for coronary artery disease. Although there are many clinical reviews of the long term results after CABG in the Western countries, not many such studies have been done for Korea. Therefore, we reviewed the long term clinical results for the patients who underwent CABG at our hospital. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 342 patients who underwent CABG at our hospital from February 1984 to December 2006, which is when CABG was first performed in our institution. A total of 286 patients (83.6%) were able to be followed-up, and the mean follow-up period was 75.7+/-46.1 months. RESULT: The early mortality rate was 5.6%, and late mortality rate was 23.1%. The one-year survival rate, the five-year survival rate, the ten-year survival rate and the fifteen-year survival rate were 91.5%, 82.1%, 60.7% and 50.0%, respectively. The survival rate was significantly lower for the patients over the age of 60 (p=0.002) and for those with diabetes mellitus (p=0.000), hypertension (p=0.002), multivessel disease (p=0.006) and left ventricular dysfunction (p=0.015). No significant difference was observed between the genders. Multivariate analysis showed that the statistically significant risk factors were diabetes mellitus (p=0.001), age (p=0.005) and those cases for which the left internal thoracic artery was not used (p=0.037). CONCLUSION: CABG is the effective method of treatment for coronary artery disease. Therefore, active usage of the internal thoracic artery and appropriate medical treatment after surgery, and especially for diabetes mellitus patients, are mandatory for achieving good long-term survival.
Coronary Artery Bypass ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vessels ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Korea ; Mammary Arteries ; Medical Records ; Multivariate Analysis ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Survival Analysis ; Survival Rate ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left