Progressive renal fibrosis is considered to be the final common pathway leading to chronic renal insufficiency, however, the mechanism regarding renal fibrosis in renal injury is not well understood. Recently, several kinds of cytokines have been known to be related to fibrosis after renal injury. The interaction between elements regulating fibrogenesis would be better understood by looking at the effect of TGF-beta1 on the synthesis and accumulation of extracellular matrix, especially collagenous proteins. Crescentic glomerulonephritis (CGN) was induced in New Zealand White rabbits by administration of guinea pig anti-GBM IgG after sensitization with guinea pig IgG; and their kidneys were analyzed for the development of crescents and fibrosis through sequential renal biopsies. Serum creatinine levels in a time course progressively increased until day 15. We semi-quantitatively assayed the levels of the expression of alpha1(I) collagen mRNA and TGF-beta1 mRNA factored for GAPDH mRNA using RT-PCR. We observed a progressive interstitial fibrosis and the expression of collagen I both in the cortex and medulla. The effect of repeated renal biopsy itself on pathology and on the expression of alpha1(I) collagen mRNA and TGF-beta1 mRNA in a time course were not significant, but a very mild increase of the expression of alpha1(I) collagen mRNA was noted at day 15. Histology showed a progressive crescent formation and interstitial fibrosis in a time course that roughly paralleled the expression of alpha1(I) collagen mRNA in both cortex and medulla. TGF-beta1 mRNA was hardly expressed at day 0 in cortex as well as in medulla. It was elevated from day 1, peaked at day 7, and then decreased. In medulla, TGF-beta1 mRNA was noticeably expressed at day 1, peaked at day 4, and then decreased. The expression of alpha1(I) collagen mRNA was seen even before inducing CGN. It was gradually and continuously increased until day 15 both in cortex and medulla. These results suggest that the expression of TGF-beta1 mRNA precedes that of alpha1(I) collagen mRNA in the early stage of CGN and has a central role for provoking the accumulation the collagen I, the most representative interstitial extracellular matrix, in the rabbit model CGN induced by anti-GBM antibody. We conclude that the measurement of the expression of TGF-beta1 mRNA and/or alpha1(I) collagen mRNA in a biopsy sample can be a useful predictor for renal outcome.
Animals ; Anti-Glomerular Basement Membrane Disease ; Biopsy ; Collagen ; Creatinine ; Cytokines ; Extracellular Matrix* ; Fibrosis ; Glomerulonephritis* ; Guinea Pigs ; Immunoglobulin G ; Kidney ; Pathology ; Rabbits ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; RNA, Messenger* ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1

No abstract available.
Information Management* ; Occupational Health*

Recently it is known that Turner's syndrome is frequently associated with hypothyroidism. We report a case of Turner's syndrome associated with subclinical hypothyroidism. A 23-year-old female was admitted to the hospital with complaints of amenorrhea and short stature. She had a mosaicism of 45, X0/46, Xi(X_q) in the cell, cultured from the peripheral blood. The plasma thyroxine and triiodothyronine were normal and there was no clinical symptom of hypothyroidism. But the thyroid-stimulating hormone(TSH) concentration was unusually higher(184 uU/L). She has been treated with the cyclic therapy of conjugated estrogen and medroxyprogesterone, in addition to the thyroxine replacement therapy. After 2 months, the menstruation was restored and TSH was normalized.
Amenorrhea ; Cells, Cultured ; Estrogens ; Female ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism ; Medroxyprogesterone ; Menstruation ; Mosaicism ; Plasma ; Thyroxine ; Triiodothyronine ; Turner Syndrome ; Young Adult

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have been reported to possess the capacity to colonize vascular grafts and hold promise for therapeutic neovascularization. However, limited quantities of EPCs have been the major factor impeding effective research on vasculoangiogenesis. In this study, cytokine and culture conditions necessary for the provision of large quantities of endothelial cells (ECs) were investigated. Cord blood was collected from 18 normal full-term deliveries and CD34+ cells were isolated by MACS system (Miltenyi Biotech, Bergish-Gladbach, Germany). To evaluate the effect of cytokines, CD34+ cells were cultured with various cytokine combinations, such as stem cell factor (SCF), flt3-ligand (FL), and thrombopoietin (TPO) with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), interleukin-1beta, fibroblast growth factor-basic (FGF-b) as basic cytokines. The quantities of non-adherent and adherent cells were the greatest with SCF, FL and TPO. The addition of TPO to all other cytokines significantly increased the number of non-adherent and adherent cells (p< 0.05, Wilcoxon rank sum test). After four weeks of culture, adherent cells expressed endothelial specific markers such as KDR, CD31 and CD62E. Typical morphology of ECs was observed during culture, such as cord-like structure and cobblestone appearance, suggesting that the adherent cells were consistent with ECs. In this study, the experimental conditions that optimize the production of ECs for therapeutic neovascularization were described. And it was possibly suggested that TPO plays a major role in differentiation from EPCs to ECs.
Antigens, CD34/analysis ; Cell Differentiation/drug effects ; Cell Division/drug effects ; *Cell Separation ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytokines/pharmacology ; *Endothelial Cells/immunology ; Fetal Blood/*cytology ; Fetus ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; *Stem Cells/*immunology ; Thrombopoietin/pharmacology

Giant cell tumors are distinctive neoplasms characterized by a profusion of multinucleate giant cells scattered throughout a stroma of mononuclear cells. Most giant cell tumors are found at the epiphyses of long bones, especially around the knee joint. Flat bone involvement is rare. However, a case of giant cell tumor with secondary aneurysmal bone cyst was encountered at the scapula of a 25-year-old man. Since the occurrence of a giant cell tumor with secondary aneurysmal bone cyst on flat bones (i.e., the scapula) is extremely rare, the above-mentioned case is worthy of reporting.
Adult ; Bone Cysts/*etiology/pathology ; Bone Neoplasms/*complications/pathology ; Giant Cell Tumors/*complications/pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Scapula

Hypertension is a well-known degenerative disease whose prevalence rate increases with age. Management of high blood pressure is a critical concern in preventive strategies to reduce the morbidity and mortality for cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this study was to examine the dietary characteristics of hypertensive program participants, and to establish strategies based on their nutritional needs. Hypertensive patients were enrolled in the program in a public health center or in a local elderly center, at Suwon, in 1999-2000. Trained dietitians interviewed 62 enrollees(24-hour recall) and related variables. Mean body mass index of the subjects was 25.0kg/m2. 30.7% of the subjects had a family history of hypertension. The majority of them ate regularly and partook of all available side dishes. They consumed grains and vegetables regularly, but seldom ate dairy products or food prepared with oil. Male enrollees frequently consumed more processed food and animal fat than did female enrollees(p<0.05). An analysis of the percentage of RDA(Recommended Dietary Allowances of Korea 1995) showed that but for ascorbic acid, enrollees consumed nutrients below the RDA. The food group intake pattern was not diverse, thus only 8.1% of enrollees consumed all food groups in a day. An analysis of eating attitude showed that 64.5% of enrollees always added salt to beef soup. Male enrollees showed low food-related self-efficacy compared to female enrollees, especially with reference to reduction of instant food intake(p<0.01), increase in vegetable intake(p<0.01), reduction of monosodium glutamate(MSG) intake(p<0.01). and not overeating(p<0.05). Their perceived barriers for participating in hypertension nutrition programs included lack of time, program necessity non-recognition, and program comprehension difficulty. These results suggest that nutrition education program necessity non-recognition, and program comprehension difficulty. These results suggest that nutrition education programs for community hypertensive patients should focus on increasing participant consumption of foods, expecially dairy products, and desirable eating attitudes. It also suggests that the program should consider should consider encouraging self-efficacy in changing eating behavior.
Aged ; Animals ; Ascorbic Acid ; Body Mass Index ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Edible Grain ; Comprehension ; Dairy Products ; Eating ; Education* ; Feeding Behavior ; Female ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Korea ; Male ; Mortality ; Nutritionists ; Prevalence ; Public Health* ; Self Efficacy ; Vegetables

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery bypases grafting in the old aged is associated with high mortality and morbidity, and it is difficult to perform if the coronary artery is diffusely disease. Recently it has been known that platelet derived growth factor(PDGF), especially PDGF-BB, stimulates angiogenesis. MATERIAL AND METHOD: New Zealand white rabbit were used. In an attempt to achieve effevtive cardiac revasculatrization without vascular anastmosis, we divided into three groups(group I : Left anterior descending artery(LAD) was occluded by ligature, group II : Bilateral internal mammary vascular pedicles were dissected and implanted into myocardium, group III : The vascular pedicles were implanted into myocardium and PDGF-BB was injected into the myocardial tissue). Two weeks after IMA implantation, the proximal region of implanted LAD was ligated. Four days after LAD ligation angiogram, triphenyl tetrazolium chloride(TTD) staining and hematoxylin eosin staining were performed. RESULT: 1. Survival rate in group II was significantly higher than that in group I (P<0.05), and survival rate in group III was signficantly higher than that in group II(53% vs 93%, P<0.01). 2. There were significant differences in the ratio of area of necrosis to area at risk between group I and group II, and between group II and group III (P<0.01). 3. Microangiogram for angiogenic response revealed wide area of extensive revascularization with patent vessels in group III. 4. Histologic findings of three groups showed that polymorphonuclear leukocyte infiltration was minimal in group II and none in group III. CONCLUSIONS: PDGF-BB can establish functinal cardiac revasculatization through systemic vessels implanted directly into the myocardium.
Blood Platelets* ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Coronary Vessels ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Hematoxylin ; Ligation ; Mammary Arteries* ; Mortality ; Myocardial Revascularization* ; Myocardium ; Necrosis ; Neutrophils ; New Zealand ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor* ; Survival Rate ; Transplants

Whole-body positron emission tomography (PET) with fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) is a tomographic imaging technique that uses a radiolabeled analog of glucose, 18F-FDG, to image relative glucose uptake rates in various tissues. Since the glucose uptake is increased in many malignancies, 18F-FDG PET is a sensitive method for detecting, staging, and monitoring the effects of therapy on many malignancies. However, it is uncommon to discover an asymptomatic non-functioning pituitary tumor unexpectedly as a hypermetabolic lesion in PET studies. Here, we report a pituitary tumor that was detected incidentally by FDG-PET and ultimately turned out to be a non-functioning pituitary macroadenoma.
Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 ; Glucose ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; Positron-Emission Tomography

PURPOSE: To evaluate the proton MR spectroscopy (MRS) findings of early and late ischemic infarcts and to compare these MRS findings with clinical symptoms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We obtained MRS spectra of 28 consecutive patients with early ischemic infarct (15 men, 13 women) between 2-10 (mean 6.2) days after stroke onset. Follow-up MRS was carried out between 20-32 (mean 25) days in 12 patients. The MRS spectra were acquired at 1.5 T MR unit using single voxel technique with PRESS sequence, TR of 2000ms, TE of 288 (144)ms, and voxel size of 2cm x 2cm x 2cm in the three areas; an infarct lesion, the brain parenchyma adjacent to the lesion, and contralateral normal brain parenchyma. The NAA/creatine, choline/creatine, and lactate/creatine ratios were calculated in each spectrum. The spectra of MRS were compared with clinical symptoms. RESULTS: In early infarct, decreased NAA/creatine ratio (n=22) and increased lactate/creatine ratio (n=25) were found in the infarct lesion. Choline/creatine ratio was within normal range (n= 25). On follow-up MRS in late stage, NAA/creatine ratio in the infarct lesion decreased further (n= 5), did not change (n= 6), or increased (n= 1). Lactate/creatine ratio became less elevated (n= 10), or did not changed (n= 2). Choline/creatine ratio had a trend for increase. The decreased NAA/creatine and increased lactate/creatine ratios were correlated well with the severity of symptoms, respectively. CONCLUSION: Decreased NAA/creatine and increased lactate/creatine ratios were common MRS findings characteristic in early ischemic infarct and correlated well with clinical severity. On follow-up MRS in late stage, NAA/creatine ratio decreased further or did not change, and lactate/creatine ratio became less elevated.
Brain ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Male ; Protons ; Reference Values ; Stroke

Lindera obtusiloba has been used in traditional herbal medicine for the treatment of blood stasis and inflammation. The leaves of Lindera obtusiloba have been reported to exhibit various physiological activities. However, there is little information available on their antiplatelet and antithrombotic activities. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of Lindera obtusiloba leaf extract (LLE) on platelet activities, coagulation and thromboembolism. In a platelet aggregation study, LLE significantly inhibited various agonist-induced platelet aggregations in vitro and ex vivo. Furthermore, LLE significantly inhibited collagen-induced thromboxane A2 (TXA2) production in rat platelets. In addition, oral administration of LLE was protective in a mouse model of pulmonary thromboembolism induced by intravenous injection of a mixture of collagen and epinephrine. Interestingly, LLE did not significantly alter prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT). This study indicates that the antithrombotic effects of LLE might be due to its antiplatelet activities rather than anticoagulation. Taken together, these results suggest that LLE may be a candidate preventive and therapeutic agent in cardiovascular diseases associated with platelet hyperactivity.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Blood Platelets ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Collagen ; Epinephrine ; Herbal Medicine ; In Vitro Techniques ; Inflammation ; Injections, Intravenous ; Lindera* ; Mice ; Partial Thromboplastin Time ; Platelet Aggregation ; Prothrombin Time ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Rats ; Thromboembolism ; Thrombosis ; Thromboxane A2