No abstract available.
Hyperlipidemias* ; Obesity* ; Risk Factors* ; Urolithiasis*

No abstract available.
Hyperlipidemias* ; Obesity* ; Risk Factors* ; Urolithiasis*

PURPOSE: To describe soft-tissue radiographic and high-resolution CT findings of radiation-induced lung injury of rabbit over time and to correlate them with pathologic findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 15 rabbits were irradiated in the right lung with one fraction of 2000 cGy. After 4, 6, 12, 20, 24 weeks, 3 rabbits in each group were sacrificed and soft-tissue radiographs and high-resolution CT of their lung tissue were obtained. Radiological findings were correlated with pathologic findings. RESULTS: On soft- tissue radiogram, radiation pneumonitis shown as consolidation with air-bronchogram occurred in 3 cases after 6 weeks, and in 1 case after 12 weeks of irradiation. In addition, pneumonic consolidation with adjacent pleural contraction was seen in 2 cases after 12 weeks of irradiation. Fibrotic changes indicated by decreased volume occurred after 20 weeks and combined bronchiectatic change and bronchial wall thickening appeared after 20 weeks(N=1), and 24 weeks(N=3). HRCT findings of radiation pneumonitis were homogeneous, increased attenuation after 4 weeks(N=3), 6 and 12 weeks (each N=I), patchy consolidation after 6 and 12 weeks(each N=2), discrete consolidation after 12, 20 and 24 weeks(each N=I) and solid consolidation after 20 and 24 weeks(each N=2). Pathologically radiation pneumonitis and pulmonary congestion were seen after 4 and 6 weeks. After 6 weeks, collagen and reticulin fibers were detected along alveolar wall. Mixed radiation pneumonitis and fibrosis were detected after 12 weeks. 20 weeks after irradiation, fibrosis was well defined in interstitium and in 24 weeks, decreased number of alveoli and thickening of bronchial wall were defined. CONCLUSION: Radiation pneumonitis was provoked 4 weeks after irradiation on rabbit lung and progressed into radiation fibrosis 20 weeks after irradiation on soft-tissue radiographs and high-resolution CT. High-resolution CT is more precise in detecting early radiation pneumonitis and detailed pathologic findings.
Collagen ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Fibrosis ; Lung Injury ; Lung* ; Rabbits ; Radiation Pneumonitis ; Reticulin

No abstract available.
Meningitis*

No abstract available.
Sinusitis*

Patients with atypical or incomplete Kawasaki disease are at same risk for development of coronary artery complications as typical Kawasaki disease. In this communication we report six patients with unusual presentation of Kawasaki disease complicated by coronary artery aneurysms, in whom correct diagnosis were not made in time for proper treatment. One of these patients died from massive myocardial ischemia due to giant aneurysms along the entire coronary artery system. These patients had either less than enough number of diagnostic criteria at initial presentation or diagnostic signs which occurred over an extended period of time, resulting in difficulty in diagnosis during the acute phase. As a result, none of these patients received intravenous gamma globulin treatment. Thus strict adherence to currently accepted criteria for diagnosis of Kawasaki disease may lead to failure to recognize atypical form of this illness with potential sequelae of myocardial ischemia or sudden death. We would like to emphasize from this experience that clinicians must be aware of the wide variations in clinical presentation of Kawasaki disease and take an aggressive approach in making correct diagnosis by obtaining early cardiac evaluation in order to initiate prompt treatment with intravenous gamma globulin.
Aneurysm ; Coronary Aneurysm* ; Coronary Vessels ; Death, Sudden ; Diagnosis ; gamma-Globulins ; Humans ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome* ; Myocardial Ischemia

Forty cases of infiltrating duct carcinoma of the breast were examined immunohistochemically for expression of TGF-beta and angiogenesis in order to analyze significant correlation with prognostic parameters including tumor size, axillary lymph node metastasis, clinical stage, histologic grade, estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor status. The TGF-beta expression was observed in tumors center and advancing edges of tumors. To determine microvessel density for angiogenesis, we stained endothelial cells for Factor VIII related antigen and counted microvessel within tumor. The results were as follows: 1) The strong immunohistochemical expression of TGF-beta and higher counts of microvessels were observed in advancing edges of tumors (p<0.05). 2) The TGF-beta expression in the advancing edges of tumors was closely related to clinical stage and presence of axillary lymph node metastasis (p<0.05). 3) The mean microvessel counts were significantly higher in tumors from patients with axillary lymph node metastasis and increased with increasing clinical stage (p<0.05). 4) The TGF-beta expression was not related to histologic grade, estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor status(p>0.05). Therefore, the results suggested that the TGF-beta expression and angiogenesis in infiltrating duct carcinoma of the breast may play an important part in prognostic factors, closely related to the lymph node metastasis and clinical stage.
Neoplasm Metastasis

Nitric oxide (NO), a potencially toxic radical, is generally regarded as a multi-potent molecule to be implicated in a wide range of biological function. The presence of nitric oxide synthase(NOS) in the retina, the constitutive isoform in photoreceptor outer segments and and the inducible form in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, has been demonstrated. The effect of NO in retina has been studying mainly as neurotransmitter. Present study was undertaken to find the role of NO in cultured bovine retinal pigment epithelial cells. Cultured bovine retinal pigment epithelial cells were treated with various concentrations of NO generator, S-nitroso-N-acetyl-D, L-penicillamine (SNAP). The survival fractions were measured by MTT assay. The morphologic changes were observed with inverted phase contrast microscope and electron microscope. To evaluate the characteristics of cell death, cells were lysed for DNA extraction, and the agarose gel electrophoresis was done. NO brought a decrease in the survival fraction of cultured bovine retinal pigment epithelial cells as concentrations increased. At high concentrations, cells became sparse. Electron microscopic study showed destruction of nuclear membrane and chromatin condensation in 1 mM SNAP treated group. These findings were compatible with apoptotic cell death that was supported with DNA laddering pattern in agarose gel electrophoresis. NO can induce damage to retinal pigment epithelial cells, and damaged cells are destined to apoptotic cell death.
Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Death ; Chromatin ; DNA ; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel ; Epithelial Cells* ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Nitric Oxide* ; Nuclear Envelope ; Retina ; Retinaldehyde*

No abstract available.
Failure to Thrive*

PURPOSE: To investigate the incidence of breast arterial calcification in Korean women, and to determine its association with systemic diseases and carotid arterial atherosclerosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One thousand seven hundred and thirteen female subjects who underwent mammography at a health care center between May 1999 and May 2000 were included in this study. Of the total, 172 were found to have breast arterial calcification, and were classified according to age. The coincidence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidemia was examined in both the subject group and the control group selected on the same age basis. To investigate the presence and degree of carotid atherosclerosis, sonographic maging was performed and the findings were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The incidence of breast arterial calcification showed statistically significant differences according to age, with a higher incidence in older patients (p<0.05). However, there was no statistical difference in the incidence of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes mellitus between groups. Carotid atherosclerosis was subjects more prevalent among subjects than in the control group (p<0.05), though there was no statistically significant difference in the degree of luminal stenosis. CONCLUSION: The most common pathologic cause of breast arterial calcification is arteriosclerosis. Breast arterial calcification is demonstrated at mammography, along with other clinical risk factors for atherosclerosis or coincidental neurologic symptoms. We stress that further evaluation of the carotid artery is necessary.
Arteriosclerosis ; Atherosclerosis* ; Breast* ; Carotid Arteries ; Carotid Artery Diseases ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Delivery of Health Care ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Mammography ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Phenobarbital ; Risk Factors ; Ultrasonography*