BACKGROUND: Nasal polyps were developed from eosinophil infiltrations and activation by chronic inflammatory reactions. Eotaxin and RANTES have been postulated to be involved in the recruitment and activation of eosinophils to the inflamed tissues. The aim of this study is to estimate the mRNA expression of eotaxin and RNATES in the nasal polyps and it's effect on tissue eosinophils. METHODS: At first, we evaluated the linearity and precision of GeneAmp 5700R(PE Applied Biosystems, Foster, U.S.A) with M. tuberculosis DNA. We collected 17 allergic, 30 non-allergic nasal polyps and 15 normal inferior turbinates from the patients visiting Catholic University Hospital of Taegu Hyosung. We performed the quantitative polymerase chain reaction(PCR) for the eotaxin and RNATES, and the tissue immunohistochemical stain for the major basic protein. RESULTS: GeneAmp 5700R disclosed good linearity and precision. Compared with the normal inferior turbinates, eotaxin mRNA levels were increased in the allergic and non-allergic polyps, and showed significant correlation with eosinophils infiltration and activation. But the RANTES didn't revealed any significant differences among these groups, and no correlation with tissue eosinophils. The patients with allergic polyps showed increased eosinophils infiltration and activation in the tissue, while those with non allergic polyps disclosed increased eosinophils activation. CONCLUSIONS: Since eotaxin expression were increased in the tissue of the patients with nasal polyps and showed good correlation with eosinophils infiltration and activation in the tissue, it had been considered that eotaxin played an important role in the pathogenesis of allergic polyps and tissue eosinophilia.
Chemokine CCL5* ; Daegu ; DNA ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils ; Humans ; Nasal Polyps* ; Polyps ; RNA, Messenger* ; Tuberculosis ; Turbinates

No abstract available.
Hemangioma, Cavernous*

Tsutsugamushi disease, an infectious disease by Rickettsia(R.) tsntsugamushi, is characterized by eschar, fever and rash. Eschar caused by chigger bite, is pre sent on 47 94% of patients with documented R. tsutsugamushi. We recently noticed one case of R. tsutsugamushi infection. Patient had fever, heaclache, lymphadenopathy, erythematous maculopapules and eschar. The R. tsu tsugamushi was isolated from serum of the patient. Histopathologic findings of eschar show epidermal ulceration overlying a zone of coagulative necrosis of upper dermis and necrotizing vasculitis. E]ectron microscopic findings of endothelial cells of capillary show rickettsia with cell division.
Capillaries ; Cell Division ; Communicable Diseases ; Dermis ; Endothelial Cells ; Exanthema ; Fever ; Humans ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Necrosis ; Rickettsia ; Scrub Typhus* ; Trombiculidae ; Ulcer ; Vasculitis

Myotonic dystrophy is a multisystemic disorder inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. The characteristic clinical features include the presence of myotonia, atrophy of the muscles of the face and the sternocleidomastoids and numerous nonmusclar manifestations such as cataracts, frontal baldness, gonadal dysfunctions and cardiac abnormalities. We experienced one case of myotonic dystrophy with prolonged atrial flutter in 30-year-old male who was admitted because of palpitation. We present this case with reviewing literatures.
Adult ; Alopecia ; Atrial Flutter* ; Atrophy ; Cataract ; Gonads ; Humans ; Male ; Muscles ; Myotonia ; Myotonic Dystrophy*

BACKGROUND: The etiology of Behçet's disease(BD) is not yet certain, and various hypotheses are suggested. In order to determine the role of dietary intake behavior in the pathogenesis of BD, we analyzed BD patients by questionnaire regarding their personal, social, and economic characteristics, and dietary intake behavior. METHODS: A series. of 79 patients who were registered at the Behçet's Disease Specialty Clinic at Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea were studied. The patients were classified and the data from the patients were analyzed according to the revised Japanese criteria. RESULTS: All patients except for suspected type patients took an average amount of nutrition close to the Korean Recommended Dietary Allowance(RDA). However, on the whole, the amount of consumption of Vitamin B2 and C was low and in the case of females, the consumption of Ca and Fe was makedly insufficient in accordance with the Korean RDA. In case of the level of dietary and serum zinc, there was no significant difference in patients or among groups. CONCLUSION: Since the consumption of some vitamins and minerals of patients were low, the behavior of dietary intake of BD patients which is considered to have a possible role in development of disease should be studied further.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Minerals ; Miners ; Riboflavin ; Seoul ; Vitamins ; Zinc

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery disease(CAD) has been related to a number of factors, including diabetes, smoking,hypertension, blood lipids, and family history of CAD. However, a few studies have examined the correlation between these factors and severity of CAD. In the present study, we aimed to define the correlation between risk factors and the severity of CAD. METHODS: The study population was 309 consecutive patients who underwent coronary angiography in Kang Nam St. Marys hospital between Mar. 1992 and Aug. 1994. We analyzed risk factors of CA ; age, total cholesterol(TC), triglyceride, high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol cholesterol(LDL-C), the ratio of TC to HDL-C, Lp(a), uric acid, fibrinogen, diabetes, hypertension, smoking, and family history of CAD. All films were reviewed without specific knowledge of blood laboratory results. Significant occlusive disease was defined as >50% diameter obstruction of a major coronary vessel. Extent of disease was defined as the number of major coronalry arteries with significant occlusive disease. RESULTS: 1) Statistically significant risk factors between one vessel disease group and multivessel disease group are age, TC, LDL-C, and diabetes in total patients and age, LDL, and diabetes in male patients. But there is no significant difference in female patients. 2) In patients with multivessel disease, age, HDL-C level are significantly lowere, and TG level and the percentage of smkoing are significantly higher, in male than female. 3) There is increase in four major risk factors(diabetes, hypertension,smoking,hypercholesterolemia) with the increased number of diseasesd coronary arteries; normal coronary group has 1.07 risk factors, one vessel disease group 1.30, two vessel disease group 1.49, and three vessel disease group 1.78. 4) In total and male patients, three independent variables are significantly associated with severity of CAD. These variables are age, smoking, and diabetes. In female patients, diabetes in only significant independent risk factor. CONCLUSION: The significant independent risk factors associated with severity of CAD are age, diabetes, and smoking in total and male patients. Whereas in female patients, diabetes is only significant independent risk factor.
Arteries ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Female ; Fibrinogen ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Lipoproteins ; Male ; Risk Factors* ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Triglycerides ; Uric Acid

BACKGROUND: The effective ventricular function during ejection and filling is likely to depend on the coordinated action of the longitudinally and circumferentially orientated myocardial fibers and the function of these longitudinal fibers has not been extensively studied. METHODS: The role of longitudinally and circumferentially orientated fibers in left ventricular wall motion was evaluated by M-mode echocardiograms of the mitral ring(whose motion reflect long axis change) and the standard minor axis(left ventricular posterior wall), simultaneous recordings of phonocardiograms and electrocardiograms on the paper (speed 100mm/sec), in 24 healty individuals, 17 patients with mitral stenosis, 11 patients with open mitral commissurotomy and 17 mitral valve replaced patients. RESULTS: In the controls long axis shortening significantly preceded minor axis shortening (phase difference between two axes : 20+/-3 msec, mean+/-SEM) during early systole, indicating left ventricle become more spherical. This phase difference was also observed in the patients with mitral stenosis and in those with open mitral commissurotomy. In patients with mitral valve replacement(MVR) whose papillary muscles had been sectioned, the onset of long axis shortening was more delayed during early systole than that of short axis(-33+/-6msec) and the end of shortening was also prolonged to early diastole more than that of normal controls (54+/-3 msec vs 90+/-8 msec, mean+/-SEM, p<0.01 by t-test). CONCLUSION: We observed the time relations between long and short axis motion in normal controls. It can be concluded that the reversed time relation in patients with MVR is one of the important factors which may effect negatively on ventricular function and long-term prognosis, thus the surgical procedures to preserve papillary annular continuity should be considered in patients with mitral valvular disease. And the controlled, prospective, clinical trials with homogenous groups of patients are needed to evaluate the potential benefits of papillary annular continuity in preserving atrio-ventricular interaction in patients undergoing mitral valvular surgery.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra* ; Diastole ; Echocardiography ; Electrocardiography ; Heart Valve Diseases* ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Mitral Valve ; Mitral Valve Stenosis ; Papillary Muscles ; Prognosis ; Systole ; Ventricular Function

Testicular feminization syndrome is characterized by 46,XY karyotype, bilateral testes, absent or hypoplastic wolffian duct, female appearing external genitalia, blind vaginal pouch, and absent or rudimentary muillerian derivatives. We experienced vaginoplasty using rictus abdominis myocutaneous flap with modified Burch bladder neck suspension in a 51-year-old patient with testicular feminization syndrome combined with stress urinary incontinence.
Androgen-Insensitivity Syndrome* ; Female ; Genitalia ; Humans ; Karyotype ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocutaneous Flap* ; Neck ; Testis ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Incontinence ; Wolffian Ducts

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Primary thyroid disease is prevalent in chronic renal disease, especially in patients requiring chronic dialysis. However, the relationship between kidney function and the prevalence of primary thyroid disease has not been studied in Korea, a nation where the dietary iodine intake is excessive. METHODS: Retrospective data from 2201 consecutive adult patients who visited a health promotion center over the last 5 years were analyzed; specifically, 54 patients with chronic kidney disease not requiring hemodialysis and 64 adults treated with hemodialysis. The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was estimated using the abbreviated Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate the independent association between the prevalence of primary hypothyroidism and estimated GFR. RESULTS: The prevalence of overt hypothyroidism increased from 0.5% at an estimated GFR > 90 mL/min/1.73 m2 to 6.3% in end-stage renal disease requiring chronic dialysis (p < 0.001 for trend). Compared with participants with an estimated GFR > 60 mL/min/1.73 m2, those with an estimated GFR < 60 mL/min per 1.73 m2 had an increased odds of overt hypothyroidism after adjusting for age, gender, fasting blood glucose (FBS), and the total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that overt primary hypothyroidism is relatively common (6.3%) among persons with chronic kidney disease requiring chronic dialysis, and it is independently associated with a progressively lower estimated GFR.
Adult ; Blood Glucose ; Cholesterol ; Dialysis ; Diet ; Fasting ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism ; Iodine ; Kidney ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Prevalence ; Renal Dialysis ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Diseases

BACKGROUND: Viral myocarditis is considered as a cause of dilated cardiomyopathy. At present, two pathogenic mechanisms may be involved in the pathogenesis of viral myocarditis and subsequent cardiomyopathy. First, the virus infection of myocyte may directly lead to either cell death or persistent metabolic dysfunction. Second, virus-induced immune or autoimmune mechanism may play a role. METHODS: To test the therapeutic efficacy of immunosuppression with cyclophophamide(CYP) on coxsackievirus B3(CB3) myocarditis, 10-14 week-old Balb/c mice were inoculated with 4000 plaque-forming units of CB3. In experiment 1, CYP (100mg/kg/day subcutaneous injection, s.c) was administrated daily on days 1-7(group 2, n=16). In experiment 2, CYP 30mg/kg/day s.c(group 3, n=32) or CYP 100mg/kg/day s.c(group 4, n=32) were administrated on days 8-14. The animals of infected controls(group 1, n=26) and group 2, 3, 4 were dissected at days 4, 7, 15, 22 and spleen, heart, thymus and body weights were measured. RESULTS: In experiment 1. survival rate in group 2 on day 7, 15 were low compared with group 1(85%, 0% vs 100%, p<0.05). and myocardial virus titers in group 2 on day 4 was 50 times, and on day 7, 1000 times higher compared with group 1, Histologically, on day 7, focal cellular infiltrations were prominent findings in group 1, but diffuse myocardial necrosis without cellular infiltration were observed in group 2. In experiment 2, survival rate, cardiac histopathology myocardial virus titer and serum neutralizing antibody titers did not differ among groups 1, 3 and 4. In experiment 1 and 2, the spleen-to-body-weight and thymus-to-body-weight ratios were significantly lower in CYP treated groups than those in controls and marked cellular depletions in spleens and thymus were observed in CYP treated groups. CONCLUSIONS: As the results of above, it can be concluded that the immunosuppression during viremic phase of murine viral myocarditis aggravated the myocardial necrosis, and during aviremic phase, the administration of CYP didnot affect the process of viral myocarditis. Thus, direct viral mechanisms in the production of cardiomyocyte injury in CB3-infected mice appear to bo more important than cell mediated immune mechanism. To understand relevant pathogenic mechanisms of clinical myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy resulting from viral infection, the experimental study expanding into nonmurine animals and into various models using other infectious agents may be required.
Animals ; Antibodies, Neutralizing ; Body Weight ; Cardiomyopathies ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated ; Cell Death ; Cyclophosphamide* ; Heart ; Immunosuppression ; Injections, Subcutaneous ; Mice ; Muscle Cells ; Myocarditis* ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; Necrosis ; Spleen ; Survival Rate ; Thymus Gland ; Viral Load