BACKGROUND: This study was aimed at defining the varying responses of porcine coronary artery(PCA) to various wavelengths of ultraviolet irradiation, and at relating them to the changes in cyclic GMP contents. METHODS: The ring preparations of PCA with intact or removed endothelium were irradiated with the ultraviolet or visible light of wavelengths(240-520mm) from xenon lamp of a spectrofluorometer, and the changes in vascular tension were recorder on polygraph. For cyclic GMP assay, rat thoracic aorta was frozen after irradiation and homogenated. The supernatant was extracted with water-saturated ether and the cyclic GMP contents were measured with radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: Ultraviolet irradiation relaxed the preparations(UVR-relaxation) in resting state and those precontracted by prostaglandin F2alpha, the maximal relaxation occurring at 410nm, and the magnitude depending on the duration of irradiation. The UVR-relaxation was not affected by removing the endothelium, while it was markedly potentiated by pretreatment with Bay K 8644. The Bay K 8644-induced potentiation of UVR-relaxation was abolished by hemoglobin and slightly reduced by wrapping the rings with aluminum foil. Cyclic GMP contents in the increase was markedly potentiated by pretreatment with Bay K 8644. CONCLUSION: The observations suggest that UVR-relaxation in procine coronary artery is caused by activating the nitric oxide-cyclic GMP system, which is most sensitively activated by UVR of 410nm and that its potentiation induced by Bay K 8644 may be related nitrous substance released from the agent upon UVR.
3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-, Methyl ester* ; Aluminum ; Animals ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Bays* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Cyclic GMP ; Dinoprost ; Endothelium ; Ether ; Light* ; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis ; Radioimmunoassay ; Rats ; Relaxation* ; Ultraviolet Rays ; Vasodilation ; Xenon

Spindle cell hemangioendothelioma was first described in 1986 by Weiss and Enzinger as a low grade angiosarcoma resr mbling a cavernous hemangioma and kaposis sarcoma. Recently, it is suggested to be non neoplastic lesion or reactive process arising from pre-existing vascular mal- formation. We report a case of spindle cell hemangioendothelioma in a 9-month-old boy. He had multiple, variable sized, colorful, cutaneous or subcutaneous nodules on the forearm and hand. The tumor first appeared on the forearm as erythematous patches at birth and grew rapidly with- in 3 months. Histopatholgical findings showed that the lesion was composed of thin walled cavernous spaces mixed with spindle cells and occasional epithelioid endothelial cells containing intracytoplasmic vacuole. Most af the endothelial cells lining the cavernous spaces and intracytoplasmic lumina, were positive for factor VIII associated antigen. But the spindle cells were negative. Atypical vascular structures resembling arteriovenous shunts were noted around the tumor suggesting a reactive proliferation due to disturbance of local blood flow. Several turnors were excised. No recurrence has been recognized in the one year- follow-up period.
Endothelial Cells ; Factor VIII ; Follow-Up Studies ; Forearm ; Hand ; Hemangioendothelioma* ; Hemangioma, Cavernous ; Hemangiosarcoma ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Parturition ; Recurrence ; Sarcoma, Kaposi ; Vacuoles

BACKGROUND: The bcl-2 is a newly known oncogene involved in tumorigenisis by blocking apoptosis or programmed cell death. Overexpression of bcl-2 protein has been detected in a variety of human malignancies. However, recent studies of the expression of bcl-2 protein in human melanoma and melanocytic nevus have been controversial. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine whether there are any differences in the expression of bcl-2 protein between melanocytic nevus and rnalignant melanoma. METHODS: Immunohistochemical analysis of bcl-2 protein expression was performed on the formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections of 22 melanocytic nevus and 29 malignant melanomas (20 primary and 9 metastatic) using anti bcl-2 monoclonal antibody with an avidin-biotin peroxidase complex procedure. RESULTS: The results were as follows. 1. The positive rate for bcl-2 protein was observed in 95.4% (21/22) of melanocytic nevus and 95.0% (19/20) of primary malignant melanomas. Therefore, there was no significant difference between the two groups in the positive rate for bcl-2 prtoein. 2. The percentage of stained cells and the staining intensity of bcl-2 protein were significantly increased in melanocytic nevus compared to malignant melanoma (p<0.05). 3. The positive rate for bcl-2 expression of metastatic malignant melanoma [44.4% (4/9)] was significantly decreased compared to that of primary malignant melanoma [95.0%(19/20) ] (p<0. 05). But, there was no significant difference betweeen tumor thickness and histological type of malignant, melanoma in the expression of bcl-2 protein. 4. In melanocytic nevus, immunoreactivity of bcl-2 protein gradually diminished or even disappeared towards the deep dermis. CONCLUSION: the bcl-2 expression was decreased in malignant melanoma compared to melanocytic nevus. It. suggests that the loss of bcl-2 expression may play a significant role in the progression and metastasis of malignant melanoma.
Apoptosis ; Cell Death ; Dermis ; Humans ; Melanoma* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Nevus, Pigmented* ; Oncogenes ; Peroxidase

The pseudolymphoma syndrome that may mimic malignant lymphoma clinically and histopathologically has been described as a hypersensitivity reaction to anticonvulsant drugs. It consists of the triad of a fever, generalized rash and lyrnphadenopathy. In some cases, varying degrees of malaise, hepatosplenornegaly, abnormal liver function tests, arthralgias, eosinophilia and blood dyscriasias may also be present. We report a case of pseudolymphoma syndrome due to carbamazepine in a 47-year-old man. He had a diffuse edematous and erythematous patches, papules and vesicles associated with high fever, hepatosplenomegaly and lymphadenopathy. The histopathologic finding slowed a dense atypical mononuclear cell infiltrate of the upper dermis associated with Pautriers microabscess like structures and severe dermal edema. Laboratory findings revealed leukocytosis and an abnormal liver function test. Three weeks after the withdrawal of carbamazepine and treatment with oral prednisolone, his skin lesion and general condition markedly improved.
Anticonvulsants ; Arthralgia ; Carbamazepine* ; Dermis ; Edema ; Eosinophilia ; Exanthema ; Fever ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Leukocytosis ; Liver Function Tests ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Lymphoma ; Middle Aged ; Prednisolone ; Pseudolymphoma* ; Skin

BACKGROUND: Portable devices for measuring peak expiratory flow(PEF) are now of proved value in the diagnosis and management of asthma and many lightweight PEF meters have become available. However, it is necessary to determine whether peak expiratory flow rate(PEFR) measurements measured with peak flowmeters is accurate and reproducible for clinical application. The aim of the present study is to define accuracy, agreement, and precision of mini-Wright peak flow meter(MPFM) against standard pneumotachygraph. METHODS: The lung function tests by standard pneumotachygraph and PEFR measurement by MPFM were performed in a random order for 2 hours in 22 normal and 17 asthmatic subjects and also were performed for 3 successive days in 22 normals. RESULTS: The PEFR measured with MPFM was significantly related to the PEFR and FEV1 measured with standard pneumotachygraph in normal and asthmatics(for PEFR, r=0.92 p<0.001; for FEV1, r=0.78 ; p<0.001). The accuracy of MPFM was within 10%(limits of accuracy recommeded by NAEP) in all the subjects or 22 normal, mean difference from standard pneumotachygraph being I 6.5L/min(percentage of difference being 2.90%) or 1 0.6L/min(percentage of difference being 1.75%), respectively. According to the method proposed by Bland and Altman, the 95% limits of the distribution of differences between MPFM and standard pneumotachygraph after correction of PEFR using our regression equation were +38.2 and -71.5L/min in all the subjects or -20.49~ + 9.49L/min in 22 normal and was similar to the intraindividual agreements for 3 successive days in normal. There was no statistically significant difference of PEFR measured with MPFM and standard pneumotachygraph among three days(p>0.05) and the coefficient of variation(2.4 1.2%) of PEFR measured with MPFM was significantly lower than that( 5.2 3.5%) with standard pneurnotachygraph in normal (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This results suggest that the MPFM was as accurate and reproducible as standard pneumotachygraph for monitoring of PEFR in the asthmatic subjects.
Asthma ; Diagnosis ; Flowmeters ; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate ; Respiratory Function Tests

No abstract available.
Polyarteritis Nodosa*

PURPOSE: Non-enhanced spiral computed tomography (NESCT) has become the preferred method for imaging urinary calculi. We evaluated the Hounsfield units (HU) of urinary calculi on NESCT as a predictor of the therapeutic effect of extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated 72 patients with urinary calculi who underwent ESWL. The HUs of calculi were measured on the pretreatment NESCT and at post-treatment via radiographic assessment. The patients were divided into 2 groups, the response group (n=39): the patients with remnant calculi less than 3mm or they were without remnant calculi, and the non-response group (n=33): the patients with remnant calculi greater than 3mm. The HUs of the response and non-response groups were then compared. RESULTS: The HUs of the response and non-response groups were 529.7+/-168.2 and 814+/-116.6, respectively, and the HUs of the non-response group was significantly higher than that of the non-response group. CONCLUSIONS: The HU of urinary calculi, as seen on NESCT, can help to predict the therapeutic effect of ESWL and also select the most effective treatment modalities for the patients suffering with urinary calculi.
Calculi ; Humans ; Lithotripsy* ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; Urinary Calculi*

Ameloblastic fibrosarcoma is an extremely rare variety of odontogenic tumor. It has not previously been reported in Korea. The tumor is composed of benign odontogenic epithelium with a mesenchymal part which exhibits the histologic features of fibrosarcoma. We have reported a case of amloblastic fibrosarcoma of the mandible in a 26-year-old man with swelling of right mandible for 2 weeks. The tumor showed yellowish ill-demarcated ulcerating mass involving right premolar and molar area. Light microscopy revealed irregularly arranged strands and islands of odontogenic epithelium surrounded by abundant mesenchymal tissue with the feature of fibrosarcoma. The fibrosarcoma cells were strong positive on immunostain for vimentin and ameloblastic cells were weakly positive for cytokeratin. S-100 and CEA were negative in both epithelial and sarcoma cells. The sarcoma cells were corresponding to fibroblasts on the electron microscopy with abundancy of RER and mitochondria and covering of basal lamina. Two types of virus like particles were distributed in the cytoplasm and nuclei of sarcoma cells. We treated the patient with surgery and chemotherapy. The recovery was uneventful and the prognosis is under observation.
Male ; Humans

Purpose: Chemokines are involved in the pathogenesis of various autoimmune diseases, including Graves’ orbitopathy (GO), but comprehensive analyses of the dynamics of these cytokines and their receptors in such diseases remain lacking. In this study, we investigated the expressions of chemokines and their receptors during adipogenesis and inflammation in primary cultured orbital fibroblasts from patients with GO. Methods: The messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels of chemokines were compared between GO (n = 6) and non-GO (n = 5) orbital tissues by real-time polymerase chain reaction. After adipogenesis was induced in primary cultured orbital fibroblasts from patients with GO (n =5) and following stimulation with interleukin (IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, the mRNA expression levels of chemokines and their receptors were analyzed. Results: Chemokines were significantly downregulated in GO orbital tissues compared to non-GO orbital tissues (p < 0.05). Adipogenesis resulted in a strong increase in mRNA expression levels of chemokines and their receptors at an early stage (day 1); however, expression levels started to decrease thereafter and, eventually, decreased to below basal levels at the end of adipogenesis (day 10). Following stimulation with IL-1β and TNF-α, the mRNA expression levels of chemokines and their receptors increased, showing different responses to various proinflammatory cytokines. Conclusions Chemokines were strongly upregulated in the early phase of adipogenesis before decreasing continuously until the end of adipogenesis. Also, overt mature GO tissues showed reduced mRNA expression of chemokines compared to controls, which might indicate the existence of a shorter window for effective medical inflammatory treatment. The heightened levels of chemokines and their receptors observed after stimulation with IL-1β and TNF-α suggest a crucial role of proinflammatory cytokines in the pathogenesis of GO and, further, support the idea that chemokines could be used as biomarkers of GO activity.

The 35 patients who have suffered from myositis ossificans were investigated for 11 years. They wereposttraumatic patients, They trauma was divided into 3 groups; spinal cord injury, direct injury(fracture) andmixed type involving both. We evaluated the age distribution, the frequency of myositis ossificans, predilectionsite, bilaterality and relation between predilection site and bilaterality to the type of trauma. The results areas follows; 1. The age distribution was highest in 4th decades(12 among 35 patients). 2. In regard to distributionof 35 patients, spinal cord injury were most common (15 cases, 43%), the fracture nextly common (14, 40%) and thenmixed type (6,17%). 3. Among 51 cases of myositis ossificans, the frequency was highest in spinal cord injury(25cases, 49%), next was fracture(14, 27%). 4. The correlation between predilection site of myositis ossificans andlevel of spinal cord injury, hip is the most frequent site in thoracic injury. 6. The bilaterality of myositisossificans is 39%(20 among 51 lesions).
Age Distribution ; Hip ; Humans ; Myositis Ossificans ; Myositis ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; Thoracic Injuries