No abstract available.
Macrophages* ; Mistletoe* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha*

BACKGROUND: Korean mistletoe (Viscum album) extract has been found to posses immunostimulatory activity. In this study, Korean mistletoe extract, M11C (non-lectin components), was used to know whether this extract might activate mouse peritoneal macrophages to produce interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta). METHODS: Hemagglutination assay was carried out to examine whether M11C contained a lectin or not . To know the effect of M11C on the production of IL-1 beta, the macrophages were treated by the M11C, and then collected the supernatant (M11C stimulated macrophages-conditioned media; MMCM). MMCM was analyzed for the IL-1 beta quantification and mRNA expression by means of ELISA and RT-PCR, respectively. RESULTS: Maximum effective dose and time of M11C on IL-1 beta production from macrophages were 20 micro gram/ml and 8 hours, respectively . This ELISA data was reconfirmed by immunoblotting assay . indicating that M11C is a good candidate for an immunomodulator. The dose and time dependent effect s of M11C on the expression of IL-1 beta mRNA from macrophages was also shown in expression of mRNA detected by RT-PCR. Treatment dose and time for the maximum expression of IL-1 beta mRNA were 20 micro gram/ml and 4 hours, respectively . Maximum gene expression of IL-1 beta was much earlier than maximum production of it. CONCLUSION: As results, Korean mistletoe extract, M11C, may be used for an immunomodulator. This will be able to make up for and solve the problems caused by existent immunoagent with many adverse effects through many other studies in future including one molecule extraction.
Animals ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Gene Expression ; Hemagglutination ; Immunoblotting ; Interleukin-1beta ; Macrophages* ; Macrophages, Peritoneal ; Mice ; Mistletoe* ; RNA, Messenger

Stress induced cardiomyopathy is a disease that shows a dysfunction of the ventricle, but it can be rapidly reversible. It often occurs in older women primarily who suffers from emotional or physical stress. There are some case reports about postpartum stress induced cardiomyopathy. Most of the patients are recovered naturally within days to weeks. We report a case of a 37 years-old woman, who had experienced postpartum stress induced cardiomyopathy 8 years ago, revisited hospital because of cardiomyopathy after secondary delivery. Herein we report a rare case of recurrent stress induced cardiomyopathy after secondary normal vaginal delivery.
Cardiomyopathies* ; Female ; Humans ; Postpartum Period* ; Recurrence

PURPOSE: We compared the results of implanting an implantable contact lens (ICL) and an iris claw lens (Artisan(R) lens) in patients' wtih myopia and sought to determine a basis for choosing between the two lenses. METHODS: ICLs were implanted in 32 eyes of 18 patients, and Artisan(R) lenses were implanted in 40 eyes of 23 patients. Uncorrected visual acuity, refraction, endothelial cell density, intraocular pressure, and slit lamp measurements were taken for 12 months. RESULTS: All the patients had improved UCVA from the day after the operation until the 12th month. The mean spherical equivalent refraction at postoperative month 12 was -0.78+/-0.54D in the ICL group and -0.78+/-0.59D in the Artisan(R) lens group. In the same period, endothelial cell density loss was 5.34% in the ICL group but was not significant in the Artisan(R) lens group. There were no significant complications in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Both ICL and Artisan(R) lens implantation resulted in immediate visual improvement and stability of vision during the follow-up period. There was no significant difference in post-operative results. Further study will be needed to decide which lens is the better choice for delicate conditions in myopic patients.
Animals ; Endothelial Cells ; Eye ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hoof and Claw ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Iris ; Lenses, Intraocular ; Myopia ; Vision, Ocular ; Visual Acuity

Kearns-Sayre syndrome (KSS) is a rare multisystem mitochondrial disorder associated with progressive external ophthalmoplegia, atypical pigmentary degeneration of the retina, and complete heart block. KSS can lead to a risk of sudden death because of the potential progression of conduction abnormalities such as right or left bundle branch block or complete atrioventricular (AV) block. Here we describe the case of a KSS patient with type I diabetes who experienced syncope in the presence of complete AV block, confirmed by muscular biopsy.
Atrioventricular Block* ; Biopsy ; Bundle-Branch Block ; Death, Sudden ; Heart Block ; Humans ; Kearns-Sayre Syndrome* ; Mitochondrial Diseases ; Ophthalmoplegia, Chronic Progressive External ; Retina ; Syncope

A single coronary artery (SCA) is a rare congenital anomaly, which is often associated with myocardial ischemia. We report a SCA consisting of an anomalous right coronary artery originating from the distal left circumflex artery diagnosed by coronary angiography and multidetector computed tomography angiography.
Angiography ; Arteries ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Vessel Anomalies ; Coronary Vessels ; Microvascular Angina ; Multidetector Computed Tomography ; Myocardial Ischemia

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: We sought to evaluate nationwide trends, characteristics, and clinical outcomes in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in Korea. METHODS: From National Health Insurance claims data in Korea, 81,115 patients, who underwent PCI for the first episode of coronary artery disease between 2011 and 2015, were enrolled. Patients were categorized into angina (n=49,288) or acute myocardial infarction (AMI, n=31,887) groups and analyzed. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 64.4±12.2 years and 56,576 (69.7%) were men. Diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension were observed in 27,086 (33.4%), 30,675 (37.8%), and 45,389 (56.0%) patients, respectively. There was a 10% increase in the number of patients undergoing PCI for angina between 2011–2012 and 2014–2015 (11,105 vs. 13,261; p=0.021). However, the number of patients undergoing PCI for AMI marginally decreased between 2011–2012 and 2014–2015 (8,068 vs. 7,823; p=0.052). In procedures, drug-eluting stent was the most frequently used device (93.2%), followed by balloon angioplasty (5.5%) and bare metal stents (1.3%). The mean number of stents per patient was 1.39±0.64. At discharge, dual-anti platelet therapy, statin, beta-blockers, and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker were provided to 76,292 (94.1%), 71,411 (88.0%), 57,429 (70.8%), and 54,418 (67.1%) patients, respectively. The mean in-hospital and 1-year total medical costs were 8,628,768±4,832,075 and 13,128,158±9,758,753 Korean Won, respectively. In-hospital mortality occurred in 2,094 patients (2.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Appropriate healthcare strategies reflecting trends, characteristics, and clinical outcomes of PCI are needed in Korea.
Angina Pectoris ; Angioplasty, Balloon ; Angiotensins ; Blood Platelets ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Delivery of Health Care ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ; Hyperlipidemias ; Hypertension ; Korea ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; National Health Programs ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Stents

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: We sought to evaluate nationwide trends, characteristics, and clinical outcomes in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in Korea. METHODS: From National Health Insurance claims data in Korea, 81,115 patients, who underwent PCI for the first episode of coronary artery disease between 2011 and 2015, were enrolled. Patients were categorized into angina (n=49,288) or acute myocardial infarction (AMI, n=31,887) groups and analyzed. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 64.4±12.2 years and 56,576 (69.7%) were men. Diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension were observed in 27,086 (33.4%), 30,675 (37.8%), and 45,389 (56.0%) patients, respectively. There was a 10% increase in the number of patients undergoing PCI for angina between 2011–2012 and 2014–2015 (11,105 vs. 13,261; p=0.021). However, the number of patients undergoing PCI for AMI marginally decreased between 2011–2012 and 2014–2015 (8,068 vs. 7,823; p=0.052). In procedures, drug-eluting stent was the most frequently used device (93.2%), followed by balloon angioplasty (5.5%) and bare metal stents (1.3%). The mean number of stents per patient was 1.39±0.64. At discharge, dual-anti platelet therapy, statin, beta-blockers, and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker were provided to 76,292 (94.1%), 71,411 (88.0%), 57,429 (70.8%), and 54,418 (67.1%) patients, respectively. The mean in-hospital and 1-year total medical costs were 8,628,768±4,832,075 and 13,128,158±9,758,753 Korean Won, respectively. In-hospital mortality occurred in 2,094 patients (2.6%). CONCLUSIONS Appropriate healthcare strategies reflecting trends, characteristics, and clinical outcomes of PCI are needed in Korea.