BACKGROUND: The proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cell(VSMC) is a part of the major pathogenic mechanism for atheroscle- rosis. It has been reported that L-type calcium channel plays a role in the VSMC proliferation in diabetic rats. But there is a little study results about the association between L-type calcium channel and VSMC proliferation by glucose concentrations in culture media. So we examined the association between voltage-dependent L-type calcium channel of VSMCs and the proliferative activity of vascular smooth muscle cells. METHODS: Rat aortic VSMCs were isolated from the aorta of OLETF rat by enzyme method. VSMCs were cultured in various concentrations of glucose(5.5, 25 mM). The VSMCs(1x104 cells in 24-well plates) were incubated in the presence of Bay K 8644 (10-6M) with/without verapamil(10-6M) for 48 hours. Then the proliferation was assessed by MTT(methylthiazole tetrazolium) assay and expression of L-type calcium channel mRNA was measured by RT-PCR. RESULTS: The proliferative ability and the expression of L-type calcium channel of cultured VSMCs were increased dose-dependently by the glucose concentrations(p<0.05). Bay K 8644 enhanced the proliferation of VSMC and verapamil blocked the incremental effects induced by Bay K 8644. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that L-type calcium channel may play a role in VSMC proliferation of OLETF rat.
3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-, Methyl ester ; Animals ; Aorta ; Calcium Channels, L-Type* ; Cell Proliferation* ; Culture Media ; Glucose* ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular* ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred OLETF* ; RNA, Messenger* ; Verapamil

OBJECTIVE:Ultrasound estimation of amniotic fluid volume (AFI) is a critical component of antenatal surveillance. Alterations in AFI have classically been considered an indication of fetal compromise. Thus, this study was undertaken to determine whether there is any association between idiopathic polyhydramnios or oligohydramnios and adverse perinatal outcome. METHODS:Women delivered between December 1999 and November 2005, and who underwent ultrasonography from 26 to 41 weeks gestation were analyzed. Twenty-seven consecutive women with singleton pregnancies complicated by idiopathic polyhydramnios (amniotic fluid index>25) and 31 women complicated by oligohydraminos (amniotic fluid index<5) were included in this study. We reviewed the perinatal outcomes including preterm delivery, birth weight, primary cesarean section rate and indication, Apgar score (1-min and 5-min), and admission to NICU (neonatal intensive care unit). These findings were compared with those of 50 matched control patients with normal amniotic fluid volume. RESULTS:We observed that idiopathic oligohydramnios was significantly associated with primary perinatal outcome (Cesarean delivery for fetal distress) as well as secondary outcome variables such as birthweight, SGA (small for gestational age), Apgar score<7 at 1-min, 5-min, and NICU admission rates. On the other hand, idiopathic polyhydramnios did not correlate with any other perinatal outcome, except for rates of LGA (large for gestational age). CONCLUSION:The present study suggests that AFI is a weak predictor of perinatal outcome than has been classically suggested. But we demonstrated that the AFI identification of polyhydramnios was helpful in identifying LGA, and idiopathic oligohydramnios was a significant predictor of poor perinatal outcome.
Amniotic Fluid ; Apgar Score ; Birth Weight ; Cesarean Section ; Female ; Hand ; Humans ; Critical Care ; Oligohydramnios* ; Polyhydramnios* ; Pregnancy ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: We performed this study to compare T1-201 and Tc-99m MIBI scans for the differentiation of malignant from benign breast mass. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-eight female patients underwent T1-201 breast scan and thirty-two of them also underwent Tc-99m MIBI scan of the breast. After intravenous injection of 74-111 MBq of T1-201, early (10 minutes) and delayed (3 hours) images were obtained. Then, 555-740 MBq of Tc-99m MIBI was injected and images after 30 minutes were obtained. We compared T1-201 and Tc-99m MIBI scans with pathologic RESULTS. RESULTS: Twenty-three patients were confirmed to have infiltrating duct carcinoma and fifteen patients to have benign breast mass by excisonal biopsy. The sensitivity of early and delayed T1-201 scan and Tc-99m MIBI scan in the detection of malignant breast lesion were 100% (23/23), 82% (18/22), and 90% (18/20), respectively. The specificity of early T1-201 scan was significantly higher than that of delayed T1-201 scan (p<0.05). The specificity of early and delayed T1-201 scan and Tc-99m MIBI scan were 73% (11/15), 73% (11/15) and 83% (10/12), respectively (p:not significant). Three patients out of nine with fibroadenoma and one patient with atypical duct hyperplasia were false positive in both early and delayed T1-201 scans. The size of fibroadenoma with false positvie in early and delayed T1-201 scan (4 cases) was larger than that of 11 fibradenoma with true negative scan (p<0.01). Metastatic axillary lymph node involvement was present in fifteen patients. The sensitive to detect metastatic nodes was 38% (5/13) for early T1-201 images, 15% (2/13) for delayed T1-201 images, 58% (7/12) for Tc-99m MIBI planar images and 67% (4/6) for Tc-99m MIBI SPECT. The sensitive of Tc-99m MIBI planar or SPECT was significantly higher than that of delayed T1-201 images (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Early T1-201 and Tc-99m MIBI scan are useful noninvasive methods to differentiate malignant form benign mass of breast. Tc-99m MIBI scan was sensitive in detecting axillary lymph node metastasis in patients with brease cancer.
Biopsy ; Breast Neoplasms ; Breast* ; Diagnosis, Differential* ; Female ; Fibroadenoma ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Injections, Intravenous ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Radionuclide Imaging ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

This study was designed to investigate factors relating to fiscal deficit for regional health insurance. The financial statements for the fiscal year 1990 of nationwide 254 regional medical insurance societies were analyzed. Important findings are summarized below: 1. There were differences in the main reason for the financial deficit among regions when deficit and surplus societies were compared by regions. The total revenue per enrollee, especially revenue from the premium contribution of a deficit society was significantly smaller than that of a surplus society in large cities and counties. On the other hand, the total expenditure per enrollee of a deficit society was larger than that of a surplus society in small cities. 2. Both low premium irate at the beginning of health insurance program and less effort to increase the premium rate were main factors for the smaller revenue from the contribution of a deficit society in large cities and counties. 3. Larger expenditures per covered person of a deficit society in small cities were explained with larger medical expenditures especially for out-patients services rather than larger administrative expenses. 4. A regression analysis showed that utilization rates in out-patient services were significantly associated with income and numbers of total medical care institution per capita within a region where a health insurance society located. Also expenses paid by insurer per visit were associated with the proportion of utilization for tertiary care hospitals as well as the proportion of utilization of public health centers.
Hand ; Health Expenditures ; Humans ; Insurance ; Insurance Carriers ; Insurance, Health* ; Korea* ; Outpatients ; Public Health ; Tertiary Healthcare

No abstract available.
Pregnancy*

In a series of 93 cases of verified brain tumors visited to The National Medical Center from Nov. 1958 to March 1963 were studied clinically in regard to the ocular symptoms. The results of the study include following findings: 1. 81.3% of visual disturbances were present including 43 cases of monocular and binocular blindness. 2. Among 46 cases who were able to be examined, 78.7% showed abnormal visual fields. The most frequent type of field defect was homonymous hemianopsia, which showed high incidence in cerebral paragonimiasis. 3. The incidence of papilledema was 33.3%. They were mostly bilateral, and showed much higher incidence of 64.2% in infra tentorial tumors. 4. Optic atrophy was found in 36.5%. They were mostly of bilateral affection. There were no big difference between the incidence of primary optic atrophy and that of secondary. Primary atrophy were seen most frequently in cases of cerebral paragonimiasis as well as frontal and sellar region tumors. 5. The incidence of abnormal pupillary reflexes was 48.3%. Most of these cases are due te amaurotic mydriasis. Anisocoria occurred 17.2% of the series. 6. The incidence of nystagmus was 17.2% and was most frequently seen in cases of inf ra tententorial tumors. 7. 7.5% of abducens palsy were the most frequent occurence among extraocular muscle palsies. 8. It was specific that the affection of corneal sensibility was ipsilateral to the location of the tumors. The incidence of corneal affection was higher in cases of infratentorial tumors than that of supratentorial group. 9. Lagophthalmos occurred in 10.7% of the cases. All of them were due to facial palsy.
Anisocoria ; Atrophy ; Blindness ; Brain Neoplasms ; Facial Paralysis ; Hemianopsia ; Incidence ; Infratentorial Neoplasms ; Mydriasis ; Optic Atrophy ; Papilledema ; Paragonimiasis ; Paralysis ; Reflex, Pupillary ; Telescopes ; Visual Fields

To define the effectiveness of C-reactive protein (CRP) as indicator for early detection of the post-operative infection, it is essential to exclude possible normal changes of CRP influenced by surgery itself. We analyzed 44 patients who had done orthopaedic surgeries without any evidence of infection preoperative and postoperatively from May to Aug. 1995 at Dongsan medical center, Keimyung University. We checked the levels of Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and CRP levels at preoperative and postoperative 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19 and 21st day in all cases. In all cases, ESR increased up to 60mm/hr maximally and CRP increased to more than 10mg/dl at least one occasion within the first 3 weeks postoperatively. However CRP showed more rapid changes than ESR. The mean value of the CRP was increased maximally (7.2mg/dl) at 3 day after operation and then decreased rapid until 11 day. ESR was also increased at 3 day after operation, but it sustained high level until 21 day after operation. CRP appears to be more sensitive and rapid indicator as an acute phase reactant for the operation itself because CRP revealed more earlier and accentuated change after the operation. The changes of CRP showed same pattern regardless of operation time, use of tourniquet, use of transfusion and gender. In conclusion, within 3 day after operation, the high titer of CRP can not to be an indicator for early detection of the infection, because normal high titer can be developed by surgery itself. If there notes persistent high titer or more increasing pattern of CRP after postoperative 3 day or abnormal high titer of CRP after 11 day postoperatively, infection may be highly suspicious.
Blood Sedimentation ; C-Reactive Protein ; Humans ; Tourniquets

No abstract available.
Knee* ; Ligaments*

PURPOSE: To identify factors that may be related to variations in corneal flap thickness in LASIK using the Moria M2 microkeratome. METHODS: The charts of patients having LASIK based on steep keratometry nomogram using Moria M2 microkeratome (head : 110 micrometer) and excimer laser (VISX STAR S2, USA) in our department of ophthalmology from March, 2003, to May 2005, were reviewed retrospectively. A total of 195 eyes were enrolled in the investigation. We analyzed relationship between corneal flap thickness and preoperative factors including central corneal thickness, steep keratometer, corneal diameter, suction ring using multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: Mean corneal flap thickness was 119.37+/-21.21 micrometer. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between flap thickness and central corneal thickness (p<0.05). No correlation was found between flap thickness and other preoperative factors including steep keratometer, corneal diameter and suction ring. CONCLUSIONS: Mean corneal flap thickness using the Moria M2 110 micrometer head was 119.37+/-21.21 micrometer, little thicker than our expectation. When surgery is performed based on steep keratometry nomogram using Moria M2 microkeratome, if intraoperative factors are excluded, there is a trend toward thicker flap thickness with thicker central corneal thickness, whereas steep keratometer, corneal diameter or suction ring have no influence on flap thickness.
Head ; Humans ; Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ* ; Lasers, Excimer ; Nomograms ; Ophthalmology ; Retrospective Studies ; Suction

In Korea, all domestic made test systems for detecting antibodies in HIV-1 contain the antigens from human immunodeficiency type 1 (HIV-1) subtype B. However, because HIV-1 subtype O is significantly different in amino acid sequences from all other subtypes of HIV-1, there has been a need for developing a test for detecting antibodies in subtype O. For this purpose, the entire nucleotide sequence corresponding to the extracellular domain of the transmembrane glycoprotein of HIV-1 subtype O was synthesized with consideration of Escherichia coli cordon usage. Various regions of the extracellular domain were cloned into E. coli expression vectors and tested for levels of protein production. The nucleotide sequence, named ECTM, that can encode a 129 amino acid-long peptide, was found to be expressed at a high level in E. coli. The protein of approximately 17 kDa specifically reacted with sera from individuals infected with HIV-1 subtype O. The ECTM protein was purified to near homogeneity by the CM-T gel chromatography, using concentrated, denatured inclusion bodies. In Western blot analysis, the purified viral antigen reacted with sera from individuals infected with subtype O more efficiently than subtype B. The enzyme linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) system was developed using the subtype O viral protein and compared with the commercially available kit lacking the antigens from subtype O. The ELISA kit containing the subtype O antigen ECTM alone efficiently reacted with sera from individuals infected with subtype O. The subtype O antigen-containing kit produced a positive absorbence even when sera were diluted 512-fold, suggesting a high sensitivity. The commercially available kit also reacted with subtype O sera, but produced a negative result at a dilution of 8-fold. Our results suggest that the currently available kit may not be able to efficiently detect subtype O sera and that the viral protein developed in this study may be added to the current system to maximize the detection of sera from individuals infected with subtype O.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Antibodies ; Base Sequence ; Blotting, Western ; Chromatography, Gel ; Clone Cells ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Escherichia coli ; Glycoproteins ; HIV* ; HIV-1* ; Humans* ; Inclusion Bodies ; Korea ; O Antigens