The echocardiographic study was performed to 13 cases with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy and 105 normal persons between Nov. 1980 and Feb. 1982 in Heart center, Paik Hospital, In-Je Medical College, Busan, Korea. The left ventricular functions in the Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy were compared with those in the normal. The results were followings: 1. There were 10 male and 3 female of 13 cases with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, whose ages were above 20 years old. 2. LVDeD 4.29+/-0.60cm, LVSeD 2.85+/-0.66cm, LVDeV 82.06+/-24.66ml and LVSeV 26.91+/-9.21ml in the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy were significantly changed with those in the normal. 3. E.F. 68.63+/-10.46% and F.S. 34.32+/-6.43% in the Hypertrophic Cardiomopathy were significantly increased with those in the normal. 4. VSTh 1.66+/-0.37cm, LVPWTh 1.04+/-0.29cm in the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy were significantly increased with those in the normal.
Busan ; Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic* ; Echocardiography* ; Female ; Heart ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Ventricular Function, Left ; Young Adult

No abstract available.
Streptomyces*

No abstract available.
Chorionic Gonadotropin* ; Humans* ; Hypertension* ; Pregnancy*

BACKGROUND: Angiotensin II (Ang II) appears to play important roles in the pathogenesis of hypertension. However, the mechanism by which Ang II induces vascular smooth muscle contraction is not fully understood. The phosphorylation of myosin light chain (MLC) is an essential trigger of the cascade that initiates of smooth muscle contraction. In this study, we investigated the role of MLC phosphorylation on Ang II-induced vascular smooth muscle contraction. METHODS: Rat thoracic aortas were used as an experimental substrates. We measured isometric tension, myosin light chain phosphorylation, intracellular Ca2+ concentration, mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylation, and tyrosine phosphorylation. RESULTS: 100 nM Ang II increased smooth muscle contraction transiently in rat thoracic aorta. Ang II also increased intracellular Ca2+ and 20 kDa MLC phosphorylation. Pretreatment with 10microM verapamil and 30microM La3+ abolished the contraction developed at 30 seconds by Ang II, whereas pretreatment with 10microM verapamil and 30microM La3+ abolished the contraction and the intracellular Ca2+ increase induced at 2 minutes by Ang II. Moreover, pretreatment of 10microM verapamil, 30microM La3+ and 1microM thapsigargin abolished the contraction as well as intracellular Ca2+ increase developed at 30 seconds and 2 minutes by Ang II. However, MLC phosphorylation was not affected. GF109203X attenuated Ang II-induced contraction more so than ML-7. 100 nM Ang II increased tyrosine phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase, 68 and 125 kDa proteins. The 125 kDa protein was confirmed as paxillin in primary vascular smooth muscle cell culture. CONCLUSIONS: Ang II-induced contraction involves Ca2+-dependent and independent components, and Ca2+-dependent contraction by Ang II is mediated by voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel. Moreover, protein kinase C and the mitogen-activated protein kinase activation pathway are involved in Ang II-induced contraction.
Angiotensin II ; Animals ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Calcium ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Hypertension ; Muscle, Smooth* ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; Myosin Light Chains ; Paxillin ; Phosphorylation ; Protein Kinase C ; Protein Kinases ; Rats* ; Thapsigargin ; Tyrosine ; Verapamil

Intractable diarrhea associated with secondary amyloidosis in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a serious clinical entity with poor prognosis. We describe a 39-year-old male RA patient who presented with intractable diarrhea. Biopsy findings of terminal ileum and colon revealed amyloidosis secondary to RA. Effective treatment of rheumatoid arthritis resulted in remission of intractable diarrhea caused by amyloid protein deposition.
Adult ; Amyloid ; Amyloidosis* ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Biopsy ; Colon ; Diarrhea* ; Humans ; Ileum ; Male ; Prognosis

Color Doppler echocardiographic examination was performed to detect and evaluate semiquantitatively the severity of mitral regurgitation in 38 patients who underwent left ventriculography. The sensitivity and specificity of the technique in the detection of mitral regurgitation was 84% and 100% as compared with left ventriculography.Mitral regurgitation in the false negative cases was mostly mild. On the bases of the farthest distance reached by the regurgitation flow signal from the mitral value orifice, the severity of regurgitation was graded on a four point scale and these results were compared with those of angiography. A significant correlation(r=0.87) was found between Doppler imaging and angiography in the evaluation of the severity of mitral regurgitation.Also results was obtained for the evaluation based on the area covered by the regurgitant signals in the left atrial cavity & the regurgitant jet area(RJA) experssed as a percentage of the left atrial are(LLA) obtained in the same plane(RJA/LLA%). In conclusion, Color Doppler echocardiography is a useful noninvasvive thechique that is not only sensitive and specific in the identification of mitral regurgitation but also provides accurate estimation og its severity.
Angiography ; Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Doppler, Color ; Humans ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency* ; Sensitivity and Specificity

BACKGROUND: Mitral and pulmonary venous(PV) flow velocity variables are being used for the indirect evaluation of left ventricular(LV) diastolic function. However, these flow velocities are influenced by age, loading conditions and other factors. This study was designed to evaluate usefulness of left atrial size and function in addition to the relation of mitral and PV flow velocity variables in the estimation of LV filling pressures. METHODS: Mitral and PV flow velocity variables. left artial size and function were assessed just before a cardiac catherization in 31 patients. According to the LV filling pressures, patients were divided into two subgroups and echocardiographic variables were compared. RESULTS: 1) LV end-diastolic pressure was related to the duration of reverse flow in the PV at atrial contraction(r=0.58) and difference in mitral and PV flow velocity duration at atrial contraction(r=0.54), and the similar findings were observed in other left ventricular filling pressures. 2) Left atrial size and volumes were greater in the subgroup of abnormal LV filling pressures(P < 0.05), but left atrial ejection fraction was not different between subgroups. CONCLUSION: In addition to variables of the mitral and PV flow velocities, left atrial size and volume may provide an additive value in the estimation of left ventricular filling pressures.
Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; Humans

BACKGROUND: BK virus is a polyomavirus associated with a range of clinical presentations from asymptomatic viruria with pyuria to ureteral ulceration with ureteral stenosis in renal transplant patients. BK viral Infection of renal allografts has been associated with diminished graft function in some individuals. We tried to detect BK virus in urine and plasma from Korean renal transplant recipients, renal transplant candidates, and healthy donors. METHODS: To detect BK virus in urine and plasma, we used PCR-RFLP (polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragments length polymorphism) with BamHI. The study was performed from 118 renal transplant recipients, 18 renal transplant candidates, and 25 healthy donors. RESULTS: BK virus DNAs were detected in 21.2% of urine and 0.9% of plasma from renal transplant recipients. BK virus DNA was detected in neither urine nor plasma from healthy donors and renal transplants candidates. Among a total of eight patients who were clinically suspected of having BK nephropathy, three were PCR positive for BK virus and two were decoy-cell cytology positive. Six patients were diagnosed as BK nephropathy by tissue pathology. Among them, BK virus was detected by PCR in urine from five patients, and decoy cells were shed from five patients, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: BK virus detection by polymerase chain reaction in urine may be a non-invasive and sensitive tool for diagnosing and monitoring BK nephropathy.
Allografts ; BK Virus* ; Constriction, Pathologic ; DNA ; Humans ; Kidney Transplantation ; Pathology ; Plasma ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Polyomavirus ; Pyuria ; Tissue Donors* ; Transplantation* ; Transplants ; Ulcer ; Ureter

Apoptosis is a programmed, physiologic mode of cell death that plays an important role in tissue homeostasis. As for the central nervous system, ischemic insults can induce pathophysiologic cascade of apoptosis in neurophils. Impairment of astroctye functions during brain ischemia can critically influence neuron survival by neuronglia interactions. We aimed to elucidate the protective effect of ketamine on apoptosis by energy deprivation in astrocytes. Ischemic insults was induced with iodoacetate/ carbonylcyanide mchlorophenylhydrazone (IAA/CCCP) 1.5 mM/ 20 micrometer or 150 micrometer/2 micrometer for 1 hr in the HTB-15 and CRL-1690 astrocytoma cells. Then these cells were reperfused with normal media or ketamine (0.1 mM) containing media for 1 hr or 24 hr. FITC-annexin-V staining and propidium iodide binding were determined by using flow cytometry. Cell size and granularity were measured by forward and side light scattering properties of flow cytometry system, respectively. An addition of keta-mine during reperfusion increased the proportion of viable cells. Ketamine alleviated cell shrinkage and increased granularity during the early period, and ameliorated cell swelling during the late reperfusion period. Ketamine may have a valuable effect on amelioration of early and late apoptosis in the astrocytoma cells, even though the exact mechanism remains to be verified.
Anesthetics, Dissociative/*pharmacology ; Annexin A5/pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; Astrocytes/metabolism ; Astrocytoma/*drug therapy/pathology ; Brain/pathology ; Carbonyl Cyanide m-Chlorophenyl Hydrazone/pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Size ; Cell Survival ; Central Nervous System/drug effects/pathology ; Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology ; Flow Cytometry/*methods ; Humans ; Indicators and Reagents/pharmacology ; Iodoacetates/pharmacology ; Ischemia/pathology ; Ketamine/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Light ; Neurons/metabolism/pathology ; Neutrophils/metabolism ; Perfusion ; Propidium/pharmacology ; Scattering, Radiation ; Time Factors ; Uncoupling Agents/pharmacology

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Although drug-eluting stents (DESs) effectively reduce restenosis following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), they also delay re-endothelialization and impair microvascular function, resulting in adverse clinical outcomes. Endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) capturing stents, by providing a functional endothelial layer on the stent, have beneficial effects on microvascular function. However, data on coronary microvascular function in patients with EPC stents versus DESs are lacking. METHODS: Seventy-four patients who previously underwent PCI were enrolled in this study. Microvascular function was evaluated 6 months after PCI based on the index of microvascular resistance (IMR) and the coronary flow reserve (CFR). IMR was calculated as the ratio of the mean distal coronary pressure at maximal hyperemia to the inverse of the hyperemic mean transit time (hTmn). The CFR was calculated by dividing the hTmn by the baseline mean transit time. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients (age, 67.2 +/- 9.6 years; male:female, 15:6) with an EPC stent and 53 patients (age, 61.5 +/- 14.7 years; male:female, 40:13) with second-generation DESs were included in the study. There were no significant differences in the baseline clinical and angiographic characteristics of the two groups. Angiography performed 6 months postoperatively did not show significant differences in their CFR values. However, patients with the EPC stent had a significantly lower IMR than patients with second-generation DESs (median, 25.5 [interquartile range, 12.85 to 28.18] vs. 29.0 [interquartile range, 15.42 to 39.23]; p = 0.043). CONCLUSIONS: Microvascular dysfunction was significantly improved after 6 months in patients with EPC stents compared to those with DESs. The complete re-endothelialization achieved with the EPC stent may provide clinical benefits over DESs, especially in patients with microvascular dysfunction.
Aged ; Blood Flow Velocity ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease/diagnosis/physiopathology/*therapy ; *Coronary Circulation ; Coronary Vessels/*physiopathology/radiography ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; *Endothelial Progenitor Cells/radiography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Microvessels/*physiopathology/radiography ; Middle Aged ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention/*instrumentation ; Prosthesis Design ; *Re-Epithelialization ; *Stents ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome ; Vascular Resistance