Human stem cells have been isolated from embryos as well as diverse somatic tissues. Much efforts have been made to apply those stem cells for therapeutic purpose. Molecular dissection of "stemness" and differentiation process will provide us a clue to further understanding of stem cell biology. The fate of stem cell is determined in part by internal regulation mediated by transcriptional control. A set of genes related to specific functions might be expressed and suppressed upon external or internal signaling. Therefore, it is necessary to identify the complete gene expression profile that defines the stem cell. Moreover, we should verify the potential of therapeutic stem cells regarding differentiation, specific function, tumorigenecity, and toxicity rigorously before the clinical application. At present we have only limited information on "stemness" and differentiation into specific lineages. In the genome era, we can draw a molecular portrait on these functional and morphologic changes along the differentiation, trans-differentiation as well as de-differentiation using the DNA chip technology. We need to accumulate database for gene expression at various steps of stem cell differentiation, which will enhance our knowledge for research on and medical application of stem cell.
Biology ; Embryonic Structures ; Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Genome ; Genomics ; Humans ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Stem Cells* ; Transcriptome

No Abstract available.
DNA, Complementary* ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis* ; Statistics as Topic*

Although cerebrospinal fluid leakage is suggested as one of the causes of spontaneous intracranial hypotension, on]y a few cases with direct evidence of cerebrospinal fluid leakage on radionuclide cisternography have been reported in the literature Indirect evidences of cerebrospinal fluid leakage such as early visualization of the soft tissue and bladder or delayed migration of radiotracer have been observed in most patients with spontaneous intracranial hypotension. We report a case of spontaneous intracranial hypotension in which cerebrospinal fluid leakage was directly demonstrated by early dynamic imaging of spine on radionuclide cisternography. We suggest that early dynamic imaging of spine is an important adjunctive procedure in detecting cerebrospinal fluid leakage in patients with spontaneous intracranial hypotension.
Cerebrospinal Fluid* ; Humans ; Intracranial Hypotension* ; Spine ; Urinary Bladder

BACKGROUND: Aprotinin, which is a nonspecific serine protease inhibitor, has an antiinflammatory and thrombogenic effect. However, it has an antithrombogenic effect during the cardiopulmonary bypass. This study was performed to evaluated the effects of aprotinin on the activated clotting time(ACT) and the total amount of the heparin used during the cardiopulmonary bypass. MATERIAL AND METHOD: From December 1998 to November 1999, 82 consecutive patients electively underwent open heart surgery at Gachon medical school. The patients were older than 18 years. Eighty two patients were classified into a control group(group C, n=36) and a aprotinin-treated group(group A, n=46). Body weight, height, body surface area(BSA), pump time(PT), aortic cross clamping time(ACCT), and body temperature(BT) were determined. Total amount of heparin and protamine during the CPB were also measured. ACT was determined before heparin administration, at 20, 40 and 60 minutes after heparin administration, and after protamine administration. RESULT: No significant differences were noted in either group in body weight, height, BSA, BT, and the total amoun of heparin and protamine. Group A demonstrated a significant(p<0.05) increase in age, PT, ACCT, and ACT at 20, 40, and 60 minutes after heparin administration. CONCLUSION: In summary, the use of aprotinin prime resulted in an increase in ACT. The total amount of heparin in aproinin-treated patient was similar to that of the control group in spite of having the prolonged pump time. Therefore aprotinin may reduce the requirement of heparin.
Aprotinin* ; Body Height ; Body Weight ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Constriction ; Heart* ; Heparin* ; Humans ; Schools, Medical ; Serine Proteases ; Thoracic Surgery*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Mice*

We conducted this cohort analytic study to determine whether women with unexplained elevations of maternal serum hCG at 15-18 weeks' gestation are at increased risk for pregnancy complications and adverse perinatal outcomes. The inclusion criteria were a singleton gestation, a confirmed gestational age, and an hCG level greater than 2.0 multiples of the median (MoM). The exclusion criteria were fetal anomalies, an abnormal karyotype, molar pregnancy, and an MSAFP level greater than 2.5 multiples of the median (MoM). A group of randomly selected women with hCG levels under 2.0 MoM served as controls. Patients with elevated levels of hCG had a significantly higher risk for PIH (17.9% versus 4.5%; P <.05) and preterm delivery (17.9% versus 3.5%; P<, 05) than control. But no significant differences were observed in the incidence of intrauterine growth restriction and low birth weight and in the newborn weight. We suggested that pregnancies with unexplained elevated hCG levels should be regarded as high-risk pregnancies. And these patients require careful monitoring with adequate obstetric management.
Abnormal Karyotype ; Chorionic Gonadotropin* ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans* ; Hydatidiform Mole ; Incidence ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications ; Pregnancy Outcome* ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnancy, High-Risk

Transsexuals are those who have appropriate chromosomal, hormonal and anatomical characteristics corresponding to their sexual phenotype but feel strongly with respect to their sexual identity, that they belong to the opposite sex. For this reason, they wish to be reassigned to their psychological sex by means of endocrinological and surgical treatment. Although its etiology is unknown, the majority of modern psychiatrists and behavioral scientists agree that the transsexualism is a disease entity belonging to gender identity disorder or gender dysphoria but not to be confused with the transversite, honosexualism or psychiatric problem. Three kinds of hermaphroditism have been defined according to the histology of the gonad : female pseudohermaphroditism, male pseudohermaphroditism and true hermaphroditism. It is very difficult, if not possible to assign sex especially in neonate and young children. Once sex assignment has been decided and accepted by the patient, surgical intervention should be undertaken as soon as possible. For adults there are many kinds of operative techniques. We have operated 28 cases of transexualism patients by using the penile and scrotal skin flap. This technique is superb for improving sexual appearance and function, and finally for a good opportunity for social activity. We report the results of surgery.
46, XX Disorders of Sex Development ; 46, XY Disorders of Sex Development ; Adult ; Child ; Disorders of Sex Development ; Female* ; Gender Identity ; Gonads ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male* ; Ovotesticular Disorders of Sex Development ; Phenotype ; Psychiatry ; Skin* ; Transsexualism*

"Dual LAD" was defined as the early bifurcation of the proximal LAD into two vessels : a short LAD which remained in the anterior interventricular sulcus and does not reach the apex, and a long LAD which leaves the anterior interventricular sulcus only to return to the distal sulcus and continue to the apex. Recognition of "Dual LAD" is essential to prevent errors of interpretation of the coronary arteriogram and for planning of optimal surgical therapy. We report 2 cases of "Dual LAD" with the review of the literatures.
Coronary Vessels*

No abstract available.
Polyps*

Prosthetic valve endocarditis(PVE), although uncommon, is associated with significant mortality if the infection spreads into the paravavular structures with later abscess formation. However, combined antibiotic and surgical treatment is often successful. Accurate diagnosis by on echocardiography, effective myocardial protection during operation and increased surgical experience have improved the short-term and long-term outcomes for patients with PVE. A 35-year-old male had a history of replacement of aortic and mitral valve, and tricuspid annuloplasty on August 1994, was admitted due to sudden onset of aphasia, leftward deviation of both eyeballs and spiking fever and diagnosed of having PVE by echocardiography. Reoperation was done after 6weeks of antibiotic treatment. On the operative field, we could notice circumferential vegetation along aortic valve annulus, paravalvular leakage and abscess pocket. The mitral valve annulus was healthy. The patient underwent redo aortic valve replacement using cryopreserved aortic homograft after radical debridement of infected tissue. During the follow up of 7 months period the homograft was well functioning without recurrence of symptoms.
Abscess ; Adult ; Allografts* ; Aortic Valve ; Aphasia ; Debridement ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Mitral Valve ; Mortality ; Recurrence ; Reoperation