BACKGROUND: Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) gene polymorphisms have been found associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) and lipid levels, but their impact is less clearly established. The analysis of associations of LPL gene polymorphisms with CAD and lipid levels in Koreans was investigated. METHODS: Analysis of PvuII (intron 6), HindIII (intron 8), and Ser447-Ter (exon 9) polymorphisms of LPL gene were performed using restriction enzyme digestion of amplified DNA products and lipid levels were analyzed in healthy control subjects (n=228) and patients with CAD (n=166). RESULTS: PvuII, HindIII, and Ser447-Ter sites were in strong linkage disequilibrium. No statistical differences in the genotypic frequencies of PvuII, HindIII, and Ser447-Ter polymorphisms were observed between control and CAD groups. P2P2 genotype had higher triglyceride level in CAD group and lower HDL-cholesterol level in control group than the other genotypes (P1P1, P1P2). H2H2 genotype had higher triglyceride level in CAD group and lower HDL-cholesterol level in control group than the other genotypes (H1H1, H1H2). CONCLUSIONS: Genotypes of LPL PvuII, HindIII, and Ser447-Ter polymorphisms were not associated with CAD. Individuals with P2P2 and H2H2 genotypes, however, had higher triglyceride and lower HDL-cholesterol levels that is known to be the most commmon dyslipidaemia in CAD patients.
Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Digestion ; DNA ; Genotype ; Humans ; Linkage Disequilibrium ; Lipoprotein Lipase* ; Lipoproteins* ; Triglycerides

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to investigate the effects of low-level laser irradiation on the dorsal horn cell activities in the rats with experimental muscle pain. METHOD: Experimental muscle pain was induced by repeated injections of acidic saline into the gastrocnemius muscle in thirty Sprague-Dawley rats. Activities of ipsilateral dorsal horn cells were recorded with a glass microelectrode at L2-L4 spinal cord level before and after low-level laser irradiation on the injected leg. Cells were categorized as wide dynamic range (WDR) and high threshold (HT) cells by the response to the cotton, vonFrey filament, and forceps stimulation at the receptive area. RESULTS: The spontaneous and mechanically evoked activities of WDR and HT cells were significantly increased in the muscle pain models. Low-level laser irradiation reduced mechanically evoked activities of WDR and HT cells. This effect was maximal at 20 minutes after irradiation and then returned to pre-treatment level in 40~50 minutes. CONCLUSION: The low-level laser irradiation was effective for the management of muscle pain by reducing activities of dorsal horn cells. Low-level laser might be clinically used for the treatment of local and referred pain of muscle origin.
Animals ; Glass ; Leg ; Microelectrodes ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Myalgia* ; Pain, Referred ; Posterior Horn Cells* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spinal Cord ; Surgical Instruments

Among the bronchogenic carcinomas, especially squamous cell carcinoma and large cell carcinoma frequently present with cavitation, which may result from tumor necrosis. Cavitary lesions of the tumor are occasionally associated with infection and misdiagnosed as benign lung abscess owing to the partial responsiveness to antibiotics. It is very difficult to distinguish the carcinomatous abscess from the benign lung abscess, because of their similar clinical and radiologic features. Delay in diagnosis of underlying lung cancer may result in poor outcome. Therefore, clinicians should remember that the patients with highly suspicious carcinoma of the lung should undergo further precise examinations to find out malignant cells.
Abscess ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Carcinoma, Bronchogenic ; Carcinoma, Large Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Humans ; Liver Abscess ; Lung ; Lung Abscess ; Lung Neoplasms ; Necrosis