BACKGROUND:With the application of early reperfusion by thrombolysis after acute MI, the importance of nontransmural infarction is increasing. We evaluated 1) the changes of LV dimension, LV fibrosis and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) mRNA expression in a rat model of nontransmural infarction and 2) effects of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) and angiotensin II receptor blocker (ATRB) treatment after nontransmural infarction. METHOD AND RESULTS: Female Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to 45 minutes of coronary occlusion followed by reperfusion, and at 5 days after the operation, animals were randomized to untreated (MI-vehicle, n=19), captopril-treated (MI-captopril, n=15) and losartan-treated (MI-losartan, n=14) groups. LV dimension, measured by transthoracic echocardiography, was significantly increased at 26 days after MI, and both captopril and losartan treatment inhibited LV cavity dilatation (LV end-diastolic dimension (mm): MI-vehicle, MI-captopril, MI-losartan; 8.6 +/- 0.2, 7.8 +/- 0.2, 8.0 +/- 0.2, p<0.05 vs. MI-vehicle each). Interstitial fibrosis was reduced with both captopril and losartan treatment (p<0.05 vs. MI-vehicle). TGF-beta1 mRNA increased 2.6 fold at 10 days (p<0.05 vs. pre-MI), and normalized at 26 days after nontransmural MI. Captopril and losartan treatment blocked the induction of TGF-beta1 expression after nontransmural MI (p=S vs. pre-MI). CONCLUSION: After large nontransmural MI, ACEI and ATRB treatments attenuate LV remodeling and decrease interstitial fibrosis, at least partly by blocking the acute induction of TGF-beta1 mRNA expression.
Angiotensins* ; Animals ; Captopril ; Coronary Occlusion ; Dilatation ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Infarction ; Losartan ; Models, Animal ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Angiotensin ; Reperfusion ; RNA, Messenger ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Transforming Growth Factors ; Ventricular Remodeling*

Anthropometry ; Head ; Manikins

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to identify retrospectively the different computed tomography markers and sonography in a series of surgically and pathologically proven cases of tubo-ovarian abscesses in order to achieve correct preoperative diagnosis of this life-threatening condition. METHODS: A review of the medical and pathological records from the department of obstetrics and gynecology, Catholic University Medical College from January 1993 to January 2003 confirmed 79 patients with the diagnosis of tubo-ovarian abscess. Patient were divided into two groups. From this group 15 patients who underwent CT prior to therapy were identified, and the medical records, pathologic reports and CT of these patients were retrospectively reviewed and correlated. RESULTS: All 79 patients underwent operative surgery and were confirmed tubo-ovarian abscess. CT findings of tubo-ovarian abscess present in our patients were (a) a thick-walled fluid-density mass in an adnexal location, (b) septation or partial septation within the mass, (c) indistinct borders with the uterus and adjacent bowel loops, (d) anterior displacement of the mesosalpinx, indicating a probable adnexal origin, and (e) bilateral or unilateral hydronephrosis with hydroureter. CONCLUSION: Tubo-ovarian abscess must be considered in the differential diagnosis of cystic unilateral or bilateral pelvic masses identified on CT. CT usually plays a secondary role in the diagnosis of tubo-ovarian abscess but can be valuable in difficult cases. Lack of a typical clinical presentation should not dissuade the radiologist from suggesting this diagnosis; indeed, the atypical presentation may be the reason why the patient is being evaluated initially with CT rather than with ultrasound.
Abscess* ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Medical Records ; Obstetrics ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography ; Uterus

Four trials of external quality assessment in diagnostic hematology were performed in 2003 with about 430 participating laboratories in Korea. We performed quality assessment for white blood cell count, hemoglobin, red blood cell count, platelet count, white cell differential count, red blood cell morphology and coagulation test. The response rate was more than 95%. The performance of quality assessment appeared to be gradually improved year by year.
Equidae* ; Erythrocyte Count ; Erythrocytes ; Hematology* ; Korea* ; Leukocyte Count ; Platelet Count

Four trials of external quality assessment in diagnostic hematology were performed in 2007 with average 722 participating laboratories in Korea. We performed quality assessment for white blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cell count, platelet count, blood cell morphology, prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time. The response rate was more than 95.2%. The coefficients of variation in hemoglobin, hematocrit and RBC were stable but variable in platelet count and WBC count according to measuring cell counters. Test results of blood cell morphology showed variation among various cell morphologies.
Blood Cells ; Cell Count ; Erythrocyte Count ; Hematocrit ; Hematology ; Hemoglobins ; Korea ; Leukocyte Count ; Partial Thromboplastin Time ; Platelet Count ; Prothrombin Time

Four trials of external quality assessment in diagnostic hematology were performed in 2007 with average 722 participating laboratories in Korea. We performed quality assessment for white blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cell count, platelet count, blood cell morphology, prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time. The response rate was more than 95.2%. The coefficients of variation in hemoglobin, hematocrit and RBC were stable but variable in platelet count and WBC count according to measuring cell counters. Test results of blood cell morphology showed variation among various cell morphologies.
Blood Cells ; Cell Count ; Erythrocyte Count ; Hematocrit ; Hematology ; Hemoglobins ; Korea ; Leukocyte Count ; Partial Thromboplastin Time ; Platelet Count ; Prothrombin Time

Four trials of external quality assessment in diagnostic hematology were performed in 2004 with about 440 participating laboratories in Korea. We performed quality assessment for white blood cell count, hemoglobin, red blood cell count, platelet count, white cell differential count, red blood cell morphology and coagulation test. The response rate was more than 96%. The coefficients of variation in hemoglobin and RBC number was stable but variable in platelet number and WBC number according to measuring cell counts. Blood coagulation study was performed twice. Test results show wide variation according to measuring machine and reagents.
Blood Coagulation ; Cell Count ; Equidae* ; Erythrocyte Count ; Erythrocytes ; Hematology* ; Indicators and Reagents ; Korea* ; Leukocyte Count ; Platelet Count

Bilateral coronary arteriovenous fistula (CAVF), arising from both the right and left coronary arteries, are rare. We experienced a 44 years old male patient with bilateral CAVF, and coronary atherosclerosis, whose diagnosis was confirmed by coronary angiography. The hemodynamic result revealed minimal left-to-right shunt. Therefore, only percutaneous coronary artery intervention of the coronary artery stenosis was performed. Here, this rare case is reported, with a review of the literature.
Adult ; Arteriovenous Fistula* ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Stenosis ; Coronary Vessels ; Diagnosis ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Male

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent endothelial cell-specific mitogen. This study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that the neointima hyperplasia induced by a balloon injury is inhibited by blocking VEGF and VEGF receptor-1 (VEGFR-1) with anti-VEGF peptides. Materials and Methods: Anti-VEGF RRKRRR peptide (dRK6) and anti-VEGFR-1 peptide (anti-flt-1) were synthesized at Pohang University of Science and Technology, Korea. Male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 300-350 g, were subcutaneously injected 0.5 mg/kg of dRK6 or 0.5 mg/kg of anti-flt-1, dissolved in phosphate buffer solution, 2 days before induction of a carotid balloon-injury, and then daily in the same manner post carotid balloon injury for 2 weeks. RESULTS: Neointima formation was suppressed in both the dRK6 and anti-flt-1 groups compared to that in the untreated controls at 2 weeks post carotid balloon-injury (neointimal area; control group 0.44+/-0.09 mm2, dRK6 group 0.25+/-0.05 mm2, anti-flt-1 group 0.19+/-0.05 mm2, p<0.01). Anti-flt-1 peptide and dRK6 reduced the numbers of proliferative bromodeoxyuridine-labeled cells in the neointima (control group 16.4+/-10.6%, dRK6 group 3.7+/-2.1%, anti-flt-1 group 5.9+/-3.4%, p<0.05). In addition, an inflammatory response, as determined by monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and interleukin-6 upregulation, which was evident in the controls, was inhibited by both dRK6 and anti-flt-1. CONCLUSION: This study suggests anti-vascular endothelial growth factor peptides can reduce the inflammation and neointima formation in balloon injured rat carotid arteries.
Animals ; Carotid Arteries* ; Carotid Artery Injuries ; Chemokine CCL2 ; Endothelial Growth Factors* ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-6 ; Korea ; Male ; Neointima* ; Peptides* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Up-Regulation ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors

Four trials of external quality assessment in diagnostic hematology were performed in 2005 with about 500 participating laboratories in Korea. We performed quality assessment for white blood cell count, hemoglobin, red blood cell count, platelet count, white cell differential count, red blood cell morphology. The response rate was more than 97%. The coefficients of variation in hemoglobin and RBC number was stable but variable in platelet number and WBC number according to measuring cell counts. Test results showed wide variation according to measuring machine and reagents.
Cell Count ; Erythrocyte Count ; Erythrocytes ; Hematology* ; Indicators and Reagents ; Korea* ; Leukocyte Count ; Platelet Count