BACKGROUND: Proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMC) is a critical event in the development of atherosclerosis. Endothelin-1(ET-1), a vasoconstrictor peptide produced by endothelial cells and VSMC, might play a role in vascular remodeling. To investigate the proposed 'mitogenic' potential of ET-1, we examined the effects of ET-1 on the proliferation if cultured porcine aortic VSMC and on the potential synergism with platelet-derived growth factor(PDGF). MATERIALS AND METHODS: VSMC were obtained from porcine aorta and cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium supplmented with 10% fetal bovine serum(FBS). VSMC grown subconfluently in 12-well plate were stimulated by ET-1, PDGF, and ET-1 & PDGF and DNA synthesis was determined as the uptake of 3H-thymidine into cell cultures. We also examined the effects of BQ123, a selective ETA receptor antagonist, and NG-methyl-L-arginine(NMLA), a nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor. RESULTS: ET-1 elicited a 2.5-fold increase of cultured VSMC DNA synthesis, comparing with basal medium, and PDGF elicited a 4.8-fold increase, whereas ET-1 and PDGF elicited a 8.8-fold increase, showing synergistic effect. Proliferative activity of ET-1 on VSMC was blocked(39%) by BQ123, however, the synergistic effect of ET-1 and PDGF was not blocked by BQ123. The synergistic effect of ET-1 and PDGF was increased when co-stimulated with NMLA. CONCLUSION: ET-1 is a co-mitogen for VSMC from porcine aorta, whose proliferative activity requires serum or other growth factors such as PDGF for its maximal activity. The proliferative activity of ET-1 is considered to be transduced partly by selective activation of the ETA receptor, however, the synergistic effect of of ET-1 and PDGF is to be stimulated by non-ETA receptor.
Aorta ; Atherosclerosis ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Proliferation* ; DNA ; Eagles ; Endothelial Cells ; Endothelin-1* ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular* ; Nitric Oxide Synthase

Survival after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is related to the number of diseased vessel, ejection fraction, extent of residual ischemic tissue, presence of ventricular arrhythmia. Because a variety of revascularization modalities are tried in recent years, the natural course after AMI seems to become difficult ot assess. From the experience of 129 cases of coronary angiography in AMI from Jan 1984 to Apr 1987, the factors related to invasive modality were analysed to evaluate the effect on the survival after AMI. The following results are obtained. 1) Single vessel disease and insignificant lesion were present in 60%, and multivessel disease comprised 40% in all group. 2) Patients were followed for a mean of 16.3 months and 2 cases(1.6%) expired suddenly and reinfarction developed in 6 cases(4.7%). 3) After exclusion of 4 cases taken CABG operation, the event free survival of all patients was 0.98, 0.90, 0.78, 0.78, 0.78 in double vessel disease, 0.94, 0.87, 0.87, 0.77, 0.51 in triple vessel disease. The survival was better in single vessel disease compared to multivessel disease (p<0.05), but no difference was present between double and triple vessel disease. 5) Event free survival in group with left ventricular end diastolic pressure(LVEDP) >16mm Hg was better than that of a group with LVEDP <16mm Hg. But no difference was present between group with ejection fraction <40% and group with ejection fraction >40%. From the above results, it can be concluded that the event free survival after mainly uncomplicated AMI in Koreans depends on the number of diseased vessel and LVEDP.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Coronary Angiography ; Disease-Free Survival* ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction*

A relatively rare and puzzling tumor of the testicular tunic is reported. The tumor, so called a fibrous pseudotumor of testicular tunics, in presented because of the clinical dilemma this rare entity causes urologists and pathologists. This report demonstrates the necessity for familiarity with testicular pseudotumors in order to avoid an unnecessary orchiectomy.
Orchiectomy ; Recognition (Psychology)

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Embryonic Structures* ; Humans* ; Somites*

No abstract available.
Urinary Incontinence*

No abstract available.
Adenocarcinoma*

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to evaluate the practicality and the validity of different surface treatments of self-drilling orthodontic mini-implants (OMIs) by comparing bone cutting capacity and osseointegration. METHODS: Self-drilling OMIs were surface-treated in three ways: Acid etched (Etched), resorbable blasting media (RBM), partially resorbabla balsting media (Hybrid). We compared the bone cutting capacity by measuring insertion depths into artificial bone (polyurethane foam). To compare osseointegration, OMIs were placed in the tibia of 25 rabbits and the removal torque value was measured at 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks after placement. The specimens were analyzed by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). RESULTS: The bone cutting capacity of the etched and hybrid group was lower than the machined (control) group, and was most inhibited in the RBM group (p < 0.05). At 4 weeks, the removal torque in the machined group was significantly decreased (p < 0.05), but was increased in the etched group (p < 0.05). In the hybrid group, the removal torque significantly increased at 2 weeks, and was the highest among all measured values at 8 weeks (p < 0.05). The infiltration of bone-like tissue surface was evaluated by SEM, and calcium and phosphorus were detected via EDS only in the hybrid group. CONCLUSIONS: Partial RBM surface treatment (hybrid type in this study) produced the most stable self-drilling OMIs, without a corresponding reduction in bone cutting capacity.
Calcium ; Microscopy ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Osseointegration* ; Phosphorus ; Rabbits ; Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission ; Tibia ; Torque

PURPOSE: To determine the metabolic characteristics of recurrent stone formers (RSF), we investigated urinary lithogenic factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The 24-hour urine samples of 151 RSF (114 men, 37 women) and 70 normal controls (33 men, 37 women) were analyzed for excretion rate differences of lithogenic and inhibitory constituents such as volume, sodium, phosphorus, uric acid, calcium, magnesium, oxalate, and citrate. The incidence and spectrum of metabolic abnomality in REF were aldo determined. RESULTS: The RSF showed significantly increased excretion of phosphorus (p=0.004), uric acid (p=0.003), and calcium (p=0.007) and decreased in that of citrate (p=0.044). No significant differences were found between the RSF and normal controls with regard to the excretions of sodium, magnesium, oxalate, and volume. The most frequent metabolic abnormality in RSF was hypocitraturia (43.7%), followed by hypernatriuria (41.7%), hypercalciuria (23.2%), and hyperuricosuria (20.5%). At least one metabolic abnormality was found in 118 of out of 151 RSF (78.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that RSF had different urinary excretions of citrate as well as phophorus, uric acid, and calcium compared to the normal subjects and metabolic abnomalities were found up to 80% of them. The 24-hour urine study would be an effective means for metabolic evaluation in RSF although diagnostic accuracy increases with repeated examination.
Calcium ; Citric Acid ; Humans ; Hypercalciuria ; Incidence ; Magnesium ; Male ; Phosphorus ; Sodium ; Uric Acid ; Urolithiasis

No abstract available.