BACKGROUND: The proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cell(VSMC) is a part of the major pathogenic mechanism for atheroscle- rosis. It has been reported that L-type calcium channel plays a role in the VSMC proliferation in diabetic rats. But there is a little study results about the association between L-type calcium channel and VSMC proliferation by glucose concentrations in culture media. So we examined the association between voltage-dependent L-type calcium channel of VSMCs and the proliferative activity of vascular smooth muscle cells. METHODS: Rat aortic VSMCs were isolated from the aorta of OLETF rat by enzyme method. VSMCs were cultured in various concentrations of glucose(5.5, 25 mM). The VSMCs(1x104 cells in 24-well plates) were incubated in the presence of Bay K 8644 (10-6M) with/without verapamil(10-6M) for 48 hours. Then the proliferation was assessed by MTT(methylthiazole tetrazolium) assay and expression of L-type calcium channel mRNA was measured by RT-PCR. RESULTS: The proliferative ability and the expression of L-type calcium channel of cultured VSMCs were increased dose-dependently by the glucose concentrations(p<0.05). Bay K 8644 enhanced the proliferation of VSMC and verapamil blocked the incremental effects induced by Bay K 8644. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that L-type calcium channel may play a role in VSMC proliferation of OLETF rat.
3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-, Methyl ester ; Animals ; Aorta ; Calcium Channels, L-Type* ; Cell Proliferation* ; Culture Media ; Glucose* ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular* ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred OLETF* ; RNA, Messenger* ; Verapamil

PURPOSE: To compare standard laparoscopy-assisted Billroth I gastrectomies including standard lymph node dissection (LABIG) with hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery with the HandPort system (HALS) for the removal of early gastric cancers (EGC). METHODS: A prospective study was performed on 26 patients of EGC at Ewha Womans University Mok-Dong Hospital from July 1999 to August 2001. Seventeen patients (Group L) received LABIG using conventional laparoscopy-assisted methods and 9 patients received LABIG using HALS (Group H). We used staplers for the anastomosis, and a standard D2 lymph node dissection was done with ultrasonic shears or electrocautery. RESULTS: In group L, pathologic reports revealed 14 EGC (stage IA 14 cases), and 3 pm cancers (stage IB 1 case, II 2 cases). In group H, there were 9 early gastric cancers (stage IA 8 cases, IB 1 case). Significant differences (P<0.05) were present between group L and H in regards to the number of harvested lymph nodes (30.8 vs 18.9), estimated blood loss (462.1 vs 286.7 ml) and postoperative transfusion amounts (0.59 vs 0 unit). There were no differences in the mean operating time, distance from the lesion to the resection margin, postoperative leukocyte count, frequencies for pain control, wound size, time to diet, weight loss, serum protein, and postoperative hospital stay. Complications were present in 1 case in group L (enterocutaneous fistula) and 1 case in group H (gastric atony). There was one conversion to open surgery in group H. CONCLUSION: LABIG including standard lymph node dissections with both standard laparoscopic surgery and HALS were performed with equal outcome. The choice of surgical method depends on the characteristics of the lesion and the patient's physical factors.
Conversion to Open Surgery ; Diet, Reducing ; Electrocoagulation ; Female ; Gastrectomy* ; Gastroenterostomy* ; Hand-Assisted Laparoscopy* ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Length of Stay ; Leukocyte Count ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; Prospective Studies* ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Ultrasonics ; Wounds and Injuries

No abstract available.
Dermatitis* ; Streptococcus pyogenes

The connective tissue nevus represents a hamartoma of various components of dermal connective tissue elements, predominantly collagen, elastin, or glycosa minoglycan. Zosterriform connective tissue nevus, described by Steiner, in 1944, clinically shows grouped papules in a zosteriform band without extracutaneous manifestations of family history, and peculiar histopathologic findings. We experienced 3 cases of typical zosteriforrn connective tissue nevus developed on the flank area of 30-year-old male and 21-year-old male, and on the inguinal area of 15-year-old female.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Collagen ; Connective Tissue* ; Elastin ; Female ; Hamartoma ; Humans ; Male ; Nevus* ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationship between job stress and the variables associated with the organizational effectiveness of dental technicians. METHODS: The job stresses were divided into the following six components; somatization, obsessive-compulsive, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, and hostility. The organi-zational effectiveness variables in this study included job satisfaction, occupational commitment, organizational commitment and intent to leave. The sample used in this study consisted of 248 dental technicians working in hospitals and dental laboratories. The data were collected with self-administered questionnaires between March 16 and April 29 in 2002, and the results analyzed with ANOVA and multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: Firstly, job stress of dental technicians was found to be significantly different in relation to the number of workers at the workplace and the working hours. The level of job stress was the highest when the number of workers were more than 10, or when the daily working hours were over 12. Secondly, of the six variables of job stress, five variables of somatization, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, and hostility were found to have significant negative correlations with job satisfaction. Thirdly, all six job stress variables were found to have significant negative correlations with the occupational and organizational commitments of the dental technicians. Finally, depression was the only job stress variable found to have a significant effect on the dental technicians' intent to leave. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that personal and organizational efforts are very important to improve the organizational effectiveness in reducing work related stress. Organizational support, especially for managing the depression of dental technicians is recommended.
Anxiety ; Dental Technicians* ; Depression ; Hostility ; Humans ; Job Satisfaction ; Laboratories, Dental ; Questionnaires

No abstract available.
Lymphangioleiomyomatosis* ; Tuberous Sclerosis*

Juvenile xanthogranuloma(JXG) is a a benign histiocytic proliferative disorder most frequently seen in infants. The usual course is self-limited, but it may be a manifestation of juvenile chronic myeloid leukemia(JCML). In addition to JXG, some patient with JCML may have multiple cafe-au-lait spots and a family history of neurofibromatosis(NF). The association of JXG and cafe-au-lait spots in patients with JCML is of interest in light of description of otherwise healthy children with JXG who also had cafe-au-lait spots. We report herein a case of JXG in 18-month-old boy who also had multiple cafe-au-alit spots, which predated the JCML.
Cafe-au-Lait Spots ; Child ; Humans ; Infant ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive* ; Male ; Neurofibromatoses* ; Xanthogranuloma, Juvenile*

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Ixodes* ; Tick Bites* ; Ticks*

We analyzed 177 diabetic patients(80 males, 97 females) with the nerve con duction study (NCS) performed twice or more at the interval of more than one year in Severance Hospital from Jan 1, 1984 through Dec 31, 1994. We conclude as follows: 1)The NCS follow-ups showed that diabetic polyneuropathy was getting worsened electrophysiologically as time goes by. 2)The NCS revealed that the earlier change was noticed on the distal portion of sensory nerve fiber, though diabetes was known to cause a damage to both sensory and motor nerve fibes. 3)Considering that the NCS follow-ups revealed earlier and more marked changes in amplitude than in nerve conduction velocity, axonal degeneration seems to be more responsible for the pathogenesis of diabetic polyneuropathy rather than segmental demyelination.
Axons ; Demyelinating Diseases ; Diabetic Neuropathies ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Male ; Nerve Fibers ; Neural Conduction*