Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), a dipeptidyl carboxypeptidase, hydrolyzes angiotensin I to the active angiotensin g and also inactivates bradykinin. Activity of ACE was first identified in plasrna by Skeggs et al in 1956. In 1975 Lieberman first reported elevation of serum ACE level in patients with active sarcoidosis and suggested clinical application of the assay to confirm a diagnosis of sarcoidosis and to serve as a guide for therapy. The author studied the serurn ACE levels in 21 syphilitic patients (11 men, 10 women) who showed positive responses in both VDRL and TPHA tests and 20 normal healthy controls (7 men, 13 women) by the spectrophotometric method described by Lieberrnan who modified Cushman and Cheungs method. Comparative studies of ACE levels in syphilitic group with normal control group and relationship among the age, sex and treatment were also conducted. The results were summarized as follows : Ages of the syphilitic patients and normal healthy control group ranged from 18 to 51 years (27 1+-8 98 years) and from 14 to 49 years (28 4+9 08 years) respectively. The mean serum ACE level in syphilitic patients was ll 33+-3 25 p/ml, which was significantly higher than that of normal healthy control group, 6 39+-2 RR p/ml, (p<0001) Of the 21 syphilitic patients, 15(71 4%) had ACE activity higher than the upper limit of normal (mean+1SD). There was no significant correlation between age and serum ACE level. -countinue-
Angiotensin I ; Angiotensins* ; Bradykinin ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Male ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A* ; Sarcoidosis ; Syphilis*

Pityriasis rotunda is characterized by perfectly circular to oval brownish scaly patch on the trunk and extremities. This disease is considered to be a form of acquired ichtkyosis of unknown etiology and develops usually in association with certain systemic diseases, such as tuberculosis, malignant neoplasrn, leprosy, ovarian cyst and uterine myoma etc, We experienced 2 cases of pityriasis rotunda on the abdomen, chest and back associated with liver cirrhosis in 66 year old man 43 year old woman and clinical presentation was made with review of related literatures.
Abdomen ; Adult ; Aged ; Extremities ; Female ; Humans ; Leiomyoma ; Leprosy ; Liver Cirrhosis* ; Liver* ; Ovarian Cysts ; Pityriasis* ; Thorax ; Tuberculosis

Normal human B cells produce autocrine growth factor in response to Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I strain (SAC). However, the functional role and molecular nature of the B cell derived-B cell growth factor (B-BCGF) are largely unknown. We have tried to investigate the nature of B-BCGF using mAb for several years. We report here that B- BCGF is capable of binding to hemoglobin (Hb). The concentrated culture supernatant from tonsillar B cells stimulated with SAC for 24 h was loaded into the fast protein liquid chromatography and ion-exchange chromatography. The peak with BCGF activity was shown to have a M.W. of 16-18 Kda in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by silver stain. Amino acid sequence of the fraction was found to identical to human hemoglobin (Hb) by more than 85%. However, Hb itself had no BCGF activity. The presence of Hb in culture supernatant was due to the contamination of SRBC during B cell purification. SRSC were completely removed from B cells by percoll-gradient centrifugation and B cells were stimulated with SAC and exogenous Hb was added to the cultures. The Hb fraction from FPLC again showed a BCGF activity. These data strongly suggested that BCGF binds to Hb. We confirmed this in dot blot as well as Western blot. The M.W of Hb-binding BCGF was 20 Kda. This information may provide a rapid progress in research of BCGF.
Amino Acid Sequence ; B-Lymphocytes ; Blotting, Western ; Centrifugation ; Chromatography, Ion Exchange ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Humans ; Silver ; Staphylococcus aureus

As a decompression means, the fasciotomy has been of good evaluation in many diseases such as impending V.I.C., ischemic myositis due to CO poisoning, snake bite, burn, anterior tibial compartment syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome and gas gangrene, etc. From 1966 to 1973, 7 cases of snake bites and 5 cases of the ischemic myositis due to CO poisoning were treated at the Orthopedic Department of Seoul National University Hospital and the results were as follows; 1. All cases of the snake bites had got good results without any complication after the fasciotomy, while the fasciotomy performed in the ischemic myositis due to CO poisoning were not effective. 2. The time elapsed from the snake bite to the fasciotomy had a close relation to the prognosis. 3. In the 4 of 5 cases of the ischemic myositis due to CO poisoning, infections were superimposed on the fasciotomy sites. 4. The inappropriately continuous use of the tourniquet for hours after the snake bites caused worse prognosis.
Burns ; Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ; Compartment Syndromes ; Decompression ; Extremities ; Gas Gangrene ; Myositis ; Orthopedics ; Poisoning ; Prognosis ; Seoul ; Snake Bites ; Tourniquets

No abstract available.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Mammography*

Monilethrix is a rare familiar disorder of unknown cause, occurring in either sex, and ueually confined to the scalp. In most cases it is manifested in early childhood. lt is characterized by localized or widespread dystrophy of hair and follicles, the shafts showing regular variations in diameter producing alternate "nodes" and "internodes" which confer a striking beaded or moniliform appearance on the hair. We experienced a case of monilethrix, which was associated with keratosis pilaris and occurred in three generations. The patient's one sibling, mother, 4 uncles and 2 aunts of mother side and grandmother with her sister were all affected with a similar diaorder of hair.
Family Characteristics ; Hair ; Humans ; Keratosis ; Monilethrix* ; Mothers ; Scalp ; Siblings ; Strikes, Employee

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Many studies have shown that coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery prolongs the life of patients with left main coronary artery disease (LMCD). Recently, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been applied to treat LMCD, with good clinical results. However, a significant portion of patients decline any revascularization therapy, so receive medical treatment only. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long term clinical outcome in these patients with LMCD, according to the treatment strategies. SUBJECTS AND MEHTODS: The clinical outcomes of 281 consecutive patients, with significant LMCD, between January 1997 and December 2000, were evaluated. The patients were divided into three groups, according to their initial treatment strategies;1) CABG, 2) PCI and 3) medical treatment. The mean follow-up duration was 37.4+/-14.9 months. RESULTS: The 1- and 3-year survival rates in the CABG group (97.4+/-1.5% and 95.6+/-1.9%) were significantly higher than those of the medical group (89.8+/-3.9% and 76.1+/-5.9%;p=0.03). The survival rates in the PCI group (one year and 3-year survival rate, 98.1+/-1.3% and 93.8+/-2.5%) were similar to those of the CABG group (p=0.93). The incidence of 3-year MACE in the medical group (40.7%) was higher than those of the CABG (10.5%, p<0.001) and PCI groups (20.4%, p=0.007). There was no significant difference between the CABG and PCI groups (p=0.06). CONCLUSION: In patients with LMCD, a CABG remains the standard therapy for prolonging survival and lowering the incidence of MACE. PCI offers similar survival benefits in selected patients. Medical treatment is associated with a significantly higher mortality and MACE. Active revascularization therapy should be the treatment of choice for the patients with LMCD.
Angioplasty ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Disease* ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mortality ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Survival Rate ; Transplants

Primary hemangiopericytoma of chest wall is very rate and only a few cases have ever been reported. The tumor aries from the capillary pericyte of Zimmerman. It is a highly vascular slow growing tumor which can be calssified as both malignant and benign varieties. We report a case of a 66 year-old man in whom recurrent hemangiopericytoma was treated by complete surgical excision. In October 1993 he had received surgical excision of hemangiopericytoma on posterior chest wall. For more than 6 years after the operation he was in good condition until a recurrent mass was found on the chest X-ray. The patient was discharged 9 days after the operation and is receiving radiotherapy.
Aged ; Capillaries ; Hemangiopericytoma* ; Humans ; Pericytes ; Radiotherapy ; Thoracic Wall* ; Thorax*

At twenty two year old female with nevus comedonicus and an increased tendency to form keloids is described. Although example of successful treatment of nevus comedonicus are readily found in the literature none propose reasonable therapeutic models for keloid formers. As our patient clearly demonstrated this tendency. We initated a t,rial with the carbon dioxide laser due to it's ability to cause less thermal damage. Subsequent to completion of this t,rial, the lesion has imprcived with the acceptable cosmetic results and less comedogenic activity.
Carbon Dioxide* ; Carbon* ; Female ; Humans ; Keloid ; Lasers, Gas* ; Nevus*

No abstract available.
Pregnancy, Heterotopic*