PURPOSE: The smooth muscle myosin heavy chain (SMMHC) isoform composition has been actively researched in a partial bladder obstruction (PBO) or spinal cord injury (SCI) model. Even though rat is an ideal animal for studying bladder physiology, there were very few reports about the changes of the SMMHC isoforms in the PBO or SCI injured bladder of rat. We developed two polymerrase chain reaction (PCR) primer sets to amplify the isoforms and we applied the primers to the PBO and SCI rat models. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Female rats had their bladder necks surgically obstructed or they were subjected to spinal cord injury. Six weeks after the event, the bladders were excised. The expression of the C-terminal (SM1 and SM2) and N-terminal (SM-A and SM-B) isoforms of SMMHC was analyzed by performing reverse transcriptase-PCR (RT-PCR). RESULTS: The control bladder showed only the SM-B isoform in the C-terminal. However, the bladder after SCI showed an increased SM-A to SM-B ratio. In case of PBO, the ratios were variable. A decreased SM1 expression was noted in the PBO and SCI groups when compared to the control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our female rat models for PBO or SCI demonstrates changes in the expression of smooth muscle myosin heavy chain isoforms. We will apply this primer set for studying of rat muscular physiology in PBO or SCI model.
Animals ; Female ; Humans ; Models, Animal ; Muscle, Smooth* ; Myosin Heavy Chains* ; Myosins* ; Neck ; Physiology ; Protein Isoforms ; Rats* ; RNA, Messenger* ; Spinal Cord Injuries* ; Spinal Cord* ; Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction ; Urinary Bladder*

Purpose: The importance of laboratory screening tests for female commercial sex workers (FCSWs) has been well documented to reduce the prevalence of chlamydial complications. A rapid test has been one of the standard chlamydial tests performed in Korean health centers. Although the process of the rapid test is simple, the sensitivity is inconsistent. Therefore, we evaluated the efficacy of QuickVue chlamydial detection kits, which is one of the rapid tests, by comparing this assay to an in-house polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Materials and Methods: A total of 410 endo-cervical samples were consecutively collected in one health center. A rapid test was performed by using a QuickVue kit. Genomic DNA was extracted from cotton swabs. The cryptic plasmid of C. trachomatis from the genomic DNA was amplified by the PCR method. Results: The overall sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the rapid test were 21%, 99%, 89% and 83%, respectively, based on the PCR results. Study of the serial dilutions of reference inclusion forming units (IFU) showed that the rapid test only detected chlamydial infections that had high counts of IFUs. Conclusions: The rapid test is not good enough to detect chlamydial infection in FCSWs. Instead, a gene amplification test should be used for detecting chlamydial infections in FCSWs.
Chlamydia trachomatis* ; Chlamydia* ; DNA ; Female* ; Genes, vif ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Plasmids ; Point-of-Care Systems ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sex Workers*

Even though uroplakins (UPs) are believed to serve a strong protective barrier against toxic materials, cyclophosphamide (CP) causes extensive cystitis. We investigated the expression of UPs in the urothelium in CP induced mouse cystitis. A total of 27 ICR female mice received a single intraperitoneal injection of 200 mg CP/kg. Nine CP-treated mice and 6 controls were sequentially killed at 12, 24, and 72 hr post injection. Extensive cystitis and an increased vesical weight were seen. These all peaked within 12 hr post injection and they tended to decrease thereafter. The level of all the UPs mRNA, the protein expressions of UP II and III on immunoblotting study, and the expression of UP III on immunolocalization study were maximally suppressed within 12 hr; this partially recovered at 24 hr, and this completely recovered at 72 hr post CP injection. In conclusion, CP reduced the expression of UPs. The reduction of the UPs mRNA and protein was time dependent, and this peaked within 12 hr after CP injection. However, the damage was rapidly repaired within 24 hr. This study demonstrates a dynamic process, an extensive reduction and rapid recovery, for the UPs expression of the mouse urinary bladder after CP injection.
Animals ; Cyclophosphamide/*toxicity ; Cystitis/chemically induced/*metabolism/pathology ; Female ; Immunosuppressive Agents/*toxicity ; Membrane Glycoproteins/*metabolism ; Membrane Proteins/*metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism ; Time Factors ; Urinary Bladder/*metabolism

We report a case of a cardiac lipoma arising from the free wall of right atrium, which was diagnosed as the presumed source of angina by compressing the right coronary artery in a 54-year-old woman. Surgical excision of the tumor was performed well. She continues to do well for six months without angina.
Coronary Vessels ; Female ; Heart Atria ; Humans ; Lipoma ; Middle Aged

We describe a 54-year-old woman with isolated pulmonary arterial hypertension accompanied by hyperthyroidism due to Graves' disease. Her pulmonary artery hypertension resolved spontaneously after restoration of euthyroidism. This case suggests that hyperthyroidism should be considered a reversible cause of pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Female ; Graves Disease ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; Hyperthyroidism ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Artery

No abstract available.

An exercise-induced idiopathic Brugada electrocardiographic pattern during the effort phase is very rare. A 42-year-old male visited our cardiology clinic for chest discomfort. He has been treated for myocardial infarction 2 months ago. He underwent a treadmill test according to the Bruce protocol. Typical coved-type ST-segment elevation was found during the effort phase, and it gradually recovered after the exercise. The ST-segment elevation appeared to be unrelated to hypervagotonia. This elevation was not induced by a pharmacological test with flecainide. A significant ventricular arrhythmia was not induced by programmed ventricular stimulation. Hence, we discharged the patient without implantation of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator.
Adult ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Cardiology ; Defibrillators ; Electrocardiography* ; Exercise Test ; Flecainide ; Humans ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; Thorax ; Vagus Nerve

After developing sudden severe chest pain, an 11-year-old boy presented to the emergency room with chest pain and palpitations and was unable to stand up. The sudden onset of chest pain was first reported while swimming at school about 30 minutes prior to presentation. Arterial blood pressure (BP) was 150/90 mmHg, heart rate was 120/minute, and the chest pain was combined with shortness of breath and diaphoresis. During the evaluation in the emergency room, the chest pain worsened and abdominal pain developed. An aortic dissection was suspected and a chest and abdomen CT was obtained. The diagnosis of aortic dissection type B was established by CT imaging. The patient went to surgery immediately with BP control. He died prior to surgery due to aortic rupture. Here we present this rare case of aortic dissection type B with rupture, reported in an 11-year-old Korean child.
Abdomen ; Abdominal Pain ; Aorta ; Aortic Rupture ; Arterial Pressure ; Chest Pain ; Child ; Dyspnea ; Emergencies ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Rupture ; Swimming ; Thorax

PURPOSE: South Korea has a high prevalence of gallstones, the type of which could be influenced by changes in diet and socioeconomic status. Here we aimed to investigate the epidemiological characteristics and changing patterns of gallstones over the past 20 years in Korea. METHODS: A total of 5,808 patients who underwent cholecystectomy due to gallstones at Seoul National University Hospital between 1996 and 2015 were analyzed. Patients were divided into 4 subgroups: period 1 (1996–2000, n = 792), period 2 (2001–2005, n = 1,215), period 3 (2006–2010, n = 1,525), period 4 (2011–2015, n = 2,276). Gallstones were classified by type: pure cholesterol (PC), mixed cholesterol (MC), calcium bilirubinate (CB), black pigment (BP), and combination (COM). RESULTS: The female to male ratio was 1.16 with mean ages of 53.6 and 55.3 years old, respectively. The ratio of cholesterol stones to pigment stones was 0.96:1. The mean age and male to female ratio of the patients increased over time. The proportion of cholesterol vs pigment stone did not differ significantly. Proportions of PC and MC stone subtypes did not change notably, whereas proportion of BP stones increased (34.0% to 45.5%), and CB stones decreased (20.7% to 5.3%). CONCLUSION: Gallstone types and occurrences were affected by environmental changes, and pigment stones remained common in Korea. Although no distinct increase in cholesterol stones was noted, the proportion of CB stones decreased. As the mean age at gallstone presentation increases, BP stones could become more prevalent.
Bilirubin ; Cholecystectomy ; Cholecystolithiasis ; Cholelithiasis ; Cholesterol ; Classification ; Diet ; Female ; Gallstones ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Prevalence ; Seoul ; Social Class

Purpose: Quality of life (QoL) is widely known to be poor after total pancreatectomy (TP) due to the loss of pancreatic function and poor nutritional status, but prospective studies on changes in QoL over time are lacking. The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the short- and long-term consequences of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, changes in nutritional status, and their associated effects on QoL after TP. Methods: Prospective data were collected from patients who underwent TP between 2008 and 2018. Validated questionnaires (European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire [EORTC QLQ] Core 30, EORTC QLQ-pancreatic cancer module, and the Mini Nutritional Assessment), measured frequency of bowel movement, relative body weight (RBW), triceps skinfold thickness (TSFT), and serum levels of protein, albumin, transferrin, and hemoglobin A1c were collected serially for 1 year. Results: Thirty patients who underwent TP were eligible for the study. Bowel movement frequency increased over time, and the RBW and TSFT were lowest by 1 year. The global health status score showed no significant difference over time.At 3 months, physical and role function scores as well as symptoms of fatigue, constipation, and digestive difficulties worsened significantly. Most indices recovered after 1 year, but poorer physical function scores, digestive difficulties, and altered bowel habits persisted. Conclusion Because some symptoms do not recover over time, careful follow-up and supportive postoperative management are needed for TP patients, including nutritional support with pancreatic enzyme replacement and education about medication adherence and diet.