Background/Aims: We evaluated nailfold capillaroscopy (NFC) of interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features (IPAF) and compared it with that of patients with connective tissue disease-interstitial lung disease (CTD-ILD) and idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP). Methods: Patients with newly diagnosed as ILD were evaluated using NFC. Baseline demographic, clinical, serological, and high-resolution CT findings were collected. NFC was semi-quantitatively scored with six domains ranging from 0 to 18. In addition, the overall patterns (sclerodermaon-scleroderma patterns) were determined. Results: A total of 81 patients (31 with CTD-ILD, 18 with IPAF, and 32 with IIP) were included. The non-specific interstitial pneumonia pattern was the most common ILD pattern in the CTD-ILD and IPAF groups, whereas the usual interstitial pneumonia pattern was the most common in the IIP group. The semi-quantitative score of the CTD-ILD group was higher than that of the IPAF or IIP groups (5.8 vs 4.2 vs 3.0, p < 0.001, respectively). Giant capillaries and haemorrhages were more frequently present in the CTD-ILD and IPAF groups than in the IIP group. A scleroderma pattern was present in 27.8% of the IPAF group, whereas none of the IIP patients showed a scleroderma pattern. Conclusions NFC findings may be useful in classifying patients with ILD into CTD-ILD/IPAF/IIP.

No abstract available.
Tooth Movement Techniques ; Orthodontic Appliance Design ; Malocclusion, Angle Class II ; Orthodontic Appliances

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Corn silk (CS) extract contains large amounts of maysin, which is a major flavonoid in CS. However, studies regarding the effect of CS extract on cholesterol metabolism is limited. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the effect of CS extract on cholesterol metabolism in C57BL/6J mouse fed high-fat diets. MATERIALS/METHODS: Normal-fat group fed 7% fat diet, high-fat (HF) group fed 25% fat diet, and high-fat with corn silk (HFCS) group were orally administered CS extract (100 mg/kg body weight) daily. Serum and hepatic levels of total lipids, triglycerides, and total cholesterol as well as serum free fatty acid, glucose, and insulin levels were determined. The mRNA expression levels of acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT), cholesterol 7-alpha hydroxylase (CYP7A1), farnesoid X receptor (FXR), lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT), low-density lipoprotein receptor, 3-hyroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA reductase), adiponectin, leptin, and tumor necrosis factor α were determined. RESULTS: Oral administration of CS extract with HF improved serum glucose and insulin levels as well as attenuated HF-induced fatty liver. CS extracts significantly elevated mRNA expression levels of adipocytokines and reduced mRNA expression levels of HMG-CoA reductase, ACAT, and FXR. The mRNA expression levels of CYP7A1 and LCAT between the HF group and HFCS group were not statistically different. CONCLUSIONS: CS extract supplementation with a high-fat diet improves levels of adipocytokine secretion and glucose homeostasis. CS extract is also effective in decreasing the regulatory pool of hepatic cholesterol, in line with decreased blood and hepatic levels of cholesterol though modulation of mRNA expression levels of HMG-CoA reductase, ACAT, and FXR.
Adipokines ; Adiponectin ; Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Blood Glucose ; Cholesterol* ; Diet ; Diet, High-Fat* ; Fatty Liver ; Glucose ; Homeostasis ; Insulin ; Leptin ; Metabolism* ; Mice* ; Oxidoreductases ; Phosphatidylcholine-Sterol O-Acyltransferase ; Receptors, Lipoprotein ; RNA, Messenger ; Silk* ; Sterol O-Acyltransferase ; Triglycerides ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Zea mays*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Left atrial (LA) fibrosis is a main determinant of LA remodeling and development of atrial fibrillation. However, non-invasive prediction of LA fibrosis is challenging. We investigated whether preoperative LA strain as measured by speckle tracking echocardiography could predict the degree of LA fibrosis and LA reverse remodeling after mitral valve (MV) surgery. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Speckle tracking echocardiography and LA volume measurements were performed in 50 patients one day before MV surgery. LA tissues were obtained during the surgery, and the degrees of their interstitial fibroses were measured. LA volume measurements were repeated within 30 days after surgery (n=50) and 1-year later (n=39). RESULTS: Left atrial global strain was significantly correlated with the degree of LA fibrosis (r=-0.55, p<0.001), and its correlation was independent of age, underlying rhythm, presence of rheumatic heart disease and type of predominant MV disease (B=-1.37, 95% confidence interval -2.32 - -0.41, p=0.006). The degree of LA fibrosis was significantly correlated with early (r=-0.337, p=0.017) and 1-year (r=-0.477, p=0.002) percent LA volume reduction after MV surgery, but LA global strain was not significant. CONCLUSION: Left atrial strain as measured by speckle tracking echocardiography might be helpful for predicting the degree of LA fibrosis in patients with MV disease.
Atrial Fibrillation ; Echocardiography ; Fibrosis ; Heart Atria ; Humans ; Mitral Valve ; Rheumatic Heart Disease ; Sprains and Strains ; Track and Field

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to understand the meaning of mind control as it is understood by elderly persons in Korea. METHOD: This study was conducted by engaging three elderly persons who are over the age of sixty five and presently residing in Seoul. Several in depth interviews were conducted with these individuals from March 2003 until November 2003. The contents of the interviews were analyzed using the Giorgi Method (1985), which places the emphasis on discovering meaning within the phenomenological context of an individual's experience. RESULTS: The analysis of the contents revealed the following four components with regard to the meaning of mind control for elderly persons (1) Settling the mind (2) Gradual lowering of expectations and hope for the success of offspring, (3) Having good thoughts and acting accordingly, and (4) Making up one's mind to follow the 'natural flow of life'. CONCLUSION: By allowing a wider and deeper understanding of the meaning of mind control for elderly persons the results of this study provide a basis for improving the care of elderly with a holistic perspective.
Aged* ; Hope ; Humans ; Korea* ; Life Change Events ; Seoul

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: About 25% of the patients with non-ischemic left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction will improve spontaneously. However, little has been known about the fate of the patients stricken with heart failure after recovery from LV dysfunction. We hypothesized that the patients who recovered from non-ischemic LV dysfunction have a substantial risk for recurrent heart failure. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Fifty patients (32 males, mean age: 54.9+/-12.4 years) who recovered from systolic heart failure (LV ejection fraction; an EF of 28.8+/-7.2% at the initial presentation) to near-normal (LVEF > 40% and a 10% or more increase in the absolute value) were monitored for the recurrence of heart failure. Patients with significant coronary artery disease were excluded. The etiologies of heart failure were idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (n=39), alcoholic cardiomyopathy (n=7), adriamycin-induced cardiomyopathy (n=2), and tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy (n=2). After recovery of LV dysfunction, the patients were followed up for a mean of 41.0+/-26.3 months. RESULTS: In 9 patients (18%), the LV systolic dysfunction recurred during follow-up (LVEF 32.6+/-7.3%). There was no significant difference in the baseline clinical and echocardiographic variables between the patients with and without recurrent heart failure. However, cessation of anti-heart failure medication was more frequently observed in the patients with recurrent LV systolic dysfunction (55.6% vs 4.9%, respectively, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Recurrent heart failure may ensue in the patients with reversible non-ischemic LV systolic dysfunction. The maintenance of anti-heart failure medication in these patients may be a significant influencing factor for their clinical prognosis.
Cardiomyopathies ; Cardiomyopathy, Alcoholic ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Echocardiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Failure ; Heart Failure, Systolic ; Humans ; Male ; Prognosis ; Recurrence