PURPOSE: Steatocystoma multiplex is a rare benign disease that occurred multiply on whole body surface. Many physicians have tried managing steatocystoma in variable methods. However it is hard to define the optimal way to cure steatocystoma. We performed both aspiration and excisional method to study the usefulness of both methods. METHODS: A 28-year-old woman has asymptomatic multiple subcutaneous nodules on whole body. Most lesions were aspirated with 26-guage needled 3cc syringe but large and purulent three nodules were excised. RESULTS: We diagnosed the lesion histologically as steatocystoma multiplex. Aspirated wound healed without scar, excised wound remained scar but esthetically acceptable. Axillary lesion contained so clustered type cysts that was difficult to aspirate whole cyst. Thus additional excisional method was needed. CONCLUSION: There are many practical methods to cure steatocystoma. However, there is no appropriate method to cure it. Therefore we should select different therapeutic method according to anatomical location and cyst size. Especially at subcutaneous fat-rich lesion like axilla and abdomen, it is better to excise the clustered cyst than to aspirate.
Abdomen ; Adult ; Axilla ; Cicatrix ; Female ; Humans ; Steatocystoma Multiplex ; Syringes

Chimerism in humans is a rare phenomenon often initially identified in the resolution of an ABO blood type discrepancy. We report a dispermic chimera who presented with mixed field in his B antigen typing that might have been mistaken for the B3 subtype. The propositus is a healthy Korean male blood donor. Neither his clinical history nor initial molecular investigation of his ABO gene explained his mixed field agglutination with murine anti-B. Chimerism was suspected, and 9 short tandem repeat (STR) loci were analyzed on DNA extracted from blood, buccal swabs, and hair from this donor and on DNA isolated from peripheral blood lymphocytes from his parents. The propositus' red blood cells demonstrated mixed field agglutination with anti-B. Exon 6 and 7 and flanking intronic regions of his ABO gene were sequenced and revealed an O01/O02 genotype. B allele haplotype-specific PCR, along with exon 6 and 7 cloning and sequencing demonstrated a third ABO allele, B101. Four STR loci demonstrated a pattern consistent with a double paternal chromosome contribution in the propositus, thus confirming chimerism. His karyotype revealed a mosaic pattern: 32/50 metaphases were 46,XY and 18/50 metaphases demonstrated 47,XYY.
ABO Blood-Group System ; Adult ; Alleles ; Blood Grouping and Crossmatching ; Chimera ; Chimerism ; Chromosome Disorders/*diagnosis/*genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Karyotyping ; Korea ; Male ; Phenotype ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *XYY Karyotype

BACKGROUND: There have been several studies aimed at determining the presence of the B(3) specific alleles in Korean B(3) blood donors. However, in these samples, only consensus exons 6 and 7 have been detected. Therefore, this study analyzed the complete exons (1~7) and flanking intronic region of the ABO gene sequence in B(3) donors. METHODS: A total of 12 B(3) blood donors collected at the Gwangju-Chonnam Red Cross Blood Center were identified using standard tube techniques. The genomic DNA was isolated from the peripheral blood and of exons 1~7 including flanking intronic regions were sequenced and an allele specific polymerase chain reaction (AS-PCR) was performed. RESULTS: Complete exon and flanking intronic analysis of the ABO alleles revealed the consensus B101 allele along with either the O01 or O02 allele in 11 out of the 12 donors. The remaining 1 donor had the Bw03/O01 genotype. CONCLUSION: No B(3) specific novel alleles were found in most Korean B(3) donors, and the genetic basis of B(3) blood group could not be explained.
Alleles ; Blood Donors* ; Consensus ; DNA ; Exons* ; Genotype ; Humans ; Introns* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Red Cross ; Tissue Donors

BACKGROUND: Several attempts have been made to expand human NK cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). This study examined the selective expansion of NK cells using interleukin 2 (IL-2) plus the K562 cell line, the expression of the NK cell receptors, and the cytotoxic activity. METHODS: The PBMCs from seven healthy volunteers were cultured in a medium containing the IL-2 plus the K562 cell line for 14 days. The expression of the activating and inhibitory receptors on the resting NK cells and the 72 hr-expanded NK cells were analyzed. A flow cytometric cytotoxic assay was used to determined the killing activity of the non-expanded NK cells and the 7 day-expanded NK cells against the K562 target cells. RESULTS: The NK cells from PBMCs expanded 4.5-fold after 7 days, and contained 56.5% CD3-CD56+ cells. The IL-2 or IL-2 plus K562 increased the expression levels of CD158b (MFI, mean florescence intensity), CD158e1/e2 (MFI), and NKp44 (MFI), while it decreased the expression levels of NKp30 (%), CD16 (MFI), and 2B4 (MFI). The non-expanded NK cells lysed 9.0% and 27.6% of the K562 target cells in the 1 : 1 and 5 : 1 effector and target ratio, respectively, and the 7-day expanded NK cells lysed 36.9% and 57.2% of the K562 target cells, respectively. CONCLUSION: The selective expansion of CD3-CD56+ NK cells occurred only during 7 days of culture. IL-2 or IL-2 plus the K562 cells altered the expression of various activating and inhibitory receptors of NK cells, and the cytotoxicity of the expanded NK cells was higher than in the non-expanded cells.
Cell Line* ; Healthy Volunteers ; Homicide ; Humans ; Interleukin-2* ; K562 Cells ; Killer Cells, Natural* ; Receptors, Natural Killer Cell

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Microalbuminuria is associated with increased cardiovascular risk factors and mortality. The aims of this study were to clarify the relationship between the spot urine albumin-creatinine ratio (ACR) and coronary artery stenosis on diagnostic coronary angiograms and to investigate its association with inflammatory markers. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: One hundred thirteen consecutive patients, who underwent a diagnostic coronary angiogram, between April 2004 and July 2004, were divided into two groups: group I (n=89, 58+/-1 2 years, 6 1 male, no microalbuminuria) and group II (n=24, 65+/-10 years, 14 male, microalbuminuria). Microalbuminuria was diagnosed when the ACR was between 30 and 300 mg/g.cr. RESULTS: The mean age was higher in group II than group I (58+/-1 2 vs. 65+/-1 0 years, p=0.013), and group II also showed higher levels of white blood cell (7.0+/-2.4 vs. 9.5+/-4.1 x 103/mm3, p=0.009), monocyte (0.4+/-0.2 vs. 0.5+/-0.2 x 103/mm3, p=0.039), homocysteine (8.8+/-3.5 vs. 10.8+/-4.1 micro mol/L, p=0.02) and fasting plasma glucose (126.1+/-33.6 vs. 183.7+/-75.3mg/dL, p=0.001), and more frequent higher value of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (>0.5mg/dL) (16.9 vs. 66.7%, p<0.001 ) compared with those of group I. There was a correlation between the ACR and all the inflammatory markers tested. Significant coronary lesions, requiring percutaneous coronary intervention, were more frequently detected in group II than in group I (50.6 vs. 75%, p=0.032). CONCLUSION: The ACR was associated with significant coronary artery disease and the inflammatory markers.
Albuminuria ; Angina Pectoris* ; Blood Glucose ; C-Reactive Protein ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Disease ; Coronary Stenosis* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Fasting ; Homocysteine ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Leukocytes ; Male ; Monocytes ; Mortality ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Risk Factors

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: There is serological and epidemiological evidence of an association between Chlamydia pneumoniae infection and coronary artery disease. We conducted a randomized study using azithromycin treatment in Korean patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to determine whether azithromycin treatment reduced the inflammatory markers and major adverse cardiac events (MACE). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: One hundred twenty nine patients were randomly selected to receive 500 mg azithromycin daily for 3 days before and after PCI, followed by 500 mg/week for 2 weeks (Group l: 64 patients, 43 male, 60.0+/-10.0 years), or they received a placebo (Group ll: 65 patients, 45 male, 59.6+/-10.1 years). Patients were followed up for 12 months. The primary endpoints were cardiac death, recurrent myocardial infarction (MI), target lesion revascularization (TLR) and Non-TLR during the 12-month follow-up. RESULTS: There were no differences between the two groups in baseline characteristics, coronary angiography finding, lesion characteristics, baseline inflammatory markers and baseline antibody titers of Chlamydia pneumoniae, Helicobacter pyroli and Mycoplasma. After the antibiotic treatment, ESR and CRP decreased from 19.6+/-20.7 mg/dL and 0.75+/-0.99 mg/dL to 9.36+/-10.5 mg/dL and 0.22+/-0.20 mg/dL in group l (p=0.002, 0.001 respectively), and from 19.6+/-21.5 mg/dL, 1.44+/-2.69 mg/dL to 10.4+/-10.8 mg/dL, 0.55+/-1.48 mg/dL in group ll (p=0.052, <0.0001 respectively). However, there were no significant changes in the serologic markers. MACE developed in 17 (26.6%) out of 64 patients in group l with 2 death, 2 MI and 13 TLR. In group ll, 14 (21.5%) out of 65 patients had MACE with 2 death, 1 MI and 10 TLR during the 12-month clinical follow-up (p=NS). CONCLUSION: Short-term treatment with azithromycin does not reduce the major adverse cardiac events in Korean patients with ACS after PCI.
Acute Coronary Syndrome* ; Azithromycin* ; Chlamydophila pneumoniae ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Disease ; Death ; Follow-Up Studies ; Helicobacter ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Male ; Mycoplasma ; Myocardial Infarction ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention* ; Secondary Prevention*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Increased QT dispersion (QTD) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) may be related with such adverse events as sudden cardiac death and ischemic heart failure. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Two hundred eight patients (age : 62+/-10.4 years, 158 males), underwent diagnostic coronary angiography under the diagnosis of AMI between January and December 2001 at the Heart Center of Chonnam National University Hospital, and these patients were enrolled to evaluate the relationship between the QTD and myocardial injury and the complex coronary arterial lesion. RESULTS: A QTD of over 80 ms was observed in 89 patients (42.7%). There were in 61 patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI, 68.5%) and 28 patients with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI, 31.5%). There was no correlation between the QTD and such risk factors as hypertension, diabetes, gender, smoking, hyperlipidemia and family history. The level of CK-MB on admission was correlated with the QTD (112.5+/-98.1 U/L in the group with a QTD over 80 ms and 72.6+/-73.4 U/L in the group with a QTD under 80 ms, p<0.05). The ejection fraction measured by two dimensional echocardiography on admission showed correlation with the QTD (50.9+/-11.4% in the group with a QTD over 80 ms and 54.7+/-11.2% U/L in the group with a QTD under 80 ms, p<0.05). For the coronary angiographic findings, the lesion type, according to American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association classification, correlated with the QT dispersion (type B2 or C : 64.1% in the group with a QTD over 80 ms, 49.6% in the group with a QTD under 80 ms, p<0.05) CONCLUSION: There was significant correlation between the prolonged QTD and the severity of myocardial injury at admission, and the complex coronary arterial lesion in patients with AMI.
Classification ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Vessels* ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Electrocardiography ; Heart ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; Hypertension ; Jeollanam-do ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking

The importance of quality control for dramatically growing genetic tests continues to be emphasized with increasing clinical demands. Diagnostic genetics subcommitee of KSQACP performed two trials for cytogenetic study in 2003. Cytogenetic surveys were performed by 33 laboratories and answered correctly in most laboratories except some problems in nomenclature and analysis for FISH and complex cytogenetic abnormalities in neoplasia. The molecular genetic test surveys include M. tuberculosis, HBV, HPV, leukemia/lymphoma, ApoE genotyping, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, myoclonic epilepsy and ragged red muscle fibers, and spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy. HPV, myoclonic epilepsy and ragged red muscle fibers, and spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy were the first challenge of the genetic survey. Molecular genetic survey showed excellent results in most participants, however, HPV tests should be improved by quality control in a few laboratories. External quality assessment program for cytogenetic analysis could be helpful to give participants many chances of continuous education and of interesting case materials.
Apolipoproteins E ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Cytogenetic Analysis ; Cytogenetics ; Education ; Epilepsies, Myoclonic ; Genetics* ; Korea* ; Molecular Biology ; Muscle Fibers, Slow-Twitch ; Muscular Disorders, Atrophic ; Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne ; Quality Control ; Tuberculosis

BACKGROUND: Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is a sensitive and specific biomarker for myocardial injury. The aim of this study was to determine the significance of clinical and angiographic outcomes, success rate of the percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), major adverse cardiac events and event-free survival rate after PCI according to the value of cTnI on admission in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients with multivessel lesions. METHODS: A total of 154 patients with AMI who underwent multivessel PCI between June 2000 and December 2001 at Chonnam National University Hospital were divided into two groups: Group I (n=70, 61.5+/-10.5 years, male 81.4%) with cTnI less than 10 ng/mL (6.9+/-4.7 ng/mL) and Group II (n=84, 60.8+/-10.0 years, male 75.0%) with cTnI higher than 10 ng/mL (57.4+/-40.0 ng/mL) on admission. RESULTS: Baseline ejection fraction of the left ventricle (LV) was lower in Group II than in Group I (Group I; 58.8+/-13.6% vs. Group II; 51.6+/-7.9%, p=0.002). Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow was higher in Group I than in Group II (2.86+/-1.24 vs. 2.42+/-1.37, p=0.024) and the diameter stenosis was less severe in Group I than in Group II (92.2+/-7.2% vs. 96.4+/-5.4%, p=0.020). The number of stents placed was lower in Group I than in Group II (1.45+/-0.50 vs. 1.63+/-0.70, p=0.023). The event-free survival rate was higher in Group I than in Group II during hospitalization and 12-month clinical follow-up after PCI (87.1% vs. 69.0%, 72.9% vs. 50.0%, p=0.008, 0.004, respectively). The independent predictors for target lesion revascularization were lesion length, CRP level on admission, stent use, diabetes mellitus, cTnI on admission (p=0.001, 0.009, 0.012, 0.019, 0.035, respectively) and the independent predictors for 1-year mortality were cardiogenic shock on admission, CRP level on admission, cTnI on admission (p<0.001, =0.005, 0.021, respectively). CONCLSUION: The high level of cTnI on admission is associated with LV dysfunction, low grade of TIMI flow and lower long-term event-free survival rate during hospitalization and at 12-month after PCI in patients with AMI.
Angioplasty ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Disease ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Disease-Free Survival ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Ventricles ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Jeollanam-do ; Male ; Mortality ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention* ; Prognosis ; Shock, Cardiogenic ; Stents ; Troponin I* ; Troponin*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The level of cardiac specific troponin (cTn) may be important in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), but with normal electrocardiography (ECG). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Three hundred and nineteen patients (61+/-11 years, M:F=212:107), with ACS and normal ECG, who underwent a diagnostic coronary angiogram (CAG), between July 2000 and June 2001, were analyzed according to their cTn level. The clinical characteristics, initial CAG findings and major adverse cardiac events (MACE), during a one-year clinical follow-up, were compared between positive and negative cTn groups. RESULTS: Of the enrolled patients, 191 had a negative cTn (group A, 61+/-10 years, M:F=131:60), and 128 a positive cTn (group B, 60+/-11 years, M:F=81:47), and 176 (55.2%) were shown to have significant coronary artery stenosis on CAG. There were no significant differences in risk factors between the two groups. The mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 64+/-9%, and was lower in group B than in group A (59+/-10% vs. 67+/-7%, p<0.05). cTn positivity was associated with the percentage of significant coronary artery stenosis present (88% vs. 32%, p<0.05), a smaller minimal luminal diameter (1.09+/-0.44 mm vs. 2.68+/-0.33 mm, p<0.05) and a larger diameter of stenosis (68+/-6% vs. 44+/-6%, p<0.05). A multi-vessel lesion was more common in group B than in group A (58.3% vs. 30.3%, p<0.05). During the one-year follow-up period, 36 patients developed MACE, resulting in 3 deaths, 7 acute myocardial infarctions and 34 patients with restenosis. MACE was observed in 9 patients of group A and in 27 of group B (4.7% vs. 21.1%, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The troponin levels are valuable for the early diagnosis, and prediction of the long-term prognosis, in patients with ACS and a normal ECG.
Acute Coronary Syndrome* ; Angina, Unstable ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Disease ; Coronary Stenosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Electrocardiography* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction ; Phenobarbital ; Prognosis ; Risk Factors ; Stroke Volume ; Troponin*