OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to evaluate the association between rs6280 and rs905568 genetic polymorphism of DRD3 gene and the treatment response of amisulpride. METHODS: After six weeks treatment of amisulpride, 125 schizophrenia patients were interviewed based on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S). The genotyping for rs6280 and rs905568 was performed using TaqMan single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping assay. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the frequency of genotype and allele of rs6280 between the responders and non-responders based on the total, positive, and general score of PANSS and CGI-S score. However, there was a significant association between this SNP and treatment response in the negative score of PANSS (chi2 = 5.23, p = 0.022). There was no significant association between rs905568 and the response in positive, negative, general, and total PANSS score and CGI-S score. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first positive association study between DRD3 gene and the treatment response of negative symptoms to amisulpride in Korean schizophrenia patients. A larger scale research on more SNP of the DRD3 gene will make a progress in the study of pharmacogenetics on the treatment response of the amisulpride.
Alleles ; Dopamine* ; Genotype ; Humans ; Pharmacogenetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Receptors, Dopamine D3* ; Schizophrenia

BACKGROUND: There are only limited numbers of reports about long-term results of tricuspid valve replacement (TVR) with bioprosthetic and mechanical prostheses. We analyzed risk factors for tricuspid valve replacement and compared long-term clinical results of bioprosthetic and mechanical valves in tricuspid position. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We reviewed 77 cases of TVR, which were performed between October 1978 and December 1996. Mean age was 38.8 15.9 years. Bioprostheses were implanted in 26 cases and mechanical prostheses were implanted in 51 cases. RESULT: The operative mortality was 15.6% and late mortality was 12.3%. Survival for bioprosthetic and mechanical valve group at 5, 10 and 13 years was 81.3% vs. 100%, 66.1% vs. 100%, 60.6% vs. 100% (p= 0.0175). Free from valve related re-operation for bioprosthetic and mechanical valve group at 5, 10 and 13 years was 100 % vs. 93.9%, 100% vs. 93.9% and 58.3% vs. 93.9% (p=0.3274). Linealized incidences of valve related re-operation for bioprosthetic and mechanical valve group was 2.27 %/patient-years and 1.10 %/patient-years. Risk factor analysis showed that presence of preoperative ascites, hepatomegaly larger than 2 finger breaths, poor preoperative NYHA functional class and number of tricuspid valve replacement were risk factors for early mortality, and the use of bioprosthetic valve and number of open heart surgery were risk factors for late mortality. CONCLUSION: Long-term survival of mechanical valve was superior to bioprosthetic valve in tricuspid position. We recommend mechanical valve in tricuspid position if the patient can be closely followed up.
Ascites ; Bioprosthesis ; Fingers ; Heart Valve Prosthesis ; Hepatomegaly ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mortality ; Prostheses and Implants ; Risk Factors ; Thoracic Surgery ; Tricuspid Valve*

BACKGROUND: Liquid nitrogen freezing techniques have already met with widespread success in biology and medicine as a means of long-term storage for cells and tissues. The use of cryoprotectants such as glycerol and dimethylsulphoxide to prevent ice crystal formation, with carefully controlled rates of freezing and thawing, allows both structure and viability to be retained almost indefinitely. Cryopreservation of various tissues has various controlled rates of freezing. MATERIAL AND METHOD: To find the optimal freezing curve and the chamber temperature, we approached the thermodynamic calculation of tissues in two ways. One is the direct calculation method. We should know the thermophysical characteristics of all components, latent heat of fusion, area, density and volume, etc. This kind of calculation is so sophisticated and some variables may not be determined. The other is the indirect calculation method. We performed the tissue freezing with already used freezing curve and we observed the actualfreezing curve of that tissue. And we modified the freezing curve with several steps of calculation, polynomial regression analysis, time constant calculation, thermal response calculation and inverse calculation of chamber temperature. RESULT: We applied that freezing program on mesenchymal stem cell, chondrocyte, and osteoblast. The tissue temperature decreased according to the ideal freezing curve without temperature rising. We did not find any differences in survival. The reason is postulated to be that freezing material is too small and contains cellular components. We expect the significant difference in cellular viability if the freezing curve is applied on a large scale of tissues. CONCLUSION: This program would be helpful in finding the chamber temperature for the ideal freezing curve easily.
Biology ; Chondrocytes ; Cryopreservation ; Dimethyl Sulfoxide ; Freezing* ; Glycerol ; Hot Temperature* ; Ice ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Nitrogen ; Osteoblasts ; Thermodynamics ; Transplantation, Homologous

PURPOSE: Childhood acute immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a benign hematologic disease. Therapy does not affect the natural history of the illness. We evaluated the clinical and laboratory findings, treatment and prognosis of childhood acute ITP in Korea through a retrospective multicenter study. METHODS: We analyzed retrospectively the data of 1, 829 children with acute ITP through survey of 33 hospitals among 43 hospitals in Korea from Sep. 1992 to Aug. 2001. RESULTS: Male to female ratio was 1.3: 1 and the median age at the diagnosis of ITP was 2.9 (0.1 17) years. Median duration of follow up was 6 months. One hundred and forty nine cases of the total 1, 829 patients (8.1%) received no treatment. The initial median platelet count of the non-treated group was 42, 500/mm3. Among the 861 cases who were followed up over 6 months, 315 cases (36.6%) progressed into chronic ITP. Associated with this high rate of chronicity of childhood acute ITP patients in Korea, we must consider the fact that acute ITP patients with fast improvement in the first episode tend not to follow up. Considering that fact, the rate of chronicity becomes 17.2% of the 1, 829 acute ITP patients. The treated group used many kinds of treatment methods. Intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) with or without prednisolone (PD) (67.5%) were the most commonly used regimens. In the group treated with IVIG alone, the platelet count began to rise above 50, 000/mm3 at 2.6 days, 100, 000/mm3 at 3.7 days and 150, 000/mm3 at 4.9 days. Four hundred and twenty two cases of the 1, 686 (25.0%) cases followed up after first episode of ITP relapsed. The relapse rate was significantly higher in older patients and in girls than in younger patients and in boys (P< 0.05). The chronicity of ITP statistically increased with age (P< 0.05) and that was the only valuable factor. CONCLUSION: Despite the fact that childhood acute ITP is a pretty common disaese, there is no agreement on the best treatment method for this disease. The establishment of Korean treatment guideline of childhood acute ITP, based on an analysis of multicenters, seems to be needed.
Child ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematologic Diseases ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous ; Korea* ; Male ; Natural History ; Platelet Count ; Prednisolone ; Prognosis ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic* ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies

An increased plasma aldosterone concentration, with suppressed plasma renin activity (PRA), is an abnormal finding in primary hyperaldosteronism. A suppressed PRA is caused by aldosterone- dependent sodium retention and extracellular volume expansion. A case of primary hyperaldosteronism, due to adenoma, with increased PRA, was observed. An adrenalectomy and intraoperative renal biopsy was performed. In our patient, histologically proven renal arteriosclerosis was the probable cause of the escape of the PRA from the suppression by an aldosterone-producing adenoma. Normal blood pressure was not attained after the adrenalectomy. However, the blood pressure was then controlled by small doses of antihypertensive drug before resection of the tumor. In this case, the patient was treated with spironolactone, but the blood pressure was not correctly controlled. After the adrenalectomy, the blood pressure was well controlled with smaller dose of calcium channel blockers. So, an early adrenalectomy may be beneficial as soon as the diagnosis of an aldosterone-producing adenoma is confirmed, even in patients with hypertensive nephrosclerosis.
Adenoma ; Adrenalectomy ; Aldosterone ; Arteriosclerosis ; Biopsy ; Blood Pressure ; Calcium Channel Blockers ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Hyperaldosteronism* ; Nephrosclerosis ; Plasma* ; Renin* ; Sodium ; Spironolactone ; United Nations

BACKGROUND: Valve replacement using cryopreserved valved homograft is increasing because of resistance of infection and excellent hemodynamics. The viability of fibroblast which is related with warm ischemic time affects the durability of implanted cryopreserved valved homograft. We evaluated how long the warm schemic time is acceptable by examining the viability of cells depending upon warm ischemic time. MATERIAL AND METHOD: 1. Retrieval of tissues; Thirty-two slaughted porcine heart and lung enblocs were stored at refrigerator(4~8 degreesC) for various time period(Warm Ischemic Time), and the heart was dissected and stored in Hartman solution at 4 degreesCfor 24 hours(Cold Ischemic Time) as the simulation of retrieval and dissection of human heart. The hearts were assigned to groups A(2 hours), B(12 hours), C(24 hours), D(36 hours) depending on warm ischemic time. 2. Sterilization; The valved homografts were sterilized in the RPMI 1640 solution with antibiotics. 3. Freezing and Storage; The homografts were freezed by computerized freezer, stored 7 days at liquid nitrogen tank, and thawed. 4. Evaluation of the viability; The viability was evaluated by Triphan blue test after warm ischemic time, after cold ischemic time and after thawing. 5. Analysis; The viability of fibroblast was analysed by pearson correlation test of SAS program. RESULT: 1. The viability between after cold ischemic time and after thawing was not different(p=0.619) for the adequacy of sterilization, freezing and thawing. 2. The viability which was evaluated after warm ischemic time, cold ischemic time and thawing, and the various warm ischemic times are strongly correlated as R is -0.857, -0.673 and -0.549 respectively. The viability of tricuspid valve is well related with the viability of aortic valve. CONCLUSION: 1. The longer the warm ischemic time, the lesser the viability of fibroblast. The viability of fibroblast after cryopreservation was decreased less 60% if the warm ischemic time was over 12 hours. 2. The method of cryopreservation is acceptable for maintaining the viability of fibroblast, and the viability of tricuspid valve may be the indicator of the viability of aortic valve. 3. However, the study for the optimal viability which is necessary to the durabiltiy of implanted valved homograft is needed.
Allografts ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Aortic Valve ; Cold Ischemia ; Cryopreservation ; Fibroblasts ; Freezing ; Heart ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Lung ; Nitrogen ; Sterilization ; Tricuspid Valve ; Warm Ischemia*

PURPOSE: In the present study the effects of amiloride on the growth of human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line, AGS cells were examined with or without the addition of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The growth of AGS cells was examined by counting number of cells on two and four days post-treatment with 50 micrometer, 100 micrometer, 200 micrometer, 400 micrometer, 800 micrometer, amiloride, and 0.1 microgram/ml, 0.3 microgram/ml 5-FU, after plating AGS cells into 6 well plates at a density of 10 x 10(4) cells/well. The reversibility of the effects of amiloride was examined on two to eight days post-treatment with 400 micrometer amiloride after seeding 2 x 10(4) cells/dish. Cell cycle analysis was performed after four day-treatment with 400 micrometer amiloride. RESULTS: Amiloride (50~800 micrometer) significantly inhibited the growth of AGS in a dose-dependent fashion (p<0.05). The inhibitory effect of amiloride on growth of AGS was reversible since removal of amiloride after 24 hours treatment led to resumption of rapid growth up to control levels. Amiloride combined with 5-FU markedly inhibited the growth of AGS in a dose-dependent fashion compared to that of amiloride or 5-FU alone (p<0.05). The fraction of S phase, G0-G1 phase and G2-M phase was 19.3%, 55.7%, 18.8%, in the amioride group (400 micrometer) and 43.9%, 37.4%, 25.1% in the control group, respectively, showing significantly higher G1 fraction in amiloride group compared to control. CONCLUSION: This is the first paper which reported that amiloride inhibited in vitro growth of human gastric adenocarcinoma cells and that its effect of growth inhibition may be synergistic with 5-FU. Amiloride given with or without 5-FU may be useful agent in the treatment of gastric carcinomas. The inhibitory effects of amiloride on the growth of AGS may be mediated in part by blocking G1-S transition of cell cycle.
Adenocarcinoma ; Amiloride* ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Line ; Fluorouracil ; Humans* ; S Phase

BACKGROUND: Heart transplantation is considerated for a selected certain group of complicated congenital heart disease in neonates because corrective surgery is very difficult and has high mortality. Precise planning of transplantation is necessary to adequately fit the donor heart to the recipient. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We have performed 4 neonatal pig heart transplantations to test the technical feasibility. Experiment 1: The transplantation was performed using the same technique as the adult heart transplantation. Experiment 2: The transplantation for hypoplastic left heart syndrome was simulated as we reconstructed the whole aortic arch with donor aorta. Experiment 3: The heart transplantation was done with radical pulmonary artery reconstruction. Experiment 4: The experiment was performed for a long term survival. RESULT: Preoperative planning was very important for adequate fitting. All animals could be weaned from cardiopulmonary bypass, however, two animals died due to bleeding at pulmonary artery and left atrium. CONCLUSION: We concluded that the neonatal heart transplantation can be applied in some complicated Further using animal model is mandatory.
Adult ; Animal Experimentation* ; Animals* ; Aorta ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Heart Atria ; Heart Defects, Congenital* ; Heart Transplantation* ; Heart* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome ; Infant, Newborn* ; Models, Animal ; Mortality ; Pulmonary Artery ; Tissue Donors

Fibroblast viability of a natural tissue valve for replacing a defective heart valve through allograft or xenograft has been suggested to affect its clinical durability. In this study, the cell viability and enzymatic activity of porcine heart valve leaflets were examined in regard to concerning to the preservation process [variable warm ischemic time (WIT), cold ischemic time (CIT), and cryopreservation]. Porcine heart enblocs were obtained and valve dissection was performed after 2, 12, 24, or 36 hours, in respective groups A, B, C, and D, as WIT. Each group was stored for 24 hours as CIT and cryopreserved. Leaflets were dissected from a valved conduit after each process, and cell viability and enzymatic activity in the leaflet were investigated using trypan blue staining and API ZYM kits. WIT extension significantly decreased fibroblast viability (p < 0.05, 92.25 +/- 2.7% at 2 hours, 84.9 +/- 6.7% at 12 hours, 57.0 +/- 10.2% at 24 hours, 55.9 +/- 7.9% at 36 hours), while CIT for 24 hours was also influenced significantly (p < 0.05), whereas cryopreservation demonstrated no effect on cellular viability. In enzyme activity observation, several enzymes related to lipid or nucleotide degradation (esterase, esterase lipase, particularly phosphatase, phosphohydrolase) were remarkably changed following the valve-fabrication process. After 24 hours CIT, these enzymatic activities in groups B, C and D significantly increased, but the activities decreased after cryopreservation. Particularly, both the viability and enzymatic activity showed remarkable changes after CIT in group B (WIT = 12 hours). These results suggest that WIT is more important than CIT in maintaining viability of the valve, and that completing all the cryopreservation process within 12 hours after acquisition is recommended.
Animal ; Cryopreservation* ; Heart Valves/physiology* ; Heart Valves/enzymology* ; Swine ; Tissue Survival/physiology*

BACKGROUND: Onychomycosis, especially toenail onychomycosis has become one of the common fungal infection and has historically been regarded as a cosmetic rather than medical problem by many patients, even by physicians. Recently, however, there are several reports that this is a refractory disease which may cause a deleterious effect on patients' quality of life (QOL). OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of toenail onychomycosis on QOL in Korea and to assess the changes of QOL after treatment. METHODS: Total 1004 patients with toenail onychomycosis which was confirmed by clinical findings and KOH preparation were enrolled at 47 dermatologic centers in Korea, and interviewed with standardized QOL questionnaire before and after systemic antifungal treatment. Responses to the questionnaire were scored by f-point scale (0~4) and averaged, and were analyzed for 5 dimensions of emotional impact, social impact, symptom and functional impact, patients' views concerning treatment, and relationship with doctor. RESULTS: 1. Before and after treatment, the most serious impact was emotional dimension showing 1.90 and 1.30 in average score (AS), and social (AS: 1.14 and 0.83) and symptom and functional impact (AS: 1.05 and 0.92) was also affected. 2. In female rather than male, statistically more significant impact on patients' QOL was observed in all dimensions. 3. After treatment, 3 of 5 dimensions were improved significantly - emotional dimension (AS: from 1.90 to 1.30), social dimension (AS: from 1.14 to 0.83), patients' view concerning treatment(AS: from 1.34 to 1.02) 4. The degree of patients' satisfaction at the therapeutic effect was very high - 62.4% (immediately after. treatment) and 65.8% (9 months after initiation of treatment) of patients answered excellent or good. CONCLUSION: This study confirms that toenail onychomycosis has significant Impact on the overall QOL of patients. Also the effect of antifungal therapy on patients' QOL were satisfactory. Therefore, both doctor and patient should pay more attention to the treatment of onychomycosis.
Female ; Humans ; Korea* ; Male ; Nails* ; Onychomycosis* ; Quality of Life* ; Social Change ; Surveys and Questionnaires