Role of Protein Kinase C-delta in Atherosclerosis / 대한혈관외과학회지

PURPOSE: Protein kinase C (PKC) has been implicated in a wide variety of cellular processes. Although PKC-delta is implicated in cell growth inhibition, as well as in cell differentiation, apoptosis, and tumor suppression, its role in atherosclerosis remains unclear. This study aimed to identify the mechanism of PKC-delta in the development of atherosclerosis. METHODS: To induce atherosclerosis, we performed allograft transplantations on aortas in mice. At 2, 4, and 6 weeks after transplantation, grafted aortas were obtained to compare the degree of atherosclerosis between wild type and PKC-delta (-/-) aorta. Alloantibody levels in the recipient mice's blood were measured. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed to quantitatively measure chemokine and cytokine mRNA expression of the inflammation from the harvested aorta. RESULTS: Atherosclerosis was more severe in the PKC-delta (-/-) aorta than in the wild type aorta. Alloantibody levels were higher in the mice grafted with aorta from the PKC-delta (-/-) mice than in the mice grafted with aorta from the wild type mice. RT-PCR revealed higher expressions of MRP-2, MCP-1, MIP-1alpha, and IL-2 in the mice grafted with aorta from the PKC-delta (-/-) mice than the wild type mice. CONCLUSION: Aorta allograft transplantation is a useful modality for inducing atherosclerosis. PKC-delta may be a negative regulator of atherosclerosis.

Use of Senior Center and the Health-Related Quality of Life in Korean Older Adults / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between the use of senior center and health-related quality of life in Korean older adults. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was conducted to two types of older adults who lived in Busan, Korea: 154 older adults who used a senior center and 137 older adults who did not use a senior center. The Korean version of short-form 36-item health survey was administered to assess the health-related quality of life. Demographic variables were obtained from a questionnaire. These were gender, age, family status, marital status, education, monthly income, present illness, body mass index and physical activity. RESULTS: The 8-domain scales of physical function and role-physical were significantly higher in the users of the senior center compared with the non-users (F=4.87, p=0.027 and F=7.02, p=0.009, respectively). The 8-domain scales of vitality was also significantly higher in the users of the senior center compared with the non-users (F=7.48, p=0.007). CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed that the users of the senior center have higher physical function, role-physical and vitality compared with the non-users. These findings suggest that although the results are unable to specify causal relationships using the senior center may lead to some improvement in health-related quality of life.

A case of atypical Werner syndrome without WRN gene mutations / 대한내과학회지

Werner syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive, hereditary disease that demonstrates progeroid features and has characteristic WRN gene mutations. Atypical Werner syndrome refers to a small subset of individuals who produce the normal WRN protein, but show some signs and symptoms that sufficiently overlap with Werner syndrome. Recently, we experienced a case of atypical Werner syndrome. A 43-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital due to being severely underweight. She had an operative history of cataracts in both eyes and had suffered from multiple skin ulcers, deafness, and vision loss. Physical examination revealed short stature, low body weight, flat feet, and a scleroderma-like skin change. Laboratory and clinical tests showed that the patient had diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis, and premature atherosclerotic features. Her clinical presentation and laboratory findings were consistent with Werner syndrome. We performed a WRN, LMNA gene sequence analysis, but no mutations were detected. The patient was diagnosed with atypical Werner syndrome.

Improved Surgical Technique for Heterotopic Aortic Transplantation in Mice

Transplant arteriosclerosis is the main limitation for long-term survival of solid organ transplant recipients. Animal models would provide invaluable tools to investigate the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of transplant arteriosclerosis, as well as for studies with novel drugs and other reagents for the prevention of the disease. We have therefore developed a modified technique for aortic transplantation in mice. The central suture ligation of the recipient abdominal aorta allowed a simpler end-to-side anastomosis of a segment of the donor thoracic aorta into the infrarenal portion of the recipient abdominal aorta. Using this technique, the overall survival rate was 94%. We also observed typical aspects of chronic rejection of the aortic allografts not observed with isografts. Our new technique is relatively easy to perform and has a low incidence of thrombosis, thus being useful for studying various aspects of transplant arteriosclerosis.

4-1BB (CD137) signals depend upon CD28 signals in alloimmune responses

Our previous study has demonstrated that there is a significant delay of Balb/c cardiac allograft rejection in the C57BL/6 4-1BB-deficient knockout recipient. In this study, we examined the effect of combined blockade of the 4-1BB and CD28 costimulatory pathways on cardiac allograft rejection in the C57BL/6-->Balb/c model. A long-term cardiac allograft survival was induced in CD28/4-1BB- deficient mice (>100 days survival in 3 of 4 mice), which was comparable with CD28-deficient mice (>100 days survival in 2 of 5 mice; P<0.2026). There was no long-term cardiac allograft survival in either wild-type (WT) or 4-1BB-deficient mice, even though 4-1BB-deficient recipients showed a significant delay of cardiac allograft rejection than WT mice. An in vitro mixed leukocyte reaction (MLR) assay showed that 4-1BB-deficient and WT mouse T cells had a similar responsiveness to allostimulation, whereas CD28- and CD28/4-1BB-deficient mouse T cells had a defective responsiveness to allostimulation. Furthermore, 4-1BB-deficient mice showed a similar CTL but an elevated Ab response against alloantigens as compared to WT mice, and the alloimmune responses of 4-1BB-deficient mice were abrogated in the CD28-deficient background. Overall, these results indicate that the CD28 costimulatory pathway plays a major role in the alloimmune response and that 4-1BB signals are dependent upon CD28 signals.

A Case of Monophasic Fibrous Synovial Sarcoma Confirmed Primary Pulmonary Origin by 18F-FDG PET/CT / 결핵및호흡기질환

Most malignant mesenchymal tumors of the lung are metastases of a primary tumor from elsewhere in the body. A primary pulmonary synovial sarcoma is a very rare neoplasm that accounts for approximately 10% of soft tissue sarcomas and makes up only 0.5% of all primary lung malignancies. We report a case of a primary pulmonary synovial sarcoma in a 60-year old woman. In this case, a lung metastasis was excluded using 18F-FDG PET /CT imaging.

The Korean Memory Test (KMT) for Elderly: Estimating Validity and Reliability

Background: Verbal learning test is useful and significant test to evaluating memory function. There were many memory tests but few for elderly and dementia patients. Although there have been a variety of Korean memory tests developed, these tests were difficult to administer to dementia patients and elderly individuals with low educational levels. Therefore, we developed the Korean Memory Test (KMT). Methods: The KMT task consists of three trials of free recall of 10 simplified line drawing figures of familiar materials. Three immediate recall trials and one 20 minutes delayed recall and one recognition trial were administered. Sixty-five of probable Alzheimer's patients received the Korean version of Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE), Korean version of expanded Clinical Dementia Rating Scale (CDR) and KMT. Also sixty-seven of normal controls were enrolled. We tested reliability and validity of the KMT and also evaluated scores of the KMT with progression of dementia. Results: The parameters of the KMT correlated with CDR -0.74~-0.77 (p<0.01), K-MMSE 0.66~0.68 (p<0.01). The internal consis- tency was 0.78 (Cronbach's alpha). Most of the KMT's parameters decreased with CDR significantly (p<0.01). Conclusions: The KMT is a good test for evaluating memory function of elderly with low educational level. Also it is a sensitive and specific test to detection of dementia in early stage and has excellent reliability and validity.

A Case of Adult Idiopathic Ileocecal Intussusception Reduced by Colonoscopy / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Intussusception frequently occurs in children as the main causes of intestinal obstruction in childhood but relatively rare in adult. A 65-year-old male visited our hospital because of abrupt onset right lower quadrant pain with tenderness for three days. He had a previous history of appendectomy and alcoholic liver cirrhosis. On physical exam, bowel sound was decreased. Abdomen ultrasonography showed a kidney like mass and abdominal computed tomography revealed the typical target lesion in the ileocecal area. Colonoscopy was performed which failed to find any lesion leading to intussusception. After the colonoscopy, the abdminal pain had disappeared, and we would not find any intussusception sign by abdominal ultrasonography. Colonocopy was done two weeks later. No pathologic lesion was found, then. We report a case of adult idiopathic ileocecal intussusception reduced by colonoscopy.

Etiologic Diagnosis and Clinical Characteristics of Chronic Recurrent Chest Pain in Children / 소아과

PURPOSE: To identify the causes and clinical characteristics, and the efficacy of various diagnostic approaches, we studied, prospectively, pediatric patients with chronic recurrent chest pain. METHODS: A prospective study of 122 patients with chronic recurrent chest pain from June 1998 to June 2003 was performed. The male and female ratio was 81:41, age 9.3+/-3.1 year. A single chart including pain description(histoy) and pain questionaire, with associated symptoms, was used for systematic history taking. The patients were devided in two groups, Group A, before June 2001(n=70), Group B, after June 2001(n=52). Chest X-ray and ECG were checked in all patients. Allergy tests and echocardiography, 24 hour ECG monitoring, exercise tests, pulmonary function tests, and gastrointestinal fiberendoscopy were performed selectively. RESULTS: Idiopathic origins were most common(32%). The remaining causes were psychogenic(23%) and exercise-induced asthma(20.5%), hyperventilation syndrome(9.1%), tachyarrhythmia(4.9%), cardiac (4.1%), pulmonary(3.3%), reflux esophagitis(2.5%), in order. The positive rate of allergy tests(24%) was higher than that of cardiac examinations(11-20%). Exercise-induced asthma was more common than psychogenic causes after June, 2001. Various abdominal symptoms accompanied idiopathic and psychogenic chest pains, and hyperventilation syndrome. Headaches were more commonly found in psychogenic pain, but chest tightness and dyspnea were common in hyperventilation syndrome. About half of exercise-induced asthma patients had symptoms of allergic rhinitis. CONCLUSION: In the majority(72%) of exercise-induced asthma, the chest pain was induced or aggravated by exercise, and relieved by rest. Causative antigens were detected in 69.2% of group B patients with exercise-induced asthma. Exercise-induced chest pain might be a first manifestation in allergy patients. So, we recommand allergy tests for patients with recurrent chest pains induced or aggravated by exercise. Hence, cardiac examinations such as echocardiography or 24 hour ECG monitoring could be performed selectively, case by case.

Development of the Korean Stroop Test and Study of the Validity and the Reliability

BACKGROUND: The Stroop color word test is useful to examines the frontal lobe function of selective attention and inhibition. The Korean Color Word Stroop Test(K-CWST) was widely used in Korea. But, it was difficult in elderly individual with low educational level and visual problem and in patients with more progressed dementia. So we developed the Korean Stroop Test(KST). METHODS: The KST consist of word reading(WR), color naming(CN), interference word reading(IWR) and interference color naming (ICN). The interference tasks are naming the ink color of color words which were mismatched with word meaning. We measured reaction time and number of error. This study used the K-CWST to assess and compare the KST in eighteen probable alcohol related dementia patients and nineteen normal control. All subjects received the Korean version of Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE) and the K-CWST and the KST. We tested reliability and validity of the KST. Also we enrolled normal adult from 41 to 80 year old for evaluating the change of the KST test with age. RESULTS: The KST tasks were correlated with K-MMSE -0.33(p<0.05) to -0.63(p<0.001) and K-CWST correlated with K-MMSE 0.37 (p<0.05) to 0.55(p<0.01). The interference color naming of KST was correlated the most to K-MMSE -0.78(p<0.001). The interference color naming of KST and interference color naming of K-CWST was correlated by 0.81(p<0.001). The internal consistency were 0.78 (Cronbach's alpha). The KST score was statistically different between alcohol related dementia patients and normal subjects in CN, ICN and ICN error. The KST was not differ in old age group except some tasks. CONCLUSION: The KST has a excellent reliability and validity. It takes less time and easy than the K-CWST. So the KST is a good test for evaluating frontal lobe function in elderly with low educational level of older people.

Effects of Hand Reflexology on Physiological Emotional Responses and Immunity in the Patients with Chronic illness; Chronic renal failure patients and Cancer patients / 간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of hand reflexology on the physiological?emotional responses and immunity of the patients with chronic illness. This study looked specifically at patients with chronic renal failure(CRF) and cancer patients. METHOD: This study was designed as a quasi-experimental nonequivalent control group pre and post test. Subjects were 54 patients who received dialysis and chemotherapy in one hospital. Thirty-one patients were assigned to the experimental group and 23 to the control group. The hand reflexology was applied to both hands of the experiment group for ten minutes each time, 5 times during three days. For data collection, physiological lab levels, immune cells of blood and questionnaires for emotional responses were measured before and after the program. RESULT: BT of the experiment group was decreased significantly on both of the 1st and the 5th application. PR and BP were decreased significantly on the 1st times, but not 5th times. Hb levels of the experimental group were significantly increased. And emotional responses, vigor and mood scores of the experiment group were significantly increased. B cell and CD19 were increased significantly on the experiment group. Suppressor T cell and NK cell showed significant decrease after the program, but no significant differences between the groups. CONCLUSION: We have found that the hand reflexology helps the chronic patients to improve physiological emotional responses and the immune reaction. Through this result, the hand reflexology is effective as a intervention of psychoneuroimmunologic function.

Differentiation of Osteoblast Progenitor Cells from Human Umbilical Cord Blood

BACKGROUND: Human umbilical cord bloods, which could be taken during the delivery are utilized as a source of hematopoietic stem cells. Also in cord blood, there are several kinds of stem cells such as endothelial and mesenchymal stem cells. METHODS: We isolated the mesenchymal stem cells from human umbilical cord bloods and confirmed the differentiation of these cells into osteoblast progenitor cells. The mesenchymal stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood have the ability to differentiate into specific tissue cells, which is one of characteristics of stem cells. These cells were originated from the multipolar shaped cells out of adherent cells of the umbilical cord blood mononuclear cell culture. RESULTS: The mesenchymal stem cells expressed cell surface antigen CD13, CD90, CD102, CD105, alpha-smooth muscle actin and cytoplasmic antigen vimentine. Having cultrued these cells in bone formation media, we observed the formation of extracellular matrix and the expression of alkaline phosphatase and of mRNA of cbfa-1, ostoecalcin and type I collagen. CONCLUSION: From these results we concluded that the cells isolated from the umbilical cord blood were mesenchymal stem cells, which we could differentiate into osteoblast when cultured in bone formation media. In short, it is suggested that these cells could be used as a new source of stem cells, which has the probability to alternate the embryonic stem cells.

Differentiation of Osteoblast Progenitor Cells from Human Umbilical Cord Blood

BACKGROUND: Human umbilical cord bloods, which could be taken during the delivery are utilized as a source of hematopoietic stem cells. Also in cord blood, there are several kinds of stem cells such as endothelial and mesenchymal stem cells. METHODS: We isolated the mesenchymal stem cells from human umbilical cord bloods and confirmed the differentiation of these cells into osteoblast progenitor cells. The mesenchymal stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood have the ability to differentiate into specific tissue cells, which is one of characteristics of stem cells. These cells were originated from the multipolar shaped cells out of adherent cells of the umbilical cord blood mononuclear cell culture. RESULTS: The mesenchymal stem cells expressed cell surface antigen CD13, CD90, CD102, CD105, alpha-smooth muscle actin and cytoplasmic antigen vimentine. Having cultrued these cells in bone formation media, we observed the formation of extracellular matrix and the expression of alkaline phosphatase and of mRNA of cbfa-1, ostoecalcin and type I collagen. CONCLUSION: From these results we concluded that the cells isolated from the umbilical cord blood were mesenchymal stem cells, which we could differentiate into osteoblast when cultured in bone formation media. In short, it is suggested that these cells could be used as a new source of stem cells, which has the probability to alternate the embryonic stem cells.

The Cold Preservation of Mice Hepatocytes Induces Apoptosis but Not over Expression of MHC Class I Antigen / 대한이식학회지

Hepatocyte transplantation is a potential treatment modality for liver diseased patients. Purified hepatocytes stimulates allospecific cytotoxicity by expressing the MHC class I antigen. Also, during cold preservation, hepatocytes are damaged by lipid peroxidation with oxygen free radicals, which may induce apoptosis on cold preserved hepatocyte. For measuring the degree of antigenicity on cold- preserved mice hepatocytes with UW solution, we studied the expression of MHC class I antigen in various time period by FACS and RT-PCR. For analysis of apoptotic hepatocyte death, we studied morphological changes and DNA fragmentation. We used flow cytometry techniques with rhodamine 123,3,3'-dihexiloxadicarbocyanine (DiOC6 (3)) and propidium iodide (PI). DiOC6 (3) is mitochondrial probe to measure the mitochondrial transmembrane potential that drops early in apoptosis. The percentage of cells undergoing chromatinolysis (subdiploid cells) was determined by ethanol fixation followed by RNA digestion and PI staining. The cold preserved hepatocytes expressed MHC class I constitutively, but revealed no significant differences among various preservation period. However, apoptosis of hepatocytes occured progressively during cold preservation. These results provides that the cold preservation of mice hepatocyte induces apoptosis with involvement of an oxidative process, but does not stimulate over expression of MHC class I antigen.

Morphological Effect of Chronic Alcohol Drinking upon the Gastric Mucosa of Rats / 대한해부학회지

In order to investigate the effect of chronic alcohol drinking upon the gastric mucosa of rats, Sprague-Dawley rats (200~235 g) had drunken 10% alcohol in stead of water and were maintained on regular feed. They drank about 20cc of 10% alcohol a day. The experimental groups sacrificed in 1, 2, 4 and 8 weeks. The gastric mucosa from the gastric body near by the fundus and the gastric body in the vicinity of the pylorus were fixed in neutral formalin, dehydrated in graded ethanol and embedded in paraffin. They were sectioned and stained with hematoxylin and eosin, and stained with alcian blue pH 2.5. The results were as follows: 1. Mucosal epithelium of the rat destroyed a little in some place, but the damage was not severe in all the experimental groups. Migrating cells and parietal cells covered the damaged places. 2. In the mucosa of the gastric body near by the fundus, the cells of the gastric gland showed positive reaction with alcian blue pH 2.5 and increased in number at 1 week. The number and reactivity of the cells decreased at 4 and 8 weeks of the experiment. 3. The surface mucous cells of the gastric pits in the body near by the pylorus decreased in number. The mucous neck cells of the gastric gland also decreased in number with time. 4. The cells in the base of the gastric gland showed alcian blue pH 2.5 positive at 4 and 8 weeks of the experiment. 5. The thickness of the gastric mucosa in all the experimental groups decreased in comparison with that of normal gastric mucosa.

Coronary arteriovenous fistula: A case report / 대한흉부외과학회지

No abstract available.

Reexpansion pulmonary edema: report of 1 case / 대한흉부외과학회지

No abstract available.